Title: Look Before You LeapAuthor: Virginia Heath
Pages: 320
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
The second hilarious and heartwarming novel in the Miss Pretence’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 then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching that milestone birthday, 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 so that she can 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?
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My Thoughts on Look Before You Leap:
Look Before You Leap is the second installment in the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series and follows Lottie Travers, a companion with more love for horses and independence than needlepoint, and Guy Harrowby, a brooding viscount still nursing a bruised heart and a serious distaste for society events, especially ones hosted in his own home without his consent. I was pulled in right away by the premise of the story and thought Lottie and Guy’s chemistry crackled from the start, though there were parts of their love story that rubbed me the wrong way.
Lottie was an interesting protagonist. Her background as a farmer’s daughter and the only girl in a house of brothers definitely helped shape her personality and independent spirit, and her determination to support her struggling family while trying to fit into roles that never quite suited her made her even more endearing. Guy, for all his stubbornness and rough edges, gradually reveals depth and vulnerability, which I really appreciated.
I have to say, both characters are a bit difficult to like at times, and though they have amazing chemistry, their banter is a little too insulting for my taste. They go from hating each other and being rude and hurtful when speaking to teasing and flirting by insulting the other? It’s not my favorite trope. And Lottie is keeping secrets, which is a total trigger for Guy. I didn’t like this at all, especially knowing his past and how wounded he was. However, the way he speaks to Lottie (more than once) is a major red flag. I didn’t like how harsh he was in his words. His actions, on the other hand, are kind and considerate, which is an interesting, if sometimes confusing, contrast. If I ignore those few mean conversations, the romance was solid, with a satisfying slow burn and some lovely moments of understanding and growth between Lottie and Guy.
Another character I had a hard time warming up to is Guy’s mother, who orchestrates the whole matchmaking circus and disregards her son’s wishes and feelings. She frustrated me, but she also made me more sympathetic towards Guy. He has a lot of pressure put on him, and his feelings are not often taken into account. Other secondary characters, including Guy’s aunt, her butler, and some other guests, are fantastic and add humor and depth to the story.
All in all, this was an entertaining read with a feisty heroine, a gruff hero, and a storyline that blends humor, heart, and just a dash of mayhem. I’m already looking forward to seeing which of the governess graduates gets their story next.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- grumpy/sunshine
About Virginia Heath:
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. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
