This story begins with Sadie who is doing all she can to help her family make ends meet after her father takes ill.. Sadie shows perseverance and loyalty to her family even when things seem to get worse.

She winds up on a property, unbeknownst to her of a man, Otis Taylor, who has not been home to his community in quite some time.. He however comes back but with a dark secrets and a jaded past. Trust with him and people are almost nonexistent because of his past family ties. He plans to settle his affairs after experiencing conflicting loss and leave and start anew. Sadie through unfortunate circumstances winds up meeting him and he chooses to show kindness when she is left in a state almost out of hope. Through many interactions their friendship and trust grow with each other. Just when you think that there will be happy ending, circumstances happen and they are pulled apart. Sadie proves to be loyal to her family and her friends and even when it seem Otis has not many to trust, he finds out just how mistaken he is. I loved this story and couldn't hardly put it down. The Epilogue was amazing and the perfect ending to a story of loving someone no matter what trials they've endured navigating the scars that remain.

I related to this story a little on a personal level of how sometimes you can do your best with everything within you but you feel like your just scraping by. Reaching out and trusting, even when it's hard is worth it. Beyond Ivy Walls is slightly like a Beauty & the Beast retelling, but I see some Cinderella and some dark and light tones of Jane Eyre thrown in there. This book releases in a few months so put it on your TBR list!

Rachel Fordham has never let me down in a book, but Beyond Ivy Walls has to be her best work to date.

Otis Taylor is a musical genius with internal and external scars that have kept him from society. When he discovers Sadie West living in an abandoned factory he owns, he begins a journey to freedom and love he never quite expected.

This Beauty and the Beast story caught my attention from the first page and never let go. I loved how vibrant and unjudgemental Sadie was with Otis. I loved how she took her time with him and how intuitive she was regarding his fears. When they begin to fall in love she is even more cautious when she discovers what happened to his lost niece. This side story is heartwrenching, but has all the feels!

The author has captured the essentials of the human soul that cries out for love and a need to belong. While there wasn't a faith element to this book, it still spoke volumes, and I highly recommend it!

For my honest review, I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Publishers via NetGalley.

Loved reading the captivating and engaging story. When Otis comes back to town, he wants to sell his place as soon as possible, he hides away in his house, his dog, Wolf, wanders off, finds a woman, Sadie, staying in his abandoned factory and wants to kick her out, and ends up letting Sadie stay at his home working as a maid. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story.

I really liked this book. The setting in a different time than many other historical novels was very enjoyable. We often are not aware of the kind of lives lived among the poorest of the population and their struggles to survive. I would like to read more of this type of story. I would recommend this book to friends. I was given this book to review.

"Beyond Ivy Walls" by Rachel Fordham is set in Monticello, Iowa. This Beauty and the Beast- like retelling is a fantastic story that includes so many elements woven together. The real life feather duster family, a faithful dog, roller skating and historical aspects of this book kept me engaged from beginning to end.

Otis was sent away after an accident change his good looks and has returned after both his father and brother died. He wants to sell the house quickly and not have anything to do with the town that celebrated his deceased relatives. He has faithful workers in his home that have taken care of his family property who want nothing more than to have him reunite with friends and townsfolk in the city of his birth.

Sadie is in Monticello working and sending wages home to her family, due to a severe accident that left her father bedridden Her sisters and mother are at the family farm trying to get a harvest in while she works in the feather duster factory and is living in an abandoned building on Otis's property. Everything in her life is dire, even the relationships she has with the other women in the duster factory.

Just the setting these two find themselves in, along with the surrounding cast of characters led into the creation of a very good book. This is one that I can't wait to tell others about because I just really enjoyed the book that much.

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another sweet romance from Rachel Fordham. I always look forward to new titles from this author. She has a great writing style! Although this is not my favourite from this author. I have read a lot of fairy tale retellings lately and if this is a favourite style for you, you will enjoy this story. This story also reminds me of Little Women, Sadie and her sisters have a fun relationship. I wish there was more connection to their faith, it definitely felt lacking. I do look forward to reading more from this author. Her writing style elevated the story.

Interesting look at how struggles such as alopecia were viewed at the turn of the century….loved the beauty and the beast undercurrent!
Otis and Sadie were fun, realistic characters and their storyline was an intriguing glimpse into the time period. I especially liked learning about the Hoag feather duster factory and the roller skating!
Loved the side story of Bessie and tracking down her whereabouts, and liked how Otis came to terms with his relationship with his brother.
Great supporting characters, fun read, and especially satisfying ending, as the different is ok theme came full circle.

This is a sweet retelling of Beauty of the Beast told around the turn of the century in an Iowan city called Monticello. Sadie West works at a feather duster factory to send money to her family on the farm. Her father has been in an accident and is unable to work and they desperately need her wages to save the West farm. Of course, her factory life is difficult and she cannot afford proper housing but camps out in an abandoned factory. One day, Otis Taylor, the owner of the property comes home and discovers her trespassing. He is reluctant to start a relationship because of his physical features, but eventually, his loneliness causes him to reach out to her in friendship and he offers her work at his mansion.

Sadie has a delightful family with many sisters. They remind you of the March girls in Little Women. Leon and Mildred who are caretakers of the mansion are warm and loving and create a family for those who live in their walls. Otis is angry and has a haunted past but coming home brings him healing. He is trying to sort out his younger brother's debt because he has passed and uncovers a mystery that he wants to make right.

Overall, this book is an old-fashioned romance that has no steam, spice, or salty language. I can easily see middle school and high school students as well as moms and grandmothers enjoying this book. The book doesn't talk about faith but the book is based on a Christian world-view. The publisher is Thomas Nelson who publishes books with Christian content. Their fiction collection has a tagline called "Fiction that Inspires".

I read my advanced reader copy of this ebook from Net Galley.
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Rachel Fordham is one of the best historical romance authors out there right now. I always enjoy her books so much! I felt such a strong pull towards a happy ending in this book, and weathering all the twists and turns to get there was so emotional. In a time when most romance readers prefer explicit content on the pages, the way Fordham weaves a tale of love and longing is so much more effective at invoking the strongest of feelings with her writing. I fell in love again with these characters and this story!

If I had to describe this Beauty and the Beast-esque story in one word I think I would choose 'beautiful'. It was just such a lovely tale. I've read all of her books but think this is my favorite Rachel Fordham book. I loved the characters. I loved Sadie's supportive nature and her grit to do hard things. Otis isn't very likable initially and since he is the "beastly" character that is okay. But despite his surly behavior it does not take long for the reader to love him and want him to be happy as well. And I loved the wisdom and caring nature of the Dawsons. They gently manipulate things to make life a better place for both Sadie and Otis. When I finished the book, I found myself sighing with satisfaction and the thought that the story was just beautiful.

Potential triggers: physical & emotional abuse
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

Wow. Wow. Wow.
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast was fabulous. Perhaps one of my favourite stories of 2024 so far! Rachel Fordham brought the classic tale to life in 1903 Iowa, through Sadie West and Otis Taylor’s tale.
Sadie is working hard to help her family keep their farm after an accident renders her father unable to walk. But her life is difficult and what little money she has, she sends home, sacrificing her own comforts. She finds shelter in an abandoned factory, with only a curious dog for a friend.
Otis Taylor reluctantly returns home after he learns of his inheritance, but is chased by the past as he steps foot back in his childhood home. Scarred from treatments for an ailment as a child, he avoids stepping out in public and covers his face from prying eyes.
Emotions run deep in this story, tugging at the reader’s heartstrings with every turn of the page. Self-sacrifices, grand gestures, and heartwarming moments pepper the pages of this turn-of-the-century story.
Readers will fall in love with Otis Taylor – seeing past his physical scars – as he learns to trust and love someone who cares deeply for him in return.
The faith aspect of the story sticks to brief mentions of faith, but still, hope is woven through the text.
Yeah. This was a fantastic read. One I’ll read again.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The title of Rachel Fordham’s newest book, Beyond the Ivy Walls, gives the eager reader wonderful hints of a clever, unique, and intriguing story. The gorgeous cover accompanying this story allows the reader to immediately become immersed in the setting and imagine what might happen between Sadie and Otis. The title and cover of the story help to emulate warm feelings of a timeless fairytale that will hold the promise of a story filled with love, everlasting.

As Fordham develops her characters, you meet Sadie and Otis, as well as other characters in the story. I was drawn to Sadie’s determination to help her family by working in a strange city by herself. Sadie is a true heroine. I admired her grit and gumption to stay in the abandoned building overnight in order to continue to work at the factory. I was a bit nervous for Sadie, thinking of the bugs and other critters of the night that could attack her, but Fordham anticipates this and adds in the warm loving, yet humorous introduction of Wolf and his devotion to Sadie.

As the story progresses, Fordham sprinkles the story with precious gems of truth (“a different kind of normal”) and pearls of wisdom when dealing with personal fears. She offers life changing platitudes, which can evoke deep and personal meanings for each of the readers. I was personally touched by several scenes in the story, especially dealing with Sadie and her family.

This story is filled with old-fashioned fun, a “ Nellie Olsen'' type villain and Jane Austin style humor (“ I don’t expect a suitor to come walking through that door”). Also, I did not miss the witty humor when Sadie chuckled about the “dusting masks”! Brilliant writing!

This story has everything! Romance, suspense, adventure, plus fun times with roller skating, which all add to the whimsical charm of the story. This story is so satisfying and wonderful that I will purchase a copy for my middle school classroom and family members as gifts! I assure you, dear readers, that this book is not to be missed! You will enjoy every moment of Beyond the Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham.

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

This book offers a very interesting look at the times and customs of the early 1900s in small-town Iowa. I enjoyed seeing MFC (main female character) Sadie's work and family connections, and her earnest desire to do well by her family and what was "right." MMC Otis is well portrayed as a cold and damaged man who has only property and no family left to claim now that he is an independent, successful man. The satisfying elements in the story come from Sadie and Otis finding they are the solution to each other's problem.

A book has to engage the reader not only upon beginning the story, but every page thereafter. This book had a great plot design, strong and sympathetic characters, and a constantly moving narrative line that served to keep me engaged. When I had to put the book down, I usually was happy to go back to reading it, but there a few close calls when I asked "Do I really care how it ends?" I continued to decide that yes, my time was well worth sticking with the book to find out the resolution.

This book is very well written, continuously interesting, and satisfying in its resolution - even though there were few fireworks or dramatic challenges. I am glad that NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers allowed me to read an advance copy; a lot of other readers will also enjoy Sadie and Otis' story.

Publication date is August 13, 2024.

I was completely captivated by this narrative. Among all of Rachel Fordham's works I've read so far, this one stands out as my ultimate favorite. It's a brilliantly crafted retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, using a fresh twist of this timeless classic. Every element, from the storytelling to the characters, and especially the romance, had me utterly enchanted.

Throughout the tale, my heart fluttered with delight at this fresh take on a classic fairytale. The early twentieth-century setting, along with the unique locations and events, added a delightful charm to the narrative. The writing was so immersive and meticulously detailed that it transported me effortlessly to the early 1900s, allowing me to experience the story alongside the characters. What's more, I appreciated the author's skill in avoiding excessive descriptive passages, ensuring a seamless journey back in time.

Otis and Sadie quickly became endearing protagonists, earning my unwavering support as their story unfolded. Exploring their personalities was a joy, witnessing the gradual blossoming of their romance. This love story delves far beyond superficiality; it's enriched with profound emotional layers and intricately woven backstories, drawing me even closer to the characters. Witnessing their growth and transformation was deeply gratifying, underscoring their remarkable strength. Their impact lingers in my thoughts even weeks later, a testament to their enduring presence. I also appreciated that this is a clean romance without any spice or foul language.

The book also delves into some profound themes, offering valuable insights on confronting past traumas, making sacrifices for family, forgiveness, acceptance, and love. It was one of those reads that I just couldn't tear myself away from; I finished it in just a couple of days. I laughed, cried, and swooned along with the characters on their journey. This touching story truly resonated with me, leaving a lasting impact. There are some very sweet scenes and emotional moments, as well as some wonderful life lessons to learn. It's exceptionally well-written, charming, and heartfelt—a narrative that will linger in my thoughts for a long time to come.

Highly, highly recommend!!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

There are so many facets of this story to admire! The setting is unique and fresh and charming. The characters are flawed, scarred, and endearing. The nods to Beauty and the Beast left me smiling. The themes of self reliance, selfless love, and self confidence amid ridicule left me with desire and inspiration to be a better person. I enjoyed this book!

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

This was such a good book! I am such a fan of Rachel Fordhams books so I was excited for this one. It didn’t disappoint, I loved the storyline and the characters! Highly recommend!

I just reviewed Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham. #BeyondIvyWalls #NetGalley

A poignantly touching novel with a "Beauty and The Beast" feel. Set in the early 1900's, this novel of family, heartbreak, healing and hope drew me in and kept my attention throughout. After her father has a crippling accident, Sadie West leaves the family farm to work in the city to help ease the financial struggles they are facing. But in order to save as much as possible, she finds she can't afford a boardinghouse. Thus she "lives" in an abandoned factory. Otis Taylor, exiled as a child, has returned to the family home after the death of his brother. He intends to settle and sell the estate then move on. But after seeing the state of affairs, he realizes there isn't a quick fix. Dealing with the mess his brother left and uncovering a well-kept secret, Otis finds himself having to come to terms with long held hurt and mistrust. When he discovers Sadie "living" in his family's abandoned factory, he offers to hire her for a better wage with the stipulation she keeps his return a secret. Can the two of them press on with what is needful, form a working relationship and find friendship in unlikely places? Rachel Fordham once again weaves a tale with wonderful character development and plot filled with twists and turn. A definite must-read for 2024!

I was gifted a copy of this novel by the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are soley my own.

Sadie works at a factory sorting feathers to make dusters and is surrounded by rumors about a mysterious bachelor, Otis Taylor, soon to return to Monticello, Iowa; her family's difficulties with keeping their farm afloat during her father's injury necessitates her living in the city and sending as much money home as possible. She meets reclusive Otis in an interesting way, and they form an alliance through letters, both alluding to the novel Jane Eyre in their initial names for each other. The novel dragged on in the first half, and the only surprise was involving a child named Elizabeth. Snippets of the story were reminiscent of "Beauty and the Beast," especially due to Otis' appearance. Little mention is made of faith between the characters, so I wouldn't consider it "Christian fiction," although the romantic aspect is definitely clean. There are discussion questions, which would help leading book club discussions.

Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham is definitely a Beauty and the Beast re-telling. The parallels between the two stories are pretty obvious. The difference is that Sadie comes from the country, but she has whole household of sisters with a Mom and Dad. The Disney version Belle only lives with her inventor father. The hero, Otis Taylor, is not a tall, overbearing hairy guy who is gruff right from the start. Instead he is a little shy and a standoffish, but he is polite and gives Sadie a place to live in exchange for her work on cleaning his house up. A castle vs. a mansion. While Fordham does describe the setting that the readers populate, I would have liked to see more of the castle. It is not really a creepy place to go. People in town admire the structure. Otis just keeps the curtains close because he is ashamed. As for the characters, Otis is the character who needs to change a lot. He learns to accept himself with all his scars and learns to open his heart to a number of people. I imagine it is hard to create a widely popular storyline and try to come up with something different. With this story, Fordham did a wonderful job at showing how everyone should look at the character of a person, not at their faults whether they are physical or mental. Overall, Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham’s plot moved nicely and kept me strolling through the story.

I received a complimentary copy of Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Beyond Ivy Walls has been such a pleasure to read! It's been one of those late-into-the night, page-turning reads for me. Such good, clean fun and amusing comedy coupleD with feathers and letters and mysteriousness, kindness and compassion. Oh, and wrapped in an envelope of unconditional love and romance that crept up and slowly burst into unsuspecting flame, without being cringy.

I believe that the Discussion Questions at story's end will help a reader or readers' group sort through some of the issues that presented themselves along the way.

A very satisfying read for me, thus I give the author a 5-Star rating. I hope to read more from Rachel Fordham in time to come.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

May 2024

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.