The Head That Wears the Crown

by Mariah Stewart

A fortysomething woman’s ordinary life takes a royal detour in an engaging novel about embracing a family legacy and stepping up when it matters most by New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart.

Annaliese—Annie—Gilberti is a divorced South Philadelphia mother of two with a nine-to-five job when a shocking discovery turns another average day upside down: her late grandmother was the exiled ruler of a small European country, and Annie is next in line to wear the crown and restore the monarchy. The would-be grand duchess of the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert has vacation time coming, enough to take a quick trip to check it out.

It’s easy to fall in love with Saint Gilbert’s villagers; its mysteries (why does everyone look decades younger than they claim to be?); her family’s ancestral home, Castle Blanc (so many hidden rooms and passages!); and maybe—just a little—with the dashing Maximilien Belleme, the captain of the castle guard. Never one to walk away from a challenge, Annie steps up, determined to be worthy of the crown that’s been offered. As she, her sisters, and her children work to bring Saint Gilbert into the modern age, Annie discovers a legacy of courageous women and that no threat is too great to deny the grand duchess’s right to the throne.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Royalty, Womens Fiction

411 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2023

About the author

Mariah Stewart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of forty-one novels and three novellas and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. She is a RITA finalist in romantic suspense and the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO Award for excellence in women's fiction, and a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times Magazine. A three-time winner of the Golden Leaf Award presented by the New Jersey Romance Writers, Stewart was recently awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award (which placed her in their Hall of Fame along with former recipients Nora Roberts and Mary Jo Putney — very excellent company, indeed!)

After having written seven contemporary romance novels, Stewart found true happiness writing murder and mayhem. She considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: I turned off the car and opened the door, a cup of Wawa coffee in one hand and a tote bag in the other. I locked up and started through the parking lot.
I was one car row from the entrance when I saw them. All three of them, and I realized this was no coincidence.
My blood froze in my veins, and my legs turned to rubber. I dropped my coffee - and damn it, there was still half left - and ran for the door.
'What's your hurry, Annie?' Debbie Wilson, the receptionist for my department - that would be claims - had been halfway up the steps when she heard the splash.
I blew past her and rushed into the building, past the security guard, and hightailed it down the hall as fast as my size seven-and-a-half ballet flats could take me. Once safely in my cubicle, I dropped my tote - pissed off more than I can tell you that I'd wasted a half cup of Wawa Columbian that had been fixed perfectly - and fell into my chair, gasping for breath.
I was so out of shape, and I regretted having dropped my gym membership back in the fall when I was going through a budget crisis. My heart was beating like crazy and my hands were shaking uncontrollably. I didn't know who those men were, but they were definitely following me.
Which made no sense at all. I mean, why?

ABOUT 'THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN': Annaliese—Annie—Gilberti is a divorced South Philadelphia mother of two with a nine-to-five job when a shocking discovery turns another average day upside down: her late grandmother was the exiled ruler of a small European country, and Annie is next in line to wear the crown and restore the monarchy. The would-be grand duchess of the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert has vacation time coming, enough to take a quick trip to check it out.

It’s easy to fall in love with Saint Gilbert’s villagers; its mysteries (why does everyone look decades younger than they claim to be?); her family’s ancestral home, Castle Blanc (so many hidden rooms and passages!); and maybe—just a little—with the dashing Maximilien Belleme, the captain of the castle guard. Never one to walk away from a challenge, Annie steps up, determined to be worthy of the crown that’s been offered. As she, her sisters, and her children work to bring Saint Gilbert into the modern age, Annie discovers a legacy of courageous women and that no threat is too great to deny the grand duchess’s right to the throne.

MY THOUGHTS: I just loved this pure piece of escapism. Who has never dreamed of being a Princess? I sure did - purely for the access to the wonderful horses I would be able to ride - but still . . .

The Head That Wears the Crown may be totally unrealistic, put it is pure, unadulterated FUN! Max Belleme can drag me off to Saint Gilbert any time.

I thoroughly enjoyed my jaunt to Saint Gilbert. Mariah Stewart writes in a natural, unaffected way that is a joy to read. Her characters are ordinary people - a solo working mum who is about to become the Grand Duchess of a principality she has never even heard of; Her two sisters; Her two teenaged children; And her best friend. There's a little tension when one of the characters is kidnapped. But it is not all plain sailing for Annaliese - the country is in a rundown state, and not everyone is happy that she is Grand Duchess. There is a faction who want to remove her from her (very uncomfortable) throne.

Who ever would have thought this would be such a wonderful read? This is a book that will lift your spirits and make you smile.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#TheHeadThatWearstheCrown #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Mariah Stewart considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Montlake via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you react to the news that you are royalty?

Yes, after the belly laugh and gasps. How’d you react?

This is the premise that author Mariah Stewart explores when she questions if this discovery would be really worth uprooting one’s family and totally changing one’s way of life.

John-Paul Laurent, Marcel Barsotti, and Maximillien Belleme are on a mission; their sole focus is to convince Her Royal Highness, Grand Duchess Annaliese Emelie Sophia Elizabet of the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert, to return to Castle Blanc and re-establish the monarchy in Saint Gilbert.

The thing is, Her Royal Highness doesn’t know she’s royalty.

She’s just plain old Annaliese Gilberti Cancelmi, divorced and struggling mom of two teens.

Stewart takes her readers on an enchanting journey of a middle-aged ordinary woman who is given the opportunity to become extraordinary and carry the torch of the Gilberti legacy. I was spellbound as Steward ignited my love of fairytales and had me instantly smiling and nodding my head at her authentic representation of a modern family. Her characters are wonderful and I loved the ‘what if’ aspect, even if I had to suspend my disbelief at times.

This story about love, loss, duty and family bonds is pure escapism and needs to be on your reading list.

Did you enjoy The Princess Diaries? Roman Holiday? Then you’ll enjoy this one.

I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book to get immersed in and escape reality. What a surprise when Annaliese Gilberti finds out that she descended from royalty. Her grandmother was next in line for the Grand Duchess of a small European country before her family sent her away as a teenager, right before the Germans killed her family. Now Annie is next in line to become the Grand Duchess of this country that has been in control of Germans and then Russians for many years. The Duke's Council has researched to find the next descendant and found Annie. So, Annie, a hard-working divorced mom of two teenagers from South Philly and her family, including two sisters, rip up their roots and head to Saint Gilberti for a new life of living as royals. What fun! Annie and her sisters throw themselves into helping the country become self-sufficient and give back to the country of their ancestors. This is an enjoyable read with history, a little mystery, emotion, new beginnings, family, and romance. I have read Mariah Stewart's books for many years and especially loved her suspense books, so this is different but a fun read.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming and fun story that reminds me a bit of The Princess Diaries, but the grown-up version.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps you’re like millions of other women who have watched The Princess Diaries over and over and over again. Even my husband enjoys those movies and has watched them multiple times if you can believe that.

The Head That Wears the Crown is a dreamy, swoony story that sucks you in from the beginning. Stewart writes in the first person so it truly is like the main character is telling you a fantastic story. I love that type of writing as it delivers you right into the fantasy.

This book is as real as it gets. It’s loaded with humor, reality, tenacity, ingenuity, and a little bit of romance to top it off. This grown-up version of The Princess Diaries is so much better!

The characterization is awesome. The main character along with her sisters and family are swept away to a new country where they definitely have their work cut out for them.

The descriptions and the imagination of a fairytale country come to life as Stewart weaves her story. And she even throws in a little bit of a twist to keep us on our toes.

Wrapped up with a sweet epilogue, and maybe even a few hints of stories to come, which would be wonderful in my opinion, this book is a delight and perfect for the women’s fiction lover and the dreamer in you. Clear your weekend and take a trip into this dreamy fantasy escape story!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-head-tha...

[Liralen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's as classic a trope as ever there was: an American everywoman, in this case a single mother of two teenagers, discovers that she's not quite everywoman after all—she's the heir to the throne of a tiny European nation...and they want her to take on the crown more or less right now.

I have read more than my fair share of these books—enough to seriously consider renaming my Goodreads "kings and queens" shelf "princess fantasies". (So far, I have resisted. Valiantly.) I know what to expect, and I know that the point of these books generally is the fantasy, and just about everything else comes second. But oh gosh, although I kept my expectations modest here, they just...weren't met.

It's two things, I think. First: worldbuilding. (This to me is the great tragedy of it all—and the common weak spot in princess-fantasy books—but I suspect most readers will struggle more with the next point. We'll come back to that.) I should note, here, that I have historically been Very Bad at suspending disbelief (there's a reason I don't read more speculative fiction), and that if I'd put any work at all into changing that, this might have been less of a concern for me. It might be less of a concern for other readers. With that in mind...

I was really pleased to read, early on in the book, that St. Gilbert is meant to be a former Soviet Union (satellite?) country. Why? Because that's relatively uncommon in these princess-fantasy books; normally the books are all about that French-English-Italian aesthetic, and I really wanted to see how it would treat a country with a more Eastern European background. I hoped too soon: St. Gilbert is located between Switzerland and Italy, roughly (if I had to guess) between Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Why does this matter? Because...neither of these countries touches a single Soviet country. It doesn't make any sense for St. Gilbert to be located there. It doesn't make sense that St. Gilbert—a former Soviet country with almost no international ties, located between countries that speak French and Italian and German—would use English as its national language. It doesn't make sense that they would be convinced that there's absolutely nothing in this spectacular mountainous region that would draw tourists, leaving the country deeply impoverished. It doesn't make sense that the country doesn't seem to have a single Soviet-style building. (My mother pointed out that maybe Annaliese just doesn't notice, but I think it's more that Annaliese doesn't realise that there's a particular style of build specific to the era/regime, and that she doesn't realise it because the author doesn't take it into consideration. Even if St. Gilbert didn't sustain damage during WWII—look up Soviet architecture in Hungary and you'll see what sorts of construction they should have had.)

And that's just...how so much of the book goes. This "poor" country has a Swiss bank account that nobody but the heir (that's Annaliese!) can touch, and the council running the country has never tried to get the money out (or reach out to Annaliese, or her mother or grandmother, to get their help to do so)—even though this one bank account can basically make the country wealthy overnight. There is so little tourism in the country that there is not a single hotel or BnB, and I literally cannot think of a country where that would make sense. Tuvalu—least visited country in the world, according to the Internet—has hotels. Afghanistan has hotels. North Korea has hotels. St. Gilbert does not. St. Gilbert can't sell their cheeses abroad because they're made from unpasteurized milk, but a quick Google is enough to tell me that all they'd need to do is age their cheeses for 60 days to sell them in the US...and there's nothing stopping them from selling cheese in the EU. Cheese isn't the answer, though: Annaliese discovers a (different) staple product that is basically magical and decides to use it to revitalise the economy, carefully controlling its distribution so that outsiders can't buy it outright—and even if I can believe that nobody in the world has noticed this magical project before, I don't understand how she's going to 1) revitalise tourism, 2) use the promise of this product to do so, but then 3) keep it out of the shops while 4) still allowing locals access to this very, very staple product. Meanwhile, Annaliese is variously called "Your Highness", "Your Grace", "my lady", "madam", and "Your Majesty". I'm not sure which is correct per their protocol, but what I am sure of is that they have a protocol, and they aren't following it.

And second, plot. This is all but a conflict-free book. The first half of the book involves Annaliese arriving in St. Gilbert and being pampered. A castle, a staff, the most delicious food she's ever tasted, room after room of heirlooms that have been tucked away just waiting for her return—she makes some hmmm sounds about updates, sure (one of her first suggestions is that the country will need more parking lots), but very little happens. Around two-thirds of the way in, we get the first conflict: Annaliese goes up against the council that has ruled the country for decades and has no particular reason to want to dilute their power. But she comes prepared: she whips out her proverbial flyswatter, tells them to "Yo. Slow your roll" (loc. 3666*), and has the entire council eating out of her hand in the span of a single meeting.

Around three quarters of the way in, we get to the real conflict: There is somebody in St. Gilbert who does not think an untried American should be on the throne. This is, again, a pretty classic conflict point—and the thing is, he's not wrong. Annaliese claims dedication to St. Gilbert, but whether or not she even has citizenship is questionable (truly—she and her sisters wonder at some point), and she says that she wouldn't become monarch if she had to give up her US citizenship, and...guys? I also would not want a monarch whose perspective is "okay, I guess I'm responsible for this country now, but my other country is always going to come first". It's a (statistically very, very improbable) miracle that there is only one person in an entire country of some 600,000 people who is unhappy with the new status quo.

In short: This might make a good read for someone who wants, basically, stress-free wish fulfillment and not much by way of heft. I can see this, and perhaps its possible successors, marketed in that way—books where plot and character development and so on are beside the point, and the reader is just in it to imagine that they're a princess, or that they've inherited a tropical island, or that...uh...they're hired at the best library in the world and told that the job is theirs to shape. This is written as a standalone, but there are hints that there may be more books to come—Annaliese's sisters are both making moon eyes at specific men within a few minutes of meeting them (oh—technically this is a romance novel; Annaliese has her tall-dark-handsome guard who isn't really characterized beyond "dedicated" and "gallant", which I guess allows the reader to insert whatever characteristics they prefer—but it's a very, very small part of the book), and at the end Annaliese is wondering how to solve the next problem. I'm not sure whether hypothetical further books would follow her sisters or continue to follow Annaliese as her childhood dreams are fulfilled, but if any future books follow her sisters, I wouldn't be surprised to see extended descriptions of high-end cooking equipment and baked goods (Roe) or room after luxuriously refinished room (Ceil). But...get yourself some industrial-strength locks for whatever case you pack your disbelief away into.

And a side note... Absolute best misspelling I've seen in ages, and at least 50% of the book was worth reading for this alone: milk toasty (loc. 3923) instead of milquetoast. I really hope the proofreader has a strong grasp of tenses but misses milk toasty.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*I read an ARC, and quotes are direct but may not be final.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a departure from Mariah Stewart’s usual style, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A bit of mystery, some drama, lots of fun, and romance. It has it all in a modern day fairy-tale. I wish I could visit the idyllic locale of Saint Gilbert! It was a fast and entertaining read, a perfect place to escape for a few hours!

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved this story! Strong female characters and protective male characters. It is a fairytale story, and it’s lots of fun, yet has serious parts, also. I highly recommend this feel-good novel. 💞

[Leith Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine you’re a divorced working mom in Philadelphia with 2 teenagers and you notice you’re being followed by the best looking man you’ve ever seen. He and his friends tell you that your grandmother was the last Grand Duchess of a tiny European country, San Gilberti, and that you, Annie Gilberti, are the next in line now that the country has voted to reestablish the monarchy.

This is the entertaining plot of The Head That Wears the Crown. When Annie finds out, she’s shocked but not totally surprised, her grandmother didn’t talk about escaping WWII and coming to the US.
Annie goes to San Gilberti where she finds a beautiful and charming place that has very little infrastructure or economy of its own.

Annie needs to decide if she will become the Grand Duchess with all the responsibilities that come with the title. She’ll have to move her family, and she’s concerned about her kids, especially when she finds out that not everyone in San Gilberti is excited about restoring the monarchy.

I really enjoyed this book, and I loved Annie’s family and friends. This is fun escapist fiction at its best

4 stars.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

[Lori Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A South Philly single mom of two finds out she is heir to a small country. Annie travels to St. Gilbert and falls in love with the country, people and cultural. She moves with her teenagers there, and her sisters and best friend follow. She becomes the Grand Duchy and is given task of bringing this country up to date. The country has no hotel so no tourism. The Council is set up of older men who have not been accountable and have been left to their own agendas. Roads are deplorable, young people are leaving and castles are crumbling….what’s a Duchy to do?

Princess Diaries meets Hallmark movies. A cute, quick read, but I did find myself rolling my eyes quite a few times. I can’t imagine two teenage kids jumping at the chance to move halfway around the world with no push back of leaving their friends and everything they know. It was refreshing to see the close relationship they had with their Mom, but these kids were just too good to be true. The relationship between the sisters is strong, but again, they leave willingly to take on strong roles within the country. Very little growing pains for the family. The Council basically accepts this new Duchy with little drama. How is English the main language? Yes, there is a twist about 3/4 of the way in. I was expecting a twist, but not this one. Of course there is a hunky Captain who has captured Annie’s eye. Since I live 30 miles from Philly, I loved all the references to the city and the surrounding area, including the attitude and slang. Was this a fun little read, yes. Perfect light read for vacation or weekend home. I’ve read this author before and have enjoyed her previous books more, but this was a cute escape.

Thanks to Montlake Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mariah Stewart has long been a go-to author for me for contemporary romance and women's fiction. But when I read the premise of this book -- single mother American woman discovers she's the grand duchess of a tiny European country -- I cringed. This did not sound like something I would enjoy. Nevertheless, I purchased it shortly after it was released several months ago, but set it aside for another day. That day was yesterday. Wow! I expected to put it down after a few chapters (if I got that far). Instead, I ended up dropping everything to read this and see just what happened. I loved it!

Yes, the plot is a fairy tale, but I got caught up in it, and believed our heroine's backstory. I found her two sisters, daughter, and son interesting. And Max. Ah Max. The Captain of her guard and the clear love interest (although if you're looking for a sizzling, strong romance, this isn't for you). The book is really more about Annaliese—Annie—Gilberti 's journey, and the journey of her sisters and children (teenagers).

I was completely caught up in the story, intrigued by the fake tiny European country and its residents, and would definitely like to see more. Both her sisters get potential love interests, although they're definitely off page. I would love to see future books featuring either Annie or her sisters. I want more!

If you're in the mood for an adult fairy tale, this might be the book for you. As for me, I suspect I'll read it again at some point in the future.

[Bella Crooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the head that wears the crown!! what a fun read this was! I LOVE everything Mariah Stewart writes and this was no exception!! I love the characters in this one and I love how it was a fairly tale!!

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Anna's journey, from being a divorced woman raising two teenager, to learning she was next in line, to be the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert Annie was never one to walk away from a challenge, and she stepped up and accepted the challenge. We see her journey unfold, facing things head on, and helping Saint Gilbert move forward. An unexpected turn of events, forces her to make a quick decision, and she digs deep within herself and goes and faces the problem head on. You will have to read the book to find out what is going on and what does happen. I did and I enjoyed the book very much.
I received an ARC from Montlake through NetGalley.

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!


What a fun read. It’s fast and man it has so much heart. I love how at the core of this story it’s all about family. And how no matter what they are our heart.

I highly recommend you read this! You will absolutely devour it. You will absolutely devour it. Mariah Stewart is such a fantastic voice is this genre.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Annie is surprised about her families past. She decides to travel to a small country in Europe to see what's its like. This was an enjoyable read.

[WycEd Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out our full post for THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN on Wicked Reads.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up

If you read the postscript, you will learn that this was written as an escape from the crazy that we all experienced in 2020/21. I had wondered that before I got to it, because this is a fun fantasy that is designed to take someone out of the everyday and give them a fabulous, crazy daydream.

Annie is a middle-aged single mum who discovers that she is the heir to a small Duchy in Europe which needs her. Her family escaped during WWII and have lived incognito in the USA ever since. Now she needs to take her place in the country and restore its fortunes.

From the fabulous castles, the magical soap, and the divine bodyguard, Max, Annie is gathering her family and friends around her to take on the task of a lifetime.

Great escapist read!

Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

[☆ Lauriane ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 not super riveting

I don't mind simple, mega happy ending stories, but I wish the stakes were higher. There was never a point in this story where I felt like the characters were actually experiencing adversity so when we get to the end it's super lackluster

[Karen Wahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this “fairytale like” story. I loved all the characters too. A south Philly girl becoming a duchess was a delightful read. Hated for it to end. Although touted as a romance book it was not one until close to the end.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that draws you in and makes you want to know what happens to the characters. It was an easy read.

[Sandie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Uplifting and totally charming. I loved it all from beginning to end.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mariah Stewart, the Author of “The Head That Wears the Crown,” has written a charming and entertaining contemporary fiction novel. The author vividly describes her colorful and dramatic characters as complex and complicated. In this Adult version of a Fairy Tale, Annaliese (Annie) Gilberti discovers she is the next in line in her family to rule the small European Country of Saint Gilbert. Her grandmother had escaped from Saint Gilbert during the War, and it is up to Annie to decide if she will become the next ruler of Monarch.

Annie visits Saint Gilbert, falls in love with the castle, and discovers the country and the people. Many of the jewels and art were hidden from the Russians and Germans during the war. Unfortunately, the roads must be fixed, and the other castles need updating. The country has resources of soap, wine, cheese, and possible tourism if accommodations exist. If Annie accepts the position, her two sisters and two children must reside in this country.

The family would require security detail, and Annaliese would have to deal with the council of men. Some people question her right to the throne, and there is an undercurrent of danger. Annie has always put her children first and has to decide whether this transition suits them. Annie also wants to do the right thing for the people in this country. Modernizing and bringing Saint Gilbert to its full potential is a monumental task. Annie would require the best help. Some decisions have to be made.

I highly recommend this enchanting and witty novel to others. I love how the author describes the importance of courage, sisterhood, family, friends, trust, loyalty, love, and hope.

[Lisa Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

Loved this modern day fairytale that’s focuses on a woman in her mid-40s! Was a nice break from real world to enjoy a good read.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows Annaliese Gilberti, a single mom in South Philly, after finding out she's actually the heir to the throne of a small European country. The descriptions of St Gilbert were so cute, and if it weren't fictional I'd absolutely want to visit. I also appreciated the relationships she had with her two sisters as well as her two teen children and how everyone adapted to the change in circumstances. There were a few ways I wasn't sure if the book would get into magical realism, and not knowing the author's work I wasn't sure what to expect. Specifically (but without spoilers), the mystery of why everyone looks so young, and the occasional presence of her deceased mother and grandmother. It tied up nicely, and I appreciated that the epilogue wrapped up everyone's story, not just Annaliese's.

[Nancy Herkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! A South Philly divorced mom unexpectedly inherits the crown for a small European kingdom that needs help...and Annie fixes things! I loved her strength and confidence and her interactions with her kids. Not to mention the dishy captain of the guard who falls in love with her. It doesn't get better than that!

Proving that great minds think a like, in my fictional kingdom of Caleva, lily sap provides a miracle cosmetic ingredient against aging (also dementia). In Ms. Stewart's fictional kingdom, the violet-scented age-old soap recipe makes skin look years younger. Do you think we're indulging in wishful thinking? LOL!

Highly recommend this book!

[Daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast, light read about a woman who suddenly learns she is the Grand Duchess and ruler of a small European duchy, very much in the style of the Princess Diaries but featuring a woman in her 40s rather than a teen. Some of the plot points don't make a lot of sense (how are there absolutely no hotels in the country? Why is her daughter a princess if she is a duchess?) and there is no conflict to speak of, but it's cute. Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet, fun read. If you enjoy an engaging novel without cursing or overt sex scenes (think 50’s movies), this is for you!

[Nate Brightman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is new to me. I believe this book(free on K.U.) was recommended to me by Robynn Carr whose Virgin River and Sullivan Crossing series I greatly enjoyed. If you haven’t read them, please don’t judge them by the Hallmark like Netflix and CW series the author unfortunately has allowed them to be turned into that only loosely resembles the books. This standalone book is very similar to a Carr book in that it’s plot reads like a Hallmark movie if Hallmark movie characters and their stories had more depth. Annie or Annaliese, a 44-year-old South Philly divorced mother of 2 teenagers suddenly discovers she’s next in line to be the Grand Duchess (the equivalent of a queen) of Saint Gilbert, a little known European Duchy (recently freed from the Soviet Union after it collapsed) that wants to return to a strong monarchy lead government. What Annie and her two younger sisters Cicely and Rosaline were never told by their late maternal grandmother or their mother is that their grandmother was the last coronated Grand Duchess of Saint Gilbert living her life in exile in Philadelphia after she was forced with her twin sister to flee Saint Gilbert at fifteen years old when the Nazi’s invaded the Duchy and murdered the rest of their entire immediate family. Which is very much too dark to be part of a Hallmark movie. At the conclusion of WWII the Russians had driven out the Nazis holding the country but then began their own occupation which didn’t end until the fall of the Soviet Union. Now after a decade of struggling to rebuild itself under the leadership of a group of men, hereditary Dukes who seemed more interested in lining their own pockets with what little money was available to the nation than rebuilding the country, the people of Saint Gilbert have held a referendum where it decided they’d like to return to the strong monarchy form of government led by a Grand Duchess that helped the country enjoy centuries of a level of peace and prosperity prior to WWII. One of the few reasons I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because the author seemed to vacillate between whether the Grand Duchess held final say in the business of Saint Gilbert government who supposedly served at the monarch’s leisure, or whether she needed to reach a consensus with the Council of Dukes to get anything done. Either way as keeper of the nation’s purse strings which her grandparents wisely hid away in a Swiss bank to protect it from the Nazis, she has plenty of leverage in deciding where the money is spent. Annie or is approached by the handsome Maximillan or Max officially the Captain of the Guard (the Saint Gilbert version of the Secret Service and FBI) to take her place as leader of a country she barely remembers ever hearing mentioned by her late grandmother or mother. This is a fish out of water story about a woman whom despite her self-doubts is uniquely qualified to tackle the many problems facing the Duchy in leading it into the 21st Century and making it relevant on the world’s stage. I found the best part of this story to be Annie’s very human character and her relationships with her ex-husband, her children and mostly her two younger sisters whose own strengths help her to turn the fortunes of the tiny nation around. As a romance not a whole lot goes on beyond a lot of secret longing by Annie for the handsome Max until the very end of the story. Even then when they finally couple up it is strictly PG as the author leaves most everything but a few steamy kisses to the reader’s imagination. This is definitely more women’s lit. than contemporary romance. That said even as a red-blooded male I’m not embarrassed to say I found the story enchanting.

[Marea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annaliese (Annie) Gilberti is a divorced single mom of two teenagers, living in South Philadelphia working for an insurance company, always trying to escape for an hour into another world by reading. Little does she realize that one day, her childhood dream of living in a castle and being a princess will come true. Okay she’s not a princess, but she is the heir to become a Grand Duchess of a small country in Europe, which is even better. Annie and her sister had known about their grandmother escaping Europe before being taken over in WW2 but what they hadn’t know is that she was next in line to be the ruler of St Gilbert. Now the question was, is Annie able to give up everything she had known, uproot her kids, move to a country that was falling apart, with the help of her sisters …or will she refuse and just stay in the US. Of course she is going to go, if she doesn’t there won’t be a book, just lots of regrets.

This is a book that is good to read when it’s one of those, cooler rainy, fall days so you want to do nothing or if you are heading to some place warm and need a distraction for a little while. I loved it and am giving it 4 stars. Yes, even with all the mistakes and geographical errors. I mean there is no way a country between Switzerland, France and Italy would have been under USSR control, because while they did control a lot of Europe, they didn’t have anything in that area. Then a place with 600,000 people doesn’t have any hotels at all? I’m finding that a bit hard to believe. A few other comments have mentioned that its also a bit like Princess Diaries just for “older” women. I’m not going to deny that either. But even with all those things it is still is in some ways like what’s mentioned in the story….giving people a chance to escape and remember dreaming of being a princess in a castle with a hot looking head of security!!!! One of the reasons too is the fact that there are people in the country who knew Annie’s grandmother when she was young and were able to tell her stories of what she was like as a child. So many of those things are truly being lost now as our parents and grandparents pass. It was a reminder of how precious they are and that we need to hear them, record them and pass them on to our children and grandchildren. I also loved how Annie could feel her grandmother there with her, especially when she went to her great grandparents and great aunt & uncles gravesites.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart

How many of you have thought about being royalty? Living in a palace? Not having to lift a finger ever again to do mundane tasks? Would you step into a fairytale story at this point in your life whether 20, 40, 60, or more? Would you be willing to take your family with you to a place that needs help that you might or might not be able to provide? Would you question your right to wear a crown and wonder how to put a small portion of the European map on the MAP again? Hmmm…

Okay…I’m writing about a book that I almost left behind last night because I started reading, saw a diary-like retelling of a past-events story with a forty year old + divorced mother of teens being given the golden ticket to leave behind her mundane Philadelphia life to emerge in a beautiful alpine country never heard of before and then being tasked with creating a vibrant thriving place for her family settle in and create the perfectly perfect newly regenerated parcel of European soil to become what it might possibly maybe become.

Okay…right now in typing this up I am kind of lost for a way to go forward so will way:

* I almost stopped reading a few pages in because I could not connect with the writing style or the characters or the feel of it all
* I had trouble with the over-the-top feel at times..
* I loved the family influence and how it tied in throughout
* I was baffled at times with the mention of ancestors being felt by the main character and her conferring with them here and there along the way…was she psychic or was she just…feeling their presence?
* Couldn’t and still can’t understand why three sisters would still be available to leave the USA to head to Gilberti and be willing to do so for an older sister that at times seemed less competent than her siblings
*Loved the historical information but…felt there was a lot wanting
* and…okay…here it comes…as I type up this review after having stayed up late last night and thinking this book was a silly thing that wasn’t worth reading will say that **I seem to have read it** and you know what…I am kind of curious to find out what might happen to the “royal family” as they move/plod forward in the future.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes and no
Would I read more in this series? Perhaps

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the Arc – This is my honest review

3-4 Stars

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every little girl dreams of being a princess. Usually when you are a forty something woman, you know that being a princess is just a dream that you had as a child. This was not so for Annaliese "Annie" Gilberti who lives in South Philadelphia with her 2 teenage children. She is a divorced mom who holds a regular 9 to 5 job with 2 sisters that she loves. Imagine her surprise when she finds out her late grandmother was a part of a royal family many moons ago before she fled her family's royal home during the war. This little country has been looking for a predecessor for many years. They have found Annie and she is heir to the throne of Saint Gilbert. She thinks it is a big joke at first until she learns more of her grandmother's story, a story that will bring you to tears. She is invited to visit Saint Gilbert to see if she will accept the crown.

This story has all of the makings of a grown up fairy tale including a castle with turrets and secret passageways. Things are not all roses and tiaras as Annie finds a country in dire need of an upgrade that needs to be brought into this century. Her task will be momentous, so the question is can an insurance adjuster from America solve the problems of a small country? As adults we know this is the stuff of fairy tales, but so what, that is why it is called fiction. It is always fun to dive into a book and lose yourself for a little while in a world of make believe, which is why I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would call this Princess Diaries 2.0, which delighted my soul. I think this was a beautifully written story of love, loss, and family dynamics that will brighten your day, if you will just allow yourself to escape for a little while into the world of lost royalty. The characters were likable and the book was just a joy to read. If you want to real life, turn on the news. If you want to enjoy a fun afternoon of reading and letting your imagination fly away to a world far, far away, you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars
The Head that Wears the Crown, is the newest release from Mariah Stewart and quite the departure from her normal faire. She typically writes what I would categorize as women’s fiction and this is more-or-less the same, but it’s more fairytale and fantastical than her typical, everyday women’s issues, struggles and interactions with others.

In this story, we follow Annie, a single, Philly-based single mom who suddenly discovers that she is heir to a small country called St. Gilbert. She visits, unprepared to commit to anything, but she falls in love with the people, the scenery, and the products and is inspired by the mission. She makes the decision to mover she and her two children there and take on the role of Grand Duchy and the job of revitalizing the country. Soon her sisters and best friend follow and not only does she transform the country, but finds love and purpose as well.

This is admittedly far-fetched and highly unbelievable, but if you can suspend disbelief, then you might have fun with this well-used, happily ever after trope. Keep in mind, this is a long story and not a whole lot happens. It’s more a diary entry cataloguing day-to-day life in a modern day fairytale type setting, than a driving, eventful plot. Things come together far too easily, despite having no qualification or understanding of the job, she immediately succeeds. Her kids make the transition without difficulty, and it all comes together nicely in the end.

The inspiration of the strong bonds of sisterhood, unity of family, determination to exceed your own boundaries and do what you do best for the good of others is prominent in this novel. I know many people enjoyed this novel. I can’t say I was one of them. This story didn’t make a lot of sense to me and felt tedious, a bit silly, and vastly different from her previous works. Many will find it entertaining, atmospheric and enchanting, it just didn’t work for me.