*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

1.5 stars

I found it very confusing and difficult to get into the story because the author started talking about something and she kept quoting names and dates over and over.
I do not know if these names and dates are true or if they are invented.
This book is told from two different points of view, one in Russia by Isobelle's mother and the other in New York by Isobelle and being very sincere I only liked the part of Russia, in fact, I loved to accompany Sofia, if the book were only Sofia's part in Russia I would have liked this book much more.
The author tries in the story to bring a little bit of how women are devalued in jobs that are predominantly done by men but I think she was not able to work it very well and ended up falling into some eye-rolling clichés like the fact that Isobelle is not attractive like other women and not even feminine but how it makes her more successful at work, I understand that this book is set in 1948 but even so it was written in the present times the author didn’t need to bring this topic this way.
In terms of plot is not bad, the story of the mystery of Tiara and the life of Isobelle’s mother is very interesting, but the story has many things that happen conveniently to help the plot move forward, the author even tries to justify in the story that is destiny and coincidence.
I discovered the great plot twist at the end of the story, which was nothing incredible.
In the end, I'm happy that I finished this book and a little disappointed because I didn't stop reading before because I really didn't like this book very much.
Ps: I think the author wanted to show so much that she studied and researched to write this book that she put too much information on it.

I have always been fascinated with the Russian royalty and the early part of the 20th century. The story flips back and forth between the early 1900s to then the 1940s. Great story and great description and very detailed.

For readers of romance as well a lovers of Russian history. Told from two separate points of view, which makes for an interesting style, but it did add to the depth of the characters by describing the same events, but from the perspectives of different characters.

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. The Last Tiara alternatives narratives between Isobelle Moon, and Sofiya Petrovitch (later Sophia Moon). Isobelle's story takes place mostly in New York City in 1948-1949 with stops in Paris and London. Sofiya's story takes place in Russia from 1917-1922.

As the story opens, it has been one year since Isobelle's mother Sophia Moon lost her life tragically. Isobelle is a graduate of architecture school, was part of the secretive Oak Ridge experiments, and now makes her home in New York City where she grew up. Isobelle is a woman struggling to find her place in what is predominantly a man’s world. One night while sifting through her mother's things, she discovers a cubby hole. Inside the cubby hole she finds what looks to be a tiara with Russian writing. Isobelle knew her mother grew up in Russia, but her mother kept her past a secret.

Why would Sophia have a tiara? Where did it come from? Isobelle takes the receipt to a man named Jules Reed who begins Isobelle's journey to discovery the secrets of the woman she called mother. It's sad that Sophia never told her daughter about her past or about her father. It's sad that Sophia couldn't spent 10 minutes telling her daughter about the horrors of Lenin's revolution, and how she ended up surviving. Jules works for an organization called the Midas Society that claims it's goal is to return stolen or lost goods to their owners if they are still alive. But the mystery of the tiara, becomes even more strange when a man shows up claiming to be Isobelle's supposedly dead father.

April 1915, we find Sofiya Petrovitch living in *Petrograd where she is childhood friends with **Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna and her sister Tatiana due to her mother being a private tutor for the princesses. The three young women decide to work as Sister of Mercy Volunteers since Russia is at war. It is here where Sofiya's story really gets interesting. Here she meets a mysterious man who seems to have lost most of his memories as well as parts of his foot. Here is where Sofiya's life changes in many, many ways. It is a turbulent time in Russia. Lenin is leading a massive revolution that will lead to the Tsar resigning, and things changing for the worst.

If you think Communism is so great, I dare you to ask someone who spent their lives living in Russia from 1917-1991 or China that matter. Socialists and Communists claim they are for the people, but they are just as bad or worse than anyone else. They stole things that didn't belong to them. They hoarded other people's property. They forced people into bread lines, and meat allotments. They forced people into living in small dwellings not meant for more than 2-4 people. They sent people to Siberia where many were never seen again. Sofiya and her family lived through this era.

They were afraid they were going to be reported by their neighbors for having more than they needed. While Sofiya is falling deeper for Carpathian, she also begins a new job working as a restorer which she ends up picking up in America. 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.

Thanks to Sophia's secrecy, Isobelle has little choice but to pursue the few clues she has, which could easily lead to dead ends. With the help of Jules, Isobelle slowly peels back the layers of Sofiya’s life. Jules and his grandfather reveal that the tiara was part of the Romanov collection. Of course, the reader knows the provenance of the tiara from reading Sofiya’s story, which makes the journey so interesting. Both women have a love interest, allowing the author to inject a romantic element into the story. Sophia's romance ends up with her leaving Russia and finding a way to New York City. Isobelle's romance comes after a rollercoaster ride of emotions as she and Jules search for answers and try to find out where the tiara came from.

For me, Sofiya's story is much more interesting. Nothing against Isobelle, but she hasn't lived the life her mother was forced into. She struggles to fit into a man's world yes, she worked on a secretive program yes, but her mother literally faced being sent to Siberia for not being a good enough Citizen under Lenin's brutal reign of terror. Especially when she started working with Filatov Roman Sokolov a master restorer who really helps her when she struggles to get by without Carpathian. So, no I don't blame Sophia for not wanting to discuss the past especially when she thought she would never find happiness again, not after Carpathian.

*(Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991)
**Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia was the eldest child of the last Tsar of the Russian Empire, Emperor Nicholas II, and of Empress Alexandra of Russia before they were captured and executed together during the Bolshevik Revolution.

#thelasttiara #mjrose #netgalley a story of a mother, 1915 St. Petersburg. And a daughter, 1948 New York. After her mother passes Isobelle is left with nothing but mysteries. Her mother came to the United States from Russia. She didn’t like to tell her daughter of the past. Her child now a woman still curious follows the trail of the tiara. Where did it come from? How did her mother get it? You will fall in love with this historical work. Putting together the pieces. Well written and had me hook line and sinker. #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreviewer #bookstagram #booknerd #readersofinstagram #readersofig #historicalfiction #romanov #worldwarii #romanovfamily

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.