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A Stolen Heart

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A Victorian twist on Robin Hood.

Nikolas Whitworth, the Earl of Rochelle, is handsome, charming—and a traitor. He can outwit and outcon any Englishman, or Englishwoman for that matter. When his debts are called in, a savior appears, the criminal mastermind known only as the Tailor. Nikolas is bought and sold, his future no longer his.

Abandoned as a baby because of her heart condition, Rosalyn Devereaux trusts no one. She secretly dresses as a stableboy to inspect the horses and place bets. Without fail, her chosen horse wins.

When the Tailor orders Nikolas to kidnap the mysterious stableboy, he discovers the beguiling Rosalyn. He is captivated and utterly smitten, but Rosalyn refuses to be a pawn in the Tailor’s schemes.

Nikolas has a plan to escape, but can Rosalyn trust her future—and possibly her heart—to a conman?

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2022

20 people are currently reading
256 people want to read

About the author

Clarissa Kae

17 books375 followers
Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She's the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director.

Since her first novel, she's explored different writing genres and created a loyal group of fans who eagerly await her upcoming release. With numerous awards to her name, Clarissa continues to honor the role of storyteller.

Aside from the writing community, she and her daughters founded Kind Girls Make Strong Women to help undervalued nonprofit organizations—from reuniting children with families to giving Junior Olympic athletes their shot at success.

She lives in the agricultural belly of California with her family and farm of horses, chickens, dogs and kittens aplenty.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie  (The Kansan Reader).
687 reviews106 followers
September 26, 2022
2.5 stars

Spoilers if not read the previous two books.

Our author sure loves her MCs with disabilities/scars. Rosalyn has a heart condition. Nikolas was shot at the end of the second book. Nikolas also, at the end of the second book revealed that he has been in love before with a woman named Rosalyn. This is a second chance story.

I wasn’t as into this book as I was in the previous two. The MCs weren’t together as much as the others. I wanted to see more romance blossom but it seemed as if the heroine wanted to stay away as much as she could while at the same time being near the hero.

The tailor aspect was lackluster when it should have been more intriguing than in the previous books. I just don’t necessarily know how I feel about this book. When the heroine is given an opportunity to help the crown and instead of looking at it as getting close to someone who can help out the poor she snubs it. Nikolas snubs the rich but he tends to forget that his father was raised in a position making Nikolas part of the rich. Whether he likes it or even sees it, he is part of that society. Instead of making a difference, he gambled his money away.

Another reason I don’t think I liked this one as much is due to me not liking either of the MCs. I can understand Rosalyn and her deals, but I don’t understand Nikolas who in previous books seems to be a rich arrogant person. Everything you think of Nikolas in previous books seems to go against what he thinks in this book. Sometimes it’s also hard to determine what is a flashback and what is present. Or at least it was for me.

This was going to be a three-star but the ending ruined the book for me. I think everything was wrapped up fast. I just wasn’t feeling this book.
Profile Image for WyoGal.
489 reviews
February 10, 2022
Stopped after a couple pages—paragraphs lack focus

While there are wonderful details in the first few pages, the details are random and the paragraphs lack cohesion. It’s like the author has ADD and the “camera” is spinning so wildly around, the reader can’t follow what is relevant and what is miscellaneous. First the character is in one outfit, tests some boards, wanders to a different spot, changes clothes, looks here, there, flashback, then thinks ahead, back to present moment. Ugh. No thank you.
Profile Image for Cathy.
1,974 reviews71 followers
March 21, 2022
I enjoy reading retellings. This is actually the second Robin Hood retelling I’ve read this year. And I love that there isn’t just one way to do these. This one was so great! I loved the way, Clarissa Kae wrote this one.

Rosalyn is our heroine. She’s a young woman who can’t trust because of her past. She also is really great at shooting the bow and arrow. I loved how she uses this skill to help those who are orphans, the way she was. But Rosalyn hides a secret. Her heart is not what whole and that causes her many problems doing the things that she loves to do.

Nikolas. I loved the way he loves Rosalyn. He wants what is best for her. And he wants to help her in any way he can. Unfortunately, due to some mistakes he’s made, he is watched continually. One thing about Nikolas is that he always finds a way. He is scrappy and resourceful.

This book kept me guessing until the very end about who the Tailor was. I loved how the author did that. You should definitely read this one!

I was sent a copy of A Stolen Heart as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kim - Inside the Wong Mind.
387 reviews30 followers
March 14, 2022
A Stolen Heart
by Clarissa Kae
Book 3 in the Victorian Retellings series
Rating: 4/5

The author's writing keeps getting better and better. I am a huge fan of retelling classics and this Robin Hood retelling does not disappoint. There's nods to the original story but it has its own mystery and story to tell (that's connected to the previous books). I definitely recommend reading the other books in this series. All three books are now available on Kindle Unlimited.

First, I love the cover of this book. (And who doesn't enjoy a good bow and arrow and want to be Katniss Everdeen at some point?) The cover is stunning and eye-catching.

Second, I loved the main characters. We've been introduced to Nikolas and Rosalyn in the previous book and I was eager to read their story. Their chemistry, their authenticity and their sacrifices were so relatable making it easy to root for them.

Third, I loved including the other characters from the previous book which made it fun to revisit friends.

Fourth, the mystery is great and keeps you guessing.

Highly recommend if you'd enjoy a clean reimagining of Robin Hood that has a fantastic mystery woven throughout.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
Profile Image for Lisa  (Bookworm Lisa).
2,240 reviews207 followers
March 14, 2022
Intriguing Re-telling.

I love the story of Robin Hood. This is a re-telling with a twist. The archer is a woman! Rosalyn is a lady on a noble mission. She steals from the rich to help suffering orphans.

Her love interest, Nikolas Whitworth wants to help and ease her burdens. He broke her heart in the past and she doesn't know if she can let him back into her life and heart.

The villain is a person with a hidden identity known as the Tailor. He is causing havoc on the nobles of Sherwood, I mean London. Nikolaus (under duress) and his soon-to-be brother-in-law team up to stop the Tailor.

This re-telling has a story and voice of its own. I really enjoyed it and finished it in one day. I wanted to see who was behind the name of the Tailor. I wanted to know if Roselyn and Nikolas could overcome the hurt from the past and finally come together. I wanted to see Roselyn use her mad archery skills.

This book is part of a series. I knew there was a backstory that I was missing, but I kept up with this story just fine. This means I have a few more stories to read.
Profile Image for Megan (inkand.imagination).
798 reviews10 followers
February 19, 2024
Robin Hood retellings are some of my favorites, so I had really high hopes for this one. While I did enjoy it overall, it definitely felt a bit slow and awkward at times. I did appreciate the disability representation in this book, and the historical elements were fun too. However, it just fell a bit flat.
Profile Image for Briana Briggs.
245 reviews19 followers
January 29, 2022
I loved this gender swapped, time swapped retelling of Robin Hood. The Robin Hood character is a woman, and it's set in Victorian London. So great!! The character development and mystery were wonderful, it was an enjoyable read!
Profile Image for Eva Barry.
14 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2022
**received ARC from publisher**
It was delightful to see Rosalyn delicate AND determined. It's a tricky balance. She has a heart condition and seems frail but she still gets the job done. She's not limited nor does she allow others to limit her. But her struggles weren't caricatures either.
I've read the earlier books (#1 & #2) but this one is for sure my favorite. The Nikolas in ADB and CLG is wholly different in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Angela (justwant_2read).
268 reviews17 followers
January 28, 2022
I was super excited to get an eARC of this book!! I had read the first two and was dying to get my hands on the third. This book did not disappoint!

Nikolas Whitworth, the Earl of Rochelle, is on very strict house arrest after his sins from the first two books. He wants to be a better man now, but he feels he is too far gone to atone for his sins.

Rosalyn Devereaux is a fiery little woman who has learned to hold her own on the streets, despite what life has thrown at her. She has a desire to make a change for the poor and suffering, but knows the little she can do isn’t enough.

Nikolas and Ros come from very different places, but bring out the best in one another. Their love story is not an easy one, especially with the elusive Tailor constantly trying to hurt them. I absolutely loved watching Nik fight for Rosalyn, despite her belief that she is better on the streets alone.

You will 100% want to read this book because Clarissa Kae nailed it with another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book!
Profile Image for MK.
474 reviews13 followers
January 29, 2022
This third book in the Victorian retellings series had me hooked. While every book in this series is a retelling, with a happy ending, there is also a mystery to be solved that threads it’s way through each novel. This is the final book in the series and perhaps my favorite. I may need to re-read them though to confirm that.

I loved the mystery aspect of this book. Trying to figure out who the infamous Tailor is, who has threatened the queen. Each book gives clues, and while I was right about a lot of things, I also was surprised by the ending. Pleasantly surprised.

Nikolas is a villain in the previous books, but is one of the main characters in this book. I love when a character is set up to be disliked, but then as you come to understand them better, you start rooting for them. I loved Nikolas as a main character. He’s humble, and has a hard past, with an uncertain future, but one thing he isn’t uncertain about is his love for Rosalyn. I love the redemption of Nikolas.

Rosalyn is also a flawed character and our Robin Hood, looking out for her fellow orphans through less than legal means. What made Rosalyn unique as a Robin Hood character, was her weak heart. She has a strong will, and determined work ethic, but the health of her heart holds her back. She struggles with the limitations her body presents. I loved how Nikolas cared for her. He respected her and saw her worth, while taking care of her on her terms. They somehow gave each other strength in a beautiful way.

One of my favorite quotes: “She had a talent of looking at him. Not through him or with any added judgment. Nikolas was just a man. A man who needed the frail being in his arms.”
Profile Image for Jasmine.
1,297 reviews43 followers
March 17, 2022
Time may be in short supply for them both...

And there went everything I thought I knew about Robin Hood. I've loved Robin Hood stories since childhood, whether it's the singing animated animals from the Disney classic or Stephen Lawhead's very different 11th century Welsh setting. But Rosalyn and Nikolas have a knack for really changing things up...

When I started A Stolen Heart it was with a bit of trepidation. I despised Nikolas from the first two Victorian Retellings books and it never bodes well when you are already predisposed to strongly dislike the hero of any tale. While I can't exactly say that I came to like Nikolas I did understand him a bit better and I came to the conclusion that it was both daring and smart of Clarissa Kae to transform one of her villains into an eventual hero. The hero that Rosalyn needs.

Rosalyn herself was quite interesting. And, having been a teen/young woman with a heart condition myself made her one of the most relatable characters I've read about in awhile. I really appreciated how she didn't let her health problems stop her, she simply worked around them when she had to.

In many ways A Stolen Heart kept me guessing even as I was finally getting answers as to who The Tailor might be. Yes, I had my suspicions, and I was right....but I was wrong...I really enjoyed the surprise twists that Clarissa Kae wove into this Victorican Retelling.

If you love Robin Hood or just fairytale retellings in general may I recommend this series to you...Personally, I've liked every single one of them and this one was no exception...

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,044 reviews60 followers
January 31, 2022
Having read a couple of other books by Clarissa Kae I was excited to read this one. This is a twist/retelling of Robin Hood. I really loved the overall idea of this book and the characters. The first part of the book I really enjoyed. I loved getting to know Rosalyn and really had no clue where to story was going. There are some clever scenes in this book that I enjoyed especially when Rosalyn disguises herself. The second part of the book seemed a little choppy. I wasn't really sure what was happening and the story seemed to jump all over the place. All that to say, by the end I was happy to discover what happens to the characters and the "mystery". I knew some of what was to happen but was pleasantly surprised on the ending.

If you enjoy fairy tale twists and the Victorian Era this is the book for you!

I recommend reading this entire series as it is simply fun!

Four Stars.



"I received this book from the author for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review"
Profile Image for Modern Miss Granger.
1,200 reviews132 followers
January 31, 2022
-4.5 Stars-

Thank you @clarissa__kae for the e-arc! I have loved getting to read this series and this book might have been my favorite!

This is the third book in Clarissa’s Victorian Retelling series. Each book follows different characters, but the same mystery woven throughout.

So, I was a bit skeptical about this book and if I’d love Nicholas. However, I did! I think this book proves that there is always more to someone’s story than what we see from the outside. That perspectives matter and we never know what is going on in someone else’s life.

Nicholas wasn’t perfect. He had his shortcomings, but he was a protector. He loved deeply. He wrestled with his decisions and tried to do his best.

Rosalyn was a formidable heroine. She was feisty, strong willed, kind, generous, and determined. Despite a heart condition that some might label as weak, she stood up and was stronger than them all.

The romance was delightful, the plot had me sucked in and dying to know what would happen next, and I was sad it was over.
261 reviews12 followers
January 29, 2022
Retellings are a fun genre and I had never read a Robin Hood retelling til this book. I enjoyed the uniqueness and the search for justice.

Rosalyn is the female lead that you can look up to. She is fierce, determined, loves the poor, cares for all around her, independent and strong despite her fragility. I’ve never cheered on a thief before.

Nikolas is one big mess. He really tries hard to do the best thing for all and struggles to right his wrongs. I love that this book has both heroine and hero that complete each other and in a way save each other.

I had a bit of a hard time following in a few places but also acknowledge that while I was reading this, it had been an exhausting week for me.

I look forward to reading other retellings from this author!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Suzie Waltner.
Author 13 books148 followers
Read
March 17, 2022
A Stolen Heart by Clarissa Kae is a Robin Hood retelling where the thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor is a woman. One with a weak heart.

There is a lot happening in the book that keeps the story moving at a quick pace and keeps the reader on their toes as they try and figure out who the Tailor is (and you will probably be both right and wrong in that—or those—guesses).

Rosalyn’s heart may fail her body, but its generosity is bigger than most. Her commitment to feeding those who cannot feed themselves is both humbling and encouraging. We should all live with Rosalyn’s eyes for the hurting and generosity.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Carissa.
430 reviews4 followers
January 28, 2022
3.5

Really liked the suspense and intrigue. Tying in the last couple of books. I liked a new perspective, the “underbelly” of London society that we experience through Rosalyn.

Nikolas’ redemption! So happy he got a good turn around. Rosalyn brought out the best in him. And it was nice to see more repair with his relationship with Ada.

Rosalyn was great! She’s strong and resourceful. I was so happy she got a little family reunion at the end. Plus her own happily ever after! Her and Nikolas made a really great match.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kay Leyda.
162 reviews11 followers
February 2, 2022
Sweet regency retelling

A genderbent regency Robin Hood retelling! How fun 😊

Our girl Rosalyn robs from the rich to take care of the orphans she knows are being neglected. A vigilante called The Tailor is running amok in London, trying to take out the queen. And the man Rosalyn loves, Lord Nicholas, is being held prisoner by a Duke for conspiring with the Tailor. Mystery, intrigue, and some heartbreaking circumstances certainly set up for a high stakes ending I didn't see coming!
1,100 reviews10 followers
April 14, 2022
Clever way to do a Robin Hood re-telling. I thought it was a fun read. I liked the main characters and enjoyed their back story. I liked that both of them had flaws (so many regencies have main characters that are absolutely perfect).
I was able to listen to this book on audio and I was so happy with the narrator- she did a great job.
I’ve read the other books in this series and they were all fun- They can be read as stand alone books.
Profile Image for Judy.
1,812 reviews13 followers
July 31, 2023
Nikolas redeems himself

Wow, did Nikolas do a 180 or what. I despised him in the previous book. He was absolutely horrible to his step sister. But thankfully, Rosalyn helped him change his heart. She was a feisty, brave young woman who never gave up on her mission to help others.

I never would have guessed who the Tailor was! That discovery threw me a loop!

I only wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt. It pretty much came to a screeching halt.
Profile Image for Pattisue.
568 reviews
January 4, 2025
This tale moves at a furious pace with a myriad of characters. Lies and deceit abound amid the smoke and mirrors. Rosalyn and the Earl of Rochelle are the focus of this story. Rosalyn is a wisp of a woman who flits through scene after scene virtually unstoppable. Her broken heart symbolizes her loss, her loves, her fatal flaw as she steals from the rich to feed the poor. While not perfect, this retelling is spellbinding.
92 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2022
A third in the series and the previous books should be read prior. I loved the tidbits of Robin Hood, and yet it connected well with the rest of the books. I enjoyed the mystery that has spanned the entire series, and we finally get to read the conclusion… it’s very entertaining!
Profile Image for Sarah.
575 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2022
So Good!

Just when you think that a character is COMPLETELY irredeemable, they get their own romance and a chance to tell their story. Nikolas’ story is SO GOOD!
1,803 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2022
Loved the story as it built and concluded the series. Rosalyn won my heart.
1,932 reviews
February 7, 2022
This Regency had lots of twists and turns. This action packed adventure kept me guessing. I adored the colorful characters and their zeal for life.
60 reviews
March 2, 2022
Enjoyed the series. Would like to see a fourth book about Ros’s brother and Miriam. Will look for other similar books by this author.
Profile Image for Karen Ouska.
94 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2023
Stolen Heart

Clarissa's writing keeps me on the edge of my seat while I keep guessing who the Taylor is. Is everyone going to be safe? What's going to happen next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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