I really enjoy this author’s previous books and was excited for this one as well. Overall it was good, but I didn’t enjoy the premise as much as her others.

A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker tells the story of Miss Genevieve Wilde. She is determined to take care of the home she was left by her father, without help from judgmental friends and relatives. When her father's watch is stolen, she hires a thief-taker, the handsome Jack Travers, to investigate. As the two work together to solve the mysterious happenings at Wimborne, they discover more than they expected to find.

Things I loved about this story: witty banter, roguish hero, believable romance, swoony kisses, she kisses him first!, his sweet family, Wily, the mystery, family reconciliation, Ginny's relationship with her father and Beatrice, well-done villain, happily ever after

Favorite quote: "If you care for the things you love, if you protect them and cherish them, then they will shine." Ginny and Jack both helped each other become better and truly shine. They are a perfect pair!

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

Exciting and unpredictable! Loved the adventure on this one. It was swoony in the best of ways. Very different and entraining story!
Rating: PG, clean sweet romance

This is an absolutely lovely and charming romance from Joanna Barker.

Genevieve Wilde, magistrate's daughter, heiress, and trying to make her estate work well. Unfortunately accidents keep on happening, and when her father's heirloom watch is stolen, she will do anything to find it again. Even hire a thief-taker.

Jack Travers, former Bow Street Runner, and now thief-taker, has a roguish smile, and a tireless work ethic. As Jack helps Ginny search for the watch, and to unravel the mystery of the seemingly plagued estate, darker secrets are brought to life, perhaps some more dangerous than others. Will their growing attraction put them in even more danger, as events barrel towards a danger filled denouement.

I really loved Genevieve's fiery spark and general attitude towards life. She is no cowering missish miss, and it was particularly delightful to see her wits matched with the charming, handsome, roguish Jack Travers. Their growing attraction, and witty sparring was very enjoyable to read. And a particular K-I-S-S-I-N-G scene in a tree was parts swoony, parts hilarious, and just all round fun.

The mystery, and its resolution really helped tie many threads together in the book, including Ginny's estrangement from her half-sister. Those scenes were some of my favourite in the book. I really hope we see more books set in this world, so we can see some more of those developments, as well as more of Ginny and Jack.

All in all, this was a completely charming and lovely read, and I highly recommend it.

This is a low heat, closed door romance, with plenty of swoony kissing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this free eARC in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There are two things I love: Regency books and mystery. This book had both, which captured my attention from page one. Miss Genevieve Wilde, Ginny, has become heiress to her fathers estate when he passed early. Mysterious things keep happening around her estate that cannot be explained and she knows she is being targeted. When she cannot get local magistrate to take her seriously, Ginny hires Jack, a thief- taker. Jack bring humor into her life, keeping her on her toes while working around the clock to find the thief.
Such a fun mystery and love story!

Ginny and Jack have set a new standard for 19th Century British Historical Romance! I loved learning more about the early culture of law enforcement in England through Jack's profession and seeing Ginny work through heartache to find happiness. The characters in this novel drew me in and the mystery kept me intrigued. I remember thinking that I'd hit the resolution about 80% of the way through and wondering what could possibly be left but that last 20% is EVERYTHING.

This was a definite 5-star read for me and one I'll be recommending to all my bookish buddies!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

A Heart Worth Stealing is an enchanting Regency romance that explores the age-old adage of opposites attracting. The novel boasts a cast of unique and compelling characters whose chemistry will leave readers swooning. But this isn't just any run-of-the-mill romance novel. Barker has expertly woven a fast-paced mystery into the plot, adding an extra layer of intrigue and excitement to the story. From the very first page, I was drawn into the world of A Heart Worth Stealing.

I really enjoyed this one! It had it all, romance, mystery, intrigue, and a few surprises. I guessed a lot of the plot, but still was just as anxious to see how it would all play out. The characters were likeable and multi-faceted. I would have liked to see more of Jack's family and a little stronger ending for him (don't want to give anything away). I would definitely read this one again! Love this author!

This was just my cup of tea. I love a mystery with my romance and this showed that at it's best. While I did solve the mystery this didn't spoil the story which has lots of fun, banter, mischief, interesting side characters, and action to keep you turning the pages. I couldn't put this down so highly recommended and now a new favourite author for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Hold on tight! This amazingly witty, swoony, enemies to lovers, Regency mystery/romance by Joanna Barker will take you on a ride that’ll have you swooning and anxiously turning those pages. I absolutely adored this book! From the fantastic characters and clever, flirty banter, to the compelling mystery, this story had it all.

Miss Genevieve Wilde, now the owner of Wimborne Manor, is trying her best to keep everything up and running. When her cherished watch left to her by her late father goes missing, Ginny seeks help from the man who took over her father’s magistrate position. Finding her concerns not taken seriously, she places an advertisement in the newspaper and hires an ex-Bow Street Runner/thief-taker to find it.

Jack Travers is the epitome of the handsome rogue. From his winning smile to his flirty banter, it’s all Ginny can do to not be constantly exasperated by the man. But Jack is good at what he does and takes her stolen watch and the threats she’s been receiving seriously. As the two work together to solve the mystery, they get more than they bargained for as every person in her sphere becomes a suspect, from household staff, to even her own half sister. When the threats escalate, Jack and Ginny find themselves fighting for Wimborne and their lives.

Loved Ginny & Jack! Take “The Duke” from Miss Scarlet and the Duke and combine him with Flynn Rider from Tangled, and you have Jack! His charm and good looks make him impossible to ignore. But, Ginny’s his match in every way. Where’s he’s unpredictable and elusive, she’s stubborn and willful. They definitely make a dynamic combination. And, when they find themselves hiding in a tree together, the passion that erupts between them is sizzling.

The story is uniquely told from Ginny’s perspective which prevents us from knowing what Jack or anyone else is thinking. We’re limited to her observations and experiences which adds to the mystery. I enjoyed trying to figure out “whodunnit,” and while my suspicions were mostly correct, I enjoyed watching the whole story play out to its thrilling conclusion. It’s a captivating, suspenseful, romantic, clean Regency mystery that will leave you wanting even more. Highly recommend! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily offered.

I was pleasantly surprised by "A Heart Worth Stealing" by Joanna Barker. As an avid romance reader, I always enjoy a good love story, but this one exceeded my expectations. The novel is a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and witty banter, making for a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Although the story is told from a singular POV, I found myself wishing for a glimpse into Jack's perspective. Despite this, the novel's plot kept me on the edge of my seat, as I correctly guessed the culprit by chapter 5, but was still taken aback by the unexpected twist towards the end.

With its period setting and trope of annoyance-to-love, along with elements of forced proximity and slow burn, "A Heart Worth Stealing" has something for every romance lover. I highly recommend this novel as a perfect beach read for the summer season. Although I don't usually assign ratings, I would give this book a solid 4.3, rounded to 4 on Goodreads.

A Book Worth Reading!
The daughter of a magistrate Genevieve is an independent heiress whose father’s watch is stolen. Cue our MMC a private investigator Jack. Mystery abounds as our two leads work together to solve the case. This was the perfect mix of mystery and historical romance. The characters were likeable and well rounded. The mystery itself was a little predictable but with a few unexpected twists. I think in the case of this plot the predictability is a gift from the author so you know what to expect. The romantic tension was perfect with just enough banter and flirting. The MFC Ginny is such a strong and believable person.
This book was excellent and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Joanna Barker has become an auto-read author for me in the historical fiction genre. I haven't read anything by her that I've been disappointed with. I tend to stalk NetGalley for any new releases by her, which is how I stumbled upon A Heart Worth Stealing.

Genevieve's father passed, leaving her his estate. He has an older daughter that is Genevieve's half-sister. Most people would have expected him to will his estate to his oldest daughter. Since she's married, her future is more secure than Genevieve's. However, Genevieve and her sister have a strained relationship. Genevieve feels like everyone is expecting her to fail. And it seems like someone out there might be going out of their way to ensure that she does.

I don't read too many mysteries. Certain authors seem to do it well enough that keep me guessing. But it frustrates me to figure out the "twists" before they are revealed. And unfortunately, I felt like the villain of A Heart Worth Stealing was pretty obvious. It wasn't until a small part at the end of the book that I even remotely questioned whether I was right.

I did enjoy learning more about the concept of a thief-taker. I love how historical fiction teaches history in a way that makes it entirely fascinating. Reading historical fiction has taught me so much. I would have never known these small pieces of fact or history without finding stories that discuss them. I don't know that they make a huge difference in my life, but I find it fascinating, nonetheless, and it helps me to see how learning history through literature is so much more enjoyable than the history textbooks forced upon our children in school.

As always, the love stories are what I read for. I might have found Jack and Ginny's story a little cheesy, but it wasn't too cheesy. I can't fault too much. I wasn't cringing or rolling my eyes.

A Heart Worth Stealing is one I blew through. I didn't want to put it down. During one of the busiest months of the year, I read this book in like two days, I think. I liked the relationship between Ginny and Jack, but I loved the side story of the relationship between Genevieve and her older sister. The mystery was too easy to figure out, but I wasn't reading this one for the mystery. A Heart Worth Stealing gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Hearth Worth Stealing? What did you think? Let me know!

It's not too often that I read about independent heiresses in the Regency era, so it's a nice breath of fresh air when it does happen. (I still really enjoy the traditional Regency stories too, though.) Ginny is trying to prove to everyone that she can handle the estate just fine, and as a result, she tends to take too much on. I enjoyed watching her interactions with Jack, and watching her walls start to crumble as she came to the realization that she could still be strong and independent while accepting help.

Jack's character was wonderful. He had his own past that he was dealing with, but he was the quirky, humorous person that Ginny needed. Their story was sweet and, thankfully, not an insta-romance. I definitely prefer the build-up over instantly falling in "love."

This is a clean, quick read, and I definitely recommend it.

A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker

Ginny & Jack Forever 😍

I absolutely love this sweet historical romance. The mystery was fun and the premise fresh for the genre. It has all the pizazz of a contemporary P.I. romance but give it regency and bam Barker has created a masterpiece.

The side characters were charming (especially Jack's family) and I hope we see a few of them get their own story.

The swoon is real and I would gladly steal Jack for my own if I didn't already have the most perfect husband. 😉

Content: mild violence, kidnapping, kisses

Genevieve Wilde cannot seem to find the help she desires with the local authorities in recovering her father's missing watch. It was the last item he gave her prior to his death and it means the world to her. Ginny reaches out to a thief-taker to recover the watch at the insistence of her dear friend, Beatrice. Jack quickly determines something else is afoot as a not-so-random series of misfortunes seem to be riddling the estate.
Joanna's strength lies within her ability to write a fantastic love interest. I loved every page featuring Jack and might have grumbled a bit with any scene he was not in. I'm sorry, not sorry. He's charismatic, full of humor and banter, and stole every scene. The mystery element takes a backseat to the romance but the cover indicates such and I was here for it.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I couldn't have picked a better book to end 2022 with. This book was excellent!! Sometimes I read a book and wish the heroine wouldn't be so gullible or wouldn't be so quick to think the worst of the man she's falling for so I was so so grateful that Joanna Barker mastered that in this novel with such a loving and trusting relationship among the two main characters. I loved watching the growth in Ginny's character and I especially loved the scene in the tree... So well written!! I also hope she writes a spin off novel with Beatrice because there definitely is a story there I can't wait to read!

Clean romance.


I was given a copy from the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun and charming opposites attract regency Romance. Ginny is a headstrong and independent woman. Thinking she could manage and run her estate on her own. She didn’t need a man to marry as she was happy on her own. Missing her father terribly she had relied on one gentleman that had proposed marriage a couple of times but she felt no connection to Mr. Northcutt. when some strange coincidences started happening around her state and someone threw a rock through her window with a threatening message did she decide to hire a thief taker. Jack had originally been bow street runner but after some trouble, he turned his pursuits to being a thief taker. Making the journey to the outskirts of London. He met up with his new client, Miss Genevieve Wilde. You couldn’t find two people who were more opposite and yet were constantly drawn to each other. I loved the camaraderie and banter between these two. Watching their attraction grow and breaking down the walls to allow for romance was very sweet. The story held a lot of mystery and drama, with many twists and turns And plots to throw you off course. Do you think you have the mystery finally figured out doing something else changes and makes you question if you are a good detective. I think the author Joanna Barker is a great storyteller. I have read and enjoyed all of her books. This is a Sweet wholesome romance/mystery and is well worth the time to read it. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"A Heart Worth Stealing" is a Regency romance with a mysterious twist. Ginny Wilde is trying her best to keep the Wimborne Estate running after her father's death left her both alone in the world and in charge for the estate's upkeep. When her father's pocket watch, a beloved heirloom that she draws strength from, is stolen from her study, local magistrates aren't able to track down the culprit. So she decides to take matters into her own hands and hires a "thief-taker" from London to investigate on her behalf. Enter Jack Travers...

There were a lot of elements of this book that I really enjoyed. Ginny was a wonderful character, and I particularly liked how her strength and vulnerability were well balanced. She was shouldering a lot of responsibilities and had to make some difficult decisions independently throughout the story, while also at times also accepting that she needed to rely on the help of others. The dialogue between her and Jack was well written and witty as their relationship developed. Having this be a blend of mystery and romance was quite unique compared to other historical romances that I have read and added a lot of tension and twists to the plot. (Also the cover design is absolutely stunning and fits the characters so well!)

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes closed door/sweet historical romances, fans of authors like Mimi Matthews, and people looking for some mysterious suspense alongside their love stories. "A Heart Worth Stealing" was my first book by Joanna Barker and definitely will not be my last. I am looking forward to reading through her back catalogue and will be watching for more new releases in the future.

*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*

While this book is my first read by the author, I can firmly say, it won’t be the last, from her eyes for details to her talent to breath life into her characters by making them larger than life and definitely people I would love to meet in real life, I was sucked into the pages of this book and only nighttime forced me to put on hold the last chapters of this tale.

And what a tale it was. Told from Genevieve’s point of view, in the first person, we are invited in her thoughts as she was writing in her diary, like if we were the recipient of the story she narrates, retelling the present events as they occur in her view.
I am definitely in love with Jack. He is far from perfect, it is what makes him even more endearing as he holds on his mistakes and always tries to correct them. He has such a good heart even if it is wrapped in his rakish behavior. After all it is what makes him stand-out, the mischievous glint in his eyes and his swaggering persona.
A charming rogue, one who thinks he knows what he wants and expects from life. Not afraid to offend or annoy if it leads him on the right path.
Jack is so devilishly captivating, yet cunning and clever.
Why despite everything she says, Genevieve is as much appealed, even when she harrumphs and grumbles about his demeanor, she can’t lie to herself how much he affects her.
After a year of mourning, trying to recover from her loss, she is still overwhelmed by her task as she struggles to deal with every dent appearing on her path. For so long she has been sheltered under her father’s watch, but she is now determined to prove she can stand for herself without anyone else help. Why she drowns herself under her duties.
But by doing so, she does not know anymore where she stands, whom to trust as her allegations are not even taken seriously.

So when it comes solely to her to act, she believes she has few choices in front of her. Why despite her doubts she agrees to hire Jack. As for his flirtatious way and their bickering, he appears as her only option to solve her case.
The author gifts us a witty action loaded story of two people walking on the edges of society, each at one end yet they find a path to meet in the middle.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.