Book Recommendation - Beyond Ivy Walls

 

Rachel Fordham is a newer author on the historical romance scene, but her books are full of great characters, sweet romance and small town charm. Her upcoming release Beyond Ivy Walls adds a Beauty and the Beast vibe, along with some fun settings, such as a feather duster factory and a roller skating rink! It also includes some differing family dynamics amongst each of the characters. Here's a bit about the book: 

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.

Some tidbits of trivia I learned through the author's Facebook group:

- Both of the author's editors said a certain scene was a “hand flex scene” (Pride and Prejudice reference)

- The author wrote this book prior to "The Letter Tree", which was last year's release.

- The Hoag feather duster factory is based on a real factory.

- It was originally set in the 1880s but is now set at the start of the 1900s

- The main male characters name is Otis. She wrote this book before I’d ever met her adopted son named Otis.

This book releases August 13, 2024 wherever books are sold. For additional information, check out the following links:

Rachel Fordham's website: https://rachelfordham.com/

Rachel Fordham's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RachelFordhamFans

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6343606796

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