Last year, I read my first M. J. Rose book, Tiffany Blues and loved it. I decided then that I wanted to read more of her work. Cartier’s Hope does not disappoint! I was glued to this book over the last twenty-four hours. Set in New York City during the Gilded Age, Rose created the character, Vera Garland, a strong woman well ahead of her time. She has an alternate life as journalist Vee Swann (think Nellie Bly).

This book is part mystery, love story, and historical fiction. Full of surprises which kept me reading to all hours. I can tell that Rose did a great deal of research of the jewelry business, society’s richest people and the tenements of New York. She is becoming a “go to” author for me. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fast moving, page turning novel about the Hope Diamond and Pierre Cartier mixed with an edge of your seat who done it! The heroine, Vera Garland, is forced to lead a double life in order to keep the peace with her mother. She is the upper crust of New York Society but she works as a reporter, trying to right the wrongs that she can. When her family becomes the target of a nefarious blackmail plot, she vows to turn the tables but will she lose herself in effort to exact revenge?

This book is a skillfully written novel. Being told in the first person, you get a bird’s eye view of Vera’s thoughts and motives. You are transported back to 1920 and are present as the story unravels, bringing it to life.

If you are a fan of M. J. Rose, you won’t want to miss this book. It offers a glimpse into the world of diamonds and will leave you wanting more.

I enjoy stories from this era, but I was not so crazy about Vera. She is working in a man's world and is trying to make changes for women, but I think she goes about them the wrong way. I was not always sympathetic toward her. She adored her father, but barely got along with her mother. When her father dies, she finds there are plenty of family secrets. When she tries to right a wrong, it doesn't go the way she thought it should. Will she get her revenge?

Vera Garland is a feisty and modern woman born into a wealthy and important family. Unfortunately, it’s 1910 New York where women are expected to be subservient and female journalists are only needed to report on gossip and high society. However, there’s no stopping Vera when it comes to women’s rights and reporting the truth.

MJ Rose is a favorite author when it comes to historical fiction that is engaging and beautifully written. I was excited to learn more about the Hope Diamond and the house of Cartier and as always she does her research and transports the reader back in time.

The Hope Diamond was thought to be cursed and there are many stories of suspicious deaths connected to the diamond. Vera begins to investigate these claims to see if there is any truth to the stories or if it’s a way to build anticipation and drive up the price. Vera has also recently discovered a shocking secret about her beloved father and her whole world is turned upside down.

This was a fast-paced historical mystery that really opened my eyes to the hardships and inequality women had to deal with. Highly recommended for fans of historical intrigue and strong female characters.

Interesting and captivating story of the Hope Diamond. I actually learned a few things about the diamond and about gems. M.J. Rose's books are so well written and researched, and her covers are always gorgeous. I enjoyed this book very much and wanted to devour it quickly but with many of life interruptions, I was not able to do that. And that's okay. I just remained calm and enjoyed the book at a slower pace. This book did not disappoint.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the review copy.

Intriguing story about the Hope diamond and the curse that follows it. What is real? What is illusion? Set in 1910 this story follows a female newspaper reporter who is trying to survive in a man’s world while keeping her identity a secret. Vera/Vee discovers a family secret and sets off to extract revenge against the person she feels responsible for her fathers death.

Thank you NetGalley, M. J. Rose and Atria Books for this advanced reader edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partners

A masterpiece of historical fiction with history thrown, immerse the reader in New York City in 1910. This is the first book I have read by this author, but definitely will not be the last. Her detailed settings and character building is amazing as we follow the heroine trying to eek her way as an outstanding journalist, when it was still hard for women to step out of the household.
Cartier, a name that is synonymous with brilliant jewelry, seeming mainly for the wealthy and the Hope Diamond take center stage. Bring in corruption, intrigue, greed and a woman's fight to seek justice for her father's death and her own career and there are many twist and turns on the journey to the end and a satisfying ending! Don't miss this one! I read this via NetGallery and the publisher!

M.J. Rose’s Cartier’s Hope blends mystery and history in the glittering Glided Age. Set in 1910 New York, the story is about a plucky woman’s quest to further her career as a journalist and avenge her father’s death.

This well-written mystery is narrated by the main character, Vera Garland. She is a fantastic character! She breaks most, if not all, convention by pursuing a career instead of a husband. She is sometimes impulsive, and always a feminist and suffragette. I loved the lush story background, and the rich details made me feel immersed in the story. The addition of relevant social issues of the era made the story more realistic. I relished the blend of jewelry, legend and lore as well as the background information on the Cartier family and the making of paste copies of gems.

Themes of tolerance of imperfection and the price of revenge are woven into this delicious mystery.

Set in New York, 1910: This is a marvelous story set in the Gilded Age of New York of an intrepid female journalist in as she chases the story of the Hope Diamond for both personal and professional reasons.

Vera Garland is a thirty-two-year-old journalist, fighting alongside hundreds of women for a place in society, only to meet hurdles around every turn. She didn’t use her own name because she was from the wealthier side of New York and was determined to make a name for herself without involving her family. Most female journalists are delegated to the fashion and lifestyle pages but like her hero, Nellie Bly, Vera is a fighter.

In dealing with the sudden deaths of both her beloved uncle and father, Vera discovered a letter that explained her uncle’s suicide and her father’s heart attack as well as the person who caused both. Knowing who set Vera on a path of revenge.

When news of the Hope Diamond—a jewel whose infamous legends and curses have captured the world’s attention—arrives in the city, Vera is fast on its trail. She’s certain the fabulous jewel will help jumpstart her career along with her determination to use that information in seeking revenge against a magazine owner whose greed and blackmailing schemes led to the death of her beloved father.

Filled with numerous historical figures and descriptive scenes of New York back in the early 1900’s this is a lush and sweet historical as well as a bit of romance as Vera cultivated and fell in love with one of Cartier’s employees while writing her story. This was a very good read to sit back and relive history from long ago.

Marilyn Rondeau

Vera Garland is one of the best characters I’ve read about in a long time! While holding up her place in NY’s society as the daughter of a very successful department store owner, she is also undercover as a reporter covering many of society’s ills in the early 1900s. With the hope of an expose of the rumors about the Hope diamond, Vera gets involved in more than she had anticipated. This book shows the issues of the era, many of which are still relevant today. It is also a very fascinating commentary on women’s issues of the times, of how far we’ve gone and yet how far we have to go. I highly recommend this book!

Also reviewed under the name IrishEyes430 at B&N and Kobo

I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this book. Set in New York in the early 1900s, this story is told from the point of view of socialite and activist journalist Vera. This woman was a woman born in an era where women were meant to be stuck inside their reproductive home making roles... the ways that she describes men treating her fellow women just grated on my very last nerve. To think that though in our society we’ve gotten very far from Vera’s time but are still so far behind then where we should be, is just astounding and infuriating.
When Vera goes undercover to avenge her family, she embarks on a mission to find out the origins of the mysterious Hope Diamond. This precious stone, so beautiful and yet it’s history is full of superstitions and Vera takes it upon herself to find out the truth no matter the consequences. When forced to choose between her heart and her mind though, that is when things really started to get interesting. I read this book within the span of a couple days and though it was slow paced at a couple intervals, it was so worth the read of this historical mystery into one of the most interesting diamonds out there.

This was my first book by this Thor and I was hooked from the first page!, a page turner of intrigue and secrets !, highly recommend

I feel like I timed this read just right. I had just finished reading a Sebastian St Cyr mystery that featured the Hope Diamond or the French Blue and I was eager to read this one because it too featured the diamond I had been reading about.

I have been a fan of M. J. Rose for a long time as well and it’s been a long time since I’ve read a book by her and as soon as I dove into this one, I remembered how much I loved her books and I can’t believe it’s been so long since I read one!

If you have any interest in the gemstone/diamond industry this book has lots of little details that will excite you and draw you in…..I confess I spent a lot of time on the internet lost in research of the Hope Diamond while I was reading this book and I to me that’s a hallmark of a fabulous book!

Summary
New York, 1910: A city of extravagant balls in Fifth Avenue mansions and poor immigrants crammed into crumbling Lower East Side tenements. A city where the suffrage movement is growing stronger every day, but most women reporters are still delegated to the fashion and lifestyle pages. But Vera Garland is set on making her mark in a man’s world of serious journalism.

Shortly after the world-famous Hope Diamond is acquired for a record sum, Vera begins investigating rumors about schemes by its new owner, jeweler Pierre Cartier, to manipulate its value. Vera is determined to find the truth behind the notorious diamond and its legendary curses—even better when the expose puts her in the same orbit as a magazine publisher whose blackmailing schemes led to the death of her beloved father.

Appealing to a young Russian jeweler for help, Vera is unprepared when she begins falling in love with him…and even more unprepared when she gets caught up in his deceptions and finds herself at risk of losing all she has worked so hard to achieve.

Set against the backdrop of New York’s glitter and grit, of ruthless men and the atrocities they commit in the pursuit of power, this enthralling historical novel explores our very human needs for love, retribution—and to pursue one’s destiny, regardless of the cost. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
So let me start by saying that I loved this one. I am absolutely fascinated by the diamond industry as well as the Gilded Age not to mention this cover is drool worthy. Needless to say, I was primed to love this book even before I started it.

This book easily transported me to its setting. I thought Rose did a fantastic job creating a realistic world of glitz and glamour and romanticism which was just what I was expecting when I opened this book. I also enjoyed the lore and details surrounding the Hope Diamond that the author included in this book. Much of the lore I was unfamiliar with beyond just my own research and I thought that the way Rose brought the history of the diamond to the story made it all the more exciting to read.

The only thing that I thought was a little disappointing was I felt a little disconnected with Vera who was the main character. On one hand I really liked her—eventually. I didn’t like her right away mostly because I couldn’t quite get a read on her until later. I am not sure why but I just didn’t connect with her right away—she had to grow on me. I was surprised because usually I don’t have any problem connecting with Rose’s heroines but in Vera’s case, I did. That was the only thing that kept me from giving this one a 5 star review. Overall it was a fascinating novel with lots to love and learn about in regards to the gemstone industry, but would have liked to connect more with Vera right away rather than later on in the story.

Book Info and Rating
Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Expected publication: January 28th 2020 by Atria Books
ASIN B07TD6BWWP
Free review copy provided by publisher, Atria, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: historical fiction

Vera is from a wealthy New York family. But, she does not let this hold her back. She has an alter ego… Vee Swann. Vee is actually a journalist. During this time period of the gilded age, this is a huge, out of the norm, job for a female. When Vera runs across a family secret plus a family “suicide”, she is determined for Vee to get revenge and crack the mystery of the Hope diamond.

This is not my favorite M.J. Rose story. But, that is not to say it is not good. It is delicious! I just actually figured this out. Unusual for me. And let me add…no doubt in my mind…no one does better female characters than this author. And Vera is the best! She does not conform to the women of the day. This stresses her mother beyond belief, which is an added side story. (Had me laughing in places).

There are so many twists and turns in this tale. M. J. does and excellent job with all the unique aspects. I was hooked from the start. The setting, the time period, the mystery and of course…the love interest…you must read this to find out!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I absolutely loved this rich, beautiful tale of strength amidst loss from M.J. Rose. I greatly enjoyed the author's last novel, Tiffany Blues, and was hoping this one would live up to my expectations. Let me tell you: Cartier's Hope is even better! I could not love the main protagonist, Vera Garland, anymore than I do. She's strong and independent but loves deeply even when it hurts. She stands up for the downtrodden but still appreciates beautiful things. Vera has all the wonderful complexities of a real human being and I connected with her instantly over the truly deep sorrow she's experiencing over the death of her father. When the truth behind his demise comes to her, I rooted for her 100 percent as she toiled to get her revenge, even in those questionable moments.

Vera walks a tightrope between the high society life she was born into and her investigative journalist alter ego Vee. Rose is masterful at making this relationship between the two sides of Vera work. There's a host of other great characters along with Vera too. I was pleasantly surprised to see sides of both Cartier and his assistant Jacob that I didn't expect but the real surprise was Vera's mother. What a woman!

Another thing this author excels at is description and setting. Her prose is luxurious, like soaking into a huge bubble-filled bath. Every word she uses to describe the world Vera inhabits, and especially the famous jewels that are a focus of the story, are so well done. Really there's nothing in this book that wasn't done with absolute care: the pacing is perfect, the characters are interesting, the ending is spot-on, and the settings are so evocative. I could not put it down and it was well worth the ride. Rich and colorful the whole way through, I absolutely would recommend this historical fiction novel to anyone.


Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Atria Books, and the author M.J. Rose for the opportunity to do so.

The story opens with the Hope Diamond arriving at renowned Cartier’s Jewelers in New York City. Our heroine, Vera Garland comes from a rich family who owns a large department store in the city. She is a young society girl and undercover reporter trying to make her way in 1910 New York City.

The story is very ambitious, it starts out with the Hope Diamond but also deals with suicide, murder, women’s rights, women reporters, gemstone history, family secrets, and so much more. After the first few chapters I had a hard time staying interested because the heroine had her hand in so many things; it was all a little frenetic and disjointed. By the second half of the book all of the pieces came together and I was hooked-- I stayed up late into the night to finish it.

I really wanted to read this book because of the Hope Diamond -- I’ve seen it myself in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and it is beautiful. After the initial introduction of the Hope Diamond, it doesn’t really feature prominently in the story; I was a little disappointed about that.

I absolutely loved the author's notes and the explanation of the background and research that went into this book. I recommend this to readers who like a little romance with their historical fiction. 4/5

Thanks to the publisher Atria books for a free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*3.5 stars rounded up.

M.J. Rose is an expert at writing lush, romantic historical fiction and this time her story is set in New York City during the Gilded Age. At the heart of the story is the magnificent Hope diamond that Pierre Cartier offers for sale in his new American jewelry salon. The legendary gem has a history of bad luck that Cartier is only too happy to exploit to pique the interest of potential buyers.

Rose's novel is told in first-person narrative by the character of Vera Garland, a young woman of society who dearly wants to be an investigative journalist. Her mother is dead set against that so her father suggests she use a disguise and the pseudonym Vee Swann while on the job. She is most interested in writing articles that expose great social injustice, especially for women and children.

After her father's untimely death, Vera concocts a complicated plan to get revenge. Is it wrong for her to deceive and use people if her motives are pure? And what price will she ultimately have to pay for her dishonesty?

With Vera's two personas, Rose depicts both sides of life in the early 1900s, revealing the gulf between the haves and have-nots of that era, between the extremely wealthy and the struggling poor--the gulf that has widened again today with the decline of the middle class.

But what I found most interesting is the rise of feminism portrayed here, even before women were given the right to vote, as Vera and other female journalists struggle to be accepted in 'a man's world' and be given equal opportunity and equal pay for equal work. Rose even touches on abortion back then and how a desperate woman might have no choice but to seek out risky back-street doctors willing to perform such an operation.

This is an enjoyable read, filled with lovely descriptions of the dress, homes and entertainment of the wealthy, but also touches on some of the era's great prejudices and injustices. Nicely done! Lovely cover design too.

I received an arc of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!

Forget the little blue box, any true jewelry connoisseur knows the way to a woman’s heart is the red box with the gold trim! When I learned MJ Rose was writing about Cartier & the Hope Diamond, I knew I had to get my hands on this book! ⁣
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A 5 star read for me, Rose takes the reader on a journey of early 1900s in New York into the world of undercover journalism, beautiful gems and shady businessmen. I couldn’t turn the pages of Vera Garland’s story fast enough, needing to know more, and of course, planning to pop by the “maison de Cartier” in NYC after finishing! ⁣
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Future husband, if you’re out there, don’t forget what I said about the red box!

I loved Cartier's Hope. This amazing novel will bring you back to the gilded age in 1910 NY. I love the setting and enjoyed this great story about Vera Garland and the hope diamond. I loved all the facets of this story from the exciting meetings with Pierre Cartier and the romance between Vera and Jacob. So many twists and turns to keep you enthralled. I loved the message that Vera's father tried to tell her and the twist at the end made it all worth while. I'm looking forward to reading more of this Authors work.

I give Cartier's Hope 5 stars for its amazing story.
I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction Fans.

Good story set in the Gilded Age of New York and featuring the Hope Diamond. The story was very well written and plenty of emotions and twists. The characters were realistic. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.