THE CROWN CONSPIRACY by Connie Mann
SERIES: Speranza Team #1
GENRE: Suspense/Adventure/Romance (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Tyndale House
RELEASE DATE: June 4, 2024
PAGES: 338
She’s a master at spotting a forgery . . . and knowing how to create one. But can she solve a decades-old mystery?
The media spotlight is the last thing art thief and forger Sophie Williams needs. But when one of three long-missing royal portraits turns up in Germany at her best friend’s art gallery, the spotlight is exactly what she gets. Since the tragic deaths of Princess Johanna of Neuhansberg and her two children forty years ago, the whereabouts of these portraits have been unknown . . . and the timing of their reappearance—just days before a new prince’s coronation—reignites questions surrounding the infamous accident.
Then Sophie’s best friend vanishes, and a rumor about hidden treasure connected to the paintings surfaces, seemingly confirmed by a cryptic message on the back of the first canvas. Convinced that finding the other two portraits will lead to her friend, Sophie begins a twisty investigation that pits her against other ruthless treasure hunters, a handsome investigator who seems to dog her trail at every turn, and a mysterious group that offers help, wearing an emblem identical to one on the painting.
From Germany’s grand castles and soaring cathedrals through the Alps to the canals of Venice, Sophie must choose her allies carefully if she hopes to find the portraits, rescue her best friend—and perhaps save a throne—before time runs out.
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“I believe in God even when He is silent.“
If you are a fan of the movie The Italian Job or the TV show Leverage, then you absolutely must read The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann. This fast-paced treasure hunt across Europe combines intrigue, adventure, suspense, and romance with a decades-old royal mystery, and it all had me glued to the pages.
Sophie Williams may seem like a highly skilled art forger and thief at first glance but the layers to her character are much more complex. I loved the many fascinating aspects of her backstory, her mastery of disguises, her kickbutt defensive instincts, and her reasons for painting copies of valuable art or stealing back paintings that had been stolen. I even thought her stubborn determination served her well in this story… though Mac would undoubtedly disagree with me. Ah yes, Mac. The swoony investigator who dogs her steps, his interest captured from their first encounter and heightened every time their paths cross afterward. The sparks between them (and his growing respect for her) complicate his own assignment and lead to some very delicious kisses that I hope will continue in the next book, too.
The thing that makes The Crown Conspiracy screen-worthy, though, is the secret network of women – the Speranza team – who step in to help Sophie when the stakes get even higher than some missing paintings. This colorful group of Hope-makers made me want to stand up and cheer, their seemingly endless array of contacts and effective teamwork proving invaluable to Sophie whether they are helping her track down paintings, making sure she stays alive (not an easy task) or trying to find her missing friend Lise. I cannot wait to go on more adventures with these fun and resourceful personalities, and it totally made me want to be part of a team like this! Well… ok…. maybe minus the ‘run for your life’ danger and harrowing escapes lol.
Bottom Line: The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann is a riveting and multi-layered story that I didn’t want to put down. The author masterfully weaves several high-stakes plot threads into a cohesive flow, putting readers in the middle of the action as she reveals just enough at one time to ensure that your attention stays riveted to the book & your mind stays whirring with possibilities. With engaging characters and their compelling backstories – and some really swoony kisses – this novel perfectly sets up the series as a whole, and I am eagerly waiting for the next book! I thoroughly enjoyed The Crown Conspiracyand easily recommend it.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. In the interest of full disclosure, the company for which I freelance as a blog/review tour coordinator was hired to promote The Crown Conspiracy with a social media tour, with which I have very limited involvement, at a later date. This did not affect my review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it
KissingBook Level: 4 / keep those fans and fainting couches handy!
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Connie Mann loves taking readers on heart-pounding, suspense-filled adventures featuring strong, determined women who fight for what they believe—and for those they love. When those stories take place in exciting locales and include a tempting hero, so much the better. She is the author of The Crown Conspiracy, an adrenaline-fueled adventure where an expert art forger must team up with a mysterious women-only secret society in order to rescue her best friend—and save a country. Connie’s other titles include the Florida Wildlife Warriors series, the Safe Harbor series, Angel Falls, and Trapped. She has won several writing awards, and Amazon declared Beyond Risk an Editor’s Pick.
Connie is also a USCG-licensed boat captain, and when she’s not writing, “Captain Connie” gets to introduce Florida visitors and students to dolphins, manatees, and other coastal creatures, which is as much fun as it sounds like. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families.
She and her husband love spending time with family and friends and heading off to explore new places, especially those involving water and boats. Visit Connie online at conniemann.com and sign up for her newsletter for all the latest news.
Tyndale House is offering a print copy of The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann?
