Im not a huge lover of historical fiction but I really did end up enjoying this book. The perfect amount of romance and is such a light hearted read which I have definitely needed recently !

The Lady Thief of Belgravia was a twisting historical romance with a touch of mystery and thriller thrown in for flavor.

This is the type of novel that reminds me that sometimes historical romances can be just as much fun as a fantasy, and even more thrilling. I already know a good bit about the historical time period this novel was based in, and was please to find nothing that ruined the immersion in the time period, as I was able to allow myself to be swept away to London in 1879. The atmospheric nature of this novel made me dig into it's world and easily become hooked, I could see why Della Rose thought the way she did and feel the world around her that had created her life story come off the page.

For Della Rose herself, I found her to be a stubborn, self sufficient, and intelligent leading lady with a hidden heart of gold. Watching her step into a life of luxuries and try to make her own way in the world right from the start, with no helpless heroine antics made the experience much more enjoyable for me.

I will say the highlight and main focus of the book is not so much the heist, though that is a well executed part of the novel, but more the slow burn romance the happens between the main leads. The novel is a romance that starts slow but by the end has quite a bit of heat and I would avoid if you do not like spicy romance. For those who do, this is more tame then many out there, but the slow burn is exceedingly well down and quite enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to you if you like:
- Historical Romance
- Cozier Thrillers/Suspenseful Novels
- Cozy Mystery
- Lightly Spicy Romance
- Strong Female Lead

I received an advance review copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.

I have loved historical romance and this book grabbed my heart. It was sweet and fast passed love story between a thief and a lord! I absolutely loved how both of them developed relationship slowly and I could connect with them. The action resolved quite quickly but the end action definitely made up for it. The cover is stunning and the story too.

I am not an historical fiction reader usually, but I really enjoyed this book. I laughed at parts and shook my head at parts. I actually wanted to be in the story and help!! I would definitely recommend this book.

I went into this book expecting more than was delivered. From the title and cover to the blurb, I think we were duped yet again.
There was promise of intrigue, mystery, and a heist situation, but all we got was a lot of stomach stirrings and oddly placed f-bombs that pulled me out of the story.
The heist part of the storyline was used to introduce the lead characters, and I don’t know if it was needed. The Duke (who they were stealing from) was stupid, and I don’t think the whole setup was needed. She could have just pickpocketed the key, copied it (as she did), and then given the key to Cole and moved on.

The relationship between Cole (the Hero) and Della (the Heroine) seemed a little forced. I didn’t feel the chemistry building up like in the many other historical romances I have read. I didn’t get any butterflies, and I want butterflies! In saying that, the inner dialogue of each of them lusting after the other during important moments was too much. I skipped those parts.

Some language and societal anachronisms didn’t fit the time period. I can’t imagine the f-bomb being used in *that* context. Maybe I’m wrong. And I don’t think there would be any way Della would have been accepted into society with the Earl. I was expecting to find out that her parents were of noble birth and she was indeed a lady, but no. She’s still a thief from the Seven Dials (London Slum).

Hey, if you are looking for a historical romance with lots of sex, some foul language, and a heist that goes too smoothly, then this is your book.

Thanks to Storm Publishing & NetGalley for the eArc of The Lady Thief of Belgravia. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions about this book.

I did not have any idea how to dip my toes into the historical romance genre, so I wanted to try one of the new ones as an ARC from #NetGalley for the first time. I think my experience was not as lovely as I expected but it was a quite fun read for me considering all of my readings generally are fantasy or epic fantasies.

I like the idea of this book and a lady from a historical setting being a thief is very interesting. But in my opinion, the stakes could have been a little higher to keep the story more interesting. The writing was good and accessible for historical fiction and the romance part was fun. The anxiety between the two main characters is interesting and not too spicy if you would like to know about the level of spice in your romances.

I don't think you are new to the genre this is the greatest thing to read first but it would be fun if you are a fan. however, what I understood was that I love the setting, atmosphere and writing but romances would always be my least favourite thing in a book. So I'm considering this as a good pallet cleanser for me and 3 starts read overall.

This book is such a fantastic blend of historical romance and a grand heist. When Cole a spy for the home office recruits Della, a highly skilled pickpocket from Seven Dials to steal something for him, the two begin a thrilling adventure and a steamy romance.

The Lady Thief of Belgravia is an entertaining take on romance. It's filled with secrets and a ton of passion. Honestly, I wasn't expecting this book to be as steamy as it was and was very pleasantly surprised.

Overall, this was such a fun read, and I especially enjoyed the My Fair Lady vibes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

So Della Rose is a really excellent pickpocket in 1879 London. She is so good that she has code name a reputation so obviously when one needs something stolen one would naturally seek her out and this is seemingly easy to do even though she is so apparently so good she’s never been caught. Anyway that doesn’t matter, the point is Cole Winthrop needs something stolen back and Della is the one to do it. She just has to learn to be posh and wheedle her way into high society. Pigmalion and all that. I wanted something fun and light and a bit silly to read and that’s what I got, it’s highly enjoyable not to be taken too seriously and generally good times had by all.

I devoured this book in one sitting! I love Regency Romance books so throw in the excitement and the spice, whew I loved every word of this book! I will be buying a physical copy of the book so I can reread it again and again! 6 out of 5 stars if I could!
I just reviewed The Lady Thief of Belgravia by Allison Grey. #TheLadyThiefofBelgravia #NetGalley
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I loved this book! I thought it was very original and I loved the chemistry between the main characters.

The story is about a girl living in the Dials, a poor neighborhood in London. Then one day she meets an earl of a huge estate, who's coming for her help in a personal matter. The girl, Della, is a bit hesitant to help the earl, but eventually she decides to help him. It will give her a chance on a new life if she fulfills the deal. But what she didn't expect, was the way things started progressing during her etiquette lessons, riding lessons and music lessons and everything in between. There's danger lurking in the dark places of the earl's life. How can Delle deal with them and eventually walk away from it all so she can start her new life with her best friend Violet?

I am hoping there will be a second book about Della and Cole. However, I think there won't be, because the author did a good job in rounding up the book. Much praise for the way she ended the book with at first a flash forward to a few weeks later, then a year later and ultimately three years later.

I'm a bit obsessed with stories set in Victorian England. I could read or watch almost anything set in that era, though as a black woman, I would never dream of existing then. Anyway, I immediately jumped on Netgalley to request an ARC for The Lady Thief of Belgravia after reading the synonsis on Goodreads.

London, 1879. Cole Winthrop, a sought-after gentleman, hires Della Rose, a book loving pickpocket from the notorious Seven Dials, to steal important documents that were stolen from him by the treasonous Duke of Salsbury. In order to get the duke's attention, Della has to train to become a lady of high society. Can she fool the dastardly duke and lift those files before he exposes what's in them?

What I liked
- My Fair Lady meets To Catch a Thief
- Cloak and dagger theme
- Two likable characters with great chemistry. Cole's lovable, generous, and openhearted; Della's witty, brave, and guarded.
- Surprisingly smutty

What I didn't like
- The dialogue is monotonous at times. I was like, okay, I get it. The documents contain information that could ruin lives.
- So are the descriptions of sex scenes. Cole lets out a "guttural growl" two too many times for me.

Thank you, Netgalley, for sending me this read. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I would recommend to readers who like romance with intrigue and enjoy rooting for lovers from opposite sides of the tracks.

"The Lady Thief of Belgravia" by Allison Grey offers a captivating journey to Victorian London, where Della Rose, a skilled pickpocket from Seven Dials, finds herself thrust into high society. The plot takes an intriguing turn when she agrees to steal from the nefarious Duke of Salisbury for the handsome Cole Winthrop. To succeed, Della must navigate the intricate world of the upper class, posing as Cole's cousin.

I rated "The Lady Thief of Belgravia" 4 stars because Grey skillfully blends historical romance, intrigue, and a strong-willed heroine. Della's transformation from a street-smart pickpocket to a lady in high society adds depth to the narrative. The chemistry between Della and Cole is palpable, adding a layer of romance to the story. Overall, the novel delivers a delightful mix of charm, romance, and a touch of mystery, making it a compelling read for fans of historical romance.

In this late Victorian novel, clever thief Della Rose runs into Cole Winthrop, an earl, on the streets of London. Instead of turning her into the police, however, he recruits her to steal some papers from the Duke of Salisbury. Over the course of this exciting, romantic novel, Della learns to become a noblewoman, passing as Cole’s cousin from the country, to infiltrate the Duke’s circle and gain his interest. Of course, things are much more complicated than they seem, and Della and Cole’s relationship grows and becomes more complicated as they both work to make this mission succeed. Grey’s characters are witty, charming, complex, clever, and kind, and Della is a fascinating protagonist -- a thief with a love of books and a dream to raise herself and her friend into a life of leisure. Cole, on the other hand, is much more mysterious and complex, with a hidden and somewhat tragic backstory. The backdrop of late Victorian London and English high society is a fascinating contrast with Della’s background, and the novel reminds one of Pygmalion or My Fair Lady in some elements. Grey’s novel is a fascinating, enjoyable, romantic whirlwind with some high stakes and wonderful characters to keep readers guessing.

I was very excited about reading The Lady Thief Of Belgravia, I love historical romances and this book had a very promising plot! But unfortunately, although I really liked the story and it entertained me, I didn't really like the choice of pace of events, the romance happened very quickly and the robbery (which I thought would be the main event of the book, since this in the synopsis) took a long time to happen. It's still a good book, but it had the potential to be much better. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

'The Lady Thief of Belgravia' is a historical romance that, with the right expectations, is a fun little romp of a book - emphasis on the romp. However, the publishers did the audience no favors in the way it was marketed. The blurb and cover, which is wonderful by the way, may lead you to think, it's a cozy historical romance with a bit of thievery. It is a heist story, but the emphasis is much more on the relationship and there is nothing left to the imagination. The bedroom doors are flung wide open. And there are many many scenes.

Now, if that's the kind of book you like, you'll probably enjoy this one. But if you're going into it the game , it's a cute historical romance you will be surprised.

Overall, it was a cute story. The extra romantic parts didn't really interfere with it for me. It broke no new ground And is clearly a debut novel. The writing is fine, but could certainly be improved. It felt like the author had a thesaurus on standby, which often broke up the flow of the prose, in what I assume would be an attempt to make it sound very Victorian. And, while I do think the F-word was used back then, I'm not sure it was used in the same context. When the character spoke in this book it sounded very modern.

I do think the author's next book will be better. She certainly has the capability. This book just wasn't quite there technically. Also, along with the premise, if she had landed the ending differently I could definitely see this becoming a series.

Side note, if you, like me, have no idea where Belgravia is and expected it to be another country. It is not. However, Belgravia was a fictional country in an old movie. So, maybe that's where I was thinking it was from. In this novel, however, they never mentioned Belgravia at all, that I recall. But Google did not let me down and it is an area of London. I'm not sure why they didn't just call it 'The Lady Thief of London.' I don't think 'The Lady Thief of Belgravia' is significantly better and it gives a different expectation.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book for an honest review.

I quite enjoyed this book. I finished it in one sitting. I had just finished a similar book last month and was definitely keen to stay on the genre train. A good suspense. Historical setting and a badass character.

I would definitely recommend!

Della Rose (a.k.a Rosie Diver) is a successful pickpocket. She lives in a brothel with her best friend Violet, and both dream of better lives for themselves.

One day Della attempts to pick the pocket of a gentleman, Cole Winthrop, Lord Branford, and fails, with him chasing after her, then hiring her for a job. He wants an attractive young woman who can charm the Duke of Salisbury, then steal some of Winthrop's papers, containing the country's secrets, back from the other man.

Della agrees, and then we get a version of Pygmalion, and My Fair Lady, but with two people who fall in lust with one another almost immediately after meeting. *sigh* This book, instead of being a humorous, fun heist story, was really just a story about getting two people in bed, several times, without any of the following:

-interesting analyses of class and economic differences
-sparkling dialogue
-interesting prose. For example, "intense feelings in the belly", or similar phrases, used waaaay too often to denote attraction in Della and Cole
-credible retention of new skills (she can play the piano well enough to fool other gentry??? I've learned various instruments, an it took me some weeks longer to play more than scales, and the simplest tunes, on a piano.
-credible style of speech from the period
-believable reward for the theft. Della demands 10000 pounds from Cole to do the job. This sum is beyond ridiculous, as this would be well over several million dollars. Nope

The first few pages of the book were fine, but the whole story went downhill fast, and stayed there.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Regency romance meets a heist?? What's not to like!! After devouring the Bridgerton series - and being disappointed at the 'heist' book there not having enough... well, heisting, I was chuffed to discover this delightful historical romance romp. The characters are extremely lovable, the plot is fun and fast-paced, and the book had the right balance of mystery versus romance to tick all the boxes without swaying too far in either direction! Would definitely read more by this author.

Writing this review, I'm a little torn. I enjoyed the story, although it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. When I read the blurb and saw the cover I was expecting a sort of Arsene Lupin/Raffles gentleman-thief style narrative, but this is definitely not that. I enjoyed the premise of pickpocket Della helping out Lord Bradford with his mission, but the mystery itself was perhaps a bit too easy for someone who reads a lot of crime/mystery books. I won't begrudge the novel that, as it wasn't sold as a crime novel, but I would have liked a little more intrigue. However, what I was not expecting at all were the bodice-ripper scenes. They were very well written, but I did fear that they overtook the narrative a bit and I did find myself skimming through some of it to get to the actual story. If I had picked up the book for the romance, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more, but it wasn't what I expected from the packaging.

Notorious pickpocket Della Rose is caught by the Cole Winthrop, a spy and member of the landed gentry, and then persuaded to work for him. It's a bit of a My FaIr Lady sort of thing where Della Rose is transformed into an aristocrat within a few weeks. It's all about getting her to steal papers back from a nasty duke before they can be decoded and cause considerable harm.

This book was enjoyable enough although it sometimes seemed to take the easy route to accomplishing what was needed. The transformation, for example was accomplished in record time. Not just pretending to be one of the ton, but also learning skills like horse riding and piano. While I agree it's possible to pick up these skills quickly, it seemed a bit unlikely when so much was being required of her at the same time. I also would have liked a bit more intrigue than actually existed in the story. That said, the book was fine to read and for historical romance lovers, would be quite suitable and fun to read.

Overall, I liked this and will rate it 3 stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me an advanced reader copy. I have provided my review and opinions voluntarily.