The Headmistress of Rosemere (Whispers on the Moors) by Sarah E. Ladd

My Thoughts:

The Headmistress of Rosemere, by Sarah E. Ladd, is breathtakingly written.  I found myself reading and re-reading passages that were so beautiful I wanted to commit them to memory.  The words evoked images as well as emotion...

"Patience smiled at her little girls, all gathered by the fire, their stocking feet poking out from the hems of their plain, white muslin gowns.  The scent of lavender water from recent baths hung sweetly in the air.  Their cheeks, rosy and fresh, glowed with smiles, and their eyes held the glimmer of promised secrets and shared dreams."

The story begins on a dark, frigid winter's night on the moors. An act of violence sets us on our way and questions demand to be answered.  William Sterling was once a wealthy landowner but is now dangerously in debt.  Patience Creighton is the lovely headmistress who runs the girls' school on his property.  Tragedy has struck them both, in different ways, and love has seemingly passed them by.  

Sarah E. Ladd has brought to life characters in her story that make you feel, whether it's anger or love, passion or grief.  My favorites, for very different reasons, were Lydia, Cassandra and Rawdon.  Lydia was so much more than I expected- delightfully so- Cassandra delivered an inspiring message in the story that touched my heart and Rawdon made my blood boil!  I don't want to place any spoilers here, but let me tell you this- they are vividly memorable!  

I couldn't put this book down- just ask my neighbors!  Many of them saw me taking my daily walk while reading it!  Let me tell you, I'm a fast walker, so this wasn't an easy task.:)  I read many parts out loud to my 16 year old daughter as she loved the story, too.  Romance, betrayal, secrets and a precious orphan all play a role in this novel.  Perfect for reading on a snowy evening while you warm yourself by the fire...

{MORE ABOUT THE HEADMISTRESS OF ROSEMERE}

Patience Creighton has dedicated herself to the Rosemere School for Young Ladies. But the return of the enigmatic master of the estate puts everything she loves at risk.

Bright, sensible Patience knows what is expected of her. At twenty-five, her opportunity for a family of her own has passed, so she invests herself in teaching at her father’s school for girls. When her father dies suddenly and her brother moves away to London, she is determined to make the school successful.

Confirmed bachelor William Sterling also knows what is expected of him, but mistake after mistake has left him teetering on ruin’s edge. As master of Eastmore Hall he owns a great deal of property — including the land where Rosemere School is located — but possesses little money to manage its upkeep. When debtors start calling, he is desperate to find a new source of income, even if it means sacrificing Rosemere.

When a fire threatens the school grounds, William must decide to what lengths he is willing to go to protect his birthright. And when Patience’s brother returns with a new wife to take over management of the school, Patience suddenly finds herself unsure of her calling. After a surprising truth about William’s past is brought to light, both William and Patience will have to seek God’s plans for their lives—and their hearts.

Purchase a copy here.

Learn more at Sarah’s website.

{MORE ABOUT SARAH LADD}

Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. “The Heiress of Winterwood” was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Find out more about Sarah at http://www.sarahladd.com.

Don't miss Sarah Ladd's latest Regency novel, The Headmistress of Rosemere. She is celebrating the release of book two in her Whispers on the Moors series with a fun "School" Your Desk Kindle Fire Giveaway and an Author Chat Facebook Party!





Between January 17–28, visit Sarah Ladd's Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day and be entered to win a Kindle Fire grand prize. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on January 28th! (Don't have a Facebook account? Enter here.)

RSVP today for Sarah's The Headmistress of Rosemere Author Chat Party on Facebook. During the party Sarah will be hosting a book chat, testing your Regency trivia skills, announcing the winner of the "School" Your Desk Giveaway, and giving away books, gift certificates, and more. Oh, and she'll also be giving partygoers an exclusive look at the next book in the Whispers on the Moors series!

So grab your copy of The Headmistress of Rosemere and hope to see you on the evening of January 28th! (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)





DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; RSVP TODAY. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 28th!

*I was given this book by Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*