The Last Tiara is the story of a mysterious tiara that may be connected to the Romanovs. It is told in dual storylines - the daughter who finds the tiara in the 1940's, and her mother, who had the tiara hidden away.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction and am fascinated by the Romanovs. The historical details in this book were lovely and I especially liked the Romanov history.

This was a slow read with a lot of description; I found it very interesting but the pacing was slower than I am used to. I would recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction and especially anyone interested in 1940's settings or Romanov history.

Story alternates between two timelines, one in post WWII New York and the other 1915-1922 in St. Petersburg. In1948 Isobelle, a NYC architect and daughter of a Russian emigre, contacts Jules, jeweler and grandson of master jeweler, to help her answer a questions about a tiara her deceased mother had hidden in a bedroom wall. In 1918 Sophia, an expert art restorer at The Hermitage, volunteers to help as a nurse at Winter Palace, where she falls in love with Carpathian, a patient who has no recall of his name or life as Sergei, a jewelry designer at the House of Faberge. Historical information about the Hermitage art collections, the Faberge of St Petersburg, and the 1922 Russian Diamond Fund reinforces the plot. The author based this mystery on a tiara, one of four items, that disappeared from the Diamond Fund catalogs. There were obvious clues in the plot, but the plot became a page turner three fourths of the way through the book. Good choice for those who enjoy uncomplicated historical fiction about the Romanov treasure.

A mother and daughter each tell their story in alternating chapters of history spanning two world wars and the Russian revolution. Although I have no particular interest in Russian history, I keep finding myself drawn to read modern novels about pre-Soviet Russia.

In this tale, the daughter, Isobelle Moon, is told little about her mother's life in Russia. When questioned by her daughter, Sophia Moon evades answering anything about her Russian past and refuses to teach her daughter any Russian. Despite this, mother and daughter remain close in this marginally strained relationship.

It is not until after her mother's death that Isobelle stumbles upon a mystery she knows she must solve. Always curious and always asking questions, she is determined to learn the things about her mother's past that she was never told. The mystery, beyond why her mother hid a precarious object in the wall, is how did she come to possess this tiara.

THE LAST TIARA mixes history with an undying love story from the early 20th century from the mother's point of view while contrasting it with the daughter's story during World War II and several postwar years. These two points of view neither compliment nor diverge until quite late in the book; they simply tell two stories. The several twists and turns that seem to lead in one direction or another were quite skillfully accomplished.

I was somewhat put off by Isobelle's constant self-deprecation. She could have been wary of the world without so often putting herself down. I much prefer books that portray women in a stronger light. Sophia, on the other hand, has strength, sometimes overt and sometimes not, that carried her through a time in history fraught with war, hunger, poverty, and degradation. The two lives seem to balance out in the end.

Loved the dual timeline and POV from mother and daughter. Lovely and engrossing and I didn't want to put it down.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Get Red PR for an e-copy of The Last Tiara!
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This is a beautiful work of fiction that takes place at two different historical timepoints: 1915 Russia and 1948 New York.. Isobelle accidentally discovers an artifact with missing precious stones hidden in the wall of her deceased mother's bedroom. Her mother. who was a Russian immigrant to the USA, kept her past to herself and made sure Isobelle would be fully Americanized. Thus when Isobelle discovers this secret, she has to start to solve pieces of the puzzle from scratch by deciphering her mother's past and how the artifact weaves into the story.

Honestly this is a book that you best go in as blind as possible and savor the entire story. I am usually picky with historical fiction books but I really scored with this one because it had so many elements that I love in novels: strong female main characters, Russian history and some US history both that were very descriptive and well researched, immigrant life in the early 1900s, a love story gone wrong due to the times as well as the main element of suspense/mystery to solve that's the forefront of this book. I highly recommend this book if you're a historical fiction or women's fiction fan. I'll be checking out the author's other works.

Note: Instagram review will be posted on March 24, 2021

The Last Tiara
M.J. Rose



Rose’s (Cartier’s Hope) latest stand-a-lone is a fantastic tale about mothers, daughters, secrets and what those secrets cost when tragedy strikes. It’s a mystery and a love story told in two timelines about Sophia/Sofiya and Isobelle Moon, two unforgettable, strong, talented, independent yet imperfect and vulnerable women.


With a historian’s eye and a master storyteller’s voice M.J. will take readers on an incredible journey from the war-torn streets and unrest of post WWI Russia and the story of Sophia/Sofiya, an art restorer trained at the Hermitage from a privileged upper middle-class family with ties to the Tzar’s family. Then to post WWII New York after Sophia’s tragic and sudden death we’ll follow Isobelle, Sophia’s daughter an architect with a leading NY firm who during the war helped build the secret city of Oak Ridge, TN and now after her mother’s death is finding out that her mother who never spoke of her life in Russia had secrets that Isobelle is left to unravel, especially when she discovers hidden in her mother’s bedroom the skeleton of a tiara.


With fanatical and fantastical historical attention to detail readers will find themselves flies on a wall in both timelines as this master storyteller unravels this story within a story about how a Russian Royal headpiece ends up hidden behind wallpaper in a NY apartment, the lengths Sophia went to get it safely to America and the lengths Isobelle is willing to go to find the truth about it.


Along the way thanks to period perfect dialogue, very visual settings and a fluent prose like narrative the audience will learn about the lives of both women, the men they loved, the mistakes they made and what those mistakes cost them.


Fans of historical fiction with a focus on accuracy, of this author, Lauren Willig and Kristin Hannah will find this soon to be bestseller impossible to put down.

This was a great book. I loved the format of the two storylines. I did find the pace in the middle of the book seemed to lag a bit, but picked up towards the end. I felt all the characters, but especially the main characters could have been more developed. I didn't care for the self-deprecating by Isobelle, I found it repetitive and annoying, and added nothing to the overall story. Overall I found it to be an enjoyable read.

[ 5 of 5 stars ]
The last tiara
By M.J. Rose
A mystery tired to the Russian revolution with historical back stories. The family history that ties this story to historical events makes this story very realistic adding to the reality.

“Missing is one of the true tragedies in life… That ache that nothing soothes. I thought time would soften it. It’s supposed to, isn’t it? But all these years later, I still long for what I had. What we all had. What is no more” (298).

Isobel Moon is still coming to turns with the passing of her beloved mother. The memories of her still stinging through her. Yearning for the untold mysteries of her mother’s life in Russia, until a clue is revealed hidden in their apartment. A long lost tiara of the Romanov family falls into her lap. One that may bring closure not only to Isobel, but to the rest of her family.

“It seemed she wanted to wipe out every reminder of Russia that she could - except for her necklace. There were so many stories I didn’t know. Tales I yearned to hear” (36).

The attractiveness of not only the cover but the plot was what drew me to this particular book. Russian history is extremely rich although tragic especially during the Russian Revolutions and rise of the Soviet. The Romanov’s alone has always been a loquacious topic. Then adding the barely discussed world of jewels and fine craftsmanship really sucked me in. In dual perspectives, I have noticed a trend of imbalancement on preference of character. I definitely leaded towards Sophiya over Isobel. Her story being connected to the Grand Duchesses, a nurse during the war and Russian emigrant really intrigued me. Another factor I was drawn to was the Midas Society. The idea of a secret organization returning precious stolen and historic items back to their owners is fascinating.

“How we, as adults, come to be who we are, one layer at a time. How those early layers are the core that shapes and informs us but then each additional layer adds to our whole selves” (137).

Rose does a phenomenal job with the dual perspective. It gives the reader an inside into both women’s lives while in two completely different era’s and locations. Also, the storylines are synchronized with each other very well. There are issues with editing that need to be checked over mainly concerning sentence structure. The abundance of information is exciting and at times dominating over the plot. Russian history and lifestyle during the extreme hardships of war felt well researched. I wish some of the information was pulled back a bit as it does get distracting. The mystery of the tiara itself and the mysterious Russian man lingering should have taken the spotlight over the romance. Sofiya and Sergei’s relationship was a beautiful story that swayed making it feel more realistic. Jules and Isobelle’s romance fell very flat for me. Almost drawing me back from continuing the book as a whole.

“And in the midst of all that poverty and change and terror and chaos was this man holding out a hand and offering her an oasis in the madness” (221).

The Last Tiara is a striking story about how even a skeleton of a former treasure can connect to countless things. Themes of family, tragedy and trust are sealed to the tiara. It encompasses history, romance and mystery. Recommend if you are looking for a vivid and woven romantic journey through Russian history and modern times.

“Now when you both look up, into that vast black velvet sky full of sparkling diamond stars and spheres, know I will be there looking down and our family, in our own way, will be together again for all time” (387).

Thank you to M.J. Rose, Blue Box Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 Stars; The Last Tiara turned out to be a really interesting historical fiction that takes us through the stories of both a mother and daughter whose lives were changed by political unrest, war, and love. When Isabelle Moon begins renovating her recently departed mother's apartment, she finds a hidden tiara that unravels mysteries about her past and her own origins that she never expected to find. Isabelle's search for the truth leads her into her mother's story straight from the Bolshevik Revolution all the way to America, as well as into the murky world of stolen artifacts, Bolshevik Russia, and secret societies. The more Isabelle finds of her mother, the more she questions everything about her. But when it is all said and done, The Last Tiara is a story about loss and love, revolution and turmoil, and above all, about the truths that bind a mother and daughter even after death.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by The Last Tiara. While there were parts where the plot dragged some, I was really interested in Sofiya and Isabelle's story. The dual timelines worked well together with some of the paralell timelines and threads in both Sofiya and Isabelle's lives: Isabelle with her work at Oak Ridge during WW2, and Sofiya, losing her closest friends and her love to the turmoil that overtook Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution. The author has clearly done their research and it shows, although there were times when I felt like I was reading a history book rather than a piece of fiction. I really was invensted in Sofiya's story in particular and everything she went through before coming to America. I also enjoyed the twists at the end of this book. The Last Tiara is a story about the bonds that connect mothers and daughters, and about how people handle pasts that are too painful to talk about.

Given my interest in Romanov family, this seemed like a book for me. Unfortunately, some of my fears did come true while reading this novel. While it was interesting to read about the mysteries surrounding the missing tiara and getting a glimpse into the lives of the Romanov princesses, this book wasn't as enjoyable at I hoped it would be. The characters were far from interesting and the plot, white better than the characters, felt off the entire time. Still, I'm glad I read this, just to read another take on the mysteries of Romanovs.

Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestseller #M.J. Rose has a thought provoking and moving story. Taking place in post-World War 11 Manhattan, she stumbles upon a hidden treasure. A journey into the past. Hidden secrets that will be revealed?
Thank you for the advance copy,
#Netgalley, #M.J. Rose and #Blue Box Press

The Romanov family has always been one of intrigue and fascination for me and this book satisfied my curious appetite. Immediately, I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and couldn't wait to uncover the secrets one family could hold. This is a great historical fiction novel, told from mother and daughter POVs in two different timelines, there is romance, intrigue and mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book- a lost tiara, the Romanovs, dual timelines, these are all things I love. However, I felt like I really got bogged down by details- it was a lot of "tell, don't show". The base story was strong, but with a touch more editing, I think this book would have landed for me.

I decided to take a chance on a genre I don’t normally read, and I’m ever so glad I did. It’s been a great adventure reading this book. It was great getting out of my comfort zone and exploring a new world in books. I think I did that with the perfect book. This book is full of excitement, and is a perfection combination of mystery and romance. It’s a must read. I will be picking up more books by M. J. Rose.

Much better than The Book of Lost Fragrances, nowhere near as good as The Memorist. Somewhere in the middle. I'm all about a good history-mystery, this one just seemed to kind of drag. Half way through the book, I just really didn't feel like the story was going anywhere, other than telling the story behind the answers the reader already had at that point about The Tiara.
As usual, MJ Rose's attention to detail is impeccable. The descriptions of the buildings and architecture and styles demonstrates the amount of research she puts into her work. I loved the inclusion of some of the history of Oak Ridge, and the dynamics of women in the workplace during World War II.

The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose revolves around a tiara, once owned by the Romanov family (and is still missing today). From beginning to end, it's a story that is full of history and mystery. This story takes place in Russia during the revolution and in New York City in the late 1940s. The chapters alternate between Sofiya's time in revolutionary Russia in 1917 and her daughter Isobelle's life in 1948 New York City. Great for those who enjoy stories involving art, history, mystery, and romance.

2.5 rounded up to 3 for the interesting story line
When Isobelle Moon discovers a tiara that belonged to her mother Sophia Moon, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her mother’s past life in Russia during the fall of the Romanovs. With help from jeweler Jules Reed, Isobelle travels around the world following the clues. Will she find the real story behind the last tiara?
I enjoyed how the story unfolds with alternating timelines told by both Isobelle and Sophia. The historical content was also interesting, although there are spots with too many details - as if the author needed to brain dump all her knowledge. I was also cheering for Isobelle to find her place and her voice as a female architect in a male-dominated field.
I did not like the explicit sexual content. The book also repeats content at times, which seems like filler instead of beneficial to the story.

This is a dual timeline, historical fiction novel. In 1948 (i.e., 'the present'), we meet Isobelle, a New Yorker who is an early-career architect and one of few women in that profession. She is working on a project in Tennessee when her mother dies in an accident in New York. Months later, she returns to live in New York after the architecture firm offers her a chance to transfer back to the New York office. There, she moves in to the apartment that she shared with her mother, a building on Madison avenue that her mother and her Aunt Lana co-owned.

In 1915, we are in St. Petersburg, Russia and Isobelle's mother, Sofiya, is 19 years old. She is best friends with the daughter of the Czar, with whom she has grown up because her mother was a tutor for the Czar's children. We meet Sofiya and the Czar's two daughters as they are beginning their volunteer duties as nurses at a makeshift hospital in the Winter Palace to care for wounded soldiers. The young women are quickly subjected to the harsh realities of war that has upended their life of comfort and privilege. In this timeline, we follow Sofiya and her lover (a soldier who was wounded and under her care) through dark years in Russia during the Bolsheviks' rule. Jobs are scarce, people are starving and anyone opposing the ruling party risks imprisonment or death. Her perseverance and eventual escape from Russian is chronicled with depth and passion.

In the present, Sofiya (now Sophia) leaves behind a daughter who was never told the story of her mother's tragic life in Russia or much about her father who died in a Siberian prison. Although Isobelle has had a good life and education in New York, she hasn't escaped sexual abuse and fear of retribution by her male boss. Once back in New York after her mother's death, Isobelle decides to remodel the Manhattan apartment she grew up in and now owns. Because, what else would a young, grieving architect decide to do? (That was a positive comment, not a negative one!) Soon, questions about her mother's past and emigration from Russia are newly encountered when Isobelle discovers an exquisite tiara hidden in the wall of her mother's bedroom. The jewels that belonged in the tiara are gone and were sold, as evidenced by a receipt from a local jewelry shop found with the tiara. Sophia decides to visit the jeweler in hopes of understanding more about the tiara's history, and by doing so, learning about the past her mother never revealed. Sophie'a journey for the truth of the past leads her to realize her own truth about who she is in the present.

This was a very enjoyable book that maintained my attention throughout. The characters in the past felt more authentic to me than Isobelle and Jules in the present. Jules seemed undeveloped without much of a personality. I also got a bit tired of how much the author reminded us of Isobelle's insecurities about herself. Diving into the world of high-end jewelry and issues of provenance was fascinating. The ending had a surprise regarding the tiara and was very satisfying. This was a solid four-star read for me. I thank NetGalley and Blue Box Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book ended for me much better than it started, primarily because I had to get names and characters straight in my head. It was well written and thought out. However it did take me a bit longer to read than normal. It did have a lot of little details.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.