NYC 1910 the Hope Diamond with tales of being cursed is for sale but is there more to this diamond than people are lead to believe? Women are fighting for equal rights. Vera Garland is the daughter of a wealthy merchant and takes on a pseudonym of Vee Swann in order to be an investigative journalist. Vera finds herself fighting for the rights of the those less privileged and injustices suffered. When her father dies she discovers a secret he has keep from her and the tragedy behind her uncles death. On a path to avenge her uncle and father's death she will go undercover and investigate the Hope diamond and Catier's tales. Vera friends Jacob Asher the jeweler for Mr. Cartier but she gets more than what she bargained for. With her heart on the line and a story to write decisions will have to made and discoveries will lead to revelations.

A great read. Loved the historical part and it just makes you want to learn more about the Hope Diamond. If you enjoy historical fiction pick this up. M.J. Rose doesn't disappoint.

This story follows Vera Garland, also known as intrepid girl reporter Vee Swann, as she tries to avenge the deaths of her father and uncle. Through the events in this book, Vera finds that her purpose and the one thing she will value above all else. The story of the Hope Diamond and its arrival in the United States and eventual sale are interwoven among the main story, making it an even more interesting tale. I enjoy how this author uses her beautiful stories to bring to life different historical time periods.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. This story was set at the turn of the Twentieth Century during the Gilded Age in New York City. Vera Garland, the main character and narrator of the story, lives a privileged life as the daughter of a wealthy family. She also works as a newspaper reporter by the name of Vee Swan--much to her mother's disapproval. When secrets are revealed after her father's sudden death, Vera finds herself on a mission. I am afraid I was disappointed in the way the story unfolded and I did not find Vera or Vee very likeable. The book title refers to Pierre Cartier and the Hope Diamond--something that Vera pretends she has an interest in buying as she seeks out a story. She falls in love with one of Cartier's employees who has secrets of his own. There was a twist to the ending, but it wasn't enough to salvage the story. Just not my cup of tea, I'm afraid, and I really had high hopes for this one.

I really enjoyed this book. Set in Gilded Age New York, it tells the story of Vera Garland, a 32-year old society woman - unmarried, much to her mother's chagrin. Vera also has an alias - bold and brash Vee Swann, investigative reporter. After her father's death, she uncovers a secret about him that will require both of her personas working together to bring justice. There's a bit of romance and even the Hope Diamond plays a big part.

The Gilded Age is a period in history that interests me so I was happy to get this advanced reading copy. The main character, Vera Garland, is a strong woman and I enjoyed reading about her society life. Her alternate life as the newspaper reporter Vee Swann was equally fascinating. I think that the author gave much insight into the social mores and conventions of the time and handled the family secret well.

Actual raining 3.5/5 stars

I’m a big fan of this author and was excited to get the chance to read an early copy of this book. I enjoyed the story, liked the pluckiness of the main character!
I thought the information about gems interesting.
I was surprised at the little twist at the end. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

Mixed feelings about this book. Enjoyed that the story was easy to read, and there were moments where I related very much to the main character, Vera Garland. The story touched on so many social issues, though, that I felt like the author was trying to accomplish too much in a short time span without giving a lot of weight to any one thing. The ending almost seemed rushed and too neat. Overall enjoyable book, though, and one that I would recommend.

This is a tale of thwarted goals, disappointments in romance, conditional and unconditional family love, and revenge. It is also a tale of friendship, understanding, and self awareness. All of this swirls around Vera, a member of the 400 in New York society who wishes to make her own way as a journalist, alter ego Vee Swann. Vera/Vee plots to expose the man she holds responsible for the deaths of her beloved father and her uncle using the hype surrounding the Hope Diamond for sale at Cartier's. I found it to be a very satisfying tale with unexpected twists.

4/5 ⭐️
This was a super good historical fiction in the 1911s with a journalist who reports on the Hope Diamond. I liked how the main character was a woman who perused a correct that most wouldn’t consider a job for a woman back then. The story was entertaining as well.

It's 1910, and socialite Vera Gardner has a secret life; that of Vee Swann, female journalist and undercover investigator. Feeling strangled by the restrictions placed on women and the rules she is expected to follow (get married, have children, do good works) Vera plunges into the world of investigative journalism with a will, covering stories that would make her society sisters blanch with the intent to cause social change. Female journalists are rare, overworked, underappreciated and underpaid but Vee thrives on it despite the hardships and approbation of her family. But with the death of her father Vera learns a startling secret, and her investigation becomes personal, as she tries to get justice (or is it vengeance?) for a wrong done to her family. Along the way she is attracted to the mysterious jeweler working for Pierre Cartier, who may be able to help her achieve her goals, but at what cost? And what if he discovers that she is not just Vera, but also Vee?

A sensual story set in a time that is both glittering and ghastly, Cartier's Hope is about trust and love, deception and revenge, and begs the question, does the end truly justify the means? And at what cost? An absolute must read!

As any book lover will tell you, discovering a new author that you really enjoy is a wonderful thing! Cartier's Hope is the first book I have read by M.J. Rose and I have already purchased another. I was drawn to this book because I am from a jewelry family and knew I would like to read about the Hope Diamond and Cartier. While I did learn about the Hope Diamond, there were several sub plots that were more prevalent than the jewel itself. Rose seamlessly intertwines information about the Hope Diamond with a fictional family and their lives in the early 1900s. Cartier's Hope touches on several social issues such as women in the work place, women choosing work over marrying and caring for a family, as well as living conditions of immigrants. Of course there is a little mystery and intrigue thrown in. I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other works by M.J. Rose. Great historical fiction.

M.J. Rose is a well-known master storyteller, and Cartier’s Hope is one more addition to her arsenal. The main character, Vera Garland, is a strong minded “modern woman’ of the 1910’s seeking a career over marriage and children. Her investigative reporting has already garnered accolades. She becomes embroiled in a scheme to set up and uncloak a blackmailer, using information about the Hope Diamond to tantalize the criminal. While digging into the history of the diamond, she learns more about the marketing, showmanship and potential deception used by reputable jewelers to create interest in the rare gem.
Vera, whose pen name is Vee Swan, moves between the gilded society in which she was raised and the common people she interacts with as a reporter. Her stories capture the dichotomy between the haves and have nots, and the inequity of her class. Throw in a handsome diamond cutter with secrets of his own, and the story moves along at a clip.
While it’s not a deep dive into history, the story provides enough to pique the reader’s interest and possibly lead to more informative research independently. Fans of the Hope Diamond will enjoy reading a sampling of its history as well.
Thank you to MJ Rose and NetGallery for the ARC. In exchange I have provided my unbiased opinion.

I was looking forward to reading this book but unfortunately it did not meet my expectations. The editing is not up to par, the plot is inconsistent and the character is not well developed. There are mistakes with respect to the time period that the book is set in and overall it just fell short..

I am reviewing this book for Library Journal, it will be published at a later date so you can see my full review there

If you love books filled with luxury, beautiful gems, and exquisite tailoring, you'll love "Cartier's Hope". Rose blends emotions with compelling storytelling in an historical setting that sparkles like the Hope diamond she describes in her story.

Although I've enjoyed other books by this author, I simply could not connect to Cartier's Hope, which seemed a bit all over the place (in terms of story/editing). The inconsistent storyline was difficult to keep my interest, and as much as I liked Vera/Vee, the style of this book was not one I wanted to finish. DNF.

NetGalley provided me a copy of this book for a fair review.

I really enjoy reading historical fiction, especially when the author has done considerable research into the era being depicted.

Set in an era where women's rights were constantly being challenged, we are given a front row glimpse into the challenges women in the field of journalism needed to overcome. One can certainly understand how these women added their own voices to the suffragette movement at the time.

However, for a book based on historical facts, I found there were too many modern sensibilities and lines of thought incorporated into the plot which really thinned it out.

This is exactly what I want in a book! And I never thought I would say that about a book that’s not a mystery.
Teach me more about life in the early 1900s. Add the Hope diamond, Cartier’s, Tiffany’s and women journalists fighting for their right to work. Characters from all levels of society interact and deal with what life sends their way, both good and bad. All done in the best storytelling.
Yes, this book made me very happy.

Cartier’s Hope by M.J. Rose is a fictional story about the famous diamond and a journalist, Vera Garland. Vera comes from a wealthy family and yearns for a career instead of the expected future of marriage. Under a pen name to escape her upper class life, and so as not to embarrass her family, Vera/Vee Swann establishes herself as a lower class investigative reporter.

The fascinating Hope Diamond history is recounted, and the premise is that Cartier exploits the diamond’s bad luck history to increase its value.

While the story is good and M.J. Rose does a nice job of writing about the time, I think it falls short for the billing as a “romantic historical mystery”. The Garland family secrets were abundant and provided some unexpected twists, and I was glad when the early pace of the story eventually picked up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eGalley of Cartier’s Hope, and this review of my opinion is freely given.

This book is a very satisfying read. Set in 1910, the heroine is a wealthy woman who also works as a newspaper reporter trying to right the wrongs of society. Her efforts to avenge her father’s death, create a better world and find personal satisfaction are timeless.
I enjoyed this book very much.