Georgiana Rowe is a governess in search of a position after thirty-three of failed interviews, and Captain Harry Kincaid is desperate for help after his sister leaves him with her three children while she’s gone for a holiday. A mutually beneficial arrangement for two polar opposites: the “Everything in its place” Captain and the “New Age” governess. Will they make it work?

I thought this would be a home run. Who doesn’t love a Sound of Music (1965) meets Yours, Mine, and Ours (2005), but I hate to say that I struggled. The characters seemed like such caricatures of themselves, that it felt like I was watching a high school theatre production. Everything was a bit too overdone, too over dramatized, and too over explained. You don’t have to spoon feed it to me. Trust the readers to be able to pick up on context.

Did you miss how absolutely tiny Georgie is? How stumpy, how diminutive, how petite? Don’t worry Virginia Heath references it twenty-three times, so just wait a couple pages and she’ll remind you. Don’t worry, Georgie is also redheaded (and hates it), freckled (and hates it), and is beautiful without realizing it. The trifecta. And she’s convinced that Captain Kincaid can’t keep his eyes off of her because he hates her (barf. Come on. Seriously?)

The writing was unnecessarily verbose. If you miss placed an adjective or an exclamation mark, this book found them. At times, the dialogue was difficult to get through because it didn’t have a natural flow, and the characters’ inner monologue was so long that you’d lose what the characters were talking about by the time they responded.

I’m never a fan of “this is an uncommonly relaxed household” in period pieces because I think it lends itself toward lazy writing. The servants are calling the Captain by his first name? Talking back in front of company and questioning how the household is run? The Captain and the governess are eating together and living on the same floor? At this point, just write a contemporary romance.

I’ve read Heath’s work in the past and enjoyed it, so I’ll keep trying.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

I enjoyed Virginia Heath’s other books, so I was super excited to read this one and it did not disappoint!! This is such a fun romance with some depth to it. I would recommend this to fans of Bridgerton.

Virginia Heath’s new historical romance series follows graduates of Miss Prentice’s School for Girls, a training academy for girls of good families but few connections/prospects to help them find respectable positions as governesses for the best families. Alls Fair in Love and War focuses on Georgie Rowe, a young woman who was unceremoniously dumped on the steps of Miss Prentice’s academy 7 years prior by her rigid stepfather who wanted nothing to do with his spirited stepdaughter after her mother died. Despite having been one of Miss P’s best students, Georgie is having trouble finding a position given her outspoken opinions on child rearing/discipline (more than a little informed by her own spirit-crushing childhood). But she gets a lucky break when naval captain Harry Kincaid arrives at Miss P’s desperate for a temporary governess after his bohemian sister abruptly left him in charge of his rather feral nieces and nephew for the summer. Soon Georgie finds herself trying to implement her own brand of discipline with her unruly charges under the watchful eyes of her rigid and initially disapproving (not to mention handsome) new employer. It’s a very Maria/Captain von Trapp in the Sound of Music situation.

I thought this was a really fun start to the series, full of Heath’s signature blend of romance, humor, and charm. I really liked the set up here—it was great to read a historical that wasn’t centered on the aristocracy, and class differences that weren’t as stark as you often find. I also thought it was interesting to see two very different people (he’s a bit starchy and craves order thanks to his chaotic parents while she’s free spirited) ultimately raised in similar fashion (by rigid military men) and how that impacted them differently. All in all this was a very sweet romance, made more fun by the inclusion of adorable, precocious children and ridiculous dogs. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series!

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Copper-haired Georgie has been trained to be a governess but has trouble with her fiery tongue. Clueless Admiral Harry needs a babysitter- and a dog walker- ASAP. Though at first they vex each other to no end, soon Georgie and Harry bond . Regency era romcoms are all the rage and this first in a series (from the same author as Never Fall For Your Fiance) has been a fun way to kick-it off. Not the most memorable read but enjoyable nonetheless. Read in between the next seasons of Bridgerton.

I wish I liked this more than I did, but it grated on my nerves. The male main character constantly referred to his sister as his "blasted" sister, and his internal thoughts were just negative. "Wretched" this and "blasted" that, with some "bloody" thrown in for good measure. It read like an American trying to write a British novel and I was shocked to find out the author was, in fact, British. The female main character was more likable but overall, this just really didn't appeal to me. It was a very slow burn, not very steamy romance so if that is to your liking you may enjoy this one more than I did. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

👩🏻‍🏫💡 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.


📈Final Rating: 2.7 out of 5 🌟🌟🌟


💕Would you recommend this book?
Honestly, I would pass on this one. It was too slow for me to thoroughly enjoy it.


🪶Favorite Quote:
“But in a strange twist of fate they had met, like ships passing in the night, and they both had to accept that that was all they could ever be. ”


🌶️ Spice Level: 🔥
Very mild. The words used to describe intimate scenes were romantic and passionate.


——
Rating Rubric:
🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?”
🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.
——


📝Writing Style: 3/5
The story is told all in third person point-of-view, but I thoroughly enjoyed how the author used dual perspectives.
The only concern I had with the author’s writing style was the balance between the choice of diction; I was confused at her eloquent choice of vocabulary, but in conversations, the chosen set of words seem off putting in comparison to the written era of the book. Example: Would a person from the 1800s say “cringeworthy” in a sentence? I don’t know about that.


🗺️Plot: 2/5
The story was very slow in the first half of the book- I almost did not want to continue reading. The plot reminds me of the beginnings of the movie “The Sound of Music.” So yes, there are children in the storyline (the nieces and nephew). I’ve watched enough Rom-Coms and read enough romance to find this plot nothing out of the ordinary. There were no major conflicts or villains; the story is as straightforward as it is. The setting occurs in the 1800s in the U.K./Europe.

Plot Tropes-
* Employer x Employee (Naval Captain vs. Governess/Nanny)
* “Rich” x “Poor”
* Slow Burn



👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Characters: 3/5
Every character in the book is captivating, including the children, the family/servants, the friends, and even the dogs.

Female Main Character (FMC):
I liked Georgie’s straightforwardness and her ability to prove herself as a Governess to the Pendleton kids. She also gained confidence in herself throughout the book and blossomed by the end.

Male Main Character (MMC):
Harry was definitely written as a sweetheart, soft but also stern as a Naval Captain, but he was also a lost/trapped soul not-knowing he’s been a puppet half of his life.

I did like how we get to see the FMC and MMC get to “know” each other initially and build a solid impersonation rather than dive straight into lust.

——

🗯️Overall Impression:
I wish the pacing was faster in the beginning; only the second half of the book was tolerable. I did enjoy their love story, but the dialogue confused me at times to where I almost have to remind myself, “Oh wait. This was set in the 1800’s in the U.K.” It felt like not everything was well written to solely encompass that era. The ending also left me craving for more. I would have loved to see the MMC’s perspective of the actual “soul searching” so his thoughts lay bare and genuine to the reader. Overall, glad it was a happy ending! I’m interested to know where and how their adventure begins.

"In the first installment of a Regency romp of a series, a governess who believes in cultivating joy in her charges clashes with the children's uncle who hired her, only to find herself falling in love.

When Harry Kincaid's flighty older sister decides to join her husband on an Egyptian expedition, Harry, a former naval captain, is left in the lurch, minding her three unruly children and giant, mad dog. But Harry has a busy career at the Admiralty that requires all his attention, and he has no clue how to manage the little rascals or when his sister is coming back. In desperation, he goes to Miss Prentice's School for Young Ladies prepared to pay whatever it takes to hire an emergency governess quick sharp to ensure everything in his formerly ordered house is run shipshape again.

Thanks to her miserable, strict upbringing, fledgling governess Georgie Rowe does not subscribe to the ethos that children should be seen and not heard. She believes childhood should be everything hers wasn't - filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery. Thankfully, the three Pendleton children she has been tasked with looking after are already delightfully bohemian and instantly embrace her unconventional educational approach. Their staid, stickler-for-the-rules uncle, however, is another matter entirely.

Georgie and Harry continue to butt heads over their differences, but with time it seems that in this case, their attraction is undeniable - and all is indeed fair in love and war."

Here's me making a list of what should be in my next "Regency Romp" and those exact words are used to describe this book... It's fate!

My favorite things about this book as follows
The Captain is attracted to her that he can’t bear to look at her and she takes it as he hates her.
He is in love with her, but she won’t say it back because she knows the military life is not for her and she will not be the reason why he will eventually resent her.
Calls her siren
The slow burn was fire. The buildup was perfectly executed. The pacing left me satisfied.
Quoting back Sun Tzu and Bryon back to the Captain was definitely flirting.

This was a fun, entertaining story.
Georgie was enrolled in Miss Prentice's School for Governess's at 16 when her military stepfather no longer wants to care for her.
She is a very stubborn, opinionated young lady and has a hard time finding a position.
Henry, a navy man is left with his two nieces and nephew when his sister and her husband take off for the continent. He hires Georgie to be their governess and care for them.
I loved the slow burn of the story and the way Henry and Georgie butted heads.
There are a lot of interesting secondary characters and some really funny scenes with a big goofy dog.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

All's Fail in Love and War is a cute regency slow burn romance.
Georgie is a newly graduated governess whose ideas on children’s education is out of the norm and hasn’t landed her a position.
Henry unluckily has been left in charge of his two nieces , nephew and large dog while she is out exploring in Egypt. He is in desperate need of a governess.

This story was slow at times but the kids and dog added fun to the pretty predictable story.

I enjoyed the Merriwell sisters series and look forward to the next in this one. I’m guessing with Lottie?!?!

Thank you to Virginia Heath and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed All's Fair in Love and War. The characters were lovable and relatable, and I am a sucker for a slow burn! The slow of the slow burn dragged at times, but otherwise was regularly paced. The timing of the romance was perfect for my liking and I enjoyed the historical and royal aspects of the plot as well. The vocabulary was immaculate! Overall, a great spring read.

This book had so many things I love about this author’s writing - wonderful characters, wit and humor, entertaining scenarios, and just the right amount of information and background on the characters in upcoming books. That said, it also seemed slow-paced and a tad draggy in spots. Since it is unheard of for me to think that about this author's work, I’m just going to assume that the issue is with me and not the book.

We have an irresistible force meeting an immovable object and the explosion is inevitable. Her much-hated stepfather raised Georgie Rowe (the irresistible force) – a military man who was stiff, unyielding, uncaring, and cruel. The best day of Georgie’s young life was when Miss Prentice chose her to attend Miss Prentice's School for Girls. At that moment, she didn’t care where she was going – just as long as it was away from her stepfather and where she would never, ever, have to be around another military man as long as she lived. Georgie excelled at school and would make a superb governess . . . Except, Georgie could never make it through the interview to actually get a job. You see, Georgie has an inner Joan of Arc who regularly comes out to play when Georgie perceives an injustice. Georgie just cannot bite her tongue and move on. Luckily for Georgie and her career, a desperate man arrives at their school begging for a governess – one who can start immediately. Well, well, well.

Captain Harry Kincaid (the immovable object) is a workaholic who spends all of his very organized, fully scheduled time at the admiralty procuring and negotiating for Royal Navy supplies to keep his majesty’s entire navy afloat. Harry gets “twitchy” when his schedules are thrown off-kilter as he is not an admirer of chaos. He was raised in a home where everything was chaos – all the time – until his Navy Admiral grandfather stepped in and saved him. The Admiral took Harry and turned the happy-go-lucky, smiling, gangly boy into a finely oiled Navy man. Yes, he did. So, when Harry’s flighty, chaotic sister dropped off her brood (2 girls and 1 boy) at Harry’s house while he was at work – Harry was in total panic. He was busy, busy, busy, and had no idea what to do with three children – especially children who were masters at misbehavior. He loved them dearly, but he did not want the care of them. But then, maybe this was his chance to introduce a little order and discipline into their chaotic lives. Right – we know how well that is going to go.

To say Harry and Georgie had diametrically opposed views on what education and care for his nieces and nephews looked like, would be a gross understatement. Georgie tried, she really did, but all too often, Joan of Arc would slip out and things just didn’t go well. You’ll enjoy getting to know the real Harry, the one he was before his uncle ‘helped’ him. You’ll also enjoy Georgie learning that not all military men are like her step-father. Nicely woven around Georgie and Harry are the children's antics, the most entertaining of dogs, and a mishap of two that will have you laughing out loud.

If you are looking for a lighthearted romp toward a HEA, I can recommend this book to you. If you like steam in your books, you won’t find it here, but I found I didn’t miss it. We learned enough about Georgie’s friends and fellow students, Lottie, Portia, and Kitty to make us look forward to their books – and to look forward to seeing more of Miss Prentice. I did find that I would like to see more of Flora, Harry’s sister because I found her to be very likable. Happy Reading!

BTW – one of my favorite quotes from the book – “It’s one thing to have to meet your maker without ever having a ring on your finger, but it would be a travesty to do so in a package marked unopened.” That is from a conversation between Georgie and one of her friends where they were speaking of never marrying, but not remaining ‘chaste’.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

On the plus side, this book had both cute kids and cute pets. I adored Norbert, the crazy Irish wolfhound, and I really enjoyed all of the scenes featuring him and the children. I also really liked Harry, the harried naval captain who prizes timeliness, discipline, and order above all things and isn't at all prepared when his flighty older sister dumps her free-spirited kids on him for three months while she and her husband hare off to Egypt for an adventure. I found it a bit harder to warm up to Georgie, the fledgling governess that Harry hires in desperation to corral and teach the kids. Given her position as a governess and the fact that she needed a good reference from the job, she seemed rather argumentative and judgmental, but I came to like her as she did her best to do right by the kids and by Harry.

The problem was that I never felt any strong sparks between Harry and Georgie. There was insta-lust on both their parts, but there weren't any real interactions between them to develop an attraction until well into the book. I found the first half of the book to be entertaining due to the antics of the children and crazy Norbert, but the romance was a bit lacking. It did pick up some later in the book though. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

This storyline was really fun, and I love a historical romance. I loved the FMC’s strong will and determination to stick to her beliefs. Strong willed FMCs are fairly common in recently written historical romances, but I think generally their “strong will” comes only in the form of not wanting to marry. I enjoyed this FMC more than usual because she had more to her personality than many other women in historical novels. She didn’t merely care deeply about not getting married as many others. but she was strong in a multitude of other ways. Also, at the beginning of the book, marriage wasn’t even an issue being addressed really.
The MMC was also fun because of his contrast between being a strict, powerful military man and a sensitive, somewhat insecure uncle to the children.
unfortunately, the slow burn was a little bit too slow for me and at times it was hard to remain engaged. Overall, good book though!

a delightful Regency romance that offers a fresh take on the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. Set against a backdrop of elegant balls and scandalous secrets, Heath weaves a tale that is as witty as it is heartwarming. The protagonists, with their fiery exchanges and undeniable chemistry, capture the reader's attention from the very beginning. Their evolution from adversaries to affectionate partners is skillfully developed, making their eventual romance feel earned and genuine.

Thank You NetGalley for an eARC!

I really enjoyed All's Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath. I had previously read Heath's Merriwell Sisters series, so I had a feeling that I would have a pleasant reading experience. I absolutely loved Harry, Georgina, and the kids. Adding in Norbert and Cuthbert into the mix helped the image of the entire household become increasingly clear. You know who the characters are and have seen them before, but Heath makes them feel fresh and new. It was a very sweet story and I loved every second of reading it. I highly recommend it.

This was my second Virginia Heath book, and I’m excited to read the rest of her works after enjoying it immensely.

In All’s Fair In Love and War, Georgie becomes governess to Harry’s nieces and nephew after his sister leaves them in his care unexpectedly. She’s a feisty and opinionated woman and he’s a stuffy naval officer, and the two clash on how she should do her job.

I loved the flow of this book and felt that it had a lot of substance without being boring or slow. The side characters, especially the children and the dog, were so hilarious and I loved seeing how Georgie and Harry interacted with them. It made the story relatable and fun. I also really appreciated that this wasn’t an instalove situation, and the couple moved from enemies to reluctant allies to lovers smoothly and in a realistic way. The challenges keeping them apart made sense and it was exciting reading to find out how they would overcome them.
I’m excited that this is the first of a new series, and can’t wait to read the other girls’ stories!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! I

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel! As readers have come to expect with Heath's books, this novel is a modern take on regency romance. Harry and Georgie are lovable characters who embark on an enemy to lovers romance (opposites attract). The dialogue was witty (I loved their banter) and chemistry was a slow build up to perfection. It was a fairly quick read for me. I did think the story started off a little slow and the ending was a bit predictable, but the characters got their HEA in the end.

Virginia Heath's books are so much fun and this one is no exception! Dazzling characters kind to children and dogs. Royal Navy captain Harry is the favorite uncle and easily led about by his nieces and nephew. He is a total sweetheart with family and a workaholic at the Admiralty. Georgie is a smart but inexperienced governess who means to prove herself at her first job. It doesn't help that she completely disagrees with Harry's ideas of education or that Harry is sooooo handsome. The book's title says it all!

I think that the concept of this book was great, but I don’t feel like it was executed in the best way. The beginning of this book was very slow and I didn’t have the desire to keep picking it up. I felt like I was trudging through the book, and although I liked the characters, I didn’t feel like we had enough about their background and their current relationships. Harry’s relationship with his grandfather the admiral is the reason he went into the navy, but we see no indication of why he was unhappy there and his decision to leave is the only explanation we got. I was hoping for some reference to their relationship or why he decided to join in the first place to set the ball in motion for his departure. All we get is that he doesn’t seem to enjoy it anymore. The end of the book was my favorite part- I actually think that the fight was good for the story and I enjoyed the ending and how they got together. I just wish there was more during the book to indicate a buildup towards their eventual relationship. I think Georgie and Harry should have interacted more in the first part of the book so we could see why they fell in love instead of it just happening one day seemingly out of the blue. Overall, I enjoyed the characters, especially the pups, but I felt like there could’ve been more.
Arc provided by netgalley.