This book is being offered with Kindle Unlimited for free...well, you know how that works.

It is a cute light read that shows that fairy tales can come true even if you are a middle-aged woman.

This book did leave me with more questions, though, and some of the issues this author failed to answer frustrated me a bit.

This is my first time reading this author, and even with some of the plotting/editing problems, I will likely read more of her books.

*ARC was supplied by Montlake, the author, and NetGalley, and the expected publication date is October 10, 2023.

This was fun for the "Royalty Watcher" lover in me! How could I resist that cover and title? 👑 There are many different elements to this story from mystery, family secrets, sinister ways, romance and to top it off a very light sprinkle of magic!

Anne (Annaliese) Gilberti is a divorced mother of two teenagers living in South Philadelphia. One day she notices a group of men following her about her day. She finally confronts them and learns that her mother's family and specifically her maternal Grandmother was the rightful heir to a Grand Duchy in a very small European country. She agrees to travel there and learn about her family and what is expected of her. Once there she finds the country in big need of financial help but falls in love with its beauty and people. The castle is exceptionally grand and filled with mysterious secret passages and hidden oil paintings. She can't help but notice the youthful skin on all the residents. Is there something in the water? Can Anne help restore this beautiful country back to its former glory?

Is this story unrealistic? Yes, but it's fun. The author played with writing this book for years but under Covid lockdown started to seriously write it. I can understand how a story like this can easily spawn at a time like that. The writing flows well and is very easy to read. It's escapism at best and I truly enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this book--it had well developed characters, and the story flowed well. Perfect beach read!

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the enjoyable ARC!

Imagine The Princess Diaries only the main character is in her 40s. I love Mariah Stewart and am sad that I didn't enjoy this book more than I did. It was fluffy and lightweight, with a perfect heroine I couldn't relate to at all. I think I've outgrown fairytales! If you love princesses and royalty and HEA, you will probably love it. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

Annie gets an interesting visit at her South Philly home from Maximilian the head of the palace guards in Saint Gilbert a small country bordering Switzerland. Her grandmother, the next in line for Grand Duchess, was sent out of the country when the Germans invade during WWII. After the war the country was held by the Soviet Union until the breakup. Annie had no idea of her grandmother’s past and her family history. She visited the country for a week to see what it needed to bring it into the 21st century. She fell I love with the country and the people and saw many items that they needed. She went home and decided to go back and become the Duchess that would rule the country along with the Dukes Council. While there she used soap that was made there and when she returned everyone asked if she had Botox or had went to a spa. She had extra bars of the soap and her her sisters and best friend try it.

She took her 2 kids and her 2 younger sisters back to the country to see what they could do to bring it to financial stability. Her great grandmother who sent her grandmother away also hid many items i secret homes in the Castle and sent the money to Switzerland for safe keeping. How do they save the country and what awaits Annie, her sisters and children?

Annalise learns she is the heir to the throne of a small country in Europe. She has to decide if she will accept and turn her life upside down. This book was entertaining enough, but the main character was just too perfect. She never made a wrong step. It made it hard to relate to her. I enjoyed the book, it is alight read and a definite 3* for me. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Here we have an adult fairytale! A pleasant pipe dream where young girls who want to become a princess and live in a castle, becomes a reality but in this case it’s the mother who takes centre stage and discovers her routes. Initially set in Philadelphia, the setting moves to Europe of the small Duchy of Saint Gilbert. Having been tracked down, Annaliese has the life changing decision to make of whether to stay put in the USA or move the family to Europe to the much neglected Duchy that is in desperate need of restoration. All are strong characters with varying interests and skill sets, ideally suited to the diverse projects, who work hard to pull the country into the twenty second century.

The style of writing makes for compulsive reading as we travel through a year of change and the prospect of prosperity, happiness and of course love.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Montlake for this advance copy.

The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart is an engaging novel that delves into the themes of embracing a family legacy and stepping up when it matters most. With well-developed characters and an intriguing storyline, this book captivated me from start to finish.

The Head that Wears the Crown is a fun, fast-paced women's fiction/romance that I devoured in a day. It's a la The Princess Diaries with a twist, and I loved the fabulous way Mariah Stewart told this story. You jump into the story feet first and travel with Annie as she learns she's royalty, a most unexpected thing for a single mom in her 40s just trying to pay her mortgage and raise her kids.

I don't need to go into the plot of this book ad nauseam, but I will l say that I loved the little twists Ms. Stewart worked in to make a told tale, one that was fresh and new. Do you have to suspend reality a bit? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely! But I think if you pick up a book knowing it's about an American woman becoming royalty in a small unknown country, you're aware it's most definitely fiction.

If you're looking for heavy romance, you aren't going to get that here unless you count a newly discovered grand duchess falling in love with her country as romance. This book is heavy on women's fiction and light on romance, but it was the perfect amount of both, along with action and mystery, to keep you turning the pages until the end.

The Head That Wears the Crown is a page-turner that you won't want to put down once you pick it up. Life gets real for Annie and her family, but the joy they bring Saint Gilbert makes this adventure worth it.

"The head that wears the crown" introduces a exciting premise that immediately captured my attention, especially as a devoted enthusiast of fairy tales and the enchanting world of the 'Princess Diaries.' The journey unfolds, when Annaliese Gilberti, a single mom from South Philly uncovers the unbelievable news that she is actually Royalty of a small country called Saint Gilbert.

As a non-American, I hit a snag early in the story. The idea that Saint Gilbert's residents elected Annaliese to save their country and put their trust in her simply because she's American felt narrow-minded and isolating, hinting at cultural bias rather than being a key part of the story. This perspective shifted the tale towards a kind of cultural exceptionalism, making it harder for me to fully become immersed into the narrative.

While my excitement was palpable, the pacing occasionally faltered. This detracted from the otherwise engaging plot, causing some loss of interest.

This book offers a blend of fairy tale allure and real-life transformation, tailor-made for fans of princess narratives. It did lose my attention from time to time but all in all was an enchanting read with a satisfying ending!

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.

Annie learns that she is really the Grand Duchess (i.e. queen) of a teeny tiny country, so she eventually accepts the honor because they need her to save the country. Basically, in this really, really long book, Annie and her two sisters manage to come up with terrific ideas to bring tourism and trade to the country while foiling a dastardly plot from a madman.

Annie is perfect. She is put into this new scenario as royalty, but she is the picture of grace. All of her ideas work. She even gets some light, non-spooky help from her dead grandmother on occasion. I wanted her to do something wrong at some point- form a committee, a fashion faux pas, something! But alas, my wish to besmirch her perfectness was not to be. She even has quietly modest relations with her guard, but all of her castle staff approves.

The book was entertaining. I just want the author to resist making her so perfect. And maybe make the book not feel so long.

Solid premise, but this story just seemed so drawn out. I really did enjoy the base story but it lost my attention quickly.

What a wonderful fairytale story that we would all love to live in. Take me to Saint Gilbert, I need some of the magic soap, as I am in such need. I have every respect for Annie as she has much more strength than I do, I honestly don’t know that I would be able to be as brave as she is and take on a whole new role and life at a similar age to, I am now, and honestly, I wouldn’t be strong enough. The courage and the way she leads others allows the story to flow and develop, it allows the secondary characters to thrive and really fill the story in. This is a great story, and one that I am so glad I had the chance to read, as it made me really want to go and find some hidden corridors and see what surprises I may find in them, but if I’m honest a spa day would be just as much fun.

Sweet, fun, lighthearted book with strong female leads and a dash of romance. Mariah Stewart wrote a great, easy read that had me giggling at my screen. This is by no means a deep, thought provoking story, but it made me smile and I enjoyed the progression of the characters and the plot. Overall, a happy read.

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.

The Head That Wears The Crown is a grown up, romantic, clean fairy tale. Annie, a woman with the South Philly attitude, finds out she is the heir to the crown of a small country. The country is beautiful but hurting for funds so Her Majesty Annelise along with her two sisters dig in to help change the coffers of the dutchy. Oh, and then there's Max !!!
I loved this story by Mariah Stewart and highly recommend it. Five stars.
My thanks to #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to early read this book in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoy Mariah Stewart’s books. The Head That Wears the Crown was different from the ones I have read and enjoyed so much in the past. I wasn’t sure about this book for that reason, but it surprised me and was a very fun book to read. The development of the characters throughout was wonderful and made me wish I could meet each and every one of them. I loved the strength of the women in the story and their desire to help rebuild the country of their heritage. The setting was beautiful and one I would love to visit. There was a little family drama, a mystery, and always romance in a fairy tale worth reading. I definitely recommend this book and all others from Mariah Stewart.

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!

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.