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Contessa
DEBUTANTE
Valentina's debut into glittering Parisian society was everything she dreamed it would be. She flirted with the handsome Prince of Wales, drank champagne until she was dizzy with desire and danced until dawn glowed rosy pink over the breathtaking Eiffel Tower. All of Paris was hers and the future looked perfect - but fate had other plans...
With her sudden news of her family's great fortune having been gambled away, Valentina as set from her beloved France to Imperial Russia to marry a man she had never met, but whose reputation far exceeded his enormous wealth. Lonely, frightened, yet determined to shape her ow destiny, the strong-willed young beauty became a sophisticated woman of elegance-a woman who risked her life for secret nights of passion, who persevered through the madness of the Russian Revolution, who overcame the devastation of World War II-and forever dazzled the world she magnificent Contessa.
Valentina's debut into glittering Parisian society was everything she dreamed it would be. She flirted with the handsome Prince of Wales, drank champagne until she was dizzy with desire and danced until dawn glowed rosy pink over the breathtaking Eiffel Tower. All of Paris was hers and the future looked perfect - but fate had other plans...
With her sudden news of her family's great fortune having been gambled away, Valentina as set from her beloved France to Imperial Russia to marry a man she had never met, but whose reputation far exceeded his enormous wealth. Lonely, frightened, yet determined to shape her ow destiny, the strong-willed young beauty became a sophisticated woman of elegance-a woman who risked her life for secret nights of passion, who persevered through the madness of the Russian Revolution, who overcame the devastation of World War II-and forever dazzled the world she magnificent Contessa.
588 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 26, 2012
Valentina’s father was a Russian Grand Duke who gambled away the family fortune when she was very young and then blew his brains out. Valentina was raised by family in France, and she’s now fourteen and ready to be the toast of Paris (even Bertie catches her eye). Problem is, there’s no money for a season and she’s been contracted off to an older, but ever so rich Russian count looking to sire an heir. She’s to live in the care of the count’s sister until she’s old enough to wed giving her time to adjust to her role in life, but she’s in for a rude awakening at the neglected household. Worse yet, the count has no interest in his future wife, and prefers to live elsewhere with his notorious slut of a mistress.
What’s a girl to do? Well if she’s got backbone like Valentina has, she kicks butt and gets the house in order and moves ahead on remodeling and modernizing the aging palace. The count rather likes the improvements she’s made, and the wedding date is set, but it isn't quite a match made in heaven – and here’s where I have to stop without giving it all away.
The novel begins in 1900 and covers Valentina’s life and loves up through 1944, and she lives a very full life. There’s a hair-raising nail-biting escape from revolutionary Russia, a new life in France to build, children to raise (sixty-four of them, but I’m not telling you how that happens!), children to bury, a new man to love and then culminating in how to keep one’s head intact in Nazi occupied France (scary stuff).
I really liked this, although not quite a perfect read, since I wasn't as involved with the characters as I would prefer (I should have been grabbing for the tissue a lot and I wasn't). Perhaps if these had been real-life characters I would have felt more involved, but I still did admire her backbone, Valentina was one hell of a strong minded woman, but she still acted appropriate to her period and station in life (always a plus). The one cautionary note I want to stress is that this is not a romance novel with lots of sex and a picture perfect HEA at the end. If that’s what you are looking for, this is not the book for you. Also, despite the relationships Valentina has, and what is hinted at on the cover and the description (and a Zebra at that!), this isn’t a trashy glitzy type of novel either. I would classify this as a novel in a historical setting.
What’s a girl to do? Well if she’s got backbone like Valentina has, she kicks butt and gets the house in order and moves ahead on remodeling and modernizing the aging palace. The count rather likes the improvements she’s made, and the wedding date is set, but it isn't quite a match made in heaven – and here’s where I have to stop without giving it all away.
The novel begins in 1900 and covers Valentina’s life and loves up through 1944, and she lives a very full life. There’s a hair-raising nail-biting escape from revolutionary Russia, a new life in France to build, children to raise (sixty-four of them, but I’m not telling you how that happens!), children to bury, a new man to love and then culminating in how to keep one’s head intact in Nazi occupied France (scary stuff).
I really liked this, although not quite a perfect read, since I wasn't as involved with the characters as I would prefer (I should have been grabbing for the tissue a lot and I wasn't). Perhaps if these had been real-life characters I would have felt more involved, but I still did admire her backbone, Valentina was one hell of a strong minded woman, but she still acted appropriate to her period and station in life (always a plus). The one cautionary note I want to stress is that this is not a romance novel with lots of sex and a picture perfect HEA at the end. If that’s what you are looking for, this is not the book for you. Also, despite the relationships Valentina has, and what is hinted at on the cover and the description (and a Zebra at that!), this isn’t a trashy glitzy type of novel either. I would classify this as a novel in a historical setting.
January 30, 2014
Is it possible to love and despise a book at the same time? Well it must be.
The book is divided into two parts, the first part taking place in Russia during the revolution of WW1 and the second half set in France from 1920-1944. Its a long book and because it covers such a long time frame I would have preferred it split into two separate books. It would make my review much easier, because I loved the first half and hated the second.(and lets confess all here, I did not complete the book~ made it to page 326 and was too frustrated for words)
I loved the whole Russia story.5 Stars. There were times I didn't love the heroine and I didn't agree with some of her choices (although I can understand why she made them~ her own marriage was unconsummated and probably felt void, and she did have a rather "bohemian" ceremony with her common-law husband to make it more lawful, at least in their own eyes). It was just kind of "the way it was". And the bones of the story were good.
By the time she reached about 30-35 years old though I was getting rather fed up with her. She was strong, yes but also rather selfish. Seems to me that she always got her own way no matter what (or who) stood in her way. By this time in the story I felt that her husband deserved a second chance (at respect if not love) but as usual, Valentina did what she wanted to do and the heck with anyone else.
The whole adoption scheme as well was a little too "Sound Of Music" and very unlikely, but who knows, I wasn't around in 1920.
I'm annoyed that the love scenes were NOT behind closed doors and I used an awful lot of my "white out" trying to clean it up to a PG or PG 13. And at the end of the day I felt like throwing the book away.
Bottom line:
I would re-read (my edited version) of Book1.(5 Stars)
Book 2 (2 Stars) is very tiresome. And while some reviewers say it gets very exciting at the end, I'll have to take their word for it cos I just don't care anymore.
CONTENT:
SEX: Three or four scenes (NOT behind closed doors)
VIOLENCE: Some (its wartime) but not graphic
PROFANITY: Mild
MY RATING : R
Overall, a disappointment.
The book is divided into two parts, the first part taking place in Russia during the revolution of WW1 and the second half set in France from 1920-1944. Its a long book and because it covers such a long time frame I would have preferred it split into two separate books. It would make my review much easier, because I loved the first half and hated the second.(and lets confess all here, I did not complete the book~ made it to page 326 and was too frustrated for words)
I loved the whole Russia story.5 Stars. There were times I didn't love the heroine and I didn't agree with some of her choices (although I can understand why she made them~ her own marriage was unconsummated and probably felt void, and she did have a rather "bohemian" ceremony with her common-law husband to make it more lawful, at least in their own eyes). It was just kind of "the way it was". And the bones of the story were good.
By the time she reached about 30-35 years old though I was getting rather fed up with her. She was strong, yes but also rather selfish. Seems to me that she always got her own way no matter what (or who) stood in her way. By this time in the story I felt that her husband deserved a second chance (at respect if not love) but as usual, Valentina did what she wanted to do and the heck with anyone else.
The whole adoption scheme as well was a little too "Sound Of Music" and very unlikely, but who knows, I wasn't around in 1920.
I'm annoyed that the love scenes were NOT behind closed doors and I used an awful lot of my "white out" trying to clean it up to a PG or PG 13. And at the end of the day I felt like throwing the book away.
Bottom line:
I would re-read (my edited version) of Book1.(5 Stars)
Book 2 (2 Stars) is very tiresome. And while some reviewers say it gets very exciting at the end, I'll have to take their word for it cos I just don't care anymore.
CONTENT:
SEX: Three or four scenes (NOT behind closed doors)
VIOLENCE: Some (its wartime) but not graphic
PROFANITY: Mild
MY RATING : R
Overall, a disappointment.
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July 5, 20191900-1944 St. Petersburg and Paris
August 17, 2023
Loved the beginning and well into the second half of this book. Then it got a bit dry, unrealistic, and jumped around too much for me.
April 17, 2026
I just couldn't get interested
January 17, 2015
I have liked this book since the mid 80s, as a young teen. I like Valentina's story: a combination of success, love, and numerous hardships. I like that it covered early to mid 20th century history in Russia, Spain, and France.
I bought a used copy on ebay and read it as quickly now as I did at 14.
I bought a used copy on ebay and read it as quickly now as I did at 14.
December 24, 2021
What an amazing book! This book makes me so emotional I love it! My heart always goes out to Valentina and her journey through life. I loved the beginning the most about her time growing in Russia. The second half is also good and really shows how she is determined to carry out her purpose in life. She goes through SO many hardships but continues on to do great things. Highly recommend this book!
August 13, 2008
You probably can't find this book anywhere as it is out of print. I have an original harcover :) Anyway - this is a great book about....can you guess? A Contessa.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews