I normally do not like books set in different time periods but I found this one easy to read and follow and recommend to historical fiction lovers.

This book is a MASTERPIECE! MJ Rose, just keeps getting better and better ! This historic mystery will keep you educated about the era it is written in, the characters are flawless in originality, also inviting you in with each chapter to know them alittle more, and seducing you into thinking about “ What will happen next”.. sophisticated intelligent writing at its best. I for one will be purchasing several hardback copies for gifts! Her book covers are always gorgeous and mysterious! This one is a jewel 💎 of a book!

This is a romantic historical mystery told from two perspectives - Sofiya Petrovich’s in Russia leading up to and during the Russian Revolution and Isobella Moon’s in New York City in post World War II. The story alternates chapters between Isobella and her mother, Sofiya (Americanized to Sophia Moon on arrival in the United States).

I did enjoy the characters and the two story lines, each including a romantic relationship. There was a justified need for establishing settings and moods, however, too often excessive detail was given which interrupted the flow of the story. The mystery of the tiara was very casually woven through both women’s storylines and only intensified very near the end of the book, which gave a good “punch” to the story.

I received a free copy of “The Last Tiara” from NetGalley for my honest review. There are a few scenes that handle intimate relations without very graphic details, but in general, I can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history and romance.

I loved the premise of this book, but I found the execution quite lacking, with too much exposition and stilted dialogue. I did enjoy the twist about the tiara's real purpose toward the end.

This book alternates between Russia at the time of the Romanovs and New York City after WWII as a woman tries to figure out her deceased mother’s mysterious past after finding a tiara . I thought the ending was a little too contrived, but it was a very enjoyable read

The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose Is about romantic love and parent child love. I found out what Midas Society is.And I learned a little about the Russian Revolution.

I received a copy of this from Netgalley. What a beautiful story! I love historical fiction & especially Russian history. This story did not disappoint. The characters were described perfectly throughout this story. The description of the jewels was absolutely wonderful! I imagined myself holding & looking at each jewel.
A must read. Thank you!!

This captivated me from the moment I read the summary and this book didn’t disappoint. The dual story kept me engaged and eager to find out more. The characters were well developed and I absolutely loved this book!

The concept was interesting, the characters not so much, especially Isobelle. Understandably the author had to have a jumping off point to set the story in motion. However, for me reading about Russia and the tiara in 1917 and going forward, was much more to my liking. I definitely could have done without Isobelle's background when it came to her brief "affair" with her boss. I could have done without her constant questions...to be honest I could have done without her. The historical plot of this novel is what I found so much more interesting. I have enjoyed reading M.J. Rose's novels in the past, I usually like her writing style. This one was mediocre if only because of Isobelle's portion of the story. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for this book. The story is intriguing. It alternates between two time periods. One set in 1915 Russia and another during the 1940s.The world build up was quite interesting.However, I did not find the two main characters to be that much strong. Overall it was a good story especially for historical fiction readers.

A start so slow that I almost gave up reading, but I am glad I powered through! An interesting mystery about Russian jewels, love, betrayal, feminism, and history.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Historical fiction romance starting with The Russian Revolution and continue after WWII about mother and daughter and a Tiara.
Great drama, mystery intrigue,suspense,and romance.
Good read.
Voluntarily reviewed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The story takes the reader through the Russian revolution, with Sophia, and then across the ocean to New York after WWII, with Isobelle. The author captures these eras very well
I loved the alternating timelines between Sophia and her daughter, Isobelle. The mystery of the tiara, and why it is so valuable is secondary to the love story of Sophia and Carpathian, my favorite part of the book.
While the ending seemed a bit forced, I found this a very satisfying read.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis of this book. It sounded really interesting and I was eager and invested in the beginning of this story. However, it began to get repetitive, there was no real progress in the mystery until the end, and I was bored and skimming by the end. I so wish there was more character development in the beginning. I wasn't able to connect enough to the characters to care about the outcome of the book. The unnecessary details to random thoughts or objects were distracting and insignificant. I wanted to enjoy this book, but I guess it just wasn't for me.

Looking for a great story with a little history, mystery, romance, and great characters? The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose has it all.

Thank you Netgalley, Blue Box Press, and M.J. Rose for the ARC.

"The Last Tiara" by M.J. Rose is a beautifully written Historical Fiction novel!

In 1915 Russia, Sofiya Petrovitch and best friend Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, volunteer to help wounded soldiers at the makeshift hospital at the St. Petersburg Winter Palace. It is here that Sofiya meets a wounded soldier, the attraction between them is magnetic and they soon fall in love. Through the years, although their love remains strong, their relationship is plagued by a country in turmoil that tragically separates them time after time.

In 1922, Sofiya's father, knowing she is pregnant and fearing for her future in Russia, is able to arrange for her safe travel to America. As Sofiya departs, she leaves with few possessions. Her most precious is a sapphire and diamond tiara given to her by her dear friend Grand Duchess Olga shortly before the Tsar's fall from power and the disappearance of the Romanov family. Once in America, Sofiya changes her name to Sofia Moon, only speaks English never Russian, does not date or marry. She refuses to respond to her daughter's questions concerning her life in Russia or answer the constant curiosities she has about the father she never knew.

In 1948, Isobelle Moon is an architect living in New York City in the apartment she always shared with her mother, Sophia. After her mother's death, Isobelle starts renovating the apartment beginning with her mother's bedroom, when she discovers a blue leather box hidden in the wall. Inside the box is a silver tiara, all stones are missing, along with two receipts, dated 1930, from Alford Reed, a jeweler in New York City. Why did her mother have this tiara and where did it come from? Isobelle knows little about her mother. Always denied any entry to her mother's past, often telling Isobelle, "America is our present and our future. The past needs to stay there."

The chapters alternating between mother and daughter, reveal Sofiya's life in Russia from 1915 through 1922, and in 1948, Isobelle's describes her journey of discovery linking the tiara to her mother's past. Their lives together are complicated by Sofia's intentional secrets. Isobelle only knows denial when attempting to learn about her family in Russia. The outcome for Isobelle is overwhelming insecurities about herself, her relationships and her hopes for the future.

My favorite genre is Historical Fiction and when it's mixed with Romance and Mystery, it becomes that 'over-the-top' read for me! The historical aspects in this book are well researched and transport me instantly to the various locations in this story. The romance is written with tenderness and passion. The mystery held my interest and kept me guessing, but not knowing, until the end! I also learned a few historical facts, and that's always a good thing! I highly recommend this book!
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Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love historical fiction. This author does a great job of weaving two love stories, one of a mother and one of her daughter, with the story of the Romanov family and the end of their reign. Great read, to which you will be glad you gave your time.

Another great book from M.J. Rose! Set in Russia and then New York, during WW1 and after the Second World War, the book starts with Isobelle Moon, daughter of a Russian immigrant and one of the few female architects in her time, is redoing the apartment in which she grew up with her mom when she finds something hidden in the wall. Her mother Sophia has always been reluctant to talk about her life before moving to New York, and when she dies any hope Isobelle has for learning about her mothers past seems to disappear. Finding a tiara in the wall makes her determined to learn more, and takes her on a twisted arcane path through art and antiquities dealers among others to learn the truth.

In 1915, Sophia is best friends with Grand Duchess Olga, is working as a nurse treating soldiers when she meets a dashing young soldier she calls Carpathian. They fall in love but war is fickle and their life is hardly smooth. It’s here that the tiara begins its strange journey.

The Last Tiara is an unstoppable read...you won’t want to put it down. I absolutely loved it!

There is so much Isobelle Moon doesn't know about her mother Sophie's life in Russia. Now with her dead, she believes she will never know much about her mother and about the father she never knew. While searching through her mother's belongings, Isobelle finds a tiara with the stones missing. Intrigued by this she seeks out a jeweler to tell her if it is valuable and tries to determine how her mother managed to have it in her possessions. The plot follows a storyline with Sophie's tales of living in Tsarist Russia during World War I and Isobelle's
life in New York during the 1940s. Much of her mother's story takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia, and as I have visited there, it brought the novel alive to me. I look forward to other books by this author.