The Winged Tiara

by J'nell Ciesielski Narrated by Ann Marie Gideon

Overview

Diamonds and danger dazzle in Ciesielski's latest enchanting romp through post-war Europe as estranged spouses and jewel thieves hunt an elusive Valkyrie tiara.

November 12, 1918. It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up, and Esme Fox awakens the morning after celebrating the end of the Great War to find herself shockingly and accidentally married. She gathers her belongings and slips out before her new husband can stop her. After all, she knows it's best to leave before he does.

Four years later, Jasper Truitt, after having made a name for himself in the underground world of jewel thieves, is on the hunt for a valuable heirloom: a one-of-a-kind winged tiara--the last Valkyrie tiara ever created. So it's with great surprise that he discovers it at a charity event atop the head of a woman he's never forgotten. His long-lost wife . . . who happens to be pursuing the tiara for a vengeful opera diva desperate to obtain the jewel for herself.

The reunion is cut short when Esme vanishes--again--but their separation is temporary. With a hitman on their heels and a deadline looming, the pair find themselves in an epic game of cat and mouse across Europe following leads from the French Riviera to a shop of wonders in Venice, a fairy-tale castle in Bavaria, and a veritable circus thrown by a champagne heiress, all before a dramatic horseback flight through the French countryside.

In the end only one can win, and with both of their hearts on the line, the winner may well turn out to be the loser.

In her latest glamorous historical romance, J'nell Ciesielski spins a sparkling story filled with her signature snappy dialogue and vivid atmosphere that will keep you reading late into the night to see what happens next.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

★ 06/03/2024

An estranged couple reunites mid-heist in this sparkling historical romance from Ciesielski (To Free the Stars). Smitten with one another in the fervor of Armistice Day, Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt impulsively marry in 1918 Paris. Esme, who has no real desire to be tied down to a virtual stranger despite their memorable night together, leaves Jasper the very next morning. Four years later, they’re shocked to meet again at a party on the French Riviera where Jasper, who’s actually a famed thief known as Phantom and the illegitimate grandson of the Duke of Loxhill, is hunting for the Valkyrie tiara. As it happens, Esme, an actor, has been hired to model the jewels—and secretly plans to steal them for herself. Upon discovering the tiara she’s wearing is a fake, Esme and Jasper race against time and one another to track down the real deal. The resulting whirlwind tour through Europe, from France to Venice to a Bavarian castle, reignites their short-lived passion. But when the time comes, will they choose riches or true love? The glamorous Jazz Age backdrop adds allure to this second-chance romance, and Ciesielski’s exploration of her protagonists’ bruised emotions in the aftermath of their wedding night rings true. Historical romance fans will be riveted. (Aug.)

co-author of THE ANTIQUITY AFFAIR Jennifer Thorne

'As fizzy, sharp and delicious as a bottle of vintage Veuve Clicquot, THE WINGED TIARA offers readers a caper full of glamour, romance and intrigue. I'm not sure which of our suave, screwball thieves I fell for most, just that I tore through the pages, desperate for them to finally fall back into each other's arms. A total delight.'

co-author of THE ANTIQUITY AFFAIR and author of A Lee Kelly

'An exhilarating, immersive cat-and-mouse adventure, with exquisite period details, pitch-perfect pacing, a glittering prize, and a swoon-worthy, star-crossed romance. I absolutely inhaled this novel. Mesmerizing, from start to finish.'

New York Times bestselling author of THE SPECTACUL Fiona Davis

'Ciesielski is at the top of her game in this post-WWI romp across Europe, replete with a dashing, charismatic duo who can't decide if they're in love or out to destroy each other. Her luminous novel brings to mind cinematic classics like TO CATCH A THIEF and THE PHILADELPHIA STORY. Charm, wit, and stolen jewels—THE WINGED TIARA has it all.'

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160220208
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	08/13/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged