So True a Love checks all the boxes for me. Verity is brave, intelligent, and determined to pursue justice. Nathaniel makes me think of a smoldering hero. He is reserved and cautious, but undeniably drawn to Verity. Their initial interaction sets the stage for a perfect story, and I so loved seeing them grow together as things progressed. Joanna Barker knows how to write romance that draws in the reader. The heart is captured through dialogue, experiences, glances, and unforgettable kisses. The addition of art, London, and a mystery set a great backdrop. I did enjoy the emphasis on family and friendship and making sacrifices for those you love. I highly recommend this for those who enjoy clean regency with a lot of heart and excellent writing.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Please note that this is a standalone story but has characters connected to A Heart Worth Stealing. It doesn't need to be read in order, but I think it is more enjoyable that way. I don't like when there are related books but that connection isn't made clear on purchasing or reviewing platforms. I really like to read a series in order.

That being said, I liked Jack and Ginny from A Heart Worth Stealing a lot. But I think I loved Verity and Nicholas even more! I was more invested in the mystery that this story had. I loved Nicholas' desire to protect Verity despite her desire for independence.

The connections the main characters had with other characters in the book was compelling as well. I really liked Nicholas" parents.

There is just so much that I found enjoyable in this story. I look forward to the audiobook being released so that I can hear these events come to life.

Many thanks to Shadow Moutain Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

London, England 1803

Verity Travers has a knack for solving crime, and it’s not an occupation that a young woman such as herself advertises publicly. Verity is a privileged lady of high society, the daughter of a renowned actress. After one case costs her nearly everything, she decides to hang up her investigating life and live the life of a gentlewoman though it is uninteresting to her.

Those of you who have read Joanna Barker’s, A Heart Worth Stealing will probably realize that Verity is Jack Travers' sister. And it seems to solve crime runs in the family!

After she and her friend Elizabeth and her parents are part of a harrowing armed robbery, she finds herself swept back into the world she swore she wouldn’t enter again. Nathaniel Denning, the Bow Street Runner is assigned to the case and they keep bumping into each other despite not wanting to.

I really liked the easy banter between Nathaniel and Verity, even though she has sworn not to marry, she can’t but notice all the good things about, his family, his protective nature towards her, and his willingness to work his case with her. He has this smoldering vibe, but it worked well for me! Nathaniel early on seems to understand who Verity is, and that she is not one to stay still.

To be honest, I like Verity’s story so much more than her brothers, and I wanted to stay in this fictional world of London longer than this story entailed. Recommended!

My gratitude to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain. All opinions expressed are honest and mine.

This was as fun one! I loved the characters and the drama and humor and the interactions! Fun second book in this series. Highly recommend reading them in order. Clean regency romance.

I loved this book! It was refreshing to be in this time period with a different perspective coming from bow street. It had so many elements including romance, mystery, action, untangling relationships and ones past. One of the best I can remember for describing falling in love and all of the emotions that come with it! You won't want to miss this one.

Loved the suspense, intrigue, and most of all, the romance of this story. Verity is determined to help her friend before disaster ensues and easily gets herself into trouble dealing with dangerous characters. Nathaniel, a true swoony hero, “Mr. Chivalry,” sees the value of Verity’s contributions in solving the case, but hates having her in harms way as she works her way into his heart. Oh, the looks they gave each other practically sizzled on the page and the author herself described it best, “…the leap in my chest, the fire in my veins. Oh but it was addicting.” I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing but was not required to give a positive review. The opinions are completely my own.

So True A Love was so charming, it stole my heart! The romance was off the charts and I couldn't get enough of Nathaniel and Verity's witty banter. Historical romance perfection!

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 💕
- Regency era
- Chivalrous MMC
- Mischievous P.I. FMC
- Aggravated robbery
- Meet cute
- Mystery & suspense
- Forced proximity
- Self defense scene 🤭
- Sketches
- The inn scene 🫠
- The boat scene
- Stolen moments
- The first kiss 😍
- The perfect ending 💕

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 💬
The mystery plot sucked me in like a vortex. The plot twist caught me off guard but I was here for it! And who doesn't love a little danger served with romance? It's like adding a dash of hot sauce to your favorite dish - it spices things up! And let me tell you, this book was like a rollercoaster that I couldn't get off of!

The road trip was epic! The hand-holding through the curtain had me swooning! So tender and sweet. I’m a puddle of mush now. 🫠

Verity was my spirit animal. Nathaniel was the perfect gentleman. The ending could not have been more perfect, with Verity and Nathaniel being the perfect pair. (Did I say ‘perfect’ too much? 🤭) Their love story had me giggling and left me feeling delightfully entertained.

This book stole my heart and deserves all the accolades! Seriously, I finished it in one sitting! It's nestled comfortably on my favorites shelf. You’ve also gotta read A Heart Worth Stealing in the series! Both are standalone gems that will have you swooning and laughing out loud. All the stars and hearts for Joanna Barker's masterpiece!

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓
🛁 No sex, nudity or profanity, however, there is reference to children out of wedlock.
⚠️ Bar fighting, kidnapping, aggravated robbery. Child abandonment.

It had suspense, good plotting and well rounded characters that were engrossing from beginning to end. Verity is a young woman with a varied background - her mother is a famous actress and her father is an aristocrat that abandoned them when Verity was an infant, in order to marry someone else. It has made Verity determined to be financially independed and unwilling to become romatically involved. She became an investigator, trained by her former Bow Street runner brother but has retired from that after a traumatic experience while on a case. Unfortunately, she and her friends are victimised by a thief while returning from the theatre, and she reluctantly takes up her former profession. Nathaniel is a runner who is officially given the case. Both Verity and Nathaniel are realistic, appealing characters with interesting personalities. The growth of their relationship as well as the progression of the case (which grows increasingly complex) kept me reading it in one sitting. I hope this is the beginning of a series as I would love to spend time with them again and enjoyed the tight plotting of this book.

This was a perfect blend of mystery and sweet romance, and it had two great main characters. Verity was loyal and courageous but had learned from life not to let herself be vulnerable. Nathaniel was brave and gentlemanly, living up to his nickname of Sir Chivalry. Together they were quite the team. I appreciated how important family was to Nathaniel, and I enjoyed watching Verity grow in her understanding of and appreciation for her mother.

While this book shares characters with A Heart Worth Stealing, it can definitely be read and understood on its own. Nevertheless, I highly recommend reading both for maximum enjoyment. They are both great reads.

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

Mystery, adventure and romance wrapped into one beautifully written book!! This is the second book in the series though it can be read as a standalone but highly recommend the first read with the A Heart Worth Stealing. Kudos to Joanna Barker, she is the queen of regency!

SO TRUE A LOVE by JOANNA BARKER is a delightful, amusing, and suspenseful Regency romance that takes place in London in 1803. I have not read the first novel in the series, but this book easily stands alone.
VerityTravers is a feisty young lady who has given up investigating crime because of an unfortunate encounter three months ago, only to pick it up again in order to help her best friend, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Reginald and lady Harwood.
Dashing Bow Street Officer, Nathaniel Denning, who is looking into an attack on the Harwoods and Verity outside the theatre, keeps getting in the way of her investigation, or is it the other way around?…….
There are secrets, there is a valuable painting, danger and adventure, as Verity and Nathanial eventually join forces to solve the crime.
I love the author’s understanding of human nature as we are taken through this couple’s emotions, and as we come across, not only the ton but the dregs of London socety!…..
I highly recommend this most enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A wonderful story!
This romance has loss, villains, secrets, misplaced judgements, and a generous helping of humor that Laura Beers does so well. It will keep you reading to the end. Edwina is now living with her uncle, the new Lord Dallington, after the loss of her father and things are not going well. As Edwins struggles to find her new role, her cousin Bennett invites Miles, who with the loss of his brother has become the new Earl of Highgrove, to visit. As Edwina and Miles begin to interact, they discover another person who can truly understand the loss each is facing. But they also begin to notice things that do not seem as they should be. As they proceed to investigate secrets and start to question what is being said discoveries come that are unsettling. A truly enchanting story that makes you want to keep reading. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

Hooked from the beginning I couldn't put this one down! Verity and Mr. Denning are absolutely adorable! I'm a big fan of Joanna's Regency romantic suspense!

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

I love this series by Joanna Barker so much. Of course this can be read as a stand alone novel just the characters are connected to ones in the first book ( a heart worth stealing) so then you get the full picture of the character relationships which is nice. I love this mystery regency novels so much! Joanna nailed it again with this story! Highly recommend to those who love clean regency romance!

What a great continuation of this series, at least I hope it will continue. I love the regency era, but I love a good mystery and suspense too. This book has all that, with a bit of romance thrown in.

Verity wanted to work for Bow Street. She has some great skills, but being female is a draw back. Her private eye gig has been put on hold, but when she and her best friends family is mugged, things change.

In the process we meet Nathaniel, or Sir Chivalry, as his compatriots call him. Will he allow her to help in the investigation, or will things get difficult?

The characters were well developed, the mystery there, some twists and turns, but still fun. I hope to read another of this type from this author again!

#SoTrueaLove #NetGalley

Verity Traversd and not one to be outwitted when she and her friends are held up in a public area. Verity agrees to help find the thief. Verity's friend Elisabeth wants something back that was stolen, and Verity is willing to help find the item. Nathaniel Denning is a bow street runner who doesn't know what hit him when he ran into Verity Travers.
A grumpy bow runner, a secret to solve, and a fiesty young lady. I loved this historical novel with a suspenseful flare.Y

Verity is mugged along with her friend. Her friend asks her to help investigate because something important but secret was stolen. Nathaniel is the Bow Street Runner who is assigned to the case. They decide to work together. I really enjoyed this book! I liked the dialogue, the banter, the mystery. It is a sweet book. A must read!!

I love it and I'm obsessed. Joanna is a star writer and I can't recommend it enough. Plus who doesn't love a broody grumpy hero? I know I do.