From M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Tiffany Blues, “a lush, romantic historical mystery” (Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale), comes a gorgeously wrought novel of ambition and betrayal set in the Gilded Age. New York, 1910: A city of extravagant balls in Fifth Avenue mansions and poor immigrants crammed into crumbling Lower East Side tenements. A city where the suffrage movement is … tenements. A city where the suffrage movement is growing stronger every day, but most women reporters are still delegated to the fashion and lifestyle pages. But Vera Garland is set on making her mark in a man’s world of serious journalism.
Shortly after the world-famous Hope Diamond is acquired for a record sum, Vera begins investigating rumors about schemes by its new owner, jeweler Pierre Cartier, to manipulate its value. Vera is determined to find the truth behind the notorious diamond and its legendary curses–even better when the expose puts her in the same orbit as a magazine publisher whose blackmailing schemes led to the death of her beloved father.
Appealing to a young Russian jeweler for help, Vera is unprepared when she begins falling in love with him…and even more unprepared when she gets caught up in his deceptions and finds herself at risk of losing all she has worked so hard to achieve.
Set against the backdrop of New York’s glitter and grit, of ruthless men and the atrocities they commit in the pursuit of power, this enthralling historical novel explores our very human needs for love, retribution–and to pursue one’s destiny, regardless of the cost.
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M.J. Rose soars with Cartier’s Hope, a heady tale of romance, intrigue and empowerment. The contrasting poverty and wealth of turn of the century New York make for a vivid backdrop for the story of Vera, a journalist determined to go beyond the confines imposed on women in her field and learn the truth about the Hope Diamond while confronting her own dark past. Readers will root for journalist Vera on her page-turning quest for the truths that are both intimate and universal. Brava!
I am such a fan of M.J. Rose’s books and this is quite possibly one of her best. A true delight of a book. I was pulled in from page one and did not want to stop until The End. Great cast of characters and setting. A true delight of a book. Definitely 5 stars for this one.
I am loving all the wonderful historical fiction that is available in 2020. Cartier’s Hope is definitely one of my top reads of 2020. MJ Rose is a favorite author of mine and picked up this book knowing that I would love it.
The Hope Diamond is a subject I had heard of but I did not know much about but I was excited to see what I could learn. The story of The Hope Diamond took a back seat to the story of Vera Bradley and her fight to become a respected newspaper reporter until part way through the story. Then the history of the diamond was told, the amazing people in history that had owned it, touched it, or just wanted it had me in awe of what this beautiful diamond was capable of. Do I believe in bad luck? Maybe. Would I have touched the diamond? Absolutely.
The romance in the story was perfect. It was classy, it was sexy, and it was written perfectly for the era the book was set in. I liked seeing Vera thrown for a loop when she started to have feelings. I liked that Vera found clues from her father that turned her world upside down but in the long run had her examining her own life. The strength, determination, and heart of Vera had me cheering her on and praying that the story she was following would bring her the results she wanted, both in her writing and her personal life.
This historical novel is set in New York City in 1910 and features Vera Garland, from a “good” family who masquerades as a gossip columnist for a local newspaper using the pseudonym Vee Swan. At heart, she is an investigative journalist whose intent is to right the city’s wrongs where ever she sees them. When she’s shown the Hope diamond by Cartier who is now the owner of the world-famous gem, Vera is instantly intrigued, not only by the diamond, with its mysterious history, but by one of Cartier’s assistants as well. She decides to pursue the stories of the diamond being cursed and the lives of those who touch the diamond dying a tragic death.
This is a complex, intelligent story with plot twists as Vera investigates Cartier and his diamond. Vera is well-drawn, intelligent, and courageous, and she doesn’t want to be just another debutante. The author brings alive the dichotomy between the wealthy citizens of the City and those less fortunate who struggle to put food on the table. The author gives us just enough history to understand the events of the day but doesn’t do brain dumps to show us how much she knows.
If you like well-written historical novels set at the turn of the twentieth century with a strong woman character and a bit of mystery, this is the book for you. It should be put near the top of your to-be-read list.
My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC.
Good book. Did take some effort to get into it.
Mystery, romance, family secrets and the Hope Diamond set against the backdrop of New York City’s Gilded Age. M.J. Rose has outdone herself with Cartier’s Hope! Beautifully written and a captivating lead character. A must read for historical fiction lovers!
From the very first page, Cartier’s Hope plunges the reader into the fascinating world of New York jewelers, journalists, and high society at the dawn of the Gilded Age. With her signature elegance and attention to detail, M.J. Rose weaves a twisting tale of greed, revenge, and masked identities that put love and lives at risk. A fast-paced historical novel that shines with as much intrigue and mystery as the Hope Diamond itself.
MJ Rose’s latest encapsulates everything I love about historical fiction: a heroine whose journey is as timely today as it is in the 1910s, a glamorous setting that perfectly melds fact and fiction into an unputdownable tale, and at the sparkling center of it all: New York City. A true gem by an author at the top of her game.
Nobody conjures up historical mystery like MJ Rose, and this brilliant, absorbing novel has it all. From its utterly convincing setting in early 20th-century New York City, to the determined, marvelously drawn journalist whose quest for justice sets the story in motion, to the page-turning mystery surrounding the legendary Hope Diamond, Cartier’s Hope immerses readers in an unforgettable world that beguiles to the final page. Rose proves once again that her superb storytelling and powerful prose are second to none.
This fast-paced, cleverly written tale of secret identities set against the glamorous backdrop of New York’s high society captures the reader and never lets go. Truly one of the best and most informative historical fiction books I’ve read in a long time. Highly recommended reading!
It’s been tagged as ‘romantic historical fiction’. Set in 1910 in New York City, Cartier’s Hope follows Vera Garland as she lives a dual life, a high-society daughter whose own mother has lost hope of Vera ever finding a husband and becoming the acceptable wife and mother while Vera pursues her career as an undercover journalist under the name Vee Swann. Having already exposed the living and working conditions of poor families, Vee (Vera) sets her sights on exposing a blackmail scheme by a notoriously underhanded newspaper publisher, Thelonious Oxley. Oxley, it seemed had tried to blackmail Vera’s father – founder and owner of Garland’s Emporium – and now that Mr. Garland has passed on Vera learns of the blackmail scheme. In order to expose the noxious Mr. Oxley, she must enlist the help of Pierre Cartier who has purchased the Hope diamond. Vera believes Mr. Cartier has stretched the truth about the gem’s back luck track record in order to enhance its value.
Throughout the story the reader is educated on the plight of female staff reporters/journalists and of the fight for women’s suffrage. Family secrets are exposed and these cause our intrepid journalist to deal with emotions she isn’t ready to face. With a mother-daughter relationship that is tentative at best, Vera must deal with old demons before she can face her future. Is that future with the Russian jeweler who works for Mr. Cartier? Can she gain the information she seeks from this handsome jeweler without losing her heart?
A cast of characters that at times feels overpopulated and several plot lines, none of which take center stage, made this a less than thrilling book for me. I adore Gilded Age stories but this one left me feeling unfulfilled. The chapters felt disjointed. Each of the major characters has a story to tell but much of it is left untouched. This one was easy to put down while I read a couple of others. Okay for a beach read or to take when traveling as long as it’s the only book you have with you.
A master of gorgeous historical fiction, Rose has done it again. Cartier’s Hope is another lush and compelling novel. It sparkles with all the splendor of the Gilded Age yet shows us the shadows too—the abuses of wealth and power, the bigotry and sexism, the moral costs of revenge. This is a beautiful novel, smart and satisfying in every way. Highly recommended.
In a dazzling and absorbing tale set in New York City during the gilded age and the women’s suffrage movement, a determined woman of privilege with a masked identity as a gutsy journalist, exposes secrets and a blackmail scheme using legends of the famous Hope Diamond’s history of curses. An intriguing layered plot with marvelously vivid characters in a rich and brilliant tapestry of greed, revenge, deception, mystery, surprise, and romance. Captivating and atmospheric, a story as seductive as its cover, that delivers pure enjoyable escapism!
New York City – 1911
Vera Garland, 32, is the daughter of the wealthy owners of a large department store. Vera’s father, whom she loved dearly, has recently passed away. Vera now resides in her father’s lush apartment above the store. Her mother has always wanted her to take her place as part of elite society, but that is now what she wants to do. After Vera graduates from Radcliffe, she is intent on becoming a reporter, exposing how many charities are being run by crooked people. As her family is well known, she adopts the name Vee Swann and wears a disguise. Soon, she has a job writing an anonymous weekly gossip column.
This is the same time that the Hope Diamond just sold for $250,000 to someone in New York. It is the largest known blue diamond and has a long history of ownership, including numerous curses. Louis Cartier, an elite French jeweler, has just opened a branch in New York City and the Hope Diamond resides in his store.
As Vera cleans out some of her father’s possessions, she uncovers a secret that shocks her and could tear apart the family’s standing in society.
Can she continue to dedicate her life to journalism and ignore any private life or love for herself?
I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to all of the women of this era who worked so hard to make changes for all women.
This is good story that covers a number of situations. I admit that I became angry with Vera at times, but one has to admire her strength and determination. Once again, M. J. Rose has written a stunning novel. Don’t miss it!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I love reading Historical Fiction novels that are able to take me back to the time with vivid and rich writing and dialogue! Add the Hope Diamond and Cartier, well that is every woman’s dream and this really piqued my interest and had to read this book! And glad I did because I LOVED IT!!
Vera Garland was a woman ahead of her time working as a journalist and who is also from a wealthy and well known family. As she learns more about the Diamond, she unearths shocking mystery about her own family.
This book was a fast paced and fun read that is full of intrigue and suspense. Rose certainly delivered a bold and twisted revenge story plot that had me intrigued and completely glued to this book for days.
5 stars
Last year, I read my first M. J. Rose book, Tiffany Blues and loved it. I decided then that I wanted to read more of her work. Cartier’s Hope does not disappoint! I was glued to this book over the last twenty-four hours. Set in New York City during the Gilded Age, Rose created the character, Vera Garland, a strong woman well ahead of her time. She has an alternate life as journalist Vee Swann (think Nellie Bly).
This book is part mystery, love story, and historical fiction. Full of surprises which kept me reading to all hours. I can tell that Rose did a great deal of research of the jewelry business, society’s richest people and the tenements of New York. She is becoming a “go to” author for me. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CARTIER’S HOPE is a triumph of a book. I am more impressed than I can begin to say. I loved it. I raced to the end (to finish). It was such a perfect balance of mystery, love, jewels, women’s rights, politics, NY, class and you name it. Set in 1910 NYC.
Rose wove a dream, a book filled with beauty and page-turning plot and characters who leaped off the page straight into my heart.
Interesting and captivating story of the Hope Diamond. I actually learned a few things about the diamond and about gems. M.J. Rose’s books are so well written and researched, and her covers are always gorgeous. I enjoyed this book very much and wanted to devour it quickly but with many of life interruptions, I was not able to do that. And that’s okay. I just remained calm and enjoyed the book at a slower pace. This book did not disappoint.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
A masterpiece of historical fiction with history thrown, immerse the reader in New York City in 1910. This is the first book I have read by this author, but definitely will not be the last. Her detailed settings and character building is amazing as we follow the heroine trying to eek her way as an outstanding journalist, when it was still hard for women to step out of the household.
Cartier, a name that is synonymous with brilliant jewelry, seeming mainly for the wealthy and the Hope Diamond take center stage. Bring in corruption, intrigue, greed and a woman’s fight to seek justice for her father’s death and her own career and there are many twist and turns on the journey to the end and a satisfying ending! Don’t miss this one! I read this via NetGallery and the publisher!
A fast-paced tale of secret identities set against the glamorous backdrop of New York’s high society, Cartier’s Hope sparkles with intrigue, romance, and passion, and surprises with an inspiring journalist heroine whose desire to break free of society’s constraints and shed light on injustice is timely, relevant, and sure to resonate with readers. Vera’s quest for the truth leads the reader deep into the mysteries surrounding one of the world’s most famous jewels–and ends with a shocking twist you won’t see coming. Unputdownable!