This was my first Heath, so I can’t compare it to her other works, only to historical romance in general. That said, I don’t think Look Before You Leap is a strong example of what the genre can do. While the central story is sweet and the characters are enjoyable, the book leans too heavily on “telling” rather than “showing,” even from the very start.

The opening scene introduces Lottie, caught by her headmistress for sneaking out for an early morning ride—a reckless impulse supposedly fueled by a fierce desire to feel free. However, we never *see* this in action, which means we only have her word to go on—a word that isn’t very reliable, given that she spends the entire scene lying to a kind headmistress with her fingers crossed behind her back. As a result, it’s hard not to side with those chastising her behavior. Imagine if, instead, the book opened with Lottie riding breakneck through London at dawn, wind whipping through her hair, the horse’s hooves pounding against the streets as the city sleepily starts its day. It would have been a much more effective bit of characterization and setting, *showing* us why she cherishes that feeling of freedom so much.

Our hero, Guy, on the other hand, *does* get this kind of scene—one that is enjoyable and well-written—but feels redundant given his existing privileges. As a titled man in Regency England, he already has immense power and freedom (despite his mother’s meddling and his personal hang-ups about the ton’s opinion of him). Plus, we already "see" his independent streak in how he runs his estate, essentially living as a farmer and rubbing elbows with the locals.

This habit of telling rather than showing wasn’t a one-time misstep; it’s present throughout the novel, even in descriptions. As a devoted romance reader, I know how much this genre loves adjectives (and I'm here for it), but lines like “She wasn’t just a dazzling ray of sunshine and a fizzing ball of energy. She was a breath of fresh air, too” fall flat without action to back them up.

That said, there are moments of gold here—Lottie’s carriage ride with Lady Frinton being one of them. The dialogue sparkled and the pacing was truly delightful. The gosling scene in the pond was equally charming, beautifully showing why these two characters are kind and decent people who deserve one another. I found myself wishing the rest of the novel could maintain the energy of these scenes but, sadly, it did not and I spent the final 25% skimming the text and wondering where the editor was.

Many thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a funny, frothy romp. I didn’t love everything about the plot, but it was a fun read nonetheless. Lottie was an absolute hoot, and I hope Guy can loosen up enough in their fictional future to deserve her. Thanks to @netgalley and @smpromance for the ARC.

This story is a delightful concoction of charming elements: horseback rides through the countryside, a plucky, unconventional companion, a feisty older lady who’s as cantankerous as she is lovable, and a matchmaking mother who stirs up just the right amount of chaos. It’s a playful, grumpy-sunshine romance that will make you smile at every turn. While these ingredients certainly bring joy, I did feel the focus on lust occasionally overshadowed the blossoming love story. With all the daydreaming and physical obsession, it became a little difficult to believe that love, in its truest sense, was the driving force behind their connection—an essential ingredient for me in any romance. That being said, the chemistry between the leads was undeniably fun, and the aunt and mother brought plenty of charm and humor to the table. The sections involving horses were a particular highlight, filled with vivid imagery and passion. On the flip side, some of the vernacular felt a bit off—repeated references to the main character’s family as "the menfolk" became rather jarring and didn't quite resonate with the rest of the narrative tone.
Having adored Heath's Merriwell Sisters series and the first book in this series, I was hardly surprised to find myself enchanted by this one as well. It’s a wonderful addition to the collection, brimming with amusing antics and delightful moments. Though I would have loved to see more of Georgina and Henry, their wedding was hastily wrapped up in just a page, leaving me longing for more of their journey. Overall, it’s a fantastic read and a great contribution to the series.

After losing her governess position, the impulsive and effervescent FMC Lottie is hired as a lady’s companion by Lady Fenton – a curmudgeonly but sassy older lady (think Lady Danbury of Bridgerton or the Dowager of Downton Abbey). Lottie accompanies her new employer to a country estate where Lady Fenton will help her sister with the planning for her nephew’s upcoming birthday party. The nephew, Guy, is a grumpy viscount who has sworn off love and is only begrudgingly on board with (what he thinks will be) a small birthday celebration. Guy and Lottie’s enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine story arc is set in motion through a series of collisions – the first as strangers colliding on horseback, and the second shortly after Lottie’s arrival at Guy’s estate where they recall their previous meeting and mutual dislike. The story that follows is full of humorous (and sometimes embarrassing) scenarios, banter, and amusing supporting characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of regency romance and strong, feminist-leaning female main characters. The book is the second in the author’s “Miss Prentice’s Protégées” series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone.

As with other books by this author, Look Before You Leap was full of great banter and entertaining supporting characters. One of the highlights of this book for me was how the MMC and FMC got to know each other’s families on their own during the development of their relationship, and how that increased their understanding of one another. My very favorite page of the book was the description of the FMC & MMC’s first kiss from the FMC’s perspective and how it was different than any she had previously experienced.

I only have two minor criticisms of the book. The first is that I wish there had been more Longbottom in the book – he was great in each of the instances he appeared. I was somewhat disappointed by the actions of some of the characters involved in the third act conflict, however I also understand that the conflict was used to set up the grand gesture and HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Virginia Heath for the digital ARC – this was my first ARC review! I hope to see Lottie’s friends get their own books so that I can read more of this series.

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, brooding hero/sworn off relationships, different social classes
Rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up)
Spice: 2/5

ARC from NetGalley. I LOVED this book! It is a fun regency rom-com that any romance fan would be glad to read. I really enjoyed the back and forth between the main characters. There is a Darcy/Lizzy vibe between them. It’s just so good and really funny at times.

I liked this a lot, though it finished too quickly! It felt like it was missing a few scenes towards the end. I was DYING to know how his mom and aunt reacted when he brought her back to the estate. What was their wedding like? I also take issue with the lack of an epilogue. How am I supposed to know that they actually do live happily ever after? That being said, this was another enjoyable read from the lovely Virginia Heath.

i really enjoyed this continuation of the series, the main characters were great, loved the horse training and laugh out loud moments on the trip with the guests. The meddling mom and aunt was a fun story too.

Elements of this story work, the horse riding, non conforming ladies companion, the cantankerous but fun older lady, the matchmaking mother etc. Some of the vernacular used just comes across as odd. The constant use of the main character calling her family the menfolk is grating and doesn't fit.

Man oh man!! I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS BOOK!! I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it, but this one was so much better in my opinion!! I loved our FMC Lottie. She is smart, brave, unconventional, and always positive. Our MMC Guy is kind, loyal, dedicated, and family-oriented.

While Lottie and Guy are opposites in a lot of ways, they are also the same side of the coin in others. Their differences compliment each other and their similarities only make them stronger. This book was so sweet and the build up of their love story was so genuine and cute!

Lottie doesn't fit the mold of a typical governess/ladies companion. She yearns to be the perfect product of Miss P's teachings, but her heart also yearns to be outdoors and riding a horse. Guy was scorned in love at a young age and is afraid of opening his heart back up to heartbreak, but wants to find love and make his mom happy. The side characters of Guy's mom and aunt (Lottie's employer) were *chef's kiss* the perfect combination of meddling and loving. We all need a Lady Wennington and Lady Frinton in our life.

This book was the perfect combination of sweet and funny. I LOVE a good historical romance to throw in the mix of other books I read, and when I read one like this, it just makes me want to find more like it and devour those too.

I loved every minute of reading this book and cannot wait to read Kitty and Portia's books when they come out.

Big thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Virginia Heath for an eArc copy of the book to read!

This book was super-cute and a total delight to read. I loved the banter between the male and female main characters. They were also great as individuals. I did
Not care for the complication that arose in the third act, which kept this from being a five star read for me, but overall, a very fun book that I breezed right through.

Look Before You Leap is Virginia Heath’s second book in her Miss Prentice's Protegees series, and it is thoroughly delightful. Lottie Travers, one of Miss Prentice’s Protegees, is too independent, candid, and definitely ahead of her time as a governess - making her unemployable, despite all of Miss Prentice’s support and 4D’s training. Wearing breeches and riding astride, Lottie thrives when racing across fields on a fast horse (“borrowed” from her employers) – hardly ton approved. She does not care, but she does care about her beloved “five menfolk” on the family farm which is near financial ruin due to crop failure. Determined to succeed this time, she takes on the governess job with demanding and feisty Lady Fenton, as the money is needed for the farm. Nephew of Lady Fenton, Lord Guy Harrowby (Viscount Wennington) and Lottie, both racing through the park, collide early one morning. Tempers flare as do sparks. Lottie and Guy cross paths shortly afterwards as his widowed mother and aunt put together an endless 30th birthday event for reclusive, grumpy Guy, with a whole bevy of ambitious, conniving, pretentious, and mostly insufferable potential-bride debutants staying with them.

Lottie and Guy are opposites in many ways, even aside from the social class difference. “The ray of sunshine and the storm cloud.” Guy is handsome and empathetic to others, but is not a poetic, suave lord. He does not give a fig about the ton, yet he did make a promise years before to his mother of a household of grandchildren by his 30th birthday. So, he endures the torture of this birthday reality show for his mother. While they may be sunshine and storm clouds, Lottie and Guy are fiercely loyal to their families. Their banter and attraction to each other is well crafted and not formulaic. Their love story is one I will reread for the sheer joy of it.

Since I had not read the first book in the series – All’s Fair in Love and War – I started with it, and I am glad I did as it provides background and introduces the four close friends (mostly unemployable protegees) and the never-giving-up Miss Prentice. I was hooked by All’s Fair in Love and War, but Look Before You Leap was just as engrossing, fun, and a joy to read. I am now eagerly and impatiently awaiting the stories for Portia and her guillotine and Kitty with her rainbows.

I am grateful to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Virginia Heath for early access to this delightful book. This opinion is all my own.

A cute grumpy-sunshine romance. The focus on lust undermined the love story. Because of the physical obsession and daydreaming, I wasn’t fully convinced that love was the primary motivator, an important feature for me. Otherwise, the chemistry was fun, and the aunt and mother were amusing. I loved the portion about horses.

I loved Heath's Merriwell Sisters series and the first book in this series so it is no surprised that I loved this too. It was a great book with lots of fun antics. I would have loved to see more of Georgina and Henry in this book but alas, their wedding was about a page and then they were gone. Overall, a great addition to the series.

Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for this great ARC!

This was a really fun read & I loved it <3 I was nervous about Lottie as an FMC at first, just because the book opens with her lying approx. 82 times so I thought that would be her MO; it wasn't & she was delightful. I also LOVED Guy; there's nothing better than a man obsessed and boy, was he ever.

I only had 2 issues with the whole book:
- The idea of Guy's mother needing to bide her time by doing the 1 (ONE) thing that her son asks her not to annoyed me... and then he's made to feel guilty about it.... uhhhh that rubbed me the wrong way for pages and pages LMAO.
- HOLY ABRUPT ENDING! I was so bummed that it ended where it did. That last chapter needs an epilogue desperado.

WONDERFUL read!

Free spirited Lottie struggles to keep her governess positions due to her love of horses and riding. After being released from her most recent assignment, she crashes (literally) into jaded, grumpy Guy’s life. We soon learn Guy’s meddling aunt is Lottie’s new employer and, to his disdain, the pair will be reunited at his country home when his aunt comes to visit with her new companion in tow. Out on the estate, Guy’s mother and aunt relentlessly pester Guy about his bachelor status. Their solution is to plan a weeklong, surprise birthday party with all the local debutantes as guests, desperately hoping Guy finds his future bride in the bunch.

What a fun book! I don’t read a ton of historical romance books, but the blurb caught my attention and I was excited to give this a try. I felt like this book was easy to understand and the story easy to follow. Kind of like if the Bachelor fell in love with the show’s camera woman.

Lottie was relatable, kind, true to herself throughout the book. I loved seeing how their conflict bloomed into competitive, teasing friendship (they had so many common interests) and that friendship bloomed into love. Guy grew and changed in a steady, believable way. All the debutantes were nuts - ridiculous and vicious. Them and the meddling family members were very funny.

I have the smallest critic… the amount of exclamation points used in this story was bonkers. Everyone was impassioned or angry or yelling like, all the time. Haha. I think we could’ve got the spirit of the text without all the extra punctuation.

Overall, I really liked this book. Lots of action, interesting locations, character development. One of the most engaging, easy to read historical romance books I’ve read in a while. Great job, Virginia!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the advance copy of this fun book.

Loved this take on a historical romance with a main character that is so witty and funny from the start.
Lottie and Guy seem like opposites, but the way they came together and matched each other so easily.
The side characters in this book really helped begin this book to life. I truly hope we see more from them in the future.
I adored Guy's mom and aunt. They knew how to meddle perfectly.

Captivating from start to finish, I loved the banter and the MCs' dynamic so so much. They were so perfectly matched, and I cannot imagine a better last line for a book than what this one had 🥲

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

The teasing of Guy by Bill, the head groom, was very amusing. I enjoyed the relationship between Lottie and Guy, the way they irritated each other but fascinated each other as well. The characters in the story were delightful. Guy’s public humiliating gesture when he thought he had lost Lottie was wonderful. The ending was great; I’m not sure the author could have come up with a more perfect line to describe what the combination of Lottie and Guy’s personality would produce.

This was a delightful grumpy/sunshine regency romance with forced proximity and meddling mothers and aunts. It was fun to get Lottie's story as one of Miss Prentice's student and appreciated the cameos from from Georgia, Kitty, Portia and Miss P. And of course I loved both Guy and Lottie most of all and how they bonded over their love of horses. I felt like the lovestory grew organically and appreciated the twist ending that got them to their happily ever after. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC.

I really love a historical romance and this one hit the spot! Virginia Heath has never done me wrong and that stays true for this book. It was a cute grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, scheming family, fun book that i definitely recommend!