Monday, January 15, 2018

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage: Review and Giveaway!


It's time again for another book review and giveaway courtesy of Bethany House Publishers! Here is the first finished book of the new year and a fun read.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is the second book in the Tales from Ivy Hill series by Julie Klassen. I read the first book early last year.

First of all, Julie Klassen is already one of my favorite authors - the first book I ever read of hers was The Tutor's Daughter and I was hooked. I went back and read all of her previous books and have kept up with all of her new releases through the last few years.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage picks up right where The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill left off. I actually wish I'd read the books closer together because it took me quite some time in this second book to remember details from the first one. I felt sort of lost for a while because I couldn't mentally place each character and their back story until I got farther along into the book.

Ivy Hill is a small and charming English village. This book explores the lives of several ladies living at Ivy Cottage and nearby. There are several story lines going on which keeps it interesting. I especially enjoyed one of the main characters, Rachel, and her idea to make the most of what she has available. In book one, her father left her his book collection and now she isn't sure what to do with it. When friends suggest opening a circulating library - she is at first quite uncertain about the task before her - but she rises to the occasion and discovers a number of things along the way.

This book was an enjoyable read, there are a couple of things left unresolved which makes a good intro to the next book. And we were not left dangling uncomfortably between books!

This book was a lot about friendships and the characters helping one another. I liked that and it felt friendly to read about it. This was a great just-before-bed cozy read!

The author has a website set up just for this series which includes a video tour of an English village that she used as a model for these books. You can see a map of the town, read about characters and read excerpts from both books one and two.

I'd like to send this book to one of you! Please leave a comment on this post by Friday January 19 and I will draw a winner. There must be a way to contact you and US addresses only please.

* Amazon affiliate links above.
* I received this book as part of the Bethany House blog review program in exchange for sharing my opinion with you.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

Sounds like such a cozy, slow (in a great way) book! Thank you for having a giveaway for it!

Mom said...

Glad you enjoyed this book! :)

Lisa M. said...

I have finished 1 book so far this year. I would love to add this to my list. It sounds great!

Clmay5@sbcglobal.net

Charlene Sayer said...

Julie Klassen is also one of my favorite authors. I would like to read this next!!
charlenesayer95@gmail.com

Agnes said...

I don't know the author, that seems like a fun book. Thank you for the giveaway offer!

Chelle said...

Sounds like a really good book. I have never read any by her. I will see if our library has some.

Tina said...

I'm a newish reader here and love your blog! I love to read anything set in a quaint village like this one is and since it's about a love of reading and libraries, I'm in! Thanks for hosting this giveaway! -- Tina (zoogarden36@hotmail.com)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this giveaway! This is a new author to me and I would love to read this series. I enjoy your Instagram account very much! Melanie in CA melanie@familykendall.org

angie said...

This books sounds like taking a trip without leaving a favorite reading spot. Thank you for introducing me to this author.

Paula said...

Thank you for your recommendations. I love reading your blog. Thank you for sharing. holloway000@yahoo.com
Have a blessed day. Paula

Huskerbabe said...

Sounds like a good read, I've never heard of this author.

Anonymous said...

Cozy sounds like the perfect read for this time of year.

Love reading your blog!

thandch@hotmail.com

Jessica Knapp said...

I've never read this author before but would like to!

Wendi said...

That's a new author for me. I'll have to check her books out.

Carolina Aviles said...

Long time following but first time leaving a comment, I love your blog and the nice pictures you take, your slow theme brought me lot of peace and calm, can't wait for this year theme!! thanks,caroldeoleo@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I love that it is set in a quaint village, and it has a library in it! Win win 😉
Myness1k@aol.com

Down Cedar Lane said...

Oh, I am adding to my reading list and have never heard of this author. I am the jr high/high school lit teacher in our homeschool co-op and so far I have read three books pertaining to school: Johnny Tremain, By the Great Horn Spoon and The House of Mirth. I am going to look into this author to read for pleasure:).

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a book I would like to read. I'll have to see if I can get the first one at my library, Thanks for telling us about it. Love you, Grandma

Unknown said...

This look like a wonderful book to cozy up with on a snowy afternoon! I love the cover illustration!

Unknown said...

The books sounds quite enjoyable! Please add me to the drawing. lois.cavanaghdaley@gmail.com

Davonne Parks said...

This looks like a cozy book for wintertime! DavonneParks @ HighPCS . com

Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

It sounds lovely- and I've never heard of this author! I promptly checked my little library's website to see if either of these books were there, but alas, they are not. Several others of hers are, though, so I will look into them. Thanks for the giveaway, friend!

Anonymous said...

Sounds delightful! This would be a new- to- me author. Even if I don't win, I'm definitely going to check out these books.Thanks for sharing with us!
Tina
tinsel71 at yahoo.com

Renee said...

Great review! I loved this book too and had no ideal of the website the author had. I read your post and ran over to review it ~ it was so neat to see it all. Thanks for sharing about it. Looking forward to reading more of your book reviews.

Renee @ A Path of Joy



Jackie said...

I always enjoy seeing what you are reading since we enjoy so many of the same authors. My current reads are Make Your Bed by Admiral William H, McRaven. Excellent! I will probably reread this every year. Newton and Polly a Novel of Amazing Grace. This is the second novel of this story for me and always enjoy reading good fiction novels with history webbed within the pages. Just finished Wonder, there are no words, simply a must read in my opinion. And of course my most precious book, my Bible.

Unknown said...

Yes, please!!!