The Secret Countess (by Eva Ibbotson)

The Secret Countess
Also published as : A Countess Below Stairs
by Eva Ibbotson
Release date : 1981 

After the Russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian Countess, has no choice but to flee to England. Penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination.

Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties—not to mention her instant attraction to Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme. To make matters worse, Rupert appears to be falling for her as well. As their attraction grows stronger, Anna finds it more and more difficult to keep her most dearly held secrets from unraveling. And then there's the small matter of Rupert's beautiful and nasty fiancée... (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : That was quite a romantic read, full of twists and turns! Anna is a delightful character, thoroughly characterized, and likeable right from the start. I was caught in the story (almost) right away. It made me think of a Jane Austen novel : all the characters are highly developed and the historical background is fascinating. For me, it was a real page-turner. It was moving and dreamy. I also loved the humorous touches, wich were subtely scattered throughout the book. The atmosphere was unique, and the dialogues all-interesting.

For me, one of the low point was the prologue. The beginning of the book felt a bit long. But, once the plot was installed, it all went really well! Also, there are quite a lot of characters. They all serve the story, but I have to admit that there were times when I was a bit lost... Lastly, I thought the ending didn't quite fit with the rest.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading THE SECRET COUNTESS, even if some moments didn't seem necessary and although the characters were a tad complex at times. Eva Ibbotson is a wonderful author. I highly recommend her books!