Dry in parts but a lovely story! Love how the "difference" of the MMC was so unique. The way everything was connected was interesting too. Really loved how the whole story was wrapped up.

Jane Eyre vibes, wrapped in a storyline remeniscient of Beauty and the Beast, with a dash of epistolary, this book had so many things to draw me in. I was also pleasantly surprised to read the author's note at the end of the story and learn that it was written by a foster mom.
I was interested in the story from start to finish. It also had many literary references; which I cannot help but love. I will say, that the lower star rating is simply because I typically do not read stories where the main focus is on the romance.
I would definitely recommend this title. I plan to read the backtitle The Letter Tree and will look forward to additonal new releases by Rachel Fordham.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to preview this book.

3.5 Stars. In Iowa in 1903, Sadie West has been working at the Hoag feather duster factory, hoping to save enough money to help her family. She seeks shelter at a nearby abandoned building, until she comes face-to-face with the owner, Otis Taylor, who had kept himself hidden away due the scars that tarnish his appearance. Otis allows Sadie to stay, and the two begin to form a friendship as they embark on a journey to try to find Otis’ long lost niece.

I absolutely loved all the nods to Beauty and the Beast in the plot of this novel—I’m a huge fan of the fairy tale and I think the author did an incredible job tying in aspects of Beauty and the Beast while creating a completely unique story as well. I also really appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book where she noted her personal connections to the story, as well as the research done to ensure historical accuracy. While I enjoyed the premise and plot, the one thing that fell short for me was the pacing—I felt like parts of the book were a bit slow. Overall, it was a decent read!

Thank you to UpLit Reads and Thomas Nelson Publishing for my gifted copy and including me in this book campaign, as well as NetGalley for my gifted e-galley!

As someone who isn't typically a fan of romance novels, I loved this story! The writing was extremely immersive and I felt sucked right into each scene, excited to follow each storyline to the end.

Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another amazing book by Rachel. Well done.

Hard to put down retelling of Beauty and the beast. Sweet love story of Otis and Sadie.
Otis a man scarred physically, mentally and emotionally. Incapable of being loved. But a beautiful girl with a great heart named Sadie will heal his broken heart.

Beyond Ivy Walls was a beautiful story of acceptance & love. A twist on Beauty & the Beast, Otis & Sadie gripped my heart in ways I didn't think were possible. There were aspects that reminded me of Phantom of the Opera as well. I was left in tears at the end. You won't regret reading this one. Rachel Fordham is a delightful storyteller.

“What is normal? 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’s always a treat to read a book by Rachel Fordham, and Beyond Ivy Walls is no exception. With vibes of Beauty and the Beast and references to Jane Eyre, the storyline pulled me in and kept me turning pages. Set in Iowa in the early 1900s, it features Sadie West who is working in a feather duster factory and Otis Taylor who is returning to his home in the same town. Otis is somewhat of a recluse because of physical and emotional scars but is also an accomplished pianist and heir to the family home and land. When he reluctantly returns to settle the family affairs, he meets Sadie who is trying to help her family survive while her father heals from an injury. These main characters, along with a stellar cast of secondary characters, are engaging, relatable and well-drawn. I enjoyed the banter between them and the changing relationship as they got to know each other.

“Plans are a good thing, if they’re held lightly. Some folks hold on too tight and they can’t let go when life changes.”

This story is well-written and captivating with themes of acceptance of others and the importance of families, whether they are biological or pieced together with love. I enjoyed the author’s note at the end with a little background on the writing of this book. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a new-to-me author and she has captured my attention with this wonderful story. It reminds me of a mix of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. Otis and Sadie have some hurdles to overcome in their lives. Can they lean on each other and stand at the edge of fear? Great read!
This book was provided to me by the publisher. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

"You must think me a weak man." "No. You are at the edge of your fear. That makes you strong, not weak.”

Sadie West is a courageous and caring daughter who leaves the country to take a job at a feather duster company in the city. Facing the adversity of a co-worker and making the best of her situation endeared me to her. She was a fierce and loyal friend and someone everyone would love to have in their lives.

Seeing Otis change from an embittered, wounded, and lonely man to realizing he is special and treasured was what I loved most about the story. The author wrote such a beautiful and poignant story that I was captivated with Sadie and Otis and their love story. This story really couldn’t have been any better.

I absolutely loved this retelling of the Beauty and the Beast that is set in the Midwest. It goes well beyond the fairy tale by Otis being brave enough to do something that was extremely scary for him and Sadie helping others to show they see him for who he is and not just his appearance.

Things to Love:
the mansion
Blue-Wolf
letter writing
Jane Eyre references
found family
humor
music
roller skating lessons
lovable staff

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views are only my opinion. I was not required to write a review.

If you could jump into any fairytale, which one would you pick? I’ve always thought of Beauty and the Beast mainly because I want the library that is in the Disney cartoon.

Beyond Ivy Walls is a Beauty and the Beast type story. Sadie West’s father has been in an accident, and her family desperately needs money. Sadie goes to work in Monticello Iowa at a feather duster factory to earn money to help her family. While there through a series of unfortunate events, she found herself homeless and living in an abandoned factory. One day she befriends a dog only to discover that he belongs to a mysterious man who has just returned to his family estate. Otis Taylor was sent away by his father years before and has only recently returned after the death of his brother to settle the estate. He discovers that his brother may have had a secret child and that he may still have family in this world. He also discovers Sadie living in his abandoned factory. Will Otis find his brother’s daughter? Will Sadie be able to help her family? Will these two find love?

My thoughts on the novel:

• Poor Otis has alopecia and loses his hair as a child. His father tries many “cures” such as pouring boiling oil on top of his head, which scarred Otis for life. His father never had him come home again and Otis spent his life alone. He longs to feel loved and to have a family.

• The one good thing Otis’s father did was to send him to a place where he can practice his beautiful music and become a great musician.

• Sadie is ridiculed at the factory for being dirty and smelly. There is a pretty viscous “mean girl” in this novel. Luckily, the kind servants who live in the Taylor mansion offer her a part time job which includes board.

• The story was told through the alternating viewpoints of Otis and Sadie.

• I especially enjoyed that there were many mentions of Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester throughout the novel.

• This was a clean read.

• I really enjoyed the author’s note. Author Rachel Fordham described her research including a real feather duster company and skating rinks in early twentieth century Monticello Iowa. She also included a picture of the historical factory and the patent of the “featherless” duster. It was interesting and made for a very unique setting and story.

• I enjoyed the mystery of trying to find Otis’s niece. That story had many twists and turns.

• This novel really made me ponder what is “normal?” There is a beautiful scene in the epilogue where a doctor has “horrible” news about a facial birthmark of a child, but the mother only sees the child as beautiful.

• As it is a Beauty and the Beast type story, I did enjoy the overall theme of looking beyond appearance and looking at the character and personality of the person.

• There are also great discussion questions at the end of this novel for a book club.

Overall, Beyond Ivy Walls is a lovely historical romance novel with a unique setting, and thoughtful story.

This sweet story gave me some memories of watching Rigoletto as a young girl. It’s a story full of feisty personalities, but also tender care. I love how Sadie really does represent the eldest daughter in the way she does anything she can for her family. I loved seeing Otis’ heart soften. I also appreciate that both characters’ growth were not strictly linear. Instead, there were mountains and valleys - but love won out. This is a sweet G-rated read with alopecia representation and a beautiful Iowa backdrop.

A beautiful story reminiscent of my favorite Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. Ms. Fordham has woven together a tale that will capture your heart and soul with its humor, hardships, pain, and enduring characters. It brings to light how we judge others by not only appearance, but also the hand life has dealt them and the choices they have to make.

This gripping story was very difficult to put down. I loved the characters of Sadie and Otis. The strength and courage they both possessed as they faced difficult situations that endured them to you even more. I finished this book with a sense of completeness that it was written so well.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

This was a lovely story. I liked the parallels to Beauty and the Beast without it being a complete retelling. The story was realistic and the characters were easy to like but it seemed a little slow and repetitive in the middle. I didn't see the "twist" coming until just before it happened and I liked how it was handled. This was my first book by the author and I would read more.

4.5/5 stars

This is my second book by Rachel Fordham, and I really really enjoyed Beyond Ivy Walls. I didn't know what to expect in this Beauty and the Beast-esq retelling but I grew to enjoy this story as it unfolded. There are tender, heartwarming moments, a bit of mystery, well written characters and a beautiful setting. If you enjoy a wholesome, historical fiction book, this one is for you. I can't wait to read more by this author.

Sadie and Otis' characters were so fun to see together and how they grew to be more outgoing and challenge each other was great! The epilogue was amazing, and I loved these characters.

You'd like this book if you like:
-slow burn, clean romance stories
-Historical Fiction
-A bit of mystery
-Letter elements
-big family dynamics

What another expected little gem of a book. What we find in these pages is a Beauty and the Beast-esq story that is filled with heartwarming moments, loveable side characters, and the perfect amount of added faith elements. If you enjoy a wholesome, historical romance that will have you feeling all the feelings, then this one's for you!

Pick this one up if you like:

-Slow burn, clean romance stories
-Historical Fiction
-Christian elements
-The perfect amount of mystery
-Letter elements
-A great group of side characters
-Some discussion on heavy topics
-EXCELLENT banter

This was my first book by Rachel Fordham, and it will not be my last. Her writing has a way of pulling you in and pushing you along! I am so glad she was put on my radar, and I can’t wait to see what she is working on next.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 ✨
•Beauty and the Beast retelling
•strangers to more
•Jane Eyre nods
•letters
•roller skating
•supportive friends and family
•Iowa, 1903
•small town feels
•a little mystery

This was such a tender romance and a lovely retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed the nods to the original, but this beautifully stands on its own.

Strangers to more is one of those tropes that always sneaks up on me and I absolutely love it. The unlikely way that Otis and Sadie met was so much fun, and the friendship that developed between them was achingly sweet.

Sadie had such a beautiful spirit about her. I love how selfless she was for her family and how she always looked for the inner beauty of everyone she met, especially Otis.

Otis was such a broken man and Sadie really helped him to see his worth. He had so many opportunities and seemingly every right to be selfish, but he too put others first. He and Sadie were perfect for each other. The way they bonded through the letters and roller skating was so heartwarming.

I also loved Leon and Mildred and their matchmaking, Blue/Wolf, and Sadie’s sisters. I enjoyed the dual POVs and highly recommend this on audio as there is a male and female narrator. This was my first book by Rachel Fordham, but it won’t be my last!

Content: kisses

Thank you to the author, Thomas Nelson and Austenprose for the gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

"Beyond Ivy Walls" is a beautifully-written and inspiring book from author Rachel Fordham! The early 20th century setting was well-researched and is described with clarity that helps the reader to easily picture the setting, locations, characters, and what is happening in the story. The characters feel three-dimensional and like real people of that time period along with personalities, thoughts, emotions, and personal, familial difficulties of their own. I love Otis and Sadie! It was lovely to see the change in their connection from their unusual and cute first meeting to later on in the story as their feelings for/first impressions of each other change. I really enjoyed reading the letters exchanged between them. I thought that was a very fun narrative choice! The wit, banter, and humor in this book are wonderful. This is a story that has beauty, emotion, and style! The speed of the plot is perfect, the author's writing style is smooth, the characters are lovable, the plot is enthralling, and the romance is sweet and full of emotional depth. I very highly recommend this book! 5 stars!

Thank you very much to the author Rachel Fordham, Austenprose PR, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of this book tour and for providing me with physical and digital copies to read and review honestly. Thank you!

Y’all, I am completely obsessed with this book! I love a good love story, but this was just something else. The Beauty and the Beast vibes, the unique setting of a place so small it would never hit your radar (exactly like where I grew up), the hold your breath kind of romance…it has it all. Definitely find yourself a copy! I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

The characters and setting of this book immediately drew me in. The "Ivy Walls" part of the title didn't come into play very much, but I can forgive that because I really did enjoy the characters, especially Mr. Taylor. I always appreciate seeing representation of different diseases and thought that his alopecia was used as a defining characteristic while not making it his whole identity. His character growth was intriguing to read.

The FMC, on the other hand, was a little too much "happy sunshine" for my tastes. I liked that she worked hard and sacrificed, but I wanted to see her get mad or complain once in a while, as she really did have a rotten job and was in depressing circumstances.

The supporting characters are what make this story really shine. Overall, this was an enjoyable, fairly quick read and a new take on the Beauty and the Beast trope.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sending me an electronic copy to review. All opinions are my own.

In case you don’t already know, Fordham is one of my favorite authors and Christian Fiction is one of my least favorite genres 🤯 She has a way of writing extraordinarily developed characters in beautiful, historically accurate settings while keeping the plot moving along at an enjoyable pace and Beyond Ivy Walls is no different! The romance is, of course, a beautiful bonus. Another five stars for Rachel Fordham!