The Headmistress of Rosemere-Sarah E. Ladd

The Headmistress of Rosemere Sarah E. Ladd Thomas Nelson, Jan 7 2013, $15.99 ISBN 9781401688363 In 1816 in Darbury, England, with the death of her father, the disappearance of her brother in London and the withdrawal of her mother, by default Patience Creighton becomes the headmistress at Rosemere School for Young Ladies replacing her late dad. She does quite well due in part to the dedicated staff and her vigilance to insure the students receive the best care and education. The Rosemere landlord William Sterling flees London and his debts to rusticate on his estate. He and the headmistress meet and are attracted to one another though William knows he is unworthy of this wonderful dedicated woman. Those holding his IOUs arrive at the estate demanding William pay his debts by selling them his land. William logically knows the best response to their claims, but his heart warns him not to destroy his beloved’s enterprise; although Patience is shaken by her now married absentee sibling coming back to claim the headmaster position. The second Whispers On The Moors historical romance (see The Heiress of Winterwood) is a delightful Regency starring a likable heroine and a cad changing his spots. Though the audience knows from the first protagonists’ encounter the path this entertaining storyline will take, readers will enjoy accompanying William and Patience on their trek to love. Harriet Klausner