I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Lottie and Guy were a lot of fun and the tension between them was crackling. I also loved Guy’s aunt and mother so much and the butler. This book has me cracking up so much and kept me highly entertained. I cannot wait to see who gets a book next!

Virginia Heath writes my favorite Regency romance and Look Before You Leap is no exception. It’s thoughtful and hilarious all rolled into one with an atypical Regency heroine in Lottie. The story was great and the characters were great.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

This was a fun, light-hearted read about a farm-girl-turned-governess-turned-lady's-companion winning over a grumpy lord (while helping his mother and aunt plan a house party full of eligible debutantes vying for his attention). They start out on the wrong foot, but bond over their love of horses and the countryside. Lottie's a bit "not like other girls" (she openly wears breeches under her skirts to go riding) but I did like that she wasn't ashamed to manipulate men via flirting. We love a brazen hussy!! Guy is truly obsessed with Lottie from the get-go, while she thinks he's an arrogant prick, which is a fun dynamic.

There wasn't nearly enough conflict for my taste, but I am fully certain that someone wishing to avoid angst/high stakes/"wait--this book IS going to have an HEA, right???" will have a FANTASTIC time. The dialogue felt a little overly-modern at times (and the word "menfolk" appeared way too many times in the first few chapters, a personal annoyance), but Heath is a very competent writer with a good editor! She writes a fun book for sure.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Words cannot easily describe how much I loved this book. Look Before You Leap was the very first historical romance I’ve read, but after having recently binged all three seasons of Bridgerton, I was more than ready to dive into this. And boy, did it deliver.

I am absolutely obsessed with mischievous, self-assured Lottie. She is easily one of my favorite FMCs of all time and I was rooting for her happily ever after from the first page. Recently dismissed from her employer, Lottie is desperate to find work so she can send wages back home to keep her family farm in business and put food on the table for her father and brothers. Lucky for her, Lottie has received training from Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies and Lottie’s boisterous personality lands her a position as a companion for the bitter old Lady Frinton. What she doesn’t expect is an encounter with the broody, stubborn, rude oaf Lord Wennington (Guy) she nearly collided with on horseback during a rebellious gallop through Hyde Park, who also happens to be Lady Frinton’s nephew. But Guy has built walls around his heart that he isn’t quite ready to let down until he’s certain he has found the one. The chemistry between our two main characters was sparking off the pages and this enemies-to-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers storyline was delectable.

This story had everything you could hope for in a historical fiction book: a broody viscount, devious debutantes, a wild and conniving old relative, forbidden love, secrets, lies and witty banter. I can’t count on both hands how many times this book had me giggling and anxiously swiping through the pages desperate to see the outcome of certain scenes. I will admit that this book kept me up several nights fighting sleep because I could not put it down. The moment I can get my hands on one, I will be purchasing a hard copy for myself so that I can read this incredible book again and again.

Book Review: Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

Look Before You Leap was my first introduction to Virginia Heath’s writing, and although it’s the second book in the Miss Prentice’s Protégées series, I had no trouble diving right in—and I’m so glad I did. This regency romance is utterly addictive, thanks to two main characters who are hilarious, lovable, relatable, and have fantastic chemistry. It’s easily been my favorite historical romance of 2025 so far. Fans of India Holton’s Love’s Academic series will find a similar blend of wit, charm, and heart here.

Non-Spoiler Book Summary
Charlotte “Lottie” Travers, a farmer’s daughter from Kent, struggles to conform to the rigid “Four D’s” of decorum at Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies. A free spirit at heart, Lottie prefers tree climbing, outdoor messes, and horseback riding—which is exactly what leads to a chaotic, and literal, run-in at Hyde Park with Lord Guy Harrowby, the Viscount of Wennington.

Thanks to Miss Prentice’s influence, Lottie finds employment as a lady’s companion to the notoriously difficult Lady Frinton. But Lottie soon realizes that this position comes with unexpected complications—chief among them being the return of Lord Wennington and his secret 30th birthday party, which she’s now helping to plan. What follows is a humorous, heartfelt story about two people learning how to be themselves while navigating society’s expectations.

Reviewers Overall Thoughts:
• Heath’s portrayals of both Lottie and Guy are fully believable. Their emotional depth and personal growth felt authentic, and I found myself genuinely invested in their journey.
• The dialogue is a highlight—sharp, funny, and full of charm. I laughed out loud several times at Lottie and Guy’s banter. Very few romances manage this kind of chemistry so well.
• Although this is the second in a series, it works perfectly as a standalone. While there are moments that seem to reference the first book, they don’t hinder the enjoyment or understanding of this installment.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advance reader copy of the book and the opportunity to submit a review.

"In this hilarious second installment of a Regency romance series, a single lord is forced to settle down...and when a houseparty brings a happy-go-lucky lady's companion his way, his grumpy heart is unexpectedly warmed.

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, was publicly humiliated by a failed and reckless romantic gesture. Despite this, his mother clings to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching thirty, Guy's work is his life. In desperation, his mother blindsides Guy with a weeklong house party at his estate filled with annoying debutantes, all competing to be his wife.

After failing as a governess, Lottie Travers is struggling as a lady's companion. Raised in an all-male household, she's developed habits that get her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice's teachings of how to be a lady, she climbs trees better than she embroiders and can't resist riding horses astride, in breeches. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages, she's determined to conquer her wildness once and for all.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one who catches Guy's eye - though he tries to deny it. For Lottie, succeeding in her new role proves difficult when the Wennington estate is filled with horses, and a spark ignites between her and the grumpy lord. Will they remain stuck in their ways, or learn that they may just be the perfect match?"

I mean, Guy's mama knows it takes awhile even after marriage for the grandkids to start coming right?

I loved this book. Especially Lottie. She was definitely not the stereotypical regency romance heroin. Guy was also not your normal suave gentleman. Together they had real chemistry and made for a wonderful read.

An absolutely wonderful historical romance. Lottie is a free spirited, recently unemployed governess who finds herself needing employment and becoming a ladies companion to a notoriously difficult employer. She grew up on a farm and loves to ride horses - making friends with stable hands wherever she goes to borrow horses for rides. Guy is a viscount who is jaded after having his heart broken and quite honestly a bit of a grump (for good reason!).

Lottie and Guy have a terrible first impression - both were riding horses rather recklessly and crashed into one another. Needless to say, not a great impression for both and they certainly started off on the wrong foot!

I really enjoyed this book - it was whimsical, sweet and funny. The dynamic between Guy's mom and aunt was so well done and Guy was a gentleman through and through, despite his prickly exterior.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

This is a reverse of the normal romance novel formula. Instead of boy meets girl, etc., it's girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl gets boy back.

Lottie is capricious and unrestrained. She rides horses with wild abandon and has an unfortunate accident with a Viscount. That specific ride gets her fired from her nanny position, and now she is looking for new employment. When she is hired to be a companion to a crotchety older lady, her life takes an unexpected turn in ways that no one ever anticipated.

Guy Harrowby is the man who gets thrown from his horse because of Lottie's wild ride through the park. While he is incensed because she came out of nowhere, he can't fault her horsemanship. The next hurdle he has to master is his thirtieth birthday, which his mother wants to celebrate in a big way.

The lady Lottie is employed by is the sister of Guy's mother. They engage Lottie in their schemes to throw a week-long party for Guy. Every social climber shows up for the party and plagues Guy until he can hardly stand it anymore. When he finds out that Lottie was involved in planning the party, he frosts her out in spite of the growing feelings he has for her.

This is my first book to read by Virginia Heath and while it does have its rather steamy parts, there are some really funny parts to the book. The plot flows pretty seamlessly, and even though it is the second in a series, it reads well as a stand alone. I truly enjoyed reading Look Before You Leap--four strong stars.
St Martin's Press provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Today I’m reviewing the second novel in Virginia Heath’s Miss Prentice’s Protégées, Look Before You Leap. Lottie Travers is unable to keep her unruly habits out of her professional life. Lottie is given a last chance as a lady’s companion, where she finds herself face-to-face with the man who nearly trampled her and her horse, Lord Guy Harrowby, a Viscount and nephew to her new employer.

This was a fun frolicking story about two people trying to maintain their duty to their family and in Guy’s case, his estate, while trying not to fall in love with his aunts lady’s companion. Their meet cute was adorable, quickly establishing the grumpy + sunshine and enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope.

My only concern was the turning point towards the end of the novel. I felt like Guy’s reaction was way too explosive. His outburst and subsequent vitriol towards Lottie was a bit much. And Lottie’s passive reaction, didn’t feel like her sharp witty self that readers see from the very beginning.

Most romance novels have the third act breakup or circumstances that put the two lovers out of reach. For me, this one could have been flushed out a bit more, where there’s more remorse on Guy’s part for his actions and Lottie in my opinion should have stood up for herself when confronted by Guy about her knowledge of the surprise event.

If you enjoy Regency romances, with a Cinderella-ish type story then check out Heath’s latest novel, Look Before You Leap.

Lottie, a free-spirit young woman, is struggling to keep a position of governess due to her sneaking out and riding her employer's horses. She then finds herself in the position of a lady's companion to a Lady Frinton. Her dad and brothers are struggling to make ends meet on the farm. Will she be able to hold down a job long enough to help them in this time of need?
Guy, a viscount, is constantly nagged by his mother about his need for a wife. As his 30th birthday quickly approaches, will he find the woman of his dreams.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its plot. Lottie and Guy had a lot of chemistry, and I enjoyed seeing Guy fall first. However, I did not enjoy how many times it was mentioned that Guy was lusting after Lottie. My favorite scenes were the archery competition and when Lottie's horse was spooked and Guy chased after her.

Highly recommend if you love regency romances and guy falls first.

This book was a quick, easy, and fun read that was great for getting me out of a reading slump! This is the second book in this series that I've read and the fifth overall from Virginia Heath, and I would say it ranks very solidly in the middle (only because I loved Never Wager with a Wallflower so much).

Unfortunately for me, the one thing that made my reading experience difficult was that I firmly think that Lottie was in the wrong during her and Guy's meet-cute. Since the entire rest of the plot is built around their meeting, I found it a little difficult to push past.

All that being said, this book is very sweet and a very heartfelt read that I'm glad I picked up.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again. Regency has always been popular but Bridgerton has inspired tons more books!

This was delightful: a cute and easy to read regency romance. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the advanced reader copy.

I devoured Lottie and Guy's romance, which had me kicking my feet and giggling the whole way through. This is my fifth book from Heath, and honestly, I think I fall even more in love with every new book she puts out.

Lottie is stubborn and very tomboyish but so overtly optimistic that you can't help but love her. She drives Guy absolutely mad, and he secretly loves it. Every interaction between these two had me giggling. Also, who wouldn't love a meddlesome, chaotic duo of sisters planning a surprise party? Besides Guy, that is. 🤭

This book not only has grumpy sunshine romance, but it's also big on family vibes. I adore the way Guy immediately started considering Lottie's family his own once he realized his true feelings for Lottie. Not only does he adore his own mother and his aunt, though they vex him, but he's also got a hilarious and friendly bond with his staff.

If you like historical romance or the grumpy sunshine trope, I beg you to give this book a try.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

In Look Before You Leap, the second book in Miss Prentice's Protegees series, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight as his thirtieth birthday approaches. After a humiliating romantic experience nearly a decade ago, he has retreated into a life of solitude and work. Despite his efforts to avoid society, his meddlesome mother orchestrates a house party filled with debutantes eager to win his affections. Enter Lottie Travers, a spirited lady’s companion with a penchant for adventure and independence. Struggling to fit into the constraints of polite society, Lottie’s wild nature contrasts sharply with Guy's brooding demeanor. As the two spar and navigate the chaos of the house party, an undeniable chemistry develops. However, Lottie's secrets and Guy's past fears of love create obstacles that they must confront together. This charming tale expertly balances humor and heart, leading to a satisfying slow-burn romance that challenges both characters to grow.

Romance readers will love the grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Lottie and Guy. Their witty banter keeps the narrative lively. Lottie's vibrant spirit and determination to support her family make her a relatable heroine, while Guy's vulnerability adds complexity to his character. The chaos of the house party serves as a perfect backdrop for romantic entanglements, providing ample opportunities for comedic moments and heartfelt revelations. I love that Lottie's family was included. Her brothers seem great (and perhaps need their own story). I like that the author made Lottie a very accomplished horsewoman. Readers will start to see from the beginning of the book that Lottie's place is in horse training and not being a companion. Lottie is made for the outdoors. A rare thing for women to aspire to in this time period. Guy's love of horses is the perfect complement to round out this fun couple. The twist at the ending was unexpected, so it was a bit of extra fun! A great addition to your TBR pile. Definitely recommended.

Publication date is June 25, 2025. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Look Before You Leap is the second installment in the Miss Prentice's Protegees series and follows Lottie Travers, a companion with more love for horses and independence than needlepoint, and Guy Harrowby, a brooding viscount still nursing a bruised heart and a serious distaste for society events, especially ones hosted in his own home without his consent. I was pulled in right away by the premise of the story and thought Lottie and Guy's chemistry crackled from the start, though there were parts of their love story that rubbed me the wrong way.

Lottie was an interesting protagonist. Her background as a farmer’s daughter and the only girl in a house of brothers definitely helped shape her personality and independent spirit, and her determination to support her struggling family while trying to fit into roles that never quite suited her made her even more endearing. Guy, for all his stubbornness and rough edges, gradually reveals depth and vulnerability, which I really appreciated.

I have to say, both characters are a bit difficult to like at times, and though they have amazing chemistry, their banter is a little too insulting for my taste. They go from hating each other and being rude and hurtful when speaking to teasing and flirting by insulting the other? It’s not my favorite trope. And Lottie is keeping secrets, which is a total trigger for Guy. I didn't like this at all, especially knowing his past and how wounded he was. However, the way he speaks to Lottie (more than once) is a major red flag. I didn’t like how harsh he was in his words. His actions, on the other hand, are kind and considerate, which is an interesting, if sometimes confusing, contrast. If I ignore those few mean conversations, the romance was solid, with a satisfying slow burn and some lovely moments of understanding and growth between Lottie and Guy.

Another character I had a hard time warming up to is Guy's mother, who orchestrates the whole matchmaking circus and disregards her son's wishes and feelings. She frustrated me, but she also made me more sympathetic towards Guy. He has a lot of pressure put on him, and his feelings are not often taken into account. Other secondary characters, including Guy's aunt, her butler, and some other guests, are fantastic and add humor and depth to the story.

All in all, this was an entertaining read with a feisty heroine, a gruff hero, and a storyline that blends humor, heart, and just a dash of mayhem. I’m already looking forward to seeing which of the governess graduates gets their story next.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

“Look Before You Leap” (Miss Prentice's Protegees, Book 2) by Virginia Heath
A Super FUN Read ! !
There was never a dull moment in this story. Lottie will, well, she will be Lottie and you will either love or loathe her, maybe. As you may have guessed I loved her, mostly because she is ‘Sunshine’. And Guy, he had a really rough experience that set his life on its current path. I will say there were a couple of times that I chose to skip a few scenes that shared a bit more detail than I cared to witness. But I still loved the story. Happy Reading ! !

The second installment of the Miss Prentice’s Protégées series delivers another delightfully witty and charming Regency romance, filled with heart, humor, and a slow-burn love story that’s as endearing as it is entertaining.

Lord Guy Harrowby is the quintessential grumpy aristocrat with a bruised ego while Lottie Travers is an irresistible blend of chaos and determination. Their slow-burn romance is full of banter, tension, and genuine sweetness. This was one of the best historical romances I have read this year! I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Lottie Travers is a failed governess (she's not good at following orders), but her familly's farm is failing and they need money, so she takes a position as a lady's companion to the very difficult Lady Winthrop, an absolute termagant with some hidden charms. She's a lot to manage, but Lottie is up for the challenge. Lottie and her new employer take a trip to Lady Winthrop's sister's estate to help the sister throw a house party for her son's birthday.

The son in question is Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington. He and Lottie already know each other, having had a meet not-so-cute where they almost collided while riding and he fell off his horse. When she arrives at his estate with his aunt, he's less than thrilled to see her, even as he finds himself attracted to her. Ever since he was publicly humiliated by his first love 9 years before, Guy has avoided society and prefers his quiet life in the country. At his mother's urging, he allows her to throw him a small birthday celebration, but unbeknownst to him, his mother, her sister, and Lottie are actually planning a massive house party full of potential brides.

Lottie and Guy spar, but they're both very into each other. There are obstacles of course: a class difference as Lottie is a farmer's daughter who works for a living, and Guy is a viscount. But a bigger conflict is that Lottie is helping to plan a huge marriage mart house party, something that Guy very much does not want, and she's keeping it a secret from him (she has to, it's part of her job). And once the party starts, she's in the position of having to run interference among all the potential brides while she's catching feelings for the viscount herself.

Lorraine Heath's books are very funny, and Look Before You Leap is no exception. Lottie and Guy's sparring is funny and charming. Lady Winthrop is a battleaxe, but also kind of hilarious and Lottie and the rest of the staff's efforts to deal with her are a lot of fun. The house party is a great backdrop for the romance. Guy hates the party, and he's annoyed at Lottie for her role in it, but he also is only interested in her and not the pack of debutantes his mother invited, many of whom are pushing hard to be the next viscountess.

I laughed a lot while reading this book, and I was really rooting for the main characters to end up together, both things I really like in a romance. I highly recommend this one.