"But want and need were two very different beasts, and only one could be mastered at a time."

Such an interesting historical fiction set in 1922 about two high-end thieves! I definitely enjoyed the backdrop of Europe as it was coming back to life after WWI. The parties held by the nobility were fun to get glimpses of. Esme and Jasper were a fascinating pair - both born into less-than circumstances but making the best of what they know. It was definitely an adventure following them as they chased the infamous winged tiara while they met resistance from foes known and unknown.
Esme and Jasper had an unconventional romance and their banter was truly witty and delightful. Their moves as they tried to outsmart each other at first, then as they combined forces to outsmart others, were impressive and clever. The plot had plenty of surprises that made the story more complex. There wasn't much faith element in the book but it was a fun, adventurous ride through the black market of stolen art and jewelry to find trust and belonging.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Ready for a chase across Europe for a tiara stained with old grudges and regrets between two not-so-maybe-so married lovers holding their own grudges and regrets? I sure was. The magnetic push and pull between Esme and Jasper is delectable, with one wanting the comfort of loving arms and the other too drawn by the winds of independence. Breezy, witty, and punctuated with tender, unguarded moments when they stop running, The Winged Tiara is a suave read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Based on the synopsis, this story could have gone a margin of ways. Which for the author was helpful as she was able to craft a very well-written story full of adventure, cunning, and romance. The leads in this tale weren't your typical leads. Jasper and Esme were actually anti-heroes thieves to be exact. Both were full of flaws but that made them more endearing and memorable. They also had the whole Mr. and Mrs. Smith thing going for them. Lots of chemistry! 

I was very satisfied with the way it ended because it ended very tidily. Meaning I didn't feel anything was left out or unexplained. Sometimes books just leave you with the aftertaste of things missing, but not this one. I left the book with a smile, and I'm already anticipating what the author will come out with next.

Book review 📖

📜The Winged Tiara
✍️J’Nell Ciesielski
📠Thomas Nelson
📚Romance/Historical Fiction
🗓️Pub date: August 13, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @thomasnelson for providing me with a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
Also thank you to @jnellciesielski for penning a wonderful book!

✨In 1918, after a night out celebrating the ending of the Great War, Esme surprisingly wakes up to a hangover and an accidental marriage to Jasper. She disappears before he awakes, as her motto is it’s best to be the one to leave than to be left.

✨Four years later, Jasper, who has made a notorious reputation for himself in the jewel thieves underworld, is on the hunt for a winged tiara, something that is a remarkable heirloom and practically priceless.

✨Esme reappears in Jasper’s life, but with her own motives to steal the winged tiara as well. With a hitman hot on Esme’s tail and roadblocks in every direction, will the two fare better at hunting for the tiara separately or can they stand each other long enough by teaming up?

✨ This was a magnificent tour de force! A mix of The Great Gatsby and The Thomas Crown Affair, The Winged Tiara is a stunning and sparkling masterpiece. The roaring 20’s combined with a thrilling jewel heist, flirty banter and enemies-to-lovers, and you can’t get a better combo.

✨Ciesielski captured me from the first page with her vivid writing style and plot, and I will be returning to devour everything she has ever written! Bravo!

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Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author of this book for the ARC.

I applied for an ARC copy of this book on a whim and I’m so happy I did. I didn’t know exactly what to expect but i have to say I am pleasantly surprised.

Esme and Jasper had me hooked from the start. They were fun, they were witty, they were cool. I loved their bickering, I loved their games and their cat and mouse dynamic.

Jasper was dreamy. A pure gentleman with a heart of gold and a brain that is at least as sexy as his rogue black curl.

Esme was smart, resourceful, and had an incredibly smart mouth. Above all, her brokenness was relatable. At least to me.

The writing was lovely, very descriptive, but in a non-overwhelming way. I enjoyed it a lot, and I definitely enjoyed the setting. It made me feel like I was living in the 1920’s as well, a time I’m not ashamed to admit my mind tends to romanticize.

The only reason I’m not giving it the full 5 stars is because I felt my interest dip a little at around 35%. At that time their dynamic was becoming a little repetitive. However, things picked up again at around 50% and so did my interest.

All in all this book was right up my alley and I will definitely recommend.

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a book prior to publication.

You know, I've been craving for a clean, historical, thief vs thief story, and this one really suckered me in. You have two people, meeting after the end of WWI and quickly (I mean, in a night!) falling in love and marrying. Our girl, Esme, leaves our man, Jasper, alone in the marriage bed. Four years later, she turns up as a thief after a crown that he has been tasked to retrieve / steal.

The whole thing simmers with their fun banter, chemistry, and will they / won't they in terms of their future. I enjoyed the tiara and why both parties were after it and how everything tied up in the end-game.

The only reason I rated the book down a star is I felt there needed to be more umph in their characters. May it be their situations or their meets '/ partings. They got a little predictable and repetitive after some time.

I did like the book and I'd recommend this to anybody who is looking for some fun cat and mouse game set in roaring twenties.

How amazing!! Our dashing hero and daring heroine play cat and mouse games as they hunt for a bejeweled winged tiara. Estranged spouses and jewel thieves, each needs it for different purposes. Just when they think they have it, the chase is on! Full of witty, snappy banter, glamour, danger, and romance, they romp through post-WWI Europe on their search. This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last, as I really enjoyed it!

Drop everything and read this book!! One of my favorite reads this year! Fantastic story of enemies to lovers and priceless jewels. When I tell you I could not put this book down! I absolutely adore this author and this is probably her best book yet! I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone!!

The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski reads a lot like her previous two books, The Brilliance of Stars and To Free the Stars. Two main characters have a past that ties them together, but their ultimate goal in the story overtakes them pursuing a relationship with each other. Ciesieskli keeps the characters hoping all across Europe as they hung for the Valkyrie tiara. They intertwine at different places, not on purpose, argue, and appear to be working together, but then one gives the other the slip, and this happens over and over again. As the story moves along, the main thread is the hunt for the tiara, but the tension and strife between Jasper and Esme takes over the storyline. I do enjoy the hunt for the tiara. I like how creative Ciesielski made the hunt. It was not so simple to seek the tiara. However, there were moments that I wish were a little shorter, then onto another clue to find it. If readers were looking for a spiritual thread, there is not one. Just a good enjoyable story. Overall, The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski does encapsulate a treasure hunt between the two unlikely partners who really do not want to be partners, but enemies. I enjoyed the overall storyline.

I received a complimentary copy of The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesieskli from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a classic caper with two thieves who had a night of passion at the end of WWI reunited four years later when they both chase after a tiara across a Europe still rebuilding after the war. The two leads were delightful with fun banter and simmering chemistry. The antics of trying to steal the tiara are exciting and a satisfying ending. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fun historical romance.

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

The Winged Tiara by J'nell Ciesielski is a book you will not be able to put down. Esme and Jasper create chemistry that I could not get enough of! Between the cat and mouse games to the moments of unparalleled romance, I was turning pages as quickly as I could absorb the tantalizing tale. Esme and Jasper are both notorious thieves who find themselves after the same prize, the Valkyrie tiara. Each has their own compelling reason, and neither will let anything stop them from succeeding. Their intersections on the chase are charismatic and addictive. I wanted them both to succeed. Moreover, I wanted them to succeed together. The story comes full circle in a serendipitous twist, and I could not have been more thrilled. I was entranced from start to finish. Highly, unabashedly, recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

The Winged Tiara is such an enjoyment to read. It takes place in Europe after the war in the dazzling 1920s when a shift in society started taking place.

We are introduced to Jasper and Esme who, 4 years prior, hastily exchanged vows in a moment of celebration. The next morning, Esme leaves and Jasper wakes up alone. Years later, they are reunited, both jewel thieves after the same prized item, and the race to reach the item first begins.



Their interactions with each other are hilarious and amusing. Always trying to outdo one another results in entertaining schemes and comical reactions.

Esme tries hard to ignore the feelings starting to grow, but can't deny the chemistry between them.



From start to finish, this story will thrill you with a unique plot, sweeping romance and exciting adventure.


Thank you netgalley for a free copy of this book, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was lighthearted fun! Competing jewel thieves galivanting across Europe in pursuit of a famed tiara. To add to the fun, they happen to have a history: a hasty marriage after the post-war celebrations, only to end the next morning when the bride disappeared without a trace. The prose was fun and easy. You could taste the food and drinks and see the glitz of the jazz age. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Thanks to Net-Galley for the ARC.

Romantic, intriguing, and well-paced, this is the first book I've read from the author and I can see why they have a dedicated audience. It combines the high drama of the Gatsby-era 1920s with a somewhat silly yet fun adventure with married main characters.

What a delightful book this is! I am new to the author and the time period it is written in. I really felt like I was swept away into the excitement. The action was fast paced and the relationships were the right balance of angsty and sweet. The conclusion was predictable and a little rushed. IMO it would have been much more satisfying if Jasper had chosen a different path. All in all a great read and lovely characters

A quote near the end of the book, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" perfectly sums up the early behavior of the protagonists of J'nell Cielsielski's novel "The Winged Tiara". This intriguing and fast-paced story follows long-estranged married couple Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt as they individually traipse through Europe in search of the same tiara. These two flawed people are both products of unfortunate upbringings, and are actual thieves. "Survival had its own code of ethics."

Their cat and mouse game takes them to glittering parties and fabulous homes. The author's imagery is lush and evocative: "the women as gaily dressed as tropical fish in their pinks, silvers, and greens" is just one example of her flair for description. Characters come to life as well. Countess Accardi, her violent henchman, and the clever, egg-shaped Lamb are just a few of them. Even eccentric Lamb's pet chicken has a personality, and the Duke's true character is surprisingly nuanced. Esme and Jasper become the people they're meant to be. Dialogue is intelligent and witty.

Cielsielski's prose is crisp and expressive. This author pens deeply romantic stories without resorting to smut. There is some innuendo, perhaps, but nothing that comes close to being graphic. These characters are already married. "The Winged Tiara" is a wonderful read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this captivating novel.

I was only able to make it a couple of pages in before knowing I would be adding this one to my DNF list. I am used to sweet Christian fiction, not whatever this is. Maybe this book and I just got off on the wrong foot, and it gets better later on, but I’ve got so many things to read, there’s no point in spending a lot of time on books I’m not enjoying.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book.

Paris, France 11 November 1918: After four years of death and misery, the Great War is over and all of Paris, the world, is celebrating. Focus in on one couple: Jasper, a war weary soldier and Esme, a just as weary nurse. With the flow of champagne and the and the joy of the end of hostilities, Jasper and Esme take it all one step further, they marry. The next morning after the bubbles have disappeared, so too does Esme.

But that is not the end of that relationship. These two charmers meet again only to find they are both chasing the one thing...the Winged Tiara.

So begins the hunt and the chase through 1920s exotic cities as they follow the elusive prize.

I loved this book. From the first page I was hooked and couldn't read fast enough to follow the adventures and dangers of the chase. Beautifully written and described, here is a story for the romantics.

I do hope that we will see more of Jasper and Esme in the future because, having fallen in love with these two delightful characters, one book is definitely not enough! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story prior to publication.

This is an amazing book that will delight fans! I also just really love the cover, which I found striking.

The author's books are auto-reads for me because of their amazing histfic tales, and The Winged Tiara is no exception! Exquisitely written, romantic and compelling, it grabbed me from page one because of the intriguing narrative that left me speechless. A must-read for fans of unputdownable histficroms with creativity, depth, and heart.