The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson

From the Publisher

Being an heiress in 1920s Austria with nothing but a broken-down castle to your name and nary a penny in your purse could be frustrating for anyone but the Princess Theresa-Maria of Pfaffenstein. "Tessa," however, is thrilled with her situation, as it allows her to concentrate on her love of the arts—and no one in the Viennese opera company need know that their delightful and charming under-wardrobe mistress is really a princess. But when the dashing self-made millionaire Guy Farne arrives at the opera in search of suitable entertainment for his high society guests, Tessa realizes that there may be more to life—and love—than just music. But while the attraction between them in undeniable, Guy's insufferable snob of a fiancée only solidifies Tessa's determination to keep her true identity a secret. Yet, after a chance meeting with the handsome Englishman, Tessa's reserve begins to melt, and she starts to wonder if it's not too late for a fairytale ending...

Children's Literature

Although born under the same Zodiac sign, the star-crossed lovers in this tale hail from very different backgrounds. Tessa is a princess; Guy an abandoned orphan-turned-self-made millionaire. Tessa, though as wealthy as she is beloved, hides her royal lineage and works (for love, not money) for a struggling opera company. When the prologue ends, it is 1922 and both Guy (age 30) and Tessa (19) are in Vienna. Despite his great fortune, Guy is far from extravagant, but he purchases Tessa's immense castle with the intent to woo, and wed, his first and only love, Nerine, who is recently widowed. Though beautiful on the outside, Nerine is vain, greedy, shallow and self-absorbed. Unfortunately, it takes Guy quite a while to figure this out. Meanwhile, as he and Tessa frequently cross paths, she is smitten with him, and he is fond of her, but more as a big brother/protector (or so he thinks). As in all of Ibbotson's charming period romances, the flawless, endearing heroine's actions are misinterpreted by the handsome, passionate hero, who spends most of the book denying his love for her. By not introducing Tessa until page 37, the book is off to a slow start; readers will require patience as well as an excellent vocabulary: "Everyone…resisted with vituperative ferocity all suggestions of a move to more salubrious quarters." Still, Tessa is tremendously appealing, Vienna a marvelously romantic backdrop, and Ibbotson's trademark wit, warmth and wonderful characters will bring many a smile. This book was previously published as Magic Flutes. Reviewer: Naomi Milliner

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—In post-World War I Austria, Englishman and self-made magnate Guy Farne buys a countryside castle as part of an elaborate plan to woo Nerine, the woman he loved and lost as a penniless teenager. Meanwhile Tessa, Pfaffenstein Castle's headstrong young heiress, revels in the anonymity of life as a junior wardrobe mistress at the International Opera Company in Vienna. When Guy commissions the company to stage a production of Mozart's Magic Flute at Pfaffenstein, he and Tessa meet and bond over their love of art and music. He is unaware of her connection to his new estate until her identity is revealed at a lavish ball held to introduce Nerine to Austrian society. Though drawn to Tessa, Guy stays faithful to his deliciously snobby fiancée. In the meantime Tessa fields the dogged (and comic) marriage proposals of a local prince. Predictably, the star-crossed pair eventually get their well-deserved happy ending. The novel opens with too much telling instead of showing, but Ibbotson hits her stride once all the players assemble at the castle. Vivid details bring supporting characters to life. German phrases and literary allusions may escape young readers, but do not detract from the overall flow of the narrative. There is nothing groundbreaking here, but this is satisfactory historical romance for future fans of Philippa Gregory.—Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA

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