What I Loved: Ahhh Is there anything quite like a Klassen novel? I often find myself comparing other novels to Klassen’s so it’s only natural that I would compare a Klassen to all the other Klassens that have come before. I must say that while The InnKeeper of Ivy Hill was not as gripping as what I’m used to finding, there was a sense of mystery throughout the story that kept my attention. I’ve come to notice two things about Klassen’s work: She tends to weave in threads of mystery and she KNOWS how to write a love triangle that keeps the reader guessing. And for me, THIS is where the book really shines.
I make no secret of my love for an old-fashioned love triangle. But what Klassen did here will certainly become a highlight of my reading year. You have three main heroines here and each of them has multiple options. Not only did Klassen keep me guessing at every turn, but I also couldn’t decide which hero I wanted to see win the lady’s hand.
Aside from the mystery and romance, I enjoyed all the historic detail involving an early 1800s English Inn.
While the beginning started off in a more subdued fashion, the last third picked up the pace and became the engaging story that I knew Klassen was gifted at. There were twists and turns around every corner. And I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters next!

Rating and Recommendation: I’m giving The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill 5 stars and highly recommend it to Regency fans and Christian Historical Fiction fans.

~ I received a copy from Net Galley. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one. All thoughts are my own.

Good Day! I sincerely enjoy Julie Klassen's Books. I have read every one of them. Her latest release "The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill" is the first book in Julie's first series. You'll love the characters even Thora who grows on ya after a while. Jane is in a learning time in her life which she sails through with grace and charm. Great Read!

Blessings,
Karen Hadley
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Rating: 5*

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is the first book in a new series by Julie Klassen. It centers on the Inn that is at the heart of a little coaching village in nineteenth century England. Jane Bell has been the new innkeeper for a year now, ever since her husband’s death, but she has been in too deep grief to take much care of it. Just as it falls deeper into disrepair, she becomes aware of a large loan that her late husband had taken out without her knowledge. Jane now has a mere three months to repay the debt or she will lose everything.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is the story of a village full of charming characters, rather than a tale centered one only one or two characters. In that way, it is like the TV shows Downton Abbey, Poldark, and Little House on the Prairie. Each character has their own story and part to play in Jane’s story, but it is not exclusively about Jane. They are all connected as inhabitants of the town and have some connection to either Jane or the inn that the entire town depends on to some degree. Several different romances and love triangles develop among the characters, friendships are created and mended, and discoveries are made. The book had a quaint, cozy feel to it, though it was interspersed with a little bit of drama and excitement. The characters and the setting had great development and truly portrayed the small town experience. I don’t usually choose to read book like this because they tend to be a little slow and I prefer for the focus to be on only one or two characters. Because this book is like that, I did not enjoy it as well as I had hoped, coming from an author I adore. However, it was very well written and I enjoyed it enough to look forward to the second installment and would gladly recommend it to people who do enjoy that kind of novel.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The first book in a new series, setting up the stories to follow. You’ll enjoy getting to know the characters and want to read more to see how their lives and their community progress, somewhat reminiscent of the Mitford series.

The Bell Inn was left to Jane by her husband, who had died suddenly. Jane came from an aristocratic background with few skills to run an Inn. While married, her husband did not encourage her to participate in anything to do with the Inn. His mother and brother were his partners. Theora, his mother, grew up in the family that had run the Inn for years and it was part of her. When her son left the Inn to his wife, she decided to go to her sister’s house to stay, but that didn’t go as expected so she returned to the Inn she knew and loved. On return she discovered that the Inn had fallen into disrepair and was losing business. Add to that a local banker suddenly claiming there was a huge loan on the Inn – an amount that was practically impossible to repay – which would be a benefit to Patrick (the brother) who wanted to take the Inn over and turn it into something else.

The man who delivered the news to Jane of her husband’s death offered to stay on and work for the Inn and became a valuable asset. As the story progresses Jane has some leads to follow concerning her husband’s whereabouts when he was killed – or possibly murdered.

A rival Inn owner purchases Jane’s old home to turn it into competition as an Inn, but he also offers several suggestions to Jane about improving The Bell. The whole town enters into a competition between the two Inns for the right to have the Royal Mail delivery.

Love interest, deceit, intrigue and mystery. A great book on its own, but I can’t wait for the second book in the series to see what happens next!

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”. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.

There's really not much more delightful to me than reading a series set in a small village that revolves around ordinary people living their everyday lives. If you've read Jan Karon's Mitford series or Miss Read's Fairacre Chronicles you know exactly what I am talking about.

To say that I was excited to get my hands on Julie Klassen's first installment in the Tales From Ivy Hill series is an understatement. I have long enjoyed Julie's historical fiction books and I knew that she would be the perfect author to give us a new village and people to love. By the end of the book I felt as if I had made new acquaintances and looked forward to getting to know each of them better.

The book starts with one of my favorite things . . . a map of the village! I love being able to picture the layout as the story progresses. When we first dip into the story we meet Jane Bell who is a recent widow and has suddenly and unexpectedly become the new innkeeper for The Bell. Much to her dismay her late husband left the coaching inn for her to run. The problem lies in the fact that before this Jane's husband insisted that Jane lead a life of a genteel lady and as such she really had very little to do with the inn.

The next central figure that we are introduced to is Thora Bell. She's Jane's mother-in-law and the two of them have a very strained relationship. The Bell coaching inn has been in Thora's family for generations so Thora is a bit territorial when it comes to all things concerning the inn. The problem is that the decisions are no longer hers to make.

There are other friends and family that we meet but I would say that this installment centers around these two women. I found the storyline to be very easy to relate to. Even the best of daughter-in-law and mother-in-law relationships have a tension about them. Jane and Thora are leary of each other but they also need each other. Watching the barriers come down and the trust factor go up was a delight.

As I said earlier this is a gentle read but it does have a bit of mystery involved. I'm delighted to say that I was completely wrong about who was behind the deception. In this case it was so nice to be wrong! There's a bit of everything to entice the reader. There's relationship issues, both romantic and platonic, there's mystery, and there's also some very intriguing history. You just can't go wrong with this read.

Let me close with my favorite quote from the book. It comes from Mercy, a dear friend of Jane's, and it comes at the beginning of the book but it sets the tone for the rest of the story.

"Manage the inn, Jane; save it. Have a mission in life. Discover that work worth doing is about more than profit and toil. It's about using the gifts and ability you've been given to serve your fellow man and please your Maker." (pg. 130)

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill was a little different from some of Julie Klassen’s previous novels (at least the ones I have read), officially, that was because it’s the first novel in what is going to be her first series, set in a fictional Berkshire village. The author states that she was inspired by Historical village and family sagas like Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford and Lark Rise to Candleford as well as other, more recent, literary equivalents.
I’m an established Klassen fan anyway, so I always make a grab for her latest novel (although I have also been catching up on her older titles recently). Some are better that others. Some focus on some central mystery or threat to the characters. Others are more focused on Romance. The Innkeeper has Romance, but it’s based more on the lives of three unattached women in a small village in the 1820s. Another reviewer said that it has a strong emphasis on women in business, and I tend to agree.
There is a strong element of social criticism, with one of the ladies, Rachel, the unmarried daughter of the Lord of the Manor about to lose her home because of an entail. Rachel though is a relatively minor character, the friend of the protagonist, Jane Bell, who struggles to keep the Coaching Inn that had been in her late husband’s family for generations open.
Both she and her mother in law Thora are strong characters with the odds against them (mostly because of their sex). Thora thinks she can do a better job, and does not want to let go of her independence as a widow by accepting the advances of a lifelong friend. Jane learns that he Inn risks closure because of a loan her husband had taken out, and mismanagement. The cast of minor characters proved to be an interesting bunch, including the Scottish coachman (rumoured to have been a former boxer), a gentlemanly hotel magnate who may have a romantic interest in Jane, and a tempestuous, straight talking cook. Oh, and an eccentric Church sexton who claims to talk to the resident mice. All that was lacking was a village gossip of some description, or interfering melodramatic relative who could have added a lot to the story. As a whole though, all the characters created an entertaining sample of everyday Regency life and adding touches of human drama and human interest to the story.
Readers may wish to note that, compared to other novels by this author, this one was rather slow paced. It’s not that nothing happens, it’s just that its more character driven than plot driven, which is true of a lot of the stories which inspired it. I didn’t mind that at all, as I like Elizabeth Gaskell’s stories, among others, but others might find it frustrating. Personally, I really enjoyed it, and look forward to the next two stories, in which I believe some of the neglected characters get more attention.
I requested a copy of this book from the publisher (and their UK distributor). I was not required to review it, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Well, Julie Klassen has finally dipped her toes into the pond of writing a series! I enjoy her standalone inspirational Regency books, but it’s also fun to have the characters stick around long enough for a series.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is the beginning of a few different stories. We first meet Jane, a young widow suddenly responsible for the family inn and struggling with both grief and secrets. Her distant mother-in-law, Thora, is also a prominent character. Both yearn for a true family, but the past seems to stand in their way. And is that love knocking at the door?

There’s also a host of secondary characters who seem likely to become main characters down the road – Rachel, Mercy, maybe even Patrick or Sir Timothy. I like that we met so many of them already, but I admit that the extra head-jumping was a bit much at times. So we’ll see!

One thing I love about Julie Klassen’s writing is that she includes little literary Easter eggs in her stories – nods to old classics like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. Keep an eye out when you read them!

I’ve enjoyed Julie’s earlier books, so I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, this one seemed to drag. There were multiple characters, though the author wisely introduced them slowly over many pages. The story lacked a romantic thread (to the point where I read), which would have helped keep me engaged. (This lack was especially disappointing since the book’s summary included a mention of romance.)

One of the themes in the story was that sometimes we can limit other people by labeling them and then never expecting change. People grow and change. We can’t assume: 1) they won’t change or 2) they haven’t changed since we last interacted with them. I liked this theme. We also got to watch the characters begin to evolve (by the point I read), which was the perfect way to prove this theme.

There were a lot of historical facts and terms that were interesting as I read.

But overall, this book has very slow pacing. The MC (main character) (not really a heroine, as she didn’t act heroic from the opening pages) was passive and self-absorbed and so deep in grief she wasn’t an active character. She doesn’t receive the call to action (part of the “hero’s journey”) until about a third of the way into the story and then, when she finally accepts, I’d lost interest. I found I couldn’t sympathize with her or care to keep reading to see how things turned out for her. It was also difficult to picture her. There were a lot of unanswered questions (the “mystery” aspect mentioned in the summary), but since I didn’t care about the characters I didn't keep reading.

It was obvious the author had developed a layered make-believe world and peopled it with varied characters, but while reading the novel I felt I’d missed an earlier book in this first of the new series because of all the characters and unknowns. I felt the book could've begun with the final days of the late husband's life so we cared about the main characters, and then skipped a lot of the preamble to the Call, shaving off about one-quarter of the words for length. Then, we would have sympathized with the MC and understood her plight, especially if she had her own goals in life, her own dreams she was already chasing. This would have meant conflict/tension between what she'd rather do (some other noble cause) and what she was called to do after his death. As it is, we don't have deep enough emotional motivations for her choices, so we don't feel their impact, or relate with the MC.

I made it to about 29 - 30 percent (location 2148 out of an unusually lengthy 7342 for length) before I moved to the next book on my TBR pile. (I read the e-book version. The book has 448 pages.)

I wish the author the best, and I’m sure I’ll pick up another of her books in the future, hoping for the same strength of writing/pacing/characterization I’ve found in her previous books.

I have been struggling to get through this book for months now. It's almost embarrassing how long it's taken me. This book moves at a snail's pace- the forward momentum is so slow. I had a hard time sticking with it. I hate saying that because I've enjoyed other books by this author but this one was not the same as her others.

I didn't connect with the characters emotionally. It was all just a struggle for me.

I do love the cover and I also loved the setting. Visiting a place like Ivy Hill would be a dream!

I understand that this is the first book in a series and this book is definitely setting the groundwork for more to come. I probably won't be coming back to this series, but I will be keeping my eye out for books by this author in the future that are more like the previous books I have read.

I COME BACK TO KLASSEN'S BOOKS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD, AND EACH TIME I TAKE AWAY SOMETHING THAT MOVES ME. THIS BOOK IS NOT AN EXCEPTION TO THAT. I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS NEW SERIES. WHILE IT WAS A SLOWER PLACE, I FELT THAT JANE BELL PARALLELED SOME OF WHAT RUTH AND NAOMI IN THE BIBLE MUST HAVE GONE THOUGH. OH YES, THE SETTING WAS DIFFERENT, BUT A BITTER AND HURTING MOTHER IN LAW, AND A DAUGHTER IN LAW GRIEVING HER HUSBAND HAVING TO GO ON ANYWAY. IT'S STILL ROMANTIC, AND IT'S STILL A HEART GRIPPING STORY TO ME. I LIKED IT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES.

My copy came from Bethany House. I wasn't required to leave a review. I do so of my own free volition, and I'm glad I get to do so.

My Review: 8.5/10

I thought this book was set up in a way to allow for sequels. And lo and behold, I look it up on Goodreads and it's right there in the title: #1.

I have mixed feelings about that. I found it refreshing that there were a lot of things left open ended. Now it just kind of feels like an exceptionally long story. Although I did really enjoy the story, so I guess I am happy over all.

I could not really relate to Jane. She is every bit the gently bred woman, and her mild temper and meek nature had me gritting my teeth for the first half of the book; I hate to see characters struggling privately. I always want to grab them by the shoulders, shake them, and shout, Speak up! Maybe then this can be solved and you won't be suffering! Or at the very least, you won't be suffering alone!

But despite that, I still liked her. And I liked that this story followed the lives of several women, intertwining in daily life or past remembrances.

This was one of those rare books (particularly for this genre) whose primary plotline was not a romance, but more of sisterhood. Despite that, several romantic interests were set up for multiple characters, and I really liked that there were no obvious choices- very unique men with different things to offer and a future that could take shape with any of them.

There were a number of times when connections or opportunities seemed too easy, just too lucky. I could have found it more believable if prayer had been the link, if God had been credited. The story and themes (forgiveness, healing, rising to your circumstances, a change of heart, courage, new beginnings, etc) could have resonated a lot deeper if God had been reflected in them.

But on the whole, I really enjoyed this book. If this review seems a bit scattered, it's because I've been sleep deprived all week thanks to not being able to put this book down.

Julie Klassen has done it again. She has created an entire village in the 1820 English countryside. The Bell a Royal Mail coaching inn is the heart of the village. A place to work, grab a quick meal or find romance, The Bell has belonged to the Bell family for over 100 years. Jane Fairmont is a member of the gentry, used to the finer things in life. She shocks everyone by marrying John Bell, an innkeeper. Upon his death, he wills the Bell to her in a time when women don't own anything. I loved the way Jane goes from being a clueless flower, to learn her own worth and strength. All of the characters are delightful and I wasn't sure who to root for. I can't wait for the next installment in The Tales From Ivy Hill saga.

From Amazon:
First Series from Bestselling Author Julie Klassen!

The lifeblood of the Wiltshire village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. But when the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant owner. Jane has no notion of how to run a business. However, with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must find a way to bring new life to the inn.

Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to find her place in the world. As she and Jane work together, they form a measure of trust, and Thora's wounded heart begins to heal. When she encounters two men from her past, she sees them--and her future--in a different light.

With pressure mounting from the bank, Jane employs innovative methods to turn the inn around, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place. Will her efforts be enough to save The Bell? And will Thora embrace the possibility of a second chance at love?

About the author from Amazon:
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. Visit www.julieklassen.com for more information.

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

This book is a sweeping story told from multiple characters perspectives. All the stories interconnect with plenty of conflict and questions to keep the plot moving forward. This was a book I kept returning to, over and over, in part because of the setting (love me some Jane Austen England) and because I had to know how the characters' stories would conclude. This is a town and group of characters I will want to return to in future books.

The much awaited, new series by Julie Klassen is finally here! Well, it was here before Christmas, but I have been a bit behind…

If you have read much Klassen, you will want to know that this book is significantly different than her others. All of her books have basically stood alone while this one is absolutely part of a series. The book didn’t really end at the end of the book. That being said, it was a great read. Her writing style has really deepened and grown since her debut novel, The Lady of Milkweed Manor.

Overall, I felt it was very well written. There were a lot of people to keep up with instead of the average handful you have in a novel. The point of view would switch from character to character rapidly and I would find myself confused at times trying to remember which person it was. I believe that it was just preparing the reader for the following volumes to come. So, if you don’t have severe brain trauma as I seem to have, you should be just fine! I definitely recommend this book (and anything by Julie!). She is a truly gifted writer!!!

Thanks so much for this read! As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!

I loved this sweet story set in a charming English village! Right from the start I sympathized with Jane Bell, who was still mourning the death of her husband while encumbered with a failing inn. Then her mother-in-law makes a surprise visit to town -- talk about upping the tension! I enjoyed the book as a whole, but especially the chapters written from the perspectives of Jane and Thora. I wasn't quite as drawn into Rachel's world and motivations. But over all I cared about the inn and worried about its ultimate fate and I loved the undercurrent of a second chance at love. These characters seem REAL! Can't wait to read more in this series.

This book tells the story of Jane Bell, a young woman in 1820 England who was born to privilege but married beneath her. When her innkeeper husband dies, she is left to inherit the inn. Falling into disrepair, the inn has begun to lose business and profitability. Added to that strain is the mysterious debt of 15,000 pounds Jane's husband contracted prior to his death, a debt Jane must repay or lose the inn. With this goal, Jane must overcome her forceful mother-in-law's doubts, navigate a world of business that is usually reserved for men, and make friendships with those who can help her succeed.

The story has three main narrators--Jane, our heroine; Thora, her embittered mother-in-law; and Rachel, an estranged friend of Jane's who is going through hard circumstances of her own. The theme of the book focuses on a woman's role in business in Regency England, offering not-so-subtle criticisms of the male-dominated society where a wife could own no property. All three of the narrators are unmarried, and the independence that they would have to surrender should they marry is clearly shown. One minor theme, which I appreciated, was the loss and pain that comes from miscarrying a child. Klassen, per usual, handled that topic deftly, and I even shed a few tears during one of the scenes.

The large cast of characters took me fifty pages or so to sort out who was who, but once I did, I was able to appreciate the complexity of the story. Because this book is the first in a series, the romance for the main character Jane was left unresolved. We see several different options for a burgeoning relationship, but no clear direction on which man is for her. I am excited to read more Tales from Ivy Hill and look forward to Klassen's next release.

I received a free review copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This will be the book to beat this year. I loved this story. I did not want to put this down. The story was fantastic and the characters came alive. It will be hard to wait till December for the next book in this series. It was hard to decide which woman character that I liked best. I did not like Patrick since he always seemed to be trying to lose Ivy Hill. I loved Thora, Jane and Rachel and Mercy. These are all strong women characters. I received this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion.

Jane has inherited the Coaching Inn after her husbands untimely death. She has no desire to run the Inn and can't figure out why he would leave it to her and not his brother. It is discovered there is a large debt to be paid and soon with little money coming into the Inn.
Enter, Thora (former Mistress of The Bell). After her sister marries, Thora returns to The Bell to find her place in this world she no longer feels she belongs too.
Thora and Jane learn they must work together and trust one another to make The Bell a success. Will they lose the Inn forever?

I love all Julie Klassen books, and this one did not disappoint. I loved getting to know the characters and can't wait to see what happens to Ivy Hill and its occupants in the next books.