I enjoyed this blend of sweet romance and mystery with a dash of danger. I loved both of the main characters. Ginny was capable and kind. Jack was a charming protector. I appreciated what family meant to both of them. It was nice to see how Jack interacted with his family, and I was moved by Ginny's efforts to improve her relationship with her half-sister.

I liked the secondary characters too and would love to see more of them. It would be nice to see Beatrice find love, and I think a book about Verity would be fascinating.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys sweet historical romance and mysteries.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for the early read.

Once again Joanna Barker has written a masterpiece. All the characters seem so real; side characters can seem very 2D, but not here. I enjoyed the mystery aspect too, how it started with just a missing watch, but escalated to something so much more dangerous. I also enjoyed the trip to London so readers could meet Jack's family and see him in more than just the thief-taker role on Ginny's property. Overall, great characters, fun mystery, and excellent writing!

Captivating read as I finished this book within a day (thank goodness for weekends). This clean romance definitely peaked my interest with both characters that are on the fringes of the Ton. Genevieve, a magistrate's heiress, and Jack, a thief-taker, are not who you'd think would be a good match, but given what's been happening to Ginny's estate, it's forced her to hire him and for them to work together. It's the typical exasperation and respect on both sides, and the pacing of the mystery propels the story and their relationship forward. I have to admit I guessed early on what would happen but the story still did have a lot of twists and turns. This is a slow burn but less from yearning to more of slow realization with some bodyguard vibes. It is well written and not one with a high "yearn" factor (I'm looking at you Mimi Matthews). I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Joanna Barker!

I received this complimentary book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A HEART WORTH STEALING by JOANNA BARKER is a most enjoyable Regency romance novel with unforgettable characters and a plot filled with mystery and intrigue. As secrets are brought to light, and things are definitely not as they seem, we are kept guessing right to the end.
When Genevieve Wilde’s beloved father dies, leaving the family estate, Wimborne, to her, she is deterined to to show everyone, especially her estranged half sister Catherine Davenporr, that she can manage things on her own, until her father’s pocket watch is stolen out of his study. Her father’s favourite book, was Gulliver’s Travels and, “Like Gulliver, Father rarely,did anything without consulting his watch.” Her father had been the magistrate in Little Sowerby and used to share a lot about his work with Genevieve.. With the new magistrate, Mr Northcott, more interested in seeking her hand in marriage than in helping her find this heirloom that means so much to her, she employs Mr Jack Travers, a thief-taker, to find the watch. Then more strange and destructive things happen at Wimborne…..
I really recommend A Heart Worth Stealing as a great read, with witty dialogue, a gripping story and some sweet romance.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions,in this review are completely my own.

This was a really fun Regency adventure/romance! I enjoyed the characters and the banter. There's a bit of a mystery hanging over them, although one that's not overly difficult to see through. Still, it was entertaining to be along for the ride.
Genevieve, the heir to her father's estate, is having a rough time. All is not going well with the management of the property, and then her father's watch, her prized heirloom, goes missing. When she can't get the local magistrate to take it seriously, she decides to hire a "thief-taker," which raises eyebrows in all the wrong ways. Thief-takers have the most dubious of reputations and are often nearly as much trouble as the thieves they are hired to find. But when Jack shows up in answer to her summons, he tells her he prefers to be called a "special investigator" and goes on to up-end all her expectations. A pleasant read, with a nice balance of lightness and heart.

Mystery and romance? My favorite combination. Ginny is facing threats and troubles on her estate, cue the hiring of a handsome former bow street runner, Jack. I quite liked Ginny, I thought she had gumption and spunk and wasn't a helpless miss waiting for a man to solve her problems, I liked her proactive approach. Jack was a very sweet hero, and the romance was definitely swoon worthy. I particularly liked the difficult sisterly relationship between Ginny and Catherine, I found it realistic to the family dynamic. Might I hope Verity gets a story of her own in the future? This is about a 4.5 for me. I found it a bit slow in the beginning, but after the halfway point, it picked up speed that never stopped. I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review

Another sweet regency mystery by Joanna Barker. A Heart Worth Stealing is a clean, easy, cozy mystery. It was easy to figure out the culprit behind the sabotage. Fairly predictable, in the usual sort of "heroine can't stand hero" kind of way. Where I think this book actually stands out or excels is in the relationship between the two half sisters. That's what I really liked about this story and why I would recommend it to other lovers of regency romance.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This is a review for A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker. I found this book on NetGalley, and the reason I chose it was because it is set in England in the Recency era, which is one of my favorite genres. I also enjoy books from this publisher, and I wasn't disappointed with this book at all!!

Miss Genevieve Wilde, who her friends call Ginny, and is a magistrate's daughter, finds that she has inherited the estate that she grew up in because her beloved father has just died, and left her everything, including a priceless heirloom, her father's pocket watch. She remembers him wearing that watch every day, and she is devastated to find that someone has stolen it! She tries to enlist the help of the current magistrate, Mr. Northcott, whom she has recently turned down after he proposed marriage, but even though he remains friendly, he doesn't help Ginny with finding out who stole her father's watch.

In addition to the watch being stolen, Ginny has been having other problems around the estate that she cannot figure out who is behind, and one day while reading the newspaper, she sees an advertisement for a "thief-taker", which she decides to hire, since she finds herself with no other options, and she isn't prepared for who answers that ad in the slightest.

Jack Travers, a former Bow Street Runner, now offers his investigative services learned while being a runner, and decides to help the beautiful Miss Genevieve Wilde find out who stole her father's watch, and ends up getting way more than he bargained for. He and Miss Wilde must work close together, go down a road in which they uncover crimes not only of theft, but conspiracy and betrayal from unexpected culprits! But solving crime isn't the only thing that this book is about, as there is also an air of romance, but you have to read the book to learn more!!

This is a good book to read on a cold day with a mug of cocoa next to a fire. It was interesting, unpredictable, and the characters blended well to make a good story. The ending was unsuspected, and quite exciting! I read this book in 3 days, and I enjoyed it. I liked that it was a good story, but clean, meaning nothing inappropriate! There are not a lot of great stories like this out now-a-days! I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it!

Miss Genevieve Wilde is a young single woman who is determined to face life's challenges on her own, just as her late father had taught her. So when her father's pocket watch is stolen, she will do anything to get it back, especially when the local authorities prove incompetent. She has no choice but to hire a thief hunter to find the watch.
It's a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street agent Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He's frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome and completely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she'll be able to resist such a man.
To protect her house and her reputation, the two engage in a risky charade: they pretend Jack is her cousin so she can begin her investigation, starting with the household staff.

I love the characters and the back and forth banter.
Ginny is a woman who knew what she wanted and didn't settle for less than she deserved, just love her. And then we have Jack, a charming and flirtatious man who always said awkward things, but in a comical way. I recommend it for lovers of historical romance with a bit of suspense and humour.

I really enjoyed this sweet Regency romance. I thought the characters were very well developed and real. I liked Ginny’s determination and Jack’s mischievous streak. I would have liked to see a bit more of the relationship between Ginny and Catherine, and I’d love to read more about Beatrice. All in all, a great proper romance.

Thanks to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for the review copy

Joanna Barker continues to prove to me why she is an auto-buy author! I LOVE HER WRITING!
This book was soo good! So fresh and original!
We get:
-Historical romance
-Romantic suspense!
-Excellent banter!
-JACK! I loved him! A confident, flirty, charmer! And also so sweet!
-Swooooony kisses!
-Mystery/who-dun-it!
-Action and adventure!
-A fantastic set of characters!

I binged this book in a day, I couldn't put it down! I was so pulled into the story, into the mystery, and invested in the characters, I HAD to know what happened! Highly recommend!

So much banter, it will curl your toes.

Romance: 4/5
Chemistry: 4/5
Spice: 0/5 (it's a clean on y'all)
1st kiss: 71% in
Humour: 3/5
Cry factor: 1/5
Suspense: 3/5
Drama: 1/5

Positive thoughts:
- Yes, you guessed it, this book is full of banter. It's phenomenal and so funny, and it lasts till the very end.
- I had moments of pure excitement, I was cheering! J. Barker is a fabulous writer, always keeps you on your toes and wanting more of all the good stuff she gives you.
- I loves the chemistry between our MC's, the emotions they went through to render to their love, the pain and action filled moments that just brought them closer and closer together.

Negative thoughts:
- I really really wish we had Jack's POV, he was just the bravest and sweetest, I really wanted to know what was going on in his mind

Overall:
- This was a clean, historical romance, filled with chemistry, suspense and action. A real page turner, you won't want to put it down.
- It was a fast and easy read. J. Barker gives us some old English talk, but it's very light and enjoyable.

Tropes:
- Historical
- Banter
- Protector MMC
- Strong FMC
- Loss of a parent
- MMC with a past
- Best kiss scene

Johanna did a fabulous job with this story. I loved the banter between Ginny and Jack. Joanna kept me intrigued and quickly turning pages to find out what would happen next. Well done!

I began this a little afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype on instagram. But oh my word! It does!
Jack and Ginny are perfect! I love their banter and the way he makes her smile even when she doesn’t want to.

I will start by saying Joanna Barker is a must-read author in my book! Her stories are delightful and swoony, and A Heart Worth Stealing was no exception. Jack and Ginny are the absolute cutest!

Genevieve Wilde is still mourning the loss of her father, and trying to live up to her role as heiress to his estate. When a beloved possession of her father's is stolen, she does the unthinkable and hires a "thief taker" to help her find it. Jack Travers is that thief taker and he is quite the charmer. Their search for the missing item takes them on an adventure, and it's so wonderful to watch them fall in love.

The author did a fantastic job of keeping the tension high, and also creating tenderness between the main characters. I really enjoyed this book and will absolutely re-read again in the future!

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a delightful story! It is packed with everything. Mystery, danger, oh so swoony romance, humour, a feisty heroine and a hero to match.
Jack and Ginny are quite the pair. Jack is a thief- taker, aka special investigator. When Ginny has a treasured heirloom go missing in her home, and all other options are exhausted, she hires Jack to find it for her. Opening the door to a mystery far beyond a missing heirloom.
It’s exciting and packed full of intrigue. And the tension and banter between Jack and Ginny made it all the more enjoyable.
You will not want to miss this newest book by Joanna Barker. If you’ve read her books before, you know you’re in for a fantastic read. And have already cleared your schedule. If you haven’t, well clear your schedule. You won’t want to put this book down!

Content: clean
Romance: kissing
Violence: mild; fighting, injury, not gruesome.
Language: none.

Thankyou NetGalley and Shadown Mountain Publishing for the complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

4.25 ⭐️

Okay, but I adored this book. It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did, I was all in. Jack is just perfect, and Ginny is wonderful. Their banter was perfection and their romance so sweet and heartwarming.

This author reminds me a bit of Roseanne M. White, especially her book An Hour Unspent with Barclay Pearce. If you loved that character, then you’ll adore Jack and Ginny’s adventure.

Also—the part where the title made complete sense and was used as a line in the book was absolutely the best 🥲🥰

All in all, A Heart Worth Stealing is a lovely book and I’d absolutely recommend it if you love mystery couples with slight suspense, laugh-worthy banter and heartwarming romance, relatable and lovable characters! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of A Heart Worth Stealing. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

Another amazing and wonderful read from Joanna Barker! She is a must-read author for me, and that is confirmed each time I read a new release from her. She is a brilliant story-teller.

This book has it all, action, mystery, humor, swoony romance. A reader simply could not ask for more. I could hardly put it down and once I got into the action I had to keep going just to find out what was going to happen! I am so impressed with how the story was written, the characters and their interactions, and the mystery and romance. It was all tied together so well that I felt I was living right there with each character.

A wonderful book and highly recommended. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

A Heart Worth Stealing was an enjoyable read. I usually like Joanna Barker's romances and this one didn't disappoint!

The story is taking place in 1802. Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is still reeling from her father's death a few months prior, even if she doesn't want to admit it. She is independent and strong, and if the local authorities do not want to investigate a theft that happened in her house, then she will take matters into her own hands, by employing a thief-taker. When former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives at her home, he doesn't make the best impression - but what choice does Ginny have?
As they look for the watch, they realise that the theft is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her. (Although how could Ginny and Jack realise there was such danger when only "small" things happened at the beginning? I wonder!) As they keep working together, they slowly realise how much they love each other - but danger is looming...

Honestly, I found it to be a great story! The characters are very well developed, interesting, they have their qualities and their flaws like any human... Sometimes the story was a tiny bit unbelievable or far-stretched, but overall the plot was good and the drama was justified. The romance was a strong element, it developed in a credible way and there was some chemistry between the two protagnists.

Overall, a really good book that I wouldn't mind re-reading in the future!

*I received an e-ARC and this is my honest opinion*

‘A Heart Worth Stealing’
By Joanna Barker

I’ll start with saying that Regency era is my favorite genre to read so when I saw a post looking for arc readers/reviewers I’d to signup 🤷🏻‍♀️ This is my first time reading from this author and I know for certain it won’t be my last. I loved this story! It has everything I like in a regency novel,

….Mystery - strange happenings around Wimborne
…Suspense - at times I was making sure my doors were locked 🫣
…Danger, whodunit, highwaymen, robbery, ambush - I feel like I’m trying to convince you like the grandfather talking to his grandson in the movie ‘Princess Bride’ 😄

-Romance…
“Because yours, my love, is a heart worth stealing.” (sigh)
-Humor…
“I will answer your questions to your heart’s content after the service.”
“And what if my heart is only content when your face turns as red as your hair?”

…a pocket watch (at times it gave me ‘Little Dorrit’ vibes with the “Do not forget” 😀)

…and an unexpected twist and so much more. But I’ll have to refrain from telling as not to give away the storyline though be certain that it’ll keep you turning the pages until you find out how the story unfolds and all the pieces fall into place. Truly well written Ms. Barker!

Ginny ❤️ Jack

This’ one of my favorite quotes from the book:
“If you care for the things you love, if you protect them and cherish them, they will shine.”

*I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.*