"From New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller M.J. Rose comes a provocative and moving story of a young female architect in post-World War II Manhattan, who stumbles upon a hidden treasure and begins a journey to discovering her mother's life during the fall of the Romanovs.

Sophia Moon had always been reticent about her life in Russia and when she dies, suspiciously, on a wintry New York evening, Isobelle despairs that her mother's secrets have died with her. But while renovating the apartment they shared, Isobelle discovers something among her mother's effects-a stunning silver tiara, stripped of its jewels.

Isobelle's research into the tiara's provenance draws her closer to her mother's past-including the story of what became of her father back in Russia, a man she has never known. The facts elude her until she meets a young jeweler, who wants to help her but is conflicted by his loyalty to the Midas Society, a covert international organization whose mission is to return lost and stolen antiques, jewels, and artwork to their original owners.

Told in alternating points of view, the stories of the two young women unfurl as each struggles to find their way during two separate wars. In 1915, young Sofiya Petrovitch, favorite of the royal household and best friend of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, tends to wounded soldiers in 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.

In M.J. Rose's deftly constructed narrative, the secrets of Sofiya's early life are revealed incrementally, even as Isobelle herself works 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. The two strands play off each other in finely-tuned counterpoint, building to a series of surprising and deeply satisfying revelations."

You say Romanovs, I say hell yes!

This is a story which takes place in Russia during the revolution and in New York City in the late 1940s. It deals with the "lost" Romanov treasures as well as the lives and loves of everyday Russians forced to emigrate to escape the poverty and persecution of the revolutionaries.

What made this book interesting to me was that the author managed to inject so much information about Faberge and other jewelers and the wonderful creations they concocted for the Romanovs. Who would think that the lives of jewelers could be so interesting?

I found the story to be sad on so many levels - of paths that never crossed; information and history not shared; and trust not willingly given. However as in all good mysteries, the loose ends come to a satisfying conclusion in the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mixture of history and romance.

With this book I've discovered that I really enjoy reading books that take place in the 1940s to 1950s. I look forward to reading more from this time period.

I enjoyed the alternating timelines. I read a book similar to this last year and learned I enjoy puzzling out the mysteries between the two timelines.

The characters made this book for me. I loved Sophia's collections and what she'd done with their apartment. Isobelle's ambition to succeed in her career and to take on the task of making the apartment her own was another thing I enjoyed reading. I loved that her aunt was just upstairs and knew Isobelle wouldn't cook for herself and make her meals.

I did not see the twist coming at the end. I knew something was up, but hadn't worked it out exactly.

The only thing I wish we had gotten was something from the author telling us how she'd come up with this story line. I know the majority, if not all, was fabricated. But I'd like some actual historical information on how the story came about. But that's just my own preference.

The jewels that once adorned the tiara have been gone for almost two decades, but the frame has remained hidden behind the wallpaper of her mother's bedroom. Isobelle begins following the clues left behind to find out more about her mother. In a dual timeline, her mother Sofiya is helping out as a nurse in St. Petersburg during WW I. How does the tiara come into her possession? What really happened to Isobelle's father? Can Isobelle trust the handsome, young jeweler who is helping her follow the clues? Or does he have ulterior motives? I enjoyed this mystery and found that the last few chapters were well worth the read. It took a bit longer to get there, though, so not a 5-star read for me.

Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Tiara was a good read that was a little slow going , but a worthwhile read for historical fiction fans. It was apparent that M.J. Rose poured a lot of energy into research and creating a beautiful story of mystery and family. Russian history is a setting that I like to see and Rose wrote a great book. 5 stars

Obviously a lot of research went into the makings of this historical fiction. Makes you really think about how much real art was forged and smuggled during war times and where is the real object. I had taken a Russian History elective in college years ago, so I found it all quite interesting. The characters were a little irritating at times and events moved a little slower than I wanted them to, but overall a really good read.The intimate descriptions could have been completely eliminated as they were not integral to the story and it is unlikely that women even thought in those tones, or likely to be with a divorced person,as divorces were rare in those days.
I was provided an advanced reader copy but was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the ARC!

I have always been fascinated by Russian history and this book met my curiosity so well! I loved the alternating timeline between mother and daughter and the way Ms Rose revealed information one layer at a time. And the plot twist at near the end was great! I didn’t see it coming! It’s a well crafted historical mystery with a splash of romance and I truly enjoyed it!

There is so much in this book that is totally my vibe! Switching POVs, different timelines, historical fiction, a mystery of sorts, and a bit of romance.

The Last Tiara follows Sofiya/Sophia, a Russian emigre who's guarded about her past, and her daughter, Isobelle, who tries to piece together Sofiya's story after her death.

It took me a while to get into this, and it wasn't until about 20% or 25% in that I was fully locked into the story. Isobelle's backstory was the only thing I found interesting at first; I wanted to know all about her friendships, her prior position, her failed romance. Once I got into it, though, I was thoroughly enjoying the ride. The way the two timelines are weaved together is masterful. I never felt that things in one timeline or another were lagging or happening too quickly; the pacing is great and the parallels between Sofiya and Isobelle are lovely to follow. I don't often connect to stories about mother-daughter relationships, and while there isn't actually much interaction between these two throughout the book, their relationship still feels real and tender and complex.

The four main characters in this are well-developed. I understand them, and even when they annoyed the hell out of me (which happened quite a bit), I fully bought their intentions and motivations. The same cannot be said for the primary antagonist in this book, though. It seemed like they put in an awful lot of effort over and over again for not much gain and unclear motives. Just to be a selfish jerk? Was that it? Sadly, this made the climax fall flat for me. It felt like we were moving stiffly towards an inevitable conclusion.

I also wanted more resolution to Isobelle's story, particularly when it came to her work. After taking up so much of her narrative, I expected some big finale there and was disappointed to get the briefest mention of it at the end. Sometimes switching perspectives means that a character gets shortchanged, and that does happen a bit here. I would have been satisfied with an entire book just about Isobelle if it meant that we got to know more about her from start to finish.

Overall, this is a solid story about grief, memory, and the ways in which we try to protect ourselves from the past. Having a little mystery and romance in the mix doesn't hurt!

I really wanted to love this book, but it was just too slow. The story is beautiful, as are the characters, but I just felt like nothing ever happened. If you love Russian history, this book might be suited better to you than it was to me. Just be prepared for a very slow burn.

This book made me remember why I really like historical fiction. I don’t read as much of it as I used to and this book made me wonder why. It is told in the dual points of view of a mother and daughter. The mother’s story takes place after World War I during the Bolshevik take over of Russia. In the daughter’s timeline (1948 New York City)) the mother has been dead for a year. The daughter knows nothing of her mother’s life in Russia. Her story revolves around solving the mysteries surrounding her mother. This is a well written story that any historical fiction fan would enjoy.

This was an OK read but it was almost doing too much and most of all it was doing too much "telling" and not enough showing.

It is told with a dual narrative and I was more interested in Sophia's story than Isobelle's by far. The glimpses of life during the war and after the revolution, the change in Russian life and society were interesting and could have been played up more. Same for mentions of Russian emigres in NYC, how they coped, how they got by.

Wonderful line about Sophia having to bury the past or it would bury her, oof!

The pace was very slow, it was slowed down by too many descriptions of rooms and clothing and looks, much of which could have been cut out and the book would not be the worse for it. There was also an excessive amount of showing off knowledge, about fashion and architecture and art, that again did not benefit the book much and wasn't woven into the story very well.

As for the characters there wasn't a lot of development, except for Carpathian I didn't get to know anyone, I didn't read much that like "Ah, that is so Sofyia"except for Carpathian. There was a lot of dialogue that read more like facts and statements than conversation, instead of giving characters personalities. Well main characters anyway, Aunt Lana and Professor Sokolov felt oddly personable and defined in contrast with the rest of the characters.

As I read the description plot of this book, I thought it sounded intriguing with history, mystery and romance. A winning combination. The story is written in alternating chapters of mother in 1917 Russia and daughter in the late 1940’s in NYC. It could have been a great novel, I thought it was a little long. Sofiya’s story was rich in history of the Russian Czar’s family, the family jewels and their abdication of the throne. On the other hand, Isobel (the daughter), drove me crazy! Her time in Tennessee was not really necessary to the story. She was whiny and shallow. Call me a prude, but I don’t need descriptions of intimate moments either. I really wanted to love this book but it just missed the mark. I also think it would have been nice for the author to have shared notes of the history, fact and fiction. If you have a lot of extra time, don’t mind some sexual scenes and love history, I would give it a shot. I did read the entire book because I wanted the mystery solved!!! "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This book combines all of the things that M.J. Rose has established as her signature style for her historical fiction titles: artistic theme, paranormal/transcendental element, romance, and mystery. Rose uses WWI and the demise of the Romanov dynasty as a catapult to a mystery that spans countries and time. The dual timeline works well as the stories merge together through the unravelling of the mystery. Some of the plot twists are obvious while others are not. It was a fantastically original book that showcases Rose's love and appreciation of art.

A book that involves lost jewelry, the Romanovs, Russia, and mystery? I am all in! The Last Tiara is a fabulous read. It’s fast paced, switching from 1915-1949 intermittently to tell Sophia’s story as Isobelle attempts to solve the riddles of her mother’s past. I loved the mystery and all the intricacies of the story, including the last big twist, which I had actually caught earlier by something a character said, but only realized it later. I do have two things to nitpick about. It’s historical fiction butGD Olga would never have said that her father was thinking of abdicating in 1915 and the author writes the family was in Ekaterinburg by Dec. 1917. Actually they were still in Tobolsk. Other than those easily remedied mistakes, it’s well worth reading.

M. J. Rose writes an amazing novel that will entrance you from the very beginning with a beautiful story told in alternating points of view. This unforgettable novel is based on events post-WWII and told in a frame where the present meets the past. I am honored to have read this prior to publication as the novel is a truly inspiring story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature bringing us together.

This novel is truly amazing and one I could not put down. Make sure to put it on your must-read list this year. I highly recommend this book to those who love WWII period genre novels.

Very enjoyable book that made me want to keep reading.

The chapters switch back and forth from Sofiya's viewpoint (mainly her time in Russia) to her daughter, Isobelle's, in 1948. You gradually learn the story of how and why Sofiya left Russia for the US, and how the "last tiara" ties in to her story.

There are one or two plot twists, that unfortunately were not a surprise to me. There is some romance on the part of both women.

I found the book enjoyable, but not quite worthy of 5 stars. I found it better than the last book of Rose's that I read, "Cartier's Hope", so if you've read that one and liked it then definitely consider this one.

Written in alternating points of view, this book is a beautiful blend of historical fiction, romance, and mystery.

In 1915, Sofiya is a nurse in a Russian war hospital. The makeshift hospital is the former winter home of her dear friends, the Romanovs. For Sofiya, the past is meant to be closed, sealed, and not brought up again.

In 1948, Isobelle, a New York City architect, discovers a mysterious tiara while renovating her deceased mother's apartment. What is the story of the tiara, stripped of its jewels and concealed inside the wall? What was her mom's life like—the life she didn't want to talk about?

I enjoyed the mystery of the tiara—an actual treasure still missing to this day—and the characters associated with its disappearance. I also enjoyed the references to Russian history and fall of the Romanovs. The romantic scenes didn't seem to help move the story along. But I'm not a romance reader!

A big thank you to Net Galley for my advance copy of this novel—my first MJ Rose book. I plan to check into other titles by this author.

History, mystery, and a little bit of romance combine to make this historical novel engrossing!

In 1947 Isobelle Moon, a young architect, was working on a government job in Tennessee when she was called home to New York. Her mother had been struck by a car and died shortly afterward. After completing her assignment in Tennessee, Isobelle returned to New York and moved back in to her childhood apartment.

A year passed by and Isobelle began having dreams about her mother. Sofiya Moon had immigrated to New York from Russia in 1922 when life became desperate after the revolution. Whenever Isobelle asked about her father or about her mother’s life in Russia, Sofiya would always tell Isobelle a few stories. But then she would say that their future was in New York and the past was past.

However, when she began to remodel her mother’s apartment, Isobelle made a startling discovery which would change her life forever.

Isobelle and Sofiya’s stories are told in alternating chapters, as the story slowly unfolds to a surprising climax.

Well written with much historical detail and a vivid sense of place, this book is hard to put down. Thank you to Net Galley, Blue Box Press, and author M.J. Rose for giving me the opportunity to read and review it.

I was so excited by the premise of this story. It's full of details and information, the story has so much potential to be mysterious, rich, and engaging. Instead, it altered between predictable, flat, and (sadly) boring. I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this book, but it never hooked me.

I was first entranced by the cover of this book and decided that I had to know more about it. Then the backmatter absolutely hooked me, and I couldn’t wait to read it!

Rose did a fabulous job of weaving history and fiction to bring both her characters and the real historical figures to life. Usually when a story is told of the Grand Duchesses of the Romanov family, it centers around Anastasia. She is never actually mentioned in this book, which was kind of refreshing. I enjoyed learning a bit about the eldest of the Grand Duchesses, Olga and Tatiana, and their work as nurses during WWI, even though that was only a small bit of the breadth of the story.

It was easy to see how much research the author put into this story, incorporating everything from troikas and Fabergé to Agatha Christie and Gregory Peck to Bolsheviks and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. To be able to take all these seemingly disparate bits and meld them into one cohesive and interesting tale is impressive, and I really did enjoy both the grand scope and the intricate details.

I do have to admit that it took me a while to really get into the story. It begins with Isobelle’s voice, and for some reason, I found it difficult to connect with at first. I picked the book up and put it down five or six times in that first chapter, reading other books in between, before I finally found myself getting sucked into the story. Once I did get lost in the narrative, however, it was fascinating. Now, I need to check out M.J. Rose’s other work!

I would definitely recommend you grab this book when it comes out in February 2021. And if you find yourself, like me, not quite sure of the story at first, don’t give up. It is seriously worth the read. An easy 4 out of 5 stars.

Many thanks to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂