The Ladies of Ivy Cottage provide more than just a lighthearted romance.

Rachel Ashford stars in this book as she determines how she will not only support herself but will balance practicality and the desire for security against the improbable match with the man she has loved for years.

With many secrets to be revealed, hearts to mend and twists to come, the ladies of Ivy Cottage keep you entertained along the way. If only people would stop entering the room interrupting the conversation just when someone is getting up the courage to say how they feel!

I loved the return to Ivy Hill for The Ladies of Ivy Cottage, though I have to admit that it is sad indeed to have to wait just under a year for the next installation of the story! I love how the town and characters are quaint and yet there is a lot going on. I love that this one has more about Mercy, and I really enjoyed getting to know Rachel more and learning about what libraries looked like in the early 1800's. This book is delightful and should be read after the first one, since there are plenty of on going stories.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Julie Klassen takes her readers back to Ivy Hill for a complex story that will bring to pass the desires of some character’s hearts and create new ones in others.

Ever since I received Ms. Klassen’s book The Lady of Milkweed Manor, I have been a constant fan with her upcoming books marked for purchase/review as soon as they are available. So it is no surprise that when this story came up in my queue I was very excited to immerse myself in her world of regency romance once again. She begins this story practically where The Inn-keeper of Ivy Hill left off and jumps right into the drama of village life. Mercy Grove has long hoped to marry but that has not been her fortune as yet. She has made a contented life for herself with her Aunt Matilda, teaching school to her six boarding pupils and opening her home to her friend Rachel Ashford, who lost her home and income upon her father’s death. But her contentment will be upended with the discovered parentage of her favorite student and the arrival of Mercy’s own parents. Alice is the unknown great-granddaughter of well-respected village members, Mr and Mrs. Thomas, who’s age and situation will not allow for her to reside with them. Upon the death of Mrs. Thomas, Mr Thomas offers to sign Alice’s care over to Mercy permanently to ensure she will never have want. Mercy will have much to consider before she agrees and decides she will seek the advice of friends and family as she considers her answer. Her parents appear in person to give their answer and bring along for her further consideration a man they believe is perfect for marriage to their daughter. Embarrassed and slightly angry at her parents blatant attempt to marry her off, Mercy refuses to give Mr. Hollander her answer quickly. And after he returns to his work at Oxford, she will be even more dismayed at the ultimatum her parents give – marry Mr. Hollander or lose Ivy Cottage for her home. Heartsick over the impending loss of her God-given work, Mercy will have much to pray about and decide. And with all this trouble, she must figure out why her heart and mind return often to thoughts of her new friend, Joseph Kingsley. Could it be she has more chances at love than she thought? Rachel Ashford has lost everything – her home, her income and her only love. The cherished and somewhat spoiled daughter of Lord Ashford spent her life in want of nothing and with no reason to be in need, has no marketable traits in her possession. Needing to find a way to earn her living, Rachel seeks the advice of her closest friends – who remind her she is in possession of a large collection of books from her father’s library. Not able to sell said books according to the terms of her father’s will, Rachel settles upon the idea of a subscription library for Ivy Hill and neighboring villages. But the applications and needed certifications for her library will bring her back into more frequent contact with the local Magistrate – Sir Timothy Brockwell – whom Rachel has secretly loved for several years. However, Rachel will find that although it is painful to be so often near Timothy again, she is able to bring joy and knowledge to others through her venture. Timothy Brockwell carries his own secrets and his most painful is that he loves Rachel Ashford. But to pursue her would be in opposition to his mother’s wishes and could expose the darkest secrets of his father’s life. As Timothy and Rachel work together to help out their friend and neighbors, they will discover that true love doesn’t fade with time, rather it grows and deepens when God is in the middle. Rachel’s best friend, Jane Bell is flourishing in her role as the mistress of The Bell inn. Having moved beyond her grief over her deceased husband, Jane is working to make her inn as comfortable and welcoming as possible. She longs for a new love but is afraid of what re-marriage might mean, so Jane throws herself into her work and seeks to make the lives of those around her better with her talents. But Jane will have to face some hurtful areas of her past if she is going to truly move on with her life. And it will be the arrival of an old employee that will show her that second chances are possible and quite often, bring new love into one’s life. I cannot wait to see how Ms. Klassen will bring about the futures of these ladies in her next book. I loved reading this story and although I was sad not to see the resolution of everything included, I know there is more that needs to happen to bring about the coming happy endings. Ms. Klassen also used her characters to teach the tough lessons of resentment, real forgiveness and accepting help when you need it. Jane and her mother in law, Thora, were both carrying around un-forgiveness and hurt from the past and they had to let go of that so they could experience the new joys to be had in their current lives. Jane will also have to work through her fear of losing another child if she will be able to accept the love that Gabriel Locke is offering her. Mercy, too, has to deal with her own resentment towards her parents and God, who she thinks are out to destroy her comfortable life. But while things are not staying the same, Mercy will come to realize that God has better for her than she has previously imagined and to obtain those blessings she must give up old desires. Rachel will be the one who must accept the generosity of her friends and neighbors and allow them to bless her in her time of need. Having always avoided the need for charity, Rachel struggles to accept with grace the help of those who love her. She knows she should be grateful for the kindness of friends, but it is hard for a woman who is used to being the giver to so suddenly become the receiver. But God will use this new humility to bring the greatest desire of Rachel’s heart to pass – the love of the man she has never been able to forget. I’m so pleased when authors like Ms. Klassen bring real truth to their writings so that readers can also look to themselves to see if they carry some of these hurtful practices. I find myself praying as I read that the Lord will look in my heart and show me any ways in which I might be guilty of the same sins Ms. Klassen points out. This helps me engage better with the story and with the characters – which I’m sure was Ms. Klassen’s intent. I also love that she includes passages or phrases from her own favorite authors – like Jane Austen – in this book. She used two of my favorite Jane Austen books to bring about the love scenes and I was quoting them right along with the character speaking them. This inclusion just made the book even better in my opinion as it brought to mind the BBC dramatizations of those stories that I have watched multiple times. Oh how I wish people these days spoke like those people did – what deep emotion they were able to convey with their words!! I will most certainly be recommending this book to others; they need to have such a good book in their lives. I am also very much looking forward to the next book in the Ivy Hill series so I can find out what will happen with Mercy and Jane’s stories. Well Done, Ms. Klassen!

A received this e-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen is book two in the Tales from Ivy Hill series. I am a fan of Julie Klassen's writing and love her ability to make a historical setting come alive. That being said, this book is not one of my favorites. The characters seemed well developed and interesting; however the plot really seemed to drag at times and did not hold my interest well. Also, the book left some of the most interesting plot lines unresolved until the next book. I would not recommend that this book be read as a standalone novel for that reason. I still look forward to reading book three because I am still a fan of this author's writing and hope the next one is much better. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is the second book in the Tales From Ivy Hill series by beloved Christian Regency author Julie Klassen. There are a lot of characters to keep straight, so while this is a standalone story, it might help if you’ve read the first book in the series, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill. And recently. I’ve read it, but it was over a year ago. I remembered the main plot points, but had forgotten some of the minor characters who are now major characters.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is historical romance but only to a degree. Ivy Hill has plenty of single ladies (and single gentlemen), but it’s less a romance and more a gentle ongoing story of everyday village life, complete with village intrigues. It’s not a fast-paced novel, but neither does it drag.

I enjoyed the slower pace, the reminder of a time when life wasn’t ruled by phone notifications but by the arrival of the Mail coach. I enjoyed the slow getting-to-know new characters, and being reintroduced to familiar characters. As always, I enjoyed the subtle-but-there presentation of Christianity (although The Ladies of Ivy Cottage certainly has even less of a faith message than some of her previous works).

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage was a delightful step back into another time.
Recommended for fans of village tales such as Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford, Lawanna Blackwell’s Gresham Chronicles, or Jan Karon’s Mitford. And fans of Jane Austen. Of course.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to read and review before it was archived. Reviews will be posted as titles are read.

Rachel Ashford moves in with the Misses Groves at Ivy Cottage, hoping to find a way to support herself now that her cousin has inherited her family home, but teaching at Mercy's school is not a good fit for her. The ladies come up with the idea of a subscription lending library with the books that Rachel's late father left to her as well as a few donations.



Meanwhile Jane Bell has put her grieving behind her, and is ready to move on with her life. While Mercy has long ago put thoughts of love and marriage behind her, so when suitors begin to swarm she assumes that they are coming to see the lovely Rachel, but the reason they come may not be what she thinks.



Three women solve mysteries from the past, and face their future, could love be coming their way as well?



This book continues to follow childhood friends, Rachel, Jane and Mercy, as well as featuring many returning characters from the first book in the series, like Sir Timothy Brockwell, Mr. Drake, and the patrons of The Bell.



I love how Mercy has found her calling in teaching and wants to reach out to more children by opening a school for all children no matter their ability to pay. But Mercy struggles to raise the funds for such a venture. On top of that she is approached by the guardian of one of her students with a request that she adopt the little girl. As complications escalate, Mercy must stay true to her faith, family and friends. Mercy faces every challenge with grace, and I admired her faith and determination.



I really like how Rachel opens herself to new ideas and takes on the challenge of a library, even though it wasn't something that she had originally imagined for herself. She also must make a decision about her future, and where her heart belongs.



Gabriel Locke returns to Ivy Hill a changed man, to take care of the horse that he had left in Jane's care. He and Jane renew their friendship, and the spend much time together. Gabriel is charming and romantic, but respectful and never pressuring.



I like that there is a lot going on, the ladies uncover many mysteries, and I liked how Rachel, Jane and Mercy's stories are interwoven as they support each other through the ups and down of their lives. While this is the second book in the series, and I think it would be easier to jump into the story with having read the other book before, I think that this book could also be read as a stand alone. A wonderful read with a Jane Austen flair, and many colorful characters.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Just lovely! It's not fast-paced or terribly exciting, but the women of Ivy Hill have a gentle strength that made this book a pleasure to read. I recommend reading the first book in the series, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, to more fully understand and appreciate the backgrounds of the various community members. The perspective switches often between Jane (the innkeeper), Rachel (the librarian), Mercy (the teacher), and Thora (Jane's mother-in-law). We learn more about Timothy, Rachel and Jane's childhood friend and beau, Mrs. Haverhill, the mysterious recluse, and Mr. Grant, the businessman, and their pasts and secrets are slowly revealed throughout the book in intriguing layers which propelled the story forward. By the conclusion of the book we have happy endings for some, and interesting prospects for others, making me wish the third book was already out! The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is definitely a book to savor as it's read.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

I enjoyed the first book a lot. I loved the setting and I felt like I was really there. So I liked going to back and visiting again. It took me a while to remember all of the characters and who they were. But once I got there I easily fell back into the story.

We get to catch up with the characters we met in the first book and get a deeper look into there lives.

And there was all these potential romances going on, it kept it very interesting.

I think I liked this book even more than first because of the deeper aspect into each character and getting to know them even more. I do think you need to read the first book in the series to fully appreciate this one.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Its been nearly a year since I finished the last book in this series, and since I have read so much since then I’ve been rather remiss in remembering all the characters from the last book. It took a while and a read of my review to refresh my memory on the background of Rachel, one of the protagonists of this book (one of the Ladies of Ivy Cottage).
Leaving behind my lapses of memory though, I very much enjoyed this book with the detailed setting, prose, and colourful characters beloved of Klassen novels. Like the last one, this book was more character driven and could seem a little slow, but that was not an issue for me.
The story picks up a few months after the last, with the unmarried ladies Mercy and Rachel starting a new venture with a school for village girls, and a lending library. Characters old and new converge on the fictional Berkshire village, and it was good to see the story develop with the established ones. Romance is even in the air for Patrick, Rachel, and even Jayne still struggling to come to terms with past heartbreak.
Nods to literary classics were provided with characters having to come to terms with the opposition of family, pride, arrogance, social expectations, and family secrets. Even a faint hint of mystery reminiscent of Klassen’s former works.
A few Americanisms were my only gripe, and some readers may want to note that there are some references to sexual activity outside of marriage (no actual sex scenes, just mentions of it), with a mention of a woman who was a mistress, and an illegitimate child.
I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and their UK distributors. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

My Thoughts: The first book of the series had me beside myself in anticipation of the next book in the series. Sadly, I felt like so much of that tension was missing in The Ladies of Ivy Cottage. I think having that high expectation going into this one had hindered me in enjoying it as much as I had hoped. Setting aside my expectations, there IS a great story here in the inviting Regency era. Klassen draws out Biblical messages on trusting God and forgiveness. There are still some things left undone so there’s plenty to look forward to in the third and final installment. That being said, there were still plenty of romance here and happy endings for some of the characters involved. I enjoyed watching two separate mysteries unfold and come to light. And as always, I enjoyed visiting this charming village and those who live there.

Rating and Recommendation: I’m giving The Ladies of Ivy Cottage 4 stars and recommending it those who enjoy Christian Regency Fiction.
*You’ll want to read this series in order.

~ I received a copy from Bethany House through Net Galley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Reminiscent of Jayne Eyre, Christian Historical fiction that you won’t want to end. Would make an excellent PBS movie with similarities to other English series. It’s great to be back to Ivy Hill, although I believe that you would enjoy the book without reading the previous books. The story involves more than one lady and their lives. They are ladies who were part of Society but for various reasons are no longer able to live that life and had to earn the means to support themselves. Many of us can identify with having a difficult path to walk, perhaps one that we did not expect, but with God’s Grace we find that He has provided for us and it’s not a bad life after all, in fact it was meant for us.

Rachel is able to stay with her friend Mercy in her family’s home after her parents move away. The ever helpful Ladies Tea and Knitting Society in Ivy Hill is a great help to the girls. They are business women as well and understand the struggles involved with having to support one’s self. Following their advice, Mercy is able to let Rachel start a circulating library in a couple of the rooms, which gives Rachel a way to support herself. But Mercy doesn’t realize that her mother has other plans for her. Rachel had thought she was going to marry Sir Timothy, but when her father ran into financial ruin, his family would no longer allow an affiliation with her. Since they are still living in the same area he does see and talk with her, and helps her in ways that he can. A donation of some books to her library opens up a whole new area for them, and ends up uncovering a secret they never would have dreamed of.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This is the second of the books in the Ivy Hill series by Julie Klassen. I vaccillated between liking and not liking the book. There are so many characters that it's hard to keep the story straight and to figure out who the book was about. First, there are several main characters in the book and the story switches back and forth between them at a hectic pace. The setting is still the same Ivy Hill Village, but there are new characters and a few new places, but the characters from Ivy Hill are settling into their lives. Once the relationships among the women are figured out, the book is easier to read.

For the most part, it's a good book, but there are several ends left untied, which leads the reader to believe there will be a third book in the series. But, the book wasn't exactly what I was expecting. The sheer number of characters is daunting as well as keeping up with who is dating whom, although dating isn't what it was called during the Regency Era. I give this book 3.5 stars, but I'll round it up to four.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

by Julie Klassen

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

Christian

Pub Date 05 Dec 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Ladies Of Ivy Cottage through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

We are transported back to 1820 Ivy Hill, Wiltshire England where we meet Rachel Ashford.

Rachel Ashford is an impoverished gentle woman living with the Two Miss Groves in Ivy Cottage determined to earn her own way in life. The village women encourage Rachel to open a subscription library with the many books she inherited or were given to her as a donation. Amongst the book Rachel comes across two mysteries. It will take a man who once left her heartbroken to find the answers, but were they both given to much?

Mercy Grove, Rachel Ashford’s best friend gave up hopes of finding a suitor and instead fills her days managing her girls school. When several men take interest in Ivy Cottage, she assumes it is Rachel who draws their attention.

In the meantime life has improved at the coaching inn and Jane Bell is ready to put the grief behind her, but the man she misses has not returned, leaving her to wonder where he is at.

In there search for answers will the women of Ivy Hill, find love?

Find out in the The Ladies Of Ivy Cottage!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen is the second edition in Tales from Ivy Hill. It is September in 1820 in Ivy Hill, Wiltshire, England. Rachel Ashford wants to discover a way for her to earn money to support herself. She appreciates Mercy allowing her to life at Ivy Cottage, but she wants to pay her own way. The women of the Ladies Tea and Knitting Society suggest that Rachel use what her father left her in his will—his library. Rachel can open a subscription library at Ivy Cottage. The townspeople rally behind Rachel and donate books to the library. Thanks to those donated books, Rachel has two mysteries to ponder. She must also make a decision regarding Nicholas Ashford’s proposal. Jane Bell is busy running The Bell, but she misses Gabriel Locke. Is Jane ready to move on with her life? If so, is there a chance of Gabriel returning? Mercy Groves has long given up hope of getting married. She is busy running the school and is hoping to expand it. Mr. Thomas asks Mercy to become young Alice’s guardian. Mercy is happy to take on the role, but then suitor starts paying attention to her. Ivy Cottage, though, may be lost to all its current inhabitants if Mercy’s mother has her way. To see what happens to the women, join them on their journey in The Ladies of Ivy Cottage.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is well-written with lovely characters. I do recommend reading The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill before embarking on The Ladies of Ivy Cottage. The first book introduces you to the characters, the village of Ivy Hill and their lives (it sets the stage for The Ladies of Ivy Cottage). The Ladies of Ivy Cottage picks up where the first book ended. The characters are well developed, and they continue to evolve. The pace of the story is gentle which suits the story (it is slower than The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill). I do feel, though, that the book is a little long (440 pages). Julie Klassen accurately portrayed the time-period with the clothing, the way people spoke (it was more formal), mannerisms, the shops, roles of men and women, locale, and customs. You can tell that the author did her research for the series. Through Ms. Klassen’s words you can imagine the village and its citizens. The Christian element is light and adds just the right touch. In addition to the main three ladies there are secondary characters that add drama and romance to the story. James Drake is working on his hotel, Sir Timothy Brockwell is interested in one of the ladies, Thora returns, Joseph Kingsley (the local carpenter) shows an interest in getting to know one of the women, and Mr. Carville is up to something. The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is a rich, historical novel and I am eager for the next installment in the Tales from Ivy Hill.

I found The Ladies of Ivy Cottage to be an enjoyable and relaxing read. The story is heart warming and the characters engaging. While I hit a few dry spots as I read, those were very few and short lived. Overall? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait till the third book in this series is released!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Klassen, Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I simply loved this book, and when I realized it was book 2 in a series, I wished I had read book 1!

Rachel and Mercy share a home with the two elderly Miss Groves. The young ladies try to keep out of trouble, contribute to society, and progress their lives educationally, socially, and romantically. The Miss Groves try to help without butting in too much!

Not surprisingly, my very favorite part of this book is Rachel’s homegrown library. I’m envious! I mean, opening up a library by yourself, getting to organize all those books… sigh. Love love love. And good for Mercy standing up for herself and her school for girls. These are my kind of ladies!

I really enjoyed this visit to the Village of Ivy Hill. It was great to hear what has been going on with the people I met in The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill. This episode focuses on the Ladies of Ivy Cottage. Mercy Grove and her maiden aunt Matilda run a girls school and when Rachel Ashford's cousin inherits her family home she moves into Ivy Cottage. I loved how real the ladies stories were. Most of their problems are similar to what we experience today, but with the added constraints of the women being under their male relatives authority. These are strong women looking to make their lives better. Most of the women of Ivy Hill are making the transition to being independent. I can't wait to read the next installment. Ms. Klassen is definitely on my list of must-read authors.

I was given this book for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

New from the Top Author of Inspirational Regency Romance

Return to Ivy Hill in The Ladies of Ivy Cottage as friendships deepen, romances blossom, and mysteries unfold.

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?

About the author;


Following
Biography
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Her book, The Silent Governess, was also a finalist in the Minnesota Book Awards, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards, and Romance Writers of America's RITA Awards. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage picks up the stories of Mercy Grove, Jane Bell, and Rachel Ashford from the previous book. Mercy continues teaching at her girls’ school and is even asked to become the guardian for one of her pupils. But when her matchmaking parents try to rectify her spinsterhood, her settled way of life and dreams of the future are threatened. The neighboring hotel owner James Drake continues a friendly flirtation with the widowed innkeeper Jane, but what is the secret reason behind his real interest in Ivy Hill?

Rachel receives the most “airtime” in this installment of the series. Courted by her cousin Nicholas Ashford, she still feels her heartstrings pulled by the neighboring landowner, Sir Timothy. And until she can make up her mind to marry, she must find a way to support herself. A goodly part of the novel is devoted to the circulating library that Rachel establishes in the drawing room of Mercy’s school. The neighboring village people begin to patronize the library, paying subscriptions that contribute to Rachel’s livelihood and donating books that contribute to the plot of the story.

Because of the library theme, the novels of Jane Austen figure prominently in the story. Several of the story lines reflect threads from Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion’s second chance romance proves a prototype for one of the relationships.

The first half of the book rehashes a lot of the exposition and feelings from the original book of the series. The mysterious elements that trademark Klassen’s books are mostly absent until the middle of the story, and even when secrets began to tantalize and unfold, this book was not quite as page turning as her other novels.

Despite the lack of action in the first part of the novel, the second half resolves the romantic future of one of our heroines nicely. And, as is fitting for a series, the conclusion leaves the futures of the other two heroines suspended in perplexing dilemmas…which I am looking forward to seeing resolved in the next tale from Ivy Hill.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I had never heard of how libraries got their start, and found that very interesting. I have not read any previous books in the series, but didn't feel confused by any of the story lines. The main character was likable, as were the supporting characters. The flow of the book was a little slow, and it took me quite a while to get through it. I can't put my finger on what exactly it was that seemed to weigh the storylines down, but perhaps the main character's internal dialogue? So much drama in this book too. The more rich men that were introduced, the more difficult it was to keep them straight. However, I do love this author and will happily read more books by her, and would continue with this series as well.