The Secret Countess

Take Marion Chesney???s Lady Rose, make her an immigrant countess and drop her "downstairs" into a Heyerite plot set post WWI rather than Georgian, Regency or Edwardian England. If this description appeals to you, you can be in for a treat.

The history detail is thin overall and the plot predictable but (lovable!) --and so well spun that I was waiting in suspense for the predicable to happen. The characters are caricatures but it's all knot together well and remixed to please those who know and enjoy the likes of Heyer, Chesney, and Elizabteh Ashton (at her best). Yeah it???s a Heyer imitation, but not a pale one. This is good clean diversion (if you don???t try to deconstruct the fairytale of the happy social class differences!)

I immediately searched for more novels by the late author. The other Audible offerings are from her children and YA fiction. The only other full length title that seemed non YA, Company of Swans, is not in the same class as the Secret Countess (both the adult titles would be suitable for YA who enjoy such fairytales).

This is 3 star stuff elevated to four stars by the divine delivery of Davina Porter and the author's playful humour.

If you like a simple little story to be entertained, this is a good one. Don't have to think too much about this one, but that's what I like about it. How can you not like Anna?! and Muriel is soooo offensive! The whole eugenics thing brings in such a twist! Davina Porter definiatly makes this book shine! I thought this might be trashy, and i was hoping, but it wasn't and really i didn't mind! This is one of the better examples of storytelling i've come across. If you like davina porter try the outlander series!!

From the moment Anna meets the Earl, we know they belong together, but the author maintains the tension of their lives and differences with highly colored, well developed characters and events. I enjoyed this sweet love story very much.

Davina Porter is by far my favorite narrator and listening to her narrate the poetically written The Secret Countess is a happy experience. The story itself is enchanting and you'll come to love the main character, Anna, who is a displaced Russian countess working as a housemaid in a country manor and has a true love for life. The slow building love between Anna and Rupert is believable and the descriptions of each character, the countryside, and simple things such as a dessert in the shape of a swan weave a web of magic. I could listen to Ms. Porter read this book several times over and never tire of it.

I bought this because of Davinia Porter. She brings this story which would be 3 stars up to 5 stars. When an author chooses the right narrator they are really being very savvy. It was a sweet story and I liked it. This one I will actually enjoy listening to again.

You can forecast how this will end, but it's sweet and I still loved hearing how it unfolds. Love Davina Porter!!!

I'm trying to work my way through Davina Porter's portfolio - she is far and away my favorite female narrator. This story seems exactly like what it is, a fun, easy, predictable romance. I think if you enjoyed the Disney movie Anastasia then you'll enjoy this book. Even though I 'knew' how the book would end, I stayed awake later than I should have so I could finish it and go to sleep content knowing the characters go their just deserts. The most interesting part to me was villainizing one of the character's interests in eugenics. This was also very lightweight, but an interesting aspect especially considering the story is set right at/after WWI and how eugenics was one of the crux of WWII. More English were supportive of the idea than people now like to remember, but of course our "heroes" reject it utterly.

If you are looking for a fun light read, you will like this. I love the time period and I love the narrator Davina Porter. She adds so much to the characters and is so versatile with her voice. The story itself is so so, but I really liked the characters.

When the star crossed lovers meet :)

The beginning where it was made clear how much her father loved his children. I love good parents...

Not really, it was a pleasant read, predictable happy ending. Just what I was looking for.

I would read another book by this author.

One of my favourites due to Davina Porter's narration. A nice story which in essence is a light hearted romance piece that is a little cliched and predictable but made outstanding due to the narrators ability to bring the characters to life and give them depth. I read the book some time ago and found the writing style difficult to follow, Eva Ibbotson needs to cull her use of commas! Definitely recommend the audio version over the book and well worth the credit.

I should be too old for fairy tales, but I absolutely loved this story. Well read and well written, so that you don't mind that you know what's coming. In fact, as in most fairy tales, you would be terribly disappointed if the good guys did not win in the end. Highly recommend (as long as you're not looking for anything realistic or insightful...just for effortless enjoyment.)