Courtesy of NetGalley I received the ARC of The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose. I was immediately drawn into this story of family, romance, and secrets set in WWI Russia during the rein of the Romanovs, and post WWII NYC. A young female architect, Isobelle, is mourning the accidental death of her mother and discovers a hidden tiara somehow linked to her mother's Russian past. During her journey to learn it's significance, Isobelle meets a young jeweler who leads her towards the answers she seeks, and the revelations from her mother's past. Surprises and twists end this gripping historical novel! A captivating take!

The Last Tiara takes place in Russia during the revolution, and in the US after the Second World War. I really liked the dual timeline, and how we had to figure out what happened in Russia during the revolution. The book starts with Isobelle finds a silver tiara that belonged to her mother, and she spends the rest of the book figuring out how Isobelle's mother came to have the tiara, and how she came to the US.
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I loved the characters in this book. Sofiya was loving and compassionate, and she volunteers as a nurse during the First World War. Through this, she meets a young soldier and enters into a love affair that is rickety and unstable. Isobelle is kind and caring like her mother, but she is also strong willed and determined. She is really smart and works as an architect, a male dominated sphere. She was determined to figure out her mothers past, and it was fun to go on this journey with her.
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CW: death, loss of a loved one.

The Last Tiara is a dual timeline set in New York City in 1948 and Russia in 1915 and follows Sofia and her daughter Isobelle on a journey to the past (like my reference @christenreads?). Sofia was born in Russia and friend to the Grand Duchess Olga. Together they volunteer at the Grand Palace, which has been turned into a hospital for wounded soldiers. Isobelle grew up in NYC after her mother left Russia during the revolution. Now, she is one of the few female architects at a major firm.

The dual timeline/multiple POV format is usually my favorite, but it felt very choppy in this book. I think it is likely because each POV felt independent of the other until about 60-70% in and the chapters were quite long. Individually, I think both stories worked and I enjoyed Isobelle’s story more than Sofia’s. I really wanted more to happen in Sofia’s portion of the book, but her chapters felt repetitive, which made it hard to connect to her character.

I loved Isobelle’s ambition to become a top architect during a time when women were mostly secretaries or housewives. It was refreshing to see a young woman focus on her career. However, Isobelle had two sides, ambitious and untrusting. While I loved her career side, I found her untrusting side to be daunting and exhausting. She questioned all those around her because of her mother’s secrets and never really gave anyone the benefit of the doubt, even when they were trying to help her. This was showcased more and I understand the trust issues, but wish it had been more balanced. I did admire her determination to uncover the secrets behind her mother’s life in Russia and the tiara she brought with her to America.

Overall, this was just okay for me. I would recommend The Last Tiara to readers looking for a lighter historical fiction with a little mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Isobelle Moon discovers a long kept secret from her mother. She finds hidden inside a wall an artifact that goes back to a historic time from their country of origin. The story alternates from the mother's past to the daughter's present. Isobelle has to find out what and why her mother Sofiya could not share her past with her. It is a love story gone wrong through a time of revolution that sends Sofiya to America leaving her family and the love of her life behind to start a new life. A very good story that is a bit sad but endearing, too.

I received this ARC for an honest review. Thank you #Netgalley

I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley, M. J. Rose, and BlueBoxPress. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. M. J. Rose writes a tight, compelling historical and this book is up to the mark, an interesting and much deeper look into the women of the Romanovs as the revolution in Russia removed the family from power.

We see this take from two different perspectives, crossing time. This spread across stories and time is handled very well. The breaks from place-to-place, time to time, are handled very cleanly and you are never in doubt of where you are or when.

Sofiya Petrovich introduces us to the Russian royals as she brings us their story from Petrograd (St. Petersburg) as the Winter Palace becomes a medical hospital for the war-wounded of the Russian Revolution and WWI in the summer of 1915. The tsarina and her daughters work at the hospital as did their dear friend Sofiya. At the end of 1921 with a baby coming, her lover Carpathian arrested, shipped to Siberia, and reported dead, with all of her friends and family disappeared, Sofiya immigrates to New York City with a small case of personal items and a tiara gifted to her by her dearest friend Princess Olga, made especially for the princess by the St. Petersburg House of Faberge for her 14th birthday. Sofiya, who changed her name to Sofia Moon at Ellis Island, gives us New York City in the years between the Wars.

And her daughter, Isobelle, joins the tale, bringing us into World War II in NYC. Sofia would never speak of the old world to her daughter, and after her death, Isobelle finds herself alone and needing to understand her mother's life - and see her own in perspective. She needs to know about her father, her extended family, the life Sofiya left behind in 1922, in order to figure out who she herself is, what she needs from life, where she is going in this world today. And then while stripping her mother's very pink bedroom for redecoration she finds the silver frame of the tiara and receipts for the missing stones hidden in a nitch between boards and wallpapered over. The receipts only add to the mystery of her mother's past. They take her to Tiffany's showroom and fully immerse her in yet another mystery...

Altogether, an engrossing tale that keeps you reading far into the night.

A charming but insubstantial dual-timeline historical fiction offering, pairing the mother's experience in the 1910s and early 1920s in Russia with the daughter's experience in post-WWII New York City. By trying to untangle the stoneless frame of a tiara found hidden in the wall of her mother's apartment, our protagonist goes on a physical and emotional journey involving a secret society focused on restoring stolen pieces to their proper owners, two men claiming to be the father she thought had been dead for years, a potential love-interest jeweler, and her own trust issues about men and governments after working at Oak Ridge during the war. A pleasant read, but it fades quickly from the memory.

This was a relatively lightweight historical fiction story that was a quick and easy read. Told in alternating timelines between a mother and daughter set in Russia and New York approximately 30 years apart, it was equal parts love story and mystery. It was the story of the love between a young girl in revolutionary Russia and a soldier with amnesia and the story of the search by her daughter for the truth of her heritage. It was well researched and, while it could have been a longer, darker novel, I’m glad it wasn’t. I enjoyed that the author concentrated on more superficial details. I liked reading the descriptions of rooms and menus, etc.; especially the ones in 1948. I can also see this being the start of series about the Midas Society featuring Jules and Isobelle.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

The Last Tiara by M. J. Rose is a three-way trip through history. The novel centers around two love stories and the mystery of a tiara. The story of Sofiya Petrovitch and her one true love Carpathian takes place in 1915 Russia. Together they attempt to keep their love alive while withstanding the terrors of the Russian revolution. The story of Isobelle Moon and Jules happens in 1948 New York. Both Isobelle and Jules are distrustful of relationships, but through the mystery of a tiara designed by Faberge, they learn about love and trust. The book is written in alternating views and moves each relationship forward with every chapter. The discovery of the history of the tiara and the resolution of relationships, both old and new, makes for a book that will hold your attention and that you will enjoy.

The Last Tiara is a well descriptive alternating story highlighting the past – Sofiya Petrovich’s life in Russia, and the present – her daughter, Isobelle Moon, learning about her parents and a mysterious tiara’s history. The story is well-crafted enough to take on multiple deep dives into the records of jewelers, architects, Tsars, and the Russian Revolution.

Reading Isobelle’s half of the story had me on the edge of my seat. From her perspective, we stumbled on a mystery due to this crown with no jewels in it. Why did her mother have it, and how did she get it? I was also curious why her mother decided to never tell her about her past in Russia. What happened that made her flee to America and never want to reprise Russia ever again? Learning more about the tiara gave insights about her mother’s past – and her father’s whereabouts.

The second half of the story describes Sofiya’s life in Russia in 1915. In the middle of the war, she and her closest friend (who happens to be Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna) volunteer as nurses to take care of war-ridden soldiers injured from battle. There she meets Carpathian, a soldier who lost his memory during the attack and whom she slowly falls in love with. On this side of the story, we see Sofiya’s life connected to the tiara.

Of course, it was the plot twist at the end that did it for me. I never thought a twist could come from a story like this. It made the ending come alive and helped the two points of view merge into one.

Overall I’m giving this story a 4.5-star rating. The Last Tiara is a beautiful story with an unexpected plot twist that gave the story a climatic push to a great ending, and for that, I wouldn’t mind reading another book from M.J. Rose.

A packet hidden in the seams of her bedroom wall send Isobelle on a quest to find the long buried secrets of her mother's past.  Isobelle's journey will give her an education on secret societies, looted Russian crown jewels, her parent's history and help her discover a love of her own. 
The story is told in two voices alternating chapter by chapter.  Isobelle's mother Sophie grew up with the Russian Royal family and called the arch duchesses of Russia her friends especially arch duchess Olga who presented Sophia with the tiara from which this story got it's name.  It is during the war when Sophie volunteers at a local hospital that Sophie meets the love of her life, an apprentice Faberge jeweler. Subsequently Sophia lost it all, her lover, her friendships and barely escaped to America with her baby, a chain with Faberge eggs made by her jeweler lover and the tiara gifted to her by her friend in the Russian royal family.
Heartbroken she never spoke about her life in Russia with her daughter, choosing to bury it and focus on creating a life for her daughter. When Isobelle discovers the tiara she also finds out that her mother sold the jewels in the tiara to buy her apartment and start the business that became her livelihood and means to raise her child. Isobelle has a more mundane childhood than her mother but she's a fighter as well evidenced by the fact that she chooses an occupation in a male dominated field and makes the necessary sacrifices to survive in her chosen profession.
In her journey of discover, Isobelle visits the jeweler who bought the jewels in her original tiara that plunges her into the world of looted Russian jewels and long buried lies and truths. From a slow start the story takes on twists and turns that will keep readers fascinated.  There are some twists that you'll never see coming. Given that there are so many theories about what happened to the Russian royal family and all the fabulous crown jewels and Faberge eggs that were looted and disappeared, there may be some truth in this so believable fiction. 
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a bit of suspense with their history.

The Last Tiara is rich in history, in characters, in story, in emotions. I was mesmerized by both timelines—Sofiya’s story set in Russia that encompasses the Great War and the Revolution; and her daughter Isobelle’s story, set in post WWII New York. There are secrets, there is great love, there is tragedy and suffering—all written beautifully and passionately.

2.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Last Tiara interested me, due to my fascination with all things Russian, and at least in some aspects, it delivers. The background is well researched, exploring a courtier’s life in the years leading up to the downfall of the Romanovs and the aftermath, juxtaposed with her daughter delving into that past through researching an old tiara found among her mother’s things.

However, having read a few M.J. Rose books before, I found myself let down. In some ways it mirrors the others, being an “artifact book” surrounding something from a particular time period. The plot is also briskly paced, keeping me fairly engaged in both timelines, at least superficially.

But as I went on, I found I just didn’t care. Neither Isabelle nor Sofiya grabbed me as protagonists, as both felt very surface-level and lacked depth. Stuff would happen, and I just didn’t feel invested, and that’s sad to say about a book that partly takes place during the Russian Revolution, given what I know about what happened to the Romanovs and some of those loyal to them.

This book was fine, although it’s definitely not the best book I’ve read from M.J. Rose. I do think it will work for a more plot driven reader who doesn’t require much in terms of character development, as that is this book’s strong point.

I just loved this book, it has it all: romance, mystery, history, family drama, some intrigue. Story takes place in 1918 St. Petersburg, Russia and 1948 NYC. After her mother dies, Isobel finds a tiara hidden in the wall and also a letter and picture. Her mother, Sophia, dies before she can tell her daughter the story of her father and what happened before she came to the USA. Isobel gets involved in a high stakes race to find a treasure left from the Romanov’s dynasty.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to honestly review the novel. Unfortunately, the book did nothing for me, although other readers thought otherwise. I loved the story of the tiara, but felt the book moved rather slowly until the last few chapters.

Great book. Wonderfully crafted. Romance, mystery, intrigue, and a history lesson all in one. I could not put it down.

I enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was interesting going back & forth between Sophia’s point of view (1915-1922) & her daughter Isobelle’s point of view (1940s). I like that the tiara was the link that connected the stories. It was sad that Sophia didn’t share her life with Isobelle but completely understandable with it being such a horrible time. This story is a good example of why it can be important to share your history & background with your family even in small doses. Good read & I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I loved that “The Last Tiara” was narrated in two time periods. Chapters are from the perspective of both Isobelle and her mother Sophia. Dual narrated books are among my favorite and I liked that I was able to learn more about the Moon women this way. Isobelle and Sophia are both brave and strong women that are driven to make it on their own. Isobelle wants to gain success as an architect, while Sophia fought to raise Isobelle in a free world.

The ability of MJ Rose to bring to life these characters and setting through her descriptive words was wonderful. I was able to see myself on the streets of both Russia and NYC. I think what made this book even more real is the history woven throughout it. I was able to learn more about the Boleshvik’s, the disappearance of the Tsar & family, as well as the Russian crown jewels (which I was able to see at an exhibit when I was younger). The romantic lives of Isobelle and Sophia are also very important and they hooked me. I couldn't wait to read what happened next.

Thank you to the publisher, Blue Box Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In 1948 New York, Isobelle Moon, an architect, starts renovating her apartment following her mother’s death when she happens upon a box hidden in the wall containing the silver frame of a tiara and some receipts showing that the jewels it once held were sold. Intrigued as to why it was kept hidden, she seeks out the jeweller, hoping to find out more about the life her mother left behind in Russia and always refused to speak of and also about the father whom she has never met. As Isobelle’s search for information intensifies, a parallel timeline unfolds in 1925 Russia, telling the story of Sofiya Petrovich, best friend to the Grand Duchess Olga, and the journey that led her to New York.

Alternating timelines are possibly my all time favourite way of reading historical fiction, especially when there’s a bit of mystery involved. It was narrated in such a fashion that there is something intriguing enough going on in both timelines which ensured that neither lagged or felt boring. The author has portrayed these time periods beautifully, from the grandeur of Tsarist Russia, and the wretched conditions caused by the war that followed, to New York after WWII. This book has clearly been well researched and it shows in the attention to detail in both timelines. In particular, I’ve always been fascinated by Fabergé eggs, so the information about them and about the famous jewellery firm were very interesting to learn. This was an impulsive NetGalley pick and I’m really surprised at how much I ended up enjoying it!

The sole place where this narrative slipped up in my opinion, was character development. There is a very strong plot and the riveting story by and by large kept things together, but it was quite hard to connect with both Isobelle and Sofiya. In the New York timeline, there is a lot of description about Isobelle’s background and role during the war, which might have been interesting under other circumstances, but my focus was on the history of the tiara. To be completely honest, I couldn’t really bring myself to care about Isobelle’s struggles as an architect and the sexism she faces, as it is overshadowed by a much more entertaining plotline, and every time the story turned to her personal life was time away from the real mystery. Sofiya’s character is more engaging, but I felt what we saw of her was still surface level. I also found it rather strange that this story chose to skip over the deaths of the Romanovs, relegating it to a brief paragraph from Sofiya’s perspective years after the fact. Considering Olga was her best friend, I would have expected Sofiya to dwell on it a little more, and the fall of the Romanovs is largely downplayed in this book.

The final twist regarding Isobelle’s father and the secret of the tiara was really well done, and although I would have liked a more conclusive ending, it’s not hard to extrapolate and imagine how things might have turned out. Overall, The Last Tiara was a very satisfying read and I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author in the future. Highly recommended!

This was one of the best books I have ever read. We hear the mother’s story occurring before and during the Russian Revolution blended with the daughter in post WWII New York. We have a mother’s secret past, the Romanovs, the House of Faberge, and a daughter’s quest to discover her dead mother’s secret. We also have, romance, lies, and a secret society. This book is never boring and very well written. I am looking forward to reading more by this author. Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy and this is my honest review.

This was very enjoyable, a fun and engaging read. Whilst it wasn’t a favourite I did enjoy it. I thought the storyline a little predictable and the characters a little flat compared to the authors previous works.