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brittsbookblurbs's review against another edition
3.0
Reading [b:The Ladies of Ivy Cottage|34020176|The Ladies of Ivy Cottage (Tales from Ivy Hill, #2)|Julie Klassen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1488337963l/34020176._SY75_.jpg|53756357] is like living in the centre of a small village. The gossip, scandals, and nosy neighbours feel incredibly authentic, homey, and welcoming. All the characters from [b:The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill|28561667|The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill (Tales from Ivy Hill, #1)|Julie Klassen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456515601l/28561667._SY75_.jpg|48249166] are back, and some even play a more prominent role this time. There's romance and drama, but it's all believable. Two books in, and I am thrilled to be heading back to Ivy Hill in [b:The Bride of Ivy Green|33096116|The Bride of Ivy Green (Tales from Ivy Hill, #3)|Julie Klassen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519322313l/33096116._SY75_.jpg|53756360].
Other books in the Tales from Ivy Hill series:
#1: The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill ⭐⭐⭐
#3: The Bride of Ivy Green ⭐⭐⭐
Other books in the Tales from Ivy Hill series:
#1: The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill ⭐⭐⭐
#3: The Bride of Ivy Green ⭐⭐⭐
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shannyreads04's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 Loved this book even more than the first one!
booksforchristiangirls's review against another edition
3.0
About this book:
“Living with the two Miss Groves in Ivy Cottage, impoverished gentlewoman Rachel Ashford is determined to earn her own livelihood . . . somehow. When the village women encourage her to open a subscription library with the many books she has inherited or acquired through donations, Rachel discovers two mysteries hidden among them. A man who once broke her heart helps her search for clues, but will both find more than they bargained for?
Rachel's friend and hostess, Mercy Grove, has given up thoughts of suitors and fills her days managing her girls' school. So when several men take an interest in Ivy Cottage, she assumes pretty Miss Ashford is the cause. Exactly what--or who--has captured each man's attention? The truth may surprise them all.
Meanwhile, life has improved at the coaching inn and Jane Bell is ready to put grief behind her. Now if only the man she misses would return--but where is he?
As the women of Ivy Hill search for answers about the past and hope for the future, might they find love along the way?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Tales from Ivy Hill” series. Review of the first book Here!
Spiritual Content- John 21:25 at the beginning; A few Scriptures are remembered; Prayers; Singing a hymn; Church going & a sermon; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Rachel feels uncomfortable asking God or anyone for help *Spoiler*but near the end asks God to forgive her *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of God; Mentions of thanking & praising God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of a cathedral, churches, church going, a reverend/vicar, services, & sermons; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; A few mentions of Christians & faiths; A few mentions of a hymn; A mention of a godsend; A couple mentions of sins;
*Note: Mentions of (what some people believe is) a witch; A couple mentions of a group of people raising altars to a type of food; A mention of something being devilishly hard to clean; A mention of a man being devilishly charming.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘thunder and turf!’, and three ‘dashed’s; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of eye rolling; Mentions of deaths & unnatural deaths; Mentions of someone lost at sea; Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thieves, thefts, & stolen items; Mentions of vandalism & vandals; Mentions of debts & gambling; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of poaching, hunting, & shooting; A few mentions of prisons/jails; A few mentions of smoking, cigars, & pipes; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of hanging meat & dead animals for food (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of mounted animal heads as décor; A mention of using pigskin bladders for an invention.
Sexual Content- two hand/wrist kisses, a cheek kiss, an almost kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss, and two detailed kisses; Wanting to be kissed (twice, up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Warmth, & Hand Holding (up to semi-detailed); Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (x3); Noticing men’s muscles (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a man and woman having a child together, but not being married (he says it was his fault); Mentions of a man being involved with a chambermaid & her being ill-used prior (she ends up pregnant; he says he’s not solely to blame and that she came to him); Mentions of wondering if a woman is a man’s paramour or if she was involved with another man; Mentions of a married man who kept a mistress & his adultery; Mentions of illegitimate children; Mentions of people thinking a woman is a prostitute (she’s not); Mentions of a woman working as a maid at a brothel; Mentions of scandals, reputations, & opposite genders being left alone with chaperones; Mentions of staring & being smitten by a pretty face; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of blushes; Mentions of romance books; A few mentions of not being ready (or being ready) to share a bed with a man; A few mentions of kissing & gathering someone in your arms; A few mentions of wedding trips/honeymoons; A few mentions of touches & embraces; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of married couples kissing; A mention of a man having a hard time keeping his hands off of a woman; A mention of women ogling men; Love, falling in love, & the emotions (x2);
*Note: Remembering a miscarriage & bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of miscarriages, stillbirths, the pain of losing children, & not being able to have children; A few mentions of a wife & baby dying in childbirth; A few mentions of a mother dying with childbed fever; A few mentions of wet nurses; A couple mentions of a girl’s dress flattering her figure; A mention of a dress revealing a girl’s thin bosom; A mention of lower necklines on popular dresses; A mention of a woman pulling coins out of her bodice; A mention of a woman keeping her valuables (coins, jewelry, etc.) in her bodice & being asked if her husband agrees; A mention of butting into a conversation.
-Rachel Ashford
-Jane Bell
-Mercy Grove, age 30
P.O.V. switches between them & Thora
Set in 1820
445 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
Like I said in the final thoughts of the first book in this series, Julie Klassen has always been a book-by-book author for me; meaning I have to know the book cover or read the actual book to find out about the content.
This one?
Hmm.
While overall clean, there were such comments I didn’t like and thought that they didn’t need to be added.
My main problem, however, was keeping up with all the characters. It’s been nearly a year since I first read the first book, and oh boy, there’s a ton of characters to keep up with.
At first, I wasn’t a fan of Rachel or Jane, but I really liked Mercy’s parts. It was fun to see non-reader Rachel turn into a reader. I wasn’t necessarily a fan of how Rachel had three males interested in her at times, but then the men would divert their attention to one of our other main ladies. Made those boys look like they were trying to figure out who they each liked best or were too friendly for the historical time period. And in all honest, I didn’t really like any of them. At one point or another, they each took turns feeling like a cad (okay, really only two of the four/five had their cad moments) to me. There were quite a few parts that seemed inaccurate for the time period this novel was set in. I’ll admit I was disappointed with all the birth secrets/illegitimate children plot lines. I can see one, but it seemed very common in this book with these characters and their families. I think it could have been something else and not an easy out like that.
There’s just so many plots going on in this large novel that made this book feel daunting to read. Maybe it would have helped reading these books back-to-back, but really wasn’t an enjoyable as I remembering the first book being.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-ladies-of-ivy-cottage-by-julie.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.
“Living with the two Miss Groves in Ivy Cottage, impoverished gentlewoman Rachel Ashford is determined to earn her own livelihood . . . somehow. When the village women encourage her to open a subscription library with the many books she has inherited or acquired through donations, Rachel discovers two mysteries hidden among them. A man who once broke her heart helps her search for clues, but will both find more than they bargained for?
Rachel's friend and hostess, Mercy Grove, has given up thoughts of suitors and fills her days managing her girls' school. So when several men take an interest in Ivy Cottage, she assumes pretty Miss Ashford is the cause. Exactly what--or who--has captured each man's attention? The truth may surprise them all.
Meanwhile, life has improved at the coaching inn and Jane Bell is ready to put grief behind her. Now if only the man she misses would return--but where is he?
As the women of Ivy Hill search for answers about the past and hope for the future, might they find love along the way?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Tales from Ivy Hill” series. Review of the first book Here!
Spiritual Content- John 21:25 at the beginning; A few Scriptures are remembered; Prayers; Singing a hymn; Church going & a sermon; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Rachel feels uncomfortable asking God or anyone for help *Spoiler*
*Note: Mentions of (what some people believe is) a witch; A couple mentions of a group of people raising altars to a type of food; A mention of something being devilishly hard to clean; A mention of a man being devilishly charming.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘thunder and turf!’, and three ‘dashed’s; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of eye rolling; Mentions of deaths & unnatural deaths; Mentions of someone lost at sea; Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thieves, thefts, & stolen items; Mentions of vandalism & vandals; Mentions of debts & gambling; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of poaching, hunting, & shooting; A few mentions of prisons/jails; A few mentions of smoking, cigars, & pipes; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of hanging meat & dead animals for food (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of mounted animal heads as décor; A mention of using pigskin bladders for an invention.
Sexual Content- two hand/wrist kisses, a cheek kiss, an almost kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss, and two detailed kisses; Wanting to be kissed (twice, up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Warmth, & Hand Holding (up to semi-detailed); Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (x3); Noticing men’s muscles (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a man and woman having a child together, but not being married (he says it was his fault); Mentions of a man being involved with a chambermaid & her being ill-used prior (she ends up pregnant; he says he’s not solely to blame and that she came to him); Mentions of wondering if a woman is a man’s paramour or if she was involved with another man; Mentions of a married man who kept a mistress & his adultery; Mentions of illegitimate children; Mentions of people thinking a woman is a prostitute (she’s not); Mentions of a woman working as a maid at a brothel; Mentions of scandals, reputations, & opposite genders being left alone with chaperones; Mentions of staring & being smitten by a pretty face; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of blushes; Mentions of romance books; A few mentions of not being ready (or being ready) to share a bed with a man; A few mentions of kissing & gathering someone in your arms; A few mentions of wedding trips/honeymoons; A few mentions of touches & embraces; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of married couples kissing; A mention of a man having a hard time keeping his hands off of a woman; A mention of women ogling men; Love, falling in love, & the emotions (x2);
*Note: Remembering a miscarriage & bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of miscarriages, stillbirths, the pain of losing children, & not being able to have children; A few mentions of a wife & baby dying in childbirth; A few mentions of a mother dying with childbed fever; A few mentions of wet nurses; A couple mentions of a girl’s dress flattering her figure; A mention of a dress revealing a girl’s thin bosom; A mention of lower necklines on popular dresses; A mention of a woman pulling coins out of her bodice; A mention of a woman keeping her valuables (coins, jewelry, etc.) in her bodice & being asked if her husband agrees; A mention of butting into a conversation.
-Rachel Ashford
-Jane Bell
-Mercy Grove, age 30
P.O.V. switches between them & Thora
Set in 1820
445 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
Like I said in the final thoughts of the first book in this series, Julie Klassen has always been a book-by-book author for me; meaning I have to know the book cover or read the actual book to find out about the content.
This one?
Hmm.
While overall clean, there were such comments I didn’t like and thought that they didn’t need to be added.
My main problem, however, was keeping up with all the characters. It’s been nearly a year since I first read the first book, and oh boy, there’s a ton of characters to keep up with.
At first, I wasn’t a fan of Rachel or Jane, but I really liked Mercy’s parts. It was fun to see non-reader Rachel turn into a reader. I wasn’t necessarily a fan of how Rachel had three males interested in her at times, but then the men would divert their attention to one of our other main ladies. Made those boys look like they were trying to figure out who they each liked best or were too friendly for the historical time period. And in all honest, I didn’t really like any of them. At one point or another, they each took turns feeling like a cad (okay, really only two of the four/five had their cad moments) to me. There were quite a few parts that seemed inaccurate for the time period this novel was set in. I’ll admit I was disappointed with all the birth secrets/illegitimate children plot lines. I can see one, but it seemed very common in this book with these characters and their families. I think it could have been something else and not an easy out like that.
There’s just so many plots going on in this large novel that made this book feel daunting to read. Maybe it would have helped reading these books back-to-back, but really wasn’t an enjoyable as I remembering the first book being.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-ladies-of-ivy-cottage-by-julie.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.
jventer's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, but kind of derivative of Cranford and Lark Rise to Candleford. Still looking forward to the 3rd book in the series.
lisadawson's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the continued stories fr Ivy Hill. I feel invested in their town and the people there. I enjoyed the tidbits about how circulating libraries worked.
dmantonya's review against another edition
5.0
I have really enjoyed reading about Ivy cottage and the people who live in Ivy Hill. Each of the ladies, Jane, Rachel, and Mercy have a story to tell.
shawnnaw's review against another edition
4.0
The writing wasn’t always the best but the story was great.
cakt1991's review against another edition
5.0
4.75 stars
Julie Klassen is one of the rare authors who has never ceased to disappoint me, and I am always left with a pang that there is usually a year to wait for the next release. Even when she diverted from her usual "formula" of stand-alone historical romance with the first installment in Tales from Ivy Hill, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, her practice of bringing some of what readers of classics like Austen and Bronte love to modern audiences remains. And the same can be said of this installment, which offers a riveting plot with a lot of twists and turns, and more fun adventures with the memorable characters from the first installment.
One thing I love about this series is that it is not immediately obvious who the couples are, and whether they end up together, with the pairing of Thora and Talbot being a happy surprise at the end of the first book. Instead, we spend more time with the women and the focus is just as much on their interactions with each other as with any romantic interests in their lives. While who Rachel ends up with is definitely much more expected, the way their story does parallel to what is arguably Austen's most powerful novel lends gravitas to the narrative.
And while Rachel gets her happy ending, I was left with eagerness for both Mercy and Jane to find happiness, especially as Jane has dealt with the hardships of losing her husband and having several miscarriages. And I am also curious to know how things will progress for Mercy, with her livelihood on the line. It is hinted that she is in love with someone, but I am curious how that will end up? Will she end up with him or with the suitor her parents have picked out for her?
Julie Klassen is one of the rare authors who has never ceased to disappoint me, and I am always left with a pang that there is usually a year to wait for the next release. Even when she diverted from her usual "formula" of stand-alone historical romance with the first installment in Tales from Ivy Hill, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, her practice of bringing some of what readers of classics like Austen and Bronte love to modern audiences remains. And the same can be said of this installment, which offers a riveting plot with a lot of twists and turns, and more fun adventures with the memorable characters from the first installment.
One thing I love about this series is that it is not immediately obvious who the couples are, and whether they end up together, with the pairing of Thora and Talbot being a happy surprise at the end of the first book. Instead, we spend more time with the women and the focus is just as much on their interactions with each other as with any romantic interests in their lives. While who Rachel ends up with is definitely much more expected, the way their story does parallel to what is arguably Austen's most powerful novel lends gravitas to the narrative.
And while Rachel gets her happy ending, I was left with eagerness for both Mercy and Jane to find happiness, especially as Jane has dealt with the hardships of losing her husband and having several miscarriages. And I am also curious to know how things will progress for Mercy, with her livelihood on the line. It is hinted that she is in love with someone, but I am curious how that will end up? Will she end up with him or with the suitor her parents have picked out for her?
insearchof_wonder_'s review against another edition
3.0
There are a lot of things I love about this book and series, but this particular book, to me, fell short of Julie Klassen's usual standard. I think what most bothered me was the lack of real emotional depth, which is unusual for Klassen. I didn't really feel as engaged with the story and characters this time. I also felt like a lot of the dialogue was too modern and not as reflective of the time as I have come to expect from her.
However, I love this idea of shabby genteel women making a go of it by supporting themselves in creative ways. Although I love a good duke-and-heiress Regency, I appreciate much more a realistic look at everyday people doing everyday things. In that way, it's much like a Jane Austen novel.
I also loved the main character in this book, Rachel. I really loved her complex mixture of pride and timidity that grew over the course of the book into an equally complex mixture of confidence and humility.
I'm assuming the next book will tell us more of Mercy's story, and I'm looking forward to that!
However, I love this idea of shabby genteel women making a go of it by supporting themselves in creative ways. Although I love a good duke-and-heiress Regency, I appreciate much more a realistic look at everyday people doing everyday things. In that way, it's much like a Jane Austen novel.
I also loved the main character in this book, Rachel. I really loved her complex mixture of pride and timidity that grew over the course of the book into an equally complex mixture of confidence and humility.
I'm assuming the next book will tell us more of Mercy's story, and I'm looking forward to that!