Tag: Virginia Heath

All’s Fair in Love & War by Virginia Heath

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

All's Fair in Love and War (Miss Prentice's Protegees, #1)All’s Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Miss Prentice’s Protegees, #1

Release Date: May 28, 2024

After an unhappy and strict upbringing by her stepfather, Georgina “Georgie” Rowe does not agree that children should be seen and not heard. As a graduate of Miss Prentice’s School for Girls, a school known for turning out the best governesses, companions and secretaries, Georgie assumes she will have her pick of jobs as her three best friends and classmates did, but unfortunately her rather unconventional views on teaching and discipline do not endear her to potential employers. In fact, Georgie has had over thirty interviews and been rejected by every one of them – a school record, to the utter dismay of Miss Prentice. So, when a very desperate Captain Henry “Harry” Kincaid comes to the school looking for a temporary governess to his nieces and nephew, Miss Prentice takes charge and before she knew what was happening, Georgie was hired! Too bad the captain is exactly like her stepfather, much too rigid, too organized, too regimented and too arrogant to be likable. Almost immediately upon meeting her new charges, Georgie wonders if she is out of her league. But as time passes, she finds her groove and to her dismay has to acknowledge that she was wrong about the captain. Very wrong, which can only lead to a broken heart since Harry has just been given a huge promotion and a flagship to command.

Henry “Harry” Kincaid’s upbringing was the complete opposite of Georgie’s, his parents were free spirits, disinclined to follow rules or worry about paying bills, taking care of their home or providing a stable environment for the children. His sister Flora thrived in this atmosphere and still lives her life that way, which is how Harry ended up being left with her three young children and one very large dog, while she and her husband took off for Egypt. Harry was taken under his grandfather, the Admiral’s wing early in life, and thanks to the Admiral’s training and guidance, Harry has a promising career in the Navy. He had a minor setback a few years ago, involving a woman, but thankfully that is all behind him now and he is back on track to make a name for himself. He has worked hard to get where he is and it is beginning to pay off, exactly as he planned. So why is he starting to doubt his choices? And why can’t he seem to ignore his new governess? She is everything he claims to abhor, but he can’t seem to stay away, which is a problem, since he is due to take command of his new ship in a few months and Georgie is definitely not the kind of girl who would be happy with an absentee husband. Maybe HEA isn’t meant for everyone…

I liked this story, but I am going to have to agree with other reviewers who have said that the story dragged. I was never really pulled into this story and found it very easy to put down, that doesn’t make it bad, but it wasn’t the quick, easy read I was expecting. Aside from the slow pace, I found Georgie hard to like at the beginning, but eventually she grew on me. Harry on the other hand won me over immediately and was the shining star of this book. This is the first book in a new series and if you are a fan of the opposites attract trope, like children and animals in a story, or enjoy a slow burn/low steam romance, this book is for you.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Rom-Com, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)4 Comments

Never Wager with a Wallflower: A Novel (The Merriwell Sisters Book 3)

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Merriwell Sisters #3
Publication Date: 11/7/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 316

This final book in the Merriwell Sisters trilogy was a hit – and a miss – for me. I loved the epilogue where we caught up with all of the couples five years later to see how they were doing and what had been going on in their lives. That was a definite HIT. Another HIT in all of this author’s books is the wit and humor – and while this book seemed to have a lot less of that than there usually is, there was enough to bring a smile – and even a giggle on occasion. So, what then is the miss? Venus! I just did not like her. I really disliked her in the first book of the series, but in the second book, I still didn’t like her too well, but I thought there was hope for her. That just didn’t happen for me. Throughout all of the books Venus has been very judgmental and very self-centered and that was certainly true in this book as well.

Venus (Vee) Merriwell and Galahad (Gal) Sinclair have known and disliked each other for four years. They first met when Venus tackled him with the intent to do as much bodily injury as she could – read the second book in the series if you want to know more about that. Galahad Sinclair is Giles Sinclair’s cousin – and Giles is married to Venus’s sister Diana. Since that first meeting, they have either avoided each other totally or they have sniped at each other through whatever time they were forced to be in closer proximity. Is it a case of protesting too much?

Galahad has long wanted to build a club in the area of Covent Garden – a decent club where he could have both ladies and gentlemen attend. He has worked his fingers to the bone, scrimped, and saved until he finally has enough saved to buy a location and renovate it. Now, he just needs to find the perfect location – and miraculously, he does. Then, he learns it is right next door to the orphanage where Venus teaches. OOPS! When Venus learns about it – she is livid – because she thought that building was going to be left to the orphanage. OOPS!

For me, watching them work through to their HEA was a bit of a painful process. Venus was always looking for the worst in everyone – especially Galahad. She looked down her nose and judged him guilty of anything and everything whether he was or not. She was also very self-centered. She thought nothing at all of thinking Galahad should just give up his dream and hand over his building to the orphanage even though he had done absolutely nothing wrong in acquiring it – and had paid good money for it. She thought that because he played cards well, he was a gambler (he wasn’t). She thought that because he wanted to open a club it would be one of those dissolute, disreputable places like the ones she and her sisters had to drag their father from after he’d gambled away the rent money. So, anyway, I just couldn’t get myself to like her or to care whether she got a HEA or not. I really liked Galahad, but he annoyed me as well. He was just too perfect. He never got mad or raised his voice even when the most heinous things happened to him. Also, he was always apologizing to Venus – I mean for everything – all the time!

I am glad to have read the book and to have seen the happy futures for all of the Merriwell sisters, but I wouldn’t read this one a second time. If you have read the other books in the series, don’t skip this one, because it wraps up the series and gives you a glimpse into their futures. One thing it doesn’t do is provide a final resolution to the Merriwell’s father. I know that has nothing to do with them and their accomplishments and that they don’t care – but – I just never like loose ends and he’s a loose end. I would like to have learned that he was captured by Pygmies and covered with honey and then hung upside down over a red ant bed OR maybe he tried to fleece the wrong woman and she captured him and locked him up in her dungeon and used him for a plaything. 😊

Anyway – if you have read the other books in the series, don’t miss this one. I have scanned over some of the other reviews for this book and none seem to mention a dislike for Venus, so perhaps it is just me and you’ll love her. My dislike for Venus has nothing to do with the author’s writing abilities – to me, she is just an unlikable, needy character. Hopefully, you will love Venus.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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