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The Jilted Countess
In the aftermath of World War II, a young Hungarian émigré jilted by a G.I. persuades a Midwestern newspaper editor to help her find an American husband in this poignant novel, based on a true story, from the author of The French Winemaker’s Daughter.
The war stole Roza Meszaros’s dreams of becoming a ballerina and her aristocratic family’s fortune. But the penniless Hungarian countess’s fate takes a hopeful turn when she meets an American soldier named Joe, who promises to marry her and take her to the States. After two years of waiting to obtain the necessary money and paperwork to emigrate, Roza finally arrives in Minnesota—and discovers Joe has married someone else.
Determined to stay in America, Roza turns to popular newspaper columnist Cedric Adams to help her find a suitable husband. Sharing Roza’s story and her picture, Adams makes a special plea to his military readers. The response is overwhelming—nearly 1,800 World War II veterans bombard the paper’s offices with telegrams, flowers, candy, and cash, “a world-record” for marriage proposals, Adams tells Roza.
Like a 1948 version of The Bachelorette, Roza ultimately chooses Finn Erickson, a former soldier and railroad locomotive engineer. Putting aside her romantic ideals, she and her new husband settle into the small riverside town of Red Wing, Minnesota. But when Roza unexpectedly runs into her former fiancé, things quickly become complicated.
A captivating and unusual tale of love, loss, finding yourself, and creating your destiny, The Jilted Countess examines the meaning of marriage, the American dream, and what it takes to face our demons while searching for happiness.
The war stole Roza Meszaros’s dreams of becoming a ballerina and her aristocratic family’s fortune. But the penniless Hungarian countess’s fate takes a hopeful turn when she meets an American soldier named Joe, who promises to marry her and take her to the States. After two years of waiting to obtain the necessary money and paperwork to emigrate, Roza finally arrives in Minnesota—and discovers Joe has married someone else.
Determined to stay in America, Roza turns to popular newspaper columnist Cedric Adams to help her find a suitable husband. Sharing Roza’s story and her picture, Adams makes a special plea to his military readers. The response is overwhelming—nearly 1,800 World War II veterans bombard the paper’s offices with telegrams, flowers, candy, and cash, “a world-record” for marriage proposals, Adams tells Roza.
Like a 1948 version of The Bachelorette, Roza ultimately chooses Finn Erickson, a former soldier and railroad locomotive engineer. Putting aside her romantic ideals, she and her new husband settle into the small riverside town of Red Wing, Minnesota. But when Roza unexpectedly runs into her former fiancé, things quickly become complicated.
A captivating and unusual tale of love, loss, finding yourself, and creating your destiny, The Jilted Countess examines the meaning of marriage, the American dream, and what it takes to face our demons while searching for happiness.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2026
126 people are currently reading
8502 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Ellsworth
14 books347 followersLoretta received her BA from the University of Northern Iowa, and an MFA from Hamline University in writing for children and young adults. A former middle and high school teacher, she's the author of four young adult novels, The Shrouding Woman, In Search of Mockingbird,In a Heartbeat, and Unforgettable. Her WWII historical novel, Stars Over Clear Lake, will be published in 2017. She has four children and six grandchildren, and lives in Minnesota. Follow her on Twitter @lellsworth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
November 28, 2025
This historical fiction story was a super quick read. I really liked Roza, the narrator, and was definitely moved by her story. Roza was a Hungarian Countess whose family lost everything in the war. A soldier she had met continued to write to her and send her the money to come to America and be his wife. But when she gets there she finds he got married to someone else just a couple of weeks before. Heartbroken and desperate she finds a journalist willing to help her. She posts a story in the paper asking for a husband before her GI visa runs out in just a couple of weeks. The story is sweet and sometimes frustrating as people don’t communicate effectively. It is based on a real story and I enjoyed it all the more knowing that. The writing is great, and the characters were very compelling.
January 20, 2026
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Roza was living in Hungary with aristocrat parents, desperately working for her dream of becoming a ballerina- until the war hit and everything Roza knew was gone. Her beloved dance school had been blown up and her father was missing, leaving her mother adrift without his financial and emotional support. Luckily for Roza, she had met Joe, an American soldier, who had promised to send her to America and marry her. Once Roza got to America, however, she received word that her dreams with Joe were not going to come true and, in fact, he had married someone else. Without marriage, Roza knows she will be deported back to Hungary, back to a country she doesn’t recognize with its war and violence, so she takes matters into her own hands and, with the help of a local journalist, advertises her plight, hoping to find another American soldier to marry.
Loretta Ellsworth, author of “The French Winemaker’s Daughter”, has crafted a heartbreaking yet inspiring story of romance and starting over with her new novel, “The Jilted Countess: A Novel”.
Roza is the protagonist and right from the start she is likable, forming an instant connection with the reader. Although she was brought up as the daughter of an aristocrat, wanting for nothing, when left to her own devices she is resilient and sharp. After suffering through the horrors of war, Roza takes whatever America throws at her with grace and I was in awe of her bravery and strength.
“Countess” is, at its core, a romance novel, based loosely on true events. Ellsworth heard the tale of the countess, along with the picture that was posted in the newspaper, and turned it into a historical fiction novel. Although there are romantic components, “Countess” is a subtle nod to feminism as well, as Roza starts over in her new life, reluctant to kowtow to her husband.
Ellsworth’s novel is truly special, standing out among the rest in the historical fiction genre. With just the right amount of fact mixed in, “Countess” connects with readers through its admirable, gutsy and graceful protagonist. Readers will empathize with Roza, and others of her time, as the life she once knew is robbed from her, taken away by the Nazi regime, leaving her penniless and then again, when she is stranded in a foreign land, heartbroken and alone.
“Countess” ends exactly as it should, and I was grateful that Ellsworth chose this conclusion. A historical fiction novel, told through a unique lens, Ellsworth has created a story and characters that will leave one heck of an impression.
Roza was living in Hungary with aristocrat parents, desperately working for her dream of becoming a ballerina- until the war hit and everything Roza knew was gone. Her beloved dance school had been blown up and her father was missing, leaving her mother adrift without his financial and emotional support. Luckily for Roza, she had met Joe, an American soldier, who had promised to send her to America and marry her. Once Roza got to America, however, she received word that her dreams with Joe were not going to come true and, in fact, he had married someone else. Without marriage, Roza knows she will be deported back to Hungary, back to a country she doesn’t recognize with its war and violence, so she takes matters into her own hands and, with the help of a local journalist, advertises her plight, hoping to find another American soldier to marry.
Loretta Ellsworth, author of “The French Winemaker’s Daughter”, has crafted a heartbreaking yet inspiring story of romance and starting over with her new novel, “The Jilted Countess: A Novel”.
Roza is the protagonist and right from the start she is likable, forming an instant connection with the reader. Although she was brought up as the daughter of an aristocrat, wanting for nothing, when left to her own devices she is resilient and sharp. After suffering through the horrors of war, Roza takes whatever America throws at her with grace and I was in awe of her bravery and strength.
“Countess” is, at its core, a romance novel, based loosely on true events. Ellsworth heard the tale of the countess, along with the picture that was posted in the newspaper, and turned it into a historical fiction novel. Although there are romantic components, “Countess” is a subtle nod to feminism as well, as Roza starts over in her new life, reluctant to kowtow to her husband.
Ellsworth’s novel is truly special, standing out among the rest in the historical fiction genre. With just the right amount of fact mixed in, “Countess” connects with readers through its admirable, gutsy and graceful protagonist. Readers will empathize with Roza, and others of her time, as the life she once knew is robbed from her, taken away by the Nazi regime, leaving her penniless and then again, when she is stranded in a foreign land, heartbroken and alone.
“Countess” ends exactly as it should, and I was grateful that Ellsworth chose this conclusion. A historical fiction novel, told through a unique lens, Ellsworth has created a story and characters that will leave one heck of an impression.
January 6, 2026
My first historical fiction in a while and what a great story it was! The initial premise resembled a post-WWII episode of the Bachelorette, in my opinion, what with Roza receiving almost 1800 marriage proposals to help her remain in the US. Though she’s a countess no longer, Roza certainly came to live out the American Dream, and I so enjoyed getting to witness her newfound dreams come true. I appreciated this book’s mix of historical context and fictitious embellishments, which combined to produce the perfect story. I also loved the romantic aspect, as well as the love triangle bit with Joe and Finn. And, to borrow Joe’s words, I agree that the better man won Roza’s heart in the end.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really appreciated how real this story felt. Not just because The Jilted Countess is based on a true story, but because it feels as though it captures life as it actually could have been—during the war and particularly in its aftermath, in both Europe and the United States—without necessarily being overly detailed, and I liked the honesty.
Roza’s arc (and Finn’s as well) was really interesting to me. There were moments I deeply sympathized with her, and others where I was frustrated or disappointed by her choices. But that’s kind of the point, I think. She felt human. The characters struggle, sit in their feelings, make mistakes, and slowly figure things out, rather than magically becoming better people overnight.
Is it a perfect book? No. I do wish we’d gotten more time with the main relationship once things began to settle, just to see how it really took shape. Still, it was a compelling, engrossing read with an interesting cast of characters, and one I’m glad I picked up.
Thanks to Harper Perennial for the gifted copy for review!
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Roza’s arc (and Finn’s as well) was really interesting to me. There were moments I deeply sympathized with her, and others where I was frustrated or disappointed by her choices. But that’s kind of the point, I think. She felt human. The characters struggle, sit in their feelings, make mistakes, and slowly figure things out, rather than magically becoming better people overnight.
Is it a perfect book? No. I do wish we’d gotten more time with the main relationship once things began to settle, just to see how it really took shape. Still, it was a compelling, engrossing read with an interesting cast of characters, and one I’m glad I picked up.
Thanks to Harper Perennial for the gifted copy for review!
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February 8, 2026
I really enjoyed this underrated historical fiction gem that's based on a true story of a Hungarian war refugee who was a former Countess that comes to America to marry a soldier she met overseas only to get jilted. With only a few weeks to get married or be exported, she puts an ad in the paper and receives a huge outpouring of marriage offers. After taking a chance on one she essentially disappeared and the author is still trying to track her down. What follows is the author's interpretation of what her life after marriage might have looked like. It's a compelling story full of strength, grit and mental health (war PTSD for both her husband and herself). I loved it and enjoyed the audio narration by Caroline Hewitt. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Allison Pataki.
October 1, 2025
The Jilted Countess is a upcoming novel coming out next year. I will say that this was quite an impressive story. It is interesting how someone can go from living the European lifestyle as an Aristocrat to living the live of an average American. However when you think about there were actually a lot of situations such as this that happened after the first and second world war. Overall I was very pleased with the flow of this book.
We are introduced to Roza a Hungarian Countess who has lost everything from the second World War. Worst of all she had been jilted by the man who promised to marry her. Her only option that she takes is she marries an American named Finn and settles into a modest Minnesota lifestyle. However, that doesn't put a permanent end to the problems as soon enough there are new problems to work through.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher all opinions are of my own.
We are introduced to Roza a Hungarian Countess who has lost everything from the second World War. Worst of all she had been jilted by the man who promised to marry her. Her only option that she takes is she marries an American named Finn and settles into a modest Minnesota lifestyle. However, that doesn't put a permanent end to the problems as soon enough there are new problems to work through.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher all opinions are of my own.
March 23, 2026
Rounded up from 2.5. It just wasn’t written very well—pretty flat story, one-dimensional characters, predictable. Wait, why did I round up?
February 4, 2026
Loretta Ellsworth’s The Jilted Countess is a captivating historical novel based on the remarkable true story of a woman who risked everything to escape the shadows of post-WWII Europe.
The story follows Roza, a Hungarian countess and former ballerina, who arrives in Minnesota in 1948 expecting to reunite with the American soldier she loves. Instead, she is met with the ultimate betrayal: he is already married. With her visa set to expire in mere days and the threat of returning to a Soviet-occupied homeland looming, Roza takes a desperate, public gamble. She places an advertisement in the newspaper seeking a husband-not for love, but for survival.
Ellsworth masterfully paints the contrast between the fading elegance of European aristocracy and the earnest, hardworking atmosphere of post-war Minnesota. The inclusion of real-life figures, like columnist Cedric Adams, grounds the story in an authentic mid-century setting.
Beyond the romance, the book is a poignant look at what it means to be a "Displaced Person." It explores the loss of identity, the struggle with a new language, and the courage required to build a life from scratch in a place that feels entirely foreign.
Roza is a complex protagonist. She isn't just a victim of circumstance; she is a woman of immense dignity and pragmatism who uses the only tools she has left to secure her future.
The Jilted Countess is a beautifully written exploration of hope born from tragedy. It avoids the clichés of a standard romance by focusing on the grit and determination required to survive. It’s a perfect pick for readers who enjoy biographical fiction and stories about women who take their destiny into their own hands. Thank you @harperperennial for the gifted copy!
The story follows Roza, a Hungarian countess and former ballerina, who arrives in Minnesota in 1948 expecting to reunite with the American soldier she loves. Instead, she is met with the ultimate betrayal: he is already married. With her visa set to expire in mere days and the threat of returning to a Soviet-occupied homeland looming, Roza takes a desperate, public gamble. She places an advertisement in the newspaper seeking a husband-not for love, but for survival.
Ellsworth masterfully paints the contrast between the fading elegance of European aristocracy and the earnest, hardworking atmosphere of post-war Minnesota. The inclusion of real-life figures, like columnist Cedric Adams, grounds the story in an authentic mid-century setting.
Beyond the romance, the book is a poignant look at what it means to be a "Displaced Person." It explores the loss of identity, the struggle with a new language, and the courage required to build a life from scratch in a place that feels entirely foreign.
Roza is a complex protagonist. She isn't just a victim of circumstance; she is a woman of immense dignity and pragmatism who uses the only tools she has left to secure her future.
The Jilted Countess is a beautifully written exploration of hope born from tragedy. It avoids the clichés of a standard romance by focusing on the grit and determination required to survive. It’s a perfect pick for readers who enjoy biographical fiction and stories about women who take their destiny into their own hands. Thank you @harperperennial for the gifted copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2026
The Jilted Countess is the best historical fiction that I have read in quite a while. So fun, so nostalgic, perfect for those who enjoyed Cheaper By The Dozen or Belles on Their Toes. Not only does the time period and setting take you back, but the author's style of writing also helps to set the mood. I really felt like I was transported in time. The story is about a Hungarian Countess who finds herself living in Minnesota in 1948, because of some situations that did not work in her favor. The novel is about the steps that she takes and the decisions that she makes (some good, some not so good) that allow her to stay in the United States and pursue a life there. Probably the best part of all, is that the story was inspired by real life events. The author had acquired a newspaper clipping from what had happened to the real Countess, and had written her story around what little details she was provided in the clipping. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books set in the post WWII period, and who loves romance and historical time periods. **I was provided an ARC of this book by HarperPerennial but all views are my own.
March 23, 2026
A Hungarian countess arrives in America expecting to be swept off her feet by the soldier that she fell in love with and planned to marry, but when she arrives, the man is nowhere to be seen, and she quickly finds out that he has married another woman and she has two weeks to find a new candidate for a husband before her visa expires. It’s a lovely tale of resilience and a woman’s strength after facing hardships. Beautifully told.
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️
April 17, 2026
I would’ve given this book a 3 1/2 if that was an option. It certainly was fascinating and particularly the parts of it that were actually true. I understand the author’s desire to dream about what happened after Roza’s subsequent marriage, but it seemed a bit too contrived and predictable after the shocker of her actual true story.
January 17, 2026
❤️ Thank You @harperperennial for my gifted copy!
This fantastic Historical Fiction novel follows Roza Meszoras, a Hungarian Countess and former ballerina, whose family loses everything during WWII. She falls in love with an American soldier during the war and after two years of waiting for the proper paperwork, she finally travels to Minnesota to marry him.
However, when she arrives, she finds out that he is recently married to someone else and she must figure out how to stay in the U.S. because it is not safe for her to return home. With only a couple of weeks before her G.I. Visa expires, Roza turns to a newspaper reporter to help her find a husband.
After her story and photo are published, Roza receives almost 1,800 proposals and with the help of some newfound friends, she vets the top few contenders and chooses Finn Erickson, a train engineer suffering from PTSD. The story then follows Roza as she begins her life with her new husband and attempts to find her place in America.
Based on a true story, this is a fascinating analysis of what it means to achieve the American Dream and to pursue love and self fulfillment simultaneously.
I loved these characters and would definitely recommend that you grab a copy of this one. Out today!
This fantastic Historical Fiction novel follows Roza Meszoras, a Hungarian Countess and former ballerina, whose family loses everything during WWII. She falls in love with an American soldier during the war and after two years of waiting for the proper paperwork, she finally travels to Minnesota to marry him.
However, when she arrives, she finds out that he is recently married to someone else and she must figure out how to stay in the U.S. because it is not safe for her to return home. With only a couple of weeks before her G.I. Visa expires, Roza turns to a newspaper reporter to help her find a husband.
After her story and photo are published, Roza receives almost 1,800 proposals and with the help of some newfound friends, she vets the top few contenders and chooses Finn Erickson, a train engineer suffering from PTSD. The story then follows Roza as she begins her life with her new husband and attempts to find her place in America.
Based on a true story, this is a fascinating analysis of what it means to achieve the American Dream and to pursue love and self fulfillment simultaneously.
I loved these characters and would definitely recommend that you grab a copy of this one. Out today!
February 27, 2026
Interesting read. I'm half Hungarian, so I enjoy reading books about people with Hungarian culture. This was based on a true story. The writing was fine, but didn't grab me.
April 3, 2026
What an interesting story! I know the author says she hopes to track down the real person but I have a feeling they would prefer to remain unknown
March 1, 2026
Fantastic — historical fiction at its finest!
March 10, 2026
Didn't resonate with the protagonist. The author wrote her character to be unappreciative and a snob, understandable as she's a Countess. So it's in keeping with a Countess. But unlikeable. Writing style was a little simple but as the author has written quite a few children's and young adults' books, it's probably hard to adjust your writing style to a different audience. I really wanted to like this book because the original premise is based on a true story. However, I didn't like the Countess, and there were some inconsistencies in the story that didn't take into account that they didn't have the modern conveniences back in the 1940s that we have today, like plastic bags. The relationships weren't well-formed and didn't logically result in the admiration and love that concluded the book. It was a simplistic romance. Premise good, everything else not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2026
THE JILTED COUNTESS by Loretta Ellsworth is a post–World War II novel inspired by a true story. It follows a young Hungarian aristocrat who loses her family fortune and her ballet career, only to be abandoned by the American soldier she crossed the ocean to marry. Determined to remain in the United States, she takes an unexpected path to secure her future.
When a newspaper columnist shares her story, she receives an astonishing flood of marriage proposals from veterans across the country. Beneath the unusual premise is a thoughtful exploration of identity, resilience, and what marriage truly means.
I was especially drawn to Roza’s determination as she works to build a new life in small-town Minnesota while wrestling with the weight of her past. It is an engaging and unique historical novel about love, loss, and the courage it takes to begin again.
When a newspaper columnist shares her story, she receives an astonishing flood of marriage proposals from veterans across the country. Beneath the unusual premise is a thoughtful exploration of identity, resilience, and what marriage truly means.
I was especially drawn to Roza’s determination as she works to build a new life in small-town Minnesota while wrestling with the weight of her past. It is an engaging and unique historical novel about love, loss, and the courage it takes to begin again.
March 4, 2026
Spoiler: At first I was disappointed that the author hadn’t been able to find the real Jilted Countess, and that the story was almost entirely fiction. Upon reflection, however, I realized that pertinent facts from Cedric Adam’s column were all we needed to know and the author simple weaved an entertaining narrative around them. It’s still an interesting story from our history and one I am sure I will retell often.
February 28, 2026
Story line/premise had legs! Unfortunately, just not enough emotional, historic, or romantic depth for me.
April 11, 2026
Thank you Harper Perennial for my free ARC of The Jilted Countess by Loretta Ellsworth — available now!
» READ IF YOU «
🇭🇺 want some post-WWII historical fiction
💌 enjoy unconventional love stories
🌾 love immigrant stories about starting over
» SYNOPSIS «
After surviving WWII, a Hungarian countess comes to America to marry her American soldier fiancé—only to find out he’s married someone else. With her visa running out, Roza asks a newspaper to help her find a husband, and ends up building a new life in small-town Minnesota.
» REVIEW «
The premise of this one definitely intrigued me—a newspaper ad for a countess seeking a husband?! AND it’s based on an actual ad for this?! Roza is easy to love and root for, there’s just something about her that is so captivating. I loved watching her navigate this brand new landscape while carrying so much of her past with her.
The romance aspects are steady and sweet rather than dramatic, and it’s really not the “point” of this story. This is a warm, hopeful read about a woman finding her purpose and place in life.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
» READ IF YOU «
🇭🇺 want some post-WWII historical fiction
💌 enjoy unconventional love stories
🌾 love immigrant stories about starting over
» SYNOPSIS «
After surviving WWII, a Hungarian countess comes to America to marry her American soldier fiancé—only to find out he’s married someone else. With her visa running out, Roza asks a newspaper to help her find a husband, and ends up building a new life in small-town Minnesota.
» REVIEW «
The premise of this one definitely intrigued me—a newspaper ad for a countess seeking a husband?! AND it’s based on an actual ad for this?! Roza is easy to love and root for, there’s just something about her that is so captivating. I loved watching her navigate this brand new landscape while carrying so much of her past with her.
The romance aspects are steady and sweet rather than dramatic, and it’s really not the “point” of this story. This is a warm, hopeful read about a woman finding her purpose and place in life.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
January 20, 2026
not worth your time. worn out romance storyline filled with enough anachronisms to set any baby Boomer's teeth on edge. read the book on tape version in the car and stayed through half the book, but all I can say is boring and silly .
March 7, 2026
The Jilted Countess
Roza Mészàros is a young Hungarian woman who has survived the horrors of war and has crossed an ocean from Europe and travelled by train to Minnesota to meet her fiancé, a soldier she met during the war. She is a countess and a ballerina from Vienna; used to living well. That is, until the Nazis took everything including her father who disappeared.
She met Joe, a soldier in Vienna where he was stationed and they had a three-month “whirlwind courtship”. Joe apparently had returned to America, but sent Roza a visa, some American money and love letters. When the time comes for Roza to meet her fiancé at the train station at the St. Paul depot, Joe is nowhere to be found. Instead, a kindly Hungarian couple; Jakab and Mariska Katz are there to meet her instead and tell her that Mr. Harbeck (Joe) has instructed them to take Roza to their home for the night.
Roza is wondering why Joe or his family hasn’t come for her after a two-year separation. She had hoped to get to know his family before the wedding and see his property, the pictures he had sent her instead of this odd state of affairs. When Joe arrives, the next morning he tells her he married his childhood sweetheart months prior and that Joe only knew Roza for just three months. Roza is shattered. She accuses him of leading her on, why did he let her come all this way, why did he make love to her, promise to marry her, just to toss her aside?
Initially, I felt the character Roza to be immature and two-dimensional. Had the author intended her to be this way? Had this person not learned anything during the war? This young woman was to have experienced real hardship which I thought the author had skimmed over to get to the story. Roza seemed petulant and spoiled and didn’t seem to have much insight after losing her father to the Nazis which would be traumatic enough. She had left her mother and brother behind to go to a completely different way of life and all she could think about was this soldier she barely knew that had jilted her.
This was how I felt early on in the story. Apparently, this is loosely based on a true story. Loretta Ellsworth said she found the article of this woman’s story in The Minneapolis Star Tribune and was so taken with it; she had to write about it. I have since changed my opinion of Roza since reading further on. She is tenacious. She is a ballerina that has been disappointed that her career had been cut short by the war. She had lost her father, lost her way of life and gave herself to this soldier she only knew for three months and hung on to his promises for two years, while she faced fear, loss and poverty.
She leaves her country, language and way of life to travel over completely different continents to be with someone she barely knows and start a new life; only to be abandoned at the train station and find out later that her fiancé, has gone and “married his childhood sweetheart!” Although Roza is shattered, she is determined to remain in America and find a husband. So, with barely two weeks under her belt as her GI visa is due to expire, she does just that. Roza does what any countess would do and finds the press and tells her story to a kindly editor, Cecil Anders who is taken with her story and prints it.
Roza finds out that she has within the span of five days, acquired over 1700 proposals from all over America! Not only proposals, but chocolate, flowers and money! She is the poor countess no longer!
With the help from her friends Mariska, Katz and Cecil, Roza manages to narrow down the letters of proposal to five and agrees to meet three of the candidates. The time crunch is on and Roza feels the pressure to make a decision and so within the week, decides to marry a reserved engineer Finn Erickson from Red Wing Minnesota. As time goes on Roza will learn more about this taciturn man she has married and wonder about her choices.
I could relate to feeling like an outsider and trying to fit in. I could sympathize with Roza’s challenges in the small town of Red Wing. The town ladies raised eyebrows at Roza’s manners and cultured behavior, and not being accepted by Finn’s parents, thinking Roza “fancy and “highfalutin”.
I found this book an interesting and enjoyable read. I think Loretta Ellsworth did a fine job trying to piece together this woman’s life from the articles in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I thank Library Thing and MB Communications for providing me a copy of this book in exchange to give an honest review.
Roza Mészàros is a young Hungarian woman who has survived the horrors of war and has crossed an ocean from Europe and travelled by train to Minnesota to meet her fiancé, a soldier she met during the war. She is a countess and a ballerina from Vienna; used to living well. That is, until the Nazis took everything including her father who disappeared.
She met Joe, a soldier in Vienna where he was stationed and they had a three-month “whirlwind courtship”. Joe apparently had returned to America, but sent Roza a visa, some American money and love letters. When the time comes for Roza to meet her fiancé at the train station at the St. Paul depot, Joe is nowhere to be found. Instead, a kindly Hungarian couple; Jakab and Mariska Katz are there to meet her instead and tell her that Mr. Harbeck (Joe) has instructed them to take Roza to their home for the night.
Roza is wondering why Joe or his family hasn’t come for her after a two-year separation. She had hoped to get to know his family before the wedding and see his property, the pictures he had sent her instead of this odd state of affairs. When Joe arrives, the next morning he tells her he married his childhood sweetheart months prior and that Joe only knew Roza for just three months. Roza is shattered. She accuses him of leading her on, why did he let her come all this way, why did he make love to her, promise to marry her, just to toss her aside?
Initially, I felt the character Roza to be immature and two-dimensional. Had the author intended her to be this way? Had this person not learned anything during the war? This young woman was to have experienced real hardship which I thought the author had skimmed over to get to the story. Roza seemed petulant and spoiled and didn’t seem to have much insight after losing her father to the Nazis which would be traumatic enough. She had left her mother and brother behind to go to a completely different way of life and all she could think about was this soldier she barely knew that had jilted her.
This was how I felt early on in the story. Apparently, this is loosely based on a true story. Loretta Ellsworth said she found the article of this woman’s story in The Minneapolis Star Tribune and was so taken with it; she had to write about it. I have since changed my opinion of Roza since reading further on. She is tenacious. She is a ballerina that has been disappointed that her career had been cut short by the war. She had lost her father, lost her way of life and gave herself to this soldier she only knew for three months and hung on to his promises for two years, while she faced fear, loss and poverty.
She leaves her country, language and way of life to travel over completely different continents to be with someone she barely knows and start a new life; only to be abandoned at the train station and find out later that her fiancé, has gone and “married his childhood sweetheart!” Although Roza is shattered, she is determined to remain in America and find a husband. So, with barely two weeks under her belt as her GI visa is due to expire, she does just that. Roza does what any countess would do and finds the press and tells her story to a kindly editor, Cecil Anders who is taken with her story and prints it.
Roza finds out that she has within the span of five days, acquired over 1700 proposals from all over America! Not only proposals, but chocolate, flowers and money! She is the poor countess no longer!
With the help from her friends Mariska, Katz and Cecil, Roza manages to narrow down the letters of proposal to five and agrees to meet three of the candidates. The time crunch is on and Roza feels the pressure to make a decision and so within the week, decides to marry a reserved engineer Finn Erickson from Red Wing Minnesota. As time goes on Roza will learn more about this taciturn man she has married and wonder about her choices.
I could relate to feeling like an outsider and trying to fit in. I could sympathize with Roza’s challenges in the small town of Red Wing. The town ladies raised eyebrows at Roza’s manners and cultured behavior, and not being accepted by Finn’s parents, thinking Roza “fancy and “highfalutin”.
I found this book an interesting and enjoyable read. I think Loretta Ellsworth did a fine job trying to piece together this woman’s life from the articles in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I thank Library Thing and MB Communications for providing me a copy of this book in exchange to give an honest review.
February 14, 2026
Title: The Jilted Countess
Author: Loretta Ellsworth
Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt
Publisher: Harper Audio
Length: Approximately 8 hours and 24 minutes
Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of the paperback copy The Jilted Countess by Loretta Ellsworth. Audiobook copy purchased from Audible.com.
What is your favorite Valentine’s Day candy? I am a fan of chocolate myself – dark or milk chocolate!
Roza Meszaros was a ballerina in Vienna and a Hungarian Countess. WWII destroyed the opera house, and the communists have taken the family estate. Her father never returned after being taken by the Nazis. The one bright spot is her fiancé, Joe, an American GI. After falling in love and becoming engaged, Joe returned to the US. They continued to write and figure out how to get Roza to the United States. Two years later, she arrived in Minneapolis, ready for marriage with Joe, but he doesn’t show up. She soon discovered he has married another. Needing to find a husband in just under two weeks to stay in the US, Roza tried a desperate bid and told her story to the Minneapolis Star newspaper. She received over 1,000 offers of marriage. Who will she marry, and will it work out?
My thoughts on this novel:
• How terrible to travel all the way to the United States to marry your GI American fiancé, only to find him married to his former American sweetheart.
• This book was set in St. Paul and Red Wing, Minnesota. This was the second book that I read within two weeks to mention a date at Como Zoo in St. Paul. I visited that zoo once when my kids were small, but it made me want to visit again.
• This was a very engaging story; I didn’t want to stop listening to the audiobook! The narrator was fantastic.
• I loved how the letters and dates made it seem like an old-fashioned bachelorette.
• Roza is a fish out of water in Red Wing Minnesota living a very different life than what she grew up with as an aristocrat. I loved how she was able to make a life that worked for her with starting a ballet school.
• This historical romance had one of my favorite tropes of marriage of convenience.
• The romance was closed door.
• Finn has PTSD after losing his entire platoon in WWII. He has invisible wounds that no one can understand except for Roza.
• Finn has a degree in mechanical engineering and works for the railroad.
• I was very annoyed by some of the poor choices that Roza made, but I loved the ending.
• There is a fascinating author’s note at the end about the real-life countess who inspired the story. It was interesting that there is no trail for what really happened to her after she was married.
Overall, The Jilted Countess by Loretta Ellsworth is an engaging historical romance that shows how life can go on with a marriage of convenience when two people work together on their relationship.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2026...
Author: Loretta Ellsworth
Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt
Publisher: Harper Audio
Length: Approximately 8 hours and 24 minutes
Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of the paperback copy The Jilted Countess by Loretta Ellsworth. Audiobook copy purchased from Audible.com.
What is your favorite Valentine’s Day candy? I am a fan of chocolate myself – dark or milk chocolate!
Roza Meszaros was a ballerina in Vienna and a Hungarian Countess. WWII destroyed the opera house, and the communists have taken the family estate. Her father never returned after being taken by the Nazis. The one bright spot is her fiancé, Joe, an American GI. After falling in love and becoming engaged, Joe returned to the US. They continued to write and figure out how to get Roza to the United States. Two years later, she arrived in Minneapolis, ready for marriage with Joe, but he doesn’t show up. She soon discovered he has married another. Needing to find a husband in just under two weeks to stay in the US, Roza tried a desperate bid and told her story to the Minneapolis Star newspaper. She received over 1,000 offers of marriage. Who will she marry, and will it work out?
My thoughts on this novel:
• How terrible to travel all the way to the United States to marry your GI American fiancé, only to find him married to his former American sweetheart.
• This book was set in St. Paul and Red Wing, Minnesota. This was the second book that I read within two weeks to mention a date at Como Zoo in St. Paul. I visited that zoo once when my kids were small, but it made me want to visit again.
• This was a very engaging story; I didn’t want to stop listening to the audiobook! The narrator was fantastic.
• I loved how the letters and dates made it seem like an old-fashioned bachelorette.
• Roza is a fish out of water in Red Wing Minnesota living a very different life than what she grew up with as an aristocrat. I loved how she was able to make a life that worked for her with starting a ballet school.
• This historical romance had one of my favorite tropes of marriage of convenience.
• The romance was closed door.
• Finn has PTSD after losing his entire platoon in WWII. He has invisible wounds that no one can understand except for Roza.
• Finn has a degree in mechanical engineering and works for the railroad.
• I was very annoyed by some of the poor choices that Roza made, but I loved the ending.
• There is a fascinating author’s note at the end about the real-life countess who inspired the story. It was interesting that there is no trail for what really happened to her after she was married.
Overall, The Jilted Countess by Loretta Ellsworth is an engaging historical romance that shows how life can go on with a marriage of convenience when two people work together on their relationship.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Forget online dating. Imagine having 1,800 marriage proposals delivered by the mailman. 💌📬 This isn't a modern reality show; it’s the incredible true story of a 1940s countess who turned a public betrayal into a fresh start.
I picked up The Jilted Countess by Loretta Ellsworth expecting a sweet postwar romance, and what I got was something far more charming, bittersweet, and quietly empowering. From the very first pages, I was rooting for Roza Meszaros, a woman who has already lost almost everything and refuses to let the rest of her life be decided for her.
Roza’s story completely pulled me in. A Hungarian countess turned penniless émigré, a broken promise from a G.I., and a one-way trip to Minnesota only to discover she’s been jilted? My heart hurt for her. But what I loved most was how Roza didn’t collapse under the weight of that betrayal. Instead, she got creative. Watching her team up with a newspaper editor to essentially crowdsource a husband felt both surreal and strangely modern,like a 1940s version of online dating, complete with 1,800 marriage proposals.
The small-town Midwestern setting was a delight, and I enjoyed seeing Roza navigate American culture while letting go of her old aristocratic expectations. Her eventual choice of Finn, a steady and kind man rather than a sweeping romantic fantasy, felt refreshingly realistic. That said, when her former fiancé reappears, the emotional tension spikes, and I found myself fully invested in the messiness of old love versus new beginnings.
Loretta Ellsworth writes with warmth and compassion, grounding this unusual true story in emotion rather than gimmick. The novel explores what marriage really means, especially for women rebuilding their lives after war, and what it looks like to choose stability, self-respect, and hope even when it’s not the fairytale you once imagined.
If you enjoy historical fiction with heart, resilient heroines, and a dash of real-life intrigue, The Jilted Countess is a cozy yet thought-provoking read that left me smiling.
✨️Thank you,Loretta Ellsworth and Harper Perennial, for sharing The Jilted Countess with me!
I picked up The Jilted Countess by Loretta Ellsworth expecting a sweet postwar romance, and what I got was something far more charming, bittersweet, and quietly empowering. From the very first pages, I was rooting for Roza Meszaros, a woman who has already lost almost everything and refuses to let the rest of her life be decided for her.
Roza’s story completely pulled me in. A Hungarian countess turned penniless émigré, a broken promise from a G.I., and a one-way trip to Minnesota only to discover she’s been jilted? My heart hurt for her. But what I loved most was how Roza didn’t collapse under the weight of that betrayal. Instead, she got creative. Watching her team up with a newspaper editor to essentially crowdsource a husband felt both surreal and strangely modern,like a 1940s version of online dating, complete with 1,800 marriage proposals.
The small-town Midwestern setting was a delight, and I enjoyed seeing Roza navigate American culture while letting go of her old aristocratic expectations. Her eventual choice of Finn, a steady and kind man rather than a sweeping romantic fantasy, felt refreshingly realistic. That said, when her former fiancé reappears, the emotional tension spikes, and I found myself fully invested in the messiness of old love versus new beginnings.
Loretta Ellsworth writes with warmth and compassion, grounding this unusual true story in emotion rather than gimmick. The novel explores what marriage really means, especially for women rebuilding their lives after war, and what it looks like to choose stability, self-respect, and hope even when it’s not the fairytale you once imagined.
If you enjoy historical fiction with heart, resilient heroines, and a dash of real-life intrigue, The Jilted Countess is a cozy yet thought-provoking read that left me smiling.
✨️Thank you,Loretta Ellsworth and Harper Perennial, for sharing The Jilted Countess with me!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Jilted Countess was such an unexpected delight! Roza Meszaros came from a well to do aristocratic family in Hungary. With the support of her father, she was following her dream to become a ballerina when suddenly the war took everything from her. Her father, her family’s wealth and her career. But in all the darkness, she met an American soldier named Joe and fell in love. He promised to marry her and bring her to America to live on his family farm. After two years of waiting to save enough money and for the paperwork to come through, Roza is finally on her way to America and her fiancé, but when she arrives, she finds he has already married someone else.
Desperate to stay in America, Roza concocts a plan. With the help of Cedric Adams, a newspaper columnist, Roza shares her story. To be able to stay, she has two weeks to find someone who has served in the military and is willing to marry her. Letters pour in from suitors and Roza must ultimately pick one.
This is such an emotional story. It is one of strength, perseverance and love. There are so many pieces of the story that are relatable to all types of readers. I found myself rooting for Roza and the man she chose. This is also a story of chosen family and finding oneself.
What I thought was especially special is that this book was based on a true story which I found fascinating (be sure to read the author’s note). All in all, this was a very enjoyable and fast read for me. I look forward to reading more of Loretta Ellsworth’s work!
Thank you to Harper Perennial for the gifted copy of this book. What a beautiful love story and such a treat to read!
Desperate to stay in America, Roza concocts a plan. With the help of Cedric Adams, a newspaper columnist, Roza shares her story. To be able to stay, she has two weeks to find someone who has served in the military and is willing to marry her. Letters pour in from suitors and Roza must ultimately pick one.
This is such an emotional story. It is one of strength, perseverance and love. There are so many pieces of the story that are relatable to all types of readers. I found myself rooting for Roza and the man she chose. This is also a story of chosen family and finding oneself.
What I thought was especially special is that this book was based on a true story which I found fascinating (be sure to read the author’s note). All in all, this was a very enjoyable and fast read for me. I look forward to reading more of Loretta Ellsworth’s work!
Thank you to Harper Perennial for the gifted copy of this book. What a beautiful love story and such a treat to read!
January 19, 2026
First, thank you very much to Harper Perennial for providing me with an ARC of this The Jilted Countess!
I was initially very intrigued by the description of this book because my grandmother emigrated from Hungary to the US during the World War II era, as the FMC, Roza, does in the book.
The story was extremely enamoring! It was so easy to read - I read the first half of the book in one sitting! I loved that it was historical fiction mixed with historical romance. (I LOVE marriage of convenience and this did not disappoint.) And the backstory of Roza being (former) royalty as a countess, and also a professional ballerina, was also very cool to read about. I really did appreciate all the characters; they all felt very “real,” and I liked getting to see their relationships grow organically. I also think the author did a good job at depicting how post-WW II PTSD and trauma generally manifested in many different forms. I also adored the Chopin manuscript storyline and culmination.
I found myself with only 50 pages left wondering how the heck the book was going to end and resolve everything, but I have to say, the ending was perfect!
I also think it’s fascinating that the premise of the book is based on a true story, which I didn’t realize until the end. I would love to know what happened to the real jilted countess; it’s so cool the author is still trying to figure it out!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, serious but light-hearted, historical romance!
I was initially very intrigued by the description of this book because my grandmother emigrated from Hungary to the US during the World War II era, as the FMC, Roza, does in the book.
The story was extremely enamoring! It was so easy to read - I read the first half of the book in one sitting! I loved that it was historical fiction mixed with historical romance. (I LOVE marriage of convenience and this did not disappoint.) And the backstory of Roza being (former) royalty as a countess, and also a professional ballerina, was also very cool to read about. I really did appreciate all the characters; they all felt very “real,” and I liked getting to see their relationships grow organically. I also think the author did a good job at depicting how post-WW II PTSD and trauma generally manifested in many different forms. I also adored the Chopin manuscript storyline and culmination.
I found myself with only 50 pages left wondering how the heck the book was going to end and resolve everything, but I have to say, the ending was perfect!
I also think it’s fascinating that the premise of the book is based on a true story, which I didn’t realize until the end. I would love to know what happened to the real jilted countess; it’s so cool the author is still trying to figure it out!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, serious but light-hearted, historical romance!
March 22, 2026
3.5⭐Short read that describes a time that I find interesting, after WWII. There are many novels that describe the events before and during the war, but fewer about the aftermath. So much can be examined about how people move forward. In the European countries ravaged by the war food rationing and bombed buildings are the norm. Roza is stunned to find plenty of food and people living lives like normal people when she gets to the US. Such a fascinating story, the first Bachelorette.
Roza found herself in a pickle when she arrived the Midwest to find her fiancée already married.
Faced with a tricky visa status, she must find a husband quickly. I always appreciate a look back at a world that moved at a much different pace without technology. Roza had time constraints but had to use the newspaper and physical letters to find a potential match!!!! No email or internet.
She ends up going on a few dates and is forced to quickly make a decision.
Once married, Roza discovers she is isolated and knows very little about her husband. As a former military man, he of course has plenty of trauma including nightly nightmares. Roza is also dealing with loss of her country and former life. She is forced to acclimate into a world she was never taught about. As a countess, she did not receive lessons on keeping house or cleaning. Has no idea what housewives do.
Interesting, fast paced read.
Roza found herself in a pickle when she arrived the Midwest to find her fiancée already married.
Faced with a tricky visa status, she must find a husband quickly. I always appreciate a look back at a world that moved at a much different pace without technology. Roza had time constraints but had to use the newspaper and physical letters to find a potential match!!!! No email or internet.
She ends up going on a few dates and is forced to quickly make a decision.
Once married, Roza discovers she is isolated and knows very little about her husband. As a former military man, he of course has plenty of trauma including nightly nightmares. Roza is also dealing with loss of her country and former life. She is forced to acclimate into a world she was never taught about. As a countess, she did not receive lessons on keeping house or cleaning. Has no idea what housewives do.
Interesting, fast paced read.
May 5, 2026
What an intriguing story! Based on a real Hungarian countess, who came to Minnesota after WWII to marry her GI fiance she met in Vienna, but he married someone else since they last saw each other 2 years earlier. Now, she has 2 weeks on her GI visa before she must go home. Hungary has been taken over by Communist Russia and her mother and brother stripped of their land and wealth. If she goes home, she will probably be arrested for siding with the Americans.
She tells her story to a newspaper editor, who runs it asking if any GI would consider marrying her. She doesn't expect much, but gets over 1,700 responses. Narrowing it down to 5, she goes on some very quick dates, and picks one.
Now married to a railroad engineer in a small town an hour from Minneapolis, she wonders if she made the right choice. Roza doesn't fit in. The housewives make fun of her. She doesn't know anything about cooking or maintaining a house. No one has any class or sophistication. And she barely sees her new husband as he is away for days at a time. Now what?
Her story is full of twists and turns, some quite predictable as romance goes, but with some unique plot elements. What else would you expect from an intelligent, former ballerina?
My parents were both immigrants from Hungary -- though not nobility! "Factory" class -- but I am always interested in stories about Hungarians in America.
She tells her story to a newspaper editor, who runs it asking if any GI would consider marrying her. She doesn't expect much, but gets over 1,700 responses. Narrowing it down to 5, she goes on some very quick dates, and picks one.
Now married to a railroad engineer in a small town an hour from Minneapolis, she wonders if she made the right choice. Roza doesn't fit in. The housewives make fun of her. She doesn't know anything about cooking or maintaining a house. No one has any class or sophistication. And she barely sees her new husband as he is away for days at a time. Now what?
Her story is full of twists and turns, some quite predictable as romance goes, but with some unique plot elements. What else would you expect from an intelligent, former ballerina?
My parents were both immigrants from Hungary -- though not nobility! "Factory" class -- but I am always interested in stories about Hungarians in America.
November 16, 2025
There are certainly plenty of books set in World War II, but this is one of the few I've read that highlight the post-war years in both Europe and America. I learned about the communist takeover of Hungary after the war, the dissolution of the aristocratic class in that country, and how the abundance of food and resources in America contrasted with the scarcity in Europe. The plotline of Roza being featured in the newspaper to find a husband is really a minor part of the story, with most of the book focused on her journey to Minnesota, her adjustment to American life, and her relationship with her new husband. I enjoyed seeing how Roza overcame obstacles and found love despite the hardship in her past and the unlikely way of finding a husband. The book tied things up a little quickly in the end, but overall it kept me turning the pages and finishing it in a day.
How important is a cover to you? I think this book could have been represented by a better cover. Some covers make you want to pick a book up. Unfortunately, I think this cover would actually deter me from picking it up. Don't let the cover dissuade you from reading this book!
Thank you Harper Perennial, Megan Beatie Communications and the author for the gifted copy.
How important is a cover to you? I think this book could have been represented by a better cover. Some covers make you want to pick a book up. Unfortunately, I think this cover would actually deter me from picking it up. Don't let the cover dissuade you from reading this book!
Thank you Harper Perennial, Megan Beatie Communications and the author for the gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Roza survived WWII and found love with Joe, an American GI working in Vienna. He proposed, she accepted, and then it took two years for her to obtain her visa and for them to scrape together the money to bring her to Minnesota. She's thrilled but then he's not there to meet her and it turns out he married his high school girlfriend while waiting. Roza is determined not to go back to Hungary and so along with the editor of the paper, hatches a scheme to find a husband asap. And that's how she meets Finn, a railroad engineer with a good heart and a serious case of PTSD. Roza is indeed a fish ut of water in Red Wing but she makes a go of it, finding a few friends and then returning to her ballet. And there's a surprise. It's an easy read that would have benefited from another edit to remove some of the duplication (yes, yes, she was a ballerina and so on) and a few bloopers (there's a reference to the furry bodies of ducklings). While it's sophisticated or nuanced read, it is heartfelt and it's clear that Ellsworth liked her subject. Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.
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