An Ivy Hill Christmas By Julie Klassen

An Ivy Hill Christmas

by Julie Klassen

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: A Tales From Ivy Hill Novella

ISBN: 9780764233807

Oh, Ivy Hill, I'm so happy to be back visiting you! I was tickled when An Ivy Hill Christmas showed up at my house thanks to Julie Klassen and Bethany House! They gifted me this book, and I was thrilled to go back and visit these wonderful characters!

Summary:

Spend a festive Christmas in the English village of Ivy Hill, as divine hope, friendship, and unexpected romance work their magic. . . .

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 many 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, and joyous songs, change his heart . . . and hers as well?

My Review:

What an absolutely fun novella! It was wonderful to go back to Ivy Hill and revisit old friends in An Ivy Hill Christmas.

To me, Richard is a mix between Scrooge and Grinch. lol I'm pretty sure he doesn't like anyone. Can I say for the record that one of my favorite characters of the book is probably his valet Pickering? hahaha I love that he gives it back to Richard.

Wouldn't it be quite the experience to be so rich that you just pay for everything for someone? Poor Richard is about to lose his mother funding his lifestyle if he doesn't go home so that's what he does. Only he doesn't go alone. He takes his friend, David Murray, with him. It seems most of the people in this story are able to teach Richard either a lesson or bring something to his attention. Mr. Murray does that on their way to Brockwell Court by helping out an orphan.

I have to say that I really enjoyed Arabella. She's like me in that she doesn't brook any nonsense when it comes to her family. You mess with them, you mess with her. Arabella has no patience for Richard, regardless of how handsome he is. The only problem is, she starts to see him in a different light as she spends more time with him.

The two of them often find themselves together and while they fight any attraction that might be growing, we the readers are able to enjoy watching it all unfold. I liked how they both felt so compelled to help the orphan, Jamie. In fact, it's rather funny at the end how Jamie's situation causes some events to unfold!

I never really thought about what Christmas was like back in the 1800s. I loved how it was such a long celebration and so much festivities. At least in this story they all were delighted to give back during the season in various ways. They took their Christmas caroling seriously. Ah to be transported back to that time, even if it were just for a month!

Don't miss out on this perfect Christmastime novella! It'll put you in the mood for the season.

About the Author:

Julie Klassen (www.julieklassen.com) loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's BEST Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.