Mountain Magic

by Susan Barrie

When Toni Darcy was rescued from a bad employer and a poor situation by Kurt Antoine, she was grateful. She would now be working at his new hotel in Tyrol, Austria. Yet the attractive manageress of the hotel did not seem all that pleased with Toni’s presence. At least she had the protection of Kurt, whose attentions certainly stirred Toni’s feelings... The love tale dating back to the 20th century was written by Susan Barrie, one of the pseudonyms of the beloved romance writer Ida Pollock.

A must-read for fans of literary romance and surprising twists of fate.

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Susan Barrie is a pseudonym of Ida Pollock (1908 - 2013), a highly successful British writer of over 125 romance novels translated into numerous languages and published across the world. Ida Pollock has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career.



Pollock began writing when she was 10 years old. Ida has travelled widely, living in several different countries. She continues to be popular amongst both her devoted fan base and new readers alike. Pollock has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death.

On the occasion of her 105th birthday, Pollock was appointed honorary vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, having been one of its founding members.

Ida Pollock wrote in a wide variety of Joan M. Allen, Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell.

Genres: Harlequin Romance

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

One of many pseudonyms used by Ida Julia Pollock, née Crowe.

Mrs. Pollack was a British writer of several short-stories and 125 romance novels that were published under her married name and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen; Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell. She has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career. She has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death.

Ida and her husband, Lt Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock, DSO (1888–1971), a veteran of war and Winston Churchill's collaborator and editor, had a daughter, Rosemary Pollock, who is also a romance writer.

Reviews

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is a fun read even though it is not what I would describe as a truly healthy romance. The the H hires the shy and reserved h for a job at his hotel but leaves the assignment of the job up to the OW. The OW promptly has her scrubbing floors, delivering things to amorous guests' rooms, and eventually dressing up like a barmaid and working at the hotel's pub. She even has the h living in an attic!

So you are probably thinking, "Hey it must have been one heck of a scene when the H found out what the OW was doing." Well it wasn't actually the H who found out, it was the OM, and it took a combination of the OM and the h's estranged uncle to deliver the verbal beat-down that the H deserved so richly.

I came to the conclusion that there was something wrong with the H and that he was limited in his ability to be sensitive to others. Fortunately for the h, she has something about her that makes all men other than the H feel protective of her. She's gonna need those guys if she stays married to the H.

[Anuradha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very ordinary fare. The premise is decent and quite time tested.

Hero is a billionaire hotelier and the girl is a shy and oppressed little thing. He feels instantly protective, and never expresses it for ages.

With an OW and OM thrown in, its easy to fill pages. But to hold the reader's interest in the leads is not easy work. Mostly, olden day romances were good at this. Simple tales told with a lot of heart.

But this one doesn't have much of either head or heart. The girl, a mouse really, works for the hero in his hotel, after the hero rescues her from a bad employer. In his hotel, the manager, is another bad employer. So nothing changes really.

There is no build up of a relationship between the 2, they just suddenly decide. Oh, I have cared for this person all along !! Weird really.

Anyway, lack lustre characters, dull story. Barely managed one read. 2 stars.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in UK Mills and Boon in 1964. This edition 1972 Harlequin publication.
Not totally convinced about the relationship as it appeared to suddenly happen towards the end after disappearing part way through!