The Winged Tiara

She has done it again!! I picked up a J'nell Ciesielski book last year on a whim, and she has become one of my auto-buy authors very quickly. I've devoured her backlist, and The Winged Tiara is no different. Devourable, lush, romantic, and engrossing, it's the perfect read for anyone seeking depth and complexity in their historical reading fare. HIGHLY recommended!

In THE WINGED TIARA, J’NELL CIESIELSKI has treated us to a delightful historical extravaganza that takes place in 1922 Europe and England as people try to get over the horrors of WW1. Her prose and quick dialogue is outstanding as we journey with two thieves, Esme Fox, whose beginnings were in the music halls of London’s East End, and Jasper Truit, the bastard grandson of the illustrious Duke, in search of the Valkyrie tiara. They aere both broken and suffering from the after effects of the war, and their marriage on Armistice Day in 1918 lasted only one night.
They meet four years later, both chasing after the same prize. But what are they really after?……
The pace is hectic as they evade one another, then chase after one another, until they grudgingly decide they need to work together so as not to get killed……
This is a lovely read and one I highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This book was amazing! J’Nell Ciesielski did such a great job with this book. It was so addictive and I could not put it down. The writing and romance was so addictive.

“Diamonds and women are more beautiful when paired together.”

Jewel thieves competing for the same ‘heist’, the Valkyrie Tiara, keep running into each other and getting in each others way. There is something between them- and both try to deny it. What is it? They just happened to be husband and wife.

They had a hasty post-war marriage -and hadn’t seen each other for years after she disappeared the morning after their wedding.

This story is fun, full of adventure and surprises, and yes- has a unique love story with it.

I was excited to get this ebook from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This is an amazing book that will delight fans! I also just really love the cover, which I found striking.

Paris, France 11 November 1918: After four years of death and misery, the Great War is over and all of Paris, the world, is celebrating. Focus in on one couple: Jasper, a war weary soldier and Esme, a just as weary nurse. With the flow of champagne and the and the joy of the end of hostilities, Jasper and Esme take it all one step further, they marry. The next morning after the bubbles have disappeared, so too does Esme.

But that is not the end of that relationship. These two charmers meet again only to find they are both chasing the one thing...the Winged Tiara.

So begins the hunt and the chase through 1920s exotic cities as they follow the elusive prize.

I loved this book. From the first page I was hooked and couldn't read fast enough to follow the adventures and dangers of the chase. Beautifully written and described, here is a story for the romantics.

I do hope that we will see more of Jasper and Esme in the future because, having fallen in love with these two delightful characters, one book is definitely not enough! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story prior to publication.

A quote near the end of the book, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" perfectly sums up the early behavior of the protagonists of J'nell Cielsielski's novel "The Winged Tiara". This intriguing and fast-paced story follows long-estranged married couple Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt as they individually traipse through Europe in search of the same tiara. These two flawed people are both products of unfortunate upbringings, and are actual thieves. "Survival had its own code of ethics."

Their cat and mouse game takes them to glittering parties and fabulous homes. The author's imagery is lush and evocative: "the women as gaily dressed as tropical fish in their pinks, silvers, and greens" is just one example of her flair for description. Characters come to life as well. Countess Accardi, her violent henchman, and the clever, egg-shaped Lamb are just a few of them. Even eccentric Lamb's pet chicken has a personality, and the Duke's true character is surprisingly nuanced. Esme and Jasper become the people they're meant to be. Dialogue is intelligent and witty.

Cielsielski's prose is crisp and expressive. This author pens deeply romantic stories without resorting to smut. There is some innuendo, perhaps, but nothing that comes close to being graphic. These characters are already married. "The Winged Tiara" is a wonderful read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this captivating novel.

Romantic, intriguing, and well-paced, this is the first book I've read from the author and I can see why they have a dedicated audience. It combines the high drama of the Gatsby-era 1920s with a somewhat silly yet fun adventure with married main characters.

This was lighthearted fun! Competing jewel thieves galivanting across Europe in pursuit of a famed tiara. To add to the fun, they happen to have a history: a hasty marriage after the post-war celebrations, only to end the next morning when the bride disappeared without a trace. The prose was fun and easy. You could taste the food and drinks and see the glitz of the jazz age. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Thanks to Net-Galley for the ARC.

The Winged Tiara is such an enjoyment to read. It takes place in Europe after the war in the dazzling 1920s when a shift in society started taking place.

We are introduced to Jasper and Esme who, 4 years prior, hastily exchanged vows in a moment of celebration. The next morning, Esme leaves and Jasper wakes up alone. Years later, they are reunited, both jewel thieves after the same prized item, and the race to reach the item first begins.



Their interactions with each other are hilarious and amusing. Always trying to outdo one another results in entertaining schemes and comical reactions.

Esme tries hard to ignore the feelings starting to grow, but can't deny the chemistry between them.



From start to finish, this story will thrill you with a unique plot, sweeping romance and exciting adventure.


Thank you netgalley for a free copy of this book, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Winged Tiara by J'nell Ciesielski is a book you will not be able to put down. Esme and Jasper create chemistry that I could not get enough of! Between the cat and mouse games to the moments of unparalleled romance, I was turning pages as quickly as I could absorb the tantalizing tale. Esme and Jasper are both notorious thieves who find themselves after the same prize, the Valkyrie tiara. Each has their own compelling reason, and neither will let anything stop them from succeeding. Their intersections on the chase are charismatic and addictive. I wanted them both to succeed. Moreover, I wanted them to succeed together. The story comes full circle in a serendipitous twist, and I could not have been more thrilled. I was entranced from start to finish. Highly, unabashedly, recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

J'nell Ciesielski does it again in this historical fiction novel, it had everything that I was looking for in the time-period and enjoyed the overall feel of this story. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the overall way they worked with the story. I enjoyed the idea of this elusive tiara. It had that romance element that I was looking for and glad it was so well done.