Click here to buy this book! Lulu So Faithful a Heart: The Love Story of Nancy Storace and Wolfgang Mozart Category:  Literary Fiction Publisher: Alla Breve Publishing Type: Fiction Pages: 245 Copyright: Oct 22, 2009 ISBN-13: 9780557356522 For twenty-six years Nancy Storace kept Wolfgang Mozart's love letters locked away inside her desk. They were all she had left of him after his unexpected death, all that history would require as proof of the love they'd shared. So Faithful A Heart is a story of intrigue and passion, of joy and despair, of courage and hope, and it is a story of how great love often exacts a great price. Excerpt At noon the following Sunday, they arrived at van Swieten's home and were escorted into a large library, where the walls were lined with shelves of books and maps, and the many scores for which he was famous. They were pleased to see Mozart, who was busy tuning an elegantly painted and carved fortepiano. "What a pleasure to see you. I was wondering when van Swieten was going to invite you," he exclaimed cheerfully. "This will be fun. I was getting a little bored with all the old farts and bluestockings," he said with a jovial whisper. "God knows we could liven things up a bit around here," he teased with a twinkle in his eye. Nancy and Kelly had at last developed a warm friendship with Mozart, often meeting him at soirees, musicales and other gatherings around the city. There were also occasions when Mozart and Nancy saw each other at the Trattnerhof casino, where, when she could steal some time from her hectic rehearsal and performance schedule, she would go with Michael to gamble and enjoy a bit of diversion. She and Mozart enjoyed playing games of chess, which she always won and then teased him mercilessly. Mozart, who was competitive in all things—not just music—didn't generally like losing, but he found losing to Nancy at chess was a stimulating experience. There was something overwhelmingly charming about the way her brown eyes sparkled and danced when she called "Checkmate!", bouncing up and down in her chair, her young bosom bouncing right along with the rest of her. It was so charming, in fact, that he found ways to let her win without letting on that he was doing so on purpose. Mozart took Nancy's arm and led her to her chair. "You're looking quite lovely today, Mademoiselle," he said flirtatiously, admiring the peach silk frock that so perfectly complemented her skin color. "I'm certain that your singing will be every bit as lovely. Your seat is positioned right here next to mine, and at just the perfect angle for me to watch your technique," he said with a roguish grin. Nancy gave him a smack on the backside with her fan and replied to him through gritted teeth, "Mind your manners, you rascal. This isn't the casino." Once the music began, Mozart's playful and flirtatious demeanor changed. Suddenly, nothing else existed but the music. Nancy admired his ability to lose himself so completely that he became oblivious and indifferent to all else, including her. This aspect of him captivated and intrigued her and, ah! there was that curl that Catarina had warned her about, as well as his soulful, yet intense eyes. She wanted to know him better. She felt a connection to him and to his relationship with the music that she couldn't define, but she knew she would have to have more of this part of him. After the session was concluded, Mozart approached her. "Excellent," he exclaimed. "You sing Handel well. Tell me, do you know the aria from Rinaldo, what is it called?" "Lascia ch'io pianga. It's one of my favorites," she replied, delighted that he was so familiar with Handel's operatic pieces. "Of course, that's it," he said softly as he gazed at her. "I'd like to hear you sing it one day soon. Your performance today so inspired me that I know that should I hear your rendition, I would be moved to tears." Afterward, Mozart invited Nancy and Michael to ride with him in his carriage to the Milano, where several of the musicians had planned to meet. The mood at the café was festive and light and Nancy felt like she was finally finding a niche within the tight circle of Viennese musicians, who up until this point seemed rather unfriendly and standoffish. They were suspicious of the Italians and resentful of outsiders who took their jobs at court. But today she had impressed all, including Mozart, who was the most difficult to please...

An Exquisite Tale
"So Faithful A Heart" skillfully draws the reader into the often mysterious and romanticized world of 18th century composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his operatic leading lady, Anna Storace. The story is told mostly from the point of view of Storace, called Nancy by her family and friends, as she works as an opera singer and actress under contract with Emperor Joseph II. She is drawn into an intense, and sometimes tumultuous, affair with the married composer that leads to scandal, heartbreak and hope and explores how far soul mates are willing to go for one another.

Erwin's masterful grasp on not only the lives and personalities of her characters, but the atmosphere and intricacies of 18th century Vienna immerses the reader in a world that engages and pulls at the heartstrings. Her ability to write a defined historical piece and still inject modern relevance into the characters and plot is sure to reach a wider audience than the average historical romance novel. The romance is realistic, as is the world of 18th century music and theater, and readers will easily find themselves rooting for Mozart and Storace to find peace and happiness against all the odds. Erwin manages to humanize the Herculean legend of Mozart and displays his flaws, humor, passion and genius with the vulnerability of a man struggling to cope with the mistakes in his life. Storace is a likable heroine with a healthy balance of fire and the demure expectations of women in her time. They make an unstoppable pair.

Music and theater enthusiasts, history enthusiasts, romance readers, and Mozart and Storace fans will all greatly enjoy "So Faithful a Heart".