WHERE THE HEART LEADS is the first book in the Casebook of Barnaby Adair series. I also consider it part of the Cynster series as both the hero and the heroine have been in the Cynster series. Barnaby Adair is the third son of an earl but because of his father's support of the police, Barnaby has taken to assisting with police investigations especially those involving the ton. Penelope Ashford comes to Barnaby with a case. Boys who are supposed to come to her foundling home are disappearing. ...

WHERE THE HEART LEADS is the first book in the Casebook of Barnaby Adair series. I also consider it part of the Cynster series as both the hero and the heroine have been in the Cynster series. Barnaby Adair is the third son of an earl but because of his father's support of the police, Barnaby has taken to assisting with police investigations especially those involving the ton. Penelope Ashford comes to Barnaby with a case. Boys who are supposed to come to her foundling home are disappearing. She wants Barnaby's help in finding them. Penelope and Barnaby are much alike. Neither wants to marry because they fear that marriage will prevent them from pursuing their vocations. Both have an existence that is not constrained by society's rules. Both are highly intelligent and unconventional. Of course, that means that they are perfect for one another and just need to figure that out.

I really liked this book. Barnaby and Penelope are unique characters. Their initial interactions are funny -- especially because they keep surprising one another. While the two are not marriage minded in the beginning, their reluctance is more about compatibility and fear of having to change their lives than it is emotional questions about love (unlike other Cynster books). These two are more concerned about whether or not their lives will mesh. As they investigate together and fall in love, it becomes clear that they are already building a life together. Something about these two characters practical approach is very refreshing. Appropriately, the mystery drives the story. This is not a romantic suspense, however. The story is definitely a romance and the building of the relationship between them the focus of the story.

While there is much discussion of characters from the Cynster series, this book is apart from those stories and can be enjoyed by a reader who hasn't read any previous books.

I'd rate this book a 4.5.

I'll admit it -- I've read every one of Stephanie Laurens' books. As other reviewers have pointed out, she seemed to run out of steam in the Cynster series a couple books back. But in "Where the Heart Leads" I think she's back in mid-season form with two very likeable, personable, intelligent and compassionate leads. As a bonus, you get to see, in much lesser detail, the courtship of another couple play out over the course of the story.

I found Barnaby and Penelope's story -- as well as Ba...

I'll admit it -- I've read every one of Stephanie Laurens' books. As other reviewers have pointed out, she seemed to run out of steam in the Cynster series a couple books back. But in "Where the Heart Leads" I think she's back in mid-season form with two very likeable, personable, intelligent and compassionate leads. As a bonus, you get to see, in much lesser detail, the courtship of another couple play out over the course of the story.

I found Barnaby and Penelope's story -- as well as Basil and Griselda's (OMG -- what a name!) -- extremely engaging and devoid of the normal artificial "obstructions" that many Regency novelists fall back on. The backdrop of 19th century police investigations was extremely interesting, and the patented Laurens love scenes were very well done.

Here's my only critique -- after 20 or so books, I'm amazed that Stephanie Laurens can't manage to disguise her villians better. Seriously, she stops just short of having a huge neon sign with "Bad Guy" and an arrow to point him out! It's just sad. In this book, she spends so much time building up the suspense by giving the villian a pseudonym, but makes his identity obvious when he is introduced into a scene with the two heroes as an incidental character...and he is the only incidental character in the entire 400 page book who is described in negative terms. Face it, Agatha Christie she's not.

But she is a very talented writer, with a gift for beautiful, descriptive writing. These characters, and this book, are worth spending a few hours with on a cold fall day.

I very much enjoyed the plot of this novel, very involved and with two strong women leading the charge. Penelope is a fabulous FMC, I loved watching her take charge. Barnaby was great too, however his personality and charm seem diminished next to his many appearances in the Cynster series. I was looking forward to this novel so much because I loved him in the other books. I know he’s older in this book, but his personality seemed to be more dark and Cynster like than he was before. I would ha...

I very much enjoyed the plot of this novel, very involved and with two strong women leading the charge. Penelope is a fabulous FMC, I loved watching her take charge. Barnaby was great too, however his personality and charm seem diminished next to his many appearances in the Cynster series. I was looking forward to this novel so much because I loved him in the other books. I know he’s older in this book, but his personality seemed to be more dark and Cynster like than he was before. I would have loved a different style of MMC for a Laurens book.