'Beyond Ivy Walls' follows Sade West and Otis Taylor. Sadie West's dad has had a horrible accident, leaving him unable to work. With bills that need to be paid and a harvest that won't work itself, Sadie moves to Monticello to make some extra money while her mom and sisters stay to work the farm. She ends up homeless and squats in an abandoned factory. When Otis Taylor discovers her in his factory, he's intrigued by this beautiful woman and offers her a job in his mansion. Otis Taylor has a health issue that only affects his looks. His father sent him away and he never felt loved or cared for. When his older brother passes away, he comes back home to settle affairs. With anger buried deep, he gets to know Sadie, and he learns that not everything is as it seems.

This book was incredible! I loved the character growth of Otis and Sadie. Their blooming, slow-burn romance was a page-turner. The likenesses to Beauty and the Beast were enough to keep you intrigued, but not too much to where it seemed like a copy. The mystery added in was great! Some of the sentences didn't flow well or felt 'cringy' to me. Otherwise, I loved it and would recommend it for sure!

This is another beautifully written story by Rachel Fordham! I loved the characters and there were glimmers of Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast woven throughout. Ultimately, this is a story about love in all its forms....friendship, acceptance, mentorship, romantic love, and more. My favorite parts were the letters and the epilogue. It is one of the most perfect epilogues I have ever read.

The plot didn't grab me and the characters didn't seem sympathetic or relatable until the hero's sacrifice. Other readers who enjoy a subtle nod to the Beauty and the Beast trope may enjoy this title.

4.75 Stars. But I'll give it 5 stars since I can't be that specific. :)

Beyond Ivy Walls is another beautiful and rich novel by Rachel Fordham who wrote another book I enjoyed The Letter Tree last year. Beyond Ivy Walls is another historical fiction set in the Christian fiction genre.

This book definitely has Beauty & the Beast vibes in parts, but the real villain is definitely Otis' father. The child abuse that man inflicted on Otis because of Otis' medical issue was just...ARGH!
Otis suffers from severe alopecia. No hair on head, no eyebrows, no eyelashes. During that time period, it's practically a death sentence for your social life. But to compound the issue with scars from his father's "treatments". Sigh.

I really loved Sadie's family and how their love spills over to fill the dry cracks of Otis' loveless life.

One of the most intense parts was definitely when Otis finally goes to the attic and finds not only his mother's things but the chest of "tonics and oils" that represent all that is his father. And the moment he "loses it" is so cathartic to him emotionally and he was finally able to move on.

I loved the roller skating aspect of it and SAdie's rules. The ending was sooo sweet and I admit I cried in the epilogue. It was the PERFECT ending. <3

So if I couldn't stop reading it, and cried and got mad...why only 4.75 stars?
Well. Once again. The lack of God moments. There were so so so so so many times that there could have been scripture shared by the characters. So many times that stories from the Bible would have been perfect talking points. But nothing. For a book listed as Christian fiction to yet again NOT even have the characters going to church... much less any scripture reference. Well. It's just really encouraging clean historical fiction with a great message.

It's getting very frustrating to keep having this new trend of taking God OUT of Christian fiction and having it be just "feel good".

So PERSONALLY 4.5 stars because of that. But as I said--writing wise 5 stars.

*I was given a complimentary copy of the ARC by the publishers and NetGAlley. I was not required to writing a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own!

This is the first book I have read by Rachel Fordham and it will not be my last. Her writing style kept me engaged. I fell in love with Sadie and enjoyed her interaction with Otis. The similarities to Beauty & the Beast made it such an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

This story is a true gem with the nostalgic feel of beauty and the beast. A lovely reminder on where beauty is found and how love goes deeper than appearances.

I loved the relationship between Sadie and Otis. It was wonderful to see their friendship blossom into something more. Through hardship and laughter, they find strength in each other.

Between Sadie's struggles to try and know her heart and Otis trying to be free from the past, you will find yourself rooting for their happily ever after.


I was given a free ebook but my thoughts and opinions are my own

Rachel Fordham is one of those authors that reaches down deep and delves into the heart of an issue exposing all of its flaws. When she is finished the reader feels led to take up that cause. Beyond Ivy Walls was an inspiring, emotional roller coaster. The story opens with the return of Otis Taylor to his ancestral home to settle affairs left after the deaths of his father and brother. We are given glimpses of his life's story, of his exile due to him losing his hair, to scars that he bares, and his musical genius. We also meet Sadie West, a young lady sent to Monticello to work to help pay for her father's medical bills. Sadie is found living in the abandoned factory belonging to Otis Taylor. Though Otis wants to go back into his exile, he offers Sadie a job and a place to live. As I read this story many things came to mind. Mrs. Fordham is a Christian author and you can see that in her writing, but the theme that was most prevalent to me in this book was the theme of bullying. Often times people get bullied by others for the way they look, the things they lack, or just for meanness. If you can't stand up to a bully, tell someone and let them help you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is one of those books that you want to read over again.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy. The review I gave is entirely my own opinion.

“You are so much more than your scars and what happened within these walls. You have heart.”

This sweet story, set in 1903, features Sadie West, 23, who has been forced to leave her family farm in rural Iowa and seek employment at the Hoag Feather Duster Co., a factory in Monticello. Her father’s riding accident left him bedridden and Sadie has to work to support her parents and younger siblings.

After a few unplanned disappointments, she’s discovered by Otis Taylor, Monticello’s musical genius and eligible bachelor. Otis and Sadie overcome insurmountable odds because they each realize that they are different and gather inner strength to work through their insecurities together, hoping to love and be loved in return.

Fordham asks readers to consider our definition of ‘normal’ and how we care for one another - are we looking beyond the surface and at each other’s hearts? She reminds us that we are all unique and all have moments when we are not as we appear. We shouldn’t let what people say limit us as to what we’re capable of doing. We are all our own definitions of normal.

Although this Beauty and the Beast inspired novel is about love’s transformative power, it’s also about:

✔️Sacrificial love
✔️Freedom; from physical captivity/exile (manor) and social expectations
✔️Dangers of judging on appearances
✔️Warning about the value of character over appearance
✔️Pain we cause when we are quick to judge
✔️Desire to be a complete and true version of ourselves
✔️Acceptance and compassion
✔️Supporting each other through adversity; pushing to the edge of fear

“Why can’t it be normal to be varied and different? In a world full of colors and shapes and backgrounds, who decided we were all supposed to be the same?”

It was good to be reminded:

1) to stretch to accept something different about ourselves and others. We should all strive to have eyes like Sadie, eyes that look deep inside and see the best in people.
2) to be the hero of our own story. Dare to think differently and show compassion.
3) We are all scarred and flawed in different ways - different kinds of ‘normal’.

This slow, gently probing story has a BIG impact even days later. Allow it room to impact you.

I was gifted this copy by Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

So this book is another look at the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, but Rachel Fordham has done a masterful job in bringing all the bits and pieces of the tale to life. She put the characters in the early 1900s, so while it is historical, it is also a bit more modern.

Sadie West has been working at the feather duster factory in Monticello, Iowa, when she is turned out of her boarding house for someone who will pay more. She finds an abandoned factory to shelter in, and bathes in a freezing cold creek, but it is the only water available to her. She is found out and then given a position at the Taylor mansion to help clean it up and get it ready to sell. This is in addition to her job at the duster factory. She is sending money home to pay for her father's doctor bills after he had an accident on the farm. She is also paying the mortgage on the farm so that her family doesn't lose their home.

Otis Taylor is the only remaining Taylor alive and comes back to Monticello to settle his brother's estate. He'd been sent away because he was scarred and disfigured and his father didn't want to look at him. Otis has quite a chip on his shoulder for the way his family treated him, but he eventually finds that his chip is too heavy to carry.

Alta is one of the lesser characters but she plays an important part in the movement of the plot. She so wants to be the one that Otis courts when he returns to town. She's a little bit of a gold digger and a bit entitled, and plays the parts well. When she finds that Sadie has been working for Otis for a while, she throws a temper tantrum worthy of a two year old.

Beyond Ivy Walls has everything a reader could desire--a little bit of romance, a little bit of mystery, hard decisions, and a coming to terms with circumstances. I love the Beauty and the Beast type stories I've read and other than one written by Robin McKinley, this is the best one I've read. Robin's is an extremely well-done rendition of the tale, while Rachel's is a more modern retelling. It is still a five star book with two thumbs up and a beast who cares about family troubles.

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

In Rachel Fordham's Beyond Ivy Walls, Sadie West must leave her family farm to find a job in the city of Monticello, Iowa, to help make ends meet after her father's injuries. Otis Taylor, the city's mysterious bachelor, secretly returns home following his brother's death and finds Sadie squatting in an abandoned factory, He makes a proposition to her that he will allow her to live in his mansion if she works part-time as a maid while continuing her job at the Hoag duster factory.

Sadie soon realizes that Otis's return to his family home doesn't bring back happy memories, but rather anger due to his father sending him away because of Otis's health. Over time, Otis softens to this warm and welcoming new friend. However, a secret Sadie holds may cause him to question his growing feelings for her and hers in return.

As a more modern (early 1900s) take on Beauty and the Beast, I felt nostalgic reading Beyond Ivy Walls. The character development for Otis was spot on. My heart broke because of his insecurities, yet I could see him grow through the novel. Sadie was slightly less developed, in my opinion, but her attitude towards those with physical differences is a stark contrast to the rest of the town. With lovable secondary characters like the West family and Otis's mansion workers Leon and Mildred and witty banter between Otis and Sadie, this novel is quite the entertaining read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

While I thought that this book was a little stiff and slow in the beginning, I really enjoyed it by the end (staying up too late to finish it). Although some parts of the storyline are predictable, the author does a nice job retelling Beauty and the Beast. Her characters are likeable, and she brings to life a real condition that impacts people.

I would recommend this book for people looking for an enjoyable historical romance told from a Christian perspective.

I really enjoyed reading this book and had a hard time putting it down. I especially loved how the author shares her love for adoption in this book and doing the best for the child even when it hurts.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book for review

This was a delightfully enjoyable story. I love Fordham's easy to read style, and she always has some of the sweetest characters.

Otis definitely had some beast from Beauty and the Beast vibes which is a slightly overused trope, but thankfully it was well done and didn't take away from the story. He was generally a really likeable character. And really had a soft heart which I loved. I also felt genuine sympathy for his past.

I loved Sadie and her bond that she had with her sisters. The West sisters definitely gave me some Little Women vibes, which was so fun and well done. The parents were also great.

The plot and mystery kept me intrigued and turning pages while not causing stress.

There weren't really any Christian themes, but it was a heartwarming, sweet, and clean historical read.

* I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I was looking forward to checking this book out, since the concept and cover intrigued me, but I found it hard to get into the book. This was mainly because it's much harder to get me interested in an American set novel over a European set one. Ms Fordham's writing is beautiful and the characters have distinct and interesting voices. In future, I may try this book again, but it wasn't the right time for me now.

In 1903 Sadie West had to leave her family farm and go to work at a feather duster factory in a small Iowa town. She was paid a small amount, which covered her rent and paid her fathers' mortgage as he had gotten injured falling from a horse and could not work. Her sisters worked the family farm and tried to bring in the crops to help.

But Sadie lost her home to a higher paying renter, so she searched for new lodgings and found an abandoned building next to a mansion. Sadie had heard about a rich musician named Otis Taylor who was coming back to Monticello to settle his affairs.

Sadie had taken a dip in the creek near the house and she was chased home by a big dog with a fancy collar who followed her into the building and slept with her.

A few nights later Otis Taylor, who owned the mansion went looking for his dog Wolf and found Sadie!

Beyond Ivy Walls
Rachel Fordham
This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The setting is the early 1900s. Sadie’s family was destitute; she had no choice but to leave her beloved home to work in the Hoag duster factory. There is no money for a place for her to stay because she sends all her money home to her family. She is forced to take shelter in an abandoned building.
Otis Taylor is back but determined to keep it a secret. He finds Sadie hiding in a building belonging to his family. He rashly decides to hire her but makes her promise not to tell anyone. The home he grew up in brings back memories deep dark memories where he wants them to stay. Sadie becomes his salvation, the bright light in his dark existence.
This is a squeaky-clean romance. The characters are captivating. The relationship between Sadie and Otis was charming. This is a Christian novel, but it is not preachy.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book for review;

A wonderful story that I was unable to put down. It is a huge reminder of God's grace and courage in facing life's challenges. Such depth and delightful characters that shows new meaning of family and community.

This book has it all!
There is a young man, burdened by the acts of a selfish parent. A man who has been in isolation for many years, scarred physically and emotionally.
And there is a young woman, a beauty, both inside and out, who is trying hard to help her family, to save the farm, and willing to sacrifice her comfort for them.
A chance meeting, and some wise helpers, assist these two on an adventure of healing, acceptance, and love.
The growth that is experienced, the selflessness shown, the letting go of pain, all this brings together a wonderful story.
This story touched my heart. I am sad to leave it!

This was a great book. It is a beauty and the beast retelling. This story was so addictive. I could not put is down. The romance was so sweet.

Book Review: Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me the opportunity to read and review and ARC of this novel.

Otis is from a wealthy family but is scared from a disease and many failed cures (Both externally and internally). Sadie is from a wonderful family who is dealing with hard times and she is in a desperate situation. Through chance they find each other. He brings her on as staff which helps her situation and she, along with helping the caretakers of his home, helps him overcome these scars from his past.

This is a wonderful, clean and sweet book that has Beauty and the Beast vibes. It, however, lacked the depth that I am accustomed to from Rachel Fordham. Therefore, this is probably my least favorite of her books which I have read. This book touched on several subjects that I would have enjoyed seeing a more indepth look at- the dealing with the scars and the dealing with best care for an orphaned child. The faith content was extremely light- a few mentions of church and praying. The opportunity was there for a much greater amount of faith and it could easily be done without being preachy.

I will continue to read books by this author even though this one didn’t really do it for me. I would recommend this book to people looking for clean, sweet, historical romances. If you are looking for in depth dives into hard subjects or strong faith content this would not be the book for you.