Beyond Ivy Walls
Author Rachel Fordham has created a vibrant and epic romance set against the backdrop of 1903 Iowa. The book follows the hardworking Sadie West as she struggles to make ends meet for her family. A country girl from a farm out of town, Sadie snags a job working at a feather duster factory and sends her meager paychecks home to pay for her injured father’s medical bills. When she’s kicked out of her boarding house, she discovers an abandoned building to sleep in and a runaway dog who befriends her. Little does she realize that the hound is towing trouble in his wake.
Otis Taylor, a recluse, returns home to the seat of his family fortune to clean up his late brother’s affairs. He has no interest in socializing or making his birthplace a home after everything he suffered there. Upon learning that he may have a niece hidden somewhere by his ashamed brother, Otis is determined to locate her and give her the welcome he never had. The issue is that his dog, Wolf, has been commandeered by a squatter living in the dilapidated building he inherited. To try and avoid trouble, he invites Sadie to stay in the mansion with him. Neither expected to sprout feelings which will only complicate matters. Can these two lonely people put aside their pasts and find a happy future together?
This is a lovely read, full of heart and charm. With a dash of mystery building the suspense, one can’t help but root for this unlikely pairing.
