The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill

Tales From Ivy Hill, Book 1

By: Julie Klassen

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

The lifeblood of the Wiltshire village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. But when the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant owner. Jane has no notion of how to run a business. However, with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must find a way to bring new life to the inn.

Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to find her place in the world. As she and Jane work together, they form a measure of trust, and Thora's wounded heart begins to heal. When she encounters two men from her past, she sees them - and her future - in a different light.

With pressure mounting from the bank, Jane employs innovative methods to turn the inn around, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place. Will her efforts be enough to save The Bell? And will Thora embrace the possibility of a second chance at love?

©2016 Julie Klassen (P)2016 Recorded Books

A gem! I can hardly wait for book 2!

This was very well read and written. I loved the characters and that the breadth of the story demands follow up. I have questions about what really happened in the past? What will become of our favorite characters? Will the criminal be brought to justice?

This is not a book of simpering females who all get their man. Real life regret and pain amidst acceptance and triumph. If you are looking for a good read, this book is for you!

The innkeeper of Ivy Hill

I absolutely loved this novel, and the readers performance was wonderful . I would high reccomend this book. I'm looking forward to the next in this series.

A wonderful listening experience

The story did take a bit to get into, but as Kessler's complex characters evolved so did her incredible story. I was hooked and could not stop listening. Excellent story and beautiful naration.

Classy and well written

I like that the author had to have done so much research for this book and thoroughly. I felt like I learned a bit of history. It was well written.

Wonderful listen

I enjoyed the story as well as the performance very much and am looking forward to the next in line

Loved this so much!

Really enjoyed this listen, reminded me a bit of other stories featuring a group of characters in this way (Middlemarch comes to mind). Gentle but poignant!!

Not for me

I get that the era is much different than now, not my first time listening to this genre, but making the main character ignorant and for the most part helpless, with no backbone or common sense is beyond degrading.

Good but slow start

It took me about 4 chapters to get into but I liked it. Also the number of love interests each woman has was a bit ridiculous. The ending leaves many loose ends

Great narration!

I really enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked the different story lines and character development.

Another good book from Julie Klassen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if they enjoy period pieces. The characters are well rounded and the story is intriguing. It was a bit of a mystery and a lot about the friendship between women. All in all, it was well written.

What other book might you compare The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill to and why?

Other books by Ms. Klassen have been equally as good as they capture your imagination and you get lost in the telling of the story. Her writing paints a picture that you can envision, making the story come to life.

What does Elizabeth Jasicki bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ms. Jasicki is an excellent reader and her transition between voices is excellent. You're never left wondering who is speaking and she's great with male voices too.

Any additional comments?

As always, I'm looking forward to Ms. Klassen's next book.