I went into "The Last Tiara" expecting a blend of historical fiction, romance, and a bit of mystery, and it mostly delivered on those fronts. The story is split between two timelines: World War II Russia and 1940s New York City. The dual narratives follow Sophia, a young Russian woman navigating the dangers of war, and her daughter, Isobelle, an architect in post-war New York trying to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past.

The historical backdrop is vividly described, and the mystery surrounding a missing Romanov tiara adds an intriguing layer. I enjoyed the way M.J. Rose wove in real historical elements with fictional characters. The atmospheric details were rich, especially when depicting the opulence of Russian royalty contrasted with the gritty realities of war.

However, the pacing felt uneven at times, with some sections dragging on while others rushed through key moments. I found myself more invested in the historical chapters than the modern-day storyline, which sometimes felt less compelling. The romantic subplot also felt a bit predictable, lacking the emotional depth I was hoping for.

Overall, "The Last Tiara" is a decent read if you enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mystery and romance. It didn't quite captivate me the way I expected, but the vivid historical details and the mystery kept me turning the pages. A solid, if not entirely memorable, read.

I liked this book--there was a lot to appreciate and enjoy. The descriptions of the jewelry was wonderful, I really could picture it in my mind. The jewelry was the good part, the oppressive Russian hospital, the conditions during the revolution, and the "black market" of art works gave a very bleak picture (which I'm sure is true) of the turbulent Russian revolution years. I thought the character of Isobelle was well defined--why she acted as she did was perfectly plausible. However, I did not like the way the reader was kind of left hanging about her position at Skidmore, I would have liked to see her boss get his due (unfortunately I suppose that the way the story was written is more realistic). I think the dual story was deftly handled that just as you got into one of the narratives the story jumped to the other, which kept the reader wanting to keep turning the pages. Anyone with an interest in early 20th century Russian history, Oak Ridge, and Faberge jewelry (quite a spectrum) will enjoy this book.

I received a complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a breath of fresh air - a book involving the Romanov family but not centered around Anastasia. The author did an amazing job building two strong willed female main characters doing what they needed to live in two completely different time periods. The storyline was engaging and while the author in life’s quite a twist in the end, she was still able to deliver a satisfying conclusion.

This book has everything— mystery, family relationships, antique jewelry making, history of woman’s freedoms and the Romanovs!

This is a beautiful story. I love the way the author tells the stories of both Isobelle and her mother Sofiya by alternating the past and present. Isobelle knew very little about her mother before she emigrated to America. Sofiya passes away and her daughter finds an antique tiara while remodeling the home. She meets someone who will help her find the provenance of this tiara. But he belongs to a group that promises to return lost antiques to their rightful owners. It’s starting to look like this tiara didn’t belong to Isobelle’s mother and may actually belong to one of the Romanov princesses. But is it? And how did her mother get it? Why was she hiding it? Did she steal it?
In this journey to find the provenance of the tiara, Isobelle manages to find her mother.

MJ Rose is easily in my top 3 favorite authors! Her books are so pleasing to read. They literally take you to another place and time.

I received an advanced review copy and the opinions in this review are mine alone.

Always eager for a new offering from this author - this did not disappoint! This novel tells the tale of the titular tiara, and weaves together the strands of the story, from the present day ( 1950's) to the Romanov era in Russia. And it does so deftly! The mystery unfolds, and I was immediately drawn in, to uncover the secrets of the jewels as well as the family.

In this style of historical novel, alternating time lines, at time the plot becomes choppy. That is not he case here, I felt that the novel unfurled with a good pace and flow. Well researched and so descriptive!
( Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC of this book! )

I’ve always had an interest in the Romanov family so this story was right up my alley! I liked the dual point of views! I sometimes struggle with historical fiction but I think this really worked well. It was absolutely an enjoyable read.

"The Last Tiara" by M. J. Rose is a captivating historical fiction tale set in post-World War II Manhattan. 🌆 Follow Isobelle, a young architect, as she unravels her mother's hidden past tied to the fall of the Romanovs. 💎🕵️‍♀️ Through dual timelines, journey from the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to 1948 New York. The Romanov artifact, the Tiara, adds an extra layer of intrigue, based on a real-life mystery. 🔍📜 While the book's plot is thrilling, some parts feel weighed down by excessive information. Still, the author's writing style and the gripping climax promise an engaging read. 📚💫

I am a fan of MJ Rose and I usually enjoy her books. While I was checking the books on my netgalley list, books I've not left a review for, I was somewhat shocked that an MJ Rose book was listed. I looked up the book and began to reread it. Then I realized why I didn't originally leave a review. This was a book I was unable to finish. Something about it did not appeal to me. Sorry to the author, I usually love her stories.

The Last Tiara is an epic novel by M.J. Rose. Just an amazing story about Russia before WWI and then New York City after WWII. After Isobelle's mother passes away she uncovers a tiara among her possessions. The jewels in the tiara are gone and she has no idea what to make of it. The story is told in dual timelines going back to give the history of Isobelle's mother Sophia and her life in Russia before coming to America. The history in this book is incredible! A must read!

Nicely atmospheric dual time line historical fiction that moves between 1915 and 1948, The characters are well drawn, the settings unique, and the storytelling is fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Interesting historical fiction novel. I loved the back and forth POVs and time periods. I've always found the Romanovs fascinating and this different look at that time was cool.

From St Petersburg Russia to New York City, The Last Tiara tells the tale of mother-daughter Sofiya Petrovitch and Isobelle Moon.
Sofiya is a young woman in 1915 St. Petersburg, a friend of the Grand Duchess and a new nurse tending to soldiers, Isobelle is an architect in 1948 New York when she finds a jewel-less tiara hidden in the apartment she shared with her late mother.
The dual timeline expertly weaves their stories together while giving glimpses into the lifestyle lived by the royal family, the difficulties of being a career woman in the '40s, and of love that never fades.

I received an early copy.


I am not sure if this book was right f9r me. The Romanov family as always been an interest of mine, but I could not keep focused on this book, I will try again to read it, but I just couldn’t stay engaged.

Of all the beautiful Romanov tiaras, the Sapphire Wave has always been my favorite and the mystery surrounding its disappearance has always intrigued me.
MJ Rose's book was a wonderful telling of what "might" have happened.

The only CON I have is the obligatory sex scene at the end of the book.
That should have been completely omitted or treated more gently as it was in the earlier pages of the book. It's a shame it was in there as it spoiled the ending of the book for me.

It's why I gave this otherwise 5 star book only 4 stars.

First, this book reminded me of Anastasia the movie. We have a lot of time travel, and it can be a little overwhelming, but I really like the mystery and the history we get to see in the book. It was a little slow but I like it.

When sorting her mother's possessions after her death, a young woman discovers a tiara. Alternating between 1915 Russia and 1948 New York City, the stories of both women unfurl to explain how a Romanov treasure came to be in their possession. Filled with history, the emotional journey held this reader spell bound. MJ Rose has shown conderable skill in meshing the historical past into the fictional present with no obvious gaps. It is always a pleasure to read a story so well written.

If you like your romance/fantasy with a healthy dose of historical fiction, this one's for you! While I appreciated the beautiful world building and the prose, I was underwhelmed by the character development.

The Last Tiara is a dual-timeline novel, about a mother and daughter in their 20s. This book will be of interest to historical fiction lovers and is set in both Russia and America, and touches on the Romanovs.

The Last Tiara is a dual timeline book that follows a mom and grown daughter making their way through their early 20s. The book did have several twists and turns but also dragged in places. Overall I liked the book but would have liked it better if the ending wasn’t so rushed. It seemed like the author got tired of writing so just threw a lot of things together to confuse the reader. I’m not sure why she put one random paragraph about time travel in, it made no sense. I would have liked a little more information on Isobell’s life after she found out the story of the tiara. It was a 3.5 star book for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for an advanced reader's copy of this book for my honest review.

Alternating between 1915 Russia and 1948 New York City, The Last Tiara tells the story of a daughter learning about her mother's past through a mysterious tiara she found in her apartment after her mother dies in a mysterious accident.

I always enjoy a story told in two vocies, one in the past and one in the present. This book is no exception. Part mystery, part romance, part historical fiction. The characters are interesting and well written.

I received this book as an ARC, but it has since been published and is available now!