1870s, London, regency, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-romance, thievery, situational-humor, witty, safecrackers, mystery, suspense*****

Della Rose steals to make a living and keep it all together.
Cole Winthrop (Lord Bradford) is a gentleman and needs a thief to return an important item that was stolen a time ago.
But she needs to pass in company as a lady!
Shades of Pygmalion!
Della seems to adapt to a life and personality that is so very different from anything she has ever known. But this is fiction, so anything goes. Not as humorous as I expected, but well-written and shows the ability of the writer. Looking forward to any other books she writes.
I requested and received an EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

Sweet, and enjoyable story that reminds me of My Fair Lady. Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure how I felt about this book. It wasn't bad it was just entirely forgettable. I'm writing this review about 3 weeks after finishing it and I can barely remember any details about it. I think the general sense I had while reading it was that I didn't really care about the characters or their romance.

I liked the premise of this, a thief pretends to be rich and from a noble family in order to steal something from a very important man - but this was essentially just a spicy romance, which is fine but wasn’t what I was expecting.

I think it would’ve have been better had it to been more about the mystery angle rather than the romance but that’s just personal preference.

This is a delightfully written book with themes from Pygmalion / My Fair Lady. Della Rose, an expert pickpocket, is plucked from the Victorian slums of The Seven Dials, to live the life of a privileged young woman about to embark on London society. She has been hired by Lord Bradford, Cole Winthrop, to retrieve important documents from a suspected spy. Her reward is a small fortune that would enable her to live independently with her best friend.

The personalities of the lead characters are carefully developed as is their growing mutual attraction which they refuse to admit to each other. Also they both grudgingly acknowledge that the yawning social gap makes a formal alliance impossible.

The story blends the growing emotional bond and physical attraction between Della and Cole with the drama of the mission in hand.

An enjoyable lighthearted romance.

TLTB is about a notorious pickpocket named Della Rose. She is hired by the Earl of Bradford, Cole Winthrop, to steal back something that was stolen from him.

I would definitely suggest this book if you are wanting a fun, lighthearted, historical romance!

The book is fast paced and jumps right into the story. It didn’t give enough time for the reader to connect with Della as a thief. From the cover and the description, I went into this book thinking there would be more action and it be a little more thrilling. It is very heavy on the romance and not so much the thievery. If you are going into this book wanting an adventurous story about a lady thief, this is not the book for you. If you are wanting more of an insta-love/ Bridgerton type book, then this is the book for you!

🌶️ : 3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

This was a really enjoyable, easy read. The story had a good pace and made a great escape. The characters were well written and the plot was exciting. I think it was more of a romance than I expected. From the description I was expecting more about Della the thief, it still it was enjoyable and I would totally recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

This was an enjoyable romp. The relationship between the two main characters is developed really well. The seedy underside of London is explored as well as that of the rich and famous. It was good to see that a person moving from one class to another would find it difficult as this added a touch of realism. While it seems that the male lead is too free and easy with his identity as a home office espionage official this information was used effectively to make this into a thriller as well as a romance. Overall this was a great read

This book gave me everything I wanted. A great setting, an independent badass heroine, a “he falls first” and charming simp of a MC and some steam and heist plot on the side. I loved all of it! I can’t believe this is a debut, because it’s so great!

The characters are amazing, I immediately felt attached to all of them, even the ones that only show up for a page or two. I love a strong FMC who can hold her own, which is definitely the case with Della. And Bradford is everything I want from a male lead. Supportive, doesn’t shy away from a strong woman, know how to communicate and trust… just perfect.

The heist aspect of it all could have been a bigger part of the story, which focused more on the romance (and steamy) parts, but it wasn’t too much of an issue to throw me off.

I highly recommend this to my fellow fans of historical romance! Thank you netgalley and Storm Publishing for providing this e-arc. In return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review.

A promising premise with intrigue…..good main characters and some good description of Victorian England
The unavoidable kinda long ‘love’ scenes whilst skipped over certainly didn’t add anything for me although in keeping with Bridgerton comparison
I didn’t dislike this book but felt some differences in the blurb to what actually read

Allison Grey's "The Lady Thief of Belgravia" is a captivating blend of historical romance and thrilling heist. Set against the opulent backdrop of Victorian London, the story follows the daring exploits of Della Rose, a young woman who navigates the dangerous world of both high society and the underworld.

Strengths:

Strong Female Lead: Della Rose is a refreshingly complex and relatable protagonist. She is intelligent, resourceful, and determined, yet also possesses a vulnerability that makes her endearing.

Immersive Setting: Grey paints a vivid picture of Victorian London, bringing to life the grandeur of the aristocracy and the harsh realities of the lower classes.

Intriguing Plot: The story is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. The heist element adds an extra layer of excitement and suspense.

Steamy Romance: The romance between Della and her love interest is both passionate and tender. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their relationship adds a touch of heartwarming emotion to the story.

Well-Developed Supporting Characters: The supporting cast is diverse and engaging, each with their own unique motivations and backstories. They provide valuable support to Della and contribute to the overall richness of the narrative.

Weaknesses:

Pacing Issues: The story can feel rushed at times, particularly in the latter half. This can make it difficult to fully appreciate certain plot developments and character interactions.

Predictable Plot Elements: While the overall plot is engaging, some individual elements may feel predictable to readers familiar with the genre.

Lack of Historical Detail: While the setting is well-rendered, some readers may find that the historical details are not as meticulously researched as in other Victorian-era novels.

Overall:

"The Lady Thief of Belgravia" is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of historical romance, heist stories, and strong female characters. It offers a thrilling adventure filled with intrigue, passion, and suspense. While not without its flaws, the book's engaging narrative and memorable characters make it a worthwhile read.

Here are some specific elements of the book that I particularly enjoyed:

Della Rose's witty dialogue and clever strategies.

The detailed descriptions of the various heists and their intricate planning.

The emotional depth and development of the romance between Della and her love interest.

The portrayal of Victorian London's social hierarchy and the challenges faced by different classes.

If you're looking for a fun and exciting read with a strong female lead and a dash of historical intrigue, then "The Lady Thief of Belgravia" is definitely worth checking out.

This is an entertaining read and picks the best plot elements from various stories - from My Fair Lady to Dickens. There’s also the sexiness of Bridgerton thrown in.

I really enjoyed the three main characters (Della, the Earl & the Duke) and felt they were particularly well rounded. Nearer the end I felt Mr Barrow also worked. Some of other minor characters were a bit less well-rounded for me but as they were minor I didn’t feel that affected. The dialogue was good and the prose easy to read. I just wanted to keep reading this and not put it down.

Although I’ve marked this as 4 stars, for me it’s actually 3.5. This is because of one reason - all the sex scenes. These are written relatively well but there are numerous ones and all are really descriptive, covering quite a few paragraphs each. It wasn’t exactly something I was expecting but that’s ok, and many people will enjoy them. For me the premise of the book is what intrigued me and the sex scenes felt like they changed that premise a bit. I don’t necessarily think they should be cut out altogether but for me, one or maybe two would have been enough, rather than what we got and the many mentions in between.

Thank you to the authors, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc in return for an honest review.

I found the book to be an alright read, but it didn't personally resonate with me. Unfortunately, it’s more instant love and less plot. The characters all just seem a little flat with a lack of communication. A lot of potential, but I just couldn’t connect to this! Della Rose a woman of lower class whose occupation is pickpocketing is tracked down by Lord Bradford as he has a mission for her to steal valuable documents from the Duke of Salisbury... I feel like if the heist and character-building were worked on more, I would have enjoyed this.

I suppose I really would have liked to have seen Della Rose as the Lady and Cole as the thief.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

Della Rose, a notorious pickpocket is chosen by a British Earl/spy to steal back documents from a traitorous duke, but first there needs to be an Eliza Doolittle-ing so she can fit into high society. This was a fun read, though the insta-love romance wasn’t really for me, and the climax felt a little…anticlimactic. I liked the heist aspect, and thank Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

A historical romance featuring a pick-pocket and a Lord. Cole Winthrop hires street thief Della Rose to steal valuable documents from the Duke of Salisbury.

I loved the writing, particularly how Della's speech changed throughout the story. However, this was more romance-heavy than I would have liked, and I wish it would have leaned more into Della's character and thievery, and for the two main characters to meet later on to dodge the feeling of an insta-love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book. The main characters, Della Rose, a pickpocket from the London slums and Cole, Duke of Bradford, team up to expose a spy and traitor. All the characters are interesting, it’s well written and I really enjoyed it. I also got anxious reading the lead up to the ball and their mission, which I think is the sign of a good story. 5* read.

This is such a fun historical romance, it isn’t a typical guy saves girl, it’s a story where the guy desperately needs saving in more ways than one, and who better than the best pickpocket in the Seven Dials; Della Rose. Della is bold, unapologetic and will do anything she can to finally have her dreams of being a scholar become a reality. And then of course we have possibly the most down to earth, enchanting and caring man, Lord Bradford (Cole).
 
The two really do pack a punch, they are honest and caring and willing to do whatever it takes to complete their mission. The book pushes you right into the action from the first line, and from there it doesn’t really slow down. Della is thrown into training to appear as though she has always been a lady of high society, and Cole has the task of helping along with Della’s training, he just has to try to not instantly fall in love with this magnetic woman. 
 
The social structure is a central point for the main pressures in the book. Can Della separate who she is from who she needs to be to help Lord Bradford finish his mission? Can Cole give up his life’s work for this enthralling woman? Will their differing worlds ever accept them together?
 
This book is filled with tension, spice, and a lot of room for things to go pear shaped.

Pickpocket Della Rose of Seven Dials is recruited by Cole, the dishy Earl of Bradford, to help him with a most unusual task. Promised £10,000 if she can entrance the Duke of Salisbury and steal back from him items of the utmost importance, Della temporarily leaves behind her orphanage roots to become ‘Lady Rose Winthrop’, and take her place amongst polite society.

Whilst constantly struggling to kerb her old ways and confine her quick hands, Della swiftly adapts them to her newly learned skills, becoming an accomplished pianist & discovering a love of horse riding to help her charm the Duke and complete her mission. Combining these new found talents with her street smarts, Della is ideally placed to help steal the documents the Earl craves and save the day- but can she doing that without losing her heart to him?

Whilst I loved the title & initial premise, I found the first quarter of this book rather slow going before a plot twist made the storyline seem even more cumbersome and unlikely. The sudden incursion of a number of raunchy sex scenes was another big surprise and didn’t really add anything to the storyline for me. All in all, this book feels clunky and if I’d not been reviewing it, unfortunately I probably wouldn’t have made it all the way to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review

A plucky ( no pun intended!) crack female pickpocket is hired by a handsome Lord to break into a dastardly fellow aristocrats house to retrieve some letters which will repair the Lord's reputation and save the Country! A pygmalion transformation of our thief to become a lady is required which includes her moving into said, did I mention very handsome, Lord's own home. You can guess what happens next..
I wish that there was more jeopardy in this novel as the heroine's background was intriguing but the actual plot was quite thin and predictable.
Thank you for net gallery for providing a review copy

The Lady Thief of Belgravia is a mix of a heist story and Pretty Woman. I would have liked a bit more depth in plot and characters, but overall, I found it to be an enjoyable and enjoyable read.