This is yet again a book about high society in New York in the late 1800s. You would think it would get old, but Jen Turano builds delightful characters and inserts humorous situations throughout the book. To Steal a Heart is the first book in a new series by Jen Turano and I look forward to reading more about the Bleaker Street Inquiry Agency!

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a book to enjoy, a book to savor! I loved the unique personalities, characters' interesting back stories and all the delightful side characters (human and canine) who made this story so original, enjoyable and funny. There were so many great funny moments in this book and it has such heart as well. I've read everything else this author has written so far and this certainly met my high expectations and then some! Thank you to netgalley for a free advanced copy of this book.

Jen Turano. What can I say. She makes me laugh at her heroines or heroes in every story. I don't know how she does it, but I love reading her stories. I love how she centers majority of the them in New York city during the height of the rise of the Astors and the Vanderbilts populating the pages along her characters. With her latest story, To Steal a Heart, Turano jumps into women crime fighters. With being such a mystery lover, I couldn't wait to see how Turano was going to pull this off. Right from the beginning of the story, Turano puts her heroine and hero in an awkward situation that has be laughing and anxiously flipping the pages to see what hysterics Turano is going to throw her characters into. There is no other writer like Turano. She is a wonderful storyteller and a delightful writer. With each of her new cover reveals, I always can't wait to get my hand on that book. With To Steal a Heart, Turano stays true to her genre and personality. Can't wait to read more!

I received a complimentary copy of To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

"To Steal a Heart" is a romantic comedy set in 1886 in New York City. The characters got into silly situations, mainly involving Gabriella and her friends from the boardinghouse wearing disguises or otherwise doing unusual activities while investigating various cases. Nicholas had taken on too many of the values of the high-class social circle he now moved in, and Gabriella reminded him about how other people lived and that they had value. Nicholas became a better person due to Gabriella's influence. They supported each other and others who faced injustice. They made a good team. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous novel.

Jen Turano's cast of quirky, and unlikely bunch of heroines will entertain, amuse and have you cheering them on from the first page to the last. To Steal a Heart gets this brand new series off to a strong start. I had a bit of trouble keeping the characters straight in the beginning since the pace of this story is anything but slow. The unique talents and personalities of the ladies who make up the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency combined with Jen Turano's signature wit and a swoon worthy gentleman had be completely glued to the pages. I completely adored secondary character Daphne and her unusual method to overcome anxiety. Anytime Daphne was a part of the story I found myself smiling. I hope she will be a lead character in one of the next books. If you have never read a Jen Turano novel, but are a fan of Karen Witemeyer, I think you would enjoy this book.

To Steal A Heart will be available from your local or online book retailer on November 17, 2020.

Thank you Bethany Housevand Net Gallet for the copy if this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Jen Turano's books are always fun! I loved how Gabriella and Nicholas are reunited during a bit of sleuthing! At the beginning of the book I was just waiting for Gabriella's main guy to show up and of course Nicholas made a memorable entrance just like I had hoped! All the extra characters are great fun as usual.

If you're looking for an enjoyable afternoon, look no further because it's right here in To Steal a Heart!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Well, I've heard a lot of great things about Jen Turano so I thought I'd try To Steal a Heart. While this book isn't a new favorite, it was still worth my time.
The plot of this was solid.
It isn't often that books have whole groups of friends. I was pleasantly surprised to find that each girl had her own unique personality and I really want to know what will happen to some of them. *cough, cough Daphne*
However, I was not a fan of Nicholas and Gabriella together. I loved the fact that they were childhood friends but the idea of romance was just pushing it for me. I really did not feel like they were a couple as I was reading and there really was not any romance until the last few pages. I would have been happier with no romance.
One note: Dear authors, please stop using the phrase, "She let out the breath she hadn't known she'd been holding." Hopefully, this doesn't make it into the final version of To Steal Her Heart.

Rating: 3.5/5
Language: n/a
Romance: a kiss
Spiritual: not much, characters are Christian
Violence: n/a

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

I just can't say enough about how much FUN it is to read a Jen Turano book! There are always touching moments and numerous laugh out loud moments, and this book is no exception.

We begin a new series, "The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency" on a strong note with the introduction of our heroine, Gabriella Goodhue. Formerly a street urchin with "chosen family" ties (where she learned how to steal without being caught), she is now an adult with close friends at her boardinghouse. The Agency's first case begins when another resident and friend Jennette is framed for a jewelry theft, and it costs her an engagement to the love of her life.

Nicholas Quinn was one of the children in the chosen family - but he was adopted by a very wealthy society gentleman and his life took quite a different turn. When they reconnect while Gabriella is working on a case, those proverbial sparks fly.

I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in this great new series!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A great start to a new series! To Steal a Heart is a thoroughly original, lovingly crafted historical romance with a touch of mystery. The main characters were original without being outrageous, and the vast array of secondary characters left me intrigued and excited to continue in the series. Plot moves at a great pace and has enough twists and turns without adding circumstances just because. I will say that I had to suspend some of my doubt over the disguises some characters employed-- stage makeup isn't generally that convincing up close. If that wasn't so central to the plot, I would've found it easier to ignore. But that said, it was an endearing tale with great surprises and a satisfying ending. Will definitely look forward to more!

To Steal Her Heart is the first book in the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series. I'm looking forward to a lot more Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency shenanigans in this series. If this first book is any indication, we are in for much more fun and games, intrigue, and skulduggery. After growing up as an orphan, Gabriella Goodhue searches for a place of belonging and what she finds is unexpected. Her reunion with Nicholas Quinn, while she is breaking into a safe, sets things off. In search of the elusive Knickerbocker Bandit, the pair find out a lot more than they'd bargained for. Aside from their story, I loved getting to know the other characters in this full cast of quirky men and women, and dare I say, pets. As with all Turano books, this one had me giggling out loud. Another winner from Jen Turano.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher. My opinion is my own.

Gabriella Goodhue's childhood as a street thief puts her in a position to help a friend unjustly accused of theft. What she didn't expect was to run into her old partner, Nicholas Quinn. Is he the Knickerbocker Bandit?

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together, they find the misunderstandings of their youth is full of confusing information. But as they sort out what actually happened, they find their attraction grows.

Jen Turano has written well about the differences in status in the 1800's. Gabriella is a strong independent young woman, who has made her own way. Nicholas, having been groomed by a philanthropist, appears to be seeking a well placed wife to settle his name in society. But does meeting and reuniting with Gabriella change all of that?

Although Ms. Turano often writes humorous dialogue, I found the amount of characters to sometimes be a bit confusing. But all in all, To Steal a Heart is a sweet clean historical romance.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jen Turano does it again! To Steal a Heart is funny, exciting, and hard to put down! Gabriella is under cover, sneaking into a safe at a ball, when she meets up with her old childhood friend, Nicholas. As they begin to spend time together again, they need to find out who the Knickerbocker Bandit is, and discover the mysteries behind her family history. What a wonderful story I loved reading! Very clean and exciting!

This is the start of Turano's newest series, Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency.

There are a number of characters, so it took me a bit to keep everyone straight, but the book did not fall short of Turano's signature humor. It's interesting to see the comparison with New York's high society and the Lower East Side characters and to see how the characters' world connected. I enjoyed the pets, as that added even more levity to the tale. There is a nice blend of personalities, particularly with the ladies at the boarding house. I'm looking forward to reading Daphne's story. Hopefully it'll be next!

If you're a fan of clean historical romances, this is one you'll want to check out.

TO STEAL A HEART by JEN TURANO is full of characters, full of intrigue, full of gossip and full of fun!
Taking place in New York in 1886, it is the story of two children who grew up as street thieves who meet up again as grown ups. As children they were inseparable, but circumstances have changed, with Nicholas Quinn now part of the prestigious New York 400 and looking for a society bride, and Gabriella Goodhue, who is a seamstress and lives in a boarding house.
When jewels go missing, and with the Knickerbocker Bandit on the loose, Gabriella and Nicholas come across one another whilst trying to prove a young lady's innocence and realize they still work well together, only this time they are on the right side of the law!
The plot is very well worked out and the story is fast paced right to the end, with the author's inimitable wit coming through beautifully.
It is a rollicking read, hilariously funny, with some most unusual characters, and even a subtle Christian message. It is a story about second chances, friendship and restoration of that which was lost.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.
I highly recommend To Steal A Heart to anyone who enjoys a good story and an equally good laugh. I am looking forward to the next novel in the Bleaker Street Inquiry Agency Agency series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Another winner by Jen Turano! I have never read a book of her's that I've hated - from Finding Margo to this new series - they are all a great read! Jen Turano writes strong and witty female characters. They don't stand back and let life happen to them but take life in their hands.

There's always a side story to her books and this one is no exception - I can't wait to read the next one in the series to find out about the other characters mentioned it the book. If you have read her previous series, you will find references to those books as well. That was an Easter egg that made me smile.

I got this book in exchange for an honest review but I would have most decidely brought this book if that hadn't been the case. You won't be disappointed!

Gabriella Goodhue, a young lady living in New York City in 1886, finds herself involved in solving a jewel theft when her friend is accused of the crime. As a former child pickpocket, Gabriella is the perfect candidate to investigate thievery. She forms the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency and sets out to clear her friend's name. In the midst of the investigation, she crosses paths with someone she once considered a friend, Nicholas Quinn. As Gabriella and Nicholas work together to solve the crime, their feelings evolve into more than just friendship. Now that they've found each other again, will a dangerous criminal prevent them from a living life of happiness together?

A veteran historical fiction writer, Jen Turano is known for her intriguing plots and witty writing. This book is the first in the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series, and I look forward to reading future installments. Any historical ficiton collection would benefit from the addition of this title.

Gabriella grew up on the streets, learning to be a pickpocket with a deft hand; that is, until she got caught and taken to an orphanage. That was her saving grace. She learned to read, write, and sew. Now she lives in a boarding house, works for a dressmaker, and has left her street-wise life behind. UNTIL, her friend is arrested for stealing the jewels of a Four Hundred family. In an effort to get her friend out of jail, she crashes a masquerade ball and during a commotion, she breaks into the family safe to see if the jewels are there. While she is cracking the safe, her old partner, Nicholas breaks into the very room where she's cracking the safe with the same goal in mind--to find the jewels that had been stolen and get them returned to the owner while proving that Gabriella's friend didn't steal them.
That particular mystery is solved fairly early in the book, but others come to take its place and all the girls at the Bleeker Street boarding house become "Agents of Inquiry," helping other women in town who have no other place to turn.

Jen Turano is known for her wit and humor in her writing. It takes some significant skill to write comedy without it becoming cartoonish. Jen has walked on the edge of this line with this book. Still, it is very enjoyable, because I could see myself in several of the characters within the book. Several of the characters develop feelings for each other throughout the book while Gabriella's and Nicholas' story takes center stage. I am hoping that Daphne's story will be the next book in this series. She is the character who intrigued me the most.

Four solid stars.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Jen Turano’s signature humor shines through in this first installment of her new Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series, To Steal a Heart. Although it took me slightly longer than usual to get into this book due to the numerous characters immediately presented, once that was sorted out, I settled in to several hours of laugh-out-loud yet heart-tugging, entertaining reading time which kept me turning pages eager to find out what would happen next. The juxtaposition of those from New York’s high society compared with the Lower East Side was fleshed out well, as the story involved the main characters examining their lives and roles within these vastly different, yet interconnected worlds. The addition of various pets added a humorous dimension to the story, as did the ladies of the boarding house with whom the heroine lived. Indeed, the background for the series has been well-established with this myriad of assorted personalities. This was such a sweet and inspiring friends-to-more trope that readers of clean, historical romance will be sure to enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

#ToStealAHeart. #JenTurano #BethanyHouse #BleekerStreetInquiryAgency

***WONDERFUL CHARACTERS FRAME THIS FUN & MYSTERIOUS STORY***
// November 1866, New York City
// OPENING LINE "It was becoming evident that she, Miss Gabriella Goodhue, might very well be arrested in the not-too-distant future, and all because she'd convinced herself that sneaking into a high-society costume ball would be a relatively easy feat, given her past life as a street thief."
// Tea Quote: "Perhaps we'll spread it about that Mrs. Kaffenburgh is taking tea at Rutherford & Company. I've heard the tearoom there is quite lovely, and it's a place many ladies seek out after a day of shopping."
// This story is full of laugh-out-loud humor. "I'd decided to take off my spectacles after remembering that they hardly suit my Cleopatra costume. I'm afraid to say I landed in the gentlemen's retiring room instead of the ladies'."
// "As they ate, Nicholas found he couldn't remember a meal he'd enjoyed more. Conversations ran rampant around the table, but the topics weren't confined to matters of fashion or the weather. Talk revolved around the latest articles in the newspapers, and then politics, but not for long since no one could agree on that topic, and then little tidbits that had happened to everyone throughout the day."
// "Do you believe that God might not have abandoned me after all?"
// Very well-written story and highly recommended. I enjoyed the many characters who each seem to have a story of their own to share. Book 1 really lends itself to future stories and a plethora of interesting people (and animals) to write about.
// I was gifted a book from the author, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

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