“The Headmistress of Rosemere” by Sarah E. Ladd

 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.

What would you do if your entire world was crashing down around you?  That’s what this book ultimately was about to me.  Patience is a stellar lead who’s strong, capable, and determined, but she secretly longs for love.  Reading about her struggles to maintain the integrity of the school in face of danger, as well as hide her missing brother’s absence and care for her depressed mother was fascinating.  A strong character, one who will push on with wisdom and integrity in the face of adversity, is my very favorite kind, and Patience fits that description to a ‘T.’

William isn’t so bad, either.  Although it was his carelessness and greed that placed him into his present troubles, he doesn’t try to avoid them, but instead faces his problems head-on and does his best to deal with them with all of the wisdom and experience he now possesses.  It’s this very attitude – this recognition of failure and a determination to be different – that makes him admirable in my eyes.  He has become the gentleman he never wanted to be, somewhat in spite of himself, but now that he has, he takes to the role beautifully.

The Headmistress of Rosemere drew me in from the very first page.  With a mysterious and dangerous late-night encounter as your introduction, Ladd set the bar high for suspense and intrigue throughout the book, but better yet, she topped it.  I enjoyed the story so much that I finished it in a single sitting.  I couldn’t wait to find out if William would work out his problems and how Patience would hold on through her difficulties and if they would ever find their way to each other.

 If you enjoy romantic historical fiction but also appreciate a story with an edge, The Mistress of Rosemere is definitely the book for you.

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