The Winged Tiara ~ Review

The Winged Tiara

By J'Nell Ciesielski

Esme Fox never meant to get married. Her mother warned her over the years that it was to be avoided; men couldn't be trusted. Yet she somehow finds herself married to a stranger and regretting it mere hours later. To save herself from the heartbreak she knows is coming, she slips away leaving her husband with only her wedding band as a remembrance of what might have been.

Jasper Truitt has never stopped looking for his wife. Four years have passed with no sign of Esme until the night he gets a lead on the highly sought-after Valkyrie tiara—a tiara both he and Esme are determined to procure for interested parties. But they are not alone in their pursuit, and some are willing to kill to get what they desire. 

The Winged Tiara takes place following the First World War. Those who survived are grateful for their lives, but there is also a shocking amount of excess and decadence. Esme and Jasper have both only wanted to find someplace where they belonged. Being a thief is a skill that has developed over the years. (Surprise, dear, you married someone with sticky fingers.) 

In this game of cat-and-mouse, Esme and Jasper are offered a chance to get to know one another and maybe a future together. At least Jasper has to try.

The Winged Tiara is an entertaining read and perfect for fans of Historical Fiction. There is plenty of witty dialogue as Esme and Jasper spar over their less-than-noble endeavors. Although published by Thomas Nelson, there are no moments that make one think that this book is Christian. This book is entertaining and well-written, with moments of hope, but faith is lacking, which, considering the world portrayed, is not surprising. This title would be an excellent choice for a book club selection. For those who enjoy audio on their commutes, the reading by Ann Marie Gideon is well presented.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

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.

AUTHOR BIO

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski has a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories while weaving fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. She is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.