The Ladies of Ivy Cottage: (An English Historical Regency Romance Novel) (Tales from Ivy Hill)

A single woman in 1820 is a woman who must work hard to determine how to support herself. In a world where a woman is not allowed to vote, make decisions, or often own their own home, if a woman is left widowed or fails to find a spouse, it is a short path into poverty and despair.The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is the second novel in the excellent Tales from Ivy Hill series by one of my favorite authors, Julie Klassen. Ivy Cottage is owned by the Grove family. Mercy Grove has moved firmly into spinsterhood and has found happiness by running a girl’s school in her family home with her Aunt Mathilda. Her parents live in London and her brother is overseas, allowing her to live life as she wishes. Her happiness is shattered when her parents arrive with a perspective suitor and an ultimatum. Will Mercy surrender her heart for her school?Rachel Ashford grew up a lady, but her father lost the family fortune and a distance cousin has taken over her childhood home. Rachel goes to live with her friend Mercy in Ivy Cottage determined to find a way to support herself. And she does just that when she uses her inheritance of her father’s library to start the first subscription library in Ivy Hill. Rachel pines over her lost love, Sir Timothy, while also considering the attentions of her cousin and the potential of life back at her family estate. Will Rachel find happiness?Jane Bell the main character from book one also returns with more mystery and romance. I loved all the characters in the village and the dark secrets that we learned in this novel. I also loved how the novel explored the real loss that a woman faces when she loses her children to miscarriages and is not allowed to morn or discuss the topic. I also loved the exploration of how a woman could make it is 1820 England. The woman banding together and helping each other out in the village is another favorite element of mine in this book.My absolute favorite part of this novel was the hint of the one of my favorite books of all time, Persuasion by Jane Austen. One of the storylines gently follows Persuasion complete with the hero giving the heroine a copy of Persuasion with Captain Wentworth’s speech highlighted. Sigh. I LOVED it!The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is a Christian romance which I like. What this really means is that it is more like a Jane Austen regency romance where the romance is romantic and does not veer off into bedroom scenes. There is also no swearing. There is a light discussion of faith such as when the ladies go to church or look for guidance in prayer.My favorite quotes:“Remember, Fanny, there is more to life than beauty, which doesn’t last anyway. There is character and virtue. Gentleness and sweetness of temper.”“And . . . have you a favorite author?” He grimaced. “I do detest that question. How can one answer? How can one choose a favorite from among one’s very confidants and mentors? I am not a youth with my arm slung around the shoulder of one chum to the exclusion of others. Each suits at a different time. A different season . . . “Overall, The Ladies of Ivy Cottage was a joy to read – great characters, setting, and story. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Ivy Hill. I highly recommend this to fans of Jane Austen, regency romances, or just someone just looking for a heartwarming story with wonderful characters.Book Source: Christmas Present from my Husband Ben

I am loving the Tales from Ivy Hill! The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is another winning story, full of charm, whimsy, and characters that I grew to love. The plot is best described as steady, flavored with issues that aren't particularly heart-stopping, but still full of heart and emotion.Usually when a book switching between characters, I usually get impatient to leave one and get back to my favorite, but that wasn't the case here. Even though I probably do prefer Jane over the others (I'm usually loyal to the first character I "meet"), the other characters are endearing, and I loved each part of their stories, as they navigated their lives.It was a delight to see more of Jane and Thora, but also delightful to get to know Rachel more, a character that I wasn't too sure about in the first book. I admit, when she said that she didn't care for books, I just thought there was no way I could relate to her, ha! But then, when she stepped out and started her own circulation library, I had to come around. I just loved the details about the circulating library.Saying that the plot is steady is not to say that there were no mysteries or no romance. Indeed, some of the character surprised me, both in the revelations that were made about them, and the way they interacted with others in unexpected ways. One certain character I was just desperate to see back, and even though all things are not resolved, I have high hopes! And, oh my, this book has some of the sweetest and endearing declarations of love that just made me sigh. I'm so looking forward to the third book. In the next book, I really hope to see a happily ever after for Jane, and I can't wait to see what happens with Mercy - I thought I knew what I wanted to happen, but now I'm just not sure and can see multiple avenues. I can definitely see myself re-reading this series, and they are definitely going on my keeper shelf, which is what I say about all of Klassen's titles. Both books are on my favorites list for the year. It seems such a long wait for book three, but I know it'll be worth it!

A sedate slightly plodding narrative. The language used is often gratingly casual and modern. There are references to situations that are unlikely in the extreme.This is a historical book set in 1820 and a clerk working at a coaching inn talks about guests signing a register and on another occasion he says a coachman offered passengers a 15% reduction in fares due to delays and that he (the clerk) could not calculate that. Breaking that down, the first incongruity is that there is actually someone with a clerks job working in an inn. Why? What could he do there? Inns had innkeepers, barmaids and grooms not clerks.The second anachronism is that he has guests sign a register! Signing registers really did not come into use until the 20th century and was not common until after the WW2. One of thr drivers was the increased size of hotels. Keeping track of keys became harder as a consequence. Thirdly, why would he be the one to calculate the new fare that the passsengers are offered? He works for the inn not the coaching company! Finally, who on earth in the 1820s reduced a fair by a percentage? That's simple in a decimalised monetary system like now but back then money in England and many other countries was not decimal. Such mathematics would be needlessly complex. The coach driver would have offered a specific amount to be knocked off like 2 shillings or something. There are other examples of things that just do not sound right and that are very distracting and astonishing to find in a book written by such a well established author. So I have abandoned a book that I found boring and poorly researched.I am amazed at all the positive reviews, either other people are more forgiving or simply less observant. Frankly this book needs hours of work by a patient editor.

If you enjoy period drama like Pride and Prejudice you will enjoy this book, and Author. Her characters are interesting and very real, how their lives in small village are interwoven is skilled. I enjoyed reading about every character, and found the book difficult to put down. Cannot wait to get the follow on book in the series

too many handsome, single men, too many lingering glances and meaningful pressings of hands, too many appreciations of muscular arms and broad shoulders...a dance, of flitting about, changing partners, skipping down the rows, until the music stops, and you "dosie-do"...charmingly sweet, perfectly lovely, but a bit too predictable...idyllic, happy, solutions to all difficulties are found in trust in god and good marriages to faithful handsome men...if it only were that simple in real life...oy vey...

Great story lines, no bad language. Hard to know what was going to happen. Can't wait to read next book

Loved this book. It was a sequel to the first book in the series. Have read quite a few Julie Klassen & these two books have been her best by far. Looking forward to the next one.