To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano is the first book in The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency and you definitely don't want to miss reading it if you love inspirational historical romances with a little suspense added in.
After leaving a childhood life of crime behind Gabriella and Nicholas are reunited when Gabriella is caught breaking into a safe that proves a friend of hers is innocent of theft, but their reunion isn't all fun and games because their secrets from the past are being revealed and danger is all around them.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books in this wonderful series!

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

Oh my gosh, this story was AMAZING! As a reader, you know from the first page that this is going to be such a fun book. lol Things are going to go amiss and we're all just along for the ride.

And once again, Jen Turano does NOT disappoint! To Steal a Heart had me in stitches. Gabriella is just trying to help one of the gals at her boarding house find out what really happened to some jewels. Unfortunately, her sidekick/lookout/partner, Daphne isn't quite suited to detective work. hahaha You find out why rather quickly!

Not only that, we meet Nicholas almost as quickly! In one evening, the lives of so many people are dashed off into a new direction and we're all in for quite a bit of excitement. It was actually rather fun seeing how The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency gets its start. I love how the ladies all come together for common goals.

We also start to see the different layers of Gabriella. We start to see where she's come from and how she got to where she is now. And the supporting cast of this story is also SO much apart of unfolding who she is. And I ADORE the extra characters: Eunice (please, Jen, let us know more about her), Daphne, Monsieur Villard, Rookwood, and so many more. And honestly, that's just skimming the surface because there are a lot of vital characters in this story!!

I loved how the story flowed as we follow Gabriella and Daphne on their inquiry trails. As they take up the causes of women around them, it's a battle of wits! Of course, Nicholas finds himself joining in and it only makes the events even more fun!

As with any Jen Turano book there's also the more serious side of the book where relationships are tested and villains are brought to light. I loved Nicholas and Gabriella working their way through him finding a wife while they try to iron out their past, which surprisingly uncovers more in the present. I'm telling you, this story keeps you turning the page to find out what mess they've gotten themselves into as well as reading their banter!

I'm already over the moon for Daphne's story and I've only seen the cover of it!! I can't wait!

What an ingenious way to introduce a whole slew of new characters and all their possible stories. To Steal a Heart is the first in the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency which begins with a group of boarding house ladies that all have secrets. Throw in a couple of men to help them get around and be the muscle and you have a very unique agency that addresses the needs that ladies from all walks of life can come too. Especially when no one believes their complaints.

This first story centers more on Gabriella, a former child street thief, who runs into her former street urchin partner, Nicholas Quinn who is now quite a gentleman. One horrible night separates these two and has them following very different paths until they converge again in adulthood. Gabriella is now the know how for this up and coming new agency.

Rife with author Turano's trademark humor, these two again renew their friendship, Gabriella reluctantly, and sets them on the path to love. I liked the way Gabriella opens Nicholas's eyes to just how snobbish society still is. Especially since he seems to have forgotten his beginnings.

This story had adventure, funny disguises, mystery, evil men, true love, and a whole host of new characters that are just a little bit off, if I might say. And I look forward to reading everyone of their stories and uncovering their secrets.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

The book begins dark and mysterious but doesn’t stay that way long as Gabriella finds herself with an unlikely partner in crime. Instead of committing the crime like she had done long ago, Gabriella is helping solve a crime. To her surprise, a friend from the past appears and makes her face her past she thought was long past.

Once again, Turano has mixed humor on every page while solving mysteries and getting to the heart of forgiveness and moving forward from past hurts. She uses twists to make the book unpredictable. As always, this book was entertaining and hard to put down.

As the first in the series, I can’t wait to see what else will come to the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. With a plethora of dynamic characters, it is hard to pick a favorite, but I really enjoyed Daphne. She was an unlikely partner in crime but always pulled off her part. I loved her always carrying a notebook to use in her next novel.

I would highly recommend reading this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

What a great book! I love this author and everything that Jen Turano has ever written has been wonderful. Her books are always on my must-read shelf. I may have read it as soon as it arrived actually.

Gabriella is a super independent and yet also very fun character. She cares about the less fortunate and wants to help fight injustice. A bit of a far cry from her thieving ways as a child. Or is she? Because what is she doing trying to steal jewelry? Well of course she’s just trying to find it and give it back to the right owner so her friend can be cleared of wrongdoing.

But as Gabriella searches she finds herself face to face with her best friend from childhood. She’s sure he and their whole group abandoned her when she was caught. No one from their group has had contact with her since that day and she went to an orphanage and then was cast out to find a job.

Can she clear her friend and keep her heart safe from the boy she gave it to as a child who is now a full-grown man of great social standing? And how did he get that social standing? He was a street thief just like she was.

The book reads fast and furious. You’re going to want to block out some time to read the whole thing straight through. I loved it and cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out and I can revisit Bleecker Street.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

I'm sorry to say that I was unable to read the digital copy of this book. The every chapter was missing two to three pages. There were some digital glitched in some of the other remaining pages which made it impossible to read. I adore this author and her books. I'm sad not to be able to read this book.

I'll be reporting this news to the publisher in publisher notes.
I read the by by this author published earlier this year. it was about women's suffrage. It was WONDERFUL! I know this book would most likely be the same. The stars reflect the book I read this year by this author.

To Steal a Heart was my first time reading a book by Jen Turano and It was a very enjoyable experience. I have heard from friends that her books are good for a long time but just never picked one up, but the synopsis on this one just sounded too good to not read it. It is the first book in a series.

Gabriella and Nicholas had great character interaction right from the start. Their easy comradery was fun to read and made me smile. I thought both characters had good character growth through the story, and I felt like I really got to know them as characters by the time the story was over (I do hope we get to see glimpses of them in future books too!). The secondary characters added some interesting layers and comedic relief in certain areas that were a perfect addition to the story.

Overall, I loved the setting of this book, the time period is always fascinating. I loved the mystery/intrigue interwoven with this story. I also enjoyed Jen Turano's vivid scene descriptions they really helped me to envision the scene as the characters saw it. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the great characters, fantastic humor, and for sucking me onto the story.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

For various reasons I found myself with very little time to read this book before my assigned review date and numerous distractions made it difficult to concentrate. How I wish I had had more time to savor this fun and entertaining tale that was exactly what I have come to expect from the talented Jen Turano. Her quirky sense of humor never fails to make me laugh and is especially welcomed during this difficult time in our nation.

To Steal A Heart is book one in Turano’s latest series,The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency which features a diverse group of young women who have decided that they have a unique ability to obtain answers to problems experienced by other women that men tend to ignore. This particular tale centers around Gabriella Goodhue whose past as a child street thief equipped her with skills that made her the perfect person to carry out certain activities required to solve mysteries. Of course there has to be a man to add a bit of aggravation and romance to Gabriella’s life. This role is perfectly filled by her long lost childhood friend Nicholas Quinn who is now a member of society.

To Steal A Heart may well be Turano’s best novel yet with its convoluted yet brilliant plot, delightfully quirky characters, and so many twists and turns plus a surprise or two. Within the story are several other potential romantic stories for future books involving other characters and I look forward to reading them all. I particularly expect Daphne’s tale to be particularly fun. I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.

This harkened back to the early Jen Turano and I absolutely loved it! I have been a fan of her’s since she debuted but for me the last couple series have been heading a little bit too far down the over the top side of things. They’ve still been fun reads but I wasn’t loving them as much. So I was so excited to start this one and see that it was a lot more like her first books! I loved that Gabriella and Nicholas were both intelligent types and were both pretty straightforward. They didn’t have a lot of blundering about with each other and I loved seeing that their connection stayed strong despite the many years they were separated. They may have just been children when last they saw each other but they had a tight bond and it allowed them to pick right back up (after clearing a few things up) where they’d left off. Their romance wasn’t all that prominent, it was more of a friendship that suddenly realized they wanted more and I actually liked it and thought it worked well for these characters.
There was a large cast of supporting characters that I enjoyed (a certain one annoyed me a little at the start but I got over it) and I liked seeing all the different personalities come together.
The mysteries were fun to follow along with and there were definitely some twists.
This book was everything that caused me to fall in love with Turano’s writing in the first place and I hope she keeps it up!

Jen Turano created quirky, fun characters that pull you into To Steal a Heart and longing for more. Her most recent book is a delight to read. It's one you won't want to miss. Yet again, Jen Turano has written a book that is sure to please readers.

~ While I was given a book for free, I was under no obligation to provide a positive review. The pleasure is mine. (2020)

Having read some of Jen Turano's books I knew I was in for a treat with To Steal a Heart. I was not disappointed. This is the first book in the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series and the author brings to light interesting tidbits about The Gilded Age era and the New York Four Hundred society as she tells the story of Gabriella, a young woman on a mission to clear a falsely accused friend's name. As she completes her mission, she might just find she has found a family, perhaps not of blood-lines, but of an odd assortment of people who she comes to love. The story held my interest from the beginning to the end with interesting and sometimes humorous scenarios. The author does a great job with her characters, making them likable, flawed, and realistic. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from this author. Readers who like quirky historical romance will not want to miss To Steal a Heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required, and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

I love Jen Turano books. There’s always fun, laughter and elements of faith-a great combination!

To Steal a Heart focuses on Gabriella Goodhue and Nicholas Quinn, along with the ladies of The Bleeker Street boarding house, aka The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency.

Gabriella and Nicholas knew each other when they were orphaned children but lost touch over the years. Through a series of unique circumstances, they cross each other’s paths again, except this time danger lurks around every corner.

I loved the ladies of Bleeker Street. They are all such a hoot. The funniest in this story is definitely Daphne! Her “disguises” and antics are sidesplitting! All the ladies’ capers result in bumbling, inept escapades that somehow save the day, even when Pinkerton agents are not able to solve it!!

I always look forward to Jen Turano’s new books and cannot wait for her them. I am so excited To Steal a Heart is book one of a new series. Her stories usually focus on the Gilded Age and feature a strong female protagonist, which creates a great storyline.

Turano’s books are such a joy to read. She, without fail, has a great story from start to finish.

I received To Steal A Heart from Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Whenever you want to read a fun, unique story, grab one of Jen Turano’s unique historical novels. This first book in her new Gilded Age series offers a delightful romp amid New York City’s upper crust in 1886, along with some entertaining characters from the lower side of town. The compelling plot often seems to flow along in the background, sometimes overshadowed by the larger-than-life characters, but the engaging tale includes ongoing suspense and plenty of surprises. People from the protagonists’ past reappear in their lives to reveal details and fill in the missing elements of the main characters’ history. Join childhood friends, Nicholas and Gabriella, who were once young thieves, as they navigate the perils and pleasantries of the cream of society. I look forward to more installments of the new Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, which is run by clever women. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

They were inseparable street urchins, but time and circumstance draw them worlds apart.

To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano is an adventurous and heartfelt story of two childhood friends who loved each other but were drawn apart by their contrasting upbringing.

Gabriella and Nicholas were urchins in the streets of New York in the late 1800s. They had to steal for a man that gave them shelter in return.

Gabriella dressed as a boy to avoid unwanted attention, and Nicholas was very protective of her. They were the best of friends.

One day, Gabriella was caught during one of their 'missions' and was sent to an orphanage. She waited and waited for Nicholas to come for her, but he never came.

Several years later, Gabriella and Nicholas met again in a very awkward situation. They were both trespassing on someone's house, trying to open a safe.

Things were not what they seem to be, and Gabriella was surprised to find Nicholas transformed into a wealthy gentleman while she was a mere seamstress living in a boarding house.

The story is lovely. Nicholas is conflicted between his love for Gabriella and his 'uncle's' and society's expectations. Gabriella was still hurt that he never came for her but loved him too deeply to begrudge his good fortune.

Apart from Nick and Gabe's romance, there were some adventurous and enchanting side stories with lovely supporting characters.

The ladies who live in the boarding house with Gabe were charming, particularly Daphne, a shy and observing woman who was actually a very famous writer.

I love that the ladies decided to use their many talents to open the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency to help women deal with their troubles. I can't wait to read the next books in the series. I am especially curious to learn what keeps Eunice, the boarding house's young owner, from casting away her mourning attire.

To Steal a Heart is an adventurous, romantic, and inspirational story. Great read!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 12/17/2020*

This was an absolutely delightful read. The first in the new series by Jen Turano. I enjoyed getting to meet this beautiful eccentric group of women. Each of them with their own individual quirks and their love for each other willing to do anything for one another. I had many open mouth moments and laugh out loud situations.
I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the story. It was unique, wondering how they would get out of the bad guys' clutches.
Nicholas and Gabriella's chemistry was also delightful to read about the tension that keeps you turning the pages wanting to know what happens next, Gabriella's animosity towards him at the beginning.
Most of all I loved the message of taking out time to pause and listen, to reflect on what God has done for us.
This was an absolutely delightful read and I'm eager to know what happens in the rest of the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and Celebrate Lit. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

After spending her childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she’d put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. Using her old skills to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella unexpectedly encounters Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend–until he abandoned her.

After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agrees to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he’d be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.

My Thoughts: In this action-packed novel we are introduced to Gabriella Goodhue, a former thief who is trying to move on in life; until her friend is accused of theft. Gabriella never thought that she would set her eyes on Nicholas again until she uses her talents to help her friend. This is a novel that the reader will not be able to put down. Jen Turano is a wonderful author who brings the characters she creates and the readers together in a wonderful fictional world. In this novel, there are many twists and turns in the plot that keep the reader in anticipation. This is a story that is about trust, forgiveness, and believing in one another. This book will be enjoyed by fans of Jen Turano, for those who like historical romance and for those that like mysteries. I am looking forward to book #2 in the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency.

I always love how Jen Turano can make me laugh out loud while reading. This book carries her signature humor.

I did find this particular book surprisingly difficult to engage with at first. I almost felt as if I were being thrown right into the middle of a story and I set the book down and re-started it twice before I was able to immerse myself into Gabi and Nicholas’s world. Once I was engaged, the book flowed and the laughs followed.

If you need some light hearted, humor filled reading I can always recommend Jen Turano. Her brand of ridiculous and extravagant stories are delightful.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Oh how I lingered in the first chapter knowing this was going to be another classic Jen Turano laugh til it hurts story. The banter between Gabriella and Nicholas is pure entertainment. Could two people dislike each other more? Or do they secretly still have feelings for each other and don’t want to admit it? I knew this chapter defined the story and I was ready to catch a ride to an adventure that I will not forget. Having a lookout that faints hardly helps Gabriella in her mission. Nicholas arguing that whatever plan Gabriella schemes up is destined to fail , heightens the intensity of these two characters. So let’s see where we go on this trip.

I loved the fainting couch and laughed out loud as it seems to be “the thing” to have for women in distress. Of course there is also “vapors” that need to be on hand at all times. My oh my these ladies in the story are so over the top emotional that I couldn’t help snickering as the author uses her dynamic writing skills . I shuddered when one character said, “You’re almost twenty, Maryanne, and at such an advanced age, you need to marry this Season.” The talk around town is a big event coming up and every unattached female is vying for the attention of a certain man.

Now I must stop here to talk about my two favorite characters. They are none other than the witty and mischievous Gabriella and the dashing Nicholas. They once knew each other but something happened for Gabriella to well how should I put this? Oh yes she doesn’t want to ever see him again or does she? I loved the idea of them working together and discovering what they really mean to each other. We get a peek at their past and I liked how the author showed us pieces of what it was like as one lived on the streets while the other was taken in and well cared for. Does Gabriella hold any jealousy toward Nicholas because his life seemed to turn out better than hers?

The story is filled with excitement as Gabriella finds herself using her “street smarts” to help solve a mystery. I loved the idea of a lady inquiry agency and how so many women were in need of the service. There are a few minor characters in the story that almost steal the show. Their questionable traits are fun to witness as one faints at the drop of a hat, and others who don’t seem to be able to drive a carriage without causing chaos. There is much to endure in this story and I can’t overlook the moments when Nicholas and Gabriella let down their guard and draw close to one anther.

I can’t wait to see where the author takes us in the next installment of this series. Be sure you notice a certain dog and parrot in the story. They bring more comic moments to add to a story that shines with friendship, faith, intrigue and rekindling relationships.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

A delightfully fun, entertaining, witty work of art. I read this while sick in bed and it was the perfect way to pass an afternoon. I laughed out loud and could not put this book down. Gabriella is head strong and too smart for her own good. Thankfully, Nicholas knows this and loves her, exactly as she is, both past and present. Though there are misunderstanding to sort out, the two of them together is pure chemistry. The secondary characters are truly the ones who had me laughing the hardest and I cannot wait to learn more about them in future books. A fun who-done-it, inspirational read that I highly recommend. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

How fun! This book has interesting characters that will make you smile, frown, wonder how snobby can you get and a beautiful romance with ups and downs. Loved how the ladies in a boardinghouse became an investigative agency and the interesting jobs they take on. You can't go wrong with a Jen Turano book!