I loved the premise of this book. A female detective? Yes, please. Verity was such a fun character. She’s had some misfortunes but that doesn’t keep her from trying to help her friend by solving a mystery.

While the mystery kept me engaged, the romance really set this apart. I just love a thoughtful, kind love interest, and Nathaniel was exactly that. Whenever Nathaniel and Verity were together the sparks were flying.

What I loved best about this book was that every chapter contained a scene that moved the plot forward. Joanna is so good at writing scenes that show her characters personalities and make me love them. This story had several scenes that were sweet, tension filled, and memorable.

This was a delightful read with the perfect amount of tension and swoon.

This can be read as a standalone, but do yourself a favor and read the first book, A Heart Worth Stealing.

This book contains no profanity and has some great kissing scenes.

Verity Travers, daughter of a renowned actress, reluctantly returns to the world of crime-solving after being the victim of an armed robbery. While determined to catch the thief, she finds herself repeatedly crossing paths with Nathaniel Denning, a charming Bow Street Runner intent on keeping her out of harm's way. As they realize they are chasing the same cunning criminal, Verity and Nathaniel must navigate their rivalry and growing attraction while trying to bring the culprit to justice.

While technically this can be read as a standalone, it does bring back characters from the first book. I have to admit that I didn’t remember the first book until I went back and looked at the cover. Verity has been sneaking her own investigations from her brother’s thief taker business. Though having given it up after an investigation gone wrong, she promises to help her friend.

This was an interesting read. My biggest complaint is that I thought Nathaniel the more interesting character, and I would have loved to see the story through his eyes instead of it being solely from Verity’s viewpoint. I also found it difficult to suspend belief for some parts, but it was well-written.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoyed the first book.

LOVED! First, I love getting her story. Her brother was book 1, and I didn't think it could get better, but the author did it! It was fantastic. I loved getting lost in this story and the characters. So well done!

Oh goodness I loved this book. So many wonderful lines and the banter between Nathaniel and Verity was witty and memorable.

It would be hard for Nathaniel to replace Jack (from A Heart Worth Stealing) as a favorite MMC of mine, but he does an impressive job of doing so. He is caring, daring, and clever. Verity is a delight. I loved how she was an investigator like her brother Jack and with her sketching abilities, she it made her even more special. She is given a case to help a friend but it takes them both on quite the adventure.

There are so many memorable lines I highlighted. Each one made me love these characters even more. Especially Nathaniel.

I received a paperback ARC from the publisher. All views are my own.

#BookRevew : SO TRUE A LOVE by Joanna Barker

It's been a while since I read A Heart Worth Stealing. Somehow, I don't remember Verity as Jack's sister. Verity is definitely a very brave woman. She can find herself in unusual situations and still emerge unscathed. I was initially unsure about Mr. Denning, but he proved to be a perfect match for Verity's adventurous spirit. The mystery and adventurous escapades somewhat overshadowed the developing romance between Verity and Mr. Denning. Mr. Denning was simply the sweetest man. I love how he wanted to take care of Verity while still respecting her independence. Verity was so independent, perhaps a little too carefree at times, and didn't always think things through. Overall, it was a good read and a rollercoaster ride of revelations.

Rating: 4 ⭐
Pub date: 03 Sep 2024

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's been awhile since I read A Heart Worth Stealing, but I enjoyed how Ginny and Jack played a part in this book. It made me want to go back and re-read their story. But Verity and Nathaniel were quite the handful all on their own. I got a kick out of how often Verity managed to find herself right in the middle of all sorts of challenges. And how she was usually not very sorry about it.
Their chemistry just worked, and the author did a wonderful job bringing both major and minor characters to life.

This book is so good! It has mystery and romance, and I loved it! It has some of the same people who are in A Heart Worth Stealing, and it was fun to see them again in this story. You can definitely enjoy this book even if you haven’t read the other one though. Verity is such a character! She is headstrong, independent, smart and fiercely loyal, especially to her friend, Elizabeth. When Verity, Elizabeth, and her parents are mugged one evening, Verity, who once wanted to be a thief-taker, is determined to find the thief, especially once Elizabeth confides that a letter was in her reticule with a secret that she doesn’t want anyone, even Verity, to know.

Verity is looking for a thief who mugged her and her friends at the theater. Nathaniel is a bow street runner who is investigating the crime. Verity has some experience with crime solving in that she learned from her older brother Jack, who used to be a bow street runner himself. This was a sweet, closed door romance. I'm very interested in her friend Elizabeth and hopefully she gets her own book too.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Joanna Barker has come up with some original story ideas, and So True a Love is just one of them. Verity has dreams (or did at one time) of becoming a female Bow Street Runner. Her brother worked with Bow Street. (You can read his story in A Heart Worth Stealing.) Jack taught her everything he knew, and he often enlisted her help with cases. She has a good mind for detective work. After Jack married and settled, Verity thought she might try doing some cases personally. She was doing pretty well, but one case went a little off that scared her, and rightly so. Verity was with a friend's family when they were all robbed. But something is off with the thief. Verity takes after him and literally bumps into Bow Street Runner, Nathaniel. Verity is urged by her friend to take on this case personally as a note was in her friend's reticule that could ruin her.

Nathaniel is immediately irritated and intrigued by Verity. She seems to be popping up everywhere he is, disrupting his investigation. He didn't want to take this case because it would be like finding a needle in a haystack, and it also doesn't pay well. But he doesn't have a choice. Nathaniel quickly realizes that keeping Verity away from this case isn't going to happen, and so the two team up. I couldn't have been more excited about this duo. Nathaniel doesn't take much longer than teaming up with her to realize that he might want more from a relationship with her. But Verity doesn't plan to marry. She's keeping a secret that she doesn't want to be exposed.

The mystery wasn't the driving force for me, which is actually a good thing in my opinion. I felt like the mystery was central enough to the plot that it does guide most of the story, but my drive to read wasn't from wanting to find out the "who done it," but to find out if Verity would let her guard down to let Nathaniel in.

Favorite quotes:
-The next morning, I set out, determined to put my plan into action. It was two-pronged, as any worthwhile plan was.

-"Trust is a valuable thing, Miss Travers," he responded. "One mustn't give it away too easily."

-"A girl must use all the skills at her disposal," I replied. "You would be surprised how often I am underestimated."

-"I do not drink while working," he said eventually, his voice almost too steady. As if he'd offered this explanation many times before. "I prefer to have my wits about me." "I see," I said, trying not to show how very intrigued I was. "Wits are rather hard to come by. Best not to frighten them off."

-"Oh, none of that formality," I said. "Please call me Patience."

-"There is, perhaps, no surer mark of folly," he went on, "than an attempt to correct the natural infirmities of those we love."

-"Always one step forward and two steps back," he said in a soft voice. "But I am undeterred."

-"I find it quite impossible to forget anything about you."

-"I've never known anyone like you," I said quietly. "You say what you feel, and you mean it. No guile or deception."

-I'd learned firsthand from my parents that love could be both selfish and caring.

-A young lady passed him, eyeing him with unmistakable interest. I could hardly blame her--the man certainly knew how to lean on a wall--but I still glared at her back.

-"That is why we work so well together," I replied with a saucy wink. "You plan; I improvise."

As you can see there are some real gems in the banter between Nathaniel and Verity. Their relationship was supportive, and they admired each other's talents and abilities. I loved their entire journey. And they might be one of my favorite couples that I've read this month. So True a Love gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read So True a Love? What did you think? Let me know!

Every time I dive into a new Joanna Barker novel, I tell myself to lower my expectations because there's no possible way this book will be as wonderful as the last one I read.

And then I read the new book and I am, once again, blown away and calling it my new favorite Barker book.

So True a Love is no exception. (Except, maybe, that the title is too cliche and has nothing to do with the actual story).

Verity is my favorite kind of heroine: spunky, intelligent, stubborn, and prone to "attract danger like flies to honey." She kept me on my toes. And although I've never been particularly interested in Bow Street Runners, I love the history in this book that helps me put other Regency novels into proper historical perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for sending me an electronic copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions are my own.

This is a review for So True a Love by Joanna Barker, a sequel to A Heart Worth Stealing, and I absolutely loved both books! This is a review for NetGalley, as I received a complimentary copy in return for my honest opinion. This story grabbed me from the beginning, as Verity Travers, sister of the Bow Street Runner, Jack Travers, finds herself with similar talents for investigating crimes, and is called upon by a dear friend who is thrown into a dangerous situation for which she desperately needs Verity's investigative skills to help her discreetly, before her reputation is ruined forever. I would describe it as a wonderful regency era mystery set in England, with a hint of romance that captivated me from page one, and kept me reading till the surprising climax, which I never would've guessed in a million years! What a great story, and I rate it 5 stars!

One night Verity is out on the town with her friend Elizabeth Harwood, her father Sir Reginald Harwood and Lady Harwood, and they are accosted in broad daylight by a thief who not only demands their valuables, but makes off with Elizabeth's reticle that has something of greater value, and will later be used to blackmail the Harwood family. But Verity Travers, with her training from her brother, and who has helped solve other such cases in the past, is called in to help Elizabeth with her dire predicament. Bow Street, the police force of the day is also called in to help, and that is where handsome officer Nathaniel Denning is assigned to the case, and doesn't think an amateur like Verity Travers will be able to offer any help on the case at all, but they are thrown together, and must find a way to solve this serious case for the Harwoods because this is more than a simple robbery!

I loved this story! I love the regency era, but sometimes the stories are too mushy, and too similar....this story, although there was a romance, was interesting, captivating, fast-paced, with great characters, unpredictable & exciting climax, and really enjoyable to read! Both of these books by Joanna Barker are excellent, and I highly recommend them both!
#joannabarker #netgalley #greatbooks

So well-written! Her cadence, the prose, the Regency verbal sparring, all well-done! No swears and no alcohol—even from the MMC! I know unheard of in the Regency era. Descriptive kisses only.

This exciting mystery romance will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Verity Travers had garnered success as a private investigator, but a life-altering case causes her to give up the profession she loves and to instead be the woman society expects her to be. That is, until she is at the theater with friends and they are the victims of an armed robbery. Instinct kicks in and Verity chases the robber, nearly catching him before running (literally!) into Nathaniel Denning a Bow Street Runner. Each of them uses their contacts and skills to find the thief, but soon realize that it might be better to work together. However, when personal and professional lines start to blur, the stakes get even higher.

Verity is a unique character in that she has natural investigative talents, is able to cultivate informants, and is very good at solving cases, especially with her drawing expertise. But in Regency England, a woman’s goal was to find an advantageous marriage, not run around chasing criminals. Her family has a bit of a checkered history and Verity carries a chip on her shoulder because of it. She is confident in so many areas of her life, but also has fears and insecurities that give her a depth and realness. Nathaniel is also drawn well as the hero. He appreciates Verity’s talents and doesn’t try to diminish her. He does try to keep her out of danger and that is practically a full-time job. There are some really beautiful conversations between the two about where they see life taking them and how that affects those around them. Readers will also enjoy Verity’s quirky family and Nathaniel’s solid upbringing and how hard he works to help others. When these two eventually give in to solve the mystery together instead of apart and the author combines that with all the delicious romantic tension, it makes this a book readers won’t be able to put down until the very last page.

I love it when characters in a story experience great growth and bring the reader along with them to share in life's victories. Such was the case in Joanna Barker's 'So True a Love'. Not only is there an extremely well-executed mystery, there is a great exploration of what it means to be in a family and the devotion that can exist in loving families. I highly recommend this book and hope that there is a continuation of the story, as I'd like to know more about Elizabeth Harwood. I highly recommend this and the previous story 'A Heart Worth Stealing'.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

3.5 STARS

So True A Love was an enjoyable historical romance. Though I found the beginning a little slow, the mystery was interesting, the slow-burn romance sweet. I had trouble relating to and ultimately really liking the heroine (stories with more of a feminist bent aren't my favorite.) But I can see fans of that PBS show Miss Scarlet and the Duke really liking this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to review.

This was wonderful. It had romance but it also had a good mystery. This book wasn’t all fluff- it had some substance and a believable crime that was not predictable.
I loved the main characters. Verity was smart and capable but she also wasn’t invincible. I loved getting to know Nathaniel and learning more about the bow street runners.
This was a sweet romance that was mature and honest. It also had a satisfying ending.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so well written. The storyline was well developed and compelling. I was pulled into the story from the beginning and struggled to put the book down when I needed to do other things. This book has a beautiful romance, mystery and heartfelt interactions between many of the characters. I can not recommend this book enough.

I feel like I am going through an era of really good historical romance novels. I really enjoyed both the romance and the mystery solving aspect. The main characters are delightful and it was lovely to read them falling in love. However, what I liked most was that the two main characters were not bland but had wonderful depth and interesting families. This is the second in a series and the main characters from the first novel make a cameo. I think Joanna Barker has real talent writing historical romances! You will never guess who the blackmailer is!!

Big thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing, Joanna Barker and NetGalley for an early release copy of this book. This is my honest review.

What a fun read. I loved the quiet mysteriousness of Nathaniel and the more vocal, "set in her ways" Verity. Although they seem opposite in many ways, they greatly compliment each other. I truly love Verity's character and seeing all the little scrapes she seems to get herself in but also seeing her passion for what she does. I greatly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.

This was beautifully written and hard to put down! I loved the characterization of the heroine, Verity: she had layers and wounds, but was full of spunk and ambition. The hero, Nathaniel, was the perfect balance of patient and persistent for her, and his strength and protectiveness was endearing. I enjoyed the references to the earlier book with shared characters, A Heart Worth Stealing, but this novel can be read without reading that one first.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.