So many good reviews on this book and so many mentions of the "beautiful writing". Insterestingly, it was this writing which put me off. I felt like the author put in these sentences and descriptions to add value, but they didn't flow.

For example. "A summer's day had exploded in an eruption of scent and color, and it passed her by completely, much as a precious silk scarf, slipping from a lady's neck floated away unnoticed".

If you think that is a beautiful sentence, then this is the book for you. But for some reason, and I know I am in the minority, I felt like it was trying too hard.

All that being said, it is a good, solid, historical novel and I did read it all.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

The Diamond Courier is an adventure-packed story that follows Lili Hamilton, a young woman raised in a household of relative privilege navigating life and love at the onset of WWII. Byron's writing is striking in detail, remarkable in its twist and turns. I loved the way she drew the idyllic and carefree scene of Lydden Manor Valley, layered it with the colliery's internal strife against capitalism and exploitative labor, and even further complicated it against the backdrop of Nazi Germany's meteoric rise in power.

Lili's growth as an individual isn't forced or unnaturally grand in its statement. She doesn't come to a dramatic epiphany that Leo Oppenheim is a gigantic red flag of a lover, nor does she suddenly realize that her lifelong purpose is to embark on a dangerous journey to help her Jewish friends. She takes it day by day, with spurts of courage and moments of "Oh, what the hell, let's just do it and see where it goes" propelling her onwards. She has vague ideas of what she wants, clear ideas of what she doesn't want, and is not afraid to live with her decisions, no matter how flawed and ill-conceived they might have been.

I think parts of the story seemed a bit too perfect or convenient to be true, like Frank, a former miner and union organizer, becoming a part of Gerald's business with a desk job, although it did get me thinking about how the war must have torn prior loyalties and forged new ones. Byron uses a familiar historical period but masterfully reignites the palpable tension of the times by touching on niche experiences during the war, namely that of the international Communist network and Jewish families in the European diamond business that the Nazis co-opted to fund their war efforts. That said, the book isn't too heavy-handed in laying out historical facts and was an incredibly enjoyable HF read.

Thank you to the publisher for making this available through Netgalley.

Lilli Hamilton is young English girl that has grown up in a world of privilege. At the party where, her parents are ready to announce her engagement to the young Scotsman that has been her best friend, she tells her parents that she doesn’t want to get married. She is young and wants to travel and experience life. Her parents decide to send her to a Finishing School in Switzerland. On the way to The School, she meets Leo, the young leader of the Communist Party and is very attracted to him. Lilli spends 2 months at the Finishing School and then they all have to go home as the Germans are taking over Europe as WW 2 continues. Lilli feels that she is a Communist and wants to write for the communist paper. Through her contact with Leo she gets the job to write for the paper. She leaves her family and moved to London. Leo talks her into going to Antwerp to courier diamonds that are owned by Jews to England. He wants her to bring the diamonds to him so that he can sell them and use the proceeds to support the Communist movement. She goes in this mission at a great danger to herself and decides to bring the diamonds to the rightful owners. After an upsetting event, she returns home to her parents and reunites with them. Her mother convinces her to once again become a diamond courier which results in disastrous consequences. This is a great book that shows the courage that many individuals had in the fight to help Jewish people in WW2.

I enjoyed this historical fiction story by Hannah Byron. I really liked the different characters' stories all interwoven together. I especially enjoyed seeing our main character grow from being immature and selfish to being more aware and gracious to those around her. The ending came to fast for me. I will definitely be checking out other titles by this author.

This was a DNF for me. The writing was so wordy and laborious and there was very little dialogue in the book, it was impossible for me to get into the story and relate to the characters. From the beginning it felt like a really hard start like you just got thrown into the story with no context. Even after a chapter or two I was trying to figure out what in the world was happening or why the characters where doing or thinking anything that was being described. So much especially went into the immediate feelings of Lilli but completely without a given reason. The characters were detached and seemed either immature, socially inept, and unlikeable - all of them - in how they related to each other or just really poorly created and unrealistic. I finally gave up.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A new author for me but one I will certainly look out for in the future. Hannah Byron tells a gripping story of Lili Hamilton a young privileged, yet adventurous, British woman who is recruited by her Communist Party boyfriend to illegally transport diamonds from Antwerp to London to help his cause as Leader of the Party.
If you like historical fiction set in WWII you will enjoy this book. It has a slightly different take from the usual WWII books as it is focussed on one individual and her plight to do the right thing.
A truly great read.

What a ride! With the poetic introduction to Lili Hamilton's homelife in The Diamond Courier, I was instantly enthralled with our heroine and certainly the writing style of Hannah Byron "Regally she descended the steps as if gliding down from the heavens..." However, it was an ephemeral romance that quickly fizzled. I hate to admit that I nearly terminated the read as it felt like it was heading towards a naive girl's fairytale love affair and I found some aspects incredibly far-fetched (that Leo's letter could actually make its way into her pocket so conveniently at finishing school, and Fillipo waiting at the train station for her Continental mission). I am ever the cynic and don't like mindless or fluffy books. However, and this is a big HOWEVER, the gushing reviews held sufficient weight and I now can't believe I nearly walked away! I learned that the far-fetched scenarios were not far-fetched at all (I just had to keep reading to find out), the fluff cleared and thus I formed a deep, powerful and profound love affair with this book.

Most books can pull you in towards a character or two, but every single character evoked deep emotion.
At the start we are introduced to Lili, a young woman torn between serving herself and her hidden communist ideals or a comfy existence with her long-term friend, placating her parents' wishes. She develops into a force not to be reckoned with. Her humanity, empathy, kindness and most of all chutzpah drew me in. As a woman, it was powerful to see someone depart an abusive relationship without feeling bitter. She could still hold Leo in her heart, but know her worth. An inspiration. I love Lili's parents and their unconditional love for their daughter. Even when they didn't agree with her political affiliation or actions, they were loving parents. I loved Leo, tormented by injuries sustained from the war, highlighting the power of addiction. And who couldn’t love Leo’s parents? I feel like part of Isaac, Fillipo, Oceane and Esther's world. But I loved Iain Brodie most of all, the stalwart supporter of Lili.

Through something so dark, they all brought light. I truly loved this book and was lingering on to every word by the end. Thank you thank you #Netgalley for this exceptional read in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a beautiful story set in an early Second World War. Lili Hamilton, our main character, is a young adventurous British woman recruited by her boyfriend Leo to illegally transport diamonds from Antwerp to London. for his needs as a leader of the British Communist Party.
On her quest she became friends with the Jewish family that works with the diamonds and she is doing the right thing, instead of going to her boyfriend she takes the package to the syndicate. When her friends are in danger of taking them in conc camp, she risks her life once more time...
Author gave us good plot, another point of view of that period, characters were well built and they are so palpable. Can't wait to read another book by her.

I received this novel as an ARC from NetGalley. It is a works of historical fiction that started out slow but grew interesting due to the complex characters and the exploration of what life was like during WWII.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hannah Byron for providing me with an ARC of The Diamond Courier.

It was a very enjoyable historical fiction read (although it did start out a bit slow). By the end of the book, I did not want it to end! Lili was a very likable character especially as her personality grew throughout the story. The author is very talented with her vivid descriptions ...one can easily picture exactly what she is trying to depict. This was the first time reading Hannah Byron’s work and it certainly will not be the last!

I have read a fair share of historical fiction set in WWII and I can say the Diamond Courier by Hannah Byron was unlike any of the others I have read. The story was fresh and different.

Granted, it took me a while to get hooked. This mainly because of the writing style, which was a bit too embellished for my taste. To a lesser degree this also had to do with my connection with Lili, our main character, whom I fell in love with, out of love with and in love with again. There were parts of the book where I found her to be rather annoying and gullible, leaving me with a desire to yell at her.

Nevertheless, I am so glad I picked up this book and stuck with it, as it turned out to be a beautiful story, where I felt that my wavering connection with the main character was intended by the author. In the Diamond Courier we meet a wealth of interesting characters who are all genuinely trying to make the best of life just before WWII and then during. None of them completely good or completely bad, just perfectly flawed.

If you enjoy historical fiction set in WWII I do recommend picking this up just for something completely different. Contrary to the stories about the front, the camps, or the resistance, this is a story of one person, doing what she believed to be right and as such, doing good for one family. I will not say this is a story about the every day person in WWII, because it is not (how could it ever be?). It is, however, another piece of the puzzle showing what life was like for people from all walks of life at that time in history.

Note: The Diamond Courier is technically the second in a series, but I did not read the first book and as such fully believe it is possible to read this book as a stand-alone.

THE DIAMOND COURIER by HANNAH BYRON is a really interesting WW11 novel which gripped me right from the beginning.
Starting in 1939 with Lili, the rather rebellious daughter of Sir Gerald and Lady Madeleine Hamiilton,we are taken through her life with all its ups and downs until the end of the war.
She moves from a stint at finishing school at Le Manoir in Lausanne, to a torrid affair in London where she writes for a communist newspaper and has definite communist affiliations, to becoming a diamond courier. In her interaction with Chaim Goldmunz and his family she comes to see the plight of the Jews in war town Europe. She does her best to try and save, not only Goldie, the Goldmunz diamond, but also the Goldmunz family. I really like to see her growth as a person through all that she goes through.
It is a story that is full of action, in which such topics as the choices people make, the importance of poverty relief, the evils of class distinction, the horrors of the war and the plight of the Jews, are brought out strongly.
I highly recommend The Diamond Courier as an excellent historical romance novel with a great many twists and turns.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from BooksGoSocial. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Well, I am not sure how to review this. I thought the content was wholly original, and the author clearly did her research and has talent, but I just did not like the main character at all. Spoiled, selfish, and deceitful, it was hard for me to continue reading - and I did and am glad I did...but this was just not for me.

Oh my heck I loved this! The story had me hooked from the beginning. Lili wants to be independent and goes off on her own looking for adventure. She breaks the arranged engagement with her long time best friend Iain and sets off. I really like world war II novels and to find out that there are three of these Resistance Girl series is so cool! This is the second one it that series but all of the stories can be read on their own- ie the next one features one of Lili's friends. I loved the romance. The whole time I was rooting for Iain! Byron has written such a lovely and meaningful story with such wonderfully developed characters. I would definitely recommend this book!

arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review

i really wanted to like this. the premise was fairly engaging: in the midst of 1940s britain, a country embroiled in the messy politics of world war ii, a young woman is entrusted with incredibly precious diamonds by her boyfriend, the leader of the great britain communist party. unfortunately, i found the execution to be very poor, with the writing style being choppy and having an excess of "telling" rather than "showing." i could not form any emotional attachments with the characters and found the main heroine to be lacking in depth. her growth arc fell flat, having started as a young and ambitious communist (albeit one with immense privileges) to being reduced to another "salon communist," as this book describes it, nearing the end. communism is not something one can engage in partially or solely ideologically. if your communism and revolutionary language do not represent the working classes, it is not communism at all. i really wanted to see more conversation about communism in the time period and see more action from the heroine, instead of being one of those liberals who calls themselves a "leftist" but does nothing about the gross state of injustices in the world right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of The Diamond Courier in exchange for my honest review.

The story starts in Kent, England on the 24th of June 1939. Lili stand on the White Cliffs of Dover contemplating her life. She finds her privileged life decadent and shallow. She is the daughter of Tory MP Sir Gerald Hamilton and Lady Madeleine Hamilton.

Lili has been promised in marriage to Iain Brodie whom she has known since she was 11 years old. Iain was 17 when he came from the Scottish Highlands to be Sir Hamilton's assistant at Betteshanger Colliery. Lili feels that at the age of 19 she is too young to marry and wants to live her life first.

The story then picks up in Paris on the 4th of July, 1939. Her interest in communism goes against everything that her family has stood for. In Lausanne on the 8th of July 1939 she starts her life at Le Manoir boarding school. However her studies are cut short when she has to return home because of the start of the war.

This story is told through many letters back and forth providing an interesting insight into the different characters. The story comes full circle when on the 24th of June 1945 - 6 years after she backed out of her promise to marry Iain - they are married.

True and lasting love triumphs over all other things in life. . A heartwarming story of what is most important in life - love.

This title had great reviews, so I was looking forward to reading it. However, I found I wasn't connecting to the main character, so I did not finish the book.

I absolutely loved this story! I found this book hard to put down and couldn't stop thinking about the characters after I finished the book. This was the first book I have read by this author and can't wait to read more!

The Diamond Courier is set in the beginning of WWII and features Lili, a privileged, headstrong young woman. Living on her own is not quite as glamorous or easy as she thinks, nor is the work she is doing as fulfilling. Lili wants to go to France and see first-hand the effects of the Hitler regime. Her time there is heartbreaking, frightening and requires more courage than Lili knew she had within her.

I usually don't do Historical Fiction..... But recently just started to get Into them! And this book .makes it worth it! WoW! Such a beautiful story. And this writing holy cow! I enjoyed these characters and going down the road they went on!
This was such a fantastic book! And I know found a favorite historical fiction author Hannah!!!!! She's amazing and does her dang thing!

England 1939, Liliane Hamilton is only 19 and her parents want her to marry Iain Brodie. Iain works for her father Gerald at his Betteshanger colliery, she considers him a friend and Lili doesn’t feel ready to get married. She has her own plans, she’s interested in communism, its ideology and becoming a journalist. Not something a girl from her background could possibly be involved in and her parents plan to send her off to finishing school in Switzerland. Here she’s expected to learn all the things a proper young lady needs to know before she becomes a wife and mother.

On her way to finishing school Lili meets Leopold Oppenheim in Paris; he’s the leader of the British communist party and he’s turned his back on his own privileged upbringing. His father Chaim Oppenheim is London’s richest and most influential diamond merchant and is very well known in the diamond trade. When the Second World War starts Lili moves to London, to be with Leo and has she made a mistake? He's a troubled person and he needs money for himself and the communist party. Lili’s going to France to work as a war correspondent; Leo wants her to go to Antwerp and visit a friend of his father’s Isaac Goldmunz. Antwerp is Europe’s largest diamond center and Isaac and Elizabeth Goldmunz remained here to safe guard what's left of the Jewish diamond industry.

The German commander Ulrich Lemberg often dines at the Goldmunz home, the Goldmunz’s need his protection and Lili also meets the friendly couple. The Goldmunz’s come up with a plan for Lili to smuggle diamonds from Antwerp, through France, to safety in England and give them to Chaim Oppenheim? It’s extremely dangerous; will Lili attempt to return to England, carrying priceless diamonds and make it home?

As you read The Diamond Courier you notice Lili changes from being a rather selfish young girl, she learns from her mistakes, becomes more considerate and grows up. I enjoyed reading all the details included in the story and discovering the religious link Jewish people had to diamonds. I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, I can't wait to read The Parisian Spy and five stars from me.