Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the free copy of the ARC. My opinions are MINE, not swayed by anyone. :)

I loved the male characters in A Heart Worth Stealing, particularly Jack for his goodness and intensity. He was such a fun main character. Also, loved Ginny's dad, even though he was off screen the entire time. They had a sweet relationship. I even loved the bad guy, although it was easy for me to guess immediately who it was. Maybe that was intentional. The reveal was super well-written, though, and that was probably one of my favorite scenes in the book.

Ginny took a minute to grow on me. She was a little unaware of herself, which is one of those characteristics in a heroine that bothers me.

The ending was so great, and that letter from her dad? Heart eyes.

A few fabulously written scenes of note:
The ball at Katherine's
In the tree (swoonsville)
The coach kidnapping

Definitely loved this book! I am happy to be slowly making my way back to a few Regency books, after my five year hiatus.

If you’re looking for a traditional Regency with an appealing heroine and hero, then you may enjoy #AHeartWorthStealing.

It tells the story of Miss Genevieve "Ginny" Wilde, and Jack Travers. The two are brought together when Ginny discovers her late father’s watch missing. After getting no meaningful assistance from the local authorities, she hires Jack, a former Bow Street Runner turned “thief taker” (i.e. private investigator) to find it. The theft of the watch turns out to be one of a series of calamities that have plagued Ginny and Wimborne, the estate she inherited from her father after his recent death.

Jack is intelligent, charming and the illegitimate son of an earl. Ginny is the daughter of her father’s second marriage—her mother was governess to Ginny’s half-sister, Catherine. Her parents married within months after Catherine's mother's death, and Ginny has always felt that she had to watch her step closely to maintain her reputation. Despite this and their differences in class, Ginny and Jack are drawn to each other as they work together to try to discover who is threatening Ginny and her home.

The book is historically accurate and benefits from two likeable lead characters. However, pacing was too sedate for me, and the villain of the piece seemed fairly obvious early on.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ShadowMountain for the ARC!

*swoon*

I could stop there, honestly. It was just so good! Literally everything I wanted and even all I didn’t know I wanted. I basically inhaled this book 😅

Can we talk about the tension? The teasing? The build up?

And shall I add kissing in a tree to my bucket list? I think yes

Am I in love with Jack Travers? Absolutely

Was there some gasping? Yup

Swooning? 100%

Genevieve Wilde is feisty, determined, and relatable. She is understandably lost and sad after her father’s death and when his watch goes missing she will move heaven and earth to get it back.

Jack Travers is a thief-taker. And a devilishly handsome and charming one at that. He’s full of life and doesn’t care what the world thinks of him. And of course he’s good at solving a mystery as well.

I loved Jack and Ginny together! The tension and banter was SO good! And they were a great team in solving the mystery! I totally called the whodunnit at the beginning and then changed my mind! Joanna did a great job of setting it all up!

It is a single pov which is definitely not my favorite. I’m dying to have Jack’s pov. But! I still love it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

#AHeartWorthStealing #NetGalley

This book was so good. Genevieve Wilde has been so lost since her father's death six months ago. When her father's watch is stolen, it's the last straw. When the local magistrate blows off her concerns, Ginny decides to hire a thief-picker named Jack Travers. When other things start happening on the estate and Ginny's feels threatened and doesn't know why someone is targeting her and she doesn't feel safe in her own home.
I loved the banter between Ginny and Jack. This is one of the best in the Proper Romance set, I had a hard time putting it down.

I wish I could say I loved it, but I find that I’m just not a fan of Joanna’s writing. A little forced and flat at times. Very predictable

The characters were interesting. I especially love the determination of the female lead. In addition, the plot was exciting, and I didn't expect so much mystery, which made this book more interesting. I also love that there were other characters. I didn't expect the turn of events. However, I did like the progression of their relationship. It wasn't sudden. People who enjoy sweet, clean, regency romance with a tad of mystery would enjoy this. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was an interesting read! I liked the mystery element and I was invested to know how things were going to play out. I couldn't connect to the characters though and it was a little slow for me. I do think fans of regency romance should give this one a chance!

A stolen watch...and mysterious happenings all over the estate. This story starts off with a bang! I must admit that I found a few things confusing at first and had to reread the first chapter to get things straight in my mind (mainly an influx of characters and sorting out who was who), but once I did, I had to keep reading to find out all the things.

I wasn't expecting a romantic suspense, Regency style, but that's what I got and it was a really fun element. I enjoy a story that keeps me guessing at the mystery and the whodunit and this book kept me turning the pages.

Jack and Ginny's charade and duplicity were necessary and entertaining. There were characters to love and others to feel unsure about, but the cast was wide and full of variety.

This is an agreeable addition to the Proper Romance lineup.

Content: mild moments of peril/threat; talk of illegitimacy; mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and were voluntarily given.*

This book is so swing worthy and a great time era romance. I loved Ginny and Jack. If only Jack were a real man! This novel would be something that all lovers of historical romance will love! It is a sweet love story and focuses on Ginny trying to prove herself and Jack is perfect for her!

Genevieve Wilde is desperate to prove herself a competent mistress of her late father’s estate. The last straw in a string of unfortunate and suspicious incidents is when her father’s pocket watch is stolen. When the local magistrate proves unwilling to intervene, she takes matters into her own hands and hires a “thief taker” against her better judgment, particularly on first meeting him. But Jack Travers turns out to be exactly what she needs in more ways than one.

This novel is a fascinating mystery romance with fantastic characters and a fast-paced plot. I found the mystery to be compelling. I thought the author did a wonderful job at making the reader question their assumptions. The first-person narrative is lovely and adds to the suspense. Bravo to Joanna Barker for this outstanding romantic mystery that I could not put down!

I just finished this book a few days ago, and it's not one that I will be forgetting anytime soon. Jack Travers is swoon worthy. I don't think I could have held back as much restraint as Ginny did. Just being honest.

You'll like this book if you like:
* Romance with a touch of mystery to keep it interesting
* Weak knee kisses
* Banter filled pages
* Heartthrob MMC
* Independent but loveable WMC

I adored this story of these two amazing characters. Ginny has worked so hard trying to keep up with what her father built and the strength to do that after losing her father so quickly, it's astounding. Jack, himself showed everyone what he wanted to show them. I love that we were able to see other sides of him. Made him more lovable. Ginny and Jack needed each other, and I'm happy that their story was written. So grateful that Joanna did not throw in the towel and just kept going.
This book is truly a proper romance masterpiece. For sure one of the top reads for this year for me. Can't recommend it enough.

What a sweet and fun period romance. Joanna Barker takes two people, both on the very fringes of English genteel society. Ginny is the young, single, headstrong, yet kind and sweet daughter of the recently passed area magistrate. She was given everything to inherit, much to the disdain of her older half sister. When strange coincidences and small crimes start piling up on her newly inherited estate Ginny decides to hire a “special investigator” to help her stabilize her property, and therefore her image as a legitimate and capable heiress. Enter: Jack. What a heartthrob. He is irreverent and hilarious in provoking both Ginny and the sophisticated peerage he interacts with. Full of energy and skill, he takes on the job to help solve the crimes on Ginny’s estate and provide protection in the meantime. As they spend time together trying to solve the crime they can’t help but start admiring each other.
Also, at about 80% in you think you’ve reached all the conclusions and solutions for the book, BUT JUST YOU WAIT. There’s even more than meets the eye to the story. 5/5 stars, wholeheartedly recommend.
Instagram review will be posted on April 28 @laurensturningpages .

This book was filled with highs and lows! Mostly from me! I really enjoyed the characters and especially the setting! It was difficult to follow at first but little by little the story came together. The plot took me through all the chaos of finding a missing watch! Plot Twist! I truly enjoyed the swoony moments and fell in love with the Hero! Enjoy!!

A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker stole my heart (no pun intended!).

A young woman trying to make her own way and prove her worth in a world full of men, and a Bow Street runner looking for redemption make for a sweet romance! When Genevieve ("Ginny") finds her deceased fathers most prized possession missing, she decides she must go beyond the local magistrates to get it back. Before long Ginny has a former Bow Street runner, now a private investigator, at her door...and he's handsome to boot.

This book kept me reading from the first page! I immediately took to Ginny, her friend Bea, her staff, and of course the hero, Jack Travers! Joanna Barker has a way of building a world and building characters that pull you. I couldn't help feeling like I was invested in Ginny's life. I wanted her to succeed, I wanted her to make peace with her sister, to prove her worth, to find love. Any readers who enjoy historical fiction, romance, adventure, intrigue, unexpected friendships...this book is for you!

Swoon…

Joanna Barker was my introduction to the regency romance genre with Otherwise Engaged and I’m so glad she was. When I saw that her latest was regency with a mystery subplot… it got this cozy mystery lovers heart EXCITED.

A HEART WORTH STEALING, was everything I was hoping it to be… started it on a Friday afternoon and finished the following evening… The MC Ginny was independent and a strong heroine which I love. Her small glimpses of moments of thinking of her late father really hit me. Now for Mr. Travers… cue the best flirt! “I am in the habit of making dreams come true” I loved his character not to mention the ladies in his life, sister, mom and grandmother I could take a book about them! Multiple times in the book I marked moments of Ginny with her best friend Beatrice… I loved the friendship banter they had and why am I thinking Beatrice may need to be set up with Wily?

I loved the air of mystery with the whodunnit… stealing of the pocket watch. I had numerous suspects pegged and loved seeing the outcome play out!

This one was so fun! A perfect escape into time.

Thank you Shadow Mountain and Joanna Baker for this gifted copy!

This was a really fun and unique regency romance. The characters were complex and compelling and Joanna’s writing is beautiful and atmospheric. It was a little more mystery focused than I was anticipating, but I enjoyed the high stakes.

A must read for anyone! I cannot stress how much I adored this novel! This is the story of a young woman who after the recent passing of her father, it left with the estate and the odd things happening with it. Genevieve is a strong woman who takes pride in running her estate and proving she can do it without help. When strange things start to occur Ginny must take charge. After the disappearance of her late father's pocket-watch, Ginny is forced to enlist the help of Jack. A thief-taker. It is hate at first sight. The two must work together fighting off the attraction and irritation before time runs out. This book is one of my all time favorite reads. I got sucked right in to the story and could not put it down! Ginny and Jack have such amazing chemistry and the mystery had me captivated until the last page. I would highly encourage anyone and everyone to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the arc copy. All opinions are my own.

"Because yours, my love, is a heart worth stealing."

‘A Heart Worth Stealing’ by Joanna Barker is a regency romantic suspense story that got me sucked in from the very first page! I picked this book out of curiosity and largely because I have had good experiences with proper romance published by Shadow Mountain Publishing. Anyway, I finished this book in one sitting. That's how good it was.

There is a mystery to be solved. There's suspense, action, romance, many swoon worthy stolen moments that were of course heart-fluttering. And the banter between Ginny and Jack was so enjoyable.

If you love Nancy Campbell Allen's books, you'll love this book. Jack reminds me a lot of the constables from her books.

The story began with the disappearance of Genevieve (Ginny) Wilde’s late father’s pocket watch. Desperate to get the watch back, she decided to hire a thief-taker (a man of certain talents) to help her to recover it. The thief-taker, Jack Travers happened to be roguishly attractive and he's a man of certain talents indeed. You'll discover many of his talents as you read along.

They went on an adventure which of course brought them closer together. The romance in this book was so sweet and just so wholesome. Jack and Ginny were it! And guess who kissed who first? You'd never guess. The chemistry was off the charts.

I am very happy with how the main issues were resolved. There's a reconciliation of some sorts between Ginny and her half-sister, which was really sweet too.

The prose was beautiful as well that I was already checking out Joanna Barker's other books before even finishing this. Joanna Barker is a new to me author and I am so excited to check out her other books.

I love this book. Ginny's father has passed away and left her with an estate to run. Unlucky things have been happening or is it more than bad luck? She decides to hire Jack Travers, a thief-taker to find a stolen watch. When he sees that there is more going on than a stolen watch, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Hilarious situations, swoony chemistry, mystery and great characters are all in this book. I would highly recommend this book.

A Heart Worth Stealing
By Joanna Barker
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Series: Proper Romance Regency Book 1
Rated:4
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “Sowerby, England, 1802
Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is determined to meet life’s challenges all 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.
Upon reading an advertisement in the paper, she takes a chance and contacts a thief-taker to find the watch. It’s a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He is frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome, and entirely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she’ll be able to resist such a man.
But after Ginny discovers that the missing watch is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her, she needs Jack’s help more than ever. To protect her home and her reputation, the two enter into a risky charade—pretending Jack is her cousin so he can begin his investigation, starting with the household staff. As they work together to unravel the mystery, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic thief-taker, leaving her heart in just as much danger as her life.”

Impressions: I was amused by the quick wit and charm of Jack and Ginny in this historical romance. There was a good tension of suspense and romance that made this book easy to enjoy. Although it was meant to be a mystery as to who was plotting against Ginny, I felt the culprit was suspicious from the start. That being said, it was still fun to read and discover that I was correct. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Quotes: “‘If you care for the things you love, if you protect them and cherish them, then they will shine.’”

“‘I cannot be dashing and witty all of the time. One must be well-rounded.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://thebluestockingbooknook.wordpress.com