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| The Headmistress of Rosemere |
Thomas Nelson Publishing, Dec. 2013
Reviewed by Diana Flowers
5 stars*****
(No Spoilers!)
A Truly Wonderful
Regency!
Author Sarah Ladd has penned an intriguing Regency
era novel—reminiscent of the legendary Jane Austen—set amongst
the glistening, snow-covered, windswept moors of England;
with their mysterious beauty, dark secrets, and much anguish of
the heart.
At the ripe old age of twenty-five, Patience
Creighton has resigned herself to the fact that she will forever remain a
spinster. After the death of her beloved father and desertion of her brother,
the headmistress of Rosemere is left with the responsibility of
twenty-nine female pupils and her severely depressed mother.
Life is fairly monotonous until the handsome owner of Rosemere
arrives, wounded and desperately in need of Patience's care.
William Sterling had been viciously attacked on the moors by the henchmen of a man he is greatly indebted to. Years of gambling and irresponsibility have finally taken its toll on him…will he have to sacrifice Rosemere to pay off his debts? As his attraction to Patience begins to turn into something deeper, her brother shows up at Rosemere with an old flame whose proposal she had once rejected. Can Ewan give her the security of a home, children, and the life she had once dreamed of but had cast aside? And as dark secrets come to light concerning William, will she turn her heart away from him…forever?
William Sterling had been viciously attacked on the moors by the henchmen of a man he is greatly indebted to. Years of gambling and irresponsibility have finally taken its toll on him…will he have to sacrifice Rosemere to pay off his debts? As his attraction to Patience begins to turn into something deeper, her brother shows up at Rosemere with an old flame whose proposal she had once rejected. Can Ewan give her the security of a home, children, and the life she had once dreamed of but had cast aside? And as dark secrets come to light concerning William, will she turn her heart away from him…forever?
The Headmistress
of Rosemere can be read as a stand alone, but now I am so anxious to read
the first novel in the Whispers On The Moors series! Sarah Ladd is a masterful
storyteller; her descriptive imagery lending an air of mystery and intrigue to
the moors. My mind went instantly to Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, and
William Sterling fits in quite nicely with the
brooding heroes in those two savory classics. With
likeable, well-defined characters, and a realistic, intriguing
storyline that will keep the reader flipping those pages, you're sure
to enjoy this great story even if you're not a big Regency era
fan. Ms. Ladd definitely has a new fan in me!
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This book can be purchased through Amazon, CBD, BAM,
and your local bookstore.
GIVEAWAY: We're giving away a copy of each of Sarah's books this week, choice of format (international winners--ebook or audiobook only.) Please be sure to leave your email addy for contact purposes.
GIVEAWAY: We're giving away a copy of each of Sarah's books this week, choice of format (international winners--ebook or audiobook only.) Please be sure to leave your email addy for contact purposes.
What a beautiful cover! I love reading historical romances set in this time period, too, and this one sounds particularly good. I truly hope I can win a copy. Thanks for offering me the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by! Both of the covers on Sarah's books are quite lovely---Sarah was blessed! Please come back by and leave an email addy for contact purposes! Thx!
DeleteThank you for the kind words about the covers! Thomas Nelson's design team is amazing!! :)
DeleteOh thank you DIANA for your beautiful review... It was just what I've been waiting for!! ;) I can see now I am going to have to get this book asap and squeeze in reading it somehow! And what a GORGEOUS cover too!! I do love all historicals, but there is something wonderfully intriguing and beautiful about the Regency era. :)
ReplyDeleteNOELA, thank you for your oh, so kind words! You mustn't miss out on this one, and according to Ms. Baay I need to stick my nose in the first one as well---which awaits me on my Kindle! Can't wait to read it!
DeleteHi Noela! I agree with you --- there is something intriguing about the Regency, isn't there?
DeleteI just can't wait to read this book, which dear Carrie sent to me for my birthday. I so loved Sarah's debut novel and when I read your wonderful review of Rosemere, Diana, then I know I must pick it up next. :)
ReplyDeleteYes you should, MARIAN! :) You will love it. Sarah has a way with Regency that not too many authors have!
DeleteHi Marian! So good to connect with you here!
DeleteGreat review DIANA, This sounds like another one to be added to my TBR tower. lol I can't believe I haven't read one of Sarah's books yet. :-)
ReplyDeleteTERESA, I know you will enjoy this one! One more to add to that tumbling over stack!! hehe
DeleteHi Teresa! I love that you call it a "tower" instead of a "stack"! My TBR "Tower" is out of control too!!
DeleteI love the cover of this book, it is absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
And the pages within likewise, DANIE! Good luck to you!
DeleteHi Danie! Thanks for stopping by, and best of luck in the drawing! :)
DeleteYour welcome. Too you both.
DeleteDiana, Thank you for featuring Sarah's book. The story line looks wonderful. I have been wanting to read her books as they have such good reviews. Thank you for opportunity.
ReplyDeletemcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
You're welcome, JACKIE! It is a great book and I'm so excited to meet a wonderful new author!
DeleteHi Jackie! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI enjoy a good series, but it's nice that they can be read on their own!
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm feel the same way, PATTY! I'm looking forward to backtracking and reading the first book!
DeleteHi Patty! These books were written so they could be read by themselves, but there is definitely a thread that runs through them that unites them together into as series! I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteThe cover always sells me first, just reaches out and grabs me - then I check the back cover! Hope to get to read this!
ReplyDeletemissionwife AT hotmail DOT com
I'm glad this one reached out and grabbed you, MELODY! I'm a cover girl, too! ;)
DeleteHi Melody! I love a good cover, too. It is always interesting to see how a cover artist interprets an author's work, isn't it? I love how to design team at Thomas Nelson has designed my covers!
DeleteBeautiful cover! I love historical christian fiction in this time period.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a chance to win a copy.
Blessings, Tina
tfrice@comcast.net
It sure is, TINA! I believe you will love this one as well! Thanks so much for coming by!
DeleteHi Tina! I love to read books from this time period too. My favorite! Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteSounds like a wonderful story! Great review!
ReplyDeletelattebooks at hotmail dot com
It tis, my dear SUSAN! Thank you and good luck in the drawing!
DeleteVery good review Diana, as usual.Wish I was good like that, but I don't read fast enough anyway. I would really love to win Sarah's book. She always has such beautiful covers. Hoping the drawing machine picks my name. Love you and sending (((hgs))) to all of you OWG gals. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love that! The drawing machine....you're too cute, MAXIE! Here lately I can't read fast either. I have been keeping my 7 yr old gson til 10 pm several days per week. Not the best atmosphere for reading. lol Love and hugs back!!
DeleteHi Maxie! I am not a very fast reader, either -- I marvel at people who can fly through a book!
DeleteA lovely review thank you. A must read for me.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
MARY, thank you! I so hope you'll get the opportunity to read this one!
DeleteHi Mary, thanks for stopping by! :)
DeleteThanks for sharing the great review! The covers to her books are gorgeous!
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
Hi Heidi! I love the covers for this series as well. The cover for the 3rd book should be ready before too much longer -- I can't wait to see it! :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHi, HEIDI! Good luck in the giveaway! Can't wait for the cover reveal for Book 3!
DeleteMysterious beauty, intrigue, dark secrets, anguish of the heart, windswept moors - all terms adding suspense to a wonderfully unusual storyline, with lots of romance!! Sounds perfect to me - thanks for the descriptively wonderful review, Diana!! Would love to read "The Headmistress of Rosemere", the cover gives added meaning to your term "mysterious beauty"!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to win, and read, one of Sarah's books - my first!!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
OWG
Isn't Diana's review wonderful, Bonnie? She always does such a lovely job on reviews! I hope you are able to get a chance to read it -- best of luck in the drawing! :)
DeleteI think Sarah's beautiful descriptive imagery in this book unlocked some of mine I didn't know I had. LOL Thanks so much, BONNIE! You're a dear!
DeleteYour review is beautiful, Diana. This sounds like such a wonderful book! Thank you so much for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Hi Brittney -- I agree, Diana's review is lovely. Good luck, and thanks for visiting!
DeleteThank you both so much. It's easy to write reviews for such great books!
DeleteExcellent review, Diana. This one is on my list of must-reads.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne!! I am glad you were able to stop by the blog. :)
DeleteThx so much for your kind words, Anne! If you haven't read the first one I have heard it is the bomb as well!
DeleteThanks for the chance to win this book. I have heard great things about it. Book 1 is in my short stack to be read book pile.
ReplyDeleteNancycooks4u (at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Nancy! I really hope you enjoy The Heiress of Winterwood!!
DeleteNANCY, it'll be easy to move that one up to the top then! :D
DeleteDefinitely will. I have a couple coming to review, but think I can squeeze it in before they get here! It's time to journey back to the regency era in England for me. :-)
DeleteHi Diana, thank you so much for taking the time to read The Headmistress of Rosemere and for writing such a beautiful review!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, SARAH! It was such a pleasure -- reading your novel and writing the review!
DeleteWhat a lovely review. Thank you for the opportunity to be a winner.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
You are so welcome, MELANIE! Tossing your name in my cyberhat here!
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Melanie! Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteRegency romances are one of my favorite venues so I am always excited when I discover a new author in that genre. The review was wonderful and enticing and I look forward to the opportunity to read Sarah's works. I also liked your author page! Best wishes to both Diana and Sarah.
ReplyDeleteThank you, KATHERINE! You're most kind! Please do come back and leave an email addy for contact purposes should you win. Thx! :)
DeleteThis looks like a wonderful book. I've not read any of Sarah's books but they are on my wish list. I think it is just the right read to curl up with on a chilly winter day! Thanks, Diane, for the review. Wishing Sarah all the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks for offering the giveaway!
Blessings,
Karen
klange61AThotmailDOTcom
Pardon me, thanks Diana, for the review! :)
DeleteEVERYBODY calls me Diane here at home, KAREN, so no worries! It was a great book to "chill' with! lol
DeleteThis is a great give away! E[at]abluestone[dot]com
ReplyDeleteLotsa luck to you, ELIZABETH! Thank you for coming by OWG!
DeleteI love Sarah's first book! I can't wait to read the second book.
ReplyDeleteBianca
biancarachele@gmail.com
And I can't wait to read the first, BIANCA! I'm a little backwards. lol
DeleteGreat review. Sounds like a book to add to my reading list.
ReplyDeletebveinotte at juno dot com
Thx, BRENDA! Be sure to put this one at the top of your list!
DeleteLoved Sarah's first book!! I can't wait to read this one...definitely on my wish list!!
ReplyDeleteSheri
hspruitt [at] frontiernet {dot} net
I can't wait to read her first book, SHERI! It's awaiting me on Kindle!
DeleteCan't wait to see if our library will get this in. Sounds great. Ellen
ReplyDeletesteveandellengray@yahoo.com
Well, perhaps you'll win it here, ELLEN! That would be a nice Valentine's gift for you!
DeleteBeautiful cover that just "calls" to you to look inside for a deeper look! Sounds very interesting.......
ReplyDeletesusanlulu@yahoo.com
Indeed it is, SUSAN! The luck of the Irish to you in the drawing! ;)
DeleteI SO enjoyed Sara's FB author chat party, it heightened my interest to read this book!! Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteLisa
My email is lisagaska@hotmail.com
Wasn't that a blast, LISA?! Good luck to you!
DeleteThis book is on my "I want" and "To Be Read" list! Would love to win it :-)
ReplyDeleteCatherine.dacosta09@gmail.com
Great list, CATHERINE! I hope you get your wants and wishes fulfilled! :)
DeleteThanks so much for coming by, KATE!!
ReplyDeleteI am an Austen fan and haven't had a chance to read anything for Sarah yet. I would love to read this book...the cover is beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us :)
ReplyDelete~Melissa
mafinnegan(at)yahoo(dot)com
MELISSA, it's wonderful to "see" you here! You must put Sarah's books at the top of your wishlist! If you love Jane, you're sure to love Sarah!
DeleteGreat review! I loved this story so much! It was hard to put down, and very sad to end. I didn't think in the beginning that I could love it as much as Winterwood, but I so did. Such beautiful romance in both stories. Looking forward to #3 in the series. No need to enter me in the contest as I own both books.
ReplyDeleteGeorgianne Barnett
GEORGIANNE, I'm sure Sarah will appreciate your kind support. I'm looking forward to reading Winterwood---I've heard so much about it! Also looking forward to book 3! Thank you so much for coming by OWG!!
DeleteThanks for the review, if i won I'd like the soft cover version
ReplyDeleteKAREN, I hope you come back by and leave your email address for contact purposes should your name be drawn. I'm delighted you dropped by!
DeleteI enjoyed Sarah's first book & have been looking forward to the sequel's release. The new cover is just as stunning as the first! Would love to win a paperback of The Head Mistress of Rosemere!
ReplyDeletedancerchick(at)cimexico(dot)org
ANGELA, welcome to OWG! I agree...both covers are lovely. Can't wait for the cover reveal of book 3! Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteOops, forgot.......from above to enter correctly....flowersmarylou85(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeletePlease accept this, my oversight. Thanks. Enter me please!
MARY LOU, I know you had some problems getting on here, but persistency is a trait we so admire on OWG! Bless you so much for coming by and of course your entry is acceptable! :)
DeleteI am just reading her first book at this very moment. Would love to win her second, or even the first.
ReplyDeletecsaunderson123@gmail.com
I am anxious to read that one, too, MISS C! It awaits me on kindle!
DeleteWhat a lovely opportunity, thanks for the giveaway ! Sounds like a book to add to my reading list !
ReplyDeletejanka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com
One to add and put at the top, JANKA! Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteHave not yet read any of Sarah's books, but would love to read this one! I've heard so much about it :)
ReplyDelete~Micaela
bookworm9404(at)gmail(dot)com
It's a wonderful story, SARAH! Dropped your name in my cyberhat here! ;)
DeleteHad trouble getting on here--for some reason, my iPad, just won't let me post here! I can read them, but not post! Anyway, I loved your review (as usual) and would love the opportunity to win ANY of these books--they all sound great, and I enjoyed reading the interview of Sarah as well!
ReplyDeleteVicki (you know my addy...)
Hey, VICKI! I'm so glad you stuck with it! We love persistency on OWG blog. Hoping it pays off for you!! :)
DeleteLooks like quite a group in the running here, but please put my name in also! I haven't read this author and would like to very much.
ReplyDeletemyrenterp at gmail dot com
Thank you so much for dropping by, MARY! We have drawn the winners and the names are at the top right. Please do come back as we have giveaways almost weekly!
DeleteIlove the preview please add my name to the draw
ReplyDeleteWyndyc at gmail dot com
Thx, WYNDY! Hoping for a win for you! :)
DeleteGreat preview, really whetted my appetite to read this book, love period stories like these and this sounds like a great one!
ReplyDeletechiaowl@owly.net
I'm glad my review did what I meant it to, CHIAOWL! lol I hope you get the opportunity to read BOTH of Sarah's books in her new series!
DeleteI love the winter setting (kind of unusual - so many stories happen in spring/summer), and the moors/swamps/bogs are so underrated. Very creative setting for a regency!
ReplyDeleterdalquis(at)css(dot)edu
The setting on the moors really drew me in, RACHEL! Winter just added to the mystique! Thank you so much for sharing.
DeleteThe cover of this book is very inviting! A beautiful winter landscape! Thank you for the giveaway. As a fan of Charlotte Bronte, I would love to win a copy.
ReplyDeletedenannduvall(at)gmail(dot)com
It sure is, DENISE! If you go to Sarah's author page you can see the cover model's face. How cool is that! We have drawn the winners and the names are at the top right. Please do come back as we have giveaways almost weekly!
DeleteThe Headmistress of Rosemere sounds wonderfully, romantic and dramatic. I need to put this on my "must have" list!
ReplyDeleteworthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Love that, MERRY! Must have...I know that feeling! lol We have drawn the winners and the names are at the top right. Please do come back as we have giveaways almost weekly!
Delete