A book review of The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams by MJ Rose. An emotional, riveting historical mystery novel inspired by the life of Suzanne Belperrone. Fans of magical realism, suspense, WWII fiction will love this.
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The One With the Gemstones!
This post is my personal, honest review of The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams!
The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams
A Novel by MJ Rose
The moment I saw the gorgeous cover, The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams by M.J. Rose, grabbed my attention. Historical fiction and magical realism novel with a healthy dose of mystery and a touch of romance. Talk about all my favorite genres in one. Of course, I had to read it, that much I knew. What I didn't know is that it is the fourth book in the Daughters of La Lune series. Now that I do, I will be reading the rest of the books in this incredible series as soon as possible. The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is a must read for anyone who loves WWII stories and women fiction.
Book Synopsis & Details
- from the publisher
A captivating tale of two passionate women separated by decades but united by a shared vision. One, the famous jeweler Suzanne Belperron, fighting to protect her company and rescue the man she loves. The other, a young auctioneer whose exceptional gifts reveal a secret that endangers her very life.
"Only one thing saves you, and that is not losing sight of beauty."
Paris, 1942. Suzanne Belperron is known as one of the most innovative jewelers of her time. Elsa Schiaparelli and the Duchess of Windsor are just two of her many illustrious clients. What no one knows is that Suzanne and her dear friend, American socialite Dixie Osgood, have been helping transport hundreds of Jewish families out of France since the war began. But now, the war has come to Suzanne's front door—the Nazis have arrested her business partner and longtime lover, Bernard Herz.
New York, 1986. Violine Duplessi, an appraiser for a boutique auction house, is summoned to visit the home of Paul Osgood, a scholarly lawyer and political candidate who aspires to take over the Senate seat of his recently deceased father. Paul has inherited everything inside Osgood Manor, from the eighteenth-century furniture to the nineteenth-century Limoges china. But a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk is what calls to Violine, with the surprising but undeniable thrum of energy that can only be one thing: the gift passed down to her by La Lune, the sixteenth-century courtesan.
Since childhood, Violine has been able to read an object's history and learn the secrets of its owners by merely touching it, but she silenced her psychometry when it destroyed her last relationship. Why has it returned now?
Book Details:
Title: The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams
Author: M.J. Rose
Publisher: Blue Box Press
Print Length: 280 pages
Publication Date: February, 2023
Genres: Historical Mystery, Suspense & Magical Realism
Where to Buy: Amazon; Bookshop; Barnes & Noble
The Story - A Spoiler Free Review
Truth be told I didn't really know what to expect as I began reading The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams by MJ Rose, but was excited to check it out. Once I was past the first chapter I couldn't put it down. What a captivating and powerful story this turned out to be. Two incredible women separated by decades, each with a connection to precious stones that would change their lives and connect them in ways they never thought possible.
I had never heard of Susanne Belperron, so I really liked learning about her life, art and efforts during the war. Her story takes place during WWII in Paris and it is told through her journal entries. I also really liked the details about the different precious stones and their meanings as well.
"As young as I was during the last war, I learned from my teachers that only one thing saves you, and that is not losing sight of beauty. Be it watching a butterfly flit from flower to flower or studying a single autumn maple leaf, beauty has the power to keep your soul from shriveling, dying, and leaving you nothing but an empty, ugly husk."
M.J. Rose, The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams
What captivated me most, however, was the story of Violine. Her character was my favorite by far and I could hardly wait to read the chapters told from her point of view. I loved everything about her story, the struggles she went through both internal and external, the romance and her special gift. I am not sure if there will be another book in this series, but I sure hope we get to read more about her in the future.
The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams proved to be everything I was hoping it would be and more. It is an empowering, captivating story about the lasting impact one person can have. A story full of heart and magic that draws the reader in from the first to the last page. Fans of magical realism and cozy mysteries will also love this story for the intriguing plot and surprising twists. The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is a story about hope, community, and friendship. It is a tale of the unsung heroes who worked and fought in the shadows to safe those who were not in a position to fight for themselves.
“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
M.J. Rose, The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams
About the Author and What to Read Next
M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... Books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.
Rose is a New York Times, Wall St. Journal and USAToday bestseller as well as an international best seller. She has published more than nineteen novels and 3 books on marketing. She has been published in more than 30 countries and sold over 1.5 million books. The Fox TV show, Past Lives, was based on Rose’s novel, The Reincarnationist. - from the author's web page
Book Recomendations for Fans of
The Jewler of Stolen Dreams
If you loved The Jewler of Stolen Dreams you should check out these other titles by MJ Rose. Highly rated and full of magick, romance and mystery her work will leave you wanting more.
Published in February 2021. Available in paperback, audiobook and kindle editions. Buy Online:
Published in April 2018 Available in paperback, audiobook and kindle editions. Buy Online:
Published in February 2021. Available in hardcover, audiobook and kindle editions. Buy Online:
My Rating
The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams, is a truly great read that captivates beginning to end. I really enjoyed the story, the history and the characters. What I also loved were the plot twists, the mystery elements and the story of Violine had to be one of the most interesting plots I have come across in a long time. In fact, I wouldn't mind an entire book devoted to her, as well as her fascinating gift and her family.
I personally felt that the ending was a bit rushed, and while most questions were answered and mysteries solved, all was done off page and related as a summary, rather than shown in detail like it was in the rest of the book. I had guessed the answers to most of the questions and was really looking forward to the moment the characters would too, but that didn't happen the way I imagined it would. For that I have given this lovely book four stars, as up to the last chapter it was a solid 5. Still, I highly recommend The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams and will be reading the rest of the books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Blue Box Press and M.J. Rose for the advanced copy of The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
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