Come home to Ivy Hill, where friendship endures, romance triumphs, and mysteries are revealed in this eagerly anticipated conclusion. . . . Spring is in the air . . . and change is too. Mercy Grove has lost her girls' school and is resigned to life as a spinster, especially as the man she admires is out of reach. She contemplates leaving Ivy Cottage to become a governess--a decision with consequences she never imagined. Meanwhile, her friend Jane Bell is facing a difficult decision of her own. Should she accept Gabriel Locke even if it means giving up her inn and destining another man to a childless marriage? When a secretive new dressmaker arrives in the village, Mercy, Jane, and the other ladies of Ivy Hill attempt to befriend her, but they soon suspect she isn't who she claims to be. Together, the women of Ivy Hill look forward to one wedding, but surprises lie in store and dearly held dreams may yet come true. Come home to Ivy Hill, where friendship endures, romance triumphs, and mysteries are revealed in this eagerly anticipated conclusion. . . . Spring is in the air . . . and change is too. Mercy Grove has lost her girls' school and is resigned to life as a spinster, especially as the man she admires is out of reach. She contemplates leaving Ivy Cottage to become a governess--a decision with consequences she never imagined. Meanwhile, her friend Jane Bell is facing a difficult decision of her own. Should she accept Gabriel Locke even if it means giving up her inn and destining another man to a childless marriage? When a secretive new dressmaker arrives in the village, Mercy, Jane, and the other ladies of Ivy Hill attempt to befriend her, but they soon suspect she isn't who she claims to be. Together, the women of Ivy Hill look forward to one wedding, but surprises lie in store and dearly held dreams may yet come true. "Set in 1821 in the idyllic English town of Ivy Hill, book three in Klassen's Tales from Ivy Hill series is a charming meander through the lives, loves, and difficulties of three friends. . . . Readers of previous installments will enjoy the small but important developments of Klassen's large, memorable cast." -- Publishers Weekly "Klassen has written a fitting conclusion to her series. . . . The faith elements are light-handed, as the characters face their new challenges in their lives and learn to trust God in all situations. Readers will appreciate the nod to Jane Austen, as well as the depth of the historical details, as they return to Ivy Hill." --Christian Library Journal Praise for TALES FROM IVY HILL ". . . a beautifully realized English village setting, a memorable cast of characters, and charming hints of love for more than one of the residents of Ivy Hill." -- Booklist "Klassen's sweet and gentle Tales from Ivy Hill novel returns readers to the bucolic Regency-era small English town. The story follows several women as they become accustomed to their changing circumstances. Each woman faces her new challenges with grace and faith." -- Publishers Weekly Julie Klassen loves all things Jane-- Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over 1.5 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 16 years and now writes full-time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit JulieKlassen.com. The Bride of Ivy Green By Julie Klassen Baker Publishing Group Copyright © 2018 Julie Klassen All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7642-1817-0 CHAPTER 1 February 1821 Ivy Hill, Wiltshire, England Mercy Grove could no longer put off the painful task. Her brother had recently married and would soon return from his wedding trip, ready to move with his new bride into Ivy Cottage — the home Mercy and Aunt Matilda had long viewed as their own. Mr. Kingsley and one of his nephews had already relocated the bookcases to the circulating library's new location in the former bank building and helped return the drawing room to its original purpose. It was time for her schoolroom to follow suit. The Groves' manservant had carried the desks, globes, and schoolbooks up to the attic, and now all that was left to move was Mercy's prized wall slate. Resigned to the inevitable, she asked Mr. Basu to take down the slate for her, but the manservant stood, knuckle pressed to his lip, uncertainty written on his golden-brown face. He sent her an apologetic look. "If it breaks, it breaks," Mercy said, more casually than she felt. She reminded herself she was no longer a teacher, but rational or not, she wished to save the slate intact. Just in case. She recalled her father's consoling words.