An Ivy Hill Christmas
A Tales from Ivy Hill Novella
by Julie Klassen
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 01 Sep 2020





I am reviewing a copy of An Ivy Hill Christmas through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:






Richard Brockwell is the youngest son of Ivy Hill’s most prominent family. He hasn’t been home for Christmas in years because he prefers to spend the time at his London Townhouse which is far away from Brockwell court and the past mistakes he made that haunt him. But his Mother has told him if he does not come home she will stop financially supporting the carefree lifestyle he loves so much if he does not come home for Christmas. He is out of options so he makes his way to Ivy Hill, but he plans on making his way back to his carefree life in London as soon as the festivities are over.




Christmas in the country comes with surprises that he could not have foreseen, which includes an encounter with an orphaned apprentice as well as Arabella Awdry the first love he had disappointed many years before, a young lady who is far more appealing than he recalled but is determined to have nothing to do with the man who broke her heart.





Will Christmas at Ivy Hill draw these two together, or will it push them even farther apart?



I give An Ivy Hill Christmas five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

It felt so nice to be back on Ivy Hill for this Christmas story. I was so happy to see all these characters again and see where their lives have taken them.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loved the Ivy Hill series.

An Ivy Hill Christmas (Tales from Ivy Hill) Book Review

Book Review


Richard was, he knew, a selfish creature. A person could not change his nature, his very heart, could he? --Richard


An Ivy Hill Christmas is A Christmas Carol meets Pride and Prejudice type story. If you have been following along with the other Tales from Ivy Hill series you will see many characters from the previous stories. You could also read this as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading the first books in this series to be able to know the in’s and the out’s, of many of the characters in this novel.

Richard is insanely selfish for most of the book. I enjoyed his relationship with the orphan, Jamie Fleming, and wanted to see more of that kind of behavior happen a little bit earlier in the book instead of him being so over the top selfish for so long.

Arabella was true to her ‘Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice’ character and I liked reading her character and enjoyed her down to earth personality and pluck to stand up to Richard. She had her faults to be sure, but overall was a well written about character.

I was really excited to read this book because I am a HUGE Julie Klassen fan. This is a well written story, but didn’t grab me like her other books have. The Christmas details are fun to read about and the Christmas traditions were well researched for the time period.

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I liked this story, but I didn't find it as gripping as the other books in the series. It didn't feel as polished as the other books. However, I did enjoy seeing Richard's transformation and growth throughout the book.
3.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Welcome back to Ivy Hill.
Richard Brockwell is requested to come home for Christmas. He left years before because of a family secret.
A bit of Christmas drama, family, friends, redemption.
Cupid is active at this Christmas house party.
3.85

THOROUGHLY WONDERFUL READ🎄 🎩
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy Regency era, clean, faith-based stories or redemption and romance.

December 1822 London
PASSAGES & QUOTES I ENJOYED
And like you, I give all I can spare to my charity of choice. My favorite coffeehouse and bookshop have first claim on my heart—and my purse.”With a pert bow, he turned and walked on, leaving her sputtering and him quite satisfied with himself. Richard was, he knew, a selfish creature. A person could not change his nature, his very heart, could he? He thought not.
***
“According to the papers, I am a handsome rake bent on seducing all the widows of Mayfair.” He smirked at the exaggeration and sat down.
***
Lightning flashed, illuminating a pair of eyes beyond the glass. Curious, Richard rose and looked closer. A bedraggled dog sat outside the door. Noticing Richard, the pathetic creature rose on short hind legs and placed its paws on the glass. Eyes large and pleading, he looked longingly at Richard’s snug room and warm fire—or perhaps simply at his plate of roast beef.
Richard rose and went to the door. “Let’s feed it something at least.” ... rare pity stirred in his heart. He unlatched and opened the door, then cajoled the skittish dog inside with a soothing voice and piece of beef.
***
That an orphan from that woman’s charity would be seated across from him? Was some ironic fate at work here . . . or God? A shiver passed over him. Only the cold, he told himself and forced his attention back to his book.
***
Thanks to a modest inheritance coming to her, she did not need a husband to support her. She was blessed with the freedom to choose to marry or not, a luxury denied to many women. And she planned to make the most of that blessing. She longed to make her life count, to make a difference.
***
That was how he first saw it. That lamplit window, like a stage lit by gaslight. The family of four sitting at the table, hands clasped, heads bowed. A moment later came a whirl of passing bowls and platters, the rumble of friendly conversation punctuated by smiles and occasional laughter. Standing there, viewing that domestic scene of love and happiness, he had felt as he often did, like an outsider, looking in.
***
Soon the house was filled with the tangy smells of pine, rosemary, and bay leaves, along with the savory scents coming from the kitchen.
***
Her eyes snapped. “You’re right. You don’t deserve it. Love and forgiveness are not something you earn. They are gifts. My, my, have I neglected your education so terribly? My dear boy, none of us deserves forgiveness. None of us can do enough good deeds to atone for our own failings. If we could, God would not have had to send the Son He loved into the world to die for us. But He did, because He loves us.”
***
“Out with the old, in with the new.” Could Richard do the same to his heart, his ways? He hoped so. God in heaven, give me strength. Help me become a better man.

I was gifted an eBook from NetGalley & the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

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I've read and enjoyed all of Julie Klassen's Ivy Hill series and this Christmas one is a great read. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a Printing Press.

Julie has populated this book with a number of characters from the series, but they do not all play starring roles, and therefore, it is not difficult to keep track of the main players. The stars are Richard Brockleman and Arianna Awdry, who have known each other for a while, but have little respect for the other at the outset of the book. Richard is what seems to be a ne'er-do-well who is living in his family's London townhouse to stay away from Ivy Hill and the matchmaking schemes of his family. BUT, his mother wants a full-family Christmas and wants Richard at home. At the outset, Richard tries to alienate the single women at the family party so that he can live his life as a confirmed bachelor.

There are hidden depths to the characters of the book that make this book such a worthwhile read. There are clear spiritual implications that bring the reader to empathetic understandings of the characters. AND, Julie has done her research into the lives and times of the people in her book. One of the most endearing characters is Jamie Fleming, an orphan who has been given an apprenticeship at a print shop near Richard's family home.

It is easy to tell that Richard is a lot of bluster, putting up a curmudgeonly front to keep the rest of the family and guests at arm's length. But it is also easy to tell that Richard is hiding from himself, and that is one of the hardest things to do.

Julie has used gentle humor, a great deal of pathos, and an empathetic ear in putting this book down on paper. I recommend it highly.
Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Ah, the company of books was far more to his liking. After breathing in the scents of leather, musty pages, and ink for a time, he would be ready to rejoin society."

What a delightful Christmas novella! It's a true sign of an author's talent when a reader can jump into the middle of a series, get lost in a short novella, and feel compelled to start at the beginning and read all the way through! And that's just what happened here 😍

Tales of Ivy Hill is full of the true Christmas spirit...generosity, humility and love. I absolutely adored all the characters who depicted in different ways, the essence of the season. This short story is full of forgiveness and restoration, and although I had no idea what the characters' histories were I still found myself moved by their stories.

What a pleasure it was to return once more to the fictional village of Ivy Hill, England. The fourth book in Julie Klassen’s delightful Regency series did not disappoint. In this latest installment in the Ivy Hill saga, Richard Brockwell, second son of a baronet, is determined to remain a bachelor. When he reluctantly returns to his family home for the holidays, the spirited and beautiful Arabella Awdry just might tempt him to mend his rakish ways.

Filled with literary nods to Jane Austen, this novella is truly a holiday treat. The author’s gift for storytelling shines as themes of forgiveness, second chances, and love are woven into the various plot lines. This book would be an excellent addition to any Regency historical fiction collection.

(4.5 stars) - A Christmas Carol meets Pride and Prejudice

The setting is a classic Regency Christmas at the Brockwell Estate in Ivy Hill. If you have not read anything from Klassen's Ivy Hill series (as I have not), be reassured that it's not necessary in order to enjoy it.

This Christian novella has a Christmas flavor that reads almost like a mashup of "A Christmas Carol" with "Pride and Prejudice" at times.

Richard is a younger Scrooge with a sardonic wit. Arabella is a more volatile, yet charity-minded Lizzie Bennett. And there is a Belle character with whom Richard's Scrooge must reconcile.

Richard is not as much a scoundrel as he allows people to believe, but he is very wrapped up in himself & his own interests. When God drops a soul in need practically right in front of him, it's the beginning of a pull on his focus outward toward others that unravels the tangle he's made of his life.

I was a bit surprised at how closely a dancing scene & then Richard's proposal hewed to Pride and Prejudice, but this is something the author acknowledges at the end as her tribute to Austen.

The only aspect of the story that I didn't much appreciate was that the final chapter isn't the actual end. It effectively punctuates the next level of Richard's conversion, but leaves you wondering, "What? Is that it?!" Instead, the two main characters' stories are completed as an epilogue when that's really just the actual completion of the story, not an extension of the happily-ever-after.

*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic

*Religion: overtly Christian, totally organic to the story

I didn't realize this was a novella until reading the author's note. It didn't feel too short. I think it was well written and moved at a good pace. I liked the main characters who both underwent changes and growth in different ways. Richard's growth was perhaps more pronounced in a complete change of heart and behavior. Arabella's growth was more about coming to know what she really needed in life and where she could find it. And not being too quick to judge.

This is Christian lit and has obvious themes of forgiveness of others and self as well as Christ doing for us what we can't for ourselves.

Sex: References to adultery prior to the story and indiscretions
Language: no
Violence: abuse to a child apprentice
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I have read and enjoyed several Julie Klassen novels in the past so I was excited to read this Christmas story by her! I liked the plot and the characters, especially Richard. He is witty and funny and undergoes a deep and touching character development. After reading about his family's nineteenth-century Christmas celebration and traditions, I am ready for the holidays to get here. I also can't wait to try out the cookie recipe from the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for access to this ARC.

Parts seem to be missing but a good story overall. I had not read the others in the series. I read this book because of the time period.
A good story line and characterization.

An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen 4 stars
A Tales from Ivy Hill Novella

My love for Christmas, beautiful cover and the fact that I always wanted to read a book from this author made me decide to read this novella. It’s great to be transported back to 19th century England and all their Christmas traditions.

The story is focused on Richard Brockwell and Arabella Awdry but I find their romance lacking. Richard has a roguish reputation and Arabella wants to leave Ivy Hill to join her aunt in London to do charity works. They are also both determined to remain unmarried thus there was resistance and doubt on each other’s actions. There are still fun moments between them.

I do like the camaraderie among family and friends at Brockwell Court. They seem to enjoy doing lots of Christmas activities and helping out their neighbors. I’d love to see the snowy Ivy Hill too. I admire Richard’s ways of assisting other people. He cares deeply for others which surprises her family and even friends. Overall, it is a fun read.

I received a complimentary book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

#Christianromance

'Something in his chest cracked, then loosened, and a tendril of joy sprouted in his heart.'

Oh, how good it was to visit dear Ivy Hill again! This charming village with it's wonderful mix of residents have quite grown attached to my heart.

Richard Brockwell comes home for Christmas at the near demand of his mother. Richard-who quite sees himself as so jaded as not to need anyone. But Richard has not reckoned on these dear inhabitants of Ivy hill.

Full of charm and so delightful, An Ivy Hill Christmas will just, quite simply, make your heart smile. In fact, I found my face and heart doing just that and often. Julie Klassen is incredibly adept at a stunning Regency. I have been reading her since her very first book and she just ticks all the boxes for a great Regency novel. Her work this time has just been amazing-so amazing that this book just may be my favorite of the entire series! And a plus is the gorgeous cover! An Ivy Hill Christmas if so full and rich and will warm your heart with it's precious holiday cheer. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
18 likes

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An Ivy Hill Christmas perplexed me, as while it was billed as novella (and it’s only just above 200 pages, making it to long-ish novella-short novel territory), the format and pricing scheme did not differ at all from Klassen’s prior Bethany House releases, including the previous full novellas, all of which clock in at around 400-plus pages. And while I don’t know about how price point expectations have evolved in Christian fiction versus secular romance (Christian fic being primarily sold in trade paper vs. this being a new and often detested thing in secular romance publishing), I found myself unsure how this would be received, until I thought about a similar holiday-themed addition to a popular series that came in at about the same length but release in hardcover, A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas. But the fact that that came out a decade ago and the increased popularity of Kindle and other eReaders has shifted price points does need to be taken into account.
That being said, I think whether this book is worth the price depends on both your investment in the first three and your ability to balance that with investment in the new characters, something which I personally struggled with. As while Klassen’s endnote casually mentions you could read it as a standalone, I don’t feel that there is much to be gained if you haven’t read the previous three, which are very much interconnected.

Rachel and Timothy are the main couple who appear, due to their connection to the new character, Richard (Timothy’s brother), and while they aren’t in it that much, I did like seeing them. But the real joy is reveling in the landscape of Ivy Hill again, particularly as the village people do show up, and there’s a nice holiday feel to it. However, I was deeply hoping for more of Nicholas and Justina, as they are courting, and I really wanted it to be resolved after it had been teased in the last book.

However, I found myself underwhelmed by the central romance between Richard and Arabella. Richard does have some nuance to him, which I appreciated, but I didn’t feel it was explored enough. And aside from the typical objection to him due to his rakish past, I didn’t find Arabella that exciting.

This was a fun bonus to the series, but I don’t think it should have been packaged as it was. Ultimately, I feel this is a “borrow or buy on sale” book for me, although I can understand, from the glowing reviews from her less cynical readers, that there are many who will want this for their keeper shelves, and do not begrudge anyone, regardless of where they fall on this.

This is a great novella. It doesn't try to do too much but still feels like a complete story. It was fun encountering Ivy Hill characters from past books. My favorite part was watching Richard transform. He starts out as a curmudgeon. He is upset that he has to go home for Christmas! On the way he encounters a young boy who starts to crack the ice around his heart. The thawing continues as he encounters the kindness of others and sees how others serve one another. It's a beautiful thing.

However, despite the changes in his heart, he has a rapscallion reputation that is hard for the lovely Arabella to get past. Arabella longs to help her aunt with her charity work in London. A man would be a hindrance to that. Arabella goes through her own awakening.

You could read this as a standalone novella but it'd be better if you were familiar with the Ivy Hill crew. It would be a lot of names to keep straight if you were starting from scratch but enjoyable all the same. I'd recommend it. It's a lovely story of second chances, forgiveness, service, transformation, and more.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

How wonderful to be in Ivy Hill among its delightful residents once again! While celebrating the Christmas season with the Brockwells and their house party, we have the opportunity to see the power of the Savior whose birthday we celebrate to change lives. We are reminded of the joy of giving of ourselves and the freedom that comes with forgiveness. This is the Christmas story that goes will beyond a Hallmark story, while still including a touch of romance, a God honoring romance. I recommend this book to put readers in the true Christmas spirit, and am grateful to have received a copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed her are my own.

Having read the other three books in Julie Klassen’s Tales from Ivy Hill series, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this Christmas novella. It was like visiting with old friends again, my only disappointment being when I finished the last page. In addition to the townsfolk who have been a part of the regular series, we readers were introduced to some new characters, including a dog, who added more layers of richness and warmth to the story. From laugh-out-loud banter to family fun and romantic tension, this book had me turning pages while cheering on the various players to a happy conclusion. I also loved the spiritual element and how the uplifting message of Christmas impacted the story in several ways. Although this wonderful novella can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend the entire series. Lift your spirits by escaping back to Ivy Hill in this delightful Christmas tale!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

#AnIvyHillChristmas #JulieKlassen #BethanyHouse

Return to Ivy Hill at Christmastime; what could possibly be better?! A sweet Christmas novella that manages to pack in a full story that also successfully revisits some much-loved previous characters. Although part of a series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone. Richard has reason to be elusive with secrets lodged firmly above him, but then he spends time with Arabella and all his defenses are befuddled. I love how Richard is challenged by several characters and comes to a place of openness in receiving these challenges. Christmas magic has a way of restoring hope and softening even the most armored hearts. A chance for forgiveness, fresh starts, true community and family all come together in this must-read Christmas tale from Julie Klassen. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own and freely given.