With her typical humor, To Steal a Heart is another winner from Jen Turano.
Book Blurb
After a 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. In the middle of breaking into a safe that holds the proof to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella is interrupted by 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 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.
My Thoughts
Jen Turano always managers to write great banter and witty dialogue. From the moment Nicholas and Gabriella reunite, their banter had me laughing out loud. I love a good friends-to-lovers story, and this story was perfect.
But even though Nicholas and Gabriella were my favorite, I loved the interactions between all the characters. While some are wacky and eccentric, they’re still lovable. Turnao did a great job fleshing out the supporting cast. I’m looking forward to the next books in this series.
The romance was great, but I have to admit, the mystery intrigued me the most. The characters try to help a friend who’s been framed. And then they have their own personal mysteries to solve. Just when things calms down, Turano throws another curveball that had me anxious to reach the end.
I also loved the spiritual aspects of the novel. There are some great conversations about God’s sovereignty and His will for our lives. While the spiritual aspects aren’t as overt as some other Christian novels, the conversations provide some great food for thought. And they encourage readers to evaluate their own relationship with God.
Overall, To Steal a Heart is a well written romance that have you laughing even as you swoon.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
