Helen Wainwright, the daughter of a butcher, is a sweet and caring girl who is treated badly by her family. Her mother died when Helen was a girl, and her father was persuaded by an ambitious grandmother to send Helen off to a private school at the age of six. Helen is a modern woman who supports herself by teaching school at the Ridgefield Academy for Girls. Helen is devastated and deeply hurt to learn of her the death of her father, who had since married up, from her father's solicitor. She returns home to pay her respects and show her family the woman she’s become and discovers her family in turmoil over the arrival of an earl. Helen falls in love with the earl, only to be told that he is to marry her step-sister Fiona for her dowry. Will Helen and John give into temptation, or will they go their separate ways?

John Darlington is the Seventh Earl of Westhaven. He must marry quickly, and for money. With his estate bankrupt, marriage to a wealthy commoner is the only thing that can save him. John sets out to capture Fiona Wainwright. At heart, John is a country farmer. He'd much rather work side by side with his tenants than woo a wife.

Rose Adagio is a Cinderella story set at the turn of the century when the old ways are giving way to new. For me, this book is as much about Helen's self discovery as it is a love story between Helen and John.

Rose Adagio is Sarah Richmond's first book. Ms. Richmond was able to pull me into the story and let me feel some of the heartache, laughter and joy through the well developed characters in the story.

All in all, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. This is a book that I hope to see in a series because of how involved the other characters are in the story.

Kimmy Lane