"A double hitter for Carrie Alexander!"

Once Upon A Tiara by Carrie Alexander tells us the story of Princess Liliane Brunner, Her Serene Highness of Grunsberg. Lili has come to Blue Cloud, Pennsylvania for the opening of the display of the Crown Jewels of Grunsberg because her grandmother was from Blue Cloud. Lili just wants to experience America to the fullest even though her bulldog caretaker is with her. Simon Tremayne has been relegated to curator of the museum in Blue Cloud because of a terrible faux pas he made at his old job. Now he has to get this one right or he may be stuck here forever. He doesn't count on Lili though. When she comes to town, pure magic happens not to mention she's nothing but trouble. It's too bad she's so darn adorable!

Henry Ever After is also by Carrie Alexander and this story tells us about Jana Vargus, gypsy who is also loosely tied to the Vargus diamond in the Grunsberg tiara. She just wants to see what her family has been disgruntled about for hundreds of years. Sheriff Henry Russell is going to watch Jana closely but he sure doesn't count on being so attracted to her. While he's staid and steady, she's wild and carefree. So when a pickpocket works the crowd at the gala honoring Princess Lili, Henry turns to Jana first. Jana is outraged that he would treat her like that just because she's a gypsy. Now it's up to Jana to prove to Henry that gypsies can be trustworthy.

Both of these stories had me howling with laughter one minute and crying with happiness the next. The characters that Carrie Alexander created in these two books will stay with me because they were unforgettable! Simon thinks he's a frog but Lili shows him that he's her prince. Jana may be a gypsy but she can settle down if the right situation comes along and Henry just may be that right situation. I thoroughly enjoy reading each and every one of Carrie Alexander's books!

Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted September 23, 2002