This one took me WAY back and I loved every single second of reading this book. From the witty banter between Jasper and Esme, to their competitive thievery activities to their growing attraction to one another. It had all the best elements of my favorite power couple from the 1930’s (William Powell & Myrna Loy).

Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt have this opening chapter filled with a whirlwind romance where the war has just ended and they hurriedly marry one another. But the morning after, Esme realizes she just can’t stay and be tied down, and so she leaves. Fast forward four years and they run into one another again as they’re both pulling a con trying to steal The Valkyrie (a tiara that a lot of wealthy people are vying for).

This is where everything gets even more complicated, but stays heavily interesting. They realize they’re both thieves and are in competition with one another. Each of them trying to find The Valkyrie for deeply personal reasons with their employers. So while they’re still married and competing against one another to get to The Valkyrie first, there are numerous moments of sensitivity between them as they are deliberating whether they should keep their marriage or get the divorce after their missions are completed.

What I loved most was their easy banter and witty interactions. Both Esme and Jasper have that classical character with etiquette and charm, but the sarcasm-laced comments that easily float about them makes it comical in a way that this time period was so well known for. Their romance was perfection and I really enjoyed how they were married first and then start to get to know one another throughout the rest of the book. Even if they both think they want a divorce, they soon realize just how perfect they are for one another.

I honestly expected more from this. The blurb was really amazing which was what made me pick this up. However, reading into it, I guess the book is just not really for me. I wouldn't say it's a slow start, but it didn't really grab my attention that much for me to continue reading further.

I love the concept of a heist, ex couple, historical fiction and wandering through Europe, which really sounds fun and exciting. However, at some point it just become boring and uninteresting. The romance wasn't really clicking that much for me. So are the places that they go, I can't feel myself being transported to the places they're travelling to.

On a contrary, I like the atmosphere of the book. It's all glitz and glamor and really felt like a high society historical fiction. It was an interesting concept as well, but maybe it's just really the execution that didn't get it for me.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!

Esme Fox was married in the chaos at the end of the Great War, but she leaves before her new husband can wake up. Jasper Truitt is a jewel thief, looking for the last Valkyrie tiara ever created. Esme is also pursuing the tiara for a vengeful opera diva desperate to have it for herself. Their reunion after four years is cut short when Esme takes off again. The two are being chased by a hitman and they have a deadline that follows them all over Europe. Only one can win this game, and it may not be what they hoped for.

Working for the Countess means Esme is also threatened with bodily harm if the Valkyrie tiara isn't found in time for her return to opera singing in two months. Jasper is after it for his grandfather, who once owned it but sold it years ago when grieving the loss of his wife. He's on a timetable of his own, so the two hunt down clues as to the tiara's whereabouts while bumping into each other, exchanging flirtatious banter, and trying to one-up each other. In addition, another thief is after the tiara, and the Countess has a bodyguard threatening Esme to ensure she goes after the tiara.

It's a fun caper, going through different countries as Esme and Jasper try to track down the tiara as it's stolen multiple times. They keep crashing into each other, and it's clear that they are perfect for each other. As the illegitimate son of an illegitimate son, Jasper feels he must prove himself to his grandfather and the world. Esme grew up in the theater with her actress mother and tales of how terrible marriage is. Both are confronted with those ideas and that they're not true. The finale is utterly fun to read, and such a ridiculously good way to tie all the loose ends. It's a romantic heist story, with lots of charming enjoyment.

The Winged Tiara
By J’nell Ciesielski
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishing
Series: None
Rated: 2
Obtain: Skip
Back of the Book: “Diamonds and danger dazzle in Ciesielski's latest enchanting romp through post-war Europe as estranged spouses and jewel thieves hunt an elusive Valkyrie tiara.
November 12, 1918. It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up, and Esme Fox awakens the morning after celebrating the end of the Great War to find herself shockingly and accidentally married. She gathers her belongings and slips out before her new husband can stop her. After all, she knows it's best to leave before he does.
Four years later, Jasper Truitt, after having made a name for himself in the underground world of jewel thieves, is on the hunt for a valuable heirloom: a one-of-a-kind winged tiara--the last Valkyrie tiara ever created. So it's with great surprise that he discovers it at a charity event atop the head of a woman he's never forgotten. His long-lost wife . . . who happens to be pursuing the tiara for a vengeful opera diva desperate to obtain the jewel for herself.
The reunion is cut short when Esme vanishes--again--but their separation is temporary. With a hitman on their heels and a deadline looming, the pair find themselves in an epic game of cat and mouse across Europe following leads from the French Riviera to a shop of wonders in Venice, a fairy-tale castle in Bavaria, and a veritable circus thrown by a champagne heiress, all before a dramatic horseback flight through the French countryside.
In the end only one can win, and with both of their hearts on the line, the winner may well turn out to be the loser.
In her latest glamorous historical romance, J'nell Ciesielski spins a sparkling story filled with her signature snappy dialogue and vivid atmosphere that will keep you reading late into the night to see what happens next.”
Impressions: I did not finish this book. I read about 20% of the book before setting it down. It is not something that I wanted to continue reading. The characters were crass and crude with a plot that mirrored.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

3.5/5

very luscious descriptions, very witty banter. that epilogue was extremely satisfying and this is coming from someone who hates most epilogue chapters. the last 35% or so of the book in general was pretty entertaining. there were some good moments before too (signor campano was funny as hell) but alas, the netgalley app interface definitely hindered my reading experience. really had to drag myself to go back to the book and not stop reading after 10 pages every time i picked it up so i never completely got immersed in the story or attached to the main characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, fast-paced and held my interest. I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. I enjoyed this book and will look for other books by this author.

A very engaging (general market) historical adventure romance. Jasper Truitt and Esme Fox marry in 1918 as they celebrate Armistice Day. They are overwhelmed with emotion, attraction and champagne at the end of WWI. They marry that evening, only to have Esme sneak out early the next day. Four years later their paths cross again, where these two high-end thieves are going after the same tiara.

The Jasper Truitt and Esme Fox romance and rivalry kept me turning pages!

I can always count on captivating action/adventure/historical romances from J'nell Ciesielski!

Thank you to @jnellciesielski @thomasnelson @austenprose for my gifted copy of The Winged Tiara by J'nell Ciesielski which published on 8/13/24.

What a fun adventure! Historical fiction readers will be swept across Europe as enemy (and estranged spouses) jewelry thieves race to secure the missing Valkyrie tiara. Esme and Jasper shared one blissful, champagne-filled night together when WWI ended that led to a shotgun wedding and a morning after estrangement. Several years later, the two jewelry thieves find themselves in direct competition for the same prized tiara in a race against time.

Their reconnection is tension-filled and leads to a cat-and-mouse game from England, France, Venice to Neuschwanstein Castle (by train, boat, car and horse!) . Full of 1920's glamour, fashion, and parties, this heist book was immersive and captivating. I loved Esme's strong-willed spirit and swooned over the way Jasper could seemingly disarm and charm her with his charm and wit. As the risk and danger increased as the search for the tiara continued, the two competitors find themselves increasingly working together as partners to avoid catastrophe. Fantastic chemistry, witty banter, action-packed plot twists, and descriptive prose make this book a stand-out fun and swoony romp. This was my first Ciesielski book, and it will not be my last!

The story is a captivating cat-and-mouse tale featuring married jewel thieves in post-WWI Europe. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I struggled to root for the characters due to their questionable morals, particularly Esme's treatment of Jasper in their romantic entanglements. They wed on Armistice Day amidst the celebrations, yet Esme departed the following morning, leaving Jasper alone for four years until their paths crossed again with the intent to steal the renowned Valkyrie Tiara. Discovering that the Tiara is a genuine artifact added intrigue for me, and viewing a photograph of it enriched my reading experience. Jasper and Esme, driven by distinct motivations, traverse Europe in pursuit of the tiara. While certain segments were engaging, others bogged down my reading experience, requiring me to strive harder to continue. The author excels in depicting the era's fashions and various European settings where the chase for the Tiara unfolds, which I found particularly interesting. The narrative also explores the dynamics of Esme and Jasper's marriage, leaving me to wonder if they will ultimately divorce, a notion Esme pushes for throughout the story due to her past. Jasper was the character I somewhat favored, as his reasons for the heist seemed more reasonable, yet he remains a thief. The author's writing style resonated with me, and I plan to explore more of her works, despite the moral conflict presented by the protagonists' lifestyle as jewel thieves.

The prized Valkyrie tiara that is one of the last that were ever made plays an important role in this novel. Two jewel thieves, Esme and Jasper have no problem filching whatever their hearts desire for the lowliest of their “customers,” including the tiara. This book is set in 1918 just after the Great War, which is not often written about so I found the tale of postwar Europe to be compelling. A celebration was definitely in the cards after the war, but this couple celebrates in an unexpected way and might live to regret that moment. If you enjoy lots of verbal sparring, flirting, sparks that fly, and glittering jewels, then you will really enjoy this novel. Personally, I did get a bit weary of their constant “cat and mouse” games, but the ending had a twist that I definitely did not see coming. Please note that I had a very early Net Galley copy and I am quite sure that the final polish was lacking from this novel
I have read and enjoyed a few of her novels and The Songbird and the Spy is my favorite so far. She has a generous backlist that I intend to peruse.
I received an early e-copy copy of this book from a Net Galley and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

This is my first novel by Ciesielski as a solo author, but I did read “The Castle Keepers” which she wrote in collaboration with Aimie Runyan and Rachel McMillan, which I enjoyed (and I just got approval for their next collaborative book, “The Liberty Scarf”). So, when I saw her name on this historical fiction novel, I decided to take a chance with it. Now, I don’t think I knew exactly what I was getting into here, since I wasn’t expecting so much romance or adventure, and thought I was getting more of a cozy mystery story with some crime thrown in, and a love interest.

This isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy this novel, but I am of two minds here about this book. On the plus side, this story is very well written, and I liked Ciesielski’s writing style a good deal. She has a very nice way with words, and descriptions that, for the most part, gave me the types of vivid images I look for in any novel. Furthermore, for the most part, Ciesielski does how to handle pacing effectively. In addition, Ciesielski made her two protagonists quite sympathetic, which made me keep reading to find out what happened to them (and the tiara). Finally, Ciesielski does know how to dramatically draw her characters so that we can identify them as ones we’re going to like or dislike almost immediately, which is a very good thing for this type of a mystery/crime story.

On the other hand, not being one for romance novels in general, I did feel that there were times when the romance was a bit more angst ridden than it needed to be. For me, that felt like the plot sometimes got lost behind the descriptions of how each of them made the other feel, which did slow the pacing down in places (but thankfully, not when it came to the big climax). That said, I’m sure that this will not bother those who are fans of the genre, especially because there’s a whole lot of chemistry and heat going on between these two. Ciesielski makes them each a foil for the other, and their wit as well as their intelligence play off one another beautifully, while they attempt to hide their obvious attraction, while giving in to it at the same time. As far as romance tropes are concern, the love-hate one, combined with professional rivalry works pretty well here, even for me.

While all this sounds pretty good – and I’m certain that this is going to be a huge hit with a wide audience – there were a few things that bothered me here. One pet peeve – it seems that every historical fiction writer who places their characters in Paris, has them either mention or visit the Musée d'Orsay. Sorry, but no, it did NOT exist in when this book takes place. It only opened as a museum in 1986, after several decades of it being an abandoned train station. I know this for a FACT because in early 1987 I visited it during its debut year (when admission was free)! Sorry, but I had to say it. Plus, there were a few other anachronisms and inaccuracies here, which I won’t detail, but these are the little things that sometimes can make or break a book for me. However, despite these problems, which many people will easily overlook, I can still recommend this novel, but I can only give it four out of five stars.

An action filled historical romance that will have you at the edge of your seat as our star crossed lovers travel around Europe to steal a tiara . I had so much fun reading this one

4.25 ⭐️

Crisp, witty dialogue, fast paced action, a delectable rivals to more romance, and a glamorous roaring 20’s setting made the Winged Tiara an absolute favorite! From the very first I was drawn into this engaging story with estranged husband and wife jewel thieves. I loved these endearingly flawed characters who kept me on my toes as they race to find and steal the valuable Valkyrie tiara. It’s a well written, captivating novel that I can’t wait to read again.

After celebrating Armistice Day, Esme Fox was startled to wake up married. Before her new husband could open his eyes, she hurriedly left taking only their wedding photo with her. Now four years later they meet again at a wealthy heiress’ party. Both accomplished thieves, they each try to outwit the other to gain possession of the famed Valkyrie tiara. But while the chemistry sizzles between them, Esme staunchly adheres to her mother’s advice to never risk an emotional attachment.

Jasper Truitt was born on the wrong side of the blanket and has been trying to prove his worth to his grandfather ever since. Though he still dreams of the woman who captured his heart four years ago, he’s learned to stifle his feelings until he sees her again. As the Phantom, he’s developed an infamous reputation as a jewel thief & this time, the prize is personal. He’ll go to any lengths to get it even if it means working with his estranged wife. Unfortunately, there are others who are after it as well & it’ll take both of their skills to get it.

I loved this book! From the 20’s lingo to the exciting race to get the tiara to the sizzling attraction and exquisite fashion, this book was impossible to put down. I loved the complicated relationship between Esme & Jasper. Both grew up in difficult circumstances which leads to a commiserating understanding between them. Unfortunately, being vulnerable is not Esme’s strong suit and so the battle for the tiara as well as Esme’s heart is fierce. But, I was here for all of it & enjoyed every minute. I also enjoyed the side characters, even the infuriating Lamb. I’m hoping the author considers turning this into a series. I’d love to read more about Esme’s and Jasper’s adventures.

Highest of recommendation to historical romance fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

J'nell Ciesielski is a masterful writer. While reading The Winged Tiara, I accurately predicted pretty much everything that was going to happen, but that did not bother me at all because her writing keeps you wrapped up in the story and her beautifully complex characters.

Prepare to be transported to post-WWI in this romantic jewelry heist adventure! This was a fun romp of a heist - I loved the husband/wife competition between Jasper and Esme as they fought to find the tiara. Venturing throughout Europe was grand and I appreciated that while WWI was mentioned this story took place a few years after the war had ended and we got more of the glitz and glam from the 1920's. I really enjoyed how Esme's character changed throughout the story and Jasper - well, he was just too dashing. *Swoon*
I could picture this book in my head as a movie and overall enjoyed the story.

This was a fun historical romance/ jewelry heist story . I’f you like movies like the Thomas Crown Affair or the Italian Job and want some 1920s and romance thrown in, make sure to get a copy . I read it in one sitting - I loved all the different places our duo travelled to in search of the winged tiara ( Paris .. Venice … Neuschwanstein Castle etc) ; both Jasper and Esme were damaged in their own way; their chemistry was great and I felt like I was watching a movie reading this !

Such a fun read.

I love the historical aspects to this book, set right after WWI right as we enter the roaring 20s. You can tell the author researched this era because it came alive on the page.

The story is interesting and intricate. I love the way the the story works with the characters to add depth and layers. The characters are strong and well-developed. Esme is a gem. She is no nonsense and her banter is amazing. Her chemistry with her husband, Jasper, is fun and flirtatious. The pace of the story is also well done. It speeds up and slows down with the action and helps to further immerse the reader in the story.

The ending ties together all the loose ends and is HEA that satisfies and leaves us wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an ARC of this story.

📖🎧 Book Review 🎧📖 It’s always a real treat to review both a book by reading and listening simultaneously for a truly immersive experience! Imagine being on the greatest chase of your life to steal a tiara while running from the worst decision of your life. After over-imbibing on Armistice Day, Esme immediately regrets marrying Jasper and disappears for the next four years…until their paths cross when they are both after the winged tiara. J'nell Ciesielski’s writing is beautiful, captivating, and sharp, bringing us on an exhilarating journey..

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for access to this arc.

This was fun. There are loads of zingers and quips, delicious historical clothing details, and lots of European scenery. But – for the historical sticklers (and I am one of them) it ends with a doozy of a “not possible in any authentic historical” mistake. I love Jasper and Esme to death but no, this could never have happened.

After the prologue, the story starts quickly. Esme and Jasper have both been “hired” to find the same thing – a fabulous “winged” tiara that was created decades earlier after the Wagner craze caused by the Ring operas. Both have legitimate and personal reasons. Esme was brought up in the theater of the East End by a single mother actress. Esme has scrabbled to get out of that gutter and if stealing things for grasping 1%ers lets her live a comfortable life, she’ll steal.

Jasper is the bastard son of a bastard son of a Duke. Jasper also grew up poor until “Duke” (as he calls his grandfather) began to show some interest in him, finally teaching him gentlemanly things although still letting Jasper know that he is not worthy of the family name. Now Jasper hopes that by finding this priceless object and returning it to his grandfather, he might finally secure a place and be accepted.

For the first part of the book, trailing the tiara seems more of an excuse to toss Esme and Jasper back together as they try to outwit each other. They’re both intelligent and have been stealing things across Europe long enough that they can quickly regroup, plot a new strategy, and be off again with little time lost. This also gives readers a great view of 1922 when flappers were in style, people smoked and people drank – a lot.

Then the action shifts to England and Esme’s tough mother appears a few chapters before Duke finally pops up in person. Neither of them are really nice people but at least, for me, Maud has some excuse as she’s made something of herself in the face of all the men taking from her. But what about the romance between Esme and Jasper? It’s clear to readers that they actually do love each other even if initially they are both prepared to pip the other to the post when it comes to bagging the tiara. I got a bit more annoyed with how long Esme continues to deny her feelings and puzzled later on by how Jasper appears to do a (temporary) volte face. I’m not really sure the plot needed it but there it was.

There are some moments of quiet reflection on their lives sprinkled throughout but really this one is all about the froth and the repartee. I wondered how Jasper’s journey would end. Part of me wanted one thing and part of me wanted the opposite. Either would have been okay but when things played out, I realized how I wanted things to end. The epilogue, dragged. But overall, I still enjoyed the fizz and fun. B