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.

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.

I offer this review and my thanks to Net Galley for a fairy tale of a book. After all, what more would you expect from the title - The Head That Wears the Crown? I have never read a book by Mariah Stewart before, but she deserves every gem in that crown. This was a super fun book with just a touch of intrigue to make it even more entertaining.

The premise, an American born descendant to the throne of a small European monarchy, is the stuff of our imaginations and fairy stories. Annie, her children and sisters remake themselves and their inherited country in such a way that we only dream about. Ms Stewart’s dreams and talent have crafted a wonderful book. So much fun!

This book is so funny! Even more so if you’re familiar with the Philly area & its residents! It’s a fun read with lots of great characters from the “nicest & kindest” to the “evil villains”. And, of course, who doesn’t like a good Philly girl to Duchess story! All in all this was a delightful book that took me out of everyday life and into “happily ever after land”! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Put this one on the very top of your tbr pile!

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.