The Royal Nanny

by Melody Carlson

Former teacher Meredith Cardwell thought everything was going to plan…until suddenly it wasn’t. Strapped and stranded alone in Austria on what was supposed to be a romantic trip for two, Meredith signs on for a short-term nannying gig. Unbeknownst to her, it’s for royalty. But with no money and no other options to get home, Meredith takes a leap of faith that children are children…regardless of where they grow up.

In over her head from day one, Meredith does her best to connect to and help the two children, but the transition from childcare in the jungle of the South Pacific to a royal household is anything but straightforward. Yearning for a mother-figure, the young prince of Rotslavia clings to Meredith, while his tween sister acts with the bossiness of her future role as queen.

All the while, questions abound. Where is their father? Why does he seem to neglect them? And what will she do when they return to their homeland? Of course, she gets to know the prince, and to love his children, but an everyday American girl can never really fit into the royal world…can she?

Genres: Audiobook, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Royalty, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Contemporary

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Royal Nanny by Melody Carlson was a sweet story
Not my first book by this author, but my first that wasn't a Christmas book. So I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.
The romance part was actually just a small part of the story. It was mainly about Meredith and her relationship with two royal children who she ended up becoming a nanny/governess for after being scammed and losing all her belongings on the start of her summer vacation in Europe.
I love the relationship that developed between Meredith and Kat, or Princess Katerina and Mishka, or Prince George. Kat is the heir to the throne of a small fictional European kingdom. She's also a stubborn pre-teen who of course doesn't need a nanny. So Meredith has her work cut out for her in that relationship. But Mishka took to her pretty quickly. Of course, Meredith also needed to deal with their sibling shenanigans plus doubts on whether she was up to this task. There were other issues to deal with, but I think those would be too spoilerish.
Through it all Meredith sought God's will. I love that she was sharing her faith in small ways throughout the story.
I really hope there is a sequel planned, because I'd love to see more of these characters. I would have loved more from the relationship between Spenser and Meredith.
I also loved the little nods to The Sound of Music and Cinderella.

[Leann Arave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a charming, sweet story. I would recommend this story to anyone that loves a fairytale ending, but especially young adults. This story has a lot of of wonderful and sound learning lessons for young teenagers. Meredith is an American school teacher who finds herself abroad in Vienna, alone, robbed of all her possessions, and no way to contact anyone. When she lands a temporary nanny job with a royal family. The relationship she is able to build with the two children is very tender and inspiring.
I would say there’s similarities to the sound of music story but also Cinderella. I thought it was a beautiful story. If you’re looking for more romance, there was some, but not as swoony as I enjoy. Again, if you are a young adult reader, I think it’s perfect. There is some light Christian influence, which I thought added depth to the story. It is a clean story with no foul language, which I greatly appreciate.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than 5 stars for this book! It's the perfect blend of comedy with some minor drama. Meredith starts out on a fun European trip only to be robbed and stranded in Vienna. Fortunately for her she meets several "angels" who help her.

Meredith is a wonderful character! She reminds me of myself in many ways. She's kind, compassionate and a little headstrong. She often sees things that no one else does. Mishka is absolutely adorable! I love how he immediately warms up to Meredith and trusts her. Kat is a typical preteen girl. She's hurting and overwhelmed by her lot in life. Spencer isn't around much but he's a good man who loves his children.

It's so awesome how Meredith brings God and her faith in God into conversations. She doesn't shove her faith down people's throats. She lives out her faith. I've read many books by Melody Carlson and they never disappoint!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from White Crown Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Royal Nanny by Melody Carlson is a breath of fresh air! While many young adult novels are full of angst and darkness, this novel is full of hope and light, making it perfect for young people finding their way.

Because while the story does take a few leaps into the unlikely, main character Meri is full of real-world wisdom. Though her initial story choices show her to be naïve, she soon grows past them and leans on a firm foundation of faith and solid experience. She is a fun yet realistic leading lady and really makes the story.

I liked the way that The Royal Nanny goes beyond a mere story to include valuable lessons, but at it's heart, it's sheer fun. I enjoyed the plot, vicariously exploring bits of Austria with Meri, and imagining what it would be like to hang out in a royal household. So for anyone who ever dreamed of being a princess, The Royal Nanny is the perfect book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Luminous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sound of Music meets a Hallmark royal movie—absolutely adorable! This story follows Meredith Cardwell, a former teacher whose trip to Europe takes a surprising turn, leading her to nanny for two royal children in Austria.

This was so sweet! The first half beautifully portrays Meredith’s dedication as a nanny, focusing on her efforts to connect with the royal children—from young Prince George, yearning for a maternal figure, to Princess Katerina, who is initially resistant to her new nanny.
There are countless sweet moments between Meredith and the kids, highlighting her faith, kindness, and the way she demonstrates living as a princess of God.

The second half of the book brings a royal Hallmark movie vibe, as Prince Spenser, the children’s father, enters the scene. Meredith begins to wonder if she truly belongs in this regal world and how she’ll say goodbye to the family she’s grown to love when her temporary position ends.

This book is perfect if you love:
🩵 Clean royal romance
🦢 The Sound of Music
🩵 Adorable kids
🦢 European adventures
🩵 Cinderella stories

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was super cute! A light and easy read reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, with great characters and an opening that sucked me in from the opening pages. This one was hard to put down!

I received a copy of this from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

[angelpompom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

Cute & wholesome story🤍

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story. The book was gifted to me by a friend.

[Jennifer Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet, clean book. I had picked it up from the local public library and was pleasantly surprised.

It would be fine for teens and adults.

It is a little predictable, but sometimes that is what I prefer. It was a delight to read, and I enjoyed it.

I am giving it 4 stars 🌟

It is a perfect rainy day read, when you don't want something too heavy.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Royal Nanny is more than a cute Christian fiction story! I loved how the author wove an intriguing story with so much depth to it. Poor Meredith had it all planned until it all went wrong! Single, stranded, and alone in a foreign country, Meredith follows an unexpected path laid before her. Interwoven throughout the book is a deeper theme of God’s unexpected blessings and learning to follow more than what your mind or heart says to. With surprise twists and turns, we see Meredith learn some lessons of her own, while teaching the young prince and princess more about love, faith, and the God she serves. I loved watching the child + guardian dynamic played out. I loved Meredith’s heart, patience, and responsibility in dealing with the children. You will have to read to see if this “everyday American girl can [ever] fit into the royal world”! You will NOT be disappointed, and you will be cheering Meri on the whole time! This would make a wonderful, and different, made for TV movie!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers. I was NOT required to provide a positive review. All opinions and thoughts that are expressed are completely mine alone.*

[Bonnie Ludlum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A “Sound of Music” possibly a “Cinderella” story. No singing and a lot less children, no pumpkin turned carriage. This is a story of an American schoolteacher, finishing up mission work in the Pacific. Dumped by her boyfriend but not too devastated about it, Meredith finds herself robbed and alone in Vienna. To make her way, she accepts a job of nanny to two royal children from a small country in Europe. It’s just for a time, right? Just enough time over the summer to attain funds to get back home. Meredith doesn’t count on falling in love with the kids despite one being on the cusp of becoming a teen with a chip on her shoulder. The younger brother yearns for love and acceptance from Meredith almost like a mother. There is much to this royal style of living and reality plus throw in the handsome, aloof father and it is a fairytale in the making. Great story.

[Stephanie Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of the story was cute. Teacher, Meredith Cardwell, gets scammed and ends up stranded in Austria. Through the kindness of strangers and a leap of faith she ends up nannying for a family spending the summer holiday in Austria. But these children are not regular children, they are royalty 👑

So the beginning of the book 📖 was enjoyable but then slowly it started getting repetitive and predictable. I liked Meredith's positive attitude and her caring of the kids but that's about it.

There was absolutely zero chemistry between Meredith and the guy she ends up with. The guy was barely in the story until halfway through the book and their first kiss felt so forced.

The ending also feels very rushed and unresolved. It's like oh yeah, we all get along now, so let's end with a HEA to wrap the book up. Very disappointing.

[Talita Adendorff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read that didn't follow the normal pattern. In fact, there was a point where I wondered whether any romance was going to happen at all. (Don't worry, it does have a HEA.)

What this story really highlights to me is the relationship between siblings and guardians and how we sometimes just need to dig a little deeper and really care about people who might seem a bit prickly. I really cared about the characters and wanted to know what happened next. I also loved the references to The Sound of Music and the setting of Austria.

If you want something sweet, but with a bit of depth that is different from the norm, then I highly recommend reading The Royal Nanny.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but the views and opinions are completely my own.

[Heather Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melody Carlson has a gift for writing heroines you root for! Meri is pretty, smart, and athletic, but she is also someone who’s had a lot of hardship in her life and you really want her to have love and a family. Mishka is my favorite character, such a precious little boy! I liked Kat too, but he stole my heart. I wish we had gotten a little more romance between the couple and that we the readers could have known Spencer better. He seems like a good dad who is trying hard, but I wanted to know more about him. That’s the only part of this story I feel could be improved. Overall, this was a fun, sweet read, full of heart, and I greatly enjoyed it! I was given an advance copy of the book, but all opinions are my own.

[Holly Bleggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Meri showed both the children and their father what being truly royal really means. I loved how she also gave them love that they were missing. I loved how she used her faith to help this family and that by the end they became a stronger family. I liked the characters and I liked how easy the book was to read. I also liked seeing the characters grow throughout the story. I thought this book was a good and uplifting story and would recommend it.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story of an American teacher stranded in Austria who gets hired as a nanny for royal children from a tiny fictional European country. The characters are great, the interactions are very realistic, and the characters grow and develop during the story. I stayed up late to finish it and find out how everything worked out.

I received a complimentary copy this book from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Chosengirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith is traveling to Vienna. When she gets there a series of misfortunate events happens. Which leads her to taking a job as a nanny. She knows very little about the family or how many children she will be caring for.. Upon arrival she quickly finds out that there are two children and they are on holiday. I could not put this book down. It was so enjoyable to see how the characters develop. I.was given a copy of this book by the publisher all thoughts are my own. I have read many books by Melody Carlson and am looking forward to reading more.

[Halee N · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful book by Melody Carlson! A great story that introduces Merideth, a traveling educator who ends up becoming a nanny to a family struggling with grief and fear. Through persistent compassion, courage and understanding from the new nanny, Merideth, a family is given a new opportunity to live in hope, with courage and strength. Melody did a great job providing the reader with a wonderful and unique story of all-things royalty and love!

I received a complimentary copy of the book. This review is solely a reflection of my own opinion.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody Carlson’s The Royal Nanny is a well-developed, realistic light romance. The main character kept her eyes on her goal, yet was willing to consider new ideas and directions as the story unfolded. I liked that Meri was brave enough to talk with the queen. The novel’s engaging, strong characters navigated opposition to a satisfying ending. Highly recommend this enjoyable read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Melinda Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a romance it didnt have much romance between the father and the nanny before the marriage proposal at the end. I was a little disappointed. Though it was very well written and the interactions between the nanny and the children showed a lot of love coming into being. Over all I enjoyed the book, just wished there was more romance between the adult characters.

[꣑ৎ sue (hatter-pendragon version) ꣑ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’ll be honest: i did not go into this book knowing that it was a christian fiction. i have a fondness for that christmas prince series on netflix, and thought that the plot was similar. anyway, i enjoyed this book. at the core of it is the love for children—as someone who adores them, i had fun.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read. I was immediately drawn into the story. I loved the characters and the children were adorable. Faith content was good. I wish there had been a bit more interaction and development of the romance, but overall was an enjoyable read.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick read, and a loose, modern retelling of the Sound of Music story, but with less intense conflict. Just like the Sound of Music, everything seems to wrap up rather quickly, which was my only complaint.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very saccharine and cheesy, leaning heavily on the plot of The Sound of Music. It was exactly what I expected it to be and because I didn’t have high expectations it was fine. But it’s not great writing and the plot is very far-fetched and a little preachy.
2.5 ⭐️

[Mobolaji Ade · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Royal Nanny was a sweet read. Would it be weird to admit that I liked the fact that the romance between the FMC and MMC wasn’t overly emphasized, and that they naturally grew into it on their own? Overall, I really enjoyed reading this.

[Sherralynne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story

I really loved this story and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romantic story (with a few twists thrown in).

Thanks Melody, from a New Zealand fan.

[Brittany Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, quick read…. Loved the kids & the whole idea of it… although I felt like the last half was a little rushed.

[Courtney Holman · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Melody's Books are A+
Love Reading them All.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 6yo picked out for me 🥰 It was cuter than I thought it would be, with a nod to Sound of Music, but engaged after 1 month?! Would've been better if it was just the nanny and the kids' story.

[Dana Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 it’s probably a more accurate rating and maybe one day Goodreads will get half stars. It was maybe a Christian modern version of the sound of music. Cute and sweet but wildly predictable.