In the flurry of Armistice celebrations at the end of the Great War, soldier and war nurse, Jasper and Esme, rush into a hasty marriage only to find themselves regretting the decision the next day. Years later, they come back into contact as jewel thieves seeking the same prize—the winged Valkyrie tiara. Each much compete to steal it before the other without past feelings getting in their way.

This was a spectacular ride! Full of atmosphere, snappy dialogue, and adventure, as well as a slow-burn, closed-door romance. At times, the writing is a bit predictable and the characters too flat, but the wit and banter are excellent and well worth your time. I preferred the audiobook performance to the physical copy—Ann Marie Gideon puts on a mean Transatlantic accent.

The Winged Tiara
A Historical
J'nell Ciesielski, author

A darling fun story full of angst between the two main characters.....

I enjoyed this quick read. It was fast paced with a continuous action-packed plot. Occurring during the Great War, otherwise known, as World War I, Jasper and Esme play a game of chase in pursuit of the last Valkyrie tiara.

Once married, they now seek a fast divorce, as they both feel it was a rash decision on their parts and want to seek out their fortunes on their own without the accompaniment of the other. With shots being fired, arrests taking place, and that blasted diamond tiara in the hands of others, will they accomplish the task of actually obtaining the jewel? And what will happen to their personal relationship? Can it be amended or is it doomed? I highly recommend this enchanting tale to be read. You're sure to laugh at the characters antics and set on the edge of your seat while turning the next page to see what is about to happen next.

I read the book and listened to the audio while doing so. It was a lovely afternoon and into the night read. I was afforded an advanced reader copy of both the book and the audio book from Netgalley, the publisher and the author. I leave this review of my own volition. I do so happily. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I have read this author for years and enjoy each book she writes. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy. I promise you'll enjoy the ride.

Esme finds herself married after a night full of champagne celebrating the end of the Great War. She sneaks off and leaves her newly married husband, Jasper. Little does Esme know that four years later, she and Jasper will be chasing the same tiara.

Esme is a no nonsense gal! She is not gonna be tied down! And she is not gonna lose! But don’t worry, Jasper gives her a run for her money! He knows exactly what strings to pull to get his way. He even lands Esme in jail!

I loved the banter between these two characters. Esme just cracks me up! But it also helps that the narrator, Ann Marie Gideon, is amazing. I swear! She is Esme!

Need a good historical fiction tale with two criminal characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

Can banter be delicious? Because the banter in this book absolutely is. Glamour just oozes from each paragraph, and I was hooked from the first line. The 1920s have always entranced me, and this book is the 20s personified.

I'm really not trying to talk in clichés, but this book-I just can't say enough about it, and my fingers are having trouble keeping up with my brain!

In the author's note, she says that this book is an easy breezy read, and maybe it is, but it certainly isn't boring! I did not want to put this one down!

Shoot, I have to keep going back and fixing typos because my brain is just whirring with excitement, so I'm gonna stop. But I LOVED this book with its excitement, mystery, suspense, and glamour. Not to mention that banter!

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I definitely would.

Caveat:
There is cussing in this book, which I didn't expect, since I thought this author was a Christian. There's also a lot of talk about seduction, but nothing even came close to cracking that bedroom door open, and there's a LOT of drinking. And honestly, all of it fit with the plot and the time period. It didn't detract from the story for me, but it did take me by surprise.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~

I was so excited to read this story. I however DNF"d at 20%. While the premise of Jasper and Esme's whirlwind marriage and shared profession as jewel thieves. However, the amount of clichés that are used was too distracting for me to get past. They knew each other for one night and got married which I could get past. But they both keep referencing each other like they had been in some sort of long term relationship and had more than a one night stand.

Join Jasper and Esme in this cross-continental caper in a race to see which thief can capture the winged tiara-and the other’s heart-first! Set against the backdrop of post-WW1 Europe with a wide-ranging cast of interesting supporting characters, J’Nell Ciesielski is back with another glittering Gilded Age novel. This book is full of rich descriptions and fast-paced action that kept me on my toes! I really enjoyed reading this book and may be my favorite to date of Ciesielski's. If you like treasure hunts, heist movies, the board game Ticket to Ride, or all of the above, this marriage of convenience with a twist story may be perfect for you!

*I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a review and all of the above opinions are my own.

It’s Armistice Day in Paris and the whole world is celebrating the end of The Great War in Paris. Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt, like many others, get carried away in the festivities and end up in a hasty wartime marriage, one that Esme wants no part of.

Raised in the East End of London by her mother, who refuses to be acknowledged as such, Esme has learned that she can only rely on herself. As a high-end thief for hire, her moral code has kept her safe in a dangerous occupation. Now, she is hunting down the Valkyrie crown for a countess, who is losing her patience, and has sent out a thug to chase her down.

Jasper has only ever wanted to have a family who wants him. Born on the “wrong side of the blanket” his high-born family has never claimed him, and that long standing rejection has put a rather large chip on his shoulder. Jasper thought proving himself as a soldier in war would change his grandfather’s opinion of him, but that proved false. Now, all his grandfather wants for his birthday is the Valkyrie crown, and Jasper also known in the heist world as Phantom, is determined to get it for him.

Two spouses, who only spent a night together, end up in a game of cat and mouse chasing after the same prize, but is the crown what either truly wants?

Ciesielski’s latest novel is a glamourous and fast paced heist novel. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, it doesn’t detract from chemistry that Esme and Jasper share. Both are both cheeky and entertaining and their romance reminds me of a historical Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Christian Publishing, and author J’Nell Ciesielski for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Winged Tiara is out now! All opinions are my own.

Title:  The Winged Tiara
Author: J'nell Ciesielski  
Genre:  Historical fiction   
Rating: 4.5 out of 5  

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.

I enjoyed this historical fiction read very much! I was hooked from the opening, and I loved the cat-and-mouse game between Jasper and Esme. Their characters were a lot of fun! Even the secondary characters were vibrant and intriguing, and I liked the different settings as well. A very solid read!

J'nell Ciesielski is a bestselling author. The Winged Tiara is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

The Winged Tiara is an engaging read that takes you on a historical journey with a touch of romance. Ciesielski paints a vivid picture of the settings, making you feel as if you're right there with the characters. The plot is well-paced, keeping you hooked with each chapter. However, some of the character development felt a bit rushed, leaving me wanting more depth from the protagonists. Despite this, the storyline is intriguing and the writing is beautifully descriptive. It's a solid read for those who enjoy historical fiction with a romantic twist, just don't expect to be completely swept off your feet.

The Winged Tiara, set in 1920s England, is a gripping race between two thieves after the same tiara. The catch? The thieves are husband and wife. Sort of.
Their complicated relationship is one to root for, with great banter and chemistry, and the action of the plot is fast-paced and enjoyable.

If a cat-and-mouse/Mr. and Mrs. Smith concept for a historical romance intrigues you, add this one to your list.

Thanks to @thomasnelson @jnellciesielski and @austenprose for the free copy!

Such a clever and fun read! I was drawn in right away thanks to this glamorous historical novel.

The story follows Esme and Jasper and we learn right away they are married thanks to a champagne fueled decision. Esme leaves Jasper and they don’t see each other for four years. Then, they meet up again and that’s where the story really starts.

We follow them through their heists and antics, and it’s all so enjoyable. Their competition and banter is enjoyable as they both try to find the prize, duping each other at every turn.

Advance reader copy provided by Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Title: The Winged Tiara
Author: J’Nell Ciesielski
Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Length: Approximately 9 hours and 31 minutes
Source: Thank you @jnellciesielski @thomasnelson @austenprose for the physical review copy and @netgalley audiobook review copy of of The Winged Tiara.

What book are you most likely to gift to a friend? I like to give books to friends or family that I think they will like. Sometimes I read a book, enjoy it and immediately think of who else I know that will also enjoy the book. The Winged Tiara was a book I instantly knew a few friends and family members would enjoy.

Jasper and Esme were caught up in celebrations after the end of WWI and had a quick alcohol filled marriage. Esme slipped away the next morning. Years later, the two meet up again as both are famous jewel thieves on the hunt for the elusive winged Valkyrie Tiara. Will they find the tiara, and will they find their way back to each other?

My thoughts on this book:

• I loved the witty banter and romantic tension between the two main characters. Sparks definitely fly in this novel.
• This book reminded me of many of my favorite movies that had romantic tension, witty dialogue, a love/hate relationship, and one upmanship among the leads including To Catch a Thief, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Thin Man, or The Thomas Crown Affair.
• I loved the constant adventure with their pursuit of the winged tiara.
• The audiobook had a great narrator with unique voices for all the characters. It was so fun to listen to this audiobook!
• The narrative was fast paced.
• I loved the roaring 20’s setting among the elite and glamorous in Europe.
• This was a clean read.
• Two of my favorite tropes were in this novel including enemies to lovers and second chance romance.
• Esme and Jasper were both great characters. They were both interesting with flaws, fears, and ambitions.
• There is a nice set of discussion questions at the end of the novel which would be great for a book club.

Overall, The Winged Tiara is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I highly recommend this historical romance. I would love to see this as a movie.

I wasn't very interested in this novel. It seemed very standard and full of stock characters. There were no surprises and it just couldn't demand my attention.

You know that feeling when you discover a new author and you think to yourself, “why did it take me so long to read their books?” That is how I felt only a few chapters into reading The Winged Tiara by J'Nell Ciesielski, it was so good! I was hooked immediately and officially want to read everything in Ciesielski's backlist.
The Winged Tiara was such a unique read for me. I loved the historical setting, the vibes, and the romance. It was fun cheering for Jasper and Esme who were semi-gray characters as they both were thieves trying to obtain a special winged tiara. I loved the motivations for both and oh man, their love story was really special. I was hooked and Jasper was just so patient and determined, I was happy to see Esme open her eyes a bit more to what they could be and the ending was very satisfying for me.
The dual POV was fantastic. I really enjoyed getting inside each characters' head. This is a clean, historical romance. I highly recommend it.
Thanks Austenprose and Netgalley for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a fun adventure featuring a lovers to enemies to lovers again romance. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but this was such an exhilarating read. And so many twists and turns, lies, deceits, and oh so much drama.

We follow two jewel thieves who after the end of the war against all odds fell in love and drunkenly got married the same day in celebration. But the following morning, Esme realizes her mistake and runs off before her newly found husband, Jasper wakes up. Four years later, they run into each other searching for the same jewel, the precious Valkyrie Tiara. And we get to watch them play games with each other trying to slow the other down in their attempt to be the first one to steal the tiara.

From the very beginning, I was captivated. As we bounce between the perspectives of Jasper and Esme, we learn about their pasts and the whirlwind romance that sparked them to get married. And despite their internal protests, its clear the spark is still there as they try to cheat their way to getting the tiara first. I adored how Jasper cared for Esme’s well-being throughout the chase despite the numerous times she left him behind.

I truly didn’t know what to expect as I made my way through this, but I absolutely loved it from start to finish. I especially enjoyed all the lavish parties that our main characters snuck into. The descriptions painted such vivid pictures. I could easily picture myself there with them.

If you enjoy historical fiction set in the 1920s and enjoy a good chase, you should definitely consider picking this up!

The Winged Tiara ticked a lot of boxes in terms of what makes an enjoyable story for me.

The Winged Tiara is historical fiction, which is one of my favourite genres. But, it is also set during one of the time periods I'm most drawn to, the early 1900s.

The story took place throughout Europe, as our main characters played a game of cat and mouse, constantly trying to outwit each other to gain the ultimate prize.

There was a real, will they/won't they romance between our two main characters.

As one might expect in a story with competing professional thieves, there was also danger, mystery, and intrigue. There were a couple of plot twists, one I suspected early on, but another that caught me off guard.

I appreciated the character development, and while I found myself quite fond of the MMC and annoyed with the FMC, I did love the ending for both of the main characters.

The Winged Tiara was definitely a slow burn. The story took off about two-thirds of the way through, though, making it difficult to put down. There were some absolutely exquisite descriptions of the landscape, food, and dress of our characters. And while I truly loved reading them, because I could actually picture the story so well, it definitely slowed the pacing of the book.

I definitely recommend this one for historical fiction and romance fans, who enjoy some adventure and a strong female main character.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

The ratio of how much I wanted to love this book to how much I actually ended up not loving it at all? 1:1. There was so much potential with the premise and the characters, but the execution is simply a hot mess. Forget the Valkyrie tiara, someone should have been out looking for the editor, because it's clear they went missing when this manuscript was delivered.

What should have been a 1920s British Mr. and Mrs. Smith (if they were contract thieves) ended up being a story about two people, Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt, that we're supposed to root for because they had sad childhoods, and because Esme took off the morning after their spur of the moment decision to wed after celebrating the armistice in Paris. Unfortunately, I didn't end up rooting for either one of them because (1) their childhoods really weren't that sad at all, (2) Esme is a spoiled, precious brat, and (3) neither Jasper or Esme have any justifiable reason for making their living by stealing from other people.

Esme (the illegitimate daughter of a narcissistic actress) and Jasper (the illegitimate son of a Duke) are mercenaries, plain and simple. Period.
They steal for a living, because it's fun and an adventure, and because it's easier than getting a legitimate job like everybody else. In the end, they only stop thieving because Jasper finds himself filthy rich by inheriting the Dukedom.

Jasper is an ex-solder in the British army, and he is more likeable as a character than Esme. We're essentially asked to believe that Jasper and Esme are fated mates, and they are well-matched when it comes to being clever and ruthless. But I didn't feel the spark of chemistry that should have been there, and I think that may be because of the broader issues of execution.

The pacing of the novel is all over the place. There are cavernous plot holes and elements to the story that make no sense whatsoever. I do not understand the point of introducing the third thief, Lamb, a bizarre caricature of a man who lives in the middle of nowhere France yet is able to put together a spontaneous party with hundreds of guests who don't seem to know him or why they're partying just to play a game of who's the best spy. Esme and Jasper are each other's perfect foil, so there is no need for another character to detract from their attempts to outwit each other in their pursuit of the ultimate prize of their careers.

Honestly, I thought that the entire storyline about the Contessa being out for revenge against the Duke over the tiara was just dumb. I don't even see the point of the serial killer Pirazzo. Jasper already has plenty of motivation to go after Esme: his pride and a desire to compete and win. Her life didn't need to be in danger to have Jasper hot on her heels. I also didn't understand why Esme needed to be arrested. What purpose did that serve to the overall plotline?

I think the author got caught in the weeds, and felt like she needed to make Esme and Jasper's rivalry something complicated when there was no need to do so. This book should have been a fun romp in the style of a 1940s Old Hollywood romantic caper, like The Thin Man or Hitchcock's Notorious. But the story didn't progress organically, and there was too much going on to invest the time needed in Esme and Jasper's romance.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction, Netgalley, and Austenprose PR for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

Jasper and Esme married - and quickly divorced - during the Great War. Later they are surprisingly brought together again in the 1920's as they search for the mysterious, lost Valkyrie Tiara.

I wanted to read The Winged Tiara because I have enjoyed previous books by J'nell Ciesielski. The exes working together storyline sounded like fun, and I love 1920's settings.

This was a rollicking good read! I loved the 1920's setting, the European adventure, and the main characters. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction. Five stars!

I loved this book! With its sharp dialogue, nonstop action, fabulous romance, and glamorous 20's setting, it was pure perfection!

Exquisitely written, great character development, beautifully romantic, exciting, and just so much fun, The Winged Tiara grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the very end.

The story begins with Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt having a whirlwind romance and marriage just as WWI has ended. The morning after, Esme leaves while Jasper is still sleeping, certain it’s better to leave before he leaves her.

Four years later, they run into one another again, both on the hunt for a one of a kind diamond tiara. They’re both pulling a con as they try to steal the tiara, but with a hitman on their tail, and others who want the tiara for themselves, they find themselves in a game of cat and mouse across Europe.

While competing with each other, they share a connection like the one they felt when they first met. They have some heartwarming moments of vulnerability and honesty, and lots of heated chemistry between them. But Esme struggles to let go of her mother’s advice to always stay single, and Jasper is still stinging from her rejection. Will they stay together and make the marriage work, or go their separate ways once the caper is over.

Lovably flawed characters, sparkling wit and charm, sizzling chemistry, captivating plot, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes, make this a solid 5 star read for me.

I received a copy from the publisher, NetGalley, and Austenprose, but a positive review wasn’t required.

I enjoyed this book. It's a different feel since the main characters are jewel thieves. It's rare to read about and root for criminals. But it's a lot of fun. Esme and Jasper have a great chemistry. Their banter and the way they kept showing up at the same place at the same time was amusing. Esme, Jasper, and others are all after the same tiara and the race is on with deadlines looming.

I liked Jasper a lot. Even when he finds himself married to a stranger, he's prepared to make it work but she's gone when he wakes up. He is a charming man with great insight into people and what makes them tick...which he uses to his advantage at times.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I'd recommend it. All opinions are my own.