The Delicate Things We Make by Milena McKay

I recommend this to those who enjoy romance, ice queens, private schools, chemistry, mystery, suspense, conflicts of interest, traitor cats, water falls, electricity, fire, and hotel encounters. McKay’s writing is so eloquent that I was barely even bothered by her frequent use of ‘lover.’ It even sounded like an appropriate term in the context of this story! That ended up being completely unnecessary as ‘The Headmistress’ shines all on its own. I loved Milena McKay’s previous book ‘The Delicate Things We Make.’ It was so good that I worried she would not be able to back it up with something equally satisfying. There were sub plots that kept me wondering why that happened, who is doing that, and what does that have to do with anything? A bit of mystery and suspense that made me never want to put the book down. What I really appreciated about this book was that it was not just pure romance. The conflict of being attracted to someone you are completely at odds with. Vivian DeVor has a more complex meaning behind her moniker. The best part of this book is the pining and angst of wanting something that shouldn’t be. Jameson Walker and her name are explained in The Delicate Things We Make, her father having been an alcoholic who named all his children after his poison of choice. Tempers fly, frustration is had, and chemistry is in abundance. And Sam is immensely opposed to all changes the replacement headmistress proposes.

The Nox Method is to cut everything and disregard all tradition that has made Three Dragons what it is today. They bring in the most ruthless reformer of private schools in the US, Magdalene Nox. Until one day, the Board of Trustees decide to shake things up to save the establishment from closing down.

She is very much rooted in the everyday operations by being the unofficial assistant to the current headmistress. Sam Threadneedle, is a do-good math teacher at Three Dragons, a private all girls school. That just about sums up the character of Magdalene Nox. “…you and I both know I could pull off Miranda Priestly just fine.”

The Delicate Things We Make by Milena McKay