The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart – Book Review

 

From South Philly to Fairy-Tale Castle

Mariah Stewart's writing career has included more than 45 books in six different series, plus several stand-alone titles. Most of her novels are in the Women's Fiction/Contemporary Romance genre, plus her FBI series of Romantic Suspense stories (my favorite series). 

I own most of her series books. Recently, I found her latest non-series novel published in  2023 ~ The Head That Wears The Crown.

What little girl doesn't dream of growing up to be a Princess and live in a castle? 

What if it came true?

Synopsis

The Head That Wears the Crown

Annie (Annaliese) Gilberti is an ordinary divorced mother of two teenagers, living in South Philadelphia.  She works a nine-to-five job, takes care of her kids, socializes with her friends and her two sisters; in other words, living a life similar to many others.

Suddenly, what was just another average day, reveals a shocking discovery that turns her world upside down. Annie learns that her late grandmother was the exiled ruler of a small European country, and she is next in line to wear the crown and restore the monarchy. 

The country, Saint Gilbert, is a tiny little land located between Switzerland, France & Italy. It was invaded first by the Germans, then taken over by the Russians. After many years, the land is finally free and the monarchy reestablished; hence, the next-in-line ruler was searched out and found to be the oldest granddaughter – Annie Gilberti. 

After a week-long trip to St. Gilbert to find out what this was all about, Annie commits to moving there. She does so with her two children and her two sisters. Annie then becomes European Royalty ~ Her Royal Highness, Grand Duchess Annaliese Jacqueline Terese of the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert. The family moves into the ancestral home, Castle Blanc (a  beautiful white castle with many rooms) and are looked after by the castle staff and guarded by the castle guard. The Castle Guard Captain – Maximilien Belleme (very handsome and dashing, of course) – makes sure the family is always looked after. 

The country is beautiful and the villagers friendly. But the country needs to be brought into the modern age and Annie has never been one to walk away from a challenge. She is determined to be worthy of the crown and the throne that has been offered and take her rightful place as the Grand Duchess of Saint Gilbert and carry on her grandmother's legacy. 

Summary

The Head That Wears The Crown is a delightful contemporary romance story I thoroughly enjoyed. I recommend it to all fans of author Mariah Stewart and those who enjoy sweet, romantic, stories. 

Links to More Reviewed Books by Mariah Stewart:

• An Invincible Summer

• Goodbye Again

• All That We Are

For More Book Reviews, Click on
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*Book Review by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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All That We Are - A Book Review

 All That We Are is the third book in the Wyndham Beach Series. With this book, author Mariah Stewart concludes this trilogy of lighthearted tales of love and reinvention.

Readers of books one and two in this trilogy have met the three older heroines whose lives have intersected since grade school in the charming small town of Wyndham Beach, Massachusetts. Now in their fifties, married, then divorced or widowed, they have become mothers, and now grandmothers.

Book One featured Maggie Lloyd in An Invincible Summer

Book Two featured Liddy Bryant in Goodbye Again

Now in Book Three, All That We Are, the star of the story is Emma Dean.

Synopsis

Emma Dean is the widow of Harry who died a decade ago and mother of Chris, a charming young man who pursued his dream, followed his music and today is a famous rock star.  

At this stage in her life, Emma has found fulfillment in running the Art Center in town and has been busy finalizing plans for the artist colony the Art Center will host this summer. She enjoys her peaceful and organized life in her hometown and the friendship of the two women she grew up with. Plus, she has recently been seeing a charming businessman. 

Then two surprises interrupt her life. First she accidentally finds evidence in some old papers of her husband's longtime affair she knew nothing about.

And the biggest surprise of all turns her life completely upside down when she opens her front door to discover a small, thin, 8-year-old girl with pig tails standing there. The little girl ~ Winnie ~ states that her granny in Georgia sent her on the bus to Emma “cause she said it's 'bout time you took your turn.”

The letter Winnie hands Emma states that her son, Chris Dean, is listed as the father on the child's birth certificate. Could Emma, unknown to her (and apparently to her son, Chris), be this child's grandmother? 

As Emma struggles between what was and what is, she discovers that the life she really wants may be unexpected, but is hers if she is willing to fight for it. 

Summary

Image Source: Pixabay

The story is filled with a wealth of subplots, including the artists in residence at the art center, the charming businessman who has eyes only for Emma, a beach wedding, Chris Dean's relationship with Maggie's daughter and now the possibility that Chris has a daughter he knew nothing about. 

A story of friendships, forgetting and moving forward. An enjoyable read about love, loss, and second chances. 

For More Book Reviews, check out ReviewThisBooks.com

*All That We Are was reviewed by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Goodbye Again by Mariah Stewart – Book Review

Goodbye Again is Book Two in the Wyndham Beach contemporary romance series.

Synopsis 

In Book 1 (An Invincible Summer reviewed here on ReviewThisReviews!) we met Maggie Lloyd as she moved back to the small town community of Wyndham Beach, Massachusetts. Her best friends since high school, Emma Harper and Lydia (Libby) Bryant helped her adjust to all the changes her widowhood and then her reuniting with her first love from high school, have brought.

In Goodbye Again, it is time to learn more about Libby Bryant, whose husband left her after the suicide of their daughter. 

Libby desperately needs to move on and make some positive changes in her life.  When she discovers that the long-standing bookstore in town has closed due to the elderly owner's Alzheimer condition and is for sale, Libby decides to buy the neglected bookstore and bring both herself and the shop back on track.

With a little help from her friends, she is well on her way with new paint and new ideas for the new and improved bookshop. One friend Libby has known forever, local contractor Tuck Shelby, begins to make himself indispensable. Not just in the rehab of Libby's shop, but in her life. Tuck now wants to be more than just a 'friend'. But then her ex-husband, Jim, returns with a long overdue apology, hoping for forgiveness and a chance to start over.

Summary

The book shop has rejuvenated Libby, along with the attention of two charming men.

When the shocking truth of her daughter's unexplained suicide comes out, Libby suddenly has a life-changing choice to make.

Moving on doesn't mean leaving everything behind.

Related Links:

• An Invincible Summer by Mariah Stewart (Book 1)

+Note: The third book in the Wyndham Beach Series, All That We Are will be reviewed soon. This book features the third friend of the three women the series is about ~ Emma Dean. 

For more book reviews, check out ReviewThisBooks.com

*Goodbye Again Book Review is written by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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An Invincible Summer by Mariah Stewart – A Book Review

 An Invincible Summer is the first book in the Wyndham Beach Series. This contemporary women romantic fiction series revolves around three best friends since high school ~ Maggie Lloyd, Lydia Bryant and Emma Harper. The main character in Book 1 is Maggie. 

Synopsis

In An Invincible Summer, recently widowed Maggie Lloyd returns to her hometown of Wyndham Beach on the Massachusetts coast for her fortieth high school reunion. Even though it seems to have been a lifetime ago that she was there, she picks right up with her two dear friends, Lydia and Emma. The friends have a wonderful time catching up, until the night of the reunion dinner where she comes face to face with Brett Crawford and deep emotions are once again stirred.

Brett and Maggie were the town's golden couple seemingly destined for one another. But a shattering secret drove them apart those 40 years ago. 

Lydia and Emma, having left their beach community for college, returned  to Wyndham Beach where they married and each had a child.  Maggie left, married someone other then Brett, and raised two daughters in Pennsylvania. 

Just before leaving Wyndham Beach for her home in Philadelphia, Maggie learns that the home she grew up in, sold years ago after her parents were gone, is now for sale.  A few weeks later, realizing how much she has missed her Wyndham Beach community, Maggie decides it's time to put sad memories behind her by selling the Philadelphia house and buying  her old family home in Wyndham Beach. Her oldest daughter goes with her to try and forget the nasty divorce she just went through. 

Summary

Even though it is wonderful to be back in the home she grew up in, with the friends who meant so much to her, and having a chance to start over, returning home also means facing her rekindled feelings for her first love. Can Maggie and Brett get past the terrible secret that has been buried all these years and open their hearts to the future? 

An Invincible Summer is a story of timeless friendship and endless love.

Available on Amazon

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*Book Review of 'An Invincible Summer' written by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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