A Heart Worth Stealing

Since her father died, young heiress Genevieve “Ginny” Wilde has tried to protect her family’s estate. When a string of bad luck occurs, followed by the theft of her father’s watch, Ginny decides to take matters into her own hands after the local magistrate refuses to help. Reluctantly, she hires roguish thief-taker Jack Travers to track down the watch and find out if her property is being targeted. As maddening as he is brilliant, Jack soon moves under Ginny’s roof, posing as her cousin to protect her when the threats escalate. As they work together to crack the case, their list of suspects shrinks while their attraction to each other grows. The heat level stays mild, with romantic tension built through stolen glances and flirty banter. Barker (A Game of Hearts) does an admirable job conveying Jack and Ginny’s passionate chemistry without revealing too much, while the side cast, including a disapproving butler, an unconventional set of friends, and a rival suitor for Ginny’s affections, are all thoroughly enjoyable.