Beyond Ivy Walls

Author: Rachel Fordham
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 336
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no match against an act of love.

Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis's appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family's affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only discarded Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing niece.

At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn't a romantic job, but she's hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building--and is thrown in the path of the town's mysterious bachelor.

Otis's wounds are deep, but as Sadie's friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. The mystery of his long-lost niece, however, is more complex than either could have imagined, and Sadie may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.

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Reviewer: Adriann Harris

Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham is a heart-wrenching, beautifully written rendition of Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast. Fordham, with her easy-to-read picturesque writing style, immediately drew me into this charming, tender, historical Christian fiction story set in the early 1900s in Monticello, Iowa.

This delightful story has characters who will tug at your heartstrings and bring hope to all that no one is forever a lost cause. Sadie West, beautiful both inside and out, always looks for the bright side in every situation. Otis Taylor, damaged both physically and emotionally, is a gifted pianist and composer. Mildred and Leon, acting grandparents of Otis, are the caretakers of the Taylor residence. Together, they help to guide both Otis and Sadie in the trials and tribulations of their respective lives and their growing attachment to each other.

Even though this story did not have any true Christian themes, it was a heartwarming, sweet, humorous, and clean historical read. I could not put this book down, as Fordham due me into this enchanting story from beginning to end, thus I highly recommend it!

Received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Publishers via NetGalley. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

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.

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