“What is normal? Why can’t it be normal to be varied and different? In a world full of colors and shapes and backgrounds, who decided we were all supposed to be the same?”
It’s always a treat to read a book by Rachel Fordham, and Beyond Ivy Walls is no exception. With vibes of Beauty and the Beast and references to Jane Eyre, the storyline pulled me in and kept me turning pages. Set in Iowa in the early 1900s, it features Sadie West who is working in a feather duster factory and Otis Taylor who is returning to his home in the same town. Otis is somewhat of a recluse because of physical and emotional scars but is also an accomplished pianist and heir to the family home and land. When he reluctantly returns to settle the family affairs, he meets Sadie who is trying to help her family survive while her father heals from an injury. These main characters, along with a stellar cast of secondary characters, are engaging, relatable and well-drawn. I enjoyed the banter between them and the changing relationship as they got to know each other.
“Plans are a good thing, if they’re held lightly. Some folks hold on too tight and they can’t let go when life changes.”
This story is well-written and captivating with themes of acceptance of others and the importance of families, whether they are biological or pieced together with love. I enjoyed the author’s note at the end with a little background on the writing of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
BackCover Blurb:
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 abandoned Taylor and begins
a tireless search for his missing toddler 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. Locating his
long-lost niece, however, is more difficult than either could have
imagined, and Sadie West may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding
his way home.
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