E-galley Review: Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice’s Protegees #2) by Virginia Heath

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Look Before You Leap Series: Miss Prentice's Protegees #2
by Virginia Heath
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on June 24, 2025
Genres: Adult Historical Romance
Pages: 320
Source: the publisher
Format: E-galley
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon, Buy on Barnes & Noble, Buy on Audible
Also in this series: All's Fair in Love and War
Also by this author: All's Fair in Love and War
My Rating:

Blurb:

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?

My Review

I enjoyed the first one in this series, All’s Fair in Love and War, and was excited to get the next protegee’s story! So when the publisher reached out with a link to an e-galley of this, I went ahead and grabbed it.

I did enjoy this story. I liked Lottie a lot. She was fun and knew what she liked and didn’t like, and knew who she was. Sure there was the problem of Guy being a Lord and she was just a farmer’s daughter and former governess/companion to his aunt now. It was obvious it was a grumpy sunshine romance, and while it was understandable that Guy was a little bit gun-shy of falling in love after his humiliation as a young man in love years before, I did like that he kind of came around to the idea of the two of them before she did.

Guy was a nice guy, the things he did for his family, the people who lived around his lands and how he wanted to make sure to help them get fair profit from their crops. His mother was such a meddler though, and it was easy to see why he was so frustrated and tended to stay away to save himself from her matchmaking. When Guy and Lottie did give in, it was just one somewhat open door scene in the story, other than a few kisses and a little making out before that. I was also a bit shocked when his mother and especially his aunt sent Lottie away because of the other prospects catching the two of them from a distance together kissing or him leaving her room. Especially with the way both of them had earlier acted about things they’d heard. However in the end, I was glad that was the drama that came between them instead of a misunderstanding for drama’s sake. And I loved the letter Lottie got right when Guy showed up for that big grand gesture to get her back.

Another fun addition to the series, and I look forward to seeing which protegee will get her HEA next!

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. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Virginia Heath on Instagram: @virginiaheathwrites

Virginia Heath on Facebook: @virginiaheathauthor

You Had Me at HEA on X/Facebook/Instagram: @youhadmeathea

You Had Me at HEA on TikTok: @you.had.me.at.hea

Related Posts