Good Morning Bookish Friends :)
I pray you're all doing well, and I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.
During Christmas in July here on my blog, I shared a review for An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen. I truly adored that story, and I was definitely wanting to go back and read the rest of the books in the series.
I recently had the chance to read the first book in the series, and today I'm excited to share with you all what I ended up thinking about it.
The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen:
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: December 6th, 2016
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction
Series: Tales From Ivy Hill
Synopsis:
On a rise overlooking the Wiltshire countryside stands the village of Ivy Hill. Its coaching inn, The Bell, is its lifeblood--along with the coach lines that stop there daily, bringing news, mail, travelers, and much-needed trade.
Jane Bell lives on the edge of the inn property. She had been a genteel lady until she married the charming innkeeper who promised she would never have to work in his family's inn. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Jane finds herself The Bell's owner, and worse, she has three months to pay a large loan or lose the place.
Feeling reluctant and ill-equipped, Jane is tempted to abandon her husband's legacy and return to her former life of ease. However, she soon realizes there is more at stake than her comfort. But who can she trust to help her? Her resentful mother-in-law? Her husband's brother, who wanted the inn for himself? Or the handsome newcomer with secret plans of his own . . . ?
With pressure mounting from the bank, Jane struggles to win over naysayers and turn the place around. Can Jane bring new life to the inn, and to her heart as well?
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
I ended up coming into the Tales From Ivy Hill series a little backward, as I actually read book four first. That lovely little holiday novella definitely peaked my interest, and I was really looking forward to going back to the start of the stories about this charming village, it's quaint setting, and the eclectic cast of characters that call it home.
The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is told through three differing women's viewpoints. First, Jane Bell, who has been bequeathed the Bell after her husband's passing, and who is feeling completely out of her element. Next is Thora Bell who is Jane's mother in law, and who is struggling to find her place in the world after her son chooses his wife and not her to leave the family's beloved inn. Lastly, the reader is also treated to snippets from one of Jane's childhood friends, Rachel, who is struggling to find her place in the world when her life hasn't turned out at all like she planned.
I was pleasantly surprised that this story is very atmospheric, and setting orientated, and that romance plays a surprisingly very small role in the overall story. Instead the reader is treated to a look into three very determined ladies who aren't content to follow societal norms, and instead, are determined to make their way by whatever means they have available. The village itself comes to feel like the main character, and wow I'd love to get to visit this beautiful town and all the residents who truly do try their best to help each other when it's needed.
It didn't wrap up quite the way I was expecting, but I'm definitely looking forward to continuing on with the rest of the series, as I have a feeling Julie Klassen has great things in store for her readers and her character's in the next books.
Final Rating: 4/5.
Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
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