The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen

Romance is abloom in this historical fiction novel by Julie Klassen. This is the second book in her Tales from Ivy Hill series. The cover art is beautiful and sets the tone for a reading retreat from reality. Any book lover enjoys a story that's set in a book store or a library and that is the case in this Ivy Hill tale. Main character, Rachel Ashford, opens up a circulating library which is a huge success. She also opens up her heart to love as do many of the other characters in this book. This is one of those reads that have several stories within which keeps things interesting. Readers will enjoy experiencing life through the eyes of Rachel and her friends Jane and Mercy, as well as the numerous characters in this book. This book does not work well as a standalone book, so one should read the first book in the series before starting this one. The ending of this book is also abrupt, setting the tone for the next Ivy Hall addition. This is a nice, cozy read and I look forward to reading more books by Julie Klassen. Thank you to Bethany House for sending me a copy of this book to review! These opinions are all my own.