An Ivy Hill Christmas
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Average rating3.3
Richard Brockwell, the younger son of Ivy Hill's most prominent family, hasn't been home for Christmas in years. He prefers to live in the London townhouse, far away from Brockwell Court, the old family secret that haunts him, and the shadows of his past mistakes. But then his mother threatens to stop funding his carefree life--unless he comes home for Christmas. Out of options, he sets out for Ivy Hill, planning to be back on a coach bound for London and his unencumbered bachelor life as soon as the festivities are over. But Christmas in the country presents unforeseen surprises, including encounters with an orphaned apprentice, the first love he disappointed years ago, and Arabella Awdry, a young lady who is far more appealing than he recalled . . . and determined to have nothing to do with him. Will Christmastime in Ivy Hill, with its village charm, kissing boughs, joyous songs, and divine hope, work its magic in his heart . . . and hers as well?
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3 primary books4 released booksTales from Ivy Hill
Tales from Ivy Hill is a 4-book series with 4 released primary works first released in 2016 with contributions by Julie Klassen.
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I wanted a Christmas book to read and more or less picked this one at random off of my digital library service.
The book had many elements I hoped to like, but it ultimately it fell flat. My biggest critique is that the author did a lot more telling than showing, particularly with the feelings of the characters. No surprise, it then seemed cheesy and forced. I couldn't count how many times I rolled my eyes. Plus, it turned out to be a “Christian book.” I am Christian, so it wasn't that I disagreed with the sentiments on the whole, but it added to the cheese-factor.
On the (merry and) bright side, I enjoyed reading about English Christmas traditions of the time. Not much of the book felt strictly historically accurate, particularly the dialogue, but you could tell she had researched those traditions.
Plus, it was short, as a novella, so I still finished it in two days.
What a delightful story about a young man coming home to his family and his faith...this one has all the Christmas-story fuzzies I look for in this sort of story. We get to catch up with the characters from the three previous books and meet some enjoyable new ones, especially young Jamie, an apprentice. The setting is richly portrayed and even a little dog is part of the tale.
If you're looking for a cozy Christmas story, look no farther!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. I bought a paperback and have based the review on the finished version. A favorable review was not required.
