Today I’m talking about Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham for the JustRead review blitz! Scroll down to the end of the post to enter the giveaway.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Beyond Ivy Walls
Author: Rachel Fordham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 14, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance
Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no match against an act of love.
Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis’s appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family’s affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only discarded Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing niece.
At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn’t a romantic job, but she’s hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building–and is thrown in the path of the town’s mysterious bachelor.
Otis’s wounds are deep, but as Sadie’s friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. The mystery of his long-lost niece, however, is more complex than either could have imagined, and Sadie may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.
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Sadie West is doing everything she can to help her family. Since her father’s injury, she’s been in the city of Monticello, working at Hoag’s feather duster factory. It’s tedious, grimy work, and since she’s sending everything she earns back home, she finds herself unable to afford a place to lay her head. She takes up residence in an abandoned factory, hoping the owner won’t find her and kick her out of even that meager shelter.
Otis Taylor has been gone from home for years. His father sent him away because of his medical condition, and he’s been tolerated but never really accepted. He hasn’t known the love of a family, or indeed, of anyone, for a very long time. When his only brother dies, Otis returns home to settle affairs and sell the house full of painful memories. But he finds Reginald left more than just bills behind.
This is a sweet, gentle reimagining of Beauty and the Beast. It isn’t a complicated tale. Plucky young woman finds herself in dire circumstances. A wounded hero, shying away from the public eye, reluctantly takes her in and offers assistance. As you might expect, our hero and heroine develop an attraction to each other, and circumstances seem to conspire to keep them apart. The ending is not a surprise (although there are some twists in the story to keep things interesting). So I won’t say I loved the author’s original take on an old story.
What I did love, though? Her characters. Rachel Fordham writes characters that are just so warm and wonderful, you can’t help but cheer for them. Sadie is a joy. She does her best to keep a good attitude whatever life throws her way. She keeps her reasons for doing what she’s doing firmly in mind. Otis is prickly at first, because he’s been hurt by his father, someone who should have loved him most. But even when he’s trying to push Sadie away, even when he’s making it clear that he has no intention of staying in town or even letting anyone know he’s back, you still sense that there’s good under the gruff exterior. Leon and Mildred, the remaining staff of Taylor House, are just good, sensible, salt-of-the-earth people, and the West sisters in particular are a treat. You can just imagine the shenanigans they got up to as young girls! I was so engaged by the characters, I felt like I was saying “see you later” to friends at the end of the book.
The book is not overtly Christian, but it is clean. The romance is sweet and very low spice. The story does have some descriptions of how Otis’s father treated him that may be difficult for sensitive readers, but they are handled tactfully.
If you’re looking for a sweet read with a lovely romance that emphasizes the fact that beauty is far more than skin deep, you’ll enjoy Beyond Ivy Walls!
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
About the Author
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive print copies of the author’s previous 6 novels: The Hope of Azure Springs, Your’s Truly, Thomas, A Life Once Dreamed, A Lady in Attendance, Where the Road Bends, and The Letter Tree!
(2) additional winners will receive one Rachel Fordham backlist print copy of their choice!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 7, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 14, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
This looks like a book I will thoroughly enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Rachel is an exceptional author.