A Tainted Heart Bleeds. My fellow readers, this is a terrific read for we readers that enjoys a good historical mystery novel every once and awhile. I certainly had a fantastic time reading this one. The book has mystery that you already aware of, but it also has wonderful characters who brings all the excitement to the story. There’s suspense that will have you anxiously contemplating who is this nefarious foe running amok through the streets of London.
This devilish foe is bringing chaos and dark destruction of mayhem to Society’s doors in the still cover of the night. What’s that you ask? No! No one can be trusted and no one should dare be alone. Oh, did I tell you that there’s a little bit of romantic interludes with our romantic married couple?
These two bring the spice to all those exuberant salsa dances between the sheets. Our married couple Adrian and Samantha Croft are simply magnificent. Their high octane relationship keeps the entertainment energized as they too collaborate so well with the plot. My interest in the book did not wane at all. As I said before - I love a good mystery novel.
The story and the characters has great interest. The pace of the story keeps the book alive and enjoyable. I had a delightful time reading this one. The writer did such a remarkable job. I give this book two snaps and a - Croft when the heck are you going to put Constable Kendrick on notice? Before Samantha does what comes natural to her? Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!

This is a thrilling and emotionally charged journey of betrayal, redemption, and love. The story centers on Adrian Croft, a man whose trust is shattered by his wife, Samantha, when he discovers that she is not the sweet, innocent woman he thought she was, but a spy working against him. The revelation leaves Adrian torn between his heart’s lingering affection for her and his desperate need to protect himself and his country from a sinister threat.

The tension builds from the very first page, placing Adrian in a precarious position where he must navigate both his personal heartbreak and the deadly intrigue surrounding him. The chemistry between Adrian and Samantha is intense and layered, making their complex relationship both heartbreaking and compelling.

Samantha also faces her own internal struggle. Having betrayed her husband in the name of duty, she now faces the insurmountable task of not only regaining Adrian’s trust but also uncovering a greater conspiracy. Her determination to prove her loyalty and win back his affection adds emotional depth to the plot, as her character struggles with the consequences of her choices. The plot is full of twists and turns, as both characters must navigate their fractured marriage while facing external dangers that threaten their lives.

An intriguing and intense story that will keep you turning the pages and guessing till the end!

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this book. I admit that I have found a new favorite author. Sophie Barnes has an excellent writing style that made this book such a good novel. I couldn't stop reading it from the first page. The characters, plot line, and description made this such a good novel that I would read again. I know it is a second book in the series that I haven't read, but as a stand alone, it was still an excellent book. I can't wait to read more from this author. I definitely recommend this book to the history/historical fiction readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Sophie Barnes

Sophie Barnes continues the intense, complicated story of Adrian and Samantha. One is a crime lord, the other a trained agent. She was tasked with finding the goods to bring him down. Instead, the two end up working together and then falling for each other. The first book ends with a cliffhanger, which picks up as the start of this second installment "A Tainted Heart Bleeds".

What should have been the happy days of hoeymooning are marred by the revelation of Samantha's secret, which smacks of betrayal in the eyes of her new husband. While Adrian is reeling from this, the two are forced together to solve a very disturbing murder. The outcome is one that was totally unexpected, and serves as proof of just how diabolical some human beings can be. Again, the book ends with a cliffhanger that makes one anxious to read the next book in the series.

I am completely thrilled with this series. Sophie Barnes has successfully joined the ranks of historical romantic mystery writers, and is excelling at this genre. This is an absolutely must-read for all those who enjoy history, mystery, and romance all mixed together in one lovely package.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

Another unique read. Who would have guessed a spy would marry the object of her study, and the problems it would create? A great mysterious romance.

This is the second book in the series and it did not disappoint. The characters are well-written and the mystery kept you guessing till the end. There was mystery, suspense, action and romance. I enjoyed the way the characters' relationship developed and the fact that there was no sex. I would give it a 4 ½ * only because once again I was disappointed in how it finished but now I am hanging out for the next book. There is a lot more adventure to go. You can’t read this as a stand-alone but you wouldn’t want to. The ongoing story is exciting. I received this as and ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

Another killer is on the loose in London!

A Tainted Heart Bleeds is the second book in author Sophie Barnes's dark and moody House of Croft historical mystery series, and as before, another killer is loose among the ton of London. Only four months after Lady Evelyn Croft's murderer was dealt with, another young debutante is murdered in her own home. The girl's distraught father is bent on revenge and implores Adrian Croft to find the person responsible for her death. Great characters, an exciting, complex plot, and an atmospheric London setting combine to make this book one you'll not want to put down until you know all the answers!

Samantha and Adrian Croft are newlyweds, but their pre-wedding passion abruptly disappeared before they consummated their marriage. Samantha is guilt-ridden over keeping secrets from her new husband and fears his change in demeanor means he's found out all about her mission to gather intelligence that would lead to his arrest and execution. Adrian, determined to break free from his criminal past, had counted on Samantha to help him leave that part of his life behind until he discovered her deceptions. Their growing distance was swift, and their despair palpable. It was suspenseful waiting to see if this couple, who had so much chemistry together in the previous book, would be able to find a way back to each other.

The year is 1815, and the plot is gritty, involving the gruesome murder of a young, engaged debutante. A side storyline features Izak, the ten-year-old street urchin who previously served as a courier between Samantha and Chief Constable Peter Kendrick, and is dark and terrifyingly realistic. As the Crofts team up to rescue Izak and the other children with him, they also chase down any source of information about Lady Eleanor Marsh to identify a motive for her murder and suspects. I was glad to see Samantha finally realize that she was just a means to an end for both Harlowe and Kendrick, so maybe her heart could start to mend over their emotional betrayal. With each discovery they make, another plot twist increases the intrigue and suspense.

With its engaging characters, compelling plot, and atmospheric setting, I recommend A TAINTED HEART BLEEDS to historical mystery fans. While this book can be read as a standalone novel, it would be best enjoyed after having read the first book in the series.

A new one for me and so good that I purchased the first in the series. I was not disappointed as A Tainted Heart Bleeds was off and running from the get-go. We see Samantha and Adrian now married and unfortunately, Adrian has found out that Samantha has married him only to have better access to spy on him on gain the necessary information for the higher ups that will see Adrian hang for the crimes. When she realises Adrian knows what she is doing, she decides to come clean on the whole mess to him.

While still wary of Samantha and wondering if she has been entirely truthful or if she has held back something, Adrian finds out for the first time how good his wife really is in battle! A refreshing take on your Victorian lady - she is his partner in every respect and that turns out to be critical to his success. This time, The Earl of Orendel hires Adrian following the horrific murder of his eldest daughter, Lady Eleanor. With Samantha by his side, they work together to solve the case, while dodging Chief Constable Peter Kendrick and others, determined to see Adrian brought to justice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and could not put it down. I cannot say enough about this book that kept my attention and interest from the first page. I am waiting ON TINTER HOOKS for the third in the series and want to see what happens next.

I received an ARC from the publishers and NetGalley with m heartfelt thanks and submit my honest review voluntarily.

A Tainted Heart Bleeds by Sophie Barnes is book two in the House of Croft series and I just happened to come across this one on NetGalley and it immediately caught my attention. So I immediately went and got the first book and was hooked on the series.

If you haven't read the first book, you'll want to stop reading this review right now because this book picks up right from the end and I don't want it to ruin it for you.

Now that Adrian and Samantha are married and Adrian knows that she has deceived him, he doesn't know what he will do. The one person he thought he could trust, turned out to be a spy working against him and he is torn because he truly does still care for her. The problem is there is something bigger at play that could take him down.

For Samantha, she knew her decision to marry Adrian would cost her but she is willing to do whatever she needs to in order to win Adrian's trust back. She's willing to give up all of her secrets and abandon her past loyalties to prove to him she is truly on his side but the question is whether Adrian can truly ever believe her knowing the lies that brought them together.

It was great to see how this story progressed and it was clear that Adrian and Samantha were struggling to figure out how to get beyond the trust issues they now have and to be honest getting toward the end of this one...it's clear that Adrian really hasn't no matter what he might say. I'm not saying he's in the wrong here but if he's going to say he trusts her, then he needs to do it.

As I mentioned though, there's a bit more going on here than just whether Adrian and Samantha are ever going to figure things out. Clearly the gang behind Adrian are trying to decide whether to back him and then there is the whole police doing whatever they can to get him put in jail and with Samantha essentially turning her back on her past, she's now on the run. Essentially everything that could go wrong has so I don't even know what to expect with this next book and I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next book to come out because there is so much that could go wrong for these two.

If you're looking for a new historical mystery series to pick up, definitely consider this one. It has plenty of twists and turns, well-developed characters, and a good story that will keep you turning the pages to see what will happen next. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series and will definitely pick up more from Barnes in the future.

A Tainted Heart Bleeds was a tricky novel to get into because this is second in a series, which wasn't apparent when I received an ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for an unbiased review. It plunges the reader right into a marriage already on the rocks, and in my case, piecing together said marriage had occurred in the prior first novel in the series, and featured Samantha Carmichael, a trained government assassin who happens to be female, and Adrian Croft, an inheritor of a crime syndicate. Because we know where exactly Samantha stands, some of the tension is irritating instead of heightening my reading entertainment. The book is driven by a the murder of a lord's daughter and the couple is drawn in to determine who the killer is while navigating their fraught marriage. It was well written and engaging, but Croft's character just didn't ring true. Nothing about him in this novel said "head of a malevolent crime syndicate." He seemed more like an angry cinnamon roll tbh. Not my style. But will I read the next novel? Probably.

Thank you NetGalley, BookBuzz.net, and Sophie Barnes for this amazing e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This might sound like a hyperbole, but the moment I started reading this second book, I knew I'm going to love it so much, and I was in reading slump to begin with!
This book is the perfect combination of mystery, suspense, and love story. It was so good when I know, I could picture every scenes in my head, like I was in it! The bits of misunderstanding moments were understandable and bearable, even makes me wanna rush to devour the third book!!

It's just chef's kiss kind of book, and successfully revived me from the exasperated reading slump

PLEASE PLEASE READ THIS BOOK NOW
(i mean pls go ahead pick up the first one before rush into this one)

I am such a huge fan of Sophie Barnes. She is an amazing writer. I was so excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley and the publishers.
Yet again we see why she is one of my favorite authors. Her creation of story, character and everything in between gives us a story you can’t get enough of. You never want her stories to end. I was so happy to have the second book in this series. In the story of Adrian and Samantha we get it all. In the middle of trying to make a marriage work and get past the secrets they have a murder to deal with. It is full of secrets, intrigue, danger, action, mystery and most of all romance. This is the kind of romance and story that keeps you on the edge seat from beginning to end. It is everything you want in a story. You're going to love this one. Be sure to read the first book to complete your story.
I can’t wait for more.
1000 stars

A Tainted Heart Bleeds by Sophie Barnes
House of Croft #2

Another late night for me ~ Could not put this book down and had to finish before turning the light off after 1am…then had to THINK about Adrian and Samantha and can’t wait to find out what happens next!

What I liked:
* Returning to The House of Croft ~ Oh my!
* Adrian: strong, resilient, bright, protective, head of a generational crime syndicate, lives by his personal moral compass, doesn’t trust Samantha
* Samantha: trained covert asset for the government, spy, lethal, protective, protective, wants a real relationship with Adrian
* The way Adrian and Samantha move forward in their relationship…and the potential it has for the future…hopefully
* The murder mystery and sleuthing done by Adrian and Samantha
* Edward Pryce, Earl of Marsdale: Adrian’s best friend, was in love with Adrian’s sister Evie, grieving, an intriguing man that I hope to see more of
* Isak: orphan, messenger boy, “owned” by Wycliffe, abused, and saved by Croft & Samantha
* The mysteries still in play – wonder who the mastermind who set Adrian’s sister up for death is if/when he will be exposed and hopefully dealt with
* Being able to hate the ton types out to get Croft
* That Samantha is able to see that her mentor is not all that she once thought he was
* The shades of gray, twists and turns, and potential for the future

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The loss of innocent lives
* Thinking about how difficult the lives of Isak and the children he lived with must have been
* Having to wait for book three

Did I like this book? Yes!
Would I read more in this series? Definitely!!!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Well, this was not at all what I expected but it was so much fun! The angst, action and mystery was present from the first page. I haven't read a murder mystery in a very long time and trying to guess the murderer was wonderful fun but I never guessed all the other intrigue, action and romance that I would also get! This is the second in a series and it would be best if you read the first in the series before this book but you don't HAVE to. The ending is a soft cliffhanger and I definitely want to read the next book in the series. Overall this was a fabulous book that kept me guessing and enjoying the romance every page.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Sophie Barnes for a copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.

A Tainted Heart Bleeds by Sophie Barnes is book two in this series concerning Adrian Croft. I haven’t read book one yet, but this actually stands well on it own. What I needed to know was shared without me thinking I had missed important facts. It is a complicated story but one that I was able to still follow easily. By chapter five the horrendous murder has taken place, Samantha’s duplicity is exposed, and the hunt is on.

Well written, dark period novel that is difficult not to keep reading. I found myself saying just one more chapter many times. Suspenseful, intriguing, with twisty elements, and oh so good. Now I want to read book one not so much to see how Samantha won Adrian’s heart but to see when and how he won her heart. I am a fan of Pam Lecky and Irina Shapiro. Now I am adding Sophie Barnes to my list. You will definitely want to do so too.

She’s a spy, meant to bring him down. As the first book ends, Adrian and Samantha have wed, but they don’t trust each other. The problem persists as this part of the story begins. Before they can make any progress on changing that, an earl comes to Adrian and asks him to investigate the brutal murder of his daughter. They work together despite their marital and trust problems. At the same time combatting Peter Kendrick’s Will they find the killer? Can they redeem their love? This is another dark, violent story. Intrigue, betrayal, mystery, suspense, and a hot but uncertain romance keep you at the edge of your seat. With Adrian arrested and Samantha on the run, what will happen next? Wow! What will happen next?
I received a special copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This second entry in the series is just as exciting as the first! Not only is there a war between Croft and Samantha, but there is another gruesome murder of a lady. The government is still trying to entrap Croft but it seems there are more unknown players in this game than anyone is aware of.

Suspenseful Regency thriller!

Trained assassin and agent Samantha Carmichael has married Adrian Croft but things are not going smoothly. Just after their marriage Adrian discovers Samantha is more than she seems. That problem is a challenge for their relationship.
Samantha realizes that Dorian Harlowe, England’s premier spymaster, sees her only as an asset. He and his wife had, along with other young girls taken her out of an orphanage and become their guardians.
Where will she land? On the side of her husband or her master?
Added to this a vicious murder has taken place. The Earl of Orendel’s daughter has been horrifically killed. Lady Eleanor will only be the first. A pattern is emerging, yet prior to their marriage Adrian and Samantha had caught the killer of young women. What’s happening? Orendel wants Croft to look into it.
Meanwhile, Chief Constable Peter Kendrick is doing all he can to bring Croft down.
Beyond this we glimpse a shadowy figure who has orchestrated many things, including murder.
I am so committed to this series I can hardly wait for the next title.

An Independently Pub. ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This is book 2 and they really do need to be read in order as I have done. This is due to each book ending on a cliff hanger. I usually don't like it when this happens but this series is so good. Everything happens at a fast pace with lots of twist turns and red herring making for quite a complicated situation. I did figure out the villain in this story and it was quite late on. All in all a great story that kept me gripped to the end and I can't wait for the next book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

I am mentally having a hissy fit, in this age of binge-watching, and instant gratification, at the thought of having to wait months for the third book, and this book is not even out yet. I HATE cliffhangers - so yes, you will be left on the edge looking down, wondering what will be happening to Adrian and Samantha.

At the end of book 1, Samantha had decided to change allegiance and give her devotion to Adrian, after they marry, but still keeping her training and mission a secret from him, thinking Adrian is none the wiser as to her true purpose in their acquaintanceship and growing closeness. But Adrian had just been made aware of her lies, and his trust was broken. Book 2 starts out with Samantha wondering about the coldness of their relationship and left uncertain about what is happening. Adrian is keeping his knowledge about her close to his chest as he tries to figure out to do about her, but determined to now allow himself to be vulnerable.

But they are still caught in the web of their backgrounds as well, as Samantha juggles her new allegiance to her husband, and how to repair their foundering marriage, and the expectations of others for her perceived role as an agent sent to surveil Croft and possibly bring him down, and Adrian is brought in to aid in an investigation by a father whose daughter was brutally murdered and left mutilated in her home.

As Adrian investigates, Samantha tries to salvage their relationship and earn his trust again by revealing the truth of her background and their relationship, to show her allegiance, and they wok together to solve the murder, and also to protect themselves from the forces working to bring Adrian down. Despite their growing closeness though, Adrian still is leery about trusting Samantha and being vulnerable again, having already been betrayed once by her.

This story leaves us on a big cliff with Adrian caught and facing hanging for his crimes, and Samantha on the run, with her husband believing she has betrayed him again.

A roller coaster ride of secrets, back stabbing, murder, betrayal, and enemies from all angles, and I am left wondering how Adrian will survive the noose, let alone if Samantha and his marriage will survive.

4.5 stars out of 5