🎩👒🔎 “So True a Love” (Bow Street Series #2) (2024) 🔎 👒 🎩 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Bow Street (Book #2)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain (September 3, 2024)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1639932941
ISBN-13: 978-1639932948
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Danger and passion collide when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer.
London, 1803
As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society—and the last woman one would suspect as having worked as a private investigator. But she has hung up that dangerous hat to live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of an armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.
Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as his keen mind, quick wit, and determination to keep her out of danger muddle her progress—and her heart.
When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, for providing a complimentary review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
I’d only heard of the PROPER ROMANCE line from Shadow Mountain, so this is my first time reading a book from the line, and definitely my first book by the author.
Back in early 2021 (before the pandemic really took hold), I ended up with a copy of A Captain for Caroline Gray, but I hadn’t gotten around to reading it. So, I was only a smidge familiar with the line. Though I would see some titles here or there.
I haven’t been a regency romance fan for very long. And, while I’d heard of the Brontë sisters and Jane Austen – I wasn’t too keen on their books. I had read some “regency” fiction by an indie author in 2021, and liked it. She has a series, and I keep reading her books because they are SO good. I also got to feature a Regency suspense series on my Bookstagram page – and, although I haven’t read that series – it is on my priority TBR – like everything else it seems.
It wasn’t until 2022 when I saw the 1995 movie Sense and Sensibility that altered my perception of the genre. I fell in LOVE with Colonel Brandon 💕 Didn’t hurt that he was portrayed by the late Alan Rickman – he was dashing though. Sorry, but there will be no other Colonel Brandon for me 🥰
As a result – I went and got a copy of Sense and Sensibility. I also ended up getting a 40+ year old dual one with Pride and Prejudice (still haven’t read that).
Because of that, I do tend to stop and take a look at Regency romance a bit more than I used to. And, certainly – when there’s some suspense – I can’t pass it up.
While wasn’t listed as a series, according to the author’s website – it is the second book in the Bow Street series. The first book is A Heart Worth Stealing, and, that should definitely be read first. It features Verity’s brother, Jack along with his now wife Genevieve. They make an appearance in this book. And, there are some incidents from that book that are referenced in this one. Guess I’m going to have to save up money for that.
The cover is definitely worthy to be sat right on the shelf next to Jane Austen’s books.
While this is a clean read, there will be scandalous themes for the time the book is set in. Mostly this deals with unsupervised contact between single men and women (lack of chaperones), as well as illegitimate children which were quite a scandal.
Barker sets out quite the cast of characters:
👒 Verity
🎩 Nathaniel
🎩 Drake
🎩 Rawlings
🎩 Sir Reginald
👒 Lady Harwood
👒 Eizabeth
🎩 Jack
👒 Genevieve (Ginny)
Barker starts right off with the “action”. Verity is with her friend, Elizabeth, along with Elizabeth’s parents attending the theater performance of Trinity Travers – Verity’s mother.
As they leave the theater, they’re robbed. Sir Reginald is attacked and Verity goes to find the thief. She literally runs into Nathaniel, a Bow Street Runner. It seems they were both after the same thief.
At Bow Street she is reunited with Drake and Rawlings who used to work with her brother Jack. And, Verity is drawn to Nathaniel. None of the men have anything nice to say about Nettleton (there is nothing mentioned as to why).
While Verity herself has taken cases, one a few months earlier changed her perspective. Still, when Elizabeth asks her to find her reticule (a small type of evening handbag), she has to investigate and find it for a letter than could cause Elizabeth, and her family, quite the scandal. Elizabeth won’t reveal what is in the letter though.
This brings Verity and Nathaniel into close proximity, especially when their “leads” end up being in the same places. It’s no secret to the reader that Nathaniel is somewhat smitten by Verity. And, it is Verity who learns the name of the thief – one who happens to be a career criminal having been in and out of Newgate Prison. But, there is seemingly more than a petty theft going on.
Just as quickly and urgently as Elizabeth asks Verity to investigate, she then asks her friend to stop. It’s clear to Verity that Elizabeth is in trouble. But, she doesn’t know the hows or whys.
Still, she’s determined to find out what’s going on – especially when her friend goes missing and there is nothing to ascertain why.
Verity has her own reasons for wanting to succeed – not depending on her father who is only financially supporting her. But, the longer she is with Nathaniel, the more be breaks down her resolve. And, she starts wondering if perhaps she can rely on someone other than herself.
They first must solve the mystery and learn who is behind the theft, what secrets need to be kept, and how deep a scandal runs before they create one of their own.
So True a Love isn’t one of those riveting suspense stories – but with theft, scandal, a missing person, and blackmail – it holds its own in a sweet and memorable way. One that definitely leaves me wanting more. There is only minimal violence, which adds to the charm.
Despite being interested in the genre, I was a bit standoffish getting into this. But, I was immediately drawn in. I really didn’t want to put it down and ended up reading about half of the book inside of a six (6) hour period. And, I finished it inside of another five (5) hour period. As I was doing housework in the middle of reading – I think that was pretty good. It held my attention, and the short chapters really kept the story moving.
The whole motive of the theft and blackmail was interesting and unique. Without giving it away, there was a moment where one could feel some sympathy behind the architect of the theft and blackmail. I had a feeling who was the main criminal, but it was sweet to sit back and watch it unfold.
While there is a mutual attraction between Verity and Nathaniel, their romance doesn’t get acknowledged until way past the 75% (¾) part of the book. It is subtle and sweet, appropriate for the time-period and genre.
I had to laugh at Verity’s grandmama giving her a talisman (bezoar) for luck. It wasn’t so much the act, but the verbiage in the book – “You wish me to take a stone from the stomach of a goat for good luck” (Verity). It reminded me of a scene from the extended version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Philosopher in the UK)) where Snape (Alan Rickman) tells Harry that “A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons”. That extended version is usually seen on Peacock TV.
Another interesting thing was a reference to a womanizing blackguard who got a girl pregnant and ran off to find another young lady. It reminded me of what Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility did. I literally read the term “blackguard” in Rickman’s voice (if you’ve seen the movie, you know). Those who enjoy the movie and book, might like this read as well.
The only drawback, for me, was the singular POV (Verity). I truly would’ve loved to have had Nathaniel’s POV, and perhaps Elizabeth’s to balance it out.
This is a clean read (no faith references), so there is no bad language or suggestive language. Intimacy is kept to sweet kisses only – but, given the timeline – they can be quite a scandal. I had to laugh at a review of the previous book that was disappointed there was no “intimacy” 🤭 ➡️ apparently some people aren’t aware of what a “clean” read is.
Seeing that I now need to read A Heart Worth Stealing, that’s going on the TBR list. And, if the author continues this particular “series”, I’m all in for the next adventure. I’m interested in Elizabeth’s story and conclusion. I also want to know what Drake, Rawlings, Jack, and even Nathaniel have against Nettleton.
NOTE ➡️ The Bow Street Runners are considered the first British police force. Before the force was founded, the law enforcing system was in the hands of private citizens and single individuals with very little intervention from the state.
In 1834, a parliamentary committee recommended that the Bow Street men and constables should be incorporated with the Metropolitan Police as soon as possible and, although this report was not enforced, their conclusions were taken up and expanded by another committee in 1837. The reports of these committees were enacted into law as a renewal of the Police Act in 1839 and, in doing so, made the Runners at Bow Street redundant.
RETICULE ➡️ This is what the ladies were using ⤵️
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
Previous Book in the Series:
Publisher: Shadow Mountain (May 2, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1639932941
ISBN-13: 978-1639932948
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Little 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.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joanna Barker firmly believes that romance makes everything better, which is why she has fallen in love with writing Regency romances. When she’s not typing away on her next book, you’ll find her listening to podcasts, eating her secret stash of chocolate, or adding things to her Amazon cart. She thinks being an author is the second-best job in the world—right after being a mom. She is just a little crazy about her husband and four wild-but-lovable kids.
Joanna is a two-time Whitney Award Winner for Historical Romance (A Game of Hearts, 2023 and A Heart Worth Stealing, 2024) and a five-time finalist. She is a two-time finalist in the Foreward Indies Book Awards, and her novels have received praise from Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, Foreword Reviews, and Library Journal. Learn more at: https://www.authorjoannabarker.com/.
She can also be found on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoannaBarker/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjoannabarker/
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