Member Reviews

When I grow up, I want to be Rachel Fordham. I keep thinking: how does one learn to write such awesome stories?

This is not my first book by Mrs. Fordham, and let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. I liked the Beauty and the Beast vibes, but what I loved most was the bond between the West sisters. It constantly reminded me of the March sisters and was such a cute thing.♡
As for the romance, I couldn't help but simply adore it. I didn't wish for this book to end. I wanted more of Sadie and Otis. I loved her sweet person and the way she understood him so well. As for Otis, while I could not understand the depth of what he's been trough, I loved to see him overcoming his past.
So, give me all the Rachel Fordham future books, 'cause I'm here for them.

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Oh, You Need to Read This Book!

Every new Rachel Fordham book is my favorite until she writes another. This one is really special. Set in 1903 Iowa, Fordham tells a romantic tale of a lost soul and the ever encouraging young woman who helps him find the courage and grace to hold to a home that didn’t welcome him. One that spun memories of shame and abandonment, transporting him into an upbringing of loneliness.

This love story is so beautifully written with banter and bargaining and highs and lows mixed with the tension and emotion that comes with true friendship.

I love that Fordham subtlety gives the reader nudges toward the whole story which, for me, makes the book a deeper read. Clues are divulged along the way to fill in the blanks regarding Otis’ past and what had shaped Sarah’s plan for her future…both asking what love really is and what it is not.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

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2.5⭐️ I’ll just be straight up and say I skimmed the last 150 pages and just couldn’t. Stories like this do not do it for me. Their romance was lacking, the storyline/plot was not intriguing, and I was not invested in any part of it. I also think the era (early 1900s) is not my favorite for historical romance. Another thing that made it hard to read.

Otis’ backstory was extremely tragic and honestly hard to stomach. I’m glad for Sadie and her love and understanding for him (she was very sweet), but any more than that, I really didn’t love much of this book.

Ultimately, I never got hooked. I need to be hooked from the first chapter. And if I’m not, it’s hard for me to be invested and press on.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Rachel Fordham for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing the slow unfolding of Sadie and Otis’ friendship and romance, I loved the look into their pasts and their very different families and home lives, and of course the Beauty and the Beast tie-in. However, there are a couple issues I had toward the end of the book.

Early on in the book, Sadie very often thought about her faith—with references to her praying for her family, for her father’s health, and for her to be able to keep her job and have a place to live. Otis’ was a bit more complicated, as his was partially his faith that was kept strong through memories of his mother’s love for him and partially his insecurities due to how his father had treated him. But it was interwoven into the story very well for most of the book.

However, it seemed that the further into the book I got, the less faith content there was. Even when the characters were dealing with bigger immediate dilemmas and were trying to figure out the best decisions to make, prayer or reading the Bible or anything like that did not come into it. The only mention of God in the last quarter to third of the book is when Sadie tells Otis that her and her family are praying for a miracle (a cure for her father) and Otis realizes he could potentially be the one intended to provide that miracle.

The other part I didn’t care for is that, throughout the book, Sadie and Otis did really well in the first, roughly, two-thirds of the book when it came to talking about things that wouldn’t be easy. Even when they felt it might be easier not to bring something up or they were worried about how the other person would respond, they would still talk about it right away. So there was very little tension due to miscommunication or a lack of communication. Until the end of the book. At that point, all of a sudden, Sadie decides that she has to keep Elisabeth’s identity a secret from Otis until after the masquerade skate night. Why? All throughout the rest of the book, she talked to him about hard things, asked him hard questions, admitted things that she didn’t want to admit right away, so why was this the one thing she couldn’t bring herself to tell him? It doesn’t surprise me that Elisabeth’s identity was used as a point of tension for the last portion of the book, but because of what we had seen between Sadie and Otis prior to this realization, Sadie keeping the information from Otis didn’t feel in line with what we had come to expect from the characters.

Again, overall, it was a really good book and I really enjoyed my time reading it. There is also a lot of really good commentary on not judging people before you get to know them, on doing what you can to help others, and on doing what’s best for someone else even if it’s hard.

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By far this book is one of my favorites that I have read this year. Of course, I always love reading through one of this author's books as I know it's going to be a winner and this one is. It's a real page-turner that I couldn't put down. I was engrossed with the story line from the very beginning. The characters in this book captivated my heart, especially Otis and Sadie. This book is full of forgiveness, compassion, romance, and sacrifices. If you like stories where you feel so good while you are reading them, then you will also love this book by Rachel Fordham!



*Thank you to Netgalley & Thomas Nelson Publishing for an eBook copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion/review of this book!

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1903 Iowa and Sadie West must find a job to help support her family as her father has had an accident on the farm and is bedridden.

Otis Taylor left home as a young boy when his father sent him away because of health issue that led to his father trying remedies that only scarred Otis.

Sadie finds a job at a duster factory but has no money for a place to stay and finds an abandoned factory to sleep at each night. This factory is on Otis’s property and he finds Sadie there. Instead of throwing her out, he offers her a job in the house which includes shelter and food.

Otis is very self conscious of his appearance and it takes time for Sadie and Otis to build a relationship. But Sadie also has her family to think about and Otis has uncovered that he has a niece that he is trying to find.

This book will definitely be one of my favorite reads of 2024! The relationship between Otis and Sadie was one that had you turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen next!!!

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ng read several Rachel Fordham's books, I knew I would enjoy Beyond Ivy Walls...and I did. It is a wonderfully charming historical fiction. It captured my heart from the beginning and hung on until the highly satisfactory ending. Fordham has done a great job of drawing the reader into the scenes and the lives of her characters. The characters are strong and engaging, with emotions and reactions that resonated well with me. The story is not just about hard times survival and letting go of the past. It speaks to maturity and growth in understanding those around us and recognizing that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and self-worth comes from within not from our appearance or circumstances around us. I highly recommend this book for readers who love inspirational historical romance stories. I can't wait to read more from this author. I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

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I’ve been a fan of Rachel Fordham since I discovered her books last year. Whenever I’m in need of a wholesome, historical romance, with plot, substance, and great character development, she time and again delivers.

That’s why when I was approved for an ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley for Rachel's newest book I was over the moon excited. Especially, since once again, she set this story in my home state of Iowa.

BEYOND IVY WALLS is a play on the classic Beauty and the Beast storyline (a personal favorite of mine) and Rachel did a wonderful job at keeping those tones but making it fit her book.

FMC, Sadie, finds herself working at a factory in town to help pay for her father’s medical bills after he was hurt on the farm. She is carrying the weight of her family’s survival on her shoulders, while also struggling to keep a roof over her own head- something she remedies by finding an abandoned warehouse in town.

What she doesn’t realize is that the warehouse is property of the Taylor family, whose only surviving member is a reclusive son, Otis, who was harshly sent away years before when an illness caused him to lose all his hair (what we now know as alopecia). His father used very harsh ‘remedies’ in the hope of healing his son, but in the end all it left was physical and emotional scars.

Sadie and Otis develop a friendship and later a bit more with the help of her family and the Taylor mansion’s hired help, which were all wonderful side characters. As in all Rachel Fordham’s books- her couples truly are better together than they are apart, and she develops that fact so well throughout the story. It’s also extremely enjoyable and relatable as a reader to have main characters that aren’t physically perfect.

While the dialogue in this one wasn’t my favorite (at times it felt choppy) I will give a pass as it played into the awkward nature of both MCs. And it wouldn’t be a Fordham book without a little mystery, but I’ll admit, I didn’t see the plot twist coming on this one. It added such a beautiful element to the storyline in the way of portraying sacrificial love in its purest form.

My favorite part of BEYOND IVY WALLS came in the epilogue. Usually, an author only uses this part of the story to show the readers a ‘happily ever after’ a few years down the line. While still true here, there was an added bonus that took me by complete surprise and caused a few tears to well in my eyes. I don’t want to spoil anything, but it was a beautiful addition to bring the storyline full circle and then some.

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

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Part Beauty and the Beast, part Jane Eyre, Beyond Ivy Walls was such a wonderful story of acceptance and love without conditions.
Sadie, a young woman who has been tasked with bringing in extra money for her family due to extenuating circumstances, is having a rough go of it when Otis Taylor finds her living in his family's factory.

At that point, he decides--against his better judgement--to allow her to live with him in his large house and help her out.

Otis doesn't like to be around people because of his scars--both literal and figurative. He's used to rejection because of them. And so he doesn't even want anyone to know that he's back in town.

He and Sadie form a bond of friendship over time. He helps her with her financial needs and security and she helps him gain some confidence.
Their love story was sweet and innocent. And I loved getting to know them and all the side characters.

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MISSING SOMETHING.

I adored the first book in this series so much I jumped at the chance to receive a copy of book two (these can be read as standalones with no issues!!). But then I feel like I struggled way more than I hoped for getting through it.

The Beauty and the Beast vibes were definitely woven into the story. I could see the nods to the original and how it was adapted for a historical romance setting. I loved the unique set up for the FMC and how she came to meet the MMC. They had some sweet moments throughout and there’s good themes too. I enjoyed the small faith elements too. The side characters were charming and added to the story too.

I had issues with the aura and writing style of the book. And it’s hard to explain but it came across as if it was written as if the main cast were younger characters and not fully grown adults. I had a disconnect and struggled to stay engaged reading.

The audiobook was fantastic though. I love having two narrators for both the male and female leads. I thought they did a great job and if you want to try this book, absolutely recommend this format.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisse
Content Warnings: child abandonment and abuse

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"Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no match against an act of love.

Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis's appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family's affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only abandoned Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing toddler niece.

At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn't a romantic job, but she's hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building - and is thrown in the path of the town's mysterious bachelor.

Otis's wounds are deep, but as Sadie's friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. Locating his long-lost niece, however, is more difficult than either could have imagined, and Sadie West may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home."

Yes, romance, yes, recluse, I want to know more about the Hoag feather duster factory!

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I adored Beyond Ivy Walls! It’s the first novel that I’ve read by Rachel Fordham, but I’m adding her other novels to my TBR. The setting for this novel is 1903 Iowa which is something different from the usual novels I read. I found this Beauty and the Beast retelling refreshing and captivating!

After her father is badly injured, Sadie West must leave her home on the farm to work in Monticello. She’s been working at the Hoag feather duster factory. Sadie sends almost all of her money to her family which is why she finds herself homeless when another tenant can pay more for her room. Sadie seeks refuge in an abandoned factory which is how she meets the newly returned Otis Taylor. I love their meet cute!

Otis Taylor’s father sent him away many years ago, ashamed of his son’s condition and appearance. I won’t tell you anything more about it since it would be too spoiler-ish. When Otis’s brother dies, Otis has to return to Monticello to settle his late family’s affairs. He wants it to be over and done with as quickly as possible, so he can return to his solitary life. However, that meet cute with Sadie just might change his mind.

I adored these characters…flaws and all. The other characters in the book are just as well written as Sadie and Otis are. Mildred and Leon are the two that we get to know the most. They’ve been the caretakers at the Taylor home for many years and are very close to Otis. I love how their personalities are so warm and caring as compared to how Otis’s father treated him. Otis is the character who undergoes the most growth throughout the novel, and it’s wonderful to “watch.” Sadie does some growing up too, realizing that romance is so much different than how she pictured it. I loved meeting Sadie’s family and neighbors. I’d love having a book for each of Sadie’s sisters.

Beyond Ivy Walls is such a wonderful picture of finding a person’s value in who they are, not what they look like. It touches on forgiving those who never asked for forgiveness. That is especially hard when the person who’s hurt you has died. It also deals with sacrificial love and putting others’ feelings and wants above your own. I highly recommend it for these reasons and so many more!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and these characters. Otis Taylor has returned home after being sent away by his fathers years ago, now its up to him to deal with the family home and the business dealings. Due to his events from his past he has accepted life in the shadows and does not want to risk ridicule from others. Meanwhile Sadie has left the family farm to work at the duster factory to earn money to help the family after her father gets injured. Due to events she has been staying in an abandoned factory owned by the Taylor family, but no one knows. What happens when she is discovered changes the course of her life. I loved Sadie's perspective on life and her determination to work hard for family. I felt Otis' pain and could understand his struggle with being home, he comes across as a grump at first but you quickly see that he has a soft heart and will do anything for those he cares about. I loved how Sadie encouraged him and looked past his exterior to see his heart. There is a bit of a mystery going on trying to figure out who someone is and where they could be. Once some of those questions were answered Otis then needed to make some decisions and that was hard. It was like no matter which decision was made someone was going to get hurt. I also enjoyed the characters of Mildred and Leon, caretakers of the Taylor house. They each came out with some witty comments that made me laugh. One example is: "You're offering her room and board, not matrimony. It makes no difference what you look like." This was an enjoyable to read and I am pleased with the way the story wrapped up.

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Author Rachel Fordham has quickly become a favorite of many, and this book shows why. Fordham puts so much passion and depth into this story that I read it one day. There was no putting it down.


Life was not easy in 1903 and we meet Sadie, who is doing her best to help save her family home. That means being brave and doing hard, scary things. What an incredible character she is. Otis is a wounded individual, and rightly so. When you read about his life you’ll weep for him. Add long time servants that are beyond loyal, as well as Sadie’s family, and you have an incredible cast of characters that will seem real. And of course who doesn’t like seeing the mean girl deal with?


Beyond Ivy Walls also has mystery and you’ll love how that turns out. If you enjoy historical fiction with hope and home, then do get a copy of this book.


I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

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A few years ago I stumbled upon Yours Truly, Thomas and fell in love with Rachel Fordham’s writing. I immediately purchased her other books and preorder every new book that releases. Her stories are sweet and tender, they take place in the heartland of America during an era you don’t normally see written about.

Beyond Ivy Walls is an uplifting and heartwarming tale of a young woman who leaves her home to help support her family when her father is injured and can no longer work. Sadie secures job in a duster factory, but soon finds herself without a place to stay. That’s when an abandoned building becomes her refuge and she is soon discovered by Otis, the last surviving Taylor and the mysterious bachelor who has been far from home for far too long.

The journey from strangers to friends to more is beautiful and organic. Sadie is a breath of fresh air. She carefully and deftly cracks Otis’s gruff facade and his steely armor. She shows him that a person is more than their history or the appearance.

Otis has scars and pain. He was wounded and abandoned by the people who should have loved him the most. He is reluctant to forgive, closes himself off from the world and the possibility of genuine affection. That is until Sadie befriends his dog and works her way straight into his heart.

My favorite part of Rachel’s stories is the letter writing she incorporates. Letters are such personal and insightful windows to an individual’s soul. They are intimate and meaningful. Precious and comforting.

I enjoyed this Beauty and the Beast retelling immensely. The mystery added a layer of depth and that epilogue perfectly brought the story full circle.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

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Rachel has such a beautiful way of weaving a story that it tugs on your heartstrings. This one is no exception. I really was drawn right in from the beginning. Sadie’s determination and bravery were very impressive. Working in the city to help her family stay afloat and keep their farm after her father’s accident, she has no money for extras. When she loses her lodgings she takes up residence in an abandoned factory.

When the factory owner discovers her he decides to hire her instead of run her off. He’s been a lonely recluse his whole life. Sadie’s presence begins to fill his soul with light. With the beginnings of friendship he becomes hopeful once more.

I loved the dialogue between the two MCs, especially the letters. This is an uplifting and sweet story of loss and love. It is kisses only with no spice, but lots of tension. I highly recommend it.

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Sent away as a child due to health issues that his father perceived as shameful, Otis' return after his father and then brother's death is difficult. With ghosts of horror and disappointment everywhere, his old home is a place to flee as soon as possible. But the unexpected discovery of a young woman living in his family's long-abandoned factory first gives him something new to think about and then starts to bring light to his life. Sadie sees past the scars that seem so insurmountable - but can he learn to see himself the same way, and open himself up to the same rejection as he's experienced all his life? And can the rich city man and poor country girl have any future together, even if he is willing to step out of hiding?

This might be my favourite book by the author so far. There was something about Otis and his wounds (physical and emotional) that was deeply touching, and the way Sadie gently brought light and love into his life was just what he needed. Better still, he went out of his way to find ways to help her, too. I also appreciated the way that Leon and Mildred loved and supported him as his father should have and didn't. They made great secondary characters, as did her sisters in a more minor way. His father's treatment of him was horrible, but fortunately we only see enough to give a glimpse of what he's gone through, rather than the full picture. I also found the storyline of hunting for his niece beautifully done and the conclusion deeply satisfying - because showing love doesn't always look like we think it should, and involves caring for others more than ourselves. All in all, a great read and I look forward to more by the author.

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

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🌿BEYOND IVY WALLS🌿

Beyond Ivy Walls is a story set in early 1900s Iowa in a town called Monticello, the childhood home of the famous recluse musician Otis Taylor. When returning home, he plans to live a solitary life while solving the missing pieces of his late brother's life. It's here he has a chance encounter with a beautiful young lady, who happens to be living in his abandoned factory.

Sadie is one hard working, beautiful soul. I adored the beauty and the beast and Jane Erye vibes in this story as well as her determination to show Otis how special he is, scars and all. Great medical rep in here! Fun historical elements, quirky side characters and a unique working class romance as well. Otis is absolutely adorable!

It is always fun to see a fairytale like story within all genres. This is definitely one to add to your list. Beyond Ivy Walls publishes August 13th!

Thank you @austenprose for my #earc and @uplitreads for my physical copy. All thoughts are my own.

*Romance- kisses
*TW- child abandonment, childhood trauma

🌿QOTD- What are your favorite beauty and the beast retellings?🌿

#beyondivywalls #rachelfordham
#austenprose #uplitreads #thomasnelson #newrelease #augustpub #beautyandthebeast #fairytaleretelling #historicalromance #iowa #scarstoyourbeautiful #20thcentury #histfic

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Rachel Fordham’s new novel “𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘃𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀” has the undercurrent of a 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 story. A novel about a young woman who left her family farm to get employment at a feather duster factory. Not a fun job but a necessary one to help her family make ends meet. When Sadie finds herself seeking shelter in an abandoned building, she also finds herself in the path of the town’s mysterious bachelor. A man with his own buried pain. The mystery that surrounds this hidden man is more complex than anyone could imagine… and so is the love that she starts to feel. ⁣

The book gives a fantasy feel mixed with romance. I can definitely see how it was described as a Beauty and the Beast retelling… as we follow along Sadie & Otis’ story. I thought it was a simple read, perhaps could even be marketed towards a YA book. One I enjoyed.

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This book by Rachel Fordham is beautiful, inside and out! I loved the plot, the characters, and the setting.

I loved Sadie. She's the kind of young woman who is willing to work hard for her family. Her father has been injured and she moved to a different city to work in a factory, in order to pay the family's bills. I loved her ingenuity. She ends up having to live in an abandoned building. And that's how she meets Otis.

Otis is a young man who is scarred from his childhood, both inside and out. I loved that the reader gets to see things through his eyes as well as Sadie's. The way Sadie is able to get him to see his life through a different lens is one of my favorite things about the book. And the way he, in turn, is able to help Sadie was so beautiful.

I did not want to put this book down!

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