"Habitual novel reading leads to nervous disorders, and, in a state of mental intoxication, wayward conduct is sure to follow." The Lives of Diamond Bessie tells the story of a 19th-Century Irish-American young woman, Annie Moore, who gets pregnant outside of marriage. I'll start by saying historical fiction is not usually my bag, and I only picked up this one because it was the story of a sex worker. Set just as the women's rights movement starts to emerge, the first half of the book explains some of the pathways women took into sex work during that period: "This army of public women," Miss Anthony intoned, "is continually being replenished by disappointed, deserted, seduced unfortunates."

"Men demand our services while women declare us pariahs, never faulting their husbands for patronizing our houses, only us." The novel has a strong focus on the stigma and the injustice that it is perpetrated only upon the women providing sexual services, not on the men who engage these services. Bessie's experiences of stigma—"Hotel clerks were trained to spot unrespectable women to protect their establishments' reputations"—prompt her interest in the burgeoning women's rights movement, pointing to why sex workers have always evident in women's emancipation movements. Trying for a more favourable self-conception than fallen woman, prostitute or strumpet, Bessie and her high-class colleagues try on different terms, from demi-mondaine to courtesan, fille du joie, and hetaira. The workers in the book buy into the whorearchy between different types of sex work, though Bessie shows some self-awareness when she says: "Mrs. Williams took pride in her boarders' talents, as if they made her brothel more respectable, but when you're lying on your back, it doesn't matter to the man what you can do outside the bedchamber."

Where Jody Hadlock's novel lost me was with a decision to move from a historical account of a real person, to paranormal mumbo jumbo, including vengeful spirits and seances. I found it detracted from the very interesting story about the life of Annie Moore.

I enjoyed reading this book based on the life of Annie Moore who was also called Diamond Bessie. This all came about in the 1800's, a time in history when women had very few rights. The first half of the book was about Bessies life, which was so interesting, however the last half was about her after life which I didn't care for. Still a good read and I definitely recommend.

The Lives of Diamond Bessie by Jody Hadlock is a newly released historical novel that guts you at your core.

Drawing on the real story of a woman by the same name.. this book tells the story of Annie Moore, a 16 year old pregnant girl whose family abandons her at a convent because she’s “disgraced the family”. When her baby girl is ripped from her arms, she escapes set on getting her little girl back. When circumstances prevent her from doing so & the only job available to her is one where she sells herself due to the incredibly horrendous treatment from a society that treats its women like cattle.

This haunting tale of betrayal will leave you reeling and beyond angry at what Bessie (Annie) is forced to go through.

Trust me when I say.. you do not want to miss out on reading this book.

An interesting read on the life of Diamond Bessie. The novel itself is like two novels in one.
Highly recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction with some truth!
Thank you NetGalley!

The Lives of Diamond Bessie is a historical fiction novel set in the mid-1800s. It is based on the life of a real woman.

Bessie is actually Annie, a teenage girl who is sent away to a Magdalene laundry when she becomes pregnant out of wedlock. This is where we first meet her. We quickly see the conclusion of her pregnancy and the immediate aftermath—her daughter is taken from her to be placed in an orphanage.

Annie is a poor teenager who has been cast out by her family, but she needs money in order to support her daughter, and she is determined to find a way to remove her daughter from the orphanage. Due to her past, she is unable to find employment, and ultimately becomes a prostitute who goes by the name Bessie.

The reader is privy to Bessie’s life in the brothel, her relationships with her fellow sex workers, and her quest to regain her daughter. The characters are well-written and complex. I enjoyed learning more about how and why women ended up in these types of situations, and how difficult it was for them to get out.

Bessie became successful and rich (her jewelry providing her moniker of Diamond Bessie), but she never was able to recover her daughter. This was the part of the story that gave me the most trouble. With how important her daughter seems to be to Bessie, very little time and attention is given to that portion of the story. Instead, we see her go from man to man, searching for one who will marry her and help repair her reputation. She does marry, and that is the decision that leads to her untimely death.

The book is divided into two parts--the first half of the book is her life, and the second half is after her death. I felt this structure was innovative and interesting. We stay with Bessie through both parts of the story, as she seeks to redeem herself and as she seeks justice.

There were things I enjoyed about this story. I found the subject matter interesting and the characters well developed. But I really didn’t like Bessie. And it’s hard to be sympathetic toward a protagonist that you don’t like and who makes terrible decisions. I feel that the author tried to cover too much territory, which made the side plot about Bessie’s daughter feel stilted.

The Lives of Diamond Bessie is a tale of two books. I found the first half an interesting exploration of the American demimonde in the late 1800s, Bessie was an interesting character, and I couldn't help but cheer for her and hope she found her "Pretty Woman" moment. But alas, after a pivotal event, the book pivoted into an entirely different story and genre which left me thinking "who cares". In the end, even Bessie didn't care so much for her story and subsequent courtroom drama. 4 stars for the first half, 2 stars for the second. Thank you @NetGalley and @GoSparkPress for the opportunity to read and review this ARC..

A stpry of Annie (Bessie) who makes such difficult choices for herself back in the 1860's. Hard to believe that women were treated the way they were. A wonderful historical fiction story told from a woman's point of view. A nice break from so many WWII novels that love but have read so many lately..

I highly enjoyed this book. The historical fiction and setting was something new to me but I really liked it. Seeing how different yet the same things were then. Bessie had to make hard choices but the reader understands her mindset because of her past and circumstances. Definitely give this one a read!

I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I’m not a believer in the afterlife but this book was still good. Very well written & kept me engaged. Recommend!

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book snagged me right away - a woman whose choices were taken away from her at a young age who finds a way to take back control of her life. She survived being a teenage unwed mother, to becoming famous for her many skills, only to make one poor decision that ruins what she's made of herself.

I was completely on board with the story, even if I did feel the main character (Annie aka Bessie) was too naive at times, until the big twist. After that it became a different kind of book altogether, and I am still not sure if it enhanced or took away from the story.

Regardless, it's an interesting read if for no other reason than to see that how women are treated for the choices they make is still woefully lacking. Definitely worth a read.

An interesting, well written novel that hits a strong message of the limited lifestyles of females in the mid-late 1800’s.

MV Rating: 6/10
•After she experiences terrible rejection from her family and community, 16 year old unwed mother Annie strikes out on her own.
•Operating as a courtesan known as Bessie, she gains the wealth she’s always wanted, but struggles with her status as an outsider in society that longs to be married.
•Her need for acceptance leads her down even more difficult paths filled with bad decisions, and a full half of the book takes place after her murder.
•Bessie is a great overall character, and I found the first and second halves of the book to be equally compelling, but overall disconnected from each other. The first portion focused on the plight of a “fallen” woman on the road to independence; the second focused on the trial of her killer.
•I enjoyed the read, but it was low action - reminding me a bit of a winding western with a female heroine.

I would suggest that you pick this book up if you have the chance, as a big fan of historical fiction - especially if you’re looking for a low maintenance, comfortable read.

As a lover of historical fiction, this book was right up my alley. It tells the story of Annie who grew up and fell in love with a young man who left her alone, pregnant, and given into the care of nuns. Her life has many highs and lows, which left me so glad I wasn’t living during this time frame - in the mid 1860’s. Women were definitely second class citizens. Along the way Annie became Diamond Bessie, who continued to make poor choices when choosing a man. Abe was truly an evil man! These two became so very real to me. Job well done Jody Hadlock. You made history come alive!
The twist in the story was so creative -the most perfect way to tell her story. My favorite part was the true facts at the end of this incredible tale. Love when I learn something and this book clearly opened my eyes, especially to the beginning of the ground swell leading to the womens rights movement. It also gave such seemingly realistic glimpses into the public perceptions of demimondes.
Many many thanks to Jody Hadlock, Spark Press, and NetGalley for affording me the absolute pleasure of learning about the lives of Diamond Bessie. I highly recommend this book, published today, April 5th.

3.5 stars

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was fantastic and was immediately drawn into Bessie’s world. The second half, however, left me wanting more of the writing that ensnared me from the beginning.

After becoming pregnant out of wedlock at sixteen, Annie Moore is sent to live at a convent for fallen women. Once she gives birth, her baby is taken away, and Annie escapes the convent, but she is determined to one day get her daughter back. Unfortunately there weren’t a lot of opportunities for women in Annie’s situation at the time, so she resorts to prostitution to survive.

Now going by the name Bessie, she wants to prove her worth and does quite well for herself. But when a wealthy traveling salesman (with a gambling problem) offers her a chance to leave this life and return to proper society, she jumps at the opportunity to marry him. Sadly, the new and better life she expected was not the one she received, and her husband betrays her in the worst possible way.

As I mentioned before, I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but the second half, while unique in the way it was written, seemed to drag on until the very end. It just didn’t grasp my attention as much as it had at the beginning of the story.

I still enjoyed the story as a whole, I just wish the second half of the book had been a bit more climactic and not so drawn out.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4636145939

4.5*
I was totally immersed in this historical, 19th century suspenseful novel. The life of Annie Moore is worth telling to depict women before the women's movement and the plight of double standards. When this Irish immigrant becomes pregnant at 16 years old, it was customary to be shamed and sent into a convent. At the birth of her daughter, she watched the nuns snatch her baby away. She escapes, but chooses a harsher life as a prostitute.

Annie becomes "Bessie" and marries a wealthy man without heart and soul and clearly not good for her. Her marriage is lacking so much and you feel sorry for her on so many levels. Without giving any more away, just know Bessie's story was common for this time period and although she makes bad decisions it almost seemed inevitable in her choices.

This is Annie "Bessie" Moore's story about determination, betrayal, redemption and revenge. Find out if her revenge is satisfying? I'm fascinated by the research and effort of bringing her story to life. Good job, Jody!

Thank you NetGalley and SparkPress for this fantastic ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was given a complimentary book in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher SparkPress for allowing to read such amazing book.
I have to be honest I really had no idea what this book about. I loved the cover and wanted to try a reading a new author.
I wasn’t disappointed at all reading this book. There where times I wanted to scream. When you read this book. Which I honestly I highly recommend this book. Bessie lived a very crazy life, She amazing character I loved her. I honestly at times wanted to reach through this book and hug her. Tell her its okay. I felt like I was Bessie ghost watching her live her life and try to make things easier for herself. Okay I was hoping a couple of the gentleman would come in and marry this woman and give her the life that she so deserved. (Side note i didn’t know after reading this book that this book is based on true people.) Made me do some googling on the real Bessie and her husband. Which I was totally yelling at him during the ending of this book. I wanted so much for some justice to be served. I will be definitely buying by own copy of this book. Again highly recommend this book. This book releases on Apirl 5, 2022 can’t wait.
About Book:
Bessie is a young sixteen year old girl. Her parents sent her to the nuns to have her baby. This book is set in the 1860’s Bessie is determined to leave and find out where her baby as been sent. Bessie gets on job where she has become a very popular woman. And well dressed and with jewels that a lot people take noticed. She meets a couple of gentleman who she thinks that will help her or even marry her. And get her out of where she is. Until she meets a man that has one thing on his mind. Bessie diamonds definitely read this book. Adding all this author’s future books to my tbr. Review will be posted on BookBub, amazon upon release day. i will be posting on my instagram @amanda_coffee_books

Read this if you like: time pieces, twists, come back stories, inspired true stories

This is the inspired true story of Annie/Bessie. Pregnant out of wedlock, sixteen-year-old Annie Moore is sent to live at a convent for fallen women. When the nuns take her baby, Annie escapes, determined to find a way to be reunited with her daughter. But few rights or opportunities are available to a woman in the 1860s, and after failing to find a respectable job, she resorts to prostitution in order to survive.

This book grabbed a hold of my immediately and didn't let me go. Right away its heart wretching. I was drawn to Annie so quickly. Her character development throughout the book is perfect.

She moves to another state and begins to work in a brothel. She becomes highly sought after now going as Bessie. She receives many expensive gifts from her admirers and eventually meets and marries the son of a wealthy jeweler. He is a traveling salesman with a gambling problem. In the beginning she felt safe with him but that quickly changed.

Annie/Bessie is so strong. She overcomes so much in this book. She's trying her best to find her child. This book made me cry more than once. There is a pretty crazy twist, but I don't want to reveal it. This is my first read by Jody. I will be reading more, for sure. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Jody Hadlock, and SparkPress for the ARC! ❤

Several of my Goodreads friends marked this book as one they wanted to read, or entered the current giveaway going on. So I read the synopsis and decided to try and get the book through NetGalley, which I did.

Annie/Bessie is a sympathetic character. Pregnant out of wedlock in a small town, she’s sent to a convent in New York where she gives birth to a baby that is immediately taken away from her. She vows to get her back, and in fact escapes the convent, but because she’s not yet recovered from giving birth, she falls ill and is taken to a boardinghouse that’s really a brothel. There aren’t too many opportunities for single women in the 1860’s America to make a living, so the inevitable happens: Annie becomes a prostitute in order to survive and takes the name of Bessie.

Bessie works hard to better herself and try to get back to the orphanage to collect her daughter. She also dreams of becoming married and becoming respectable to society and giving up her profession, despite the fact that she’s making a decent living. She eventually returns to the orphanage to find out her daughter died, and she’s bitter that one of her Johns didn’t put her up in a house so she could raise her daughter.

Soon Bessie makes her way west to Chicago and gets a job in a high-class brothel, and her clothes get better and slowly she accumulates some precious gems as jewelry. She winters in New Orleans at another brothel and meets many interesting people. But she still dreams of the day when some man will take her away from her current life. She really just wants to get married and have a normal life.

Bessie thinks she’s found the man in Abe Rothschild, who comes from money but doesn’t want anything to do with his father or his money. Abe wants to make it on his own. He also has a nasty habit of gambling away all his money and getting drunk. Yet Bessie, with all her common sense, falls for Abe and thinks he’s the one who can lead her away from her life of prostitution. And that’s just what Abe does.

But that’s only half the story. Quite literally, halfway through the book there’s a major plot twist that I’m not going to reveal, but let’s just say it’s a doozy. I almost didn’t continue reading it was such a jolt. But knowing this book was based on true events, I kept with it to find out how it turned out.

There’s a point where there are some legal proceedings which were interesting enough, but then a little while later there are more legal proceedings and I thought that section was repetitive and skimmed that part. I’d already been through that once, no need to read about it again.

This is the type of book where you’re either going to love the plot twist, or hate the plot twist. It grew on me, but it wasn’t my favorite. I’d still recommend this book if only to read the afterward to find out more about the real Diamond Bessie.

The Lives of Diamond Bessie
by Jody Hadlock
Pub Date: April 5, 2022
Spark Press
Thanks to the author, Spark Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Set against the backdrop of the burgeoning women’s rights movement, The Lives of Diamond Bessie is a captivating tale of betrayal and redemption that explores whether seeking revenge is worth the price you might pay. Great debut book!
This book is historical fiction based on real people and events and follows the life of Annie Moore who became known as Diamond Bessie, a much sought-after lady of the night - a demimondaine - in the mid to late 1800s. She worked in brothels in Watertown and Syracuse NY, Chicago IL, and also traveled to Hot Springs AK, New Orleans LA, Cincinnati OH, and finally Jefferson TX.
3 stars

This book was just not written well. There was far too many facts and time moved too quickly. I understand this is based off a real crime and we can only guess what happened in between, but some fictional events could help. I skimmed after 70% and was honestly just bored throughout.

This was one of the most wonderful debut novels I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. I had never heard of Diamond Bessie, but what a beautifully tragic story this was. It was so well written and such a fascinating story, I devoured it! I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next Jody Hadlock book!