Julie Klassen’s latest book, The Ladies of Ivy Cottage, takes place in the year 1820, in the village of Ivy Hill, in Wiltshire, England. This is a lively tale as you are introduced to three ladies in the village: Miss Rachel Ashford, Mrs. Jane Bell and Miss Mercy Grove. These women are each all trying their hand at running their own businesses, in this male dominated world. Rachel tries to open a circulating library, with all the books that she inherited from her father. Jane Bell attempts to manage the inn, The Bell, left to her by her late husband. Finally, Mercy Groves manages the girls school at Ivy Cottage, in the center of Ivy Hill!
It is interesting to see the complications that these women encounter as they attempt to make their businesses successful. Each of these women, either meet or know men from their past with whom they hope will come to have an important place in their future. Hang on to see who God will bring together by the final page!
This is a fun tale to read, as it is a bit reminiscent of Jane Austen's tales, written about the same time period!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review.