When I started work on My Stubborn Heart, I realized immediately that I’d found the genre I was always meant to write. Christian contemporary romance. I’d published four of those when I made another discovery. I loved adding mystery to my Christian contemporary romances. I’ve woven a mystery into every book since. Hopefully, that element engages your curiosity, gets you asking “What happened?”, and invites you to solve the case alongside the characters.
In my most recent book, Uneasy Street, I decided that one of the mystery plot lines would center on the search for a priceless and historic piece of jewelry. The first question I needed to answer: What piece of jewelry should I choose? So I went on an internet hunt for something beautiful, something epic, something that called to me. I found that in a meander tiara that once belonged to Eugenie, the last Empress of France.
Through my research I learned that when France did away with emperors, they sold a great deal of jewelry at auction. This quote explains why . . .
The 1887 auction of the French Crown Jewels came about after the rise of the French Third Republic in an effort to undermine a potential coup d’etat by royalists. Those in favor of the sale, including one National Assembly member who famously said, “Without a crown, no need for a king,” hoped the dispersal of the jewels would discourage restoration of the monarchy.
Charles Lewis Tiffany purchased a third of the jewels sold at that auction and brought them across the Atlantic to American clients. Which suited my story world perfectly because the heroes of my Sons of Scandal series are modern day descendants of a titan of the Gilded Age. (Their surname is Camden, but I read about families like the Rockefellers and Carnegies for inspiration).
Thus, in my book, Eugenie’s meander tiara is bought at the auction by Tiffany, then sold to my hero’s Camden ancestor. It remains in the family for generations until it’s stolen. Max, the hero of Uneasy Street, sets out to track it down.
Imagine my astonishment on Monday morning, when I turned on the news and heard that a tiara belonging to Empress Eugenie [JUST LIKE IN MY BOOK] had been stolen from the Louvre.
This bow brooch that once belonged to Eugenie was also taken in the heist. The brooch followed the same path as the tiara in my book! It was sold at the 1877 auction and purchased by an American Gilded Age family, the Astors. In the case of this brooch, the French government bought it back and added it to their collection in 2008.
In case you’d like to read my version of what becomes of Eugenie’s missing tiara, I’m giving away a signed paperback copy of Uneasy Street. Simply comment below to enter! I’ll randomly select a winner on Monday. Anyone can comment, but the giveaway is open to USA residents only. [UPDATE: GIVEAWAY WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED AND NOTIFIED. CONGRATULATIONS, ANITA!!]
I truly, truly hope these treasures are recovered and returned to the Louvre! That’s definitely the way I’d write the ending of this real-life story, were it up to me.
Becky Wade
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That is so neat. I knew something had been stolen but didn’t realize what. What a coincidence. I love your books!
Kim in NC
Get Max in the job and he will find the jewels for them! Not that I like that the jewels were stolen but love how it connects to your book!
I LOVED this series!!! Love the mystery part too.
I could not believe that theft, and in broad daylight!!! Crazy!!!
How neat! Some say life is stranger than fiction, but I’d definitely say it is a case of life imitating fiction. 🙂
Thank you for the fabulous chance to win a copy of UNEASY STREET to see what happens to Eugenie’s missing tiara – in fiction at least. It’s on my TBR list and would love to read and review it.
First of all, I adored this novel and chuckled when I saw your post about the Louve heist! Sometimes life imitates art, doesn’t it? How fun for you; how upsetting for the Louve. May the Lord bring hidden things to light so that the priceless tiara is returned.
Blessings,
Jill
This is SO WILD!! I love that fiction and fact are thrown together!!
Also, maybe I shouldn’t mention that my son…uhhh…Bob…yeah, we’ll call him Bob…was umm…near the Louvre around the time the jewels were stolen. And we have heard much from him since. He’s in Europe on a bike tour…uh oh.
That is so crazy! Just another example of the old “Truth is stranger than fiction” adage. And, yes, the real life heroes will hopefully track down the thief and recover the jewels just like your hero would!
I really hope they find the jewels and they are returned to the Louvre; my fear is that they will dismantle everything, melt all of it down and sell the items piecemeal. What a loss to history that would be!
Oh my!! That is ironic. I’d love to read this.
This sounds like a fabulous read! I love books that are grounded with historical facts–and the intrigue that comes with those facts. (Plus, I’m a science and history geek, which is why I write histfic.) Best wishes for your book’s success!
Last night I watched a documentary on the British Crown Jewels. The film was made when the late queen was about 92, and it was fun to hear her thoughts and memories. But what makes me bring it up is that they are the only nation that still has all of these Crown Jewels dating back for so many centuries. Oh, and they showed where the jewels were hidden when the threat of invasion from the Nazis seemed so likely. Even the queen had never known about it. Good stuff for a writer’s mind!
What a perfect real-life tie in! Can’t wait to read it!
I’d love to read Uneasy Street!
Thanks for entering me.
Wow, what a tie-in to Uneasy Street! When I started reading your post, I wondered if you were going to mention the jewelry heist at the Louvre. I heard a report this week that the stolen treasures would most likely be melted down. I almost wept hearing that, and I pray they’re all recovered intact. Then the news this morning was that the French police and detectives had found many fingerprints to hopefully help them track down the culprits. So, that’s encouraging. Mysteries are so fun to incorporate into a romance, and I loved hearing about your research. I’ve read the first two books in your latest series but look forward to reading Uneasy Street, especially now! And looking forward to your next book(s), as well.
Wow, Becky! That is so fascinating-writing ahead of a real event! It makes more interested in reading your book, especially when it pertains to jewelry, Tiffany, and royalty! I, too, hope that the jewels are recovered soon.
I love the stories of Eugenie! I remember checking a book out from the library when
I was a girl! I would live to read your book! Please enter me in the drawing.
Love your books!Thanks for sharing.
I love this! It’s so fun when something we dream up is so close to reality that it could happen. This was fun to read about and inspires me to check out your fictional account. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, wow, what a coincidence!!
Wow!
I love the mysteries on your books!
I hope they catch those thieves before the jewels are broken up and sold. It’s strange how truth can mirror fiction sometimes .
I love your books. The first two in the series were awesome! I haven’t had a chance to read this one but will be in the near future!!
I read this gem just a few weeks ago, how ironic! You always write such beautiful stories with a little bit of excitement thrown in. 👑🙏😁
I would love to find out what happens to the missing Tierra both in the story and real life!! Beautiful pieces. Love your books.
What a unique position you are in! To dream up this awesome novel concept and then read that it’s happening in real life!
What a connection! I hope the stolen pieces are found.
What a fun and fascinating story! Can’t wait to add this book to my collection!
I love this series.
Can’t wait to read another one of your books! This one sounds so interesting! I love when fiction is interwoven with something that has happened. 😊
I love this series! I am currently reading Rocky Road! I loved the mystery of the first book Memory Lane! I loved being able to solve the mystery of what happened to Jeremiah and Alexis! I was actually talking to my best friend who is reading the series with me; about the coincidence of names in the first book that I was really surprised that I solved the mystery early on! I loved Memory Lane! And it is the first time I have read contemporary Christian romance and I think it is my new favorite genre! I have been on the hunt for good Christian romances and the sons of scandal series has been that perfect fit between the secular world and Christianity! I love it so much! Definitely will be on my re-read list!
Just wanted to reach out, Brie, and thank you for these words of encouragement. It meant a lot to me to hear that you loved Memory Lane and the contemporary Christian romance genre. Bless you!
Pretty sure this was my favorite book in the series!Can’t believe the connection to current happenings!
That heist has me in awe, disbelief and laughing so hard at the memes coming on the daily 🤣 but seriously, how does this happen?!
Every time I read one of your stories; I think this one is my favorite. However, as soon as I read the next one, it’s my favorite! I love your books. Adding a mystery to them makes them unique. I love that!
That is so fascinating about the Tiara. I’m in the middle of listening to Rocky Road and am loving it! I love the mystery/suspense that you throw into your stories Becky. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
What a fun discovery and connection!!
This is so interesting! Love getting tidbits of history about books!! Please enter me into this giveaway!! 🥰😍
What a very cool twist of a real life event imitating your storyline so well! I purchased the first two on Kindle but have yet to get Uneasy Street…. would love to win this and make my trilogy complete!
Sounds like an awesome book!
It’s all fascinating to me!
Maybe the thieves got inspiration from your book.😉
Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and hope to read this one soon!
I love your books and it is crazy that fiction became reality. I would love a copy of uneasy street .
That is wild! Hopefully they catch the culprit.
Hey, Becky! This whole theft is sure making waves, but I’d much rather read your book rather pay attention to the news! 😆 Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I was shocked that anyone was able to steal something from the Louvre, but it happened! Hopefully, the items will be found soon. Can’t wait to read Uneasy Street! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!