The royalty, romance, and history in this book will have historical romance fans swooning. I can't wait to read others from Johnson.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love all the historical information shared in this book! Aribella is a lady in waiting for the Queen. Prince Layton is visiting to petition the British navy for help for his country, and is smitten with Aribella. There are many intrigues and misunderstandings but this is a sweet romance so luckily you already know all will be well!!

Must admit, the thing that drew me to this book was the beautiful cover. It was definitely a fun book to read. I even enjoyed the romanticism, which is something that usually isn't something that really peaks my interest. I have enjoyed other books by this author and this one did not disappoint. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was an interesting book. I liked getting a glimpse into the royal life in England. Lady Aribella had a grace about her that made her a likeable character. Prince Layton had an agenda that needed England's support. Both were thrown together several times and had an instant attraction that grew as they were together. Aribella had a challenge of following her heart or be loyal to her queen. Prince Layton had to keep up appearances and try not to lose favor of the England royalty. This book was full of descriptions and felt like a drama-like story. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy historical fiction and learning about the royal life.
I received a copy of this book from Covenant Books through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was just okay for me. The characters aren't quite as likeable and there's a little too much wavering in will powers. Not a bad read, just not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC digital copy. I have not been compensated for my opinion and this is an honest review.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish reading this ARC digital copy before it was archived. The book remains on my Goodreads "want to read" list and I will update my review to reflect an updated opinion once I have the opportunity to finish.

I liked how this book not only had a good story, but it also had interesting historical information. I don't normally think about George III beyond the context of the American Revolution so I was interesting to see him as a part of the Regency period.
The romance developed rather quickly between the main characters, Aribella and Layton, but there were enough obstacles to keep things interesting. I was really happy with the end of the book and am excited to see what happens in further installments!

A Foreign Crown is the first book in a new series by Jen Geigle Johnson. Lady Aribella has put on a brave face with everything facing her and her family. After the recent death of her mom, and with the poor health of her father, she has had to take on more responsibilities just to keep her home running. One day she receives a summons from the Queen, requesting her presence at court as one of the Queens Ladies in Waiting. This was a position her mother held before her passing, and is a compliment to Lady Aribella and her household.
Prince Layton Wilhelm is frustrated by his country's neutral stance during a troubled time. As the head of the Navy, he see's firsthand how other countries prey on his country's ships using duplicitous means, and then have the gall to shelter in his country's harbor. He is on a mission to seek England's aid and support so that his country might defend themselves.
Lady Aribella and Prince Layton meet for the first time on a muddy road when they have to share a carriage. What follows is a story of loyalty, romance, family, and following one's heart. This is a beautiful story for anyone looking for an engaging light-hearted read to let them escape reality for a few hours.

What a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects of this novel. The author did a great job in bringing these historical characters to life and showing the struggles of life at court, as well as the opulence, and catering to the royal family. The nobles who helped serve and were companions to the queen and the princesses and so many other aspects of life at that time and with the royal family.

Lady Aribella was a sweet and endearing character. I really connected with her and liked her personality a lot. Her strong family values as well as being a trustworthy and honorable servant to the queen in her time of need. I couldn't imagine all the intrigue that occurred at court and the backstabbing and gossip and trying to outdo and outrank and gain more favor in the eyes of the queen. Wowsers!

Prince Layton's character was just as well written as Lady Aribella's. I really enjoyed his loyalty to his family and country. There were obstacles in the way of these two but from the first moment that they met there was a strong connection between them. With all the obstacles in front of them, I was so glad that they were true and loyal and had hope and faith. There were so many sweet moments between them that I just wanted to savor and reread. (Yes, sometimes I reread scenes, right after the initial time I read them because they were so good!)

If you're a historical fiction fan, love a good Regency story, with great characters and sweet and tender romance, you'll love this one. I loved the interconnections that showed up between all the characters throughout the book. How it all was revealed and laid out. And both Aribella and Layton's families. Loved them!

Content: Clean.

I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This was a very nice historical romance. I especially liked that real historical royals are characters. Aribella and Layton's romance is sweet but lacking some chemistry for me.

Romance, clean, period; series, book one
Gorgeous period court setting, with all the intrigue that that period was known for. Loved the innocence of Lady Aribella Bardsley, and her courage to leave her father and fulfill her courtly duties. Navigating that setting while staying true to her inner goodness was beautifully told. Prince Layton Wilhelm's family, the political machinations and worries re the French war and attacks on their countries ships was a perfect back story for this young prince. This richly detailed court romance, with the underlying other court dilemmas and Lady Aribella's potential to be married off to another monarch family member made for a perfect mix of intrigue, political machinations and maneuverings, and romance. Aribella and Wilhelm's sweet romance was lovely, and a great introduction into this series. Beautifully written and crafted, more of a 4.5 for me as a reader, but loved it so well, rounded up.

A Foreign Crown in a word is beautiful. As a fan of the Regency era I was aware in a general sense of why ‘Prinny’ was appointed Regent due to his father King George III’s mental state. However, this fictional point of view, of a very real situation was fascinating.

Jen’s work is always well researched and seeped in history. I always find myself mid chapter getting lost down a rabbit hole of historical facts on google. Her writing is so genuine and real that I find myself wanting to know more, but always being pulled back to the story. The fictional is so well wrapped around the historical that I just need to know what happens next to the characters she has me so entranced with.

Aribella and Layton are just such characters, well developed and aptly suited. Though very much pulled by an initial attraction Jen builds on that to create a heart rending romance built on so much more.

I really loved that there wasn’t a ‘villain’ in the story. All the characters were written with such empathy that even their negative actions had reason and understanding written behind them. The circumstances were complicated and everyone in the story was written in a way to make them both human and relatable. Even Prinny who I’d always held as a bit of a ridiculous fop had (a few) moments of empathy and strength.

The timeline at the very end was a little unclear to me, but I loved this story for it’s history, it’s romance and it beautiful descriptions. And, don’t worry Jen has already said there will be a second…I’m secretly hoping we get one for every prince of Oldenburg!

What a wonderful start to this new series. The story of Aribella starts, when she is expected to go serve the Queen, as a lady in waiting. She would be going in place of her mother, that had recently passed away. Layton, who is youngest son of the King of Oldenburg, is in charge of their countries navy. He is going to London, to request help against the Privateers. Lady Aribella and Prince Layton arrive at the Royal Court at the same time, and sparks started flying! I loved the chemistry between Aribella and Layton. They were fun and flirty, sweet and endearing. The story was interesting and held my attention right to the end. I am also impressed with the historical knowledge that was throughout. I was surprised to learn that a married lady, even a Duchess, would leave her family, to be a lady in waiting. A beautiful, clean, historical romance. Now, the question is, who will book 2 be about?? Can’t wait to find out! Thank you to Covenant Communications and Net galley for a review copy of this book.

Lady Aribella Bardsley has done everything she can to save her failing, but beloved household and retain what is left of the staff. Living with her father, the Duke of Sumter, and the few remaining loyal staff they await Aribella’s summons to attend to the Queen as a lady-in-waiting at the palace in hopes of finding answers to saving their family home.

Prince Layton Wilhelm of Oldenburg has traveled to England for one reason; and one reason only. To secure help from the British Navy in securing waters outside their small country.

Prince Layton and Lady Aribella are immediately drawn to each other and will have to find who they can trust amidst the intrigue and mind games within the palace walls. As their time together grows they are torn between being together or duty to country and duty to the crown.

If you are a history lover you will love all of the historical details and elements of this story. I was fascinated by the difficulties surrounding court life between the ladies-in-waiting and the Queen. The romance reminded me of a Cinderella-esque story filled with complications at every turn, mind games from those closest to you, and of course hoping that true love will prevail in the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I loved this wonderful story. It had all the elements of a great book.

Lady Aribella was called to serve as lady in waiting for the Queen of England in her mother's place since the death of her mother one year earlier. She was to serve for four months and because of the close relationship between her mother and the queen, she was quickly brought into the queen's inner circle and confidence. During her travels to London, she met Prince Layton who was arriving in England to seek the assistance from the King for his small country.

Lady Aribella was a beautiful woman who was loyal to the queen and her commitments and was determined to stay true to herself while providing the support the queen requested of her.

Prince Layton was the youngest of eight sons from the royal family in his small European nation. He had not intended to have his head turned when coming to London, but Lady Aribella's beauty and grace were hard for him to miss and he began to see how much she could add to his life and how much he wanted her to be a part of his future. But, there were barriers placed in their path that made that dream less of a reality but still a desire.

This was a beautiful, clean fairytale romance with no foul language and no inappropriate conduct, except with Prince George, but no graphic details. I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

A lot of fluff, and not enough substance. This book was great for the history and learning/diving more into the monarchy of England in the early 1800s, ladies-in-waiting, and King George's movement into dementia. There was not a major plot, it glanced over all of the really awesome parts, and did not elaborate and create real clinching moments. Overall, the characters Layton Willhelm, Prince of Oldenburg and Lady Arabella were cute, but their entire relationship was rushed and spread out way too much. My favorite part of the book was the original scene of them meeting, but other than that I just couldn’t get fully engaged unfortunately. The cover of this book is so beautiful and makes you think that it is mainly about the ocean, but there is maybe one chapter in the book of them on the ocean with a minor skirmish. Unfortunately all you get to read of their time on the ocean is her hiding in her cabin, and people are mumbling outside her door. I wanted to like this book so much more, but I felt like it just didn’t do these beautiful characters justice.


A special thank you to Covenant Communications and Jen Geigle Johnson for the digital ARC provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own and in no way biased.

A really good and interesting read. I was confused on some of the "tasks" the queen had her doing and what the queen's end game was. At times you thought she was manipulating things and others it seemed as if the queen had no clue what was going on. I felt that while it was a good story, all of the royal family drama almost detracted from the main characters at times.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.

**I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed below are my own, obviously.**

As always, I am not going to provide a synopsis. The publish has taken care of that.

Basics: I liked the story and the characters and the set-up. I loved reading about members of the royal family as active supporting characters. Usually there are references to the Prince Regent, but not often more. It was a wonderful change to see this fit in to the story line. Overall, there was a very English fairy-tale-ish feel.

I did always wonder when some character was going to reveal something negative and scandalous about some one of the supporting characters. It didn’t happen. And that was a relief. The characters were as flawed or good as most people generally are; not perfect, not evil, just moving forward and not always winning or completely losing every day. Thank heavens.

There were some parts of the story that may have been more developed in earlier drafts and were cut for some reason or other, and I would be interested in those—but none of those really pertained to the main story of Layton and Aribella’s growing attraction and path forward. So it is all okay as-is and now there are plenty of opportunities for other tales to come from this beginning.

I love sweet historical romance. Where I can dream of noble men and ladies falling in love. I want to read these books under an appletree . With the Sun Shining. I liked the Main characters in this book, i liked that IT was about real royal people. I liked that it was about, should you follow your mind when it comes to love, or should you follow your heart?. I would liked to have a stronger plot in the book. But I really enjoyed the book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

What a lovely book. Very romantic. I think the cover is lovely too.

I really enjoyed this one and I think one of the main reasons why is because there wasn't a huge misunderstanding or fight between the main characters, driving them apart. The love was always there but circumstances drove them apart. I guess that just felt good around my heart. Both Layton and Aribella are kind and loyal- two of my very favorite characteristics in people. I loved them both, separately and together.

This whole book felt gentle to me and I think that was another reason I was so attracted to it. I really had a hard time putting it down. It had a fairy tale quality to it with castles and a handsome prince. I would sure love to visit a castle like the one described in this book one day! I also loved the bits of history woven in with King George and the royal family.

I sure hope we get more stories from this royal family of Wilhelm brothers! There are so many!

Content: mild peril, kissing

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