I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Winged Tiara by J'nell Ciesielski Series: Standalone
Published by Thomas Nelson on 2024 August 13
Genres: Historical, Romance
Pages: 224
Format: E-Arc
Source: Netgalley
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After a hasty wartime marriage and an even quicker divorce, two jewel thieves risk it all to obtain the grandest prize of them all, the last Valkyrie tiara, but their hearts may have something else in mind.
It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up and divorce papers were issued just in time to ring in the end of the Great War. Jewel thieves and ex-lovers Jasper and Esme find themselves circulating among the elite of British aristocracy where the diamond-lined pockets are ripe for picking. But when the last Valkyrie tiara ever created becomes the talk of the season neither will stop to obtain it, not even when they inadvertently find themselves in the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse where their lives are suddenly at stake.
Bestselling author J'nell Ciesielski's latest novel combines her signature blend of thrilling adventure, glamorous atmosphere, and sweeping romance in a story readers are sure to be thinking about days after turning the final page.
There’s something about the books being published by Thomas Nelson that never could go wrong. The last time I requested an ARC, Storm Siren, from them was probably in 2014 and I really enjoyed the book. So when I went back to Netgalley and saw the ARCs they were offering, I immediately grabbed this one. And just as I expected, The Winged Tiara delivered all the things that I want in a historical romance novel. Two lovable protagonists, an action-packed plot with full of twists, a cozy romance all happening in different quaint places.
Our story starts when our heroine, the beguiling albeit sneaky Ms. Esme Fox, abandoned her husband, the bastard with a gentle heart Mr. Jasper Truitt, after spending only one steamy night with him in their honeymoon bed. The two did not see each other again for four years and treated the marriage as something that can be hidden in the attic for storage and forgotten over the years.
While things are going well with our protagonists’ lives and their chosen professions, a cruel twist of fate has suddenly thrown them into each other’s paths once again when their individual clients demanded that they retrieve or rather rob a highly-prized and rare winged tiara. This is where the story really picked up as crazy after crazy had suddenly engulfed the lives of Jasper and Esme. While they are hellbent on getting a divorce and treat their once beautiful marriage as a sham, their waking hours are pretty much occupied with outwitting, out sneaking, and out surviving each other to get the winged tiara first as if their necks are on the line. Well, their necks are really on the line particularly in Esme’s case. But this did not stop her from getting what she wants and ensure that her reputation as a superb thief is not tarnished by being out robbed by her estranged husband.
While Esme and Jasper’s globe-thieving adventures were quite hilarious and entertaining, the author did not forget to weave her magic into the romantic relationship between the two. It was nothing too melodramatic but nothing too passive either that you could not feel the toe-curling and giddying moments as the two protagonists cautiously navigated their resurfacing feelings for each other. From a realistic point of view, you would understand the constant push and pull between Esme and Jasper, why they cannot just immediately settle the matter and kiss to their heart’s content. While their reluctant love was not wrought with a heartbreaking story, it’s understandable given their circumstances and upbringing. They were just being mature and uncertain about what life has to offer them. This is the part where the author really shined because she was able to craft something wonderful without resorting to a lot of ridiculous stuff just to make me root for Jasper and Esme’s love story.
While the romance was the main focus the Winged Tiara, the hunt for the tiara was equally given importance as the author was relentless in throwing different obstacles and challenges for our protagonists to overcome. So much had happened in this book that no part of it was boring as it’s certainly a page turner that really ended well and happily.