I enjoyed this work of historical fiction. The opulence and poverty of NY in the Gilded Age was fascinating to read about. Vera was a strong character and I admired her independence.
Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Where there is money to be made, greed and ego will often bring corruption. In the glamor and glitz of high end jewelry sales in an age of overindulgence one fiery woman will strive to make a mark for women everywhere through her insightful and hard-hitting investigative journalistic skills.

Wealthy, yet living a separate life, Vera Garland writes under a pseudonym and discovers something dark and tainted in the history of the prized Hope Diamond, as its owner, Cartier attempts to build it a tale of mystery and intrigue.

In a land and era where the masses struggle daily, the wealthy and privileged preen and scheme for a greater share of the spoils of commerce. One woman will fight for equality, integrity, honesty all while finding a way to impose retribution against those with no concern for the laborers beneath them. Will Vera create a way to bridge the injustice between the haves and have-nots grows.

CARTIER’S HOPE by M.J. Rose contains a brilliant heroine who is the true gem within this tale. The atmosphere is heavy, dark and there is no sense of “action,” those who are looking for a rapid-fire pace. The action lives within Vera, who made this otherwise slow moving book for me.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Atria Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for my thoughts.

Set in the early 1900's we find the socialite, Vera AKA Vee Swann, the gossip columnist. A daddy's girl who seems always at odds with her mother.
There were many parts of this book that we're entertaining. The author brought in the mysterious stories that surround the Hope Diamond and the theatrics of Cartier. Tidbits of the women' rights movement were touched upon and the disparaging way some women were treated. Some of the descriptions of her thoughts towards the man she falls in love with were breath taking. I enjoyed the intrigue and mystery of her digging around in her father's library and solarium; I could easily visualize these lovely rooms. I was interested in the architecture of the building that house the retail store, restaurant and private residence.

The parts of the book that alluded to a homosexual relationship between Vera's father and uncle were just plain disgusting to me. I really didn't need to read that or the sexual encounters with her lover. If all of that had been left out, I would've enjoyed it so much more. I realize that the author chose these themes and it may appeal to a certain audience but I am not included in that group.

Thank you for the advance reader copy of this novel. I enjoyed this historical fiction set in the gilded age in NYC. Having just seen the hope diamond in DC this book was particularly enjoyable. Main character, Vera, is a journalist and falls for a jeweler while trying to get justice for murder of her dad. The plot moves well and the author did a good job researching facts.

I received a complimentary copy for my honest review.
This is difficult for me. I appreciated the historical details surrounding the women’s suffrage movement in NYC during the gilded age. Details were apt and well written. However, the characters seemed shallow, even the main character, an independent woman reporter was repetitive in her dialogue and actions. It seemed as the emotions were repetitive as were the character descriptions. They all came across flat and one-dimensional and therefore I had trouble connecting to the characters, despite my interest and belief in women's suffrage.
Although based loosely on history it was not entirely a believable plot.

CARTIER’HOPE
By M J Rose



This all encompassing novel covers the topics of family, suicide, death, blackmail, homosexuality, abortion, uncover reporters, aliases, love, theft, fraud, women’s rights, police brutality, high society, underprivileged, and superstitions.
Although I truly enjoyed this novel, it just had too much going on. It is well written and contains some historical aspects as well as being, at times, a romance novel.
I enjoyed receiving this ARC in return for a fair review.

Cartier's Hope, by M.J. Rose, has it all. History, fiction, mystery, greed,, romance, and revenge all come together for this twisted tale of the Hope Diamond. Set in the NYC Gilded Age, this story speaks of jewelry, journalism, riches, and feminism. I enjoyed the sideline stories that coincided with the ownership of this world famous diamond, but they were brief and far between, Vera, aka Vee, was of interesting character, but was driven by vengeance and deceit. I would rather she had been inspired by her intellect and need to exceed.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC in turn for my honest opinion and review.

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

Vera's father has recently died, leaving Vera with an empty feeling and a lack of support from her family as she pursues her passions to become a reporter, something a member of the 400 would never stoop to do. As Vera cleans her father's apartment, she discovers a letter that changes her world. Vera engages with a world of dazzling jewelry, extortion, blackmail, and political movements as she works to get justice for the man she holds responsible for her father's death.
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I absolutely ADORED this book. This was a perfect blend of historical fiction, mystery, strong female characters, and a slight romance that didn't take away from the overall plot of the story. Vera's character arc, flashbacks to her past, her drive were all engaging and helped me understand her motivations. Some of her choices aren't perfect; she lies to people she cares about, avoids difficult conversations, has family issues, but feels very real and never feels completely unlikable. As a reader I was rooting for her. I also really loved the supporting characters and the way that the author was able to weave in some political movements with the women's march for more equality as reporters. I also loved the history of the Hope Diamond and the reference to The Moonstone, one of my favorite classics. The writing was beautiful and light, but dealt with the heavier topics within the story tactfully and in a way that didn't feel glorifying or overly gory. This is definitely a must read book!

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.