I loved everything about this! The plot seemed unique and original with the photography business. There was mystery and intrigue, a house party, fake dating and swoon!
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I really loved Allen’s first book in the series, The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart, and I was so happy to see there would be another book in the series! This can be read as a stand alone, if you were to read it out of order you wouldn’t be lost as it recaps things from the first book.
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I loved Eva and how she was a strong independent women. She didn’t back down from the other ladies present and she is a loyal friend but willing to be vulnerable. Nathan is as dashing as any hero can be and he loves his family. Which is even sweeter! He went to such lengths to keep them safe but there’s always something or someone to undo carefully laid plans.
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Pretty much the moment I saw the arc available on Net Galley, I downloaded it ASAP. This book doesn’t release until October 2022. And now that I want the next book in the series which means I’ll have to wait even longer 😅
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I love Allen’s work and she continues to show she’s an auto buy author for me. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

Content: death, mild depictions of blood and injuries, brief fighting

After reading the first book in this series by Nancy Campbell Allen called The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart I decided that Regency romance mysteries were my new favorite genre. This book has not changed that opinion at all!

Eva is a woman of her own making. She is a photographer who makes a living taking portraits and sometimes photographing crime scenes. She also secretly admires Detective Inspector Nathan Winston.

Nathan is not interested in the female gentry his mother wants to throw him together with at her annual fundraising house party. To get his mother of his back he tells her of his interest in a photographer and recruits Eva to the house party to play at being his love interest as well as to photograph the event.

What I loved about this book was that I never did guess who the real bad guy was. It had a bit of a Clue vibe where I continued to wonder Who Dunnit?? Ms Allen has created the perfect blend of romance, history, and mystery. It was fabulous!

I also loved the chemistry and romance between Eva and Nathan and how it didn't drag on throughout the entire story. We got to enjoy their romance and feelings during the story and the sneaking around scenes were so so cute!

I loved how after the first initial encounter with Mean Girl Blanche, Eva started to stand up for herself. She didn't wait for Nathan to rescue her. She was confident and outspoken and strong. Eva can be summed up with this perfect quote:

“My mother had a saying, Mr. Smythe— loosely translated, it is this, ‘A man who finds himself threatened by a woman is not truly a man.’”

This is a must read (after you read The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart of course, if you haven't already)!

Things to know about content: no language, some violence (but not graphically described), and some kissing.

Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

To Capture His Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen is a great historical fiction/romance that I truly enjoyed.

I enjoyed Ms. Allen’s previous book, The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart, so I was excited to read this one. I enjoyed it just as much.

This takes place in England 1886. I just love that timeframe, and the author does a wonderful job transporting us back to the Victorian era. The descriptions of the culture, society, and background were spot on.

This book has a lot of wonderful elements: mystery, suspense, romance, history…it all wraps up nicely into a charming and relaxing narrative.

I love the Author’s take on the relationship based on “business” and agreement that then turns to romance. Eva and Nathan work well together professionally and also romantically. Their chemistry is obvious to us readers, it just takes a bit for the characters themselves to figure it all out as well. They both bring something different to the table and it complements one another well.

I loved the pacing, storyline, and I enjoyed the satisfying ending.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/12/22.