Book Blurb:
Sophia Moon had always been reticent about her life in Russia and when she dies, suspiciously, on a wintry New York evening, Isobelle despairs that her mother’s secrets have died with her. But while renovating the apartment they shared, Isobelle discovers something among her mother’s effects—a stunning silver tiara, stripped of its jewels. Isobelle’s research into the tiara’s provenance draws her closer to her mother’s past—including the story of what became of her father back in Russia, a man she has never known. The facts elude her until she meets a young jeweler, who wants to help her but is conflicted by his loyalty to the Midas Society, a covert international organization whose mission is to return lost and stolen antiques, jewels, and artwork to their original owners. Told in alternating points of view, the stories of the two young women unfurl as each struggles to find their way during two separate wars. In 1915, young Sofiya Petrovitch, favorite of the royal household and best friend of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, tends to wounded soldiers in 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.
My Review: 3.5 stars
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The Last Tiara promised history, mystery and a little romance – all the ingredients of a great historical fiction book. Thankfully, it delivered yet it took me a bit to get in to it. This has happened with several books, which may be due to the worsening of the pandemic (again) and my inability to stay focused. Either way, once the mystery was revealed, I was able to hit my stride.
The story alternates between Isobelle’s life in America during and after World War II and her mother Sofiya’s life in Russia during the Russian Revolution. I liked the intertwined plots as I felt as if I was finding things out alongside the characters. I love books with mother/daughter stories as that relationship can be taut with so many emotions. It made me sad that Sofiya’s past was hidden from her daughter, although it made for the basis of the book and the mystery at its heart.
The well-researched history kept me engaged throughout the novel. And of course, the romantic plotlines that developed were a bonus. A few historical events that were mentioned had me doing some extra research as I read such as the first Faberge Egg and Ghost Army of WWII. Learning something new from historical fiction is one of the reasons I love it. Rose’s brand of historical fiction has garnered her a large fan base. She’s got a plethora of books under her belt to check out.
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