The Headmistress of Rosemere

( 25 )

Overview

Patience Creighton has devoted her life to running her father?s boarding school. But when the enigmatic master of the estate appears at her door, battered and unconscious, the young headmistress suddenly finds her livelihood?and her heart ?in the hands of one dangerously handsome gentleman.

At twenty-five, Patience Creighton is already a spinster. The busy headmistress of Rosemere always expected a dashing man to sweep her off her feet and take...

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More About This Book

Overview

Patience Creighton has devoted her life to running her father’s boarding school. But when the enigmatic master of the estate appears at her door, battered and unconscious, the young headmistress suddenly finds her livelihood—and her heart —in the hands of one dangerously handsome gentleman.

At twenty-five, Patience Creighton is already a spinster. The busy headmistress of Rosemere always expected a dashing man to sweep her off her feet and take her away . . . but that man never came.
And since her father’s death, keeping the school running and her mother happy has been plenty to keep her occupied.

William Sterling dallied his way into financial trouble and mortal danger. When he is assaulted by his creditors’
henchmen on the road home from a tavern, he guides his horse to the doorstep of his tenant, the Rosemere School for Young Ladies. After being tended to by
Patience, the wounded William rides off into the dawn—but makes a point to learn more about the lovely headmistress.

As he spends more time at Rosemere,
something delicate begins to develop between William and Patience. But that will not deter William’s creditors. With little money to repay his debts, and less for the upkeep of his estate, it becomes clear that sacrificing Rosemere may be the only way to preserve his legacy. But it may also cost him his happiness.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
09/30/2013
A cad who longs to change his ways... a spinster yearning for love... a wild racehorse, a suspicious fire, an orphan of uncertain origin, a family torn by duty and debt—they’re all here in Ladd’s sophomore novel (after the Genesis Award–winning The Heiress of Winterwood). In 1816 on the moors of Darbury, England, Patience Creighton has been holding matters together at the Rosemere School for Young Ladies after the death of her forward-thinking father, who founded the school on land owned by the Sterling family. Patience’s brother has disappeared and her grieving mother has retired to her room, so Patience must care for her young students and small devoted staff. That is, until her hitherto absent landlord, William Sterling, whose nasty reputation precedes him, stumbles onto the scene, pursued by creditors and his own developing conscience. Mutual attraction ensues. Charming if formulaic characters and engaging scenes of the times keep the pages turning as this historical romance, with its faint sprinkling of religion, swirls energetically through angst and disclosure to a predictable conclusion. Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray, Steve Laube Agency. (Dec.)
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781401688363
  • Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
  • Publication date: 12/31/2013
  • Series: Whispers on the Moors Series , #2
  • Pages: 320
  • Sales rank: 109543
  • Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.30 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

Sarah E. Laddreceived the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romancefor The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University andhas more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarahlives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever. Facebook: SarahLaddAuthor Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor

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Read an Excerpt

The HEAD MISTRESS of ROSEMERE

By Sarah E. Ladd

Thomas Nelson

Copyright © 2013 Sarah Ladd
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4016-8839-4

CHAPTER 1

Darbury, England, February 1816


There was no doubt in William Sterling's mind. He was being followed.

He was an easy target—now more than ever.

He knew better than to travel at such a late hour in the moors, when midnight's haze shrouded the moon's gray light and the new-fallen snow gave the illusion of an even terrain.

An owl's mournful cry sliced the night's uncomfortable silence, and with a sharp click of his tongue, William urged his mount into a faster gait.

He'd avoided the main road that leads directly to Eastmore Hall's iron gate, for it was too broad. Too exposed. He chose, instead, the cart path leading from Darbury's town square to Wainslow Peak. For although it was narrow and masked with snow, he'd be hidden.

The thoroughbred beneath him pranced and skittered to the left, tossing his magnificent head in tenacious indignation. William regarded the horse's caution. Perhaps the stubborn beast was wiser than he was.

He could dismount and lead Angus back to Eastmore Hall on foot. Considering the ice and wind, it would be less treacherous. But the walk would be long and would slow his pace considerably. As quickly as he had the thought, the memory of the two suspicious men who'd been eyeing him at Griffin's End Inn came back.

No, he needed the protection of Eastmore Hall. Now.

William tightened his knees against the animal's sides and cast yet another glance over his shoulder. "Ya!"

In spite of the frigid air, perspiration trickled down his temples. Time seemed sluggish in the uncertainty. He crested Wainslow Peak, which was little more than a shallow hill with outcroppings of ancient stone, and circled his horse in the clearing next to Sterling Wood. He filled his lungs with the bitterly cold air and scanned the shadowed landscape.

The snow-covered grass swept down to the valley of the River Thaughley. The moon's waning light fell on Rosemere School for Young Ladies—his tenant.

If only Eastmore Hall were that close.

With a jerk of his gloved hand, he tipped his wide-brimmed hat low and turned his mount toward home. Without warning, a great, dark horse catapulted from the cover of the ash and birch trees and skidded, blocking the path and sending up a cloud of snow and earth. Plumes of white breath spewed from the horse's nostrils. Angus reared up, his frantic, high whinny piercing the eerie silence. With the strength afforded by shock, William tightened his legs around the horse's girth and pitched forward. He whipped his head around, searching for a pass to break free from the stony crags caging him. But instead of finding an exit, he faced another man on horseback.

"Get off the horse, Sterling."

Pulse hammering, William licked his lips and tugged the reins, circling his frenzied horse, desperate for escape. Every sordid incident that had led to this moment flashed before him in vivid detail. Remorse would do nothing now, not with a pistol pointed straight at his chest.

"I said dismount!"

William lurched around. A third pistol barrel challenged him.

Surrounded.

Muttering, William slid from the saddle and planted his top boots in the swirling snow. If he were a praying man, now would be the time to employ such a plea. But he was beyond such saving.

William released the reins and raised both hands in the air.

The first man stepped toward him, pistol pointed. "Introductions not necessary, are they, Sterling? I daresay you know why we are here."

William shifted as the man wearing a caped coat stepped closer. He forced his voice to be low. "I have little money on me, if that is what you've come for."

"It's not your money I've come for. It's Captain Rafertee's money."

Perspiration stung William's eyes. "I have given Rafertee my note of hand. We agreed on the terms. I have three months left to provide the funds, and I will."

The man smirked and called over his shoulder to the men behind him, "Three months, lads. What do we think about that? Seems like an awfully long time to me."

The men snickered. William clenched his teeth as the pistol pressed against the wool fabric of his greatcoat.

The stranger's gravelly voice was as threatening as the pistol. "I got concerned, you understand. You left London in a hurry. Secretly, as if to avoid us. Why, you didn't even say farewell. And you've been gone for so long." A sneer cracked the man's face, and the moon's light fell on his crooked teeth.

The pounding in William's head intensified. The men behind his accuser cackled.

"We need to remind this fine gentleman that the captain won't take kindly if his money's not there when he sets foot on land again after all those months at sea. And it's my job to make sure the captain stays happy."

The man grabbed William's coat, yanked a button free, and ripped his leather pouch from the safety of his person. Without glancing down at his prize, the stranger tossed the leather packet to one of his partners.

William's attacker leaned in closer. His breath reeked of ale. If it had been only the one man, William would have taken a chance and fought—he could hold his own in a brawl. But with three, experience affirmed he'd stand little chance. A man standing behind the others walked over and slapped Angus's hindquarters and shouted, sending the animal off into the black of night.

Without a horse, William was at their mercy. He pressed his lips together and looked toward the stirring clouds.

Tonight I will meet my maker.

The gun dug into his belly. Chest heaving, William forced himself to look at his assailant. He knew not the man's identity, but he knew one thing with certainty: Rafertee cavorted with the darkest sort. The most dangerous, evil men.

William should know, for he had done the same.

William shifted. "All my money is in there. I've nothing else to give you. If you kill me, you'll never get the rest of it. What would Rafertee have to say then?"

The man's low, wide-brimmed hat shadowed his eyes. "Consider our visit a reminder. Either the good captain gets his money or you die." A sardonic laugh oozed from the man's unkempt face. "Just so you are fully aware, I'll be the one who has the pleasure of carrying out that order."

Without another word, the man's balled fist slammed into William's gut, stealing the wind from his lungs and hurling him backward. He lost his footing on the moor's icy carpet, and the sudden jolt hurled him back against a rocky crag. Before he could regain his balance, someone grabbed his coat and a fist slammed into his jaw. He fell. His head struck rock. He moved to stand, but as he did, one of the cloaked figures kicked his middle.

William collapsed, his cheek flat against the snow. A form approached, but William did not move. He could not move, even if he so desired.

"Three months, Sterling."

Another sharp kick thrust white stars across his vision, curling him in agony. His breath came in jagged gasps and burned like fire.

The voices were muffled. William could no longer decipher their words. A tunnel of sound whirred around him. Then the ground beneath him trembled as he heard the horses' hooves thunder off.

You're alive.

William lay still on the icy ground and groaned. The voices in his head were taunting him louder than his attackers and were impossible to ignore.

Considering the sorry state of you, you should be grateful.

Then all was still, quiet, save for the whistle of the wind through barren branches. William assessed his condition, limb by limb. Nothing appeared to be broken, but one eye was swelling shut and salty blood covered his lips.

After several attempts, William managed to roll over onto his knees. Fresh snow had begun to fall and had accumulated on his coat. He shook his arms and it scattered.

He attempted a whistle, hoping that by a miracle Angus would hear, but his upper lip was beyond such a task. So he waited and listened for any indication that his horse had not abandoned him.

He heard nothing, save for the mournful too-wit call of the owls on a distant moor.

He shouted as loud as his lungs would allow, "Angus!"

Nothing.

Head throbbing, ribs aching, he winced at the pain of simply breathing. He scanned his surroundings, disoriented. Had he been a more attentive estate master, he would know exactly how far he was from home. He'd be familiar with every tree. Every stump. Every vale. But in his confusion, he wasn't sure. As he turned, he noticed the black outline of chimneys rising above snow-covered trees.

Rosemere.

Heavy snow had ridden in on the sharp easterly wind. William reached for his hat, which had fallen in the attack, and slapped it against his leg. His left eye was now swollen shut. Something warm trickled down his cheek, but his muscles ached too severely to try to wipe it away.

The familiar sound of hoofbeats clicked toward him and stopped.

Panic seized him. He scrambled under the shelter of a low bush, then turned and saw not Rafertee's men but Angus enter the clearing and toss his head.

Perhaps he would be able to return to Eastmore after all.

But when he stood, the ground beneath him spun and he staggered. He managed to put one foot in front of the other, but after two attempts to mount the horse, it became clear he'd never be able to ride the animal, not in his state. He looked back down to Rosemere, barely able to make out the tiny stable that sat just inside the courtyard wall. Did he have any other choice?

CHAPTER 2

Patience Creighton clutched her loosely woven shawl tightly around her neck with one hand and lifted her lantern above her head with the other.

"Is he ... dead?"

Not waiting for her manservant, George, to respond, Patience knelt next to the stranger's battered form and winced at the sight of his swollen, purple eyelid and the dried blood on his lips.

"No, not dead." George's ever-present scent of leather signaled that he'd drawn near. "Yet."

With a trembling hand, Patience reached out to touch the man's chest, hesitant, as if with one touch he would spring to life and grab her. But her shivering fingertips landed on the damp, rough wool of his caped greatcoat, and he did not so much as wince.

"Who is he?" she asked, her eyes not leaving the still form.

"'Tis William Sterling. Do you not recognize him?"

Her landlord's name was the last name she expected to hear. "Surely not William Sterling of Eastmore Hall?"

"Aye. One and the same."

Shocked, Patience lifted the lantern higher and leaned down, squinting to make out his features in the flickering light. Mr. Sterling's hatless head rested against the dirt floor. A deep gash marred his forehead, and stubble darkened his square jaw. "Where did you find him?"

"Right here. Came down to do my morning duties, like I always do, and here he was, sprawled out on the stable floor, looking just as you see him now." The manservant knelt next to her. "His horse was in the courtyard, right outside the stable, saddled. Charlie is tending to him."

A sharp gust of wind curled in through the half-open door, slamming the door against the side of the wooden stable wall and pelting them with stinging sleet.

Patience gave Mr. Sterling's shoulder a gentle push, hoping for a response, but none came. His breath appeared so shallow that she wondered if he was still breathing. "We must get him out of the cold. Mary has a fire started in the kitchen. Quickly now."

George nudged her aside and leaned down to loop his arms under William Sterling and called to the stable boy. "Charlie, get over 'ere and help me!"

"Shh, George!" Patience waved her hands in an attempt to keep the manservant quiet. She cast an anxious glance over her shoulder to the dark house. The last thing she needed was for Rosemere's twenty-nine impressionable young students to wake and see a half-dead man being carried from the stable.

Hysteria would ensue for months.

"We mustn't wake the girls." Patience stood and tightened her thin shawl around her. "Take him in through the kitchen, and we will figure out what to do there."

Leaving George and Charlie to carry their visitor, Patience scurried from the stable and took the path to the kitchen entrance at the back of the house, the harsh wind nearly pinching the breath from her lungs.

Patience burst through the door. Mary, the aging housekeeper, looked up expectantly, her face already flushed from tending the fire. "Well? What is it?"

Patience hung her shawl on a hook, her pulse still racing from the morning's disruption. "It's Mr. Sterling from Eastmore Hall. He's unconscious. Must have been thrown from his horse." She glanced at the blaze flickering in the grate. "We are going to need hot water and linens."

Patience did not wait for Mary's response. She went to the shelf next to the wide stone fireplace where they kept her father's wooden medicine chest. Reaching up with both hands, she slid the oblong box off the shelf and tucked it beneath her arm.

Mary grabbed an armful of linen strips from a chest. "Where are you going to put him?"

Patience bit her lip as she struggled to balance a jar of ointment on top of the teak chest. She hesitated. It was imperative that none of the girls be aware of the man's presence, and George, strong as he was, would never be able to carry a man up the stairs to a proper bedchamber. She nodded toward a narrow hallway that led to the manservant's small quarters. "In George's room."

Just then, Charlie flung open the door and rushed in, prancing eagerly from foot to foot as he held the door open. George was carrying the limp William Sterling over one broad shoulder. "Where do you want 'im?"

Patience pointed toward the corridor. "Put him in your room until we can figure out a better arrangement."

Patience grabbed one of Mary's candles with her free hand and followed Charlie and George to the small bedchamber. The candlelight flickered odd shapes on the walls and slanted ceiling. Patience's heart thumped in an erratic cadence as George sat Mr. Sterling's unresponsive body on the straw mattress and peeled the soggy coat from his broad shoulders.

She set the medicine chest on the bureau. "Has he woken yet?"

George's response was none too quiet. "Hasn't made a peep."

Patience pushed her long braid over her shoulder and knelt down, positioning her candle to illuminate the man's face. Years had passed since she last encountered Mr. Sterling, but now, in the candlelight, she recognized his straight nose. The cleft in his chin. And yet, the sight before her made her cringe, for he was almost unrecognizable. His left eye was bruised and swollen shut. Dried blood and dirt crusted his lips and whiskered chin. A thick lock of dirty light brown hair swept over his forehead, and his head drooped forward in complete unresponsiveness.

Patience stood and reached for a blanket at the foot of the bed. "We must get him warm. Mary, fetch water and a compress."

George let Mr. Sterling roll back against the pillow and lifted his legs onto the bed. Patience draped the blankets over him, noting how his boots hung off the bed's end. She could not recall the last time she had seen Mr. Sterling. He may very well be the school's landlord, but he never called—his steward had attended to all matters related to the property and buildings. He never attended church. She did not doubt he paid calls to town, but she rarely had cause to leave Rosemere. Indeed, she would have had difficulty recognizing him even by the light of day when he was well, let alone in his current state.

She felt Mary at her elbow, leaning in to look. "Merciful heavens. Master Sterling looks dead."

Patience drew a shaky breath, then pressed her lips together. This man, whether he was their landlord or a common vagabond, needed their help. And as the woman in charge of the school, she would see that he received it.

"Mary, where is that compress? And get the hartshorn from Father's medicine box, will you?"

Patience sat down on the bed as gently as if it had been a bed of nails and leaned closer to study the marks on his face. "What do you suppose happened? Do you think he was thrown from his horse?"

George gave a coarse huff. "Not with that lip."

Patience's stomach churned as the meaning of his words sank in. George needn't expand on his thoughts for her to understand. The thought of a man being beaten in such a manner in such close proximity to their school! To her girls!
(Continues...)

Excerpted from The HEAD MISTRESS of ROSEMERE by Sarah E. Ladd. Copyright © 2013 Sarah Ladd. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 25 )
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(16)

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  • Posted Mon Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Wildly Predictable.

    Wildly Predictable. This is an easy, afternoon, read if you just want something to pass the time; it's harmless, but I found it too incredibly predictable to really enjoy. There is only one big surprise, or twist, in the plot--and any reader who is paying even a minute's of attention to the text will be hit over the head with it immediately. While the story does have some little bits of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte-like elements (mysterious, powerful men; spinsterish yet lovely women; both at the mercy of restricted societal expectations) this is obviously no comparison to those masterful storytellers. The writing/literature teacher in me not only screamed at the obvious nature of the plot but the mind-numbing repetition of story details and language; I cannot understand why the author and/or the editors did not edit out countless instances of repeated language (over and over and over) often in the same paragraph. For example, I counted a horse referred to as 'the animal' no less than 12 times in one, very short, paragraph! Given that the horse had a name, the absence of pronouns like 'he' or 'it' is mind-boggling not to mention that the briefest sentence editing would have corrected it. This goes on throughout the entire book in all sorts of different way. While I realize I am cursed with the writing teacher's 'nose' for such elements and not everyone is, I still get furious that editors continually allow books to be published with such sloppy oversights. Plus, it just drives me crazy. A surprising facet of this novel is that it is considered 'Christian Literature' to some degree, and while I am not typically a fan of such pieces, anyone who is will find that part of that novel probably satisfying. It is not heavy handed and one of the most subtle elements of the text; many readers might enjoy that. However, I was simply turned off by the clichéd plot turns and 'you can see it coming from 20 miles' predictability. Yet if none of this is concern, this is an easy way to pass the time.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 2014

    more from this reviewer

    After losing her father, Patience Creighton is doing everything

    After losing her father, Patience Creighton is doing everything she can to keep the Rosemere School for Young Ladies running while caring for her grieving mother and hoping against hope that her brother Rawdon will return from London soon. But after six months, and still no word from him, Patience believes he won't be returning after all. Left with twenty nine girls, a handful of teachers and a small staff to manage, Patience is living up to her name. She has come to a decision that this is her lot in life and marriage and family are a thing of the past.

    However she didn't expect William Sterling, her landlord to wind up on her front doorstep battered and bruised. Believing he was thrown from his horse, she tends to him as she would anyone who has been injured even if he is the most handsome man she has ever seen. She knows however all to well the rumors and reputation of William and it's best she keep those romantic thoughts out of her head and her heart.

    All William knows is that after being warned in no uncertain terms that the money he owes to Rafferty is due in three months, he is thankful he is still alive with only bruises to show for it. His men could have left him dead but then again, how would Rafferty collect on the money he is owed. Believing there has to be an answer somewhere besides selling of the land his father has left him as an inheritance, he knows he cannot force Patience Creighton out of her home and the young girls out of the school she tends to. All he knows is that somehow he is drawn to Patience in a way he never dreamed would be possible after the women that claimed and then broke his heart again. Does God have a bigger plan in mind for all of them?

    I received The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the second book in the Whispers on the Moor series, and my first one for author Sarah E. Ladd. This novel is set in the early 1800's when it was considered that any woman over the age of twenty five who remained unmarried without a suitable gentlemen caller or interest in her life to be labeled as a spinster. How very different society is today, yet Sarah takes the readers into the strength and courage of Patience Creighton who is doing all she can to manage the boarding school established by her father, while her mother remains trapped in her grief. She finds solace in the caring of the young girls she teaches while believing her brother has abandoned them. She does what she has to do when faced with survival while maintaining all the propriety of a young woman who still has romantic notions at heart. I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading The Heiress of Winterwood, the first novel in the series. While it has been compared to Jane Austin's novels, I didn't get that same impression but the story is still a great historical romance in its own rights.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Thu May 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    quick read....very romantic

    This book caught my eye...a wonderful cover and back cover summary that was interesting. Reminded me of the basic premise of "pride and prejudice." I normally read murder mysteries and was looking for something different.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A quick easy read. Very romantic build-up between 2 characters. Patience was a wonderful main character. A strong, hardworking headmistress for her family's school. Mr Sterling is a bad boy turned caring and compassionate who is the landlord for the school.

    I enjoyed the dialogue between characters, the setting descriptions and the flow of the story. I finished it quickly and went back and re-read it again the next day. Think I will be picking up my copy of pride and prejudice again to seek out Mr Darcy. Really good romance!!!

    I think this would be great for a bookclub read.

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  • Posted Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    It has a commentary stating that if you like Jane Austen and Jan

    It has a commentary stating that if you like Jane Austen and Jane Erye then you will love her work and I'd have to agree. THose are two favorites of mine and I can gladly add this book to the same equivalence. The book keeps me intrigued from beginning to end.

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  • Posted Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Sarah's writing is poetic and flows effortlessly. Her characters

    Sarah's writing is poetic and flows effortlessly. Her characters are intriguing with struggles we all could encounter. I have to admit, one of my favorite persons in this book was that of the secondary character Cassandra. Sarah weaves so many truths into Cassandra's words, and the don't feel forced at all.




    The pacing of the story progresses in such a manner that had me turning pages, not feeling rushed and yet eagerly anticipating what would happen next. I enjoyed watching Patience and William grow in their relationship and as individuals too. And, of course, I was rewarded with a very happy ending.

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  • Posted Fri Feb 28 00:00:00 EST 2014

    What a lovely, sweet romance, with a little mystery and suspense

    What a lovely, sweet romance, with a little mystery and suspense thrown in....a real page turner :) Cant wait for 
    Sarah E. Ladd's next book in the series. 

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 2014

    An Excellent Read!

    This story captures the flavor of the 19th century, has a little mystery, and romance without a lot of fluff! Sarah Ladd did an excellent job of putting this story together.

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  • Posted Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Sarah E. Ladd in her new book ¿The Headmistress of Rosemere¿ Boo

    Sarah E. Ladd in her new book “The Headmistress of Rosemere” Book Two in the Whispers On The Moors Series published by Thomas Nelson takes us into the life of Patience Creighton.




    Darbury, England, 1816




    From the back cover:   Patience Creighton has devoted her life to running her father’s boarding school. But when the enigmatic master of the estate appears at her door, battered and unconscious, the young headmistress suddenly finds her livelihood—and her heart —in the hands of one dangerously handsome gentleman.




    At twenty-five, Patience Creighton is already a spinster. The busy headmistress of Rosemere always expected a dashing man to sweep her off her feet and take her away . . . but that man never came. And since her father’s death, keeping the school running and her mother happy has been plenty to keep her occupied.




    William Sterling dallied his way into financial trouble and mortal danger. When he is assaulted by his creditors’ henchmen on the road home from a tavern, he guides his horse to the doorstep of his tenant, the Rosemere School for Young Ladies. After being tended to by Patience, the wounded William rides off into the dawn—but makes a point to learn more about the lovely headmistress.




    As he spends more time at Rosemere, something delicate begins to develop between William and Patience. But that will not deter William’s creditors. With little money to repay his debts, and less for the upkeep of his estate, it becomes clear that sacrificing Rosemere may be the only way to preserve his legacy. But it may also cost him his happiness.




    William is a character.  He has led a life on a downhill path and now, it seems, all his debts are catching up to him.  He has a past and he has his secrets and they almost get him killed.  But Patience gets to take care of him as she takes care of Rosemere Hall for the children.  Now the dreams of both of them are put to the test as they have to learn to trust each other to forge ahead.  And on top of everything this is a romance.  I think Ms. Ladd has done a great job with this story.  Yes, there are moments when it seems a bit slow however we do need time to sit back and breathe a little before the story takes back off again.  Great characters, great plot with plenty of twists and turns equals a great read.




    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group.   I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Great story. Kept me reading until done!

    Nice love story. I love the Regency setting. Good to know bad guys can reinvent themselves when love prevails. I greatly emjoyed this read.

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  • Posted Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2014

    I was a slow convert to books set in Regency England, but au





    I was a slow convert to books set in Regency England, but authors like Julie Klassen and now Sarah Ladd have shown me how truly delightful this time period can be. In this novel Patience Creighton is the headmistress of a school her father started almost by default. Her mother is overcome by grief, her brother has disappeared, and she is doing all she can to keep everything working. Then she has an encounter with their landlord, after he is attacked on the moors. Maybe her safe corner of the world isn't so safe after all. The book is rich, with the redemption of William Sterling, but more than that it is Patience's story. A story of coming to grips with the reality she was doing what she thought was expected of her rather than what she was called to do. And when those burdens were lifted, she was left wondering who she was. I think many of us can relate to that struggle to learn who we really are and where our identity is truly settled. 




    I enjoyed this novel, and found myself squeezing in 15 minutes here and there, because I wanted to know how the characters fared. This book is a slight continuation of some characters from her debut novel because William Sterling takes the lead. A historical that will transport you back to another time and place.

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  • Posted Mon Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Wow oh wow! The Headmistress of Rosemere is another beautiful st

    Wow oh wow! The Headmistress of Rosemere is another beautiful story from Sarah Ladd! This review will most likely come across as gushing ... but I don't know how else to write it!

    I was blown away by Sarah's debut (The Heiress of Winterwood) last year, but I think her latest offering is even better! The story is rich and came alive to me. It's not often that a historical novel becomes real to the point where I can almost see it playing like a movie in my mind, but this one did. I could easily imagine what the characters looked like, how their voices sounded, what Rosemere and Eastmore looked like, and the scenes played out before my very eyes. The neat thing, though, was that I didn't feel like the author over-described things. She just wrote in such a way that the story came to life for me.

    The romance in this book is also one of the most beautiful I can recall reading in recent months, perhaps years (and I read a lot of romance!). It's very understated, but somehow a touch, a glance, a conversation were thoroughly romantic! I was completely giddy at points.

    I loved Rosemere and wasn't nearly ready for it to be over when I turned the last page. I know it's only January, but this book is a serious contender for my "Best Of" list for 2014!

    Readers who enjoy historical fiction, regency-era novels, or sweet romantic stories will surely enjoy this story. The Headmistress of Rosemere is an incredible book, and I would highly recommend you check it out for yourself! [5 stars]

    I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

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  • Posted Mon Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2014

    I found The Headmistress of Rosemere to be a sweet story with lo

    I found The Headmistress of Rosemere to be a sweet story with lots of conflict to keep the reader wondering what is going to happen next. I like that Patience doesn't really live up to her name.




    The romance is secondary to the story, which made it seem a bit slow to me, but the excellent writing made it interesting enough to keep me reading.




    ***I received this novel from the publisher/author for the purpose of review. The above is my honest opinion.***

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  • Posted Mon Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Those readers who have ever felt like their hard work has been s

    Those readers who have ever felt like their hard work has been slighted, not taken seriously or even ignored, will relate well with Patience, the acting headmistress of Rosemere. And having a novel start with the hero being followed is a sure way of creating suspense. Sarah Ladd's novel tugged at my emotions from the very first line and kept me turning pages until the very end. 
    While reading this novel, I felt I was in the school, enjoying the many antics, frustrations and exuberance of the young girls who had been placed in the school. The idea of sending young children to a resident school is very foreign to me, yet I relish the idea of the growing friendships that would result in this. The customs of the day, including the fact that a woman unmarried and over the age of 21 was considered a spinster seems unusually harsh in our day when a lot of women choose not to marry until they are older. Sarah, through her story, enlightened me while still entertaining, on what life in England in 1816 would have been like, and what I could have expected to encounter. The lessons that Patience learned, are still valid today.




    I enjoyed this novel immensely, and trust you will as well




    I received this book free from LitfusePulicity Group and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own. 

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  • Posted Sun Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Thank you Litfuse for giving me this review copy.¿ Myste

    Thank you Litfuse for giving me this review copy.¿

    Mystery and suspense meet in this skillfully crafted novel. While there was romance in the background, it trickled through the book and didn't really become a brook until later in the book. Instead, there was a good deal of trying to figure out who was hiding what and why.

    I love it when the action begins suddenly and quickly on the very first page. It's almost as though the reader was plunged into a climax from the very first sentence. William is fleeing from danger on the moors. He knows he's being followed. His crisis brings forth a chance meeting that will set a whole chain of events into play.

    William is a puzzle. It's hard to decide whether he's a good guy gone bad, a bad guy gone good, or both. His actions and his desires don't always match up because he's acting from desperation. Meeting Patience turns his world on its head.

    Patience is a strange mixture of patient and impatient. She is extraordinarily patient with her 20 students, but a bit impatient with her grieving mother, though she does well to cover it. She is kindness itself, but finds herself worn thin and frustrated by the decisions others are making that are changing her future and her present.

    I do wish that there had been a stronger statement of the Christian faith, but it is made clear that although William and Patience have been struggling with their relationships with God, they have a strong foundation from their parents that they are returning to. A comforting theme for parents of prodigals.

    I truly enjoyed The Heiress of Winterwood, Sarah Ladd's last book. I eagerly agreed to read and review the second book in the Whispers on the Moors series, The Headmistress of Rosemere. You need not read the first book to enjoy the second, but I think if you like one, you'll want to read them both. I find that I enjoy the Jane Austenish feel of books set in the Regency period. The manners and the propriety of this clean romance appeal to me.

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  • Posted Fri Jan 17 00:00:00 EST 2014

    more from this reviewer

    I really enjoyed reading this book, and wanted more at the end.

    I really enjoyed reading this book, and wanted more at the end. Having read the first book, I knew of Williams problems. William has been living a descending life toward Hell. We now find him having to start paying for his sins, and wonder if he will still be alive by the end of the book?
    A tenant on Williams property is The Rosemere School, and since the death of her father, Patience has been Headmistress of the school. She has been trying to find her brother Rawdon, my opinion of him was not good, but there I go again judging. We find out why he doesn't write or let them know where he is for six months??
    We walk the moors and ride around this beautiful countryside. Its sounds so perfect there, but there is a big difference in Patience a working woman...and old maid at 25, and William the aristocrat.
    When her brother returns, and basically has Patience retired, he also brings along a rejected, by Patience, beau. Wow! Talk about matchmaking.
    You will love spending time with the precocious children, especially Emma.
    There are a lot of unknowns here, and a few that are revealed slowly. Once you pick this book, you won't be able to put it back down.
    I cannot wait until the next book in this series is here, wonder who the heroine will be??

    I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

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  • Posted Wed Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2014

    In The Headmistress of Rosemere, we meet Patience Creighton, a w

    In The Headmistress of Rosemere, we meet Patience Creighton, a woman who has had to take on the responsibility of running her family's school for girls. When her father died six months earlier, Patience's brother left home and her mother withdrew from the world. Patience is doing all she can to keep Rosemere running smoothly.

    William Sterling owns the land that Rosemere sits on. The school has been his family's tenant for decades. After leading a wild and rebellious life, William is trying to dig himself out from under his debts that were brought about by his reckless behavior.

    William and Patience meet under harrowing circumstances and both are drawn to the other. But there are many troubles that could keep the two from ever being able to be together. There are some great twists in this story that keep it very interesting from beginning to end.

    The characters in The Headmistress of Rosemere are extremely well-written. Their back stories are developed nicely, without adding heaviness to the story. I have read a few reviewers compare this book to Jane Eyre, but would I would make the case that this book is not dark and dreary. There are dark things from William's past, but the book is hopeful and the romance sweet.

    The author writes with a beautiful style in both this book and in the first book, The Heiress of Winterwood. Both can be read as stand alone books, and both are very good. As I read The Headmistress of Rosemere, I could feel the coldness and see the snow blanketing the ground. She painted a vivid picture for me that enhanced the storyline.

    I highly recommend this book.

    I received a copy of The Headmistress of Rosemere in exchange for an honest opinion, which I have given.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Short but sweet

    A nice read, but I expected more for how much it cost.

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  • Posted Thu Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2014

    I was in the middle of reading Sarah Ladd's latest The Headmistr

    I was in the middle of reading Sarah Ladd's latest The Headmistress of Rosemere when the season 4 premiere of Downton Abbey aired and I found myself wanting to read rather than watch. (By way of disclaimer, I received a free digital copy of the book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for a review.)

    The Headmistress of Rosemere features the elder of the Sterling brothers, William, a confirmed bachelor and landlord of the Rosemere School for Young Ladies on neighboring property. Rosemere is directed by Patience Creighton, who finds herself running the school after her father, the former headmaster, dies and her brother disappears to London. When Sterling is found beaten and near-death in the school's stables, Patience wonders if the future of the school is at risk. And William, when he is lucid, finds himself drawn to the new headmistress, whom he hasn't seen since she was a child.

    It's the second book in Ladd's Whispers on the Moors series. The first, The Heiress of Winterwood, satisfied my Downton Abbey withdrawal last spring, and even though it was an award-winning story, I liked this second offering far better. (And it's not the kind of sequel that you need to have read the first book to understand the second one. The main character, William Sterling, is a brother to the male lead in The Heiress of Winterwood but the storylines don't really intertwine.)

    Patience is a wonderful blend of a strong woman who has taken what life has given her and thrived as well as a woman who longs for the traditional family life and protection of a man. She is tender yet firm in her running of the school. She takes her calling as headmistress seriously but dreams of being a wife and mother to her own family. She bears a heavy load with an inconsolable mother and absent brother. I could feel her weariness.

    William has dug himself a pit of financial trouble through gambling and reckless living. His reputation precedes him from his days in London. He is desperate to restore his family's home to its former state and make an honest living but he can't seem to catch a break. Though terribly flawed and obviously haunted by his past, William Sterling is a hero I wanted to see win in the end.

    Lots of drama and action and a little bit of mystery bring this romance to a satisfying conclusion, though without spoiling anything, I will say that I was a teensy disappointed with the way Patience reacted to a surprising piece of news about William. I wanted her to struggle with it a little more. But that's a minor complaint.

    Overall The Headmistress of Rosemere is a to-be-read for fans of 19th century fiction.

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  • Posted Tue Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Let me start off by saying, if you¿ve read The Heiress of Winter

    Let me start off by saying, if you’ve read The Heiress of Winterwood then you won’t want to miss this book. BUT even if you haven’t, The Headmistress of Rosemere stands strong on it’s own.




    I love the cover of this book. It’s like a chocolate covered doughnut with sprinkled embellishments, but the real joy comes when discovering the creamy smooth filling inside. The contents of this book are composed of lovely imagery, a well thought out storyline and memorable characters that make Sarah Ladd’s Rosemere come alive. Her crisp tangible descriptions caused my skin to shiver in the winter breeze.




    If you want a book that leaves you missing the characters and wanting to revisit them again in the future, then get The Headmistress of Rosemere, hot cocoa, a snuggly soft blanket and a seat beside the fire—preferably on the weekend, when you won’t have to put the book down until you’ve finished.
    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a Review Copy free from the BookSneeze. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

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  • Posted Sat Jan 04 00:00:00 EST 2014

    more from this reviewer

    The Headmistress of Rosemere By: Sarah E Ladd A book about hope

    The Headmistress of Rosemere
    By: Sarah E Ladd

    A book about hope. Hope to move on from the past; hope to do right in the present; hope for a bright future. I loved this story by Sarah E Ladd. Regardless of your actions and thoughts, with God, you can have a future to look forward to. With His help, you can move on from your past and embrace your future. William Sterling had to learn how to trust God with his past mistakes in order to have a future with Patience Creighton. But would she accept him knowing the things he had done in the past?

    William Sterling had a past. He was in trouble now. There was nothing to look forward to. Then he meets Patience. Can he correct the mistakes of his past to have a future with her?

    “For he was a wealthy landowner, used to fine things, fast horses, and fancy women. She was a mere spinster headmistress of a modest girls’ school.” This is the love story of what could have happened for Jane Eyre; if Mr. Rochester had been different and he hadn’t had a locked up wife upstairs. Patience is the headmistress of Rosemere after her father dies. Her brother runs off and her mother can’t cope with her husband’s death. Then, Patience’s brother comes back, with her ex-fiancé. Does she still love him, or has William Sterling stolen her heart? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

    I cannot wait to read more by Sarah Ladd who has captured my heart with her writing style. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in exchange for a review.

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