Author: Sarah E. Ladd
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (Dec. 2013)
Source: Received from publisher via LitFuse Publicity Group
Buy book: here
About the Book:Review:
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.
If you are a fan of Jane Austen, Downton Abbey, Jane Eyre, and anything Regency romance, you don't want to miss this book. I have to confess that while reading Austen and Jane Eyre, I struggled through the language and even though I enjoyed the stories, I am ashamed to admit that I had to watch the movies to help to clarify many things to me that I didn't completely comprehend through the robust language. However, even though The Headmistress of Rosemere is very similar to Austen, I am happy to say that it is a much easier read, but just as enjoyable with lots of family drama, interwoven with romance here and there.
I missed out on Ladd's first book, The Heiress of Winterwood, when it came out last year, but I definitely want to read it as soon as I can now that I've finished this one. This book can stand alone though, so it's not necessary to have read the first book in Whisper on the Moors.
This book grabbed me from the first chapter and it was definitely a page-turner for me. The story goes back and forth between Patience Creighton's and William Sterling's perspectives. It was interesting to really hear what was going on in both character's minds. I've grown to really enjoy stories told this way. In some ways, the side characters were just as enjoyable and their characterization really added dimension to the story. I love the way Ladd uses words to put you right into the story.
What I loved about this book was Patience and William's relationship. I felt very connected to Patience, maybe because I am an teacher and can understand her strong sense of duty and responsibility. She's been through so much with the death of her father, abandonment and betrayal of her brother and lack of love from her mother. She's a prime example of how much God can do through us even when we are beat up and broken down, and that He always has a plan. William undergoes such a compelling change from beginning to the end of the story that just screams REDEMPTION! I loved the interactions between these two and how they grew to love each other amidst all circumstances.
The twists and turns kept the pages turning and even though I thought I knew what was going to happen at the end, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was wrong.
I am looking forward to Ladd's next book this fall!
Rating:
4 out of 5 stars
About the author:
Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the
clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to
England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave
her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010
that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the
first book in The Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance.Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing.
Ladd lives in Indiana with her husband, daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.
To keep up with Sarah Ladd, visit www.sarahladd.com, become a fan on Facebook (Sarah Ladd Author), or follow her on Twitter (@SarahLaddAuthor).
Check out more posts on the blog tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/sladd
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!)
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The cover is great! I love that it worked as a stand alone, but I will definitely read the books in order because I want to read them both. :) I am a big fan of Jane Eyre- so this is a must read series for me. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Jess