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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Funny (even sexy) rom-com from the roaring 20s, where two - still married - thieves chase after the famous Valkyrie tiara.
They had married 4 years ago, after the Great War ended and people celebrated, so did they. Some champagne, some sparks, some kisses - but in the morning the now sober bride had run away.
But here are they now, chasing after the bejewelled tiara. And while they traipse all over the glamorous hotels, castles and mansions to get the tiara, they realize that they might have some more things in common. And by that I mean their sad childhoods and the hearts broken by being left out.
This novel reads like a movie - all glamorous, all glitzy, all charm. And it IS enchanting, cool and fun. Esme and Jasper have great chemistry and they simply belong together, because of all the people they could accept each other in the whole, with all the unconventional, broken and messy parts of themselves. Even in their ambitious selves!
But...you should not go into this with a strictly logical approach. This is an affair of heart. But this heist would, of course, never work in the real world and the authoress could go deeper with the psychology of the characters.
But having said all that, I still enjoyed this funny ride.
They had married 4 years ago, after the Great War ended and people celebrated, so did they. Some champagne, some sparks, some kisses - but in the morning the now sober bride had run away.
But here are they now, chasing after the bejewelled tiara. And while they traipse all over the glamorous hotels, castles and mansions to get the tiara, they realize that they might have some more things in common. And by that I mean their sad childhoods and the hearts broken by being left out.
This novel reads like a movie - all glamorous, all glitzy, all charm. And it IS enchanting, cool and fun. Esme and Jasper have great chemistry and they simply belong together, because of all the people they could accept each other in the whole, with all the unconventional, broken and messy parts of themselves. Even in their ambitious selves!
But...you should not go into this with a strictly logical approach. This is an affair of heart. But this heist would, of course, never work in the real world and the authoress could go deeper with the psychology of the characters.
But having said all that, I still enjoyed this funny ride.
Arc Review
Publishing Date: 8/13/2024
”Two Thieves. One Tiara. Which of us will claim the prize?”
Brief Summary-
We are introduced to Jasper and Esme who, 4 years prior, exchanged vows in a drunk moment of celebration. These two lovely characters are also jewel thieves. They “bump” into each other 4 years later competing in the same heist for the Valkyrie Tiara.
”May the best thief win”
My Thoughts-
This was a cute cat and mouse captivating tale set in the dazzling 1920s in Paris. One part historical fiction. One part romance. One part suspense.
I was blushing constantly with Esme and Jasper snarking and flirty interactions.. you can’t deny the chemistry between them even if they want to.
I really enjoyed this storyline. It was a refreshing read. The authors writing style was pleasing. I felt like I was living the crime life in the roaring 20s. I could hear the jazzy music and see the dazzling and seductive smoky ambience. I recommend this book to anyone that likes historical fiction
Publishing Date: 8/13/2024
”Two Thieves. One Tiara. Which of us will claim the prize?”
Brief Summary-
We are introduced to Jasper and Esme who, 4 years prior, exchanged vows in a drunk moment of celebration. These two lovely characters are also jewel thieves. They “bump” into each other 4 years later competing in the same heist for the Valkyrie Tiara.
”May the best thief win”
My Thoughts-
This was a cute cat and mouse captivating tale set in the dazzling 1920s in Paris. One part historical fiction. One part romance. One part suspense.
I was blushing constantly with Esme and Jasper snarking and flirty interactions.. you can’t deny the chemistry between them even if they want to.
I really enjoyed this storyline. It was a refreshing read. The authors writing style was pleasing. I felt like I was living the crime life in the roaring 20s. I could hear the jazzy music and see the dazzling and seductive smoky ambience. I recommend this book to anyone that likes historical fiction
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Two thieves who sometimes have to team up and sometimes have to square off. It was a fun read and I liked watching the characters grow through the story.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ratio of how much I wanted to love this book to how much I actually ended up not loving it at all? 1:1. There was so much potential with the premise and the characters, but the execution is simply a hot mess. Forget the Valkyrie tiara, someone should have been out looking for the editor, because it's clear they went missing when this manuscript was delivered.
What should have been a 1920s British Mr. and Mrs. Smith (if they were contract thieves) ended up being a story about two people, Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt, that we're supposed to root for because they had sad childhoods, and because Esme took off the morning after their spur of the moment decision to wed after celebrating the armistice in Paris. Unfortunately, I didn't end up rooting for either one of them because (1) their childhoods really weren't that sad at all, (2) Esme is a spoiled, precious brat, and (3) neither Jasper or Esme have any justifiable reason for making their living by stealing from other people.
Esme (the illegitimate daughter of a narcissistic actress) and Jasper (the illegitimate son of a Duke) are mercenaries, plain and simple. Period.
They steal for a living, because it's fun and an adventure, and because it's easier than getting a legitimate job like everybody else. In the end, they only stop thieving because Jasper finds himself filthy rich by inheriting the Dukedom.
Jasper is an ex-solder in the British army, and he is more likeable as a character than Esme. We're essentially asked to believe that Jasper and Esme are fated mates, and they are well-matched when it comes to being clever and ruthless. But I didn't feel the spark of chemistry that should have been there, and I think that may be because of the broader issues of execution.
The pacing of the novel is all over the place. There are cavernous plot holes and elements to the story that make no sense whatsoever. I do not understand the point of introducing the third thief, Lamb, a bizarre caricature of a man who lives in the middle of nowhere France yet is able to put together a spontaneous party with hundreds of guests who don't seem to know him or why they're partying just to play a game of who's the best spy. Esme and Jasper are each other's perfect foil, so there is no need for another character to detract from their attempts to outwit each other in their pursuit of the ultimate prize of their careers.
Honestly, I thought that the entire storyline about the Contessa being out for revenge against the Duke over the tiara was just dumb. I don't even see the point of the serial killer Pirazzo. Jasper already has plenty of motivation to go after Esme: his pride and a desire to compete and win. Her life didn't need to be in danger to have Jasper hot on her heels. I also didn't understand why Esme needed to be arrested. What purpose did that serve to the overall plotline?
I think the author got caught in the weeds, and felt like she needed to make Esme and Jasper's rivalry something complicated when there was no need to do so. This book should have been a fun romp in the style of a 1940s Old Hollywood romantic caper, like The Thin Man or Hitchcock's Notorious. But the story didn't progress organically, and there was too much going on to invest the time needed in Esme and Jasper's romance.
Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction, Netgalley, and Austenprose PR for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.
What should have been a 1920s British Mr. and Mrs. Smith (if they were contract thieves) ended up being a story about two people, Esme Fox and Jasper Truitt, that we're supposed to root for because they had sad childhoods, and because Esme took off the morning after their spur of the moment decision to wed after celebrating the armistice in Paris. Unfortunately, I didn't end up rooting for either one of them because (1) their childhoods really weren't that sad at all, (2) Esme is a spoiled, precious brat, and (3) neither Jasper or Esme have any justifiable reason for making their living by stealing from other people.
Esme (the illegitimate daughter of a narcissistic actress) and Jasper (the illegitimate son of a Duke) are mercenaries, plain and simple. Period.
They steal for a living, because it's fun and an adventure, and because it's easier than getting a legitimate job like everybody else. In the end, they only stop thieving because Jasper finds himself filthy rich by inheriting the Dukedom.
Jasper is an ex-solder in the British army, and he is more likeable as a character than Esme. We're essentially asked to believe that Jasper and Esme are fated mates, and they are well-matched when it comes to being clever and ruthless. But I didn't feel the spark of chemistry that should have been there, and I think that may be because of the broader issues of execution.
The pacing of the novel is all over the place. There are cavernous plot holes and elements to the story that make no sense whatsoever. I do not understand the point of introducing the third thief, Lamb, a bizarre caricature of a man who lives in the middle of nowhere France yet is able to put together a spontaneous party with hundreds of guests who don't seem to know him or why they're partying just to play a game of who's the best spy. Esme and Jasper are each other's perfect foil, so there is no need for another character to detract from their attempts to outwit each other in their pursuit of the ultimate prize of their careers.
Honestly, I thought that the entire storyline about the Contessa being out for revenge against the Duke over the tiara was just dumb. I don't even see the point of the serial killer Pirazzo. Jasper already has plenty of motivation to go after Esme: his pride and a desire to compete and win. Her life didn't need to be in danger to have Jasper hot on her heels. I also didn't understand why Esme needed to be arrested. What purpose did that serve to the overall plotline?
I think the author got caught in the weeds, and felt like she needed to make Esme and Jasper's rivalry something complicated when there was no need to do so. This book should have been a fun romp in the style of a 1940s Old Hollywood romantic caper, like The Thin Man or Hitchcock's Notorious. But the story didn't progress organically, and there was too much going on to invest the time needed in Esme and Jasper's romance.
Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction, Netgalley, and Austenprose PR for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This was a fantastically fun audiobook! Ann Marie Gideon's narration leads us through this jewellery heist across Europe, and it is the perfect listen for a weekend off.
Ciesielski has switched gears with this book and injected a lovely dose of light humour into her historical fiction, which I loved! (I also love her hist-fic books which are more serious in tone, but I do think she nailed this.) I think that her choice of the 1920s for the setting in time was also a great choice, as the heightened social change was an interesting element.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ciesielski has switched gears with this book and injected a lovely dose of light humour into her historical fiction, which I loved! (I also love her hist-fic books which are more serious in tone, but I do think she nailed this.) I think that her choice of the 1920s for the setting in time was also a great choice, as the heightened social change was an interesting element.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
I know a lot of others really enjoyed this book but it just fell flat for me. I felt like it had the potential to be really good but it just didn't quite get there. The beginning started off alright but then I quickly got bored throughout the middle. The competition between Jasper and Esme to get the tiara was fun but it honestly got tiresome after awhile. Just when I was really starting to get interested, the scene changed and I had to really refocus instead of just getting caught up in the story. So parts were good but it was just a meh for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC of this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC of this book.
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated