ABOUT THE BOOK
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 then: 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 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 that 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?
MY REVIEW
It’s been far too long since I read a Virginia Heath book, and she didn’t disappoint with a delightful enemies-to-lovers story.
Miss Charlotte “Lottie” Travers is a governess with a penchant for short-lived positions. Her current job is as a companion for a notoriously difficult employer, and it’s a role she eagerly accepts especially since the wages help keep her family’s farm afloat. The story is a little slow at the beginning, but takes off during a house party designed to introduce Lottie to her employer’s handsome nephew, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, to eligible young women. The catch is that Lottie met Guy a few days earlier by knocking him off his horse and finds him insufferable, but as the party unfolds, their interactions offer glimpses of warmth amid the cheeky banter.
What I really appreciate about Virginia Heath’s writing is her ability to craft characters that tug at your heartstrings. Lottie and Guy are both scrappy, but vulnerable navigating a world that often seems stacked against them. Lottie’s ties to her family’s struggling farm add a level of depth and urgency to her story. Meanwhile, Guy, is equally at a loss of trying to live his life without feeling persecuted by a very embarrassing public spectacle that ruined his reputation and put him off conniving women.
I loved that both characters shared a love for animals and the outdoors. It’s a sweet backdrop that brings them together, despite the societal expectations keeping them apart.
Look Before You Leap is a witty and charming love story. I found myself laughing out loud and cheering for Lottie and Guy every step of the way. If you’re in need of a new favorite author for your historical romance fix, look no further than Virginia Heath.
Miss Prentice’s Protegees Series
1 All’s Fair in Love and War (2024)
2 Look Before You Leap (2025)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When 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. Now her Regency rom-coms (including the Wild Warriners and Merriwell Sisters series) are published in many languages across the globe. Thirty books and four Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
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