A Heart Worth Stealing

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Pub Date 02 May 2023 | Archive Date 16 May 2023

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Description

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.

 

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...


Advance Praise

"Opposites attract in this adorable Regency romance. When the authorities refuse to believe Miss Genevieve "Ginny" Wilde's claims that the watch bequeathed to her by her late father, a magistrate, was stolen, not misplaced, Ginny hires thief-taker Jack Travers to investigate. To preserve Ginny's reputation, they're forced to pretend to be cousins while he's residing at her estate-but their lingering stares and obvious attraction threaten the ruse. Jack proves easy to crush on: he's witty, sweet, and thoughtful, with just a touch of a bad boy persona. Unique characters and a fast-paced mystery add flavor to this sweet romance."

Publishers Weekly

"Opposites attract in this adorable Regency romance. When the authorities refuse to believe Miss Genevieve "Ginny" Wilde's claims that the watch bequeathed to her by her late father, a magistrate...


Available Editions

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ISBN 9781639931040
PRICE $16.99 (USD)
PAGES 288

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Average rating from 205 members


Featured Reviews

A wonderful book with fun twists and turns
Such a fun book with twists you don’t expect or generally see in other books. Genevieve or Ginny lost her father six months ago, leaving her his estate and wealth. Usually that would have men flocking to court her but the circumstances of her birth keep them away. Now she finds herself not only alone but being targeted by someone. There have been problems on the estate and now her father’s watch, not an item of real value except sentimentality, has been stolen. Making it worse, the local authorities, including her one and only suitor, do not take her seriously. Desperate to find her father’s watch, Ginny hires a thief-taker to help but Mr. Travers is not what she expected. He dresses, moves, and acts in ways that speak of the upper class yet he isn’t part of it. He is a mystery as much as the missing watch. As they work together to find the thief, stop the estate damage, and protect Ginny, secrets that both hold, are revealed. When the villain is caught and all secrets are out in the open their feelings about their pasts and futures will need to be examined. A great read that will keep you engaged and anticipating what will happen next. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

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What an amazing photo on that cover! A very fortuitous find for the designer.

This is a story between Ginny Wilde and Jack Travers. Ginny has been leading the management of her estate since her father's death a few months prior, determined to keep going despite being alone. When her father's watch goes missing, and then a string of accidents happen at the estate, she hires Jack, a former Bow Street Runner, to investigate.
In order to be able to stay at Wimborne to protect Ginny, Jack passes of as her cousin and the more time they spend together, the closer they get.

I really liked the main characters and the development of their relationship. They mystery also added to the story and it definitely keeps the narrative moving along.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

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Joanna Barker has done it again! This was stunning! The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were well-developed; complex, and intriguing. I highly recommend this beautiful telling of the power of love. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

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#aheartworthstealing #joannabarker #netgalley

This was such an amazing book! I loved the storyline and the suspense, and the thrill of the mystery. It's going on my favorites list for sure!

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One of the best books from the Proper Romance series!!!!!

After her father's pocket watch gets stolen, Genevieve decides to hire a private investigator to help her find it. The investigator soon discovers there might be more going wrong at Genevieve's estate than just a missing pocket watch. It does not take long for an attraction to form between Genevieve and the investigator.

This book far exceeded whatever expectations I had for it. The romance was SO SWEET!!!! The characters made the story captivating. I stayed up way too late trying to finish this book.

I admired Genevieve's determination to protect what she cared about. I LOVED her strong-willed nature and willingness to fight for what she loved.

Jack was just so SWEET!!!!!!!! His banter with Genevieve was fun and endearing. He was kind, compassionate, and a hard worker. He cared enough about Ginny to be willing to let her go (even if he didn't have to).
I also enjoyed the scenes where I got a glimpse of Jack's methods of investigation. It was fascinating how he was able to use his gift for reading people to help him solve the crime.

Another character I really enjoyed was Genevieve's half-sister, Catherine. The dynamic between the sisters was fascinating. Catherine's motives were totally relatable and made for a great character arc.

I found the plot intriguing, although at times a bit predictable. There were also times where I feel like the suspense should have been raised to keep the mystery alive more throughout the novel.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to any fan of clean romance!!!

I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Joanna Barker has a written a sweet early nineteen century romance in England in her newest release A Heart Worth Stealing. I thought it was a great read and will be looking for more in the future by this author. Five stars.

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This book is everything I was looking for in a Regency romance. I loved the intrigue of what is going on Ginny and her home. I suspected the ending, but it still was a bit of a twist. Loved the heat and banter between Jack and Ginny as well. So sweet! Definitely recommend.

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Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. This was good!!! The plot was kind of stupid and exaggerated everything a bit, but the writing style was great (I also guessed who the culprit was). The book had potential, but eh.
Tropes: regency mystery, slow burn, flirty roguish guy, hate to love, whodunnit, witty banter, grump/sunshine, regency romance
First line: “my study had been overrun by men”. Gurl that’s how it be 🫣🙄
Romance!!!! Their witty banter was soo good and mannn he was roguish and hot af. Their witty banter was so good! They reminded me of Usui and Misaki from KWMS. Miss Genevieve would have made it to my top fav FMCS: I loved her easily annoyed personality pessimistic, feisty, feminist personality, she wouldn’t settle for any less than she deserved….But she turned into a simpering swooning fainting-type lady after they kissed, which literally made her whole personality change like sis why??? Romance did get cringy after the first kiss ngl

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tl;dr
Endearing regency romance with two energetic leads, a fun plot, and plenty of kisses.

About
Genevieve Wilde has enough problems: Ever since her father passed away, she's been managing his estate herself, all while fending off the "advice" of men who think they know better. But when her father's pocket watch is stolen, she'll do anything to get it back - even hire the troublesome and frustratingly attractive thief taker, Jack Travers.

Thoughts
As a romance, this ticks all the boxes for a fun regency romp. Longing looks, gloveless touches, and oh goodness what WILL the neighbors think? Both Genevieve and Jack have complex back stories, and their growing interest in each other felt very natural. Jack's family is delightful (I can only hope his sister gets some focus in another book?), and I found myself pleasantly surprised by the nuance of Genevieve's relationship with her sister (I do not enjoy romances where every other woman is objectively terrible). Spice level for our couple tops out at some very passionate kisses. As a mystery, the plot is a solid one with clues laid out in intervals and several nice twists. I don't think any hardcore mystery fans are going to be that surprised, but even guessing the outcome, I enjoyed the ride all the same. A great read for fans of regency romance, and also a decent recommendation for someone looking for a strong plot to carry the leads.

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Such a sweet story. I loved it. I also loved the ending! You think you had it figured out and then you don't and then....Gosh it was good. I loved how independent but dependent she was. It was a nice balance. I needed a sweet story like this. I always get good romance from Barker. Well written regency romance with not religion. This is a proper romance.

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What a lovely story! This was the perfect blend of mystery and romance! Clean of course, but with all the chemistry and feels. Highly recommend to anyone who loves regency romance with a bit of suspense!

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Read it for the:
- Headstrong Heroine / Flirtatious Hero
- 'Whodunit' elements
- Complex family relationships
- Well-paced romance and plot
- Kiss scenes

CW: attempted murder
Final Rating 5/5

Joanna Barker has created an immersive historical romance with a full cast of well-rounded characters in A Heart Worth Stealing.

Although this is first and foremost a historical romance, this story has many mystery elements. I think all can agree, a mystery is best told when bits and pieces of information about the characters and plot points are given graduality throughout the story. Barker does this masterfully. She slowly revealed aspects that detailed the scene without giving away the surprise. Even if some might have guessed the final villain, the plot turned enough that I was kept up till the late hours of the night wondering which direction Barker would go. It was refreshing to have such an original storyline!

The pacing worked so well for the romance between Jack and Ginny too. The build-up between Jack and Ginny allowed the tension to grow and form a wonderful chemistry which made their relationship believable. Although written from Ginny’s POV, Jack’s mannerisms and reactions were so well recorded that his feelings were clearly known. Also kissing. The best kiss scenes. And the moments of angst? Yes. I was rooting for them.

Jack may be one of my new favorite characters. Flirty, full of life, and with a drive for adventure, he balanced Ginny’s more pensive personality. I loved that both Jack and Ginny had a level of ambition that played wonderfully into the plot but left room for character growth. Without spoiling anything, I can only say it is difficult not to get attached to them as you learn about their struggles and challenges. Can I also use this moment to highlight the perfect complexity experienced between the main characters and the side characters? Ginny’s relationship with her older half-sister, Catherine, and Jack’s family and status in society, to name just a few, added that extra layer of intrigue.

I could go on but I will end this review with nothing but my highest recommendation.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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I got "A heart worth stealing" on netgalley. It was wonderful. I love joanna's books because they are calm, easy reads perfect for a lazy afternoon but interesting enough to keep you in the story. This book did not disappoint. The main characters were funny and engaging. The villian, a creep i loved to hate. I want ti see more if this world and i hope Joanna works more in this world.

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This just might be one of my favorite romances of the year! Joanna Barker has created such a masterpiece. This is one book you cannot miss out on.

Ginny is a wonderful heroine. She is full of business, no nonsense, and has been working herself to distraction following the death of her dear father. She is smart and brilliant and willing to do ANYTHING to save her home and her father's legacy.

Enter the 'Special Investigator' Jack. He is a tease, a flirt and so full of life. But he also knows who he is and takes his job seriously. Especially when it comes to Ginny.

Their bantering was a delight. Their forced proximity made me giggle. And their chemistry made my heart melt. It wasn't all sunshine and roses between them, but they were able to figure things out and draw closer together to face this new threat to her home.

The mystery was brilliant. It added so much depth to their romance, and tension to the story. I loved all the side characters, especially Beatrice and Jack's family. And of course the writing was phenomenal. I was completely absorbed and did not want to put this book down! I already want to reread it.

You MUST READ this book. It might just be my favorite of Joanna Barker's yet!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Romance: kisses
CW: harassment, stalking, arson

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When a precious watch goes missing from her own home, Genevieve must enlist the help of a thief-taker, Jack Travers, to help her get it back. As the mystery deepens and the danger escalates Ginny and Jack work closely together to keep her home safe and soon the sparks are flying.

A Heart Worth Stealing has quickly become a favorite of mine. Not only is it a sweet romance, but it has the added element of mystery and intrigue that kept the story flowing. I was not able to predict the ending, which kept me turning page after page.

My favorite character was Genevieve. Joanna has masterfully created a strong female lead who is resilient and determined, compassionate, kind, and witty. I loved seeing all of the different sides and parts that make up Ginny. I also enjoyed watching her grow as she let Jack into her heart and let those around her help her.

Overall I would highly recommend A Heart Worth Stealing and any book by Joanna Barker!

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I wasn’t catfished by the cover! (Seriously, the cover is stunning). This book was enjoyable with an independent yet relatable heroine and a flirtatious and smirky hero. I would have loved to get inside Jack’s head and his reactions to Ginny. The whodunnit was really easy to figure out but this is a romance and not primarily a mystery so I would have been surprised if I was surprised. Loved the chemistry between the Jack and Ginny, that kiss, and the ending was perfection

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This might be my new favorite Joanna Barker book! I could not put it down and I had to know how it ended. It was the perfect balance of excitement and romance. We see the characters grow and develop as they try to solve the mystery of the missing watch. I desperately wish I could reread it for the first time.

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Such a sweet and cute story!

Both Characters are very relatable, loved how the romance was paced. No misunderstandings regarding their feelings, but big obstacles in their way. The mystery was a little predictable, but still engaging. Loved how realistic they were regarding their situations, and their honesty with each other!

Would recommend to all clean historical romance fans!

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Once again, Joanna Barker delivers a must read for historical sweet romance fans!

After losing her father, Ginny is determined to care for her family home. But when her father’s beloved pocket watch goes missing along with other strange happenings around the estate, Ginny decides to enlist help to investigate.

Cue former Bow Street Runner, Jack Travers. Jack is roguish and knows how to catch a criminal. He’s one smooth talker and enjoys “ruffling feathers”. He’s a tad bad boy on the outside, but trustworthy, dependable, and a genuine good guy on the inside.

Let me just say I was here for the romance!! I’m not going to say too much, but I’ve never read a book with a first kiss in this location!! It was so fun but also swoony and dreamy! Jack and Ginny had great banter and chemistry. I seriously could not get enough of them together.

I loved the mystery. I may have guessed who the culprit was, but it didn’t take away any of my enjoyment from the book. And I loved how the mystery concluded and how justice was served in the end!

Here are a few reasons you should read this book:
*Jack Travers
*strong female lead
*Glove removing/hand touching
*Whodunit mystery
*Dreamy first kiss
*Highwaymen
*Jack Travers (yes, I know I’ve already mentioned him, but it needs to be repeated!)

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

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I loved this book.
The banter between Ginny and Jack is perfect, as is the tension. The level of suspense kept my attention the entire time without diminishing the romance. First-person POV solely from the heroine's perspective is my FAVORITE kind of romance format. (So much more intrigue that way!)

Honestly, if you like this genre in the slightest, I think you'll love this book! I thought A Game of Hearts was my favorite from this author, but now this one has stolen the show!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy to review! This is my honest opinion.

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This book took a while to hook me. I’m not used to reading first person POV for regency and it threw me off a little. But by the end, I was reading as fast as I could, crying, gasping, and completely invested. I found the heroine and storyline to be unique and engaging, and I wasn’t entirely sure how the mystery would unfold even until the end.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

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Man this was so good I didn’t want to put it down. From the moment I read the synopsis I knew I would love it. And I did. I think this might be one of my favorites in the proper romance series and definitely one of my favorites this year!! I have definitely been dealing with a book hangover from this. Ginny and Jakes banter is what did it for me. I absolutely love them!! I could go on and on about this book, but I think I’ll settle for, go read this as soon as possible!!
I received an eARC from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

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A Heart Worth Stealing is A Book Worth Reading

This books opens with a grieving protagonist - Genevieve Wilde. Deeply mourning the loss of her father, she is determined to prove that a single woman can run the estate of Wimborne without a man by her side. Her well laid plans go awry when it appears that someone is vandalizing the estate, with the latest being the theft of Ginny's late father's watch.

Determined to get to the bottom of the troubles, Ginny enlists the services of Jack Travers, a self-proclaimed 'special investigator'. Thrown by his unorthodox ways and charmed by his engaging nature, she is soon drawn into the investigation and becomes closer to Jack.

The book negotiates the fine line between humour, mystery and romance rather well. By about halfway (or 2/3rds) through the book, one should be able to predict the villain of the story but Ms. Barker throws in some unexpected misdirects that lead to a good ending. That said, the end did feel a bit rushed and neatly tied up in a bow rather quickly and ignores some hopes & dreams being dashed by the HEA for the story. Would have also liked to have seen this story in a 2 person narrative.

All in all, a well-envisioned story, and lead me to pick up previous books from Ms. Barker that I am currently enjoying!

(Disclosure: I received a copy of an ARC of this book from NetGalley, for a fair & honest review. All views here are completely my own)

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This book has it all - love, humor, mystery, and twists and turns that keep you guessing. I did not expect the story that unfolded in A Heart Worth Stealing, which made me love it even more. Would absolutely recommend this read!

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I can’t say enough good things about this book. I absolutely loved the unique storyline and the great cast of characters. Genevieve’s beloved father’s pocket watch is missing, and, after little help from the authorities, she hires Jack Travers to find it. Genevieve is so well written. I love that she’s strong, smart, and determined, but also vulnerable, and unsure at times. She and Jack are such a good match. The banter! The friendship! The tree!! So worth staying up way too late to finish. I’ll be reading this one again for sure!

Thank you Netgalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Joanna Barker for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I could not put this book down! It starts off with a mystery and the farther you get in the book, the more intense and dangerous the mystery becomes.. While you are trying to figure out the mystery there is a slow burning love story unfolding. I love the playful flirtatious relationship Jack has with Ginny throughout the book. The first few chapters I was reading slowly and just enjoying the cute mystery. After the first few chapters I couldn’t put the book down. I had to finish ASAP to know if Ginny was going to end up safe and if they would catch whoever was trying to harm her & the estate. This book was such a fun flirtatious thrill!!

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I always enjoy a good historical romance/mystery, but I hadn't read anything previously by this author, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. This was a pleasant surprise, with a fairly well-paced, low-steam but compelling setup that has a small twist toward the end. The MC's are Jack, a charming Runner turned thief-taker, and Ginny, the daughter of a deceased magistrate who who has hired Jack to investigate her father's missing pocket watch and ends up stumbling into a tangled web of deceit.

The author is talented, with a smooth writing style, and the language throughout seems true to the time period. She's obviously done her research. The insights into the workings of the law in Britain during the Regency time period are probably my favorite aspects of this book; Wily is a fun secondary character and the street jargon of the day is amusing. Actually, many of the secondary characters, particularly Ginny's friend Beatrice and Jack's family members, end up stealing the scenes they're in. I'm hoping that Beatrice and Jack's sister get books of their own.

Further, the MC's have great back-and-forth banter, and even though their physical relationship on-page doesn't go beyond a few kisses, the romantic tension works, notably in the first half of the book.

The only real weakness of this book for me was the limited first person perspective. I generally don't care for this POV, as it can be difficult to truly understand the behavior of both MC's with no switch of viewpoint. In this case, Jack was the MC I liked the most, but in the last quarter of the book his behavior seems rather hot and cold. Deeper insights into his ruminations regarding his future with Ginny would have enhanced his personality and the romantic tension.

Another danger of sticking with only one character's POV: unless that character is super interesting and smart, the narrative can become bogged down by that person's flaws. Ginny is so stubborn and narrow-minded I got fed up around the halfway mark. Pretty much any time Jack has a bright idea she dismisses it, and any time a clever gut feeling hits she pushes it away. Slight plot twist aside, figuring out the bad guy is easy peasy, and that sets the reader up to get frustrated with Ginny at points throughout the book. I particularly didn't like how she treated Jack around the 50% mark. She had agreed that one of the characters was suspicious, and it's his job to investigate, but because this involves family she accuses him of breaking her trust and gets downright nasty. She behaves as if he's not really a professional--despite his experience and obvious effectiveness--and instead as if he's just hired help she's supervising. I felt that Jack should have figured out the baddie a lot sooner, but even if he had, Ginny would have argued with him and fired him again.

Ginny's obtuseness, aside, I was happy for her eventual HEA with Jack, and thought everything was wrapped up nicely in the epilogue.

This book will be published in May 2023. I read an advanced reader copy and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this opportunity.

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Thank you, Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley, for the free copy of the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My first book from the author, and it definitely won't be my last one. Genevieve 'Ginny' Wilde is a magistrate's daughter and the owner of the Wimbourne estate. Since her father's passing six months ago, she has been experiencing a series of incidents at her estate (missing sheep, blocked ditch, etc). One night after a dinner party, the pocket watch her father gave her went missing. She went to Mr Northcott, the current magistrate, who also happened to be her father's protege and her suitor, for help. He was dismissive, and she sought a thief-taker's help. The thief-taker is Jack Travers, a young, roguish, handsome man who is also an earl's baseborn son. Will Ginny be able to recover the watch and protect her estate together with her heart?

What a fine book! The characters really shine here. I absolutely adore Jack. He is a fun-loving and flirtatious guy, but at the same time, he is competent at his job (he reminds me of Rupert Carsington from 'Mr Impossible' by Loretta Chase). He is a well-fleshed-out character, and he is more than he seems as his background is slowly revealed. Ginny is very prim and proper, a stickler for propriety. I wasn't quite taken with her initially as she appeared so staid. Ginny has to be since her mother is her father's second wife, who also happens to be her half-sister's governess at that time. She can't put the wrong foot in society due to her parents' scandalous marriage. They are total opposites, and Ginny is the yin to Jack's yang. Jack is always trying to get a rise out of her. The exchanged banters between them are witty and great to read. It was lovely to see Jack's effort in trying to draw Ginny out of her shell.

This book was a bit slow to start, but once it hit its strides at the 25% mark, it was a page-turner for me. The book is entirely from Ginny's point of view. I'd usually prefer both the hero's and heroine's point of view, but Jack's absence didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The mystery was well done with the series of accidents at Wimbourne interconnected with the missing pocket watch. I loved how everything turned out (I was able to guess how Ginny and Jack could be together at the 70% mark, but I was slightly off the mark).

Ginny's memories of her father were heart rending. And the final letter that he wrote to Ginny, man, I was bawling my eyes out. What a great dad! Wait for the epilogue. Jack's words to Ginny were an absolute chef's kiss. This sort of scene can sometimes be cringey, but it's utterly romantic here. I had a sappy smile on my face by the end of the book.

I hope that this is the start of a new series. The author hinted at Ginny's best friend, Beatrice story (a failed season in London), which sounds too delicious to pass up.

All in all, this book was an immersive and enchanting reading experience. Simply wonderful! A strong 4.5 stars.

Steam factor: Nil. Kisses only.

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Oh my word I LOVED this book! This is your typical, wonderful, regency romance but has so many fun new elements. This story has that fun “who done it” feel to it and kept me reading way past my bed time.
We follow Ginny, the daughter of the town’s previous magistrate, as she continues to grow into an incredible woman. She faces struggles and must overcome the new mysteries happening to her and her home.
Then we welcome Jack, and this already incredible plot just gets so much better. He’s a breath of fresh air for Ginny and great comic relief for the reader. He is strong and capable without dousing Ginny’s natural feistiness.
These two are an adorable couple and the romance was easily 100/10.
And one of the best parts, for me, about this book is all the things I learned about upholding, and even skirting around the law during this time. This story answered questions I didn’t even know I had about how things were run and a person’s role in bringing about justice. There was the perfect amount of mystery and action, with some suspense and of course the perfect romance. Joanna Barker is able to take a classic genre and add her own fun twist in this new and enchanting story that keeps readers engaged from page one.
A few of the things I really enjoy about this book are:
• funny fencers
• starry skies
• swoony special investigators
• fun and supportive best friends
• tree (and billiard room) kisses
• the action and mystery
If you love regency romance at all this is the PERFECT book for you. Please do yourself the favor and dive into this incredible story.

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Joanna Barker is SO good at the witty banter between characters, and A Heart Worth Stealing may be her best one yet!

Things I loved:
- It wasn't the normal Regency book. Genevieve is unique in that she runs her home and property as a single young woman. And Jack is not the normal member of society either.
- I loved the banter between Jack and Genevieve. Their story is everything an enemies-to-lovers should be! Their first introduction was hilarious!
- I loved that the family relationships weren't perfect.

I cannot recommend this book enough!

Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Joanna Barker for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

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When Genevieve's pocket watch suddenly goes missing, she knows it has been taken. It was her father's and after his death she's still adjusting to run her household. When local authorities don't take her seriously, she impulsively hires a former Bow Street officer to get it back. The search will lead to more questions than answers even about what she believed to be true. Themes of broken family relationships, independence, and trust are woven throughout the story.

Recommend for readers who enjoy clean historical romance with a plot-twisting mystery.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.

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I love a book with romance and mystery! This book was sweet and funny. The main characters were very likable, and I enjoyed how the author developed their relationship. If you like regency romance, I recommend this book!

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“A Heart Worth Stealing” is such an apropos title for this book. Jack is a “thief-taker” born of an earl on the wrong side of the blanket. Genevieve, while not titled, is the well-to-do daughter of a recently deceased magistrate, and a landowner in her own right. After the theft of her deceased father’s watch (and an heirloom to her) as well as several other incidents on her property — and with the current magistrate and constable seemingly unwilling to take it seriously — “Ginnie” puts aside her qualms and hires a thief-taker to investigate.

Jack is charming from day one, but Genevieve is initially shocked by some of his comments and subtle flirtation. There is a mystery throughout which I was obviously trying to solve. Fairly early on I had guessed that one person in particular might be behind these crimes. As it turned out I was correct but I still hadn’t guessed at how truly evil the person would turn out to be.

The romance is delightful but remains ‘clean’ and, although there is much adversity to overcome, this one has a beautiful HEA. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from NETGALLEY but the review above represents my true opinions.

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I was so excited to see Joanna Barker was picked up by the Proper Romance line, as she is truly one of the best regency romance authors there is. "Otherwise Engaged" was my favorite book of hers, but I think it has just been usurped by "A Heart Worth Stealing."

Upon reading the description, I was skeptical that a whole story could be crafted around a single missing pocket watch. I was so wrong! There were layers and layers of deception and mystery. The mystery often feels like an afterthought in regency romance books, but not in "A Heart Worth Stealing." It was engaging and interesting, and the mystery itself kept me turning the pages well into the night. I can tell Joanna Barker put a lot of thought and research into that aspect of the story.

Jack and Ginny's relationship was absolute perfection. Jack made mistakes but was quick to take ownership of them. He respected Ginny as an independent woman and honored her decisions even when he disagreed with them. Ginny was headstrong and smart, but willing to admit when she needed help. They made sense together, and the last quarter of the book was a delight to read as their feelings came to light. The whole book was filled with interesting characters with well-done growth, and Joanna Barker should be incredibly proud of this story. It was one of the best I've read all year.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good regency romance or mystery. Do not hesitate to purchase this for yourself or a friend- it is well worth the money. This is a book I will revisit, and I can't wait for the audiobook to be released.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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A Regency Romance with a little mystery and as always a strong minded woman. Genevieve and Jack were such good characters and their chemistry was amazing.

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A Heart Worth Stealing Joanna Barker

I really enjoyed this proper romance right from the beginning. I found the banter between Ginny and Jack entertaining and the side characters were intriguing.

There is a mystery element to the story in addition to the romance. I enjoy having those two elements in a book. I'm not a mystery lover in that I try to figure out "who done it". I just enjoy something else happening other than a romantic story, but I'm definitely around mostly for the romance.

I found this book a nice balance of both. It was my first Joanna Barker book, although I do own others that I will be making a point to read. I enjoyed her writing style.

I greatly appreciate the advance copy provided to me by Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing.

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Oh my word!!!! Jack and Ginny. Ginny and Jack. Pure Perfection! I love, love, love them! From the first moment they are together there are fireworks. Everything was amazing: the meet-cute, the flirting, the teasing, the first kiss(es), the billiard room, the highwaymen. These two were brilliant together. I highlighted so many wonderful lines, swoony, silly, sarcastic. Jack is a dream people, a dream come true. Sigh!

Ginny is strong and independent, determined to prove herself capable after her father dies. But when her father’s watch goes missing she hires a thief taker to help find it. Enter the dashing, daring, and maddening Jack Travers. Little do they know, the missing watch is just the tip of the iceberg. There is lots of mystery and danger, interesting side characters. They are searching for an unknown enemy and finding their heart’s desire in the process. It is a grand adventure!

“If you are going to kiss a man, you ought to be prepared for him to kiss you back.” ~ Jack
“I shall try to remember that in the future,” I said breathlessly. “Do hold tight so we don’t fall.” ~Ginny
He lowered his head, his nose brushing along my jaw. “It’s far too late for me.” ~Jack

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Ginny is determined to care for her family estate. But when her late father’s beloved pocket watch goes missing, coinciding with other strange incidents, Ginny enlists the help of a former bow street runner, the roguish Jack Travers.

Jack is sweet, flirty, full of life, whereas Ginny is feisty, strong-willed, and nonsense. I loved their banter and chemistry. Their interactions were really fun and sweet.

Ginny's relationship with her estranged sister was a fascinating subplot. Jack’s family was charming and amusing and I loved getting a glimpse of his delightful home life.

I’m rating this down only because it was never explained how Ginny reintroduced Jack when everyone thought he was her cousin!!

Overall very sweet and entertaining read. I enjoyed the mystery plot and how it was dealt with at the end. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

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I loved this book! Highly recommend! Joanna Barker is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Ginny and Jack.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

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A heart worth stealing will definitely steal your heart! A beautifully written book that is a breathe of fresh air. Who couldn't fall in love with Ginny and Jack?! Ms. barker poured so much into this story and probably a little bit more. Well done!

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Thief taker, I had never heard that term. What a fun book with lots of twists and turns. I love when the missunderstood underdog comes out on top. I love when a strong female character is true to herself. This was a lot of both and so much more. And I hope some side characters get their own books!!!

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Totally loved this book! The Author is awesome at getting you into this captivating and stunning love story and its complications and difficulties but hey, a true love is worth fighting for.

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Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

Joanna Barker has done it again. Oh my heart!

This is exactly what I want from a historical fiction novel. A bit of mystery, some overbearing relatives, at least one dramatic ball, some near death experiences, a spurned lover and a couple of plot twists as well as a feisty heroine and a swoon-worthy hero.

Yes. This was a perfect way to spend a Saturday evening, thank you for asking. Now. Go read it.

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As with all of Joanna Barkers books, I fell in love with this one! I absolutely love the strong female lead. Miss Wilde is capable of handling herself and her affairs. However, when her late father's watch is stolen and the local magistrate does not seem to be very much help, she has no choice but to seek the help of a thief-taker, Mr. Travers.