This book was an absolute delight! I hadn’t read anything by Virginia Heath before, but after this, I’m officially hooked. Lottie and Guy’s romance was charming, witty, and full of all the best regency rom-com elements - sharp banter, meddling relatives, and just the right amount of chaos.

Lottie, a lady’s companion with a knack for getting into trouble, finds herself in the orbit of Guy Harrowby, a viscount who has no interest in marriage thanks to a past romantic mishap. But his mother has other plans, hosting an elaborate party for his 30th birthday—one that is very clearly a matchmaking scheme in disguise. The last thing Guy expects is Lottie, whose fiery spirit and unfiltered honesty throw his carefully ordered world into disarray. Their chemistry is instant, their interactions hilarious, and watching them navigate society’s expectations (and their own feelings) was pure fun.

I loved how this story balanced humor and heart. Lottie’s independent streak made her such a refreshing heroine, and Guy’s grumpy demeanor was the perfect contrast. The secondary characters, particularly Guy’s mother and aunt, added so much personality to the story. Between the hilarious situations and the swoon-worthy romance, I was completely invested from start to finish.

If you love lighthearted historical romance with humor, charm, and plenty of meddling relatives, this is definitely one to add to your TBR! Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💕

I hadn't read any Virginia Heath before, and that's going to change. This historical romance is very light and fun, which is my favorite kind of historical romance. Though it's the second in a series it can easily be read as a standalone.
The characters all have wit and charm aplenty. There was a meddling aunt with a sharp personality. There were shenanigans. Truly, what's not to love?
Lottie and Guy are both flawed but very lovable, and I enjoyed watching their relationship progress so naturally. They weren't afraid to throw barbs at each other, which only made their interactions more fun.
The story hopped from one fun event to the next at a great pace that easily kept me reading. Overall, it's a solid historical romance, especially for comedy fans, and has left me excited to read all of Virginia Heath's backlist!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed the regency and rom com genres however this book fell a little flat for me. The characters weren't that memorable and the story was to predictable
2.5 stars 🌟

I loved this book! I’m so glad to have received an arc for it. The characters drew me in, and I read it in one sitting. I loved how 50% in, I thought the story was going to wrap up, but then a whole new side of it started! The pacing of the book was great, and I loved Lottie and her wit so much!

Virginia Heath is one of my favourite historical romance author for me. This story was so authentic and it made me laugh, cry, and genuinely happy. . I will definitely be recommending this book.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. This is the second book in a series, and while I did not read the first, reading them in order was not necessary. Lord Guy Harrowby was embarrassed nine years ago when a romantic gesture went awry. But his mom held on to the dream of him giving her grandkids by the age of 30 - the only problem is that year is approaching, and nary a woman in site for him! So, his mom intervenes and hosts a party in which society is brought to him as he will not leave his insular world. Enter Lottie, a victim of her own failures with being a governess. Since she was raised in a household full of men, she does not have a lot of feminine tendencies, even under the tutelage of Miss Prentice. But Lottie needs money for her family, and needs to find that in some way, career or otherwise. The great thing for both of them is that they actually share a mutual attraction to each other - but are they willing to move out of their ways to reach one another?

I really enjoyed the story and writing in this book. I loved the chemistry between Guy and Lottie, as well as the secondary characters. There are some funny moments in this book, especially with meddling family, and I can sese how having an array of protegees can set the stage for a series as we follow women who need just a nudge.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story centers around Lady Helena Prestwick, a free-spirited and intelligent woman who finds herself in a series of amusing yet precarious situations. Her independent nature and sharp mind make her a captivating protagonist. The romantic tension between Helena and Lord Aiden, a dashing and honorable gentleman, keeps the reader engaged and invested in their relationship.
Virginia Heath's writing style is both engaging and witty, with well-developed characters and a plot that balances humor and heartfelt moments. The historical setting is richly detailed, adding depth to the narrative and immersing the reader in the Regency era.
One of the highlights of the book is the banter between Helena and Aiden, which is both humorous and endearing. Their interactions are filled with clever repartee, making their romance feel genuine and dynamic. The supporting characters also add to the story's charm, providing additional layers of intrigue and entertainment. Overall, Look Before You Leap is a thoroughly enjoyable read for fans of historical romance. Virginia Heath's skillful storytelling and delightful characters make this book a standout in the genre. It's a perfect choice for those looking for a heartwarming and entertaining escape into the Regency world.

Live for a good regency romp! This is the second novel (but can also be read as a standalone) in the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series. I loved the first one, and this was a great continuation of the series.

Lottie and Guy have great chemistry, and the storyline of this one was super fun. Virginia Heath has a great writing style thats easy to get lost in.

I will definitely continue reading this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

This was a grumpy/sunshine historical novel featuring a class gap between the aristocratic hero and the companion heroine. It's part of a series and can be read as a standalone. In this novel, Lottie has to take on a companion role to a classic eccentric, who is aunt to the hero. Lottie is horse mad, and in the more unbelievable parts of the story, can't control herself and has recently been fired from her most recent position because she took a horse without permission for a jaunt (and also because the son of the house got handsy). To me, the constant taking of the horses, and acting out by Lottie, really strained disbelief, even though the entire genre is about suspending disbelief. It basically came perilously close to "Too Stupid to Live" (TSTL), which I haven't trotted out in a long time. Even though she helped support her farming family, she constantly did and acted in a way someone who understood how fragile her position in the world was would never do. The novel improved as it went on, but the hero too had problems in that in he let one bad experience colour his entire perspective on romance.

Giving this one 3.5 stars.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this regency rom com. My favorite part was the banter between the heroine and hero. I'm a sucker for good banter and even more when it's in a regency novel.

Lottie Travers was recently laid off as a governess and in search of a job. Through connections with her former headmistress, Lottie is introduced to Lady Fenton, who is searching for a lady's companion. Lady Fenton is known for her uncompromising nature and hires Lottie for her wit and candor. While in London, Lottie recklessly rides a horse and ends up in an altercation with another rider, throwing him from the saddle. The other rider is no other than the nephew of Lady Fenton, Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington. Sparks immediately fly between Guy and Lottie, and though they annoy the heck out of each other, both cannot deny their attraction. Guy's 30th birthday fast approaches and with the help of his aunt and Lottie, Guy's mother schemes to find him a wife.

I did not realize this book was the second in a series. I have not read the other yet, but it was still relatively easy to understand, aside from the past friendships of Lottie's. Lottie and Guy are perfect examples of the grumpy sunshine trope. Guy is practically a hermit obsessed with agriculture and Lottie is a firecracker who loves to flirt. They both share a love of horses and bond over Guy's Arabians. This book features some classic romance tropes, including forced proximity, miscommunication, and one of my favorite HR plot lines, caught in a compromising position. I enjoyed it so much that I will go back to read the first book in the series and look forward to others.

Honest review in exchange for an ARC from Virginia Heath, St Martin's, and NetGalley.

This book was absolutely delightful!! Guy was my favorite kind of MMC and I always love a fiery female (which Lottie executed perfectly). Highly recommended for those that love grumpy/sunshine stories! I haven't read the first book in the series and while I think it is probably a good read, it wasn't necessary to do so before this one.

**Thanks St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is an entirely delightful and delectable book, and it melted by heart. I hope other readers enjoy it as well.

There’s not a single moment I didn’t like about this book. Everything from their first meeting till the last page was perfection. Lottie and Guy were perfect together. She’s a ray of sunshine and he’s a grumpy rain cloud, but together they make rainbows. Their banter and moments together were on point. Guy’s mother, his aunt, his aunt’s butler, and all the other side characters added humor and warmth to this story. One of my favorites so far this year.

I REALLY enjoyed this book. Lottie the main fmc was so witty, strong and likeable. Guy, the mmc was adorable and so sweet. He was a terrible communicator sometimes (which stressed me out) but he was also just so romantic. If you know me I'm a sucker for slow burns when done right, and I absolutely loved the slow burn love story going on in this book! One thing I love about a good book is when the side characters are just as good or if not better than the main characters. I loved the funny side characters in this one, they made me laugh quite a few times.

Read this if you like:

Historical romance
Forced proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
He falls first
Hilarious side characters

I’ve read almost of all of Heath’s back catalogue and I have to say this one is competing hard for my absolute favorite. The giggling and feet kicking started with the scheming mother and the fmc giving the mic a verbal dressing down from the start and only intensified with every chapter. The pining and yearning were only outmatched the banter and ridiculous events. I loved every minute.

I recently reviewed All's Fair in Love and War and commented that Virginia Heath was a new favorite author. This book cemented that opinion. It did take me a little while to warm up to Guy (he is quite the grumpy grump) but once I did, I adored him. Lottie though, she made the book. She is fierce and funny and not afraid to yell at someone while threatening them with a riding crop. My kind of woman!

What an adorable, fun read! If you like historical romcoms, this is going to be a treat for you.

The characters are delightful, the humor slaps and the dialogue is witty. The romance is great for fans of grumpy x sunshine trope. These two seem liked total opposites but actually have a lot in common. We have a disaster meet-cute that's quite unique (horses colliding). I liked this pairing and two main characters a lot.

Would recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this copy of "Look Before You Leap."

You don't need to read "All's Fair in Love and War" first (although I did because I wasn't sure what characters or settings were explained) but LBYL is almost a stand-alone book, plus I liked it even better.

Charlotte "Lottie" is a tomboy at Miss Prentice's School for Girls. She was raised with brothers on a farm, so she loves to ride fast horses and this has cost her a couple of governess positions.

But her family needs financial help with the farm, so when she's offered the companion position to Guy's difficult and cantankerous Aunt Almeria, she's determined to do her best.

Guy fled London 9 years ago after being humiliated (we later learn why) but he's turning 30 and his mother is throwing him a party so he can finally choose a wife. And of course, Aunt Almeria will be helping with the arrangements.

The characters were so delightful - "storm cloud and ray of sunshine" - and Aunt Almeria and Guy's mother are wonderful!

Another fun and witty romance by this author! The main and side characters were fantastic and really made the story fun and read in one sitting!