The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

by Julie Klassen

What a fun series!  The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is Book 2 in the Tales from Ivy Hill Series by Julie Klassen!  

I read Book 1 The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill several months ago and this continues the story and catches back up with the central characters, townspeople, and adds some new characters!

When a series is good, you feel you are part of the town, have a vested interest in how things turn out for all the characters!  That's what makes it so fun - checking back in with old friends!

I was happy to reconnect with the main characters, old friends in the village Jane, Mercy, and Rachel.  The girls grew up together and in the course of life, as things happen, friendships cool and are rewarmed in this series!

The girls are now approaching the 30 year mark, Jane a widow and Mercy and Rachel yet unmarried.  Part of the strife of this book is the unresolved romance between characters.  I hate to name any names as this book is too enjoyable to not pick up and read for yourself!

When we pick up the story, Jane is widowed and running The Bell, a coaching inn, Mercy is running her girls school in her childhood home, and Rachel has lost her home and family and is living in a bedroom with Mercy, and Mercy's Aunt Matilda.

Rachel is trying to find a way to support herself and earn a living, she has a standing proposal but just can't bring herself to accept just for comfort and convenience.  We come to see, as we suspected, her heart is already taken.

Rachel begins a circulating library, in the drawing room of Ivy Cottage, which is a place for many conversations and gatherings throughout the book!  

Mercy is resigned to remain unwed and feels the girls school is her life, teaching is her calling and she if fulfilled.

Jane has shed her mourning clothes, has the inn running well, and is working to resolve her fears and accept her loss of her husband and her unborn children.

Will Rachel's library become a success, will she be able to support herself?  Will her heart ever heal or will she resolve things with her first and only love?

Will Mercy continue the school?  A few wrinkles are tossed her way via her parents ultimatum and potential husband they bring to visit.  

And what of the story of the little girl Alice, a student at the girls school whom Mercy has grown to love?

And what of the mysterious Mrs. Haverhill?  What is her story, surely she isn't a 'witch' as some of the villagers have claimed.

There are many questions that arise pretty early in this book, and some are resolved and some are to be left for Book 3!

I'm anxiously awaiting what becomes of Jane and her new possibilities!  And what of Mercy, will she lose her school, Alice, or will she find security and happiness?

This book reads like an old friend, the romantic writing like Jane Austen, as you watch the story weave and unfold, weave and unfold, slowly as you savor every word!

I just loved this book and December is a long time to wait for #3

I was given a free copy of this book from Bethany House as part of the Blogger Review program, all comments are my own!