Book Review for The Winged Tiara by J'nell Ciesielski

 The Winged Tiara  by J'nell Ciesielski

Published August 13, 2024 by Thomas Nelson

Genre:  Historical Fiction

 

Taken from Goodreads:  After a hasty wartime marriage and an even quicker divorce, two jewel thieves risk it all to obtain the grandest prize of them all, the last Valkyrie tiara, but their hearts may have something else in mind.

It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up and divorce papers were issued just in time to ring in the end of the Great War. Jewel thieves and ex-lovers Jasper and Esme find themselves circulating among the elite of British aristocracy where the diamond-lined pockets are ripe for picking. But when the last Valkyrie tiara ever created becomes the talk of the season neither will stop to obtain it, not even when they inadvertently find themselves in the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse where their lives are suddenly at stake.

Bestselling author J'nell Ciesielski's latest novel combines her signature blend of thrilling adventure, glamorous atmosphere, and sweeping romance in a story readers are sure to be thinking about days after turning the final page.

 

My Thoughts:  Wow!  My first J’nell Ciesielski book and I cannot wait to read more from her.  This book is historical fiction, but I love the mystery of the tiara and where the real one is.   That cat-and-mouse between Jasper and Esme had me cheering them both on.  But the real prize of their game is yet to come.

I enjoyed the on and off romance part of the story a lot.  I liked that Esme and Jasper had a history and that history played the main part of the story.   The sparks flew between them with every meeting but I liked that their relationship was not easy.   In fact, it was more than difficult for them to be together.   I had hopes that they would figure it out and I liked that there were no quick answers for them. 

There were a few parts that I felt like were slower and I skimmed them but mostly I was looking for times to read just a little more, to see what would happen next, and to enjoy a little more of this amazing story.  

 

Thank you Thomas Nelson for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for our honest review. 

 

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Meet the Author (Taken from her website):    Historical Romance Author

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski has a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories while weaving fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. She is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.