Book description: "The lifeblood of the village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. When the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant landlady. Jane has no idea how to manage a business, but with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must quickly find a way to save 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 overcome her losses and find purpose for the future. As she works with Jane, two men from her past vie for her attention, but Thora has promised herself never to marry again. Will one of them convince her to embrace a second chance at love?
As pressure mounts from the bank, Jane employs new methods, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place, including a mysterious newcomer with secret plans of his own. With the help of friends old and new, can Jane restore life to the inn, and to her empty heart as well?"
My review: I definitely enjoyed reading this book, but I would not rank it with the best books I have ever read. I didn't really like Jane very much at the beginning, so it took me awhile to get into the book. She acted too brainless for normal people. By the end of the book, she had proven that she was far from brainless. Despite a slow start, the story did build appropriately to the climax. There was some intrigue that kept me guessing, and the outcome was satisfying. I think an appropriate sequel would help make this book that much more appealing. If you are given a chance to read this book, I would not pass it by, but if you have some favorite authors you are waiting to read, this one will definitely wait. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was only required to write a review for my blog. All opinions are my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment