An untested teacher. A wealthy benefactor. When their attraction becomes undeniable, will they open their hearts to each other?
Colorado, 1910. Quinn Cooper can’t help feeling uneasy. But securing a job as a schoolmarm in a tiny frontier town was the only way to save her family from starvation back in Boston. And her nerves aren’t eased by a stray gunshot that spooks the sleigh horses, casting … the sleigh horses, casting her into the snow… until she’s rescued by a handsome stranger.
Lord Alexander Barnes knows better than to believe any pretty young woman would willingly become a mother to five children. But the lonely widower finds himself charmed by the lovely newcomer and her easy rapport with his offspring. And after his disgruntled nanny quits, his heart melts at the sight of her joyfully taking over the role.
Determined to prove herself in the schoolhouse and as a governess, Quinn fears her near-poverty will prevent any possible courtship with the affluent Englishman. And between their age difference and prejudicial violence in the town, Lord Barnes is certain this second chance at happiness just cannot be.
Will their love go unspoken, or will their persistence reward them with a lasting passion?
The School Mistress is the delightful first book in the Emerson Pass Historicals sweet romance series. If you like gallant nobles, resilient heroines, and hints of mystery, then you’ll adore Tess Thompson’s Edwardian adventure in the Old West.
Buy The School Mistress to study reading, writing, and happily ever after today!
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Tess Thompson writes a heartwarming story filled with sweetness and laughter. There is also some suspense and the motherless children in this story add humor, while also breaking your heart. This is a magical story with unforgettable characters and I can’t wait to read more in this series, which is set in the early 1900’s.
Quinn comes to Emerson Pass, Colorado from Boston to become the school mistress. Life isn’t easy and Quinn must endure many obstacles along the way and I admired how tough and courageous she was.
Alexander started Emerson Pass. He is rich but also thoughtful and nice, with a wonderful British accent. I loved how kind he is to his children; he is a great father. Alexander is older and more experienced than Quinn and he falls hard for her. There are many touching moments in this sweet story.
Such a great historical romance! This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it immensely. Lord Alexander Barnes lives in Emerson Pass, with his five children. He builds a school and sends for a teacher to teach his children and the people of the town. Quinn Cooper is the new school teacher. Alexander and Quinn have an instant attraction. This story is well written, with wonderful characters, and I absolutely recommend it.
Quinn Cooper is a young teacher who leaves her loving, but very poor, home in Boston to travel to a small, rural town called Emerson Pass in Colorado. The town is in need of a teacher for it’s new school, and Quinn is in need of money to help support her younger sister and aging mother back in Boston. She was looking forward to her first teaching job, but could never have predicted the many adventures that awaited her in her new home! When reading her story, I felt like I was living it with Quinn. Besides the wonderful descriptions of the amazing mountains, beautiful snow, and new ways of living in a former mining town, Quinn found so much more. Little did she know that the gorgeous environment, many unexpected adventures, and wonderful friends she would make in Emerson Pass would make her feel at home so quickly. Little did she know that Emerson Pass would become a place she loved, that the children would accept and love her so quickly, and that she would even find a man to love intensely, and who returned her feeling so completely.
I’ve read most of Ms Thompson’s previous series, but I think this may be the beginning of her best ever. She promises 10 books in the series, some set in the early 1900’s like this one, and others set in the present day with related characters. I can hardly wait for the next to be published this Spring!
I received an ARC of this book at my request. The views I’ve expressed here are my own feelings upon reading this very good story.
This book was very entertaining and beautifully written. I loved the characters and the setting from start to finish. The storyline pulled me in quickly and I finished the book in two sittings. This is a new series by the author and I’m looking forward to the next installment. I highly recommend reading this if you’re interested in an adventure into the past and the way of life in a small town. The next book will be set in the current day and they will continue this way throughout the series, alternating being past and present.
Tess Thompson has written several books, some in a series and some stand alone. Every one of her books that I’ve read have all been so good! Congratulations to the author on another outstanding story!
I received an advanced readers copy at my request. This review is my honest opinion.
I am so in love with the start of Tess Thompson’s new series. The Scholl Mistress of Emerson Pass is such a beautiful read that takes you on this fantastic trip to the past. I’m just so in love with Quinn and Alexander. They make my heart so happy watching as the widower Alexander fall in love with the school teacher Quinn. Alexander will just make you swoon with how he is with his children and all the families in need living in the town of Emerson Pass. I love this little adventure that Quinn paints on her journey to her new town. I love how Barnes children just quickly and fully accept Quinn into there lives like the missing piece of the family that was missing in their hearts. This book is moving and so beautiful. It tugged at my heart strings and brought a little tear to my eyes. I couldn’t get enough. I for one cannot wait for more to come.
Author Tess Thompson has started another series and the first book, The School Mistress of Emerson Pass, already has drawn me in. The series will be split into two parts. One part takes place in Emerson Pass, Colorado during its early days of settlement after a fire wiped out most of the town. Miss Quinn Cooper, the newly hired school mistress from Boston, arrives on a train and is introduced to Lord Alexander Barnes, the man responsible for the rebirth of Emerson Pass and the founding of its new school. He is also a widower with five children. Born in England, he came to America and settled in Emerson Pass.
The story starts with the murder of one of Lord Barnes’ friends, a murder that uncovers some of the town’s silent but always there bigotry for some of its residents. Not everyone shares those feelings, though.
We learn of Miss Cooper’s starting of the school; her personal and professional philosophies; her feelings for the Barnes children, their father, and his staff. We also learn of Lord Barnes personal philosophies and how they have shaped his life to date.
This story sets the scene for all the ensuing novels. Five will be set during the days of Emerson Pass and five will be current day following of the Barnes children (remember, there are five of them).
If you have never read any of Tess’s books, this is a great one to start. It is the first book of a ten book series, so you won’t have any catching up to do.
I would be the first to admit that historical romance is not really my thing & I seldom read them. But I do love Tess Thompson’s books. So thank you to her & the publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts in this review are my own, and I’m obviously going to be reading more historicals now, as this book is just the start of what I think will be a 6 book series, some set in the past & some set in the present, with characters intertwined. Emerson Pass is a small town in the Colorado Mountains, home to Lord Alexander Barnes & his 5 children. In his continued efforts in improve the town, he builds a school and sends for a school mistress from back east to teach not only the children but also the adults in town. Surprised to learn that Miss Quinn Cooper is not the spinster he was expecting, she ends up living in his house since his original plans for her to stay at the town boarding house no longer seem wise. How the lovely Quinn Cooper falls for the gracious Alexander Barnes and all his delightful children makes for a great story. I am anxiously awaiting what new treats this interesting series will bring. Thank you Tess Thompson for another good read!!
I am in an advanced reading group for Author Tess Thompson and was provided an early copy for an honest review. This review is my personal feelings of the book, not influenced by receiving the free copy.
I loved this story of a young lady (Miss Quinn Cooper) who travels from Boston to be a school teacher for a very small country town. After a long and arduous train ride, she makes it to Emerson Pass, Colorado. She has never taught school before but is determined to teach both he young and the old.
She was brought to the town by Lord Alexander Barns, a widower with 5 young children.
Ms. Thompson does a great job developing the characters and after a few chapters you will feel like you are part of the small town and fall in love with the Children and Lord Barns just as she did.
This is a Sweet Romance (clean) and also historical fiction, my favorite genre. This is book one of a series. I can’t wait for the next one to come out so I can get lost in Emerson Pass again.
Great Job Ms. Thompson, another 5 star book to add to your collection!
The School Mistress of Emerson Pass is the first in a new series by Tess Thompson. Ms. Thompson’s new book did not disappoint! There are wonderful new characters to meet in this historical romance. There are a few twists and turns throughout this book that I didn’t see coming.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the Emerson Pass series! Thank you to Tess Thompson and her publisher for granting me an ARC at my request.
I enjoyed this book and I thought it was an intriguing start to this new series. This was a read that offered a little bit of everything: Historical Romance Single Dad Romance Murder & Mystery Small Town Charm A Wonderful Cast Of Characters Lot Of Heartfelt Emotion If like your read sweet and with plenty of heart, you can’t really go wrong with this book. I am posting a candid, volitional review.
I loved this heartwarming historical romance!
From the very beginning description of Quinn’s train ride to Emerson Pass, I was hooked and felt like I was right there with her. Historical romance is my jam, and this one is outstanding. This author does such an amazing job establishing the fictional world and fleshing out the characters. I felt right at home throughout the entire book.
This is a story of Quinn falling in love, but not just with her intended. She first falls in love with the children, then the scenery, then her students, and eventually the entire town. It’s a bit reminiscent of a later Little House on the Prairie with a good dose of When Calls the Heart and even a bit of Centennial thrown in. These are people who are easy to identify with, and I found myself wanting to recommend books for the children to read as if they were real.
Quinn really doesn’t stand a chance against the sweetly rambunctious Barnes clan. The children quickly set out to make her a permanent part of the family, with their idealist father soon joining their plans. Here’s a quote from one of my favorite scenes:
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Theo nodded, quite solemn. “Papa, she looks at you with her heart in her eyes.”
They actually believed Miss Cooper was for us. My darling babies were all romantic fools, mirroring my unspoken, irrational daydreams. We wished for love with such fervor that we’d imagined that a wife and mother had fallen suddenly from the sky. Or, in this circumstance, from the train.
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Alexander is everything Quinn could ask for, and as such he’s everything a reader could hope for. He’s strong and caring, a true leader whose heart keeps getting bigger and bigger as he keeps adding more and more people to his life. Even when the book starts off with a tragedy, his honor and steadfastness are readily on display, doing whatever must be done. He’s a hero in a quiet, day-to-day manner, and I loved him all the more for it.
The story doesn’t shy away from the some of the less attractive issues of the day. 1910 was an interesting time in American history as our wild west struggled to move closer to true civilization and social issues were just starting to be recognized and discussed. Quinn and Alexander tackle more than a few of the issues of the day, showing that love and respect are always in style and that protecting one’s tribe is the highest goal.
I loved every bit of this story, and am looking forward to reading more about the citizens of Emerson Pass, present and past, as this series continues. If you love swoony, emotional, humorous, and clean historical romances, this was written for you. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Step off the trian, dear ones. Your life awaits”
To say that I loved The School Mistress of Emerson Pass would be a complete understatement. This was an amazing story full of marvelous characters that will capture your heart from the first instant. Your love for them will only grow throughout the entire book.
The story will captivate your attention and Ms. Thompsons writting style will have you flying through the pages wishing it would never end.
This is an amazing new series. I can hardly wait for the second book in the series to come out. I would highly recommend this story to everyone!
This book was amazing. Tess Thompson can write stories like no other. This story takes us back to the beginning of the century. We travel by trains, sleighs and horses. A teacher comes out west to teach children at the new school. The teacher is a great character. She doesn’t take no prisoners. She believes everyone should be taught. She is a no child or adult left behind teacher!.
She gets to Emerson Pass all on her own. Lord Barnes was not very happy about that. She is independent and fierce. Lord Barnes can see she didn’t come from wealth. He treated her very kind. Her status had nothing to do with falling in love. He was more inclined about the age difference and him having five kids. They both overcome the fear of falling of love and let things happen. She took over mothering his kids without question.
I read this book in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for more stories of this town.
The School Mistress of Emerson Pass by Tess Thompson
Tess Thompson has hit it out of the park with this one. I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
I was instantly transported to an earlier time and place. Welcome to Emerson Pass – land of opportunity, friendship and hope. A widowed English Lord (with children), a new school mistress and a murder make this a great read. The school mistress and the English Lord have instant chemistry. The English Lord’s friend is mysteriously murdered. The town is on edge. But, it is also the story of finding love despite our differences. It is the story of helping our fellow man regardless of our differences. It is a feel good story that makes you yearn for the next chapter, the next book. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Pick up this book. You won’t be disappointed.
The School Mistress of Emerson Pass is the first book of a historical romance series. The storyline takes place in Colorado, and I really enjoyed this book. As always Tess Thomspson’s books are very well written, this one is filled with drama, humor, lots of romance and can be emotional at times. The book pulled me in from the start, and this felt like a place anyone would enjoy being a part of. I would definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy historical romances. I received an Advanced Readers Copy from the author, and this is my fair and honest review of the book.
Oh my word! This was my first book in the historical fiction genre and I absolutely loved it. Tess has a way with words and everything she writes is amazing. The characters are all sweet and caring people and you fall in love with each one. There is a little bit of drama, humor, and romance. What more could you ask for. Can’t wait for the next one!
Tess Thompson has a new series, and I love Book One. The School Mistress Of Emerson Pass is delightful. There were so many characters and I loved them all. Alexander has a house full of children and they need a teacher, he just didn’t know that he would also find a wife. There is also a killer on the loose, shenanigans by the children, a neglected child, and other romances going on. So much going on… you have to read it to find out. Delightful. I can’t wait to read the next one. Five stars
I think I have found another favorite series! It’s been a while since I’ve read a historical novel but I’m so glad I read this one. I loved the sweet romance that develops through the story and the interaction of Quinn, the school teacher, with the children. The story was a “feel good” story that was a welcome escape from today’s world. Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tess has done it again! If you loved the Cliffside Bay series, this is right up your alley but with a historical twist! This is such a great story of love and overcoming diversity. Step back into the 1900s and engulf yourself in this story of a young woman proving herself to the world along with a dad who just wants everyone to be at peace with one another. When their worlds collide, something amazing happens!
All opinions of this book are my own. I received this book in exchanges for my honest review.
I loved this start of a new series. I won this free read and now I will keep an eye out for all the rest. I felt I was right there in Emerson Pass with all of the characters. I couldn’t put it down. Such wonderful, caring people and felt like family to me. Well done Tess Thompson