I love it when I get a surprise read that I simply can’t put down.
I was scrolling and scrolling, looking for something different in terms of reviews, and Mariah Stewart caught my eye. She is a fabulous women’s fiction/romance author and I’ve loved so many of her books. She’s a captivating storyteller.
So I grabbed this new release hoping to be whisked away to the land of royalty and that’s exactly what happened. Continue on for my full review.
The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart
Publisher: Montlake (October 10, 2023)
ISBN-13: 978-1662512728
OVERVIEW:
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.
The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart Review
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!
5 Fantastic STARS!
Disclaimer: Affiliate Links have been included – Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.