The School Mistress of Emerson Pass

By

Tess Thompson

There I am, sitting with a new Tess Thompson novel in my hands, feeling great excitement to begin a new series set in my home state of Colorado.   I love the Cliffside Bay series and how Ms. Thompson takes me on a virtual visit each and every time. I just know that this will be the same or even better, especially since she introduced the setting of the story, Emerson Pass, in a previous book "Healed: Stone and Pepper.  This new book is historical fiction and taking a step back in time to the early settling of a mountain town is just perfect for me.  It's a reminiscence that drew me in to the places I grew up knowing.  Ms. Thompson's artful writing skills perfectly placed me in the story with Quinn and Alexander. 

From the beginning scenes I was on the train trip through the mountains with Quinn from Denver to Emerson Pass.   The harrowing trip to a new life in a place she had no idea of what to expect.  "We cannot predict the joys and sorrows that await us on this journey through life." As she steps off the train, her life adventure begins to take place at a whirlwind speed.   The story opens up and I meet a whole cast of wonderful characters I quickly become attached to.  The book is written from Quinn's and Alexander's POV.  I love that.  I also enjoyed that there was a "spark" between the two of them from the beginning.  Ms. Thompson "tended" that small flame with a smoldering pace that kept building between Quinn and Alexander. 

I love the children in this story.  A whole schoolhouse full of individual and unique students. Each one with personalities and traits that set them apart from each other but they all "look out for" and accept each other.  They captured my heart as much as they did Quinn's.    The five Barnes children are so sweet and loving.  They are honest with their words but they are so caring for others.  Children who need a new mother after the tragic death of their own mother.  They are immediately attracted to Quinn.  Ahhh!!

I had an amazing adventure in the pages of this book.  There's the wild west feeling of a mountain town being settled in the elements of weather, a mysterious murder, a drunken father, and unaccepting citizens who make life difficult for some of the people.  These are subjects that Ms. Thompson writes through with a careful approach.  There is also the other end of life in the early development of Emerson Pass.  The breathtaking beauty of freshly fallen snow in the pines and the contrast against the remarkable blue sky.  The unity of the family and how they love and care for each other makes them endearing and lovable.  The desire of Alexander Barnes to build a town for all citizens to happily belong to.  There is courage and strength that is attained by the struggles and hardships but so worth the rewards in the end. 

I am so grateful for the honor of "stepping off the train" with Quinn and experiencing this book. It's a story that, for me, felt like it had uniquely blended aspects....a Downton Abbey/Sound of Music/Little House/and The Walton's all so specially mixed to make this a wonderfully delightful read.  Thank you, Ms. Thompson, for taking me "back in time" to start this new series with characters and a setting (you know I'm a Colorado mountain girl in heart) that I'm so excited to go along on.  I can't wait for the next novel in this series!  It's a huge Rocky Mountain High five stars for me.  Thank you!  All opinions and thoughts in this review are my heartfelt own.