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 … 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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It was nice to visit Ivy Hill again and especially at Christmas time. This is the story of Richard Brockwell who is living a rather pointless life, especially as seen from the outside looking in. He is in fact an aspiring author but he has yet to be published. In the beginning we see that he is a little bit of a foolish man. But it will take the right amount of Christmas cheer, family, old acquaintances, and a surprise love to help him become a much better man.
Arabella Awdry is a woman who has decided to not marry. Especially if she cannot find a love like her parents had. She certainly is not interested in Richard Brockwell and his rakish ways. However, these two meet again at a Christmas house party and after all the façade is stripped away, can actually see the real person and what a true love might look like.
This was a deep story for a bit of a shorter book. I enjoyed the interactions of everyone and I always find house parties in Victorian times enjoyable to read about. I was glad to visit Ivy Hill again.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Such a charming, Dickens-ish story by author Julie Klassen. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Ivy Hill, a village I’ve come to love. (You could read this as a stand alone but I highly recommend the entire Ivy Hill series.)
Characters who are fun, roguish, delightful, and even irritating make the story so enjoyable. But to see people change, forgive, and grow makes it meaningful. This isn’t simply a pleasant Christmas tale, but it’s a tale of love lost, wounds healed, and love found.
Please keep in mind that this is a novella, not a full novel, so there isn’t the time to develop the story as much but if you enjoy stories set in this time period I highly recommend this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
An Ivy Hill Christmas is a novella continuing the Tales from Ivy Hill series from Julie Klassen. I was glad to once again enjoy more from this series. This book is about Richard, the wayward son coming home for the Christmas holiday, bringing not only a friend, but his new fury friend as well! It took me a while with Richard, he had such an obnoxious attitude it was difficult to like him at first. But he did grow on me and turned out to be a pleasant character. His trip home turned out to be quite different than what he thought.
I loved the olde fashion Christmas feel of this story, bringing back memories of when I was young. I enjoyed the characters and again Ms. Klassen does a wonderful job of bringing back characters we already know and adding a few more me meet for the first time. Even though this is a shorter story, I enjoyed this one so much, and as always was excited to read more from Julie Klassen. I encourage you to get a copy of this book and enjoy a wonderful and exciting great read for this Christmas time. This book is a Five Stars for me all the way.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Having read all of the previous books in the Tales From Ivy Hill series, I was delighted to read An Ivy Hill Christmas. What better setting can one imagine for a Christmas novella than the small town of Ivy Hill in Regency era England? With gorgeous cover art, well developed characters, a nod to many of the Christmas traditions of that time, and a meaningful transformation through faith, this book is a perfect read for the season, especially for history buffs.
It was fun to encounter characters from the previous novels but of course Richard and Arabella stole the show. Confirmed bachelor Richard Brockwell has his reasons for avoiding marriage but his reputation is less than spotless. Arabella Awdry is the young woman Richard’s mother hopes he will marry by Richard is deliberately rude to her, hoping to foil his mother’s plans. Arabella is also uninterested in marriage and plans to spend her life helping others. At this point most romance readers have a pretty good idea what direction this story will take but believe men, the fun is just beginning.
I loved Richard’s character and seeing the changes in his attitude over the course of this short tale. His little dog was especially fun and it was entertaining to imagine what he looked like when Richard dressed him in clothing to match his own. I liked Arabella well enough but this is definitely Richard’s story. In addition, readers will witness more than one other romance take place before the end.
All in all, this is a satisfying read and I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
This is a wonderfully sweet and fun Christmas romance. I loved getting to hear about some of the characters from previous stories based in Ivy Hill. This is a quick read and it teaches Richard some very good lessons about life. I enjoyed Murray also. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
This endearing story starts out at a placid pace, but soon unexpected events unfold that cause the tale to entangle itself in the reader’s heart and evoke their emotions. For instance, the scene in which so many village people help a needy family actually brought tears to my eyes. In this book, we explore various relationships and the search for healing and forgiveness for the wrongs of the past. The poorer class here is contrasted with the wealthy, but both groups face similar struggles in life. The characters the author skillfully portrays seem quite realistic and vulnerable, with the setting and situations appearing completely authentic. Journey back to Great Britain at Christmastime in 1812 for a novel that warms the heart as it entertains the mind. This book stands alone. I haven’t read the series about Ivy Hill, but this makes me want to read more. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
How about a visit to Ivy Hill during Christmas? What could be better than a visit to a small English village during this special time of year? Most people would love this trip but Richard Brockwell is there only because his mother has demanded that he come home. Richard’s life in Ivy Hill hasn’t always been pleasant so you can bet that he plans to return to London as soon as possible but then….he meets Arabella Awdry and his perspective changes.
An Ivy Hill Christmas is a delightful Christmas novella set during the Regency era and Klassen gives us all of the joys and ‘feel-goods’ of this special time of year, including Christmas caroling, mistletoe, kissing boughs, and giving baskets to those who are less fortunate. She also reminds us that forgiveness is the greatest gift that we can give or receive and God’s love and grace are available for all! There is also a wonderful romance and I recommend it to all who enjoy Christmas stories and Christian Regency fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. A favorable review wasn’t required and no monetary compensation was given. These are my own thoughts.
My full review can be seen here. https://connie-oldersmarter.blogspot.com/2020/12/an-ivy-hill-christmas-by-julie-klassen.html
An Ivy Hill Christmas combines all the best aspects of a Christmas story. A younger brother tries finding his place and his calling. His mother summons him home with threats of cutting him off financially.
On his way home with his friend, he winds up becoming acquainted with a young man who is on his way to become an apprentice. A lady repeatedly determines to have nothing to do with him. This book illustrates how sometimes the very thing we think we do not want provides exactly the experience we need.
The characters developed beautifully along with the plot. The setting of an English manor provides the perfect backdrop for this story. So check it out for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
I loved this story! The author does a great job portraying Richard as a selfish bachelor that I didn’t like him for a while. The characters are believable and they tugged at my heart.
An especially fun part of this story for me was taking part (vicariously through the story) in the Christmas traditions of nearly 200 years ago. The parlor games, decorating for Christmas, and Christmas and Boxing Day traditions were an intriguing look at how our ancestors celebrated the holidays.
I’d love to read more books in this series!
As I read this Christmas story, I could see it as a movie. I would love to visit Ivy Hill and have tea with the Brockwell Family.
Richard Brockwell doesn’t sound like someone I would want to spend Christmas with. But people can change especially at Christmas.
I loved reading this story. It was a feel good book with great characters, a lovely location and set at the most perfect time of year.
Julie Klassen has put me in the holiday spirit!!!!
I received this for free from Celebrate Lit to review.
He is small but ever so brave. – Richard when thinking of Jamie
What an incredible introduction to Ivy Hill! I most certainly will be looking for the rest of the story as they say. Richard Brockwell appears to be a self-centered, rather spoiled young man that has nothing positive to show, except that novel he has written that is regularly refused and returned by publishers. Since his return to Ivy Hill for Christmas is required, he decides long before to be less than amiable with the other guests. Interesting how things can change…
Is it fate or God that young Jamie has ties to a charity that Richard refuses to donate to? Can Richard change his ways and become a self-respecting person, one that others would seek to spend time with? The author uses rich detail to take the reader out into the snowy weather and on walks through the woods. You can almost smell the trees, hear the fire crackling and the snow squeaking as you read. I look forward to learning more about this family.
This ARC was received through Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Publishers, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
Not only is this the first book I’ve read in the Tales from Ivy Hill series, it also appears to be the first novel I’ve read by Julie Klassen, although I have definite plans to read more of her work in the near future. It should be noted that this book can be read as a standalone, with no difficulty in understanding the plot or identifying the characters, since Klassen tactfully introduces them. In many cases, Regency stories are usually a turn-off for me, particularly if they are romances, and I am numbered among the seemingly rare few who is not a great fan of Jane Austen’s books. They are just not, personally, my cup of tea. However, I did love this novella!
With the perfect blend of social concern and spiritual well-being, “An Ivy Hill Christmas” makes a wonderful book for a snowy afternoon. On the frontispiece, there is a black-and-white map of Ivy Hill to give readers a mental image of where some of the story’s main locations are in relationship to one another. But as the village remains close-knit, the residents of Brockwell Court do not. Most notably, Richard Brockwell is nearly 30 years old and lives as a rakish bachelor in London, enjoying himself and fitting into an archetype of a young Ebenezer Scrooge who thinks of no one but himself. “Richard was, he knew, a selfish creature. A person could not change his nature, his very heart, could he? He thought not.” Coerced into returning to Brockwell Court for the Christmas holidays, he vows to remain firm against his mother’s desire for him to marry and settle down into a respectable life. Until the Christmas guests arrive, and Arabella Awdry steps through the door.
This is a character-driven novel, and it is the secondary characters whom I find to be the most entertaining and insightful. Wally, the little terrier, stole my heart immediately, particularly with how Richard dresses him up each day. Pickering, Richard’s steward, has a dry sort of humor that I find surprising and at times hilarious. Richard’s brother and sister-in-law manage Brockwell Court compassionately and efficiently, a task Richard has no desire to become responsible for as the second son. However, the more he sees acts of kindness performed toward the less fortunate in conjunction with the fate of a childhood friend, the more he begins to look beyond himself to see the world of need that exists. He is struck by the thought “That the heavenly Father would willingly send His Son into a harsh, fallen, and dangerous world? Astounding.” From that launching point, he finds the motivation and inspiration to confront and seek to rectify injustice, surprising himself along the way and prodding us, too, into action. No gift of kindness is too small when it comes from a heart reflecting the Savior’s love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
A charming Christmastime tale that brings the seasonal traditions of yesteryear to life.
Richard Brockwell returns to Ivy Hill for Christmas, after living much his life away from his ancestral home, instead spending his time in London unencumbered by the familiarity of life in the country. This is a heartwarming Christmas time read, as we revisit familiar faces, and get to know many new ones as well.
This is a heartwarming read with plenty of wonderfully interconnecting subplots and characters, Jamie and Wally are some of my favorites. I loved how Jamie doesn’t complain even though he would have reason too, and yet brings joy wherever he goes.
A cozy, heartwarming read, that feels like visiting friends and family for the holiday. I loved learning about the Christmas traditions of the Regency era, many of which were new to me. I loved how the characters grew over the course of the book finding a home for their hearts. Highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Julie Klassen is a gifted storyteller, and it did not take many pages for me to be swept into the holiday cheer of Regency England in this novella. I liked the characters a lot, especially Arabella, (and, yes, eventually even Richard) and was impressed with their development and growth in the short novella. I enjoy stories where characters have a background as friends first and really enjoyed their interactions. I like the historical aspect of the story and the descriptions of Regency-era Christmas traditions. There is good integration of second chances and forgiveness as well. You do not need to read the entire Ivy Hill series to enjoy this novella but you will definitely encounter familiar characters by reading the rest of the series. I really liked reading this novella and highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary ecopy of this book from Celebrate Lit Tours. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Readers travel back to Ivy Hill in Klassen’s newest novella. Richard Brockwell begins the story with a self-centered attitude, who is happy to live his life as a bachelor. As he dreads spending his Christmas at his family’s home, he finds a change of heart. His paths cross with a young apprentice, an old family friend, and a young lady who has decided that she will never marry. These events combine to start a change in his view of life as well as his heart.
As many books that Klassen writes, I enjoyed the interactions between the character. It seems natural and realistic. The story was heartwarming and enjoyable for Christmas. I especially enjoyed watching Richard move the past and turn towards the future. The scenarios were convincing, and I found myself intrigued what would happen next.
My only complaint was that was a novella when we love and long for novels from Julie Klassen. I look forward to reading more books by her. If you haven’t read other books in the Tales of Ivy Hill series, this book could be read as a stand alone.
I would recommend reading this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.
An Ivy Hill Christmas, Tales from Ivy Hill by author Julie Klassen is a wonderful holiday tale. This Christian historical Regency story should get readers in a Christmas spirit. I thought it was lovely beginning with the cover.
Set in 1822 London this is the tale of the youngest Brockwell son, Richard. He is an independent man and seems to need his family’s money more than he needs them. At the insistence of his mother he returns to their country home for Christmas with the family this year. The results are eye opening and heart warming.
Richard is a cad and has quite the reputation in London. When he comes home to Ivy Hill for a Christmas visit, he is surprised to meet childhood friend Arabella Awdry. She is familiar with his bad reputation and avoids him like the plague even though they are childhood friends.
Author Klassen has a captivating style of writing. I was immediately invested in her story. The way she writes always whisks me away from my comfortable loveseat in my study where I read to her setting. The characters were very relatable and realistic.
This story is filled with life and spiritual lessons. It is a tale of new beginnings and forgiveness. It is quirky and delightful. Expect some twists and turns in this sweet story. I was very surprised by the transformation of one character. At the end everything comes together and is neatly tied with a bow on top. This is definitely a very enjoyable read.
I highly recommend this especially for Regency lovers. This is the perfect novella for this time of year. I have rated it 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
This was an enjoyable read. I hadn’t read any of the previous titles in this series but this didn’t affect my enjoyment. Richard, the younger son, has reluctantly come home for Christmas. He is a bit short on money and is trying to get his first novel published. Richard enjoys his bachelor life and has quite a reputation with the ladies. He is also self-centred. His mother wants him to marry, now that he has reached thirty and has invited an eligible lady as one of the guests to a house party. During this time, Richard hears some home truths about himself and this gets him considering his actions but will this be enough to change his ways and will he be above to prove himself worthy of his lady of choice. There were some interesting Christmas customs in this story. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Coerced home from London during the Christmas season by his mother, Richard Brockwell is focused on staying away from any marriageable young ladies and returning to London as soon as he can. But his time at home brings up a lot of regrets and bad memories from his past, places a needy orphan in his path, and taunts him with a young woman who wants to be paired with him even less than he wants to be paired with her. That woman is Arabella Awdry, who is determined to forgo romance for a life of helping the less fortunate. Besides that, she knows all too well what sort of man Richard Brockwell is, and it isn’t the sort of man she wants anything to do with.
I saw this book here and there over the last month or so, passing it by for various reasons. Then I read another book by Julie Klassen recently and loved it, so as soon as I realized this was by the same author, I immediately added it to my Christmas-season reading list. I’m so glad I did! Though I haven’t read any of the other Ivy Hill books, and I could see that some characters were part of a larger story, I didn’t have any issues reading this. And it hit so many sweet spots for me. I loved the characters, that the romance was just one part of the story, that some common tropes of the genre were avoided.
I really liked Arabella early in the story; she endeared herself to me as soon as she put Richard in his place for his rudeness regarding her family. Richard was flawed in such a real way, and I think the author did a great job with his backstory. I’ll admit that Arabella’s stubbornness wore on me a bit by the end, but not as a flaw in the book, because it didn’t feel forced or unrealistic.
A Christmas romance is even more likely to feel contrived than any other romance story, at least in my experience, but I loved the fact that it wasn’t the only purpose of the story at all. There was a lot going on, especially for Richard, and the ending didn’t feel too easy or frivolous. Everything had to really be worked for. Though when I reached the end of the book with only the epilogue left, my heart almost stopped. I am not sure that was the best pacing idea. But it’s a minor complaint, really (not saying more to avoid spoilers).
Overall, I found this short novel to be refreshing and liked how, though some of the same types of silly parlor games were played as I’ve started to get used to in other novels of the same genre, they weren’t so groan-inducing in this story as I’ve come to expect. I loved it, and if you’ve seen many of my reviews, you might know that I don’t give 5 stars very often, so let that tell you something. I definitely recommend this book for any fans of Christian historical romance, especially if you’re looking for a warm Christmas read. I’m definitely adding the Tales from Ivy Hill books to my reading list now!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for providing me a copy of this book to review.
This book has wonderful themes that show up all throughout this story: Forgiveness, redemption, and the joy of serving others. Richard Brockwell’s Christmas will be different than any he’s experienced before. Because of past hurts, he’s developed a cynical, self-serving point of view. But as he returns to Ivy Hill for Christmas with his family, the well-constructed walls he’s built around his heart start to fall as he gets to know the beautiful Arabella Awdry. Through her love and concern for her family and her strong faith, Richard begins to see that God might truly care for him and even extends forgiveness to him. Although Arabella begins to care for Richard, his past stands in the way of her fully giving her heart to him. Their story is a compelling one, and I think it’s a perfect story to read during the Christmas season.
I saw subtle shades of both Charles Dickens and Jane Austen in this story. I loved the conversations between Richard and Arabella. There’s one scene between them where Arabella puts Richard in his place in a surprising, well-deserved way. Even though this is a novella-length book, Julie Klassen gives us a complete love story that encompasses everything we love most about the Christmas season.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Awwwww this sweet story warmed my heart.
The characters were just wonderful in their own ways except the hideous Mr Knock. The other characters were wonderful. I loved the humor in the book, got me smiling and laughing.
The wit, banter was just so companionable and captivating.
This is an absolutely wonderful book with the messages of hope, love and second chances that come with the beautiful season of Christmas.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.