The Rebel: the heartbreaking, yet hopeful final book in the Emerson Pass Historical series

The Rebel is the eighth and final book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. After four years at a university, Delphia Barnes returns home to Emerson Pass; however, no one is at the station to welcome her home. When she sees Jack Depaul, she wonders why her family isn’t there, he tells her the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Jack is a proud second generation horse breeder in Emerson Pass. Only his love for Delphia equals his love of horses. As America prepares for war, Jack and Delphia finally confess their feelings for each other and marry before Jack ships off to fight overseas. He doesn’t want to leave her now that they have come together; but the desire to serve is too strong. Jack promises her he will return, alive and well. She prays that it is a promise he can keep. Will Jack survive the war? If he comes home, will Delphia recognize and love the man who returns?

I have loved this series and the Barnes family’s adventures and it is exciting and yet sad to finish the final book. It was hard to say goodbye and yet I could not tear myself away from the pages as the Barnes family deals with the horrors and sacrifice of war. My heart broke for Delphia and Jack as they fall in love and marry in innocence even as war looms. And they fall in love again as they deal with the aftermath and pain of war. I loved how Delphia refused to give up on Jack and I cheered as others around Jack refused to let him give up and with tough love to show him that life can still be lived fully and love is deeper than skin deep. As the historical series ends, I look forward to jumping back into and finishing the contemporary Emerson Pass series. I highly recommend the Historical Emerson Pass series if you haven’t started it. I highly recommend The Rebel. 

The Rebel is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Wordsmith: can love be stronger than familial duty?

The Wordsmith is the seventh book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. Adelaide “Addie” Barnes didn’t want to fall in love with him. He was too old, too English and too much her sister’s best friend. At least that’s what she tells herself as James West arrives in Emerson Pass to spend the summer with the Barnes family. What was worse, James is set to marry another woman at the end of the summer. Addie had grown into a beautiful and ambitious young woman who dreamed of becoming a published author. James must marry the daughter of one of the richest men to save his family from ruin and his own career. Duty pulls him in one direction; but his heart started to pull him in another. He has fallen in love with Addie and yet he knew he could not have her. Would he be able to walk away from the only woman he loves? And would Addie let him? 

The Wordsmith picks up four years after the end of The Musician. Addie is now a young woman with a heart filled with unrequited love. James was hoping the summer with the Barnes family would be his last great time before he married. Of course, summer is a time of change, of hope and courage. Addie and James’ romance was sweet. I felt for Addie as she was willing and ready to let James walk away because she thought it was what he wanted. I enjoyed watching James come to the realization that he loves Addie and yet doesn’t feel worthy of her. There were twists and turns with a few tears and gasps and a happy resolution that brought a smile to my face. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and it breaks my heart a bit that there is only one book left. If you enjoy clean, sweet historical fiction, you will enjoy the Emerson Pass Historical series. I highly recommend The Wordsmith. 

The Wordsmith is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Musician: can love overcome racial prejudice? Or will societal norms keep them apart?

The Musician is the sixth book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. Fiona Barnes has a secret. A secret she fears would ruin everything she cares about. Her heart longs for the one she feels her family would never accept; but she can’t help but love him. Li Wu has fought prejudice his entire life even in the close knit community of Emerson Pass. But he feels safe and protected as an adopted member of the Barnes family. His heart longs for Fiona as they found a connection through the beauty of music; however, he fears that her life would be ruined by marrying him. Fiona has a chance to mentor with a musical master in Paris, they hope the distance will give them clarity. When a new man enters Fiona’s life, Li must decide if he is willing to risk everything to express his feelings for Fiona. Or will societal pressures keep them apart? 

The Musician takes a different feel than the previous books of this series. Most of it takes place in Paris and deals with the heavy prejudice against Chinese Americans in America during the early 1900s. While my heart hurt for Li and I was angry on his behalf, it greatly saddened me as it was reality for the Chinese in America. I understood the reservations that the Barnes family and even Li had about their possible romantic relationship. I loved that Fiona saw him for the beautiful, kindhearted human that he was and just didn’t care about what others thought. I wanted them to say forget everyone else and love each other, the societal concerns were very real and dangerous. I could not put this story down. I needed to see Fiona and Li confess their love and have their happily ever after. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to the rest of this series. I highly recommend The Musician. 

The Musician is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Seven Days of Christmas: can the magic and hope of the season bring two hearts back together?

The Seven Days of Christmas is a novella book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. After the events of The Problem Child, Flynn Barnes and his wife , Shannon, and their idyllic marriage seemingly has been destroyed by a dangerous secret. Shannon is unsure if she can trust him again. With Christmas and Cymbeline’s wedding fast approaching, the Barnes children band together to help Flynn gain Shannon’s trust and win her heart again by using each of the final seven days featuring one grand gesture after another. Flynn fears it is too late. The Barnes family knows how to stick together no matter what but also know that the Christmas season is a time for love, joy and hope. Can Flynn and Shannon find a way back to each other and be stronger than ever? Will Emerson Pass’s favorite tomboy be as magical as the Christmas season? 

The Seven Days of Christmas is a quick and enjoyable read. Flynn is a stubborn man who made a horrible choice and wants to wallow in the aftermath in the implosion of his life. Shannon is a woman scorned, newly postpartum and experiencing a roller coaster of emotions. It seemed to be a tall order for Flynn to win back Shannon’s trust and love. I thoroughly enjoyed Flynn as he worked through the issues he caused and sought forgiveness from not only Shannon but the people of Emerson Pass. The grand gestures were sweet and I loved seeing Shannon’s heart melt again for Flynn. I also enjoyed Cymbeline’s wedding and the events surrounding it. Overall, I loved this short read and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. If you have enjoyed the Emerson Pass Historical series, I recommend The Seven Days of Christmas. 

The Seven Days of Christmas is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Problem Child: a childhood rivals to lovers historical romance

The Problem Child is the fourth book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. Cymbeline Barnes has always felt the problem child. A restless soul who dreams of life beyond her hometown and yet can’t seem to get her feet moving. As a child, she declared Viktor Olofsson her arch enemy and did everything she could to best him at anything. However, when he saves her beloved littler sister, she starts to see him a little differently. More of a hero and not so much an adversary. Viktor Olofsson has cared for Cymbeline from the moment they met. No matter what he does to break through the ice around her heart. When another woman arrives in Emerson Pass, Viktor starts to spend time with her, Cymbeline finds herself unsettled by the idea that Viktor would no longer be there. She starts to wonder if maybe her dream come true could be right in front of her instead of in the far off distance. 

The Emerson Pass Historical series is a historical romance with childhood rivals to lovers, a fiercely independent woman and a quiet devoted hero and drama that will keep you on your toes. I have loved the Barnes family since book one and I have looked forward to each book as a Barnes child gets  their love story. Cymbeline is a woman ahead of her time. Caught between the social expectations and the desires of her heart. Viktor is a man who knows who he wants but is willing to let her fly away if it meant that she would be happy. As events bring them closer and closer, I could see Cymbeline’s fighting to keep Viktor as her rival; however, she clearly sees that is no longer the case. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the Emerson Pass Historical series. If you enjoy clean historical romances, you will enjoy the Emerson Pass Historicals and The Problem Child.   

The Problem Child is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Scholar: two broken people find love, healing and made whole together

The Scholar is the third book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. Theo Barnes has been in love with Louisa Lind since they were kids. However, she fancied his twin brother, Flynn. When he returns to Emerson Pass after studying at medical school, Flynn is married and Theo’s love for Louisa burns brighter than ever. Louisa feels she’s not worthy of love and marriage. A past that still haunts her, she feels she is too broken. However, after tragedy strikes her family. Louisa finds herself at the Barnes charity and tender, gentle attention of Theo and her heart begins to wonder if love and marriage is possible. Their road to marriage is rocky with obstacles, doubts, and wounds of the past. Can they find a way to heal together and build a life, love and marriage worthy of them both? 

I love the Emerson Pass series so far and I think Theo is my favorite Barnes family member. Even from the first book, I eagerly awaited his story and The Scholar does not disappoint. Deeply haunted by his memories of his childhood and the Great War, he comes home from medical school hoping to find his purpose and maybe even love. His ongoing love for Louisa is sweet and endearing. I cheered as she started to see him for the strong and loving man he had become. It is a clean romance with only references to sex and fade to black scenes. Overall, I loved this story. There were sweet, tender moments, heartbreaking moments and moments that tears fell freely. I am looking forward to the rest of the Barnes children’s stories. I highly recommend The Scholar and the Emerson Pass Historical series. 

The Scholar is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Spinster: a clean historical romance

The Spinster by Tess Thompson is the second book in the Emerson Pass Historical series. In  Emerson Pass, Colorado 1920, the first World War is over and Josephine Barnes mourns the loss of her beloved fiancé as he fought in the trenches. Devastated, she vows to never marry and calls herself a spinster as she focuses on building the town’s new library. Her world is turned upside down when she receives a letter from someone who fought with her fiancé, asking to visit and return the letters she wrote. Phillip Baker survived the war and survived a bout with the dreaded Spanish flu but he is burdened with a distressing secret. Plagued by guilt, but unable to stop, reading Josephine’s letters brought him comfort and finds himself falling for the woman and her words. When Phillip arrives, Josephine is torn between loyalty to her deceased fiancé and her growing feelings for Phillip. As Phillip prepares to tell her the secrets he carries, will her new feelings be crushed and push her away from Phillip forever? 

The question of “Can the tragic death of a soldier entwine the souls of two strangers?” asked in the book’s description spoke to me as someone who descends from two people who met because of the death of a soldier on the battlefield. I fell in love with the Barnes family in The School Mistress and enjoyed seeing them growing up. First up is the eldest Josephine. The bookish Josephine who would rather hide in a book and take care of her loved one convinced she is not pretty enough to find love again. She believes her one chance at love died on the battlefield was heartbreaking. The arrival of Phillip brings new joy to her life despite her best efforts to stay neutral. My heart broke for those who returned from war with memories and horrors plaguing them. I loved that Ms Thompson did not shy away from that. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy wholesome historical romances, I highly recommend The Spinster. 

The Spinster is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The School Mistress: a fun romantic story

The School Mistress by Tess Thompson is the first book in the Emerson Pass historical series. In Colorado, 1910, Quinn Cooper is a new teacher, securing a job in a tiny frontier town was her only option to have her family from starvation back in Boston. Lord Alexander Barnes left his land and title back home in England for the American frontier. A widower with five children, Barnes finds himself charmed by the young teacher. Her easy rapport with the children make her an easy choice as temporary replacement when the disgruntled nanny suddenly quits. But what young woman is willing to become a mother to five children? Determined to teach anyone willing to learn, Quinn must face the prejudices of many in town as well as fight her attraction to the older Alexander. The two are drawn together but fear many factors will keep them apart. Will their love go unspoken or will they take a chance on love? 

The School Mistress is a cute, romantic story that plays loose with historical facts. Some of the attitudes and actions of the characters are a bit ahead of their time. And some of the language used seems to be more modern than the time period. Keeping that in mind, the book is an easy and enjoyable read. While I would normally dislike “less than accurate” historical stories; however, I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the romance between Quinn and Alexander. It is very touching and sweet with flirty moments. I loved the children and their antics. The supporting characters were fun and played their part in the story well. The School Mistress was a fast, easy and enjoyable reed. A great read to sit back on a lazy afternoon and just enjoy. I look forward to reading the rest of the Emerson Pass historical series as well as the Emerson Pass contemporary series which features the descendants. I recommend The School Mistress. 

 

The School Mistress is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.