Review: Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Some people marry for love; others marry for music...

Rose McNeil is rising the ranks at the Mozarteum in Salzburg as a violinist to watch. Her musical Nova Scotian heritage has loaned an unparalleled technique to her interpretation of some of the most beautiful compositions in the world. The opportunity of a first chair assignment to the Rainer Quartet under the tutelage and baton of Oliver Thorne is a dream come true--- until her student visa expires and the threat of leaving Vienna looms. As much as she grieves the prospect of leaving Vienna and the quartet, it is Oliver—with his dry sense of humour and unexpected charm- she will miss most.

British ex-pat Oliver Thorne’s recent appointment as conductor to the Rainer Quartet make him the youngest in the role during its prestigious history. But it wasn’t the path he wanted. A tragic accident years ago forbade him from ever playing his beloved cello again. Now he spends his life conducting for premiere orchestras at the Musikverein. When he first hears Rose McNeil play, all the dreams he left by the wayside are reborn with her unexpected talent. When Rose learns she may have to leave Vienna, Oliver has to come up with a solution. Losing his first violinist is unfortunate, losing her is unimaginable.

So he comes up with a crazy idea: A marriage on paper only. She’ll take his name and his citizenship. They’ll split rent money and coin toss to decide who takes the bed or the futon every night. They’ll keep their secret from the orchestra. She’ll play and he’ll conduct and, most importantly...she’ll stay.

Unbeknownst to each other, Rose is in love with Oliver and Oliver is in love with Rose. They might even find a happy ending, if only their pesky marriage doesn’t get in the way.

My Review

This story provided a fascinating glimpse into the world of classical music and its performance. I loved the Austrian setting and the romance of Vienna, which the author skillfully described with subtlety and charm. Rose and Oliver's relationship is a complicated one- there is a foundation of genuine friendship there, yet he is the conductor of the group she plays violin with, which makes him a boss figure. The strict moral code of the historic "quartet" (there are actually more than four musicians) prohibits Rose and Oliver from a romantic relationship, making their marriage of convenience also a secret one. There are deeper issues preventing Oliver from admitting his true feelings for Rose, even to himself. I loved their rapport and the way they support and encourage each other. Over time, both Oliver and Rose become conflicted over the future, their careers, relationship, and roommate status. The emotions run high and tension abounds when their secret is revealed and they must find a way to find a satisfactory resolution for the opposition between their jobs and a future together.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)