I received an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest unbiased review, with thanks to #NetGalley. This book was a fictional account about what may have happened to a Russian Tiara that really has gone missing in real life. It was excellently written and the lush descriptions of the time periods and the characters draw you in and allow to to immerse yourself in the scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery or is interested in the end times of the Russian Tsars.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. It is told from the perspective of two narrators, Sofiya and her daughter Isobelle Moon. Sofiya’s story begins in Russia during the Revolution. Isobelle’s begins after her mother has passed away. She finds the remnants of a tiara buried behind a wall and begins to investigate how it relates to her mother and the true story behind it. It is a fascinating historical novel with a good mystery woven through it. The characters are well developed and interesting. I also learned some new things in history that I wasn’t previously aware of. I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this book.

By mixing fiction and both US and Russian history together, the author spins a tale of two generations of women. One is of a mother, Sofiya, who defects from Russia and refused to discuss her past. The other is her daughter Isobelle, who is doing everything she can to find out about her mother’s past. After her mom passes away, she finds something while renovating her childhood home, and Isobelle is more determined than ever to find out about her mothers past.
As the chapters go from Sofiya’s years in Russia to Isobelle’s life and her quest for answers, the story just sucked me in with the history that was included.
The ending wasn’t exactly how I perceived it to be, but that was alright. I love the ending, nonetheless.
I would recommend this book to those who like a bit of history, mixed with suspense and a tiny bit of romance.
#BlueBoxPress #TheLastTiara #NetGalley

Isobelle is a woman in a man’s world. She is an architect in the 1940s. She has worked on one of the government secret projects. But nothing captures her attention quite like what she discovers about her mother. As Isobelle is cleaning out her mother, Sophia’s, room after her death, she comes across a box with a tiara frame. Isobelle has no idea why her mother has this piece or why it has no jewels.

This story follows Isobelle’s quest and her mother’s past. Isobelle has no knowledge about what has transpired during her mother’s past. Sophia would never talk to her about it or even tell her about her father.

I was immediately captivated about the mystery surrounding the tiara. I love a book which has me researching. Then there is the Russian history mingled through out this novel. Talk about wanting to know more!

I have been a huge fan of this author for quite a while. I love her strong women characters, her historical references and her wonderful mysteries. This story captured all of the above plus it has a little romance thrown in.

Need a good historical mystery with a twist….GRAB THIS ONE TODAY!

As I sit here with tears streaming down my face as I look upon the last pages of this ARC (Thank you NetGalley and AuthorBuzz) I am in awe of this story. Part of my tears may be personal, as I once knew a man who emigrated to NY, who had lost so much because of the war, who spent his life building a legacy as a jewelry, a legacy he then left to me even though I was not his own. I saw so much of him in these pages, and it is a reading experience I will forever treasure.

This story is told in a dual perspective time line, and is a very slow burn. It took time for me to get into it, and there were things I struggle with (her constant questioning and berating of herself because of someone else using her previously and not viewing herself well); however, there were such beautiful moments of heart felt longing, grief, and striving to make it that I couldn’t help but to connect with the characters. Historical isn’t usually my thing, but Romanov history has always been intriguing to me. What makes this book so accessible for those who may not be into history as much is the dual timeline that grounds the story even if it is still dated. I lovely story from an author I have come to trust with her writing style and ability to craft beautiful narratives.

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Last Tiara” by M.J. Rose, February 2021

Wow! M. J. Rose, the author of “The Last Tiara” has written a memorable and thought-provoking novel. The genres for this novel are historical fiction, with suspense, mystery, and romance. There are two timelines set in this story that eventually merge together. One is set during World War One, and the other is set after World War Two. The author describes her unique and dramatic characters as complex and complicated.

There are secrets, betrayals, and danger. Both are told from the point of view of two artistic, creative and courageous women, in different timelines. One is the mother, Sophia, and the other is the daughter Isobelle, who is trying to learn about her mother’s secretive and hidden Russian lifestyle. The mysterious object that the story centers around is a diamond and sapphire tiara that was believed to belong to the Romanoffs. Isabelle discovers hidden in her mother’s wall a tiara without the stones in it.

I love the way M.J. Rose brings has done extensive research in both the history of the times and the history of the gems. She vividly describes the characters, scenery, and plot. There is a wonderfully detailed and intriguing novel that I highly recommend.

MJ Rose always grabs you on page one and holds you in thrall until the end of every book she writes. This one was no different. I am fascinated by any story that is set in Russia during the Revolution and this is another great one. Memorable characters that you will hate to leave behind. A true gem of a book with a gorgeous cover.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read an advance copy of The last tiara by M.J. Rose.
Told in alternating points of view, this is about two young women during two separate wars. In 1915, young Sofiya Petrovitch, from the Royal household and friend to the Grand Duchess works at a makeshift hospital within the grounds of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and finds the love of her life. In 1948 New York, Isobelle Moon works to break through the rampant sexism of the age as one of very few women working in a male-dominated profession and discovers far more about love and family than she ever hoped for while she tries to solve the mystery of the historic Romanov tiara (which is based on an actual Romanov artifact that is, to this day, still missing)—and how it is that her mother came to possess it. I was intrigued by the premise of this story, but became bogged down in the overall story. It seems dual timeline stories are in the thing, and the sometimes this does not work for the story. I did enjoy the historical aspect of the story but found that I became a bit bored with some parts of the story.

The Past and Present Connected by a Tiara

Before the Russian revolution, Sophia lived in St. Petersburg and was close friends with the Tsarinas, Olga and Tatiana. During the height of the conflict, the three girls volunteered in the hospital set up in the Winter Palace. Sophia couldn’t stand the operating theater. Instead she worked in the wards where she met a young office who had lost his memory. She called him Carpathian and fell in love with him. A pregnancy ensued and her parents got her to America before the calamity of the end of the revolution.

Isabelle is Sophia’s daughter. It is now 1948. Sophia has been killed after being struck by a car on a wintry night in New York City. Isabelle inherits the apartment she shared with her mother. Being an architect, she’s eager to renovate the apartment to suit her taste. In the process she discovers a niche in the wall containing a silver tiara from which the jewels have been removed. This leads her on a path of discovery to learn her mother’s secrets.

As usual with M.J. Rose’s books, this is beautifully written with detailed description and accurate historical background. The story is told from two points of view, the mother before the Russian revolution and Isabelle after WWII. As the story unfolds we get to know both women, follow the mystery, and understand why Sophia was so chary about sharing her secrets with Isabelle.

I highly recommend this book. It draws you in. The characters are people you would like to know and the historical detail is fascinating.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The Last Tiara is the story of Isobel, her mother Sofia and a tiara. The story is told from both women’s perspectives, Isobel’s in 1948 NYC trying to discovery her mother’s past and the history of the tiara, and Sophia’s from 1916-1919 in Russia surviving the revolution and escaping to America and deciding to leave everything behind her, including her last name.

The story was well developed, the characters had depth and were like able in both story lines. I wanted to know what happened next. This book was so good I read it all in one sitting which is unusual for me.

This is perfect if you like historical fiction, especially about Imperial Russia. It has just the right amount romance and mystery. I can’t wait to read more by the author!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A beautifully written historical romance filled with mystery. Wonderfully strong female characters. Interesting and charismatic men. The story alternates between 2 timelines, Isobelle’s in 1948, and her mother Sofiya’s in 1915. The transitions between the timelines are well defined and easy to follow. The settings of their stories are exquisitely detailed. The family secrets Isobelle struggles to unwind draw you deeply into the story, never lessening their grip on you. I enjoyed this book very much and would definitely recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written book. I loved the dual timelines of Sofiya Petrovitch (Sophia Moon) and her daughter Isobelle Moon. It was very well done, filled with much history, mystery and romance. I was immediately captivated by the story and found it hard to put down. Another fabulous book by M. J. Rose. She never disappoints.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose is striking from the very beginning with so much detail. The descriptions are so overwhelming with a lack of character development. I struggled from the beginning to connect with both the characters and the plot.

Happy publication day to this beauty! It was my first MJ Rose book and it did not disappoint. A beautifully spun story filled with mystery and romance taking place in Russia and NYC. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a historical fiction novel to get lost in. Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for the free advanced copy in return for my honest review.

The Last Tiara was a very enjoyable historical fiction novel set in the years after World War II. The story introduces two main characters Sofiya and her daughter Isobelle. The layout is interesting because each chapter is by either Sofiya, which is a flashback, or Isobelle, which is modern day. The author's use of this story structure kept me interested because each chapter gave a cause and effect type feeling throughout the entirety of the novel that kept the story interesting without any lulls.

I felt the author's research into art being used as a currency during World War II was spot on, and really gives the reader a feel into how families lost everything they had. Families not only lost family members but precious family heirlooms that to this day still have not been returned to their rightful owners. We all know how horrible World War II was but the emotional aspect of it was just as bad or worse than the physical. M.J. Rose's story gave an example of how families lost touch and how some individuals wanted to erase their whole history during the war and start a completely new life.

I was very touched by the love that Sofiya had for Isobelle to the point of trying to protect her from the harsh realities of why she had to leave Russia and completely cut off all family ties. Isobelle did not understand her mother's behavior in the beginning but by the end of the story she sees how much her mom endured and how much she tried to protect her from the horror of it all, which gave Isobelle a new respect for the strong woman her mother was.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Long Maine winters are the perfect time to curl up with great historical fiction, but the Last Tiara is so more than that. It’s a little bit mystery, a little bit romance, and it all adds up to a novel that I had a hard time putting down! There’s something so intriguing about the Romanov family, and M.J. Rose expertly weaves fact with fiction to draw the reader into the story. Add in references to Faberge and a real-life, still missing tiara, and I was completely hooked.

AMAZING! If I had to sum up the book in one word AMAZING would be that word. I am a fan of MJ Rose and have always looked forward to her books. With each story she shares I get to visit new places, meet new characters, and experience a life that happen long ago. Both timelines are set in the past and tell the story of two amazing women, a mother and daughter, and the lives that they are living.

I love that they characters are mother and daughter. Even thought Sofiya has died, she still manages to share her story with Isobelle. The story comes to life as Isobelle finds a tiara while remodeling the apartment she shared with her mother. The tiara tells the story of the life Sofiya lived in Russia, the reason she came to New York, and the life of Isobelle’s father. Both timelines were wonderful. I could picture life in Russia during the war and the hardships that Sofiya and her family were facing. Isobelle in New York brought to life the hard work she does while not getting the respect she deserved and the hope that she will find out the secrets of her family history.

MJ Rose is one of the best authors at historical fiction. I will always read her books and recommend them to any historical fiction fans.

My second love in book genres is historical fiction. I have seen books by M.J. Rose but had not read any. When I saw that this story is about Russian history, I had to read it. One of my favorite time periods to read about is WWII, also. So, this book was right up my alley.

The author tells this mother/daughter story in alternating POVs. It is done very well and is one of my favorite ways that historical fiction is written. I always like hearing the MC’s points of view.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will be reading more of M.J. Rose’s books from here out.

I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it to fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in WWII and Russian history.

I have seen novels by M. J. Rose before, but have not read any as of yet. The premise of this novel intrigued me. I have been fascinated about the Russian Revolution since I was a teenager so was happy to read a novel that has part of the setting during that time.

The novel is set in two time periods, the Russian Revolution and post WWII New York. The story follows Isobelle Moon an architect in 1948 New York, not an occupation that is easy for a woman at that time period. She decides to renovate the apartment that she shared with her mother Sofiya, a survivor of the Russian Revolution who has always been tightlipped about the horrors that she saw an survived. While renovating her mother’s bedroom she finds the frame of a tiara that is missing the jewels. Also found with the tiara is a receipt for the sale of the jewels. Isobelle decides to investigate. At the jewelers, she meets Jules Reed, the grandson of the jeweler that purchased the diamonds. The two of them decide to trace the tiara and the story behind it and how it came to be in Sofiya’s posession.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the dual time period and the chapters on the Russian Revolution really interested me. I recommend this book for lovers of Historical Fiction and Mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley, M. J. Rose and the publisher Blue Box Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose is a mystery using two timelines to tell a complicated story of love in the time of the Russian revolution. Isobelle Moon still missed her mother who had been dead for a year, run over crossing the street. Her mother had been her world, despite the fact that she had kept secrets, secrets that only know was Isobelle starting to unravel as she began the remodel on her mother's apartment, now hers. It's 1948 and Isobelle is an architect, one of the few women in the profession. Her career is not moving as quickly as some of the men's; two reason: she is female and she is honest. After she finds the metal tiara and a receipt for the sale of diamonds, she goes to the jewelry store, right near her work, to see if she can get further information. There she meets Jules Reed, the grandson of the man who had purchased the diamonds. From there, the two of them make a very odd journey wherein Isobelle finally discovers her mother's story.

M.J. Rose is really good at this kind of story. At it's core, a mystery, but also historical fiction and a romance. Russia at the revolution was a misery. There was no way of protecting oneself from the horrors. The descriptions of the hospital, of the streets, of the Hermitage, are worth the read in and of themselves. The journey is mostly not about bombs and car wrecks, as we think of thriller, but despite the fact there is action, it is really more cerebral than anything. It's about clues and puzzles. It's also about people working together; making discoveries and putting the pieces together. It is an altogether charming story, weaving the story tighter and tighter as they get closer to the solution. I love t his kind of book. I recommend you read it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Last Tiara by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thelastiara