This one didn’t grab my attention, especially the dialogue. I found myself skimming a lot. I think the reason I finished it was I was hoping to get more details about the historical aspects of King George’s madness and Prinny. The positive to this one is that it made me want to find out more about the real history mentioned.

An intriguing, romantic, fulfilling story from Jen Geigle Johnson! Although the trope in A Foreign Crown is common, the story is wonderfully unique. The setting is most intriguing, as it takes place in the overlap of the Georgian and Regency eras, a pivotal moment in the country’s history and the private turned public lives of the royal family.

The struggles and love of the royal family, led by the “mad” King George III and Queen Charlotte, is eloquently portrayed. Although the family tried to keep the King’s “bouts” a secret, it was inevitably revealed, and the reader gets an inside look at their dealings with this through Lady Aribella, a sweet and loyal heroine. This was a wonderful layer of the story, which not only entertains the reader, but is informative as well.

There were parts of the book that seemed a bit repetitive, but Johnson’s writing captures the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go. I finished this book in nearly one sitting! I am excitedly looking forward to learning more about Prince Layton’s brothers’ adventures, and anything else Johnson writes.

I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher. I was not obligated to write a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was different from other Regency romances I've read in that it begins just before Prince George became Regent, and I found it very interesting to get a glimpse into the king's bouts of madness and the queen's efforts to keep it quiet so Prince George wouldn't be named Regent. I also thought it was interesting to see how Aribella served as a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Seeing the royal family, not just the upper ton, was different from the typical Regency romance. The writing style just didn't pull me in, however, and there were some aspects of the story (like pretty much a lack of mourning, beyond wearing dark colors and lots of unchaperoned time, without seeming worried about that at all) that just didn't feel right to me. Layton and Aribella were both sweet, and those looking for a clean romance may enjoy reading this one.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Such a great book! If you are a fan of “cleaner” historical romantic fiction, you will enjoy this book. You are taken on an exciting journey through love, life and tragedy all the while learning about life in England. A must-read!

This story could be considered, under the right circumstances, a “what if”, leading up to Prince George’s regency. There’s a tiny bit of Napoleonic threat, much familiar drama, and plenty of courtly drama that is sooooo down played because this is a clean romance. But the romance kind of took a back seat. As I read, I found myself looking up info about King George III’s life and family - I found it more interesting. The H and h are very vanilla, never making a mistake and living their lives selflessly. Meh.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A foreign crown is a sweet regency era romance novel, with a gorgeous cover. The history in the book was well researched by Jen Geigle Johnson and she skillfully kept readers interested to see how it all came together. I found the main characters likeable and entertaining. There was also a nice contrast among supporting roles. The romance felt a little like a fairy tale. I didn’t mind the idea of a foreign prince and such, but falling in love was instantaneous and overtook more pressing matters that were going on at the time. I would have liked to dive a little deeper into the intrigue that took place, as the history of the royal family at the time was very interesting. That being said, however, the story was enjoyable and kept my attention to the end. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a sweet romance.

Amidst mourning the loss of her mother and trying to keep the family estate a float, Lady Aribella, daughter of the Duke of Sumter, receives the summons to take her mother's place as one of Queen Charlotte's lady's-in-waiting. Arriving at the castle she is forced to conceal truths, forge her allegiance to the crown and to Queen Charlotte and help in any way she can to convince the people that King George is mentally fit to rule.

Prince Layton Christian Wilhelm, youngest son of the King and Queen of Oldenburg, sails to England with only one job in mind: convince King George to aid his nation against the attacks of the French and pirates of the coast of his country. What he didn't expect was the lovely Lady Aribella to steal his heart.

Both are torn between duty and their hearts. Is it possible to be loyal to one's country but still find a way to achieve your own happiness?

Unlike any other late Georgian era/early Regency era novels, I've read. "A Foreign Crown" takes you to the center of the British Monarchy and the decline of King George's mental state, affecting his ability to lead. It was truly intriguing to have their lives unfold as the story progressed. Queen Charlotte's love for her husband and her desperation to keep her family safe during tumultuous times, is a fascinating story in itself, but adding Lady Aribella and Prince Layton to the mix creates a unique and gratifying adventure.

Filled with moments of history, love, devotion, loyalty and true pain, Jen Geigle Johnson creates another adventure that makes me want to spend hours pouring over historic accounts of that time. The only thing I wish is that a sequel would be due to come out soon, because I mourned over the fact I read this story too quickly. I want more of the Princes' of Oldenburg, to read their stories and to meet all 8 of the brothers.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction novel that was also a clean romance set in the Regency era. This novel saw Layton, prince of Oldenberg, and Aribella a lady in waiting for Queen Charlotte fall in love; however, they had to face the hurdle that Queen Charlotte wanted one of her daughters to marry Layton, The story was super sweet and the romance very clean. The writing in this novel was at times repetative and the action very slow to move forward. The author took over half the book to build the strain in the relationship that could have been done with a chapter or so and it took me longer than usual to finish this book. It was a great read and showcased the why the need for a Regent and also "Prinny's" antics very well. Overall a good read and will read more by this author.

“Does one adhere to matters of the heart or head? Does one follow duty or love?” This quote aptly expresses the theme of A Foreign Crown, the heartwarming, hard-to-put-down story of duty bound Prince Layton Wilhelm and Lady Aribella Bardley. This historical romance grabbed my attention from the beginning and kept a firm hold on it! The well-crafted, intriguing plot flows at a steady pace, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. Historical figures King George and Queen Charlotte with their family struggles are seamlessly meshed with the fictional characters reflecting extensive research. I enjoy Ms. Johnson’s expressive prose and attention to rich detail in all her writing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

"A Foreign Crown" is a romance set in 1810 in England. While historical details like King George's madness and war with Napoleon were woven into the story, the story still had a fairytale feel. This was partly because Layton and Arabella often spent time alone together, kissed intensely several times (even though they felt that their duty lay in marrying elsewhere), and Layton's belief that three British warships were sufficient to protect his country. (The author clearly envisioned naval warfare at this time as being one ship against another when it was usually fleets against each other.)

This book was primarily a romance, complete with love at first sight and an irresistible physical attraction between Layton and Arabella. Layton is so handsome and Arabella so beautiful. Arabella went to court to be a lady in waiting to the Queen, but the details about her meeting the Queen and getting settled in were skipped in preference to showing scenes where Layton and Arabella spent time together. However, the time that they spent together was not really in situations where they could get to know each other due to the nature of balls and court life. I didn't feel that Layton and Arabella were bad for each other, just that they didn't actually know each other.

Arabella had an open offer of marriage from a man she knows is kind, considerate, values her opinion, will probably be a good friend, etc. She knows of no bad thing about him except that he's not Layton. Honestly, I felt like the story sent the message of valuing heady romantic feelings of lust over valuing someone more certain to be a good marriage partner and probably provide a more lasting love. There was no sex or bad language.

This was a great book! I loved hearing about the life of a lady in waiting- I had no idea it was so crazy. I loved all of the characters and felt bad for all the trials they each had to go through. I wasn’t sure how the author was going to be able to end the book with a happy ever after, but she managed it. I’m hoping she will write more about the other brothers and maybe Lord Bartholomew

This tale takes you to a time just before the Regency when George III still ruled England and Charlotte was the queen. Important ladies were appointed Ladies to the Privy chamber, Aribella was one of these ladies, the daughter of the Duke of Sumter was chosen for this position in the place of her mother who had attended court for many years, but had passed on.

Through this position, Aribella met Prince Layton, a foreign prince seeking British aid, What ensues is a test in loyalty, love, and sacrificing for Queen and Country, Aribella’s father’s estate is entailed to a distant cousin who is kind enough to take Aribella’s needs into consideration. Aribella considers this position as she accompanies the queen and her daughters about court and does the queen’s bidding and the queen is interested in Prince Layton for one of her daughters. What would you sacrifice in the name of loyalty?

Filled with secrets and intrigue surrounding the “madness” of King George, Aribella finds herself in situations that lead to the discovery of what is truly in her heart,

This story was enchanting and revealing and look forward to more, after all, Layton has a big family....

I received an eARC from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I loved A Foreign Crown's deep dive into the extended royal families of Europe! It was fascinating to read about the politics, intrigue, and struggles of the time. I was not familiar at all with King George III and his family, beyond knowing his son became Regent. This book was a clean read, kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how the main characters would find their way around the obstacles between them, and I can't wait to reread it.

I love how Jen weaves historical facts into her novels. A Foreign Crown did not disappoint in this aspect. While it seems that many Regency romance writers include Prinny (George IV) in their novels, few include other members of the royal family. The author brought to life aspects of King George III's family that before had been nothing more than facts read in a history book.
Lady Aribella and Prince Layton both struggle to choose between matters of the heart and head as duty and love pull on them from different angles as they navigate the royal court. Overall a good read with lovely descriptions.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

I received a temporary digital advanced copy of A Foreign Crown by Jen Geigle Johnson from NetGalley, Covenant Communications, and the author in exchange for an honest review.

Recent;y, Lady Aribella's life has been extremely difficult. She recently lost her mother, her father's health is failing, and their estate is in much need of financial assistance due to numerous droughts and families moving away for better opportunities. Quite suddenly Lady Aribella receives a request from the Queen of England to be one of her ladies-in-waiting and take her mother's former place for four months at the palace. Like her mother, Lady Aribella becomes the Queen's favorite and has to navigate life at court. In the process, she meets Prince Layton Wilhelm of Oldenburg and quickly falls for the charming man; however, the Queen would like Prince Layton to marry one of her daughters. Can Lady Aribella choose love over country and duty?

I was extremely excited for A Foreign Crown after just completing another one of Jen Geigle Johnson's historical romances; however, this book felt rushed and repetitive. Often times Lady Aribella was told to switch her alliances, or that the Queen did not have many supporters and we received the inner monologue of Lady Aribella wondering why these things were the case, but the author never revealed why there was so much hesitation around the Queen and her politics. In addition, I felt the scenes between Lady and Aribella and Prince Layton were too similar. I was quite frustrated while reading this novel and wish that more time was spent developing the plot and details as in a previous book of Jen Geigle Johnson's I had read.

Arabella’s family has lost almost everything including her mother. Down to a few servants and with the manor in disrepair she also must face the oncoming death of her father. With his death the estate will pass to a distant cousin and she will find herself without immediate family or even the home she has always known. When the distant cousin appears at the door with his mother and sister to examine and evaluate the estate, a possible solution arises. Marry the cousin and keep the estate in her family even if it means a marriage of convenience not love. However, mid-proposal, they are interrupted by receipt of an urgent message from the Queen. Arabella is to pack immediately and leave to spend four months as a lady in waiting. Quickly packed and on her way in the Queen’s carriage all seems to be going smoothly as Arabella remembers the teachings of her mother who had also served and worked to prepare Arabella for this day. But a chance accident leads to a meeting between Arabella and Prince Layton who has come to England to secure military aid for his country. Nothing else matters to him at this time. Until he meets Arabella, a woman not afraid to climb on top of a carriage to retrieve a bag she needs. Suddenly Layton’s thoughts are directed more at Arabella and Arabella finds herself drawn to Layton. But a relationship with Layton would cost her the family home. A relationship with Arabella would most likely cost him his parents’ wrath. How do you balance the demands and responsibilities to your family with the desires of your heart. A very enjoyable and compelling read. I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Foreign Crown by Jen Geigle Johnson is an excellent historical fiction and romance that was truly enjoyable and kept my interest from beginning to end.

I loved that the author was able to weave a fictional tale and characters into real occurrences and Royal figures. It was fascinating to be placed into the courtesan atmosphere of George III, his wife the Queen Charlotte, and her children. The descriptions of the Royal family, their beautiful homes, their gardens, and their quirks and personalities was excellent. Ms. Johnson was impressive in regards to making these historic figures on paper perfectly just as they were in real life.

I also was truly impressed with the romance, suspense, and story with the fictional characters of Lady Aribella and Prince Layton. Both were like able, realistic, down to earth, and perfectly-fitting characters. I loved their back stories, their moral compasses, their thought processes, and their chemistry with one another.

I enjoyed the plot, the hurdles dispersed throughout, and I truly loved the ending. This book is for anyone that loves historical fiction, clean romance, and English Royalty (The Royal House of Hanover specifically in this instance).

5/5 stars enthusiastically recommend

Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 6/21/20 a listing for this book on BB has not been created) and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

#netgalley #aforeigncrown
This book was interesting because we get to see both main characters points of view. I love it when I know how each character is feeling. This storyline was great, it had romance and mystery and a little suspense too. It was a great read!

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed the book. It was a sweet, pretty clean ( just a few kisses) and interesting read.


It gives a glimpse of life at the court of George III, known as the mad King. It is a world full of glamour on the outside, but full of intereige, betrayal, gossip on the inside. Aribella tries to navigate this world as a lady in waiting, but at the same time he worries about her father and her home and the feeling she has for he handsome prince.


Prince layton has his own reasons for being at court, but didn’t account on meeting Aribella.

If you like gentle romance in the style of Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen you'll like this book. It's the story of Lady Aribella daughter of the Duke of Sumter and Prince Layton Wilhelm of Oldenburg. She's an only child and her fathers estate and title will go to a distant cousin when he dies. Her recently deceased mother was a Lady In Waiting to Queen Charlotte and Aribella has been summoned to court to serve the Queen. Prince Layton is the youngest of 8 brothers, and a naval officer. Oldenburg has been threatened by pirates and the French Navy and he needs the help of the British Navy to protect is small country.

These two meet at court and are instantly attracted to each other. But there are numerous complications, Queen Charlotte is anxious to conceal the severity of her husband George III illness (he suffered severe bouts of raving and violent attacks), her ner-do-well son and the heir George (known as Prinny aka Prince Regent) that only like wine, women and play, the youngest daughters that have grown up in isolation from the profligate court and only want to find a handsome man to court them and marry them so they can escape. Aribella quickly becomes a trusted friend of the Queen, but the Queen is selfish and asks Aribella to help her two daughters Mary and Elizabeth with attracting Prince Layton. The Queen also asks her to tamp down gossip in the court about the mental health of the King and only talk about his "good" days. Prince Layton carefully navigates the court and the two Princesses, trying to give no encouragement or false hopes. It's a bit of a comedy of manners, in that there are strict rules of courtship in high society, so it's difficult if not impossible for a couple to be alone. Prince Layton is frustrated in his efforts to gain the assistance and support of the British Navy, but finally succeeds in getting 3 ships to sail with him back home after he hears of the treat of the French declaring war on Oldenburg. Aribella returns home and discovers that her father is not well. She has to decide if she will accept the marriage proposal of Lord Bartholomew, her relative and the heir to the estate.

Will duty to family and country prevail, or will true love win at the end of the day? Read this to find out.

I received a ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.