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Miss Prentice's Protegees #2
Look Before You Leap
The second hilarious and heartwarming novel in the Miss Prentice’s Protégées Regency romp of a series
Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, was publicly humiliated when a reckless romantic gesture went very wrong. Despite that, his mother held tight to the promise he made her that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching 30, there’s not a grandchild in sight. His heart now lies with his land and work is his life. In desperation, his mother decides that if he refuses to venture back into society to find her future daughter-in-law, the only solution is to bring society to him via a weeklong houseparty to find one for him. The first Guy knows about her plan is when her hand-picked gaggle of debutantes arrive at his estate, all competing to be his wife.
After failing miserably as a governess, Lottie Travers isn’t proving to be any better at being a lady’s companion. As the only girl in an all-male household growing up, she’s developed several bad habits she can’t shake and keep getting her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings, Lottie still climbs a tree better than she embroiders, and still cannot seem to curb the desire to gallop astride a horse in breeches whenever an opportunity arises. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages to keep it afloat, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all and concentrate on her career.
Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one that catches Guy’s eye, as much as he tries to deny it. And succeeding in her new role is easier said than done for Lottie when the Wennington Estate is filled with horses and she can’t help but feel a spark around the grumpy Lord. By the end of the week, will the two of them remain stuck in their ways, or will they learn that they may just be the perfect match?
Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, was publicly humiliated when a reckless romantic gesture went very wrong. Despite that, his mother held tight to the promise he made her that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching 30, there’s not a grandchild in sight. His heart now lies with his land and work is his life. In desperation, his mother decides that if he refuses to venture back into society to find her future daughter-in-law, the only solution is to bring society to him via a weeklong houseparty to find one for him. The first Guy knows about her plan is when her hand-picked gaggle of debutantes arrive at his estate, all competing to be his wife.
After failing miserably as a governess, Lottie Travers isn’t proving to be any better at being a lady’s companion. As the only girl in an all-male household growing up, she’s developed several bad habits she can’t shake and keep getting her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings, Lottie still climbs a tree better than she embroiders, and still cannot seem to curb the desire to gallop astride a horse in breeches whenever an opportunity arises. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages to keep it afloat, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all and concentrate on her career.
Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one that catches Guy’s eye, as much as he tries to deny it. And succeeding in her new role is easier said than done for Lottie when the Wennington Estate is filled with horses and she can’t help but feel a spark around the grumpy Lord. By the end of the week, will the two of them remain stuck in their ways, or will they learn that they may just be the perfect match?
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2025
70 people are currently reading
9063 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Heath
132 books1,168 followersWhen Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews
June 24, 2025
જ⁀➴ 2.5 stars (rounded down to 2)
Thank you to NetGalley, Virginia Heath, and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Look Before You Leap will be officially published on June 24th, 2025!
˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖
Welp, it seems fitting that this book is unlucky number 13, AKA my 13th read this month, and it's such a low rating. I'm not going to lie, this book almost put me in a reading slump, and I think I've done a pretty good job so far this year of fending those feelings off. But what I thought would be a cute regency romance that gave off the same Bridgerton vibes fell flat for me in so many aspects. There's honestly not a whole ton for me to get into, so I'm going to keep this review as short as possible.
Lottie Travers is the furthest from a governess possible. Sure, she's qualified on paper, but her upbringing with 4 older brothers and a love for horseback riding and wearing breeches isn't exactly...ladylike. When she gets hired to be a lady's companion for Lady Frinton, she gets wrapped up into her scheme with her sister to throw a surprise party for her nephew, Lord Guy Harrowby, that's less of a surprise party and more of a week of matchmaking for him, as he's turning 30 and has yet to produce an heir. The only problem? Lottie and Guy have butt heads in the past, and they're not on good terms with each other, but the more time they spend together, the more they might realize that there's more to each other than their jabs towards each other.
This book is the second in a series, and you do NOT have to read the first book to understand the events in this one! The FMCs of this series—Georgia, Lottie, Portia, and Kitty—are all friends, so I'm going to assume we're getting books about Portia and Kitty in the near future. That being said, the series is a series of interconnected standalones, but as someone who didn't read All's Fair in Love and War (Georgia's book), I didn't have a hard time understanding the events of Look Before You Leap. There's some minor references to Georgia and her love interest, but it's nothing major that would spoil their story if anyone chooses to read this book first and then read Georgia's story after.
There were only really 2 characters I liked the most out of everyone in the story: Lottie and Lady Frinton. I felt they were two sides of the same coin. I loved the way Lottie was just unapologetically herself, and she didn't care what other people thought of her. She speaks her mind and isn't one for the societal rules. She doesn't ride horses sidesaddle, she has endless love for her family, and the last thing on her mind is finding love when all she needs is horses. I would've loved to see more interactions between her and her older brothers; they all seem super tight-knit and close together, but we see her interact the most with her brother, Dan.
As for Lady Frinton, I loved her character, even if she's just a side character. As cranky and volatile as she was, I loved that she respected Lottie's opinions and takes on everything. Even if she wasn't always the best at showing it, you could tell that she was rooting for Lottie throughout the story. The only thing I didn't really like was her and her sister's meddling in Guy's love life. He's 30. He can do whatever he wants.
Moving onto the plot, I feel like things could've been rearranged. For example, it takes almost 80-85% of the book to be completely over before we get any real heart-to-heart talks between Lottie and Guy. The majority of the story leading up to that point is them clashing, bickering, and storming off until they realize the next day that they were acting irrationally, and then they apologize to each other. It was hard to imagine that either of them had chemistry together when they didn't truly open up to each other beyond their surface-level interactions and first impressions of each other until close to the very end of the book. (And no, Guy talking about how many boners he had throughout the story did NOT convince me of any deep, emotional love or attraction towards Lottie; he was just constantly horny to me.)
Also, going into the story, I thought the majority of the plot would involve Lottie and Guy trying to make it through the week together during the courting process with all the debutantes and their families in his own house trying to woo and win him over. What we got instead was 50% party planning and everyone sneaking behind Guy's back trying to plan said surprise party, and then 50% vapid debutantes who were super shallow and served next to zero purpose for the plot overall. That said, coupled with the pacing of the story, it felt like the first 50% of the book was moving at a snail's pace compared to the second half when the surprise party and birthday celebrations start. I also thought it was extremely odd that Guy's mother and aunt invited anywhere between 15-20 debutantes to the ball, but then only 2-3 of them were ever named or had dialogue throughout the story.
Overall, I think hardcore regency romance fans would love this, but this wasn't the book for me. The slow pacing of the story, coupled with plot points that didn't always make 100% sense to me, made it difficult for me to get through and enjoy. I may give All's Fair in Love and War a shot in the future, but this book wasn't for me.
P.S. Scroll to the bottom for a VERY cringy quote that I can't believe exists. Read at your own risk. It's not a spoiler for anything! It's just cringy. Don't say I didn't warn you.
˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I don't even remember the last time I read a regency romance, but I think I'm way overdue for one! Let's hope this delivers🤞🏼🍀💖
This is ARC 8/11 for my ARC reading schedule for June 2025, and ARC 1/3 for my 6/24 deadline!
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Guy lost me at his monologue where he's thinking about Lottie and he described her chest as, "...pert, pointed breasts and their saucy dark pink raspberry nipples."😭 SAUCY?????? DARK PINK RASPBERRY????? I CAN'T.
Thank you to NetGalley, Virginia Heath, and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Look Before You Leap will be officially published on June 24th, 2025!
"I am too selfish to settle for less than those all-encompassing, passionate romantic emotions that supposedly only come with true love."
˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖
Welp, it seems fitting that this book is unlucky number 13, AKA my 13th read this month, and it's such a low rating. I'm not going to lie, this book almost put me in a reading slump, and I think I've done a pretty good job so far this year of fending those feelings off. But what I thought would be a cute regency romance that gave off the same Bridgerton vibes fell flat for me in so many aspects. There's honestly not a whole ton for me to get into, so I'm going to keep this review as short as possible.
Lottie Travers is the furthest from a governess possible. Sure, she's qualified on paper, but her upbringing with 4 older brothers and a love for horseback riding and wearing breeches isn't exactly...ladylike. When she gets hired to be a lady's companion for Lady Frinton, she gets wrapped up into her scheme with her sister to throw a surprise party for her nephew, Lord Guy Harrowby, that's less of a surprise party and more of a week of matchmaking for him, as he's turning 30 and has yet to produce an heir. The only problem? Lottie and Guy have butt heads in the past, and they're not on good terms with each other, but the more time they spend together, the more they might realize that there's more to each other than their jabs towards each other.
This book is the second in a series, and you do NOT have to read the first book to understand the events in this one! The FMCs of this series—Georgia, Lottie, Portia, and Kitty—are all friends, so I'm going to assume we're getting books about Portia and Kitty in the near future. That being said, the series is a series of interconnected standalones, but as someone who didn't read All's Fair in Love and War (Georgia's book), I didn't have a hard time understanding the events of Look Before You Leap. There's some minor references to Georgia and her love interest, but it's nothing major that would spoil their story if anyone chooses to read this book first and then read Georgia's story after.
There were only really 2 characters I liked the most out of everyone in the story: Lottie and Lady Frinton. I felt they were two sides of the same coin. I loved the way Lottie was just unapologetically herself, and she didn't care what other people thought of her. She speaks her mind and isn't one for the societal rules. She doesn't ride horses sidesaddle, she has endless love for her family, and the last thing on her mind is finding love when all she needs is horses. I would've loved to see more interactions between her and her older brothers; they all seem super tight-knit and close together, but we see her interact the most with her brother, Dan.
As for Lady Frinton, I loved her character, even if she's just a side character. As cranky and volatile as she was, I loved that she respected Lottie's opinions and takes on everything. Even if she wasn't always the best at showing it, you could tell that she was rooting for Lottie throughout the story. The only thing I didn't really like was her and her sister's meddling in Guy's love life. He's 30. He can do whatever he wants.
Moving onto the plot, I feel like things could've been rearranged. For example, it takes almost 80-85% of the book to be completely over before we get any real heart-to-heart talks between Lottie and Guy. The majority of the story leading up to that point is them clashing, bickering, and storming off until they realize the next day that they were acting irrationally, and then they apologize to each other. It was hard to imagine that either of them had chemistry together when they didn't truly open up to each other beyond their surface-level interactions and first impressions of each other until close to the very end of the book. (And no, Guy talking about how many boners he had throughout the story did NOT convince me of any deep, emotional love or attraction towards Lottie; he was just constantly horny to me.)
Also, going into the story, I thought the majority of the plot would involve Lottie and Guy trying to make it through the week together during the courting process with all the debutantes and their families in his own house trying to woo and win him over. What we got instead was 50% party planning and everyone sneaking behind Guy's back trying to plan said surprise party, and then 50% vapid debutantes who were super shallow and served next to zero purpose for the plot overall. That said, coupled with the pacing of the story, it felt like the first 50% of the book was moving at a snail's pace compared to the second half when the surprise party and birthday celebrations start. I also thought it was extremely odd that Guy's mother and aunt invited anywhere between 15-20 debutantes to the ball, but then only 2-3 of them were ever named or had dialogue throughout the story.
Overall, I think hardcore regency romance fans would love this, but this wasn't the book for me. The slow pacing of the story, coupled with plot points that didn't always make 100% sense to me, made it difficult for me to get through and enjoy. I may give All's Fair in Love and War a shot in the future, but this book wasn't for me.
P.S. Scroll to the bottom for a VERY cringy quote that I can't believe exists. Read at your own risk. It's not a spoiler for anything! It's just cringy. Don't say I didn't warn you.
˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I don't even remember the last time I read a regency romance, but I think I'm way overdue for one! Let's hope this delivers🤞🏼🍀💖
This is ARC 8/11 for my ARC reading schedule for June 2025, and ARC 1/3 for my 6/24 deadline!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Guy lost me at his monologue where he's thinking about Lottie and he described her chest as, "...pert, pointed breasts and their saucy dark pink raspberry nipples."😭 SAUCY?????? DARK PINK RASPBERRY????? I CAN'T.
September 11, 2025
better than the first in the series which isn't a high bar to clear. i liked the set up but the relationship dev just wasn't there for me.
April 7, 2025
*+:｡.｡“𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓪 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓬. 𝓤𝓷𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓸. 𝓘 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓵 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽? 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓭—𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓭— 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮’𝓼 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓫𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷 𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷. 𝓓𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾?”｡.｡:+*
As y'all see I unfortunately didn't like it that much, I was hoping for something to give me Bridgerton vibes and this did not deliver. However it's okay if you don't have anything else to read
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:27, 29
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I think I have a curse that's called "requesting the second book in a series before reading the first "Anyway, huge thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press 🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
As y'all see I unfortunately didn't like it that much, I was hoping for something to give me Bridgerton vibes and this did not deliver. However it's okay if you don't have anything else to read
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:27, 29
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I think I have a curse that's called "requesting the second book in a series before reading the first "Anyway, huge thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press 🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
June 14, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, historical romance novel. It has a bold, likable female protagonist, an engaging male protagonist, witty banter, humor, amusing secondary characters, a heartwarming romance, and a satisfying conclusion. This is the second entry in Ms. Heath's Ms. Prentice's Protegees series, and it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I am looking forward to reading more entries in this series. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Virginia Heath, and NetGalley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this delightful novel. This is my honest opinion.
April 9, 2025
3.5 stars -
~~~~~~~
I’ve read hundreds of historical romance novels from old-school writing to today’s contemporary spin on the historical romance era.
I love it when authors give license to developing their female characters with a backbone. They are opinionated, they do crazy Antics, and sometimes they might go a little too far. Lol.
Look Before You Leap offers a great twist in that the characters aren’t all high society crazy and that was not pushed in the storyline – well, except for marrying off the male lead asap. The female lead character is losing jobs and stressed to help her family survive a blight with their crops.
Heath pairs her with a great character. I just enjoyed him so much and I felt horrible the way he was continually manipulated by everyone in the book. I am not a big fan of manipulation of people and for me there were parts that really bothered me.
Overall, the story is fun, a bit wacky, and delightful. Plus, we get our happily ever after. The characters are great. The supporting characters are imaginative and not typical of a normal historical romance. They added so much to the story!
This book is a feel good story loaded with humor, but we do get some strife along the way. Beautifully balanced, a tad racy, and a lovely ending. The cover… not so much.
~~~~
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/look-before-...
~~~~~~~
I’ve read hundreds of historical romance novels from old-school writing to today’s contemporary spin on the historical romance era.
I love it when authors give license to developing their female characters with a backbone. They are opinionated, they do crazy Antics, and sometimes they might go a little too far. Lol.
Look Before You Leap offers a great twist in that the characters aren’t all high society crazy and that was not pushed in the storyline – well, except for marrying off the male lead asap. The female lead character is losing jobs and stressed to help her family survive a blight with their crops.
Heath pairs her with a great character. I just enjoyed him so much and I felt horrible the way he was continually manipulated by everyone in the book. I am not a big fan of manipulation of people and for me there were parts that really bothered me.
Overall, the story is fun, a bit wacky, and delightful. Plus, we get our happily ever after. The characters are great. The supporting characters are imaginative and not typical of a normal historical romance. They added so much to the story!
This book is a feel good story loaded with humor, but we do get some strife along the way. Beautifully balanced, a tad racy, and a lovely ending. The cover… not so much.
~~~~
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/look-before-...
February 26, 2025
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.
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.
July 22, 2025
Book Title: Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice’s Protegees Book 2)
Author(s): Virginia Heath
Publisher(s): St. Martin’s Griffin/Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I quickly read the first book in the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series prior to starting Look Before You Leap, and it turns out I didn’t actually need to but I’m glad I did! This is one of those interconnected series where the characters do crossover slightly, but our main focus is on our current MC’s story. We are introduced to Lottie in All's Fair in Love and War, but we really dive into her character here since the focus is on her and Lord Guy *swoon* 🥰
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: First off, I am in love with Virginia Heath’s writing style and the way she constructs her characters. Lottie is a total baddy with lots of sarcasm and sass, especially for the Regency period. And Lord Guy? My heart! Especially at the end where he goes the extra mile made me SO dang happy that I even cried a bit. There is also excellent humor throughout the entire storyline and Heath had me LOLing constantly. The romance itself is very electric, and their chemistry was total chef’s kiss. 👨🏼🍳💋 This also includes a fab set of secondary characters, and I am so curious who the author will focus on next!
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Eva Feiler & Shane East are back from book 1 and narrate Lottie and Lord Guy respectively. It was a little odd having them for a separate set of characters, but I can’t deny how much I love their narration. They did such an incredible job of not only bringing our MCs to life, but all of the other characters as well that eventually it didn’t feel strange to me, and I loved every minute of the audio.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: Look Before You Leap is a hilarious and ultimately heartwarming romance with just a touch of open door spiciness, and I am kicking myself for only just now finally reading this author (her Merriwell Sisters series has been on my TBR since it started in 2021). If you are a fan of Regency romances with quirky characters that have a ton of heart, look no further! And absolutely unnecessary to read in order unless you want to. 😉
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🏇🏼🏹😂💘
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author(s): Virginia Heath
Publisher(s): St. Martin’s Griffin/Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I quickly read the first book in the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series prior to starting Look Before You Leap, and it turns out I didn’t actually need to but I’m glad I did! This is one of those interconnected series where the characters do crossover slightly, but our main focus is on our current MC’s story. We are introduced to Lottie in All's Fair in Love and War, but we really dive into her character here since the focus is on her and Lord Guy *swoon* 🥰
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: First off, I am in love with Virginia Heath’s writing style and the way she constructs her characters. Lottie is a total baddy with lots of sarcasm and sass, especially for the Regency period. And Lord Guy? My heart! Especially at the end where he goes the extra mile made me SO dang happy that I even cried a bit. There is also excellent humor throughout the entire storyline and Heath had me LOLing constantly. The romance itself is very electric, and their chemistry was total chef’s kiss. 👨🏼🍳💋 This also includes a fab set of secondary characters, and I am so curious who the author will focus on next!
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Eva Feiler & Shane East are back from book 1 and narrate Lottie and Lord Guy respectively. It was a little odd having them for a separate set of characters, but I can’t deny how much I love their narration. They did such an incredible job of not only bringing our MCs to life, but all of the other characters as well that eventually it didn’t feel strange to me, and I loved every minute of the audio.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: Look Before You Leap is a hilarious and ultimately heartwarming romance with just a touch of open door spiciness, and I am kicking myself for only just now finally reading this author (her Merriwell Sisters series has been on my TBR since it started in 2021). If you are a fan of Regency romances with quirky characters that have a ton of heart, look no further! And absolutely unnecessary to read in order unless you want to. 😉
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🏇🏼🏹😂💘
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 9, 2025
ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY and SMP!)
Eh
Lottie and Guys constant bickering got pretty tedious and seemed immature- he’s 29 and she’s 23! Everytime they’d kiss they would be interrupted and it just got me annoyed and bored
Eh
Lottie and Guys constant bickering got pretty tedious and seemed immature- he’s 29 and she’s 23! Everytime they’d kiss they would be interrupted and it just got me annoyed and bored
July 3, 2025
Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath
Miss Prentices Protégées series #2. Historical romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Lottie Travers was raised on a farm with several brother. Knowing her future it limited, she goes to Miss Prentices Protégées for training. When her first two positions as governess do not work out, Lottie is placed as a ladies companion where her job is to listen and report back with all the gossip. Since Lottie was surrounded by her brothers, she’s not intimidated by men or horses and finds herself often trading barbs with Lord Guy Harrowby, the Viscount of Wennington. When a house party brings a dozen debutantes to his home looking for marriage, Guy find himself drawn to Lottie as a means of escape and mounting interest. She’s not one of the simpering females trying to trap him. And that’s intriguing.
Amusing and a bit steamy, this historical goes beyond the ballroom and out to the farm. I was a little worried near the end, but those old ladies are cunning!
It was great to have Guy helping out the farmer after researching a problem. Sure, it was because of a female, but he’d already proved he’s a good land owner. A winner.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Miss Prentices Protégées series #2. Historical romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Lottie Travers was raised on a farm with several brother. Knowing her future it limited, she goes to Miss Prentices Protégées for training. When her first two positions as governess do not work out, Lottie is placed as a ladies companion where her job is to listen and report back with all the gossip. Since Lottie was surrounded by her brothers, she’s not intimidated by men or horses and finds herself often trading barbs with Lord Guy Harrowby, the Viscount of Wennington. When a house party brings a dozen debutantes to his home looking for marriage, Guy find himself drawn to Lottie as a means of escape and mounting interest. She’s not one of the simpering females trying to trap him. And that’s intriguing.
Amusing and a bit steamy, this historical goes beyond the ballroom and out to the farm. I was a little worried near the end, but those old ladies are cunning!
It was great to have Guy helping out the farmer after researching a problem. Sure, it was because of a female, but he’d already proved he’s a good land owner. A winner.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
August 7, 2025
C+ / 3.5 stars
I read most – if not all – of the historical romances Virginia Heath wrote for Harlequin Historical, and gave several of them DIK grades. The stories were engaging, warm and funny, the characters were well-developed and the romances were sexy and full of chemistry. I lost track of her when she switched publishers, so thought it was time to catch up with her and picked up Look Before You Leap, book two in her Miss Prentice’s Protegées series.
Although this is the second book, it works as a standalone; I read it without having read the first as there’s no overlap with plot or characters. Miss Prentice’s School trains young ladies to be governesses and ladies’ companions, pretty much the only occupations open to those not poor enough to have to work with their hands, but not wealthy enough not to have to work at all. Lottie Travers was brought up with her four brothers on the family farm in Kent, but little distinction was made between them in terms of upbringing, and consequently Lottie is a bruising rider, an expert on horses, knowledgable about farming, unafraid to express her opinions and used to a degree of independence. When she’s selected to attend Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies at sixteen, she tries hard to behave with the decorum expected of her and to suppress the impulses and instincts that make her, well, her, so she can find a better class of employment that will allow her to send money home. But try as she might, her desire for freedom, especially on horseback often gets her into trouble.
It’s still getting her into trouble seven years later when, newly dismissed from her position as a governess for ‘borrowing’ one of her master’s horses, she’s indulging in a mad gallop in Hyde Park at dawn when she almost collides with a rider mounted on a splendid Arabian horse, which throws him and then bolts. Cursing the rider for his carelessness, Lottie hares off across the park to fetch the rather splendid horse, and on returning it, gives the gentleman a blistering set-down for not looking where he was going, then turns and gallops off.
Later that day, Lottie is offered a position as companion to the Dowager Lady Frinton – a cantankerous battle-axe and grande dame of the ton who is notoriously difficult to please but who, to Lottie’s surprise and relief, seems to find her high-spirits and forthright manner entertaining.
Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, much prefers rusticating at his estate in Kent than spending time in London, eschewing the social whirl of the ton in favour of getting his hands dirty working on his land. A youthful love affair gone badly wrong when his the object of his affections publicly humiliated him has soured him on romance and turned him into something of a recluse, but the quiet life suits him – despite his mother’s insistence that all work and no play has made Guy a very dull boy. He loves her dearly, but her constant harping on at him to find himself a wife and get started on the grandchildren he’d promised her is getting on his nerves. His thirtieth birthday is approaching and she wants to throw him a big party (clearly hoping to also throw some elibigle debutantes in his way) – which he vetos immediately, agreeing instead that she can arrange a dinner party for no more than thirty guests.
Excited at having persuaded her curmudgeonly son to allow her to arrange anything, Guy’s mother immediately writes to her older half-sister, Lady Frinton, to tell her the news - which finds that lady, and her new companion, heading to Kent to partake of the festivities. Once arrived however, Lottie discovers that there’s more afoot than a simple birthday dinner. The two dowagers have hatched a plan to host a week-long surprise house party to celebrate Guy’s birthday, even though they know he won’t like it.
He isn't best pleased to discover that his aunt’s new companion is none other than the Valkyrie who’d knocked him off his horse and threatened to horsewhip him that morning in Hyde Park. Even more infuriating is the fact that he’s been unable to forget how stunning she’d been, her cornflower blue eyes sparking, her golden curls bouncing as she’d harangued him.
Guy and Lottie strike sparks off each other from the moment they meet, with the spirited, vivacious Lottie tying the more reticent Guy up in knots as they bond over their love of horses and their attraction becomes harder and harder to deny. Lottie is an engaging herone - bright, practical and good-natured with a great sense of fun, but she doesn’t really grow or develop throughout the course of the story. Guy is less well-characterised – being grumpy seems to be his defining character trait – and I had little patience with a grown man still licking his wounds nine years after the public rejection that sent him fleeing from London with his tail between his legs. Their bickering is entertaining for the most part, but the animosity becomes a bit wearing after a while and I wanted them to move on and actually start getting to know each other better. Despite the obvious physical attraction between them (and their mutual love of things equine), I can’t actually say that I know what made them fall in love with each other.
Look Before You Leap is entertaining enough, but there’s nothing in it to make it stand out from the crowd and nothing the long-time reader of historical romance won’t have read elsewhere several times over. The one thing it has going for it is the author’s sprightly prose and trademark humour – although even those sometimes get lost amid some pretty flabby pacing (especially in the first half) and repetition of thoughts and ideas. (Yes, Lottie is good with horses and an unconventional ray of sunshine. Yes, Guy is a crotchety stormcloud and the grouchiest viscount ever to have viscounted etc. etc.) And I really didn’t like Guy’s mother and aunt going behind his back to organise the house party when he’d expressly said he didn’t want to make a fuss over his birthday. The author does attempt to put a more sympathetic spin on it - one that basically guilts him into participating - but I couldn’t help thinking what they did was selfish and inconsiderate, and that Guy had every right to be angry about it. The third act conflict is incredibly flimsy and the resolution is just plain silly; maybe the fact that Guy is prepared to embarrass himself in public is a sign of personal growth, and/or that what he feels for Lottie is Twu Wuv, but he makes a total tit of himself for her and she just winds him up by pretending she doesn’t know how he feels and forces him into making a public declaration. That was unkind and really soured the ending for me.
Look Before You Leap is light-hearted, frothy and insubstantial, and might work better for you than it did for me if low-angst, light-on-plot historicals (without smash-the-patriarchy heroines) are your jam.
I read most – if not all – of the historical romances Virginia Heath wrote for Harlequin Historical, and gave several of them DIK grades. The stories were engaging, warm and funny, the characters were well-developed and the romances were sexy and full of chemistry. I lost track of her when she switched publishers, so thought it was time to catch up with her and picked up Look Before You Leap, book two in her Miss Prentice’s Protegées series.
Although this is the second book, it works as a standalone; I read it without having read the first as there’s no overlap with plot or characters. Miss Prentice’s School trains young ladies to be governesses and ladies’ companions, pretty much the only occupations open to those not poor enough to have to work with their hands, but not wealthy enough not to have to work at all. Lottie Travers was brought up with her four brothers on the family farm in Kent, but little distinction was made between them in terms of upbringing, and consequently Lottie is a bruising rider, an expert on horses, knowledgable about farming, unafraid to express her opinions and used to a degree of independence. When she’s selected to attend Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies at sixteen, she tries hard to behave with the decorum expected of her and to suppress the impulses and instincts that make her, well, her, so she can find a better class of employment that will allow her to send money home. But try as she might, her desire for freedom, especially on horseback often gets her into trouble.
It’s still getting her into trouble seven years later when, newly dismissed from her position as a governess for ‘borrowing’ one of her master’s horses, she’s indulging in a mad gallop in Hyde Park at dawn when she almost collides with a rider mounted on a splendid Arabian horse, which throws him and then bolts. Cursing the rider for his carelessness, Lottie hares off across the park to fetch the rather splendid horse, and on returning it, gives the gentleman a blistering set-down for not looking where he was going, then turns and gallops off.
Later that day, Lottie is offered a position as companion to the Dowager Lady Frinton – a cantankerous battle-axe and grande dame of the ton who is notoriously difficult to please but who, to Lottie’s surprise and relief, seems to find her high-spirits and forthright manner entertaining.
Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, much prefers rusticating at his estate in Kent than spending time in London, eschewing the social whirl of the ton in favour of getting his hands dirty working on his land. A youthful love affair gone badly wrong when his the object of his affections publicly humiliated him has soured him on romance and turned him into something of a recluse, but the quiet life suits him – despite his mother’s insistence that all work and no play has made Guy a very dull boy. He loves her dearly, but her constant harping on at him to find himself a wife and get started on the grandchildren he’d promised her is getting on his nerves. His thirtieth birthday is approaching and she wants to throw him a big party (clearly hoping to also throw some elibigle debutantes in his way) – which he vetos immediately, agreeing instead that she can arrange a dinner party for no more than thirty guests.
Excited at having persuaded her curmudgeonly son to allow her to arrange anything, Guy’s mother immediately writes to her older half-sister, Lady Frinton, to tell her the news - which finds that lady, and her new companion, heading to Kent to partake of the festivities. Once arrived however, Lottie discovers that there’s more afoot than a simple birthday dinner. The two dowagers have hatched a plan to host a week-long surprise house party to celebrate Guy’s birthday, even though they know he won’t like it.
He isn't best pleased to discover that his aunt’s new companion is none other than the Valkyrie who’d knocked him off his horse and threatened to horsewhip him that morning in Hyde Park. Even more infuriating is the fact that he’s been unable to forget how stunning she’d been, her cornflower blue eyes sparking, her golden curls bouncing as she’d harangued him.
Guy and Lottie strike sparks off each other from the moment they meet, with the spirited, vivacious Lottie tying the more reticent Guy up in knots as they bond over their love of horses and their attraction becomes harder and harder to deny. Lottie is an engaging herone - bright, practical and good-natured with a great sense of fun, but she doesn’t really grow or develop throughout the course of the story. Guy is less well-characterised – being grumpy seems to be his defining character trait – and I had little patience with a grown man still licking his wounds nine years after the public rejection that sent him fleeing from London with his tail between his legs. Their bickering is entertaining for the most part, but the animosity becomes a bit wearing after a while and I wanted them to move on and actually start getting to know each other better. Despite the obvious physical attraction between them (and their mutual love of things equine), I can’t actually say that I know what made them fall in love with each other.
Look Before You Leap is entertaining enough, but there’s nothing in it to make it stand out from the crowd and nothing the long-time reader of historical romance won’t have read elsewhere several times over. The one thing it has going for it is the author’s sprightly prose and trademark humour – although even those sometimes get lost amid some pretty flabby pacing (especially in the first half) and repetition of thoughts and ideas. (Yes, Lottie is good with horses and an unconventional ray of sunshine. Yes, Guy is a crotchety stormcloud and the grouchiest viscount ever to have viscounted etc. etc.) And I really didn’t like Guy’s mother and aunt going behind his back to organise the house party when he’d expressly said he didn’t want to make a fuss over his birthday. The author does attempt to put a more sympathetic spin on it - one that basically guilts him into participating - but I couldn’t help thinking what they did was selfish and inconsiderate, and that Guy had every right to be angry about it. The third act conflict is incredibly flimsy and the resolution is just plain silly; maybe the fact that Guy is prepared to embarrass himself in public is a sign of personal growth, and/or that what he feels for Lottie is Twu Wuv, but he makes a total tit of himself for her and she just winds him up by pretending she doesn’t know how he feels and forces him into making a public declaration. That was unkind and really soured the ending for me.
Look Before You Leap is light-hearted, frothy and insubstantial, and might work better for you than it did for me if low-angst, light-on-plot historicals (without smash-the-patriarchy heroines) are your jam.
April 10, 2025
Virginia Heath has quickly become a new favorite historical romance author and this series is the reason why. Miss Prentice’s Protégées are governesses is in training, but the heroines are varied and interesting despite their similar training and professions. In Look Before You Leap, we meet Lottie, another governess, but one who can’t seem to stay in any position for very long. Her wages help keep her family’s farm afloat, so she eagerly accepts a position as a companion, though her employer is notoriously difficult. The job takes her to a house party meant to introduce the employer’s nephew, Guy, to a slew of eligible young women. Lottie finds Guy irritating at first, but warms up to him as they interact during the party. An added subplot is the plight of her father and brothers back on the farm, where blight has ruined another crop.
The writing here is witty and charming. I found myself devouring this in two days because I was so eager to see how things would work out for characters who were easy to love right away. Both main characters are underdogs here, even the aristocrat. This is also a sweet story about a love of the countryside. Both Guy and Lottie seem to love their farms and the outdoors, which helps bind them together despite the class mismatch.
The class mismatch served as a key conflict. As an aristocrat, Guy can’t understand why Lottie didn’t warn him of something her employer was planning that would upset him. He couldn’t conceive that her duty and loyalty to her employer and her need for money to support her family would override her feelings for him. This is a romp with some wonderfully funny parts, but it also has some nice social commentary as a result.
I’m eager to continue with the series!
The writing here is witty and charming. I found myself devouring this in two days because I was so eager to see how things would work out for characters who were easy to love right away. Both main characters are underdogs here, even the aristocrat. This is also a sweet story about a love of the countryside. Both Guy and Lottie seem to love their farms and the outdoors, which helps bind them together despite the class mismatch.
The class mismatch served as a key conflict. As an aristocrat, Guy can’t understand why Lottie didn’t warn him of something her employer was planning that would upset him. He couldn’t conceive that her duty and loyalty to her employer and her need for money to support her family would override her feelings for him. This is a romp with some wonderfully funny parts, but it also has some nice social commentary as a result.
I’m eager to continue with the series!
July 24, 2025
Charming, playful, and passionate!
Look Before You Leap is a heartwarming, enticing tale that sweeps you away to 1820 and into the life of Lottie Travers, a young woman who, after her love for riding has lost her several previous positions, takes on the role of companion to Lady Frinton, only to find herself near her home in Kent and face-to-face with the dashingly handsome Viscount of Wennington, Lord Guy Harrowby, whose mother and aunt are determined to have wed shortly after his thirtieth birthday.
The prose is sweet and light. The characters are loyal, supportive, and engaging. And the plot is an entertaining tale full of family, friendship, societal expectations, tricky situations, tender moments, desire, trust, and steamy romance.
Overall, Look Before You Leap is a swoon-worthy, uplifting, delightful read by Heath that I devoured from start to finish, and is a wonderful addition to the Miss Pretence’s Protégées series.
Look Before You Leap is a heartwarming, enticing tale that sweeps you away to 1820 and into the life of Lottie Travers, a young woman who, after her love for riding has lost her several previous positions, takes on the role of companion to Lady Frinton, only to find herself near her home in Kent and face-to-face with the dashingly handsome Viscount of Wennington, Lord Guy Harrowby, whose mother and aunt are determined to have wed shortly after his thirtieth birthday.
The prose is sweet and light. The characters are loyal, supportive, and engaging. And the plot is an entertaining tale full of family, friendship, societal expectations, tricky situations, tender moments, desire, trust, and steamy romance.
Overall, Look Before You Leap is a swoon-worthy, uplifting, delightful read by Heath that I devoured from start to finish, and is a wonderful addition to the Miss Pretence’s Protégées series.
July 7, 2025
While I was initially worried about the “regency” trope, my worries immediately disappeared when I quickly fell in love with the characters! The language stayed true to the genre, but the characters were hilariously lovable and I could honestly read an entire series in this style
June 14, 2025
ARC Review- 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me start by saying this book was fun and witty for a historical period romance. The main characters Lottie and Guy are from two very different backgrounds which makes the storyline work great. The support characters were all perfect additions. Just needed a little more and a little less in other areas to get that next star from me. Still a fun read!! (for reference I have not read the first book in the series)
Big Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Virginia Heath for my free Advanced Reader Copy! My opinion and review of course was unbiased. Grab your Copy June 25th!
Let me start by saying this book was fun and witty for a historical period romance. The main characters Lottie and Guy are from two very different backgrounds which makes the storyline work great. The support characters were all perfect additions. Just needed a little more and a little less in other areas to get that next star from me. Still a fun read!! (for reference I have not read the first book in the series)
Big Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Virginia Heath for my free Advanced Reader Copy! My opinion and review of course was unbiased. Grab your Copy June 25th!
June 11, 2025
Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, had his heart broken, his heart now lies with his land and work is his life. His mother decides that if he refuses to venture back into society to find her future daughter-in-law, the only solution is to bring society to him via a weeklong house party. The first Guy knows about her plan is when her hand-picked gaggle of debutantes arrive at his estate, all competing to be his wife. After failing miserably as a governess, Lottie Travers isn’t proving to be any better at being a lady’s companion. As the only girl in an all-male household growing up, she’s developed several bad habits she can’t shake and keep getting her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings, Lottie is still a tomboy at heart. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages to keep it afloat, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all and concentrate on her career.
The second protegee from Miss P’s academy & what a delightful romcom it was. I absolutely loved Guy & Lottie, enemies to lovers, grumpy meets sunshine. Their attraction sizzled but it was their banter which was a joy. I loved how their first impressions of each other changed. I laughed, I smiled & I wiped away a tear whilst engrossed in this well written romance. The secondary characters were also well portrayed, who doesn’t love an irascible female elderly relative & scheming debutantes? My only quibble was there wasn’t an epilogue as I didn’t want to leave this couple
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The second protegee from Miss P’s academy & what a delightful romcom it was. I absolutely loved Guy & Lottie, enemies to lovers, grumpy meets sunshine. Their attraction sizzled but it was their banter which was a joy. I loved how their first impressions of each other changed. I laughed, I smiled & I wiped away a tear whilst engrossed in this well written romance. The secondary characters were also well portrayed, who doesn’t love an irascible female elderly relative & scheming debutantes? My only quibble was there wasn’t an epilogue as I didn’t want to leave this couple
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
February 16, 2025
While this was entertaining but it's nothing new to this genre. This is going to be fun for any historical romance fans, but it didn't fully resonate with me.
August 19, 2025
3.5⭐
I had a lot of fun with this newest addition to the series - I liked it even more than the first book. These are really fun historical romances that are perfect for when you're in a slump.
I really enjoyed our main characters in this book. I liked how passionate Charlotte was about horses and how our main characters connected through that shared love. I also really enjoyed our male main character's family.
These are super quick reads, so I'm looking forward to reading more in this series in the future.
I had a lot of fun with this newest addition to the series - I liked it even more than the first book. These are really fun historical romances that are perfect for when you're in a slump.
I really enjoyed our main characters in this book. I liked how passionate Charlotte was about horses and how our main characters connected through that shared love. I also really enjoyed our male main character's family.
These are super quick reads, so I'm looking forward to reading more in this series in the future.
August 18, 2025
The ending was.... It could have been more. I wanted more of a declaration of love and it was clumsy and cute but he needed to do more for her.
June 16, 2025
I enjoyed the first one in this series, All’s Fair in Love and War, and was excited to get the next protegee’s story! So when the publisher reached out with a link to an e-galley of this, I went ahead and grabbed it.
I did enjoy this story. I liked Lottie a lot. She was fun and knew what she liked and didn’t like, and knew who she was. Sure there was the problem of Guy being a Lord and she was just a farmer’s daughter and former governess/companion to his aunt now. It was obvious it was a grumpy sunshine romance, and while it was understandable that Guy was a little bit gun-shy of falling in love after his humiliation as a young man in love years before, I did like that he kind of came around to the idea of the two of them before she did.
Guy was a nice guy, the things he did for his family, the people who lived around his lands and how he wanted to make sure to help them get fair profit from their crops. His mother was such a meddler though, and it was easy to see why he was so frustrated and tended to stay away to save himself from her matchmaking. When Guy and Lottie did give in, it was just one somewhat open door scene in the story, other than a few kisses and a little making out before that. I was also a bit shocked when his mother and especially his aunt sent Lottie away because of the other prospects catching the two of them from a distance together kissing or him leaving her room. Especially with the way both of them had earlier acted about things they’d heard. However in the end, I was glad that was the drama that came between them instead of a misunderstanding for drama’s sake. And I loved the letter Lottie got right when Guy showed up for that big grand gesture to get her back.
Another fun addition to the series, and I look forward to seeing which protegee will get her HEA next!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
I did enjoy this story. I liked Lottie a lot. She was fun and knew what she liked and didn’t like, and knew who she was. Sure there was the problem of Guy being a Lord and she was just a farmer’s daughter and former governess/companion to his aunt now. It was obvious it was a grumpy sunshine romance, and while it was understandable that Guy was a little bit gun-shy of falling in love after his humiliation as a young man in love years before, I did like that he kind of came around to the idea of the two of them before she did.
Guy was a nice guy, the things he did for his family, the people who lived around his lands and how he wanted to make sure to help them get fair profit from their crops. His mother was such a meddler though, and it was easy to see why he was so frustrated and tended to stay away to save himself from her matchmaking. When Guy and Lottie did give in, it was just one somewhat open door scene in the story, other than a few kisses and a little making out before that. I was also a bit shocked when his mother and especially his aunt sent Lottie away because of the other prospects catching the two of them from a distance together kissing or him leaving her room. Especially with the way both of them had earlier acted about things they’d heard. However in the end, I was glad that was the drama that came between them instead of a misunderstanding for drama’s sake. And I loved the letter Lottie got right when Guy showed up for that big grand gesture to get her back.
Another fun addition to the series, and I look forward to seeing which protegee will get her HEA next!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
June 27, 2025
1820
Lottie Travers was dismissed from yet another post for galloping across Rotten Row (there may have been some flirting and horse-borrowing involved as well). Her last chance at a job that pays well enough to support her father and brothers on their farm is to become a companion to an older woman with a difficult reputation, Lady Almeria Winthrop. Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, hates his birthday and despises public events even more. When his mother (sister of Lady Winthrop), insists on throwing him a party anyway, he begrudgingly agrees to a small affair. But suddenly, Lottie finds herself planning a house party with all of the neighboring eligible ladies alongside his mother and aunt, even knowing as Lottie and Guy get closer, that he'll despise it.
Of the books with horse training plots I've read lately, this was the most fun. Lottie grew up on a farm with four older brothers, so riding astride is in her blood. Guy trains Arabians, and his prize stallion has a temper (but seems to like Lottie). Some of the best scenes in the book are when Lottie thinks outside the box when it comes to horsebreaking. Viriginia Heath writes excellent on page chemistry, and the dynamic between Lottie and Guy is exactly what you want out of a historical romcom. Any time Guy pulls away from Lottie, the reasons are strongly rooted in his character.
I ended up listening to the audiobook, and it is excellent. I cannot recommend that reading experience enough. Eva Feiler and Shane East bring the humor and the emotion in a dual narration format that works extremely well for the writing style.
Thank you to St Martins Press for and eARC. Look Before you Leap is out 6/24/25.
Lottie Travers was dismissed from yet another post for galloping across Rotten Row (there may have been some flirting and horse-borrowing involved as well). Her last chance at a job that pays well enough to support her father and brothers on their farm is to become a companion to an older woman with a difficult reputation, Lady Almeria Winthrop. Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, hates his birthday and despises public events even more. When his mother (sister of Lady Winthrop), insists on throwing him a party anyway, he begrudgingly agrees to a small affair. But suddenly, Lottie finds herself planning a house party with all of the neighboring eligible ladies alongside his mother and aunt, even knowing as Lottie and Guy get closer, that he'll despise it.
Of the books with horse training plots I've read lately, this was the most fun. Lottie grew up on a farm with four older brothers, so riding astride is in her blood. Guy trains Arabians, and his prize stallion has a temper (but seems to like Lottie). Some of the best scenes in the book are when Lottie thinks outside the box when it comes to horsebreaking. Viriginia Heath writes excellent on page chemistry, and the dynamic between Lottie and Guy is exactly what you want out of a historical romcom. Any time Guy pulls away from Lottie, the reasons are strongly rooted in his character.
I ended up listening to the audiobook, and it is excellent. I cannot recommend that reading experience enough. Eva Feiler and Shane East bring the humor and the emotion in a dual narration format that works extremely well for the writing style.
Thank you to St Martins Press for and eARC. Look Before you Leap is out 6/24/25.
July 2, 2025
I jumped into this book without reading the prior book in the series and now I enjoyed it so much I need to read that book too!
Look before you leap features a governance with a bit of a wild side who can’t keep her hands off of a good horse! She find herself often getting into trouble for her unconventional ways and plain speaking. Thankfully, her next assignment is as a lady’s companion to a crotchety and very outspoken old lady! No one has been able to stay in her employment for long, but perhaps Lottie we’ll find a like spirit in her new employer.
Her first task is to accompany her to her nephews home and help secretly plan a house party for his birthday! This turned out funner than she expected as the birthday party boy is grumpy and surly and in desperate need of cheering up!
But as Lottie start spending time with Lord Guy Harrowby while helping him with his horses she starts to get to know him and realizes that this party is definitely not a good plan…too bad she’s only a lady’s companion and needs to toe the line and keep her employers secrets will be betraying Guy… this is not going to end well… especially when the gaggle of society misses come vying for the reclusive guys attention!
This book was so much fun! I loved the sparks and banter flew between Lottie and Guy. The antics and shenanigans that push these two together made for a very entertaining read! This is definitely a true historical romcom!
As I said, before, I now need to crack open book one, All’s Fair in Love and War and catch up on Miss Prentice’s first successful match!
Look before you leap features a governance with a bit of a wild side who can’t keep her hands off of a good horse! She find herself often getting into trouble for her unconventional ways and plain speaking. Thankfully, her next assignment is as a lady’s companion to a crotchety and very outspoken old lady! No one has been able to stay in her employment for long, but perhaps Lottie we’ll find a like spirit in her new employer.
Her first task is to accompany her to her nephews home and help secretly plan a house party for his birthday! This turned out funner than she expected as the birthday party boy is grumpy and surly and in desperate need of cheering up!
But as Lottie start spending time with Lord Guy Harrowby while helping him with his horses she starts to get to know him and realizes that this party is definitely not a good plan…too bad she’s only a lady’s companion and needs to toe the line and keep her employers secrets will be betraying Guy… this is not going to end well… especially when the gaggle of society misses come vying for the reclusive guys attention!
This book was so much fun! I loved the sparks and banter flew between Lottie and Guy. The antics and shenanigans that push these two together made for a very entertaining read! This is definitely a true historical romcom!
As I said, before, I now need to crack open book one, All’s Fair in Love and War and catch up on Miss Prentice’s first successful match!
June 9, 2025
Lottie is a farm girl turned disgraced governess protégé of a prestigious trainer. She is given the chance as a lady's companion, but the lady happens to be the aunt of a man she nearly ran over while borrowing a horse in a most unladylike fashion. The two both clash and come together as his aunt and mother embark on a matchmaking scheme disguised as a surprise party full of eligible debutantes.
I loved this one!!!! Lottie was spirited and fresh, but not in a pick-me-girl way, in a farm girl way. The love interest and chemistry was fantastic, great conversation, slow respect and a genuine liking and friendship. It just worked wonderfully. The storyline was fun! No unnecessary dramatic third act!!!!
Thank-you so much to both St Martin's Press and Virginia Heath for my free advanced reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own. Look out for this one, coming out June 24!
I never read the first book in this series. Now I want to!
I loved this one!!!! Lottie was spirited and fresh, but not in a pick-me-girl way, in a farm girl way. The love interest and chemistry was fantastic, great conversation, slow respect and a genuine liking and friendship. It just worked wonderfully. The storyline was fun! No unnecessary dramatic third act!!!!
Thank-you so much to both St Martin's Press and Virginia Heath for my free advanced reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own. Look out for this one, coming out June 24!
I never read the first book in this series. Now I want to!
June 24, 2025
This book was so much fun. Let me tell you, I opened it, started reading, and didn’t come up for air until the very last word. I was under some sort of spell, no doubt.
Lottie and Guy were perfect for each other. There was a simmering sexual tension underneath all the barbs they kept throwing at each other. Guy sent out a bunch of mixed signals to protect his heart and Lottie was just her effervescent self. The epitome of sunshine versus grumpy. And Guy was hiding a caring, generous inside under all that bluster. I loved the way their romance unfolded and the ending was perfect for them.
The unwanted house party to celebrate Guy’s birthday provided so much drama, I was either laughing or rolling my eyes (while laughing). I loved the sass that the butler and the groom added to the story. I also liked that Lottie’s family and friends provided a safe space to land after all her mishaps.
If you like a steamy historical romcom, then this is for you. This is book two in the series but it can be read on its own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review is also on Hooked By That Book.
Lottie and Guy were perfect for each other. There was a simmering sexual tension underneath all the barbs they kept throwing at each other. Guy sent out a bunch of mixed signals to protect his heart and Lottie was just her effervescent self. The epitome of sunshine versus grumpy. And Guy was hiding a caring, generous inside under all that bluster. I loved the way their romance unfolded and the ending was perfect for them.
The unwanted house party to celebrate Guy’s birthday provided so much drama, I was either laughing or rolling my eyes (while laughing). I loved the sass that the butler and the groom added to the story. I also liked that Lottie’s family and friends provided a safe space to land after all her mishaps.
If you like a steamy historical romcom, then this is for you. This is book two in the series but it can be read on its own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review is also on Hooked By That Book.
June 28, 2025
✅♥️Thank you @smpromance @netgalley @virginiahealthwrites for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
My thoughts:
What a lovely regency romance! A fun, quick and entertaining historical romance.
I loved Lottie! And, I loved Guy too! They make the most perfect couple. Both have a love for horses and being outdoors.
Look Before You Leap had me laughing and swooning :).
💛Grumpy Viscount
🩶Stubborn lady’s companion
🩵Heartwarming romance
🧡Hilarious banter
💚Swoon worthy moments
This was a fun book to read. Perfect book for fans of a fun filled regency romance.
#shortbookthyme
@shortbookthyme
My thoughts:
What a lovely regency romance! A fun, quick and entertaining historical romance.
I loved Lottie! And, I loved Guy too! They make the most perfect couple. Both have a love for horses and being outdoors.
Look Before You Leap had me laughing and swooning :).
💛Grumpy Viscount
🩶Stubborn lady’s companion
🩵Heartwarming romance
🧡Hilarious banter
💚Swoon worthy moments
This was a fun book to read. Perfect book for fans of a fun filled regency romance.
#shortbookthyme
@shortbookthyme
July 28, 2025
my fav of three Virginia Health books I've read! The writing, the banter, the plot so fun and enjoyable. My only complaint is I did not like the mom meddling at the end because I got sad for a second there
July 26, 2025
I really loved the characters! The ending felt rushed and not long enough. Some of the ~descriptions~ were cringe and unrealistic.
June 24, 2025
4.25 stars! A but of a slow start, but once it got there, this was such fun! We have two ultra-competent MC — one eternal optimist FMC, Lottie, and a curmudgeonly MMC, Guy. Guy falls first and fast for Lottie, but, boy, does this man put his foot in his mouth so many times before he can say something right. As a result, Lottie’s perception of Guy is all wrong. Add in Guy’s scheming mother and aunt, and we have a series of fun hijinks that throws these two together. I had a great time.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the ARC!!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the ARC!!
June 1, 2025
I’m a simple girl. Give me a starchy potato that has some big time unstarching to do, put that together with a hellion that has impulse control issues, give them 2 horses, make them crash into each other, resulting in a shouting match, and I am content.
Okay, not so much the horses, since I don’t care for the beasts, but while this book has a LOT of horses, it certainly didn’t take away from these 2 fantastic characters getting their happy ending. Throw in a meddling mother, a scheming dragon of an aunt (seriously though, I want to be aunt Almeria when I grow up), an exasperated butler, a houseparty with desperate debutantes, some tomatosoup, a mother goose and you have got yourself an old fashioned Regency Romp.
Have I mentioned that Guy calls Lottie a minx multiple times? Or that whenever an MMC calls the FMC a minx it makes me feral? No? Well, now you know.
I am actually sad that I finished this book, it’s one of those that you just don’t want to end. Thankfully this is only the second book in the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series, because I need more.
(We’d better get a novella for Miss P too, because those hints at the end there are the perfect potential for a second chance romance, and I will raise pitchforks if we don’t get it)
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an ARC.
Okay, not so much the horses, since I don’t care for the beasts, but while this book has a LOT of horses, it certainly didn’t take away from these 2 fantastic characters getting their happy ending. Throw in a meddling mother, a scheming dragon of an aunt (seriously though, I want to be aunt Almeria when I grow up), an exasperated butler, a houseparty with desperate debutantes, some tomatosoup, a mother goose and you have got yourself an old fashioned Regency Romp.
Have I mentioned that Guy calls Lottie a minx multiple times? Or that whenever an MMC calls the FMC a minx it makes me feral? No? Well, now you know.
I am actually sad that I finished this book, it’s one of those that you just don’t want to end. Thankfully this is only the second book in the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series, because I need more.
(We’d better get a novella for Miss P too, because those hints at the end there are the perfect potential for a second chance romance, and I will raise pitchforks if we don’t get it)
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an ARC.
June 10, 2025
I enjoyed this so much! Even better than the first in the series. And even though I love Lottie and Guy and they are perfect for one another, despite having more of a meet disaster than a meet cute, where Virginia Heath shines is in her side characters. Vastly different players serving different roles, but well drawn and memorable for good and bad reasons depending on the character.
Look Before You Leap is a lovely regency romance that shifts the focus away from the ton and their simpering and backbiting. I like that Guy thinks of himself more as a farmer than as a viscount, and he puts his money where his mouth is on that front.
Laugh out loud at points and one particular quip had me almost in tears I was laughing so hard. Absolutely worth a read, and now I’m very curious about which of Miss Prentice’s protégés gets to take center stage next.
-grumpy/sunshine
-class difference
-open door but not explicit
-house party
-dragon lady dowager
-equestrianism
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Look Before You Leap is a lovely regency romance that shifts the focus away from the ton and their simpering and backbiting. I like that Guy thinks of himself more as a farmer than as a viscount, and he puts his money where his mouth is on that front.
Laugh out loud at points and one particular quip had me almost in tears I was laughing so hard. Absolutely worth a read, and now I’m very curious about which of Miss Prentice’s protégés gets to take center stage next.
-grumpy/sunshine
-class difference
-open door but not explicit
-house party
-dragon lady dowager
-equestrianism
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
June 26, 2025
3.8 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ahhh! This book was better than the first book of the series. It reminds me so much of Pride & Prejudice, and I love that book! If you like Mr. Darcy, well I prefer the Vicount in this book. 😉
Writing: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Enjoyability: 4/5
(More in-depth analysis below)
👩🏻🏫💡 I received this book to read as an Advanced Reader/Review Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
💕Would you recommend this book?
Actually, yes! If someone were to ask for a regency romance, this would be a good choice!
🪶Favorite Quote(s):
“You know what they say, my lady: you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. Your son has to make his own choice. He won’t allow you to push him off a cliff, he’ll have to decide to leap himself. ”
🌶️ Spice Level: 🔥
Woooow. The yearning was worth it! And to have it happen during a regency period… unmarried?!!! SCANDALOUS!!!
——
📝Writing Style: 4/ 5
Written in third-person POV, alternating between the two MCs. The diction and prose matches that of the regency era. I will say Virginia Heath’s writing has gotten better. However, I still don’t like the random use of today’s generation’s slang! “Cringe-worthy” appeared here again!
🏃🏻♀️Pace: 4/5
The story has good pacing. Some parts seemed a bit slower only because of the slow burn romance, but it’s a shorter novel and had no extra fluff!
🗺️Plot: 3/ 5
Plot Themes/Tropes-
* Grumpy x Sunshine
* Societal Class Difference
* Enemies to Friends to Lovers
* Forced Proximity
* ⚠️Trigger Warnings/Other topics: Parental death mentioned, mention of attempted sexual harassment/assault, premarital sexual explicit scenes
Short Summary: Lottie loves horses… so much that she loses her job after “borrowing” her master’s horse to run off and ride it into the wild without permission. As her family is struggling with their farm, she is desperate for a new job and ends up becoming a “lady’s companion” for an old rich and cranky woman. Her new master brings her along to Kent as she plans to host a surprise birthday party for her nephew, Guy, who is an eligible bachelor and also a Vicount. While at his estate, Lottie realizes Guy is the man she ran over while riding the “stolen horse” from her previous employer… and things become awkward between them.
The plot is simple and fairly predictable, but it’s easy to fall in love with the way Lottie and Guy bicker!
👨👩👧👦Characters: 4 / 5
Relationships & Friendships: One thing I liked about Lottie was her love for her brothers and dad. She is such a free-spirited family-oriented person. She is exactly what Guy needs in his life because it was like someone sucked his soul out of him. I love the way the two MCs worked out their differences, sucked in their pride, and apologized to each other. They had good communication after that, and I was here for their blossoming friendship.
Character Development & Relatability: It was nice to see Guy’s character development in this book. He finally opened up his heart and learned to live a little. However, I do wish we see more of Lottie’s transformation in this book, but I can’t blame her presence because she was literal the life of the party, lol. I’m glad she is slowly learning to be more comfortable with herself. As for other characters and their relatability, think of the desperate debutantes in Bridgerton… bam! Accurate Mean Girls representation of the regency era.
🎬Ending: 4/ 5
The ending was maddening with the two wretches in the book! However, we see Guy’s character growth at the end by way of his actions. I do wish there was more to the ending though! Even an Epilogue would’ve sufficed! I love the two!
🙂Enjoyability: 4/ 5
I really enjoyed this book— I wonder if it has something to do with the way I love Pride and Prejudice! I can’t help think this is another Mr. Darcy but even better because he doesn’t hold back! LOL!
📈Final Rating Averaged: 3.8 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
——
Rating Rubric:
1/5: 🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?”
2/5: 🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
3/5: 🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
4/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
5/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.
Ahhh! This book was better than the first book of the series. It reminds me so much of Pride & Prejudice, and I love that book! If you like Mr. Darcy, well I prefer the Vicount in this book. 😉
Writing: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Enjoyability: 4/5
(More in-depth analysis below)
👩🏻🏫💡 I received this book to read as an Advanced Reader/Review Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
💕Would you recommend this book?
Actually, yes! If someone were to ask for a regency romance, this would be a good choice!
🪶Favorite Quote(s):
“You know what they say, my lady: you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. Your son has to make his own choice. He won’t allow you to push him off a cliff, he’ll have to decide to leap himself. ”
🌶️ Spice Level: 🔥
Woooow. The yearning was worth it! And to have it happen during a regency period… unmarried?!!! SCANDALOUS!!!
——
📝Writing Style: 4/ 5
Written in third-person POV, alternating between the two MCs. The diction and prose matches that of the regency era. I will say Virginia Heath’s writing has gotten better. However, I still don’t like the random use of today’s generation’s slang! “Cringe-worthy” appeared here again!
🏃🏻♀️Pace: 4/5
The story has good pacing. Some parts seemed a bit slower only because of the slow burn romance, but it’s a shorter novel and had no extra fluff!
🗺️Plot: 3/ 5
Plot Themes/Tropes-
* Grumpy x Sunshine
* Societal Class Difference
* Enemies to Friends to Lovers
* Forced Proximity
* ⚠️Trigger Warnings/Other topics: Parental death mentioned, mention of attempted sexual harassment/assault, premarital sexual explicit scenes
Short Summary: Lottie loves horses… so much that she loses her job after “borrowing” her master’s horse to run off and ride it into the wild without permission. As her family is struggling with their farm, she is desperate for a new job and ends up becoming a “lady’s companion” for an old rich and cranky woman. Her new master brings her along to Kent as she plans to host a surprise birthday party for her nephew, Guy, who is an eligible bachelor and also a Vicount. While at his estate, Lottie realizes Guy is the man she ran over while riding the “stolen horse” from her previous employer… and things become awkward between them.
The plot is simple and fairly predictable, but it’s easy to fall in love with the way Lottie and Guy bicker!
👨👩👧👦Characters: 4 / 5
Relationships & Friendships: One thing I liked about Lottie was her love for her brothers and dad. She is such a free-spirited family-oriented person. She is exactly what Guy needs in his life because it was like someone sucked his soul out of him. I love the way the two MCs worked out their differences, sucked in their pride, and apologized to each other. They had good communication after that, and I was here for their blossoming friendship.
Character Development & Relatability: It was nice to see Guy’s character development in this book. He finally opened up his heart and learned to live a little. However, I do wish we see more of Lottie’s transformation in this book, but I can’t blame her presence because she was literal the life of the party, lol. I’m glad she is slowly learning to be more comfortable with herself. As for other characters and their relatability, think of the desperate debutantes in Bridgerton… bam! Accurate Mean Girls representation of the regency era.
🎬Ending: 4/ 5
The ending was maddening with the two wretches in the book! However, we see Guy’s character growth at the end by way of his actions. I do wish there was more to the ending though! Even an Epilogue would’ve sufficed! I love the two!
🙂Enjoyability: 4/ 5
I really enjoyed this book— I wonder if it has something to do with the way I love Pride and Prejudice! I can’t help think this is another Mr. Darcy but even better because he doesn’t hold back! LOL!
📈Final Rating Averaged: 3.8 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
——
Rating Rubric:
1/5: 🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?”
2/5: 🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
3/5: 🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
4/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
5/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.
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