This book was enjoyable, but I found it overlong. There were descriptions that were repetitive. There are only so many times you can read the guy was a soft-boiled egg before you wonder if the author knows any other way to describe someone with a big heart. That quibble aside, there was humor and the secondary characters were well drawn. The chemistry between the romantic pair was palpable. Library patrons should enjoy this book.

This was cute. I enjoy Virginia Heaths writing style & her characters! Enjoyed the governess & grumpy Captain. And the kids. Fun read.

I loved this book!! It was fabulous and well done. The characters were on point and I thought the plot was well developed. I would recommend this book to others.

This book made me laugh out loud! Main character was relatable, enjoyed watching them grow. Romance was as to be expected, but still made for a good read.

Title: All’s Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath
Publication Date- 05/28/24
Publisher- St. Martin’s Press
Overall Rating- 3 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I need to start this review off by acknowledging that I DNF’d it at 25%. Before you stop reading this review let me tell you why and give you hope that it may be a book for you. I personally really enjoy regency romance and I liked the concept of this one. We have an unhinged (for her time) governess who is going to work for a basically retired military man and help babysit his nieces and nephew for 3 months.

I read this book off and on at night for like a month before I finally decided it wasn’t for me. The characters are great, the story is interesting, this was a me problem. The thing I struggled with the most is it is so slow moving. This is coming from someone who enjoys slow moving plots, especially in romance and this was either too slow or not interesting enough for me. I would have liked it if there were more comedy scenes because you can tell that the author is a detailed writer and adding more comedy/ banter would have increased my enjoyment. Speaking of a detailed author, I think that is part of what made it feel slow. The story got caught up in details that I personally didn’t have interest in.

Even though the story moved slow, the romance felt instalove at times. Which I think those things in combination could really work for some. I truly liked the main female character and was indifferent about the male. I’m sure they build a wonderful love together.

All in all, this is not a bad book I just didn’t need to be there for the long haul.

This book was so fun! Recency romances are my favorite and this didn’t disappoint. I love a dual POV as well! I love the characters, the setting, the side characters, everything. Georgie was my favorite!

Okay, so this was a 3.5 star read for me. It was good, and I loved the cast of characters, but there was just so much darn internal dialogue. More than I've seen in a historical romance in a good long while. And while it's nice to have dual POVs and see the yearning from both sides of the spectrum, it was hard as a reader to really be sold this love story that was mostly happening in each of the character's heads. All that being said, I think Georgie's friends seem like a grand old time, and I'm looking forward to seeing them as heroines in future books.

I love a good regency romance and this one was a great slow burn with a happy ending. The perfect read to finish on Valentine's Day. Georgie and Harry are written perfectly, and in a way that has you routing for them from the beginning. This is the first in a series and I'm looking forward to reading more as they come out. As always, Heath provides a sweet, slightly spicy story from another world. I'll always pick up a book from her.

This book is a nice quick read. The main character Georgie is great! She’s relatable, quirky and lovable. You get drawn in and want her to succeed! Definitely worth the read!

I was grateful to read an ARC of Virginia Heath's latest book. I recommend it and it was a quick and enjoyable read. Looking forward to this new series.

i will not be rating or reviewing outside of netgalley as long as st. martin's press is still under boycott.

Georgie had a horrible childhood, getting dragged up and down the country with her ruthlessly strict military stepfather, and as a new governess, she's determined to help children learn and find joy in life. But when she's hired to teach and care for the three rambunctious Pendleton children, she finds her easygoing ways at odds with their punctual, exacting uncle Harry. But opposites attract, and Georgie and Harry can't deny their attraction to one another for very long.

There's something reminiscent of The Sound of Music in this story, though it's definitely steamier and has fewer kids. I appreciate the characters (the kids in particular are fantastic, as is their crazy dog), and the setup for a series featuring Georgie's governess pals. The changes that bring them together for their happily ever after are a bit rushed at the end, but overall, it's a solid Regency romance.

I loved the author's last book, so I was really looking forward to reading this one. But unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy the story as much. I wasn't a fan of the pacing and had to push myself to finish it. But even though it wasn't my cup of tea, I believe other people might enjoy it.

I thought this was such a great and playful book! I was not able to finish it in its entirety, but I plan on buying a copy! Between both main characters backgrounds and how hard they had to fight to not be completely overcome themselves!

Absolutely charmed! It's truly impressive when the inception of a new series not only delves into the background of characters destined for future books but does so with finesse, avoiding the pitfalls of info-dumping. This narrative not only weaves a compelling story around the main characters but also provides an engaging peek into the lives of Georgie's friends, promising a rich tapestry for the entire series.

At the tender age of 16, Georgie Rowe found herself enrolled in a prestigious school for governesses, courtesy of her detestable step-father – her sole remaining relative following her mother's tragic demise from smallpox. The real tale unfolds six years later as Georgie, the last of her friends to secure a position, becomes entwined in the household of Captain Harry Kincaid. Entrusted with the care of his sister's lively children and their canine companion, Harry, a disciplined naval officer burdened with immense responsibilities, embodies order and strict time management. Georgie, a spirited rebel, navigates the challenges of managing the Captain and the energetic children, paving the way for a slow-burning love story against a backdrop of a significant change in location and delightful moments with the children and supporting characters. Throughout, Georgie grapples with the trauma of her past, haunted by recollections of her abusive stepfather, providing depth to her character.

As a devotee of slow-burn romances, this narrative truly captivated me. The romantic tension is palpable without succumbing to painful angst. A touch of miscommunication is skillfully resolved through a grand gesture, maintaining a perfect balance. Not to be overlooked, a scene-stealing canine companion adds heartwarming moments, catering to the sentiments of my fellow animal lovers.

This is one of my favorite authors so I really don’t want to say anything negative. You should still give it a try. Maybe it picks up a bit, but after 25% into it, I just didn’t want to force it anymore. It was slow starting and lots of text between the dialogue. (I like dialogue!) I’m sorry, it was DNF for me.

This was a cute romance but missed the mark for me in a few scenes. Also, the pacing felt off? Some pages felt rushed and others seemed to drag, but the natural ebb and flow, the tension and such, seemed forced or unnatural at times. A nice distraction, but it wasn't my favourite. Nice enough though, that I'll continue the series.

This is one of those books that was really cute and I enjoyed it, but it had moments that could have been better so I think 3.5 is my rating.

I enjoyed Harry and Georgie's romance and the kids were lovable, I wish we could have more of them in the story.

The only thing that made me not want to give this book a higher rating was the intimacy sciences. I don't think all romance books need one, but if you are going to have one then do it right! This book felt like the author was trying to keep it PG 13 but then changed her mind and we were left in this limbo. If you don't want to describe the act that's fine, symbolism could have been used to imply what happened between them, but saying "he touched me down there" feels so awkward, she is not a child neither the readers and I just found it a bit annoying!

But overall I enjoyed the story and won't mind reading the next one :)

3.5/5 Absolutely whimsical!

I was surprised at the author's take on a slow-burn, having read the Merriwell Sisters trilogy. I enjoyed Georgie and Henry's dynamic, and I'm always a sucker for delightful children pushing a romance between the leads. The tension was delicious.

My caveat with this book was the good old miscommunication issues. I'm also not a fan of big gestures in order to get the couple back together. But that is more a personal preference, and it's only a few issues I have with an overwhelmingly enjoyable book.

It made me laugh, it made me cry, and best of all: it made me want the next one!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. A cute historical romance with some cute children and a !! dog !!