I don’t know where I got this book from, but Ding Ding Ding! To Steal a Heart hit my five star bell!
After spending her childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she’d put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. Using her old skills to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella unexpectedly encounters Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend—until he abandoned her.
After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as his heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agreed to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he’d be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.
As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.
The Characters
Gabriella, you’re such a special person. Gabe, really? The strength of a woman, without all the cliche nonsense of a feminist. All the “dressed as a boy when I was a kid” without the rough “I don’t need anybody’s help.” Her personality was so entertaining, all her antics and her boldness made it fun to read. Her determined sharp mind was so refreshing to read, especially since she didn’t balk at attending a ball, or dancing with a gentlemen.
And that gentlemen, what am I supposed to say? Nicholas Quinn stole every breath I had. His gentle touch, his manners and his devoted care was everything one could want in a gentleman. His money and his esteemed position was a nice detail. Watching him struggle with his place in society vs what he wanted taught me something about myself. I’m so scared to give up something that is the norm, but in the end, I may really just be hanging onto it because people think I should. What if it’s not what I really need to do with my life? What if I actually let go?
The Plot.
I normally hate books that don’t have a buildup-climax-resolution type plot. They rub me wrong and I either don’t finish them, or my reviews turn out very negative. I’m SO happy that that was not the case with To Steal a Heart.
The plot was more mellow, multiple events without a big buildup, and an. It’s basically just a series of stories, instead of a single book. This is the only way I could think of describing it. That was the plot style of this book, but it was so good! Although some of the ‘stories’ seemed resolved a little bit too easily, my tense heart got over it, and appreciated the fact that I could read a book without catching myself holding my breath around every corner.
This is not saying that the book was missing anything. It was well rounded and developed and beautiful. The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency was birthed in a very unique fun way, and their mysteries and cases were quite fun.
The Content
This story was mostly clean, however I will mention there were several clean kisses. There was also talk of a brothel, girls that had been in risk of being sent/sold there. There was also mentions of several husbands had mistress’ and certain illegitimate children.
In Summary.
This story was SO MUCH FUN. I loved the era, I loved the antics that Gabriella and her boarding house family pulled off. I loved the dresses and ball gowns and dramatic girls, and the thriving history of Gabe and Nicholas. Thank you Jen for this review copy! A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own. I cannot for the LIFE of me, find where this book came from. I don’t think it was December’s Bethany house book, but I know it was not January’s! So here’s the review, and boy am I glad I got this one!
It sounds so fun! And I love the cover!