THE GOOD:Andrea Penrose's *The Diamond of London* is an amazing read, packed with a remarkable amount of historical research. It's a fascinating tale based on the life of a real woman from the 1800s who served politically as an aide and hostess to her uncle, amongst other great adventures. The novel concludes in 1810, and I was left yearning to know more about Hester Stanhope and her life beyond the scope of this story.THE BAD:A bit of "modern" thinking creeps in, lamenting that women are treate...

TITLE: THE DIAMOND OF LONDONAUTHOR: ANDREA PENROSE PUB DATE: 01.23.2024 Andrea Penrose delivers a dazzling new historical novel, THE DIAMOND OF LONDON, based on the real life of Lady Hester Stanhope. A British aristocrat born into a family of swashbuckling war heroes and brilliant political leaders, Lady Hester was a true Regency-era adventuress. She lived life on her own terms, defying all the conventional strictures of what a woman could and couldn’t do during that time.THOUGHTS:I found this R...

The real Lady Stanhope endured a lot of hardship, and this book, "The Diamond of London" by Andrea Penrose, really revels in it all. I'm a bit disappointed that the novel sticks so closely to her actual life – come on, give the poor woman a break! You're allowed to take some liberties when you're writing fiction. This book is almost entirely "tell" and not "show." A lot of the action is simply recounted to us after it has already happened, and there are significant time jumps. One chapter might ...

This is simply wonderful historical fiction. Andrea Penrose's *The Diamond of London* brings Lady Hester Stanhope to life in such a rich and fascinating way. I'll admit, I previously knew absolutely nothing about her! But after thoroughly enjoying this book, I'm now incredibly eager to learn more about Lady Hester and this period in history. If you love historical fiction, especially strong female characters, pick up *The Diamond of London* – you won't be disappointed! Definitely one of the best...

In short – *The Diamond of London* was a slog. When I finally reached the end and read the epilogue detailing what Hetty's life eventually became, I felt totally ripped off. Why couldn’t we have gotten *that* story? It sounded infinitely more interesting than the tedious ins and outs of boring old Regency life. Honestly, I wish the book had started where it ended. While I know Andrea Penrose intended Hetty to be a dynamic and compelling woman, she came across very flat on the page. We don’t even...

Absolutely extraordinary!I started reading The Diamond of London while I was already immersed in another book from a completely different genre. I was so caught up in that other read that I set this one aside for a bit, wondering if I'd ever get back to it. I'm so glad I did!The more I read about Lady Hester Stanhope in Andrea Penrose's The Diamond of London, the more intrigued I became. Lady Hester is volatile, intelligent, a superb rider, an extraordinary "amazon" of a woman, of “fierce intell...

Publication date: 1-23-2024 A charming story about a fabulous British personality determined to carve her own path in the early 1800s. Lady Hester Stanhope's tale offers a delightful escape into a bygone era. It's certain that love and its complexities remain timeless. My thanks to the author, Andrea Penrose, and the publisher, Kensington Books, for my ARC of "The Diamond of London". Looking for captivating historical fiction? This #Goodreads Giveaway was a gem!

I went into "The Diamond of London" with high expectations, but sadly, I couldn't make it past the first 25%. It might pick up later on, but for me, the story just dragged, and I couldn't connect with it at all. Andrea Penrose's historical mystery novel started slow and never hooked me.The introduction to the family history felt incredibly drawn out, and the setup took far too long to develop any real momentum. I love historical fiction, but it's got to grab me early on!Thanks to NetGalley and t...

Andrea Penrose's *The Diamond of London* was a captivating read—a blend of a love story (actually multiple love stories!), coming of age, and an exploration of the changing times of women’s rights and submissive roles in society. What was more intriguing to me was that the main character, Lady Hester Lucy Stanhope was a real figure in history and that the author built her semi-fictional tale on true history. It's a historical novel that truly brings the past to life. May all our lives reflect th...

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of *The Diamond of London*. I'm giving it 3.5 stars. The premise of this historical fiction novel really grabbed me. I'd heard of Lady Hester before, but only in passing. What a fascinating character! She comes from a tragic childhood but is part of a family full of strong, unique personalities. Hester is determined to live life on her own terms… which, as a titled woman in Regency London, isn’t a piece of cake. We follow her romantic ups and downs and watch as s...