Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Who knew that a hasty marriage would lead to so much trouble? Esme Fox vanished from his life the morning after they were wed, without so much as a note. Four years later, Jasper Truitt, a renowned thief hunting for a precious Tiara is shocked when he finds this prized target, a jewel encrusted winged tiara, sitting atop his wife's head. Little does he know Esme is also a jewel thief and has also been hired to locate the winged tiara herself. When the one atop her head turns out to be a fake it sets of a series of incidents as the two thieves attempt to outwit each other, and not fall back in love.

This is a pretty well done romantic cat and mouse game all the while knowing how it will end. It is told from dual POVs as both Jasper and Esme try to one up each other. It does have the same feel as Mr. and Mrs. Smith but I did not find the dialogue as catchy between the two characters. There is a good amount of repetitiveness that drags the story in places. There were some plot holes I did not get, i.e. Jasper is madly in love with her and wants her away from the murderous goon following her but the only way to get him to go away is to give him the same tiara that Jasper needs himself, how do you think that is going to end buddy? The epilogue was too far out of left field for me but overall this was a fun read.

I had the audio version read by Ann Marie Gideon who was enjoyable to listen to and had good pacing and voice inflections.

⭐️⭐️ It was OK, I can see why some loved it
This dual pov historical fiction/mystery didn't grab me. I was able to follow it, I just had a hard time caring about the stakes and backstories. This book would usually be right in my sweet spot of what I prefer to read, I'm an not somure what it was that didn't engage me.

The narrator, Ann Marie Gideon, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, with what expression/intension, and the appropriate accent.

Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing, NetGalley, and author J'nell Ciesielski for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The Winged Tiara is out August 13, 2024.

DNF – This one just wasn’t for me. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but I found myself reading without really absorbing the story. I wanted to give it 3 stars because, while it didn’t suit my taste, there’s no flaw I can point to.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I wasnt a fan of the whole book. There was some parts that were fun but as a whole i didnt like it.Im not sure why. Its a cat and mouse game with some more games.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I recently had the pleasure of immersing myself in a captivating post-Great War historical fiction novel. The narrative unfolded around a fascinating tale of a tiara, interwoven with the intricate histories of the two main characters. The book skillfully delved into themes of love, personal growth, and self-discovery, all set against a backdrop of rich and vivid locations that leaped off the pages of the novel.

Although the ending was somewhat predictable, it did not diminish the overall impact of the novel. However, I found Esme's tendency to constantly run away to be somewhat annoying. I longed for the characters to unite from the start, and I yearned for more unexpected twists arising from their collaboration, rather than one character repeatedly pursuing the other.

In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those new to the historical fiction genre. I am deeply grateful to NetGalley for graciously providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and thoughtful review.

The Winged Tiara is the first book I've read by J'nell Ciesielski. I ended up really enjoying this book, but it took quite a while for the audiobook to draw me in. Admittedly, this might have been in part due to my trying to listen to it during a very busy couple of weeks. Once I was pulled into the story I was anxious to find out what was in store for Jasper and Esme. This book was a fun mash up of historical fiction and mystery, two genres I love. I was briefly confused when I saw that the book came from Zondervan, because I assumed that would mean it is Christian fiction. I would not call it that, but it was very clean and closed door as far as the romance is concerned. I appreciated the duel point of views (Jasper and Esme) and thought that the choice to write the book in this manner was a great decision. The narrator was also fantastic. Even though it took a while for me to get hooked, it was a fun combination of historical fiction, mystery, and romance and I am glad to have read it!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoy J'nell Ciesielski's novels and the same was true for The Winged Tiara which was a quick mystery read with a cat and mouse chase with a bunch of sexual tension between the two main characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction for my gifted copy.

I would definitely recommend this one on audiobook because it is so well done and brings the competitive side of Esme and Jasper to life.

The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by this author. I was impressed by how well it was written especially the authentic and clever banter between the two main characters. It made me smile and even laugh out loud at times throughout the book. The Winged Tiara was a well plotted and highly exciting historical fiction mystery with a strong sense of romance. I enjoyed the glamorous setting of Paris, France and the various castles and homes that the two main characters found themselves at. It took place during the 1920’s just after the end of World War I. For me, I found it fast paced and quite compelling. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Ann Marie Gideon. She did a good job distinguishing between the various character’s voices.

As the people of Paris, France celebrated the end of The Great War, so did Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt. There was an abundance of champagne to go around. Esme and Jasper greedily helped themselves to glass after glass. There was an instant attraction between Esme and Jasper. In their drunken stupor, the two professed their love and married. In the morning, Esme regretted all that had transpired between her and Jasper. She admitted that he was a rather handsome and striking man but Esme was not the marrying type. She slipped her ring off and left it on the pillow with a short note and disappeared from Jasper’s life.

Four years later, Esme was employed by Countess Rossalina Accardi. Esme was front and center adorned with the Valkyrie Tiara and a set of wings when Jasper locked eyes with her. How had he found her? Jasper was still smitten with Esme but only reminded her that they were still legally married. Little did Esme or Jasper realize at the time, that they both proclaimed to be jewel thieves and prided themselves on their skill set and expertise. It was no wonder, then, that when the Valkyrie Tiara disappeared, both Esme and Jasper set off to find and and recover it. Each believed that they were the best one to succeed. They desperately tried to keep one step ahead of the other. Who would be victorious and what would it cost them as a result?

I enjoyed listening to The Winged Tiara and really loved the chemistry that existed between Esme and Jasper. The chase, the motivation to outdo the other and the way both Esme and Jasper tried every which way to deny the fact that they were destined to be together in the end was so much fun to listen to and be part of. I really enjoyed both of their characters. The Winged Tiara was about drive, trust, collaboration, good instincts, the chase and romance. I really enjoyed listening to The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski and highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction, a good mystery and clean romance.

Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was such a fun audiobook! Esme and Jasper’s story takes place in the 1920s as both of them are chasing after the same Tiara to steal, and each having their own reasons as to why it’s a non-negotiable that they’re the victor. The fact that they’re long lost (runaway) spouses makes the story that much better as they struggle between fighting their feelings, working together, and trying to outwit one another. The romance is sweet, the banter is witty, and the plot is fun. Enjoyable from start to finish, and I just flew through it as the narrator carried it along. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I had such a fun time reading this historical fiction set in the 1920's (love a good 1920s setting!). This reminded me of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in a way with the couple and the situations they found themselves in as thieves (and the sass!).

The Winged Tiara was full of romantic tension, banter/witty dialogue, intrigue, action, family, cons/thievery & more so chances are there is something in here for most readers and it made for a fun reading experience. It was neat to see an author incorporate all of those into a story and something I didn't realize I needed in a story until I read it. It's definitely one to throw in for something different.

I quickly want to mention though that this one is a clean story (not christian though, like I and some others thought due to the publishing company being Thomas Nelson who used to do christian focused rather than a mix of that and clean ) so keep that in mind as you go in to manage expectations one way or another.

The characters had difficult backgrounds in their own ways and were full of flaws but came together in spite of it all. You witness their struggle with themselves, familial issues and each other- all the while as they go on this bigger adventure of jewelry thievery which puts them in an even more delicate spot of 'to each their own' but still wanting to protect the other in their own way. The side characters and stories just added more layers to it and things happened that I didn't fully expect (and I mean that in a good way).

Even though this story wrapped up well, I think it would be neat to see this turned into a series! There extra characters and the setting make me want to stay in this period longer. For that reason as well, I will definitely be checking out other books this author has written and keep an eye on what may be to come.

I definitely recommend checking this one out. I listened to it via audiobook and it absolutely amped up the intrigue, banter and tension so if you're an audio lover it is worth checking out that way. The narrator did a great job.

*Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this story. All opinions are my honest thoughts.

A historical rom-com featuring two jewel thieves and the heist of the season? Count me in!

The Winged Tiara is a historical romance full of adventure, passion, and diamonds. After a hasty marriage following the end of the Great War, our main characters Esme and Jasper now find themselves in a game of cat-and-mouse, each on their own mission to find and steal the Valkyrie tiara. But it soon becomes apparent that this is more than just another job. Their lives... and their hearts... are at risk too.

This was an enjoyable read full of gorgeous descriptions and luscious writing. The story transports readers to the champagne-soaked, glittering circles of the 1920s British aristocracy, and the nimble-fingered protagonists all-too-eager to line their pockets with someone else's pearls. I listened to it on audio and also thoroughly enjoyed the narration as the narrator's voice captured the mood and setting so well.

Esme and Jasper are delightful characters to follow along with, full of wit and charm, and all the emotion, banter, and history that comes with their pass (both together and apart.) There was some great chemistry between them, perfect for those looking for a closed door / clean historical romance.

While some parts of the story felt a little slow, the plot felt unique, the characters were fun, and the setting was dazzling.

Many thanks to the publisher for my audio copy of this book! 3.5 stars rounded up!

Blurb: 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.

What a fun and entertaining read. The premise was so engrossing and full of banter, double crossing and intrigue. I mean who doesn’t love an old timey caper involving beautiful jewels and diamonds! I love the comparison of The Great Gatsby meets Ocean’s Eleven and it was just that indeed.

The characters were fun and quirky. I enjoyed that it started out years earlier and then jumped ahead. The morally grey main characters were oh so entertaining and I always find my self routing for them. The audiobook was narrated by Ann Marie Gideon and it was done remarkably well. I enjoyed her narration of all the characters and she has a voice I could listen to more!

Two naughty thieves who chase a winges tiara team up, only there will be one winner. Full of witty banter and unexpected plot twists, this adventurous historical romance will keep you entertained until the last page.

The Winged Tiara was the first book I have read written by J’nell Ciesielski, and I look forward to reading some more. The story was captivating and drew me in from the start.

The character development was good but lacking in a lot of ways. We got to learn a little bit more about Esme and Jasper and their childhood. I just came back feeling like we didn’t pull back many layers of their character. I would have also liked to see them grow together.

The storyline and setting were fun. Though at times I had a hard time getting up to speed where the characters were at. It kind of hopped all over. Not sure if this was due to listening to it as an audiobook. I did enjoy the suspense element, and the cat and mouse aspect were fun to watch unfold.

The relationship between Esme and Jasper was very passionate. It had some different interesting dynamics of trying to figure out their relationship. Overall, this was probably on the side of too much for me. Though it is a closed-door romance, it had the passion.

The historical element was great. I could really picture the scenes and felt like I was in the middle of the roaring 20s. I never realized how much I enjoy this time period; this is the second book I have read this year set in the roaring 20s and I look forward to reading some more.

I was a little bit disappointed by the Christian element. I had picked to review this book because the publisher is a Christian publisher, and I was expecting at least a little bit. It was completely lacking, as well as some of the morals of characters were not even of Christian values. I would not label this as Christian fiction.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Cue bond music while reading this book. So fun, so fast-paced and just exciting. I loved how cool Esme is... and how vulnerable Jasper is. His wears his heart on his sleeves. Very neat with the masterminds neatly trick8ng their manipulators.

I loved this book.

#netgalley #TheWingedTiara

I really enjoyed the audiobook. The voice acting was good and the overall story was fun as well. There were sections where it was a touch long but overall a good rom-com that I recommend reading.

Funny (even sexy) rom-com from the roaring 20s, where two - still married - thieves chase after the famous Valkyrie tiara.
They had married 4 years ago, after the Great War ended and people celebrated, so did they. Some champagne, some sparks, some kisses - but in the morning the now sober bride had run away.
But here are they now, chasing after the bejewelled tiara. And while they traipse all over the glamorous hotels, castles and mansions to get the tiara, they realize that they might have some more things in common. And by that I mean their sad childhoods and the hearts broken by being left out.

This novel reads like a movie - all glamorous, all glitzy, all charm. And it IS enchanting, cool and fun. Esme and Jasper have great chemistry and they simply belong together, because of all the people they could accept each other in the whole, with all the unconventional, broken and messy parts of themselves. Even in their ambitious selves!
But...you should not go into this with a strictly logical approach. This is an affair of heart. But this heist would, of course, never work in the real world and the authoress could go deeper with the psychology of the characters.
But having said all that, I still enjoyed this funny ride.

"The Winged Tiara" by J'Nell Ciesielski is a rom com thriller about a pair of jewel thieves both trying to find and steal the same thing, the winged tiara. It is set in 1920s Paris.

This audiobook seemed to be entertaining, but over time, I kept zoning out and/or falling asleep. I had to go back and listen to chapters over and over again. I got really stuck in this book. I finally finished it and appreciated the happy ending and epilogue.

I think perhaps the narrator was part of the problem. Ann Marie Gideon was the narrator for this, and she had a strong accent.

The basic story is that both Esme and Jasper are jewel thieves and both in search of the last Valkyrie's jeweled winged tiara. They actually had met and married one night 4 years previously. Then she woke up the next day and left. Now they meet again in the line of work. Sparks fly.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 2/5
Unputdownability - 0/5
Enjoyment - 2/5
Narration - 2/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 19/8 = 2 3/8
Rounded down to 2 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Christian Publishing/ Thomas Nelson Fiction, for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Another great read from J'nell Ciesielski. Romantic, exciting, witty and yet full of charm. Also a tad quirky, but in a good way. It is about basically a thief and his estranged wife seeking valuable royal heirloom- and the people after them.

There's a few vague hints of Agatha Christie's Parnters in Crime or the BBC Drama Strangers on a Train here.

Anne Marie-Gideon's narration of the audiobook was so good, although I did notice as a Brit that she's not actually British. I prefer British narrators.

Thanks to Netgalley for approving me for the audiobook which is great fun.

Years after a hasty post-wartime marriage and a disappearance in the middle of the night, the two jewel thieves Jasper and Esme find themselves out to obtain the same piece, the last Valkyrie tiara. When they realize that instead of working against each other, they may need to work together, things get more complicated. Clearly, the attraction that drew them together that fateful night is still present. Will they be able to avoid the (re)budding romance and focus on their jobs or do their hearts have other plans?

I listened to this one on audiobook and enjoyed many of aspects including the setting and the main two characters. It was fun to dive into the 20s and the crime scene. I knew from the first page, when Esme and Jasper wake-up married and then she disappears that this would be a wild ride. Esme and Jasper had fun banter in each interaction. I haven't read very much historical fiction heist stories, but I did thoroughly enjoy the premise.

At times, I feel like the book dragged a little and I felt myself zoning out while listening to it. The cat and mouse felt a little repetitive as we approached the halfway part, but I do believe the book picked up its pace more toward the end. There wasn't very much character development and while I loved the banter between the two, I was hoping that something more would develop over the course of the novel.

I have heard really great things about this author, so I will definitely be picking up one of their other books in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and J'nell Ciesielski for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.