What an absolutely perfect book full of intrigue, mystery, secret society, kidnapping, and murder. I was blown away at how the author tightly plotted so much between the pages and still managed to make it believable. I was drawn into the story immediately and I didn’t want to put it down. Only a well written storyline can do this and the author was spot on in every area.

Sophie is the Robin Hood of the art world, stealing paintings and returning them to their rightful owners. Soon she finds she’s drawn into much more than expected when she finds herself pulled into the search for three missing paintings after her best friend disappears. Finding the clues in the paintings might lead to her rescue.

Mac has been tasked with finding the three lost portraits of the royal family of Neuhansberg. When he spots Sophie in disguise he’s intrigued and begins to follow her, starting a friendly rivalry. He must use all his wits to get his hands on those paintings but there are others with the same goal, and the stakes just got higher. Not only is his mother’s life on the line but Sophie’s could be too.

The premise of the story with a secret society of women who come alongside Sophie on her quest, helping her thwart Mac, and also seeking to help other women in need while displaying extraordinary skills is a step away from your typical crime thriller and I loved it.

I was given a copy courtesy of Tyndale House through NetGalley and Interviews and Reviews. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Sophie Williams is an art thief and a forger. When a long-missing portrait of three art pieces turns up in Germany at an art gallery days before the new prince’s coronation, questions arise with respect to the theft of the pie. When a rumor begins with respect to the stolen paintings and her best friend disappears, Sophie is convinced that if she can locate the other two paintings they will lead her to her friend.
I really enjoyed this book. Lots of intrigue and mystery with great settings in Germany and Venice, Italy. There is a great story line of women supporting women and there is just the right tinge of romance in the story.

I will post on Greads, Amazon and social media on publication day.

A new genre from one of my favorite authors. The Speranza team is a great new team to right wrongs and get justice for those in need. Sophie and Lise work to reunite the rightful owners with art that has been stolen from them, but this leads them into a world of intrigue that takes many twists and turns to make an amazing story. I was so happy to receive and ARC from the author and provide my review of this really great story.

Wow! This book has everything! I loved the intrigue and the treasure hunt! Add in a modern day Robin Hood and a fabulous group of eccentric women who support other women. On top of that there is the mystery of a dead princess and her children, a coronation and missing women. Not much romance, but it wasn't needed for the story to be complete. I do look forward to more stories in the Speranza Team novels to come. This was the first book I have read by Connie Mann and she will be on my list of authors to buy in the future!

When you get a copy of this book set aside some time to really savor it. Then brew a pot of tea and curl up for an edge of your seat adventure.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thought's are my own.

Sophie Williams is an art thief and forger who works with her best friend, Lisa - art gallery owner and social activist who is spending time helping at a shelter supporting women and children.

One of three long-missing royal portraits turns up in Germany at Lise’s gallery. Since the tragic deaths of Princess Johanna of Neuhansberg and her two children 40 years ago, the whereabouts of these portraits have been unknown. The timing of their reappearance—just days before a new prince’s coronation—reignites questions surrounding the infamous accident.

When Lise vanishes, Sophie is convinced there is a connection with the paintings, particularly when she discovers a cryptic message on the back of the first canvas. Convinced that finding the other two portraits will lead to her friend, Sophie begins a dangerous investigation that pits her against other ruthless treasure hunters, a handsome who seems to dog her trail at every turn and a mysterious group of women – the Speranza – that offers help, wearing an emblem identical to one on the painting. Used to doing things by herself her own way, Sophie discovers (somewhat reluctantly) the advantages of being part of a team.

The faith element to this book is subtle – Sophie is an art thief after all (although known as Robin Hood as she steals from the rich to give art back to its rightful owner). But the cryptic clue: “I believe in God even when He is silent” begins a thread that weaves throughout. And there is even a kick-ass nun within the Speranza ;)

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this novel.

By night, Sophie is an art thief and forger- but not the normal kind. She steals paintings from people who have stolen them from their original owners, paints a copy and leaves the copy in place of the original, and then returns the real painting to its rightful owner. By day, Sophie is the manager of her friend's art gallery. Lise, the owner of the art gallery, suddenly receives a painting that turns out to be the missing painting of a princess that died in a car accident years before. It suddenly becomes a race to keep the painting hidden and safe and find the other missing painting after Lise suddenly goes missing. Can Sophie find her friend, and stay ahead of the authorities? Can a covert sisterhood of ladies help Sophie? Can Mac (an art investigator) figure out the truth of these paintings and help keep Sophie safe in the meantime?

This book was an unusual take on a suspense story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a bit slow to get off the ground but once it got moving it really got moving. It was full of adventure and intrigue. The faith element was there, but in a very light way. There were several twists that I did not see coming. It took awhile for me to see how everything would tie together. I was thoroughly invested until the end. Sometimes the multiple viewpoints became a bit hard to follow as there were many within the story.

A story that has so much going for it, we start out with returning a painting, but keep on building to a coronation, and along the way there are women being stolen, but why? Answers come, but what a journey you embark on once you turn the first page.

There is a group of people that are committed to helping, and they go above and beyond, while others are up to evil. Yes, this is a good vs evil read, and you will be page turning for answers, along with whom will survive.

This read is Christian Suspense at it's best!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale, and was not required to give a positive review.

An exciting, fast-paced, suspenseful mystery! Friendship, family ties, and faith inspired action fill the pages of this thrilling story. It has the feel of a spy novel with the covert disguises, world travel, art theft and dangerous criminals chasing a band of women bent on righting wrongs.

The writing is well done, full of colorful characters, some with questionable motives. It kept me reading late into the night as the action picks up later and the pieces come together. A quick back and forth between scenes required some extra focus, but it worked well as the danger escalated and lives were at stake.

"...I believe in God even when He is silent."
The theme of protecting vulnerable women and children from human traffickers is sadly a realistic struggle across the globe. I loved the depth of devotion Sophie shows to find her missing friend. She learns to trust others to help her out, and turn back to her faith. A little romantic interest added a sliver of danger in spots, but wasn't the focus.
Recommend! 4.5 stars

This book is like a jigsaw puzzle, whose pieces have been flung near and afar. Many characters, with no apparent connection are slowly brought together. However, some of the pieces are deliberately hidden from the reader, once revealed to one or more of the characters.
Sophie Williams is an amazing artist, but instead of advancing her carrier, she manages her best friend's art gallery, while her friend is busy with a none profit charity that helps women. Lise was Sophie's camp counselor and when Sophie's parents were killed when she was 16, Lise came to take care of her. Sophie has another persona, that of the Robin Hood Art Thief. She is an art forger, who copies stolen paintings, steals the stolen painting from the thief and returns the original to the owner.
Lise's mother recently died of cancer and had been desperate to talk to Lise before she died. She had a secret and when part of that secret is reveal, a hidden portrait of a murdered princess, one of three portraits, both Lise's and Sophies' lives are in jeopardy. Many treasure hunters come calling, many quite dangerous, but Lise's mother was also part of a secret women's organization, Speranza, and after Lise vanishes the woman come to help Sophie find Lise and the other portraits. Meanwhile, homeless woman are been taken at a homeless camp. Lise had been investigating before she disappeared. Is there a connection? While the story starts in Germany, Sophie ends up traveling all over Europe on her quest. None stop action and intriguing characters make this page turner hard to put down.

I was gifted with an ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased, honest and voluntary review.

I stayed up way too late for too many nights reading this book. Action-packed from the start. I loved the characters, pacing, and intrigue. Some of the fight scenes were a little hard to believe (she’s not a ninja), but overall a fun, exciting read. This is my first book by this author. I’ll definitely be looking for more … when I don’t have to go to work in the morning!

This book has 2 stories going on at the same time but it's not the split time type, thank the Lord! I like that it's full of action, that a lot of the action is by women, and that there's a mystery!! I also love the hopeful theme.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book. All opinions are entirely my own.

She’s a master at spotting a forgery . . . and knowing how to create one. But can she solve a decades-old mystery?

This new-to-me author impressed me with this pacey, high-stakes treasure hunt with roots in art, truth, and friendship.

The Crown Conspiracy is the first in a new series featuring a female art expert and a secret society of women. Sophie Wiliams and the Speranza Team use clues from missing portraits and cryptic messages to aid them in solving a 40-year-old case, keep the rightful heir safe, recover stolen artwork, and chase down ruthless treasure hunters across Europe.

I was caught up in the armchair travel through castles and cathedrals, the puzzling connection between the group and the paintings, and the race against time. There’s something about secret societies that intrigues me and I loved reading about the formation of this, albeit fictional, society’s roots in the 1500s, their connection to the Italian word for ‘hope’, and how it manifests itself as an anchor.

I chose this book simply for the cover and the words ‘art world’. I got more than I bargained for and can’t wait to read The Liar’s Treasure, the upcoming sequel.

United we can make a difference.

I was gifted this copy by Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann thrills a non-stop chase with a number of paintings through Europe. This is the first book by Mann that I have ever read, and I was delighted to read all the non-stop action without any romance. I enjoyed how the story kept having the characters run from one place to another. I do enjoy the mystery clues written on the back of the pictures. Suspenseful novels are a great way to pass time as readers flip through the pages. Mann does a wonderful job at having a handful of villains chasing the women who are the heroes of the novels. I enjoy how Mann takes a group of women, some who are nuns, and have them helping chasing and fighting the bad guys. I love the scenery of being in Europe. Since I have never been, it was nice to have the characters running through churches and canals in Venice as they run for their lives. If readers love stories that feature characters that will return in upcoming novels and love plenty of non-stop action, then this is a good book to enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy of The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

The Crown Conspiracy is an excellent mystery. The plot is well written and fast paced. I highly recommend this book. I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

This was such a fun book! As a fan of heist stories and spy novels, this ticked so many boxes. Sophie Williams is an gallery manager, art forger, and secret Robin Hood, the perfect answer to Danny Ocean and James Bourne. As she gets swept up into an international conspiracy that she is not prepared for, she is joined by a suppoting cast of likable and well developed characters.

Without giving too much away, I'll say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a team of females supporting each other to overcome injustice. Mann handles serious issues well, but never lets the reader forget that there is hope.

Speranza!

Christian Crime Fiction with a historical twist.

Speranza, 'hope', is a secret society of women working together to help/rescue women. "I believe in God even when He is silent." is their motto.

Sophie Williams has always worked alone. Her career as Robin Hood, returning stolen art to its original owner, shifts when she is forced to work with others to accomplish her goals. The women she meets are a variety of characters that keep the twists happening. Adding Mac to this spiced up the danger.

An interesting tour of castles throughout Europe make this a high tension travelogue.

I enjoyed the use of forgery and how it works in a mystery story, it had everything that I was wanting from this. I enjoyed the world elements in this book and that it had a great adventure element to it. Overall I really enjoyed reading this.

This book has a complicated storyline, which at times had me confused. It is worth pressing on to enjoy seeing the comradeship and friendship of many. A firm remind of God's presence at all times.

"The Crown Conspiracy" is a Christian suspense. Sophie is talented at mimicking other people's paintings down to the last detail. She uses this skill and her talent for disguises to return stolen artwork to its rightful owners. To pay the bills, she works for her best friend at an art gallery. When the friend receives a long-lost painting as an inheritance from her mother, the media finds out. A lot of people want that painting, especially as there's a clue on each painting that leads to treasure. When her best friend is kidnapped, Sophie's determined to follow the clues, retrieve the other missing paintings, and save her friend.

She's used to working alone, but a small, diverse group of talented women show up to help. Turns out her friend is a part of a group of women who work to protect each other and vulnerable women and children. And she needs help as at least one man is willing to kill to get the paintings. Another man steals from her even as he occasionally helps protect her from the other painting seekers. Though they kiss intensely at times, I wouldn't really call him a love interest as he's intent on his own interests.

It was really fun to have women saving the day and outwitting the bad guys for once. They used their intelligence, talents, and determination to overcome all obstacles. The characters were engaging and reacted to events in realistic ways. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense and look forward to the next in this series.

An interesting book with some bits of history and art and a smidgen of romance, set in Germany. I’m always intrigued by secret societies and Speranza is right up my alley. Throw in a few castles and I’m sold. I like the story and the characters, wonderful suspense. I have some question marks about the groups of women living in the snow in the park. I live in Germany and groups of women and children who do not choose to be homeless would be in emergency shelters. Even if they weren’t, they’d go to the winter emergency shelters. Then there are several mentions of needing money for medical bills and university. In Germany medical bills are paid for by your insurance and university is free. Then there’s a trip in a helicopter. The way it is written, you’d think that Venice is just beyond Munich instead of some 400 km down the road. Never mind it’s winter, there’s snow and you have to fly over some pretty high mountains - with no doors! Lastly, German words are used, but some of them are misspelled. Too bad, paying a little bit more attention to the details would give such an authentic flavor.

This book is a mix of Dan Brown and James Bond. It’s suspenseful, there are secret messages to be decoded, treasures to be found and people to be rescued. The main characters pretty much go non-stop (I got pretty tired imagining everything they were doing), the bad guys always find them and the good guys always get out of scrapes. They have a team that can hack into anything and find whatever information is needed. It emphasizes the power of teamwork. It’s very enjoyable seeing how inventive they are in getting away. I find the story itself well thought-out and not your everyday suspense novel. There are lots of details and watching it unfold is part of the fun. Unrealistic? Without a doubt. Fun to read? Absolutely.

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House for providing me with an ARC. I was not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are my own.