This was another sweet romance by Rachel Fordham! This historical takes place in Monticello, IA. Sadie is a young woman who has taken it upon herself to move to the city to get a job to help her family when her father becomes injured. It is about this same time that Otis Taylor returns "home" to clear out his childhood home and sell it to get rid of the bitter memories contained within. When Sadie's and Otis's paths cross, the unexpected happens! I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I believe Sadie and I would have been good friends. The meddling servants, the friend who serves as Sadie's postman and Sadie's sisters all added some fun dynamics to the character interactions as well. And of course the dog was among my favorite of the characters. This story had a beauty and the beast vibe, which added a bit more fun to it as well. And it also had roller skating, which is a hobby not often seen in books, which added another element of fun too.

This story was primarily a story of character growth and development. But for this plot-loving reader, there was enough of a plot-line to keep me turning pages. There was a mystery surrounding Elisabeth, some tension in the romance plot, and some question regarding Sadie's father's health, as well as the plot surrounding preparation for the masquerade. I enjoyed the letter-writing element and the orphan aspect in the story as well, which are themes this author does very well. I also enjoyed the banter between Sadie and Otis and the family dynamics of Sadie's family. This is marketed as Christian fiction, but was what I would consider "Christian-light" as the faith thread was pretty subtle, but it was present. All in all, this was an enjoyable historical novel and one I can easily recommend. Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Sadie is a young woman who moved to Monticello to work in a feather factory in order to send money back to her family. Her father has been confined to bed after an injury, and her mother and sisters are trying to keep the farm going. Working in the factory is a lonely experience for Sadie. Between the coworkers and the job itself, she just tries to get through every day.

Interestingly enough, the women gossip all day, and Sadie has heard about Otis, the son of a rich family in Monti. He left town years ago to develop his musical talent, and the rumor is that he is returning anytime. All of Monti is excited to see how this handsome, rich man has turned out, and the young ladies are hoping for a chance to be courted by him. But Otis doesn’t want anyone to know he has returned. He just wants to finalize his family’s affairs and leave Monti for good.

But Sadie has other dreams, though. She is anticipating the day she can return home, and the man she loves will return from school and declare his love for her.

This is the 4th book I've read by Rachel Fordham, and I am enjoying them. I loved this story! It took me a little bit to get into it, but once it got going I was all in. Sadie is sweet, compassionate and hopeful, while Otis needs a friend to pull him out of his pain. I loved both of them. With Sadie it was the writing, and with Otis it was his music.

If you want to swoon over your books, this has some scenes that will make your heart melt. Just 😍!

You will enjoy this book if you like...
🌿 Sweet, clean romance
🌿 Family secrets
🌿 Beauty & the Beast vibes
🌿 Strong female characters
🌿 Character development
🌿 The swoon factor

Content:
❤️ Only sweet kisses
⚠️ Mild descriptions of physical injury & emotional abuse, child abandonment

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

When her father is injured, Sadie goes to work at a feather duster factory to help her family pay the bills. She doesn't enjoy all the gossip the other girls engage in, but listens just to help pass the time. Otis Taylor, younger son of a well to do family, is the subject of much of the gossip. Will he ever return to town and share his music with them? Could one of the girls get him to fall for her? Sadie loses her room in the boarding house and stays in a vacant factory by the Taylor home, she becomes friends with Otis's dog and eventually meets Otis. He is not the man the townspeople think he is. As the friendship between Otis and Sadie develop, she helps him overcome some of his insecurities and his reclusive nature. In turn, he helps her father. In Beyond the Ivy Walls, Rachel Fordham give us a window into the world of someone who suffers from a debilitating condition, someone who was rejected by his father, someone who is afraid. She helps us see what kindness and acceptance can mean.
It was a wonderful read. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

I love everything Rachel Fordham writes, and this one is no exception.
An overall delightful and enjoyable read, with some of the sweetest and likable characters.
The plot kept me intrigued, and I ended up reading this all in one night.
Highly recommend this sweet and wholesome story set in turn of the century Iowa.

Early 1900s

Sadie is forced to go looking for work when her father is hurt in an accident and can’t work on their farm, as the eldest, Sadie takes a job at a duster factory to send home the money to help her family.

Otis Taylor has returned home after the death of his brother after being sent away by his father who can’t handle his son’s disfigurement. Otis is a talented musician and can sell his music but he longs to return home, he is afraid of people’s opinion of how he looks. Otis impulsively decides to hire Sadie after meeting her and seeing how much his dog Wolf likes her almost more than Otis.

Beyond Ivy Walls was a wonderful read for me. I loved Sadie’s grit, and her encouraging spirit towards Otis, her family, and those around her. Right now, this is my favourite book by Rachel Fordham, it just made me smile throughout. The relationship between them started as a friendship, and slowly they both had their eyes open to something more between them. Sadie saw past Otis’s physical flaws.

My gratitude to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. I received a complimentary copy of this book. opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Beyond Ivy Walls was an enjoyable yet fairly predictable story. It has many similarities to Beauty and the Beast, but with some other elements as well. Sadie is a enjoyable character who works hard and definitely loves her family. It is enjoyable when her nemesis receives her comeuppance. Recommended for those looking for a light, enjoyable clean book to read.

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. I thought this book was an easy read. I was able to finish it in 1.5 days on the beach. Easy read. Great character development.

I loved this story that had some Beauty and the Beast vibes! Sadie and Otis are both such great characters, and seeing them persevere and heal was what really made the story great.

I loved all the little historical details - the roller skating, the factory life, and all the societal nuances of the time period. I also love that the story takes place in Iowa in 1903, which was definitely not a common time and place found in books! I always love a historical fiction where I can learn something.

I recommend this one to anyone who loves historical fiction! Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Rachel Fordham for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

What a delightful, enchanting tale, with an almost ethereal, magical beauty at times—reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast and the classic, Jane Eyre. I was instantly drawn in with amusement when our lovely heroine, Sadie, who happens to be squatting on grumpy Otis Taylor's land, instantly dubs him Edward Rochester and he in turn nicknames her Jane Squatter. When the wealthy, reclusive, enigmatic man hires Sadie to work in his mansion—a precious, but awkward friendship ensues.

Otis isn't your stereotypical storybook hero . . . tall, dark, and handsome. However, Sadie sees past his appearance to his sweet, gentle nature. It's so sad how the world judges the outward appearance of a person, when God looks on the heart. The only thing I truly didn't like was the hero's name, Otis Taylor. All I could think about throughout the entire book was Otis and Andy Taylor on the Andy Griffith show. lol But please don't let that ruin it for you. Beyond Ivy Walls is a heartwarming, well-written novel with a HEA I highly recommend!

"I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a favorable review."

I was provided the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel by Thomas Nelson, the author and NetGalley. I went into this novel fairly blind as I adore Rachel’s novels and trust that her works are amazing! I quickly realized this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling and I was hooked! It is a tale as old as time and a classic near and dear to me. Rachel’s take on this novel was absolutely fantastic. It is a historical fiction however is not a novel set around a war. (Rare I know!)

This novel focuses on Sadie a worker in a local factory whose boyfriend is away at college. Otis is a male whose family exiled him a long while ago and he has been away working on his music. Sadie and Otis spark up a friendship and she is so patient and kind towards him despite his traumas.

This novel is everything and more!

This is the best retelling of Beauty and the Beast I have ever read! I loved it! It’s everything you want in historical fiction that doesn’t cover a war. Sadie is a little headstrong and unruly from being raised on the farm. Otis is wounded and skeptical of others after being rejected and abused by his father. Circumstances bring the two together and Sadie’s determination gets directed towards Otis’s healing. She is so patient with him as she gently pushes him towards being free from his past and breaking the chains of lies spoken over him. I loved the banter, the letters exchanged, and the subplot oh my 🥹 What a beautiful story of healing, walking in freedom from the fear of man, and defining what true beauty is.

What a beautiful story this was! I must admit, I didn't read the blurb on this one before I started reading, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but right away the Beauty and the Beast vibes were evident to me. That just so happens to be one of my favorite fairy tales, so that was a pleasant surprise. While the nods to that classic story were evident, it was still very much its own unique story too. Sadie and Otis drew me in right away... they both had their fair share of struggles that they had to overcome in their lives. Among them, was Otis' alopecia and treatments that had left him scarred and ultimately living as a recluse. The actual condition is not named in the story, as I assume it was not as known at this point in history, which I thought made his story all that much more compelling. Sadie sees beyond his exterior and the two share a beautiful and tender love story that I absolutely could not get enough of. This was truly such a beautiful story with so much emotion... one of my favorite historical reads of the year so far! I absolutely loved it. If you love historical romance and/or fairy tale retellings, this is absolutely one you will not want to miss.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book had well developed characters and I really began to care about them. The dialogue was sometimes clunky but once I was invested in the characters, that clunkiness was not too distracting. Overall, it was an enjoyable story about overcoming adversity and, of course, the power of love. I would recommend this story for anyone who likes historical romance.

I couldn't get enough! From the very first page I was so invested in Sadie and Otis, eagerly turning pages to see where their story would lead next. Not your typical "don't judge a book by its cover" story, this tale weaves the fragile but resilient human spirit in and throughout each character. Each chapter will tug on your heart, have you rooting for justice and love, and anticipating what comes next. A five star reading that I cannot wait to read again!

Rachel Fordham is one of the very first authors that I picked up when I started reading a couple of years ago. I was excited to get a chance to read this upcoming release. I will say that the beginning was a bit difficult for me. That was definitely impacted by a different book that I was reading. It was set during a war and was very heavy and rather depressing. This one started out with some heavier moments, and I was a little concerned. Never fear! Ms. Fordham came to the rescue and provided just what I needed.

There was humor sprinkled in with the romance. I appreciated other aspects of the story as well. Family relationships take centerstage throughout the book, in several ways. That was heartwarming as well. Having followed the author on some of her social media platforms, I could see how some real life events were being introduced in the story. Members of my family are embarking on similar journeys, and that drew me to this story as well.

I also appreciated that the main characters had flaws, both visible and invisible that were addressed in a tasteful manner.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley. I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I liked the Beauty and the Beast element of this story quite a bit and found Otis's backstory to be really interesting. There were some really sweet moments between Otis and Sadie that I enjoyed as well. The book didn't completely captivate me. I found Otis and Sadie to be a bit juvenile, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, or even inconsistent with their life experiences; I just personally didn't find either of them to be particularly engaging. I did quite enjoy the historical details--like the turkey feather duster factory and roller skating. All in all, it was a nice story and readers fond of wholesome romance should check it out to see what they think.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This story takes place in the early 1900’s in a small Midwest town. It kind-of reminds me of “Beauty and the Beast”. Sadie West is a farmer’s daughter who moves to town to work a job to help support her family. She comes to work for the mysterious Otis Taylor. Otis is the last of the influential Taylor family and was sent away years ago by his father. His return to town is kept a secret for reasons of his own. Despite Otis’ unpleasant personality, Sadie and he become friends. Otis and Sadie learn a lot about friendship, trust, and love from each other. Themes of acceptance, true love, and true beauty abound in this story. Rachel Fordham is one of my favorite authors and this is going up there as one of my favorites of her books.
This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review.

'...People are much like plants. There is so much more to them that cannot be seen. Ambitions and dreams. Fears and hopes. Buried beneath the soil, overlooked, but vital...'

This is my first book by this author and I'm very excited to see her backlist AND what she writes next. I thought the writing was beautiful. It held my attention, it was emotional and I love a book that leaves you closing it wanting to be a better person-this book did just that!

This is a great Beauty and the Beast-esque book. The characters have their own stories to tell, their own challenges to overcome and being able to see it all wrap up in one story was a gift.

I thought Otis played his role well and was a great "beasty" male main character. Sadie has a heart of gold and I love that we got to see her thoughts so much. This is a dual point of view novel and the pacing was expertly crafted. The letter writing was a great aspect of this book and I looked forward to each and every single one of them. The setting was immersible and I thought the author did a great job of weaving information throughout to keep the reader hooked!

This is a book worth reading and I definitely recommend it!

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

Content: familial relationships (both good and bad), off-page mention of intimacy between a non-married couple resulting in a pregnancy, emotional and physical scars, romance- kisses only.

A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a heroine from a family that's a bit reminiscent of Little Women, too. Not my favorite of Fordham's, but a good clean read.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rachel Fordham has become an automatic buy author for me. I absolutely loved this story from start to finish.

A different take on Beauty and The Beast in the guilded age. The characters in this book were so likeable and each one was unique. You have Sadie, the young woman, who came to the city for work to help her family; Otis, who was scared as a child and sent away only to return as the sole heir to his family home. Mildred and Leon were great side characters that brought something more to the story.

I also loved the message that we are more than what is seen on the outside. Our hearts are what really matter. I will be buying this book as soon as it comes out.