I don't usually really historical fiction but completely enjoyed this story of a woman rebuilding her life. Delighted to see it is part of a series

This novel is a delightful, slow-moving, atmospheric read. You'll feel immersed in Jane and Thora's troubles and in the innkeeping story. By the time I finished reading, I felt ready to travel to the town of Ivy Hill because it felt so very real. Jane especially felt like a new friend. Thora's story is the most resolved in this book; Jane's continues to the next.

I gave this 5 stars because it was a wonderful story. Julie Klassens books are so comforting to me. No one tells a story like her. I snuggled up with this book every morning in a cozy chair and latte and read and read. I loved all the characters and am so exciting that it is a trilogy. I can't wait to find out more about Ivy Hill and wished I could visit this place in real life.

Slow and steady. That may not sound like a compliment for a book, but I do mean it that way.This isn't a fast-paced, gripping kind of story that you start reading and can't stand to put down until you've sat reading for hours and finally turned the last page with a sense of relieved satisfaction. However, neither is it the kind of slow story that just drags on and on until you simply can't bear to force yourself to read any more. It's... Well, it's kind of like hot chocolate. It's warm and comfo...

Rating 3.5 starsThis was my second book by Julie Klassen, the first being which I found a lot more fast paced and intriguing due to the mystery it had. That being said, I still enjoyed this story, which is the first of a series (a first series for this author) and being the first, had to take some time to introduce the settings and the various characters.This series is ultimately about three friends, Jane, Mercy and Rachel, all introduced in this first book, but with the focus on Jane. Jane...

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is a cozy book to sink into and enjoy at an unrushed pace. Before reading it I had heard that it was different from Klassen's other books, and I agree- but definitely not in a bad way. There is less suspense, but still a good amount of intrigue. The story is told from the perspective of three main characters: Jane, the innkeeper; Thora, her mother-in-law; and Rachel, Jane's estranged childhood friend. There is a wide cast of community members that interact with the ladi...

Friendship, romance and mysteries are all promised in Julie Klassen's first series: Tales from Ivy Hill. The first book the Innkeeper of Ivy Hill certainly delivers all of this and more. Klassen knows how to tug at the heartstrings as she creates a memorable and relatable cast of characters. I have enjoyed all of Julie Klassen's stand alone novels but I am so happy this is a series. I am not ready to leave all the people of Ivy Hill behind.

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...

3.5 stars, more if you really like inspirational historical fiction; less if you're not particularly fond of the genre. Julie Klassen creates an ensemble set of characters in the fictional village of Ivy Hill, not too far from London, in the 1820s. Jane Bell is the innkeeper, a young widow who married down socially and now has no idea what to do with the inn that she's inherited. The story alternates between Jane, her widowed mother-in-law, and some other local characters. It's all very reminisc...

Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors, so of course, her first series was of great interest to me. And I'm not sure if the stars just aligned perfectly with my reading mood, but I adored this story. I typically don't prefer stories that focus on several different characters, and I knew this one did, but that didn't bother me in the least. I enjoyed each characters' story, and I liked their different perspectives. Sure, I didn't warm to one of them as much as the others, but that's also bec...

I have a confession. I called this book Ivyford for the majority of the time I spent reading it because it reminded me of a wonderful mix of Gaskell’s book Cranford and Jan Karon’s Mitford books. Can you imagine my delight and surprise, once I completed this charming gem, when I read Klassen’s author notes and she mentioned those very books!?!? Although I didn’t feel nearly as smart or witty once I realized that that information was already out there for everyone to know, I did feel slightly val...

Jane Bell is a young widow running the family inn of her late husband, John. Brought up as a gentlewoman, Jane was not raised to work, and struggles with maintaining a business. She gets help from her farrier, Gabriel Locke, but little to none from her brother-in-law Patrick. And Jane is beginning to learn that John was keeping secrets from her, financial and maybe worse.As if Jane weren’t stressed out enough, she has to make room for her uptight, disapproving mother-in-law, Thora. Thora’s prese...

What could be better than a Julie Klassen Regency? A Julie Klassen Regency Series! The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is book one of the Tales from Ivy Hill Series.The novel is delightful and introduces the reader to many characters in the village. There is main character Jane, a widow who finds herself owner of an inn and it is not a profession she would have chosen. The supporting cast includes brother-in-law Patrick, mother-in-law Thora, childhood friends Mercy and Rachel and many more. Knowing the bo...

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

This was a good introduction to Klassen's new series. I found it a little slow at the beginning, but as more of the characters of the town of Ivy Hill were introduced, it got more interesting. The main characters were certainly a varied group of people. Jane, a widow, has been left an inn by her dead husband a descendent of the Bell family. She has never been involved with the inn so is clueless as to running it and it's needed upkeep. I liked how she was able to listen to others and consider th...

I would describe this read as a warm family drama. Three women points of view are written in this novel and I was elated that the mans view was left out. My favorite to read about was Thora a fifty something plain spoken breath of fresh air. Jane came across a little dull for me. I wanted to see courage and fire and a touch of wisdom from her. There is plenty of romance in this book and actually a little more than what I wanted; but I do realize The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is low romance for most

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill was a fine read, although I found it a bit slow. I liked the story and the characters, but wish it would have held my attention more. I found myself easily distracted from the novel and could set the book aside and forget about it easily...this made the read take much longer than it should have to finish. I like that this is a series -- a first for the author -- and I am excited to continue on to the next book to see where things go. All in all, I liked this book. It wa...

About this book: “Welcome to the English village of Ivy Hill, where friendships thrive, romance blossoms, and mysteries await. . . . The lifeblood of the village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. When the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant landlady. Jane has no idea how to manage a business, but with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must quickly find a way to save the inn. Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to...

It’s always exciting news when you hear that one of your favorite authors is writing her first series. Say what?! Sign me up for every single book please!Well, what can I say? Klassen has once again fully captivated my attention with every single character. I’m so glad this is a series, because I want more! The book is very much a character driven story and I loved it. It’s not her normal story telling style, but I so enjoyed that it wasn’t fully what I expected and the various points of view wo...

Okay, wow. I am so impressed by Julie Klassen right now... Her very first novel Series!The setting of this beautiful country side village is so appealing with all the English charm you would expect from Mrs. Klassen's writing. Though not the pace you would expect, I love how Julie stays true to the time, allowing history to breathe through her stories and her characters. Being Scottish by blood only, I loved Charlie's character. But I could'na say who was my favourite out of the lot. Even the so...