The Butterfly Guild (The Ivy Files #1)
by Victoria Simcox
A move to a new city was supposed to be a fresh start—until strange symbols, missing recipes, and whispers of a secret guild pull Ivy Meadows into a mystery that begins inside an old church-turned-restaurant.
With courage, curiosity, and quiet faith, Ivy must uncover secrets hidden beneath Seattle’s end-of-summer, rain-soaked streets before time runs out.
Each book features a different real city, capturing its atmosphere and local character while blending real-world inspiration with fictional places.
My Take:
Ivy Meadows is worn from all the changes impacting her life. Apparently, losing her mom was not enough. Losing the little church her family attended wasn't enough. Now Dad has accepted a job as staff chef at a tiny restaurant in Seattle, where it rains almost every day, and where she has no friends at all. The only thing Ivy has managed to hang onto is her Dad, her journal, and her faith.
The ancient church this restaurant inhabits is full of secrets and mysteries, however. From the very first day, Ivy begins uncovering a sinister plot, a plot involving the restaurant owner, Mr. Ballini, a mysterious woman in a red raincoat, and the elusive Butterfly Guild.
But some secrets are intended to remain hidden, and as the stakes mount, Ivy realizes the cost of her curiosity may even be her life.
G - There's not a hint of a kiss in this book.
Ivy has a solid faith, and is constantly praying for protection and help. In certain situations, God acts to provide protection and escape. Ivy witnesses to a friend. Her father and she discuss attending a church service. Faith plays a pivotal strengthening role in this novel, and is expertly and intricately woven into each part of the adventure. Not in a preachy way, but in ways that underline the incredible faith of a little girl in a dangerous world searching for answers.
I was enthralled by this book. The stakes were high, the action nonstop, the suspense tangible, the characters believable, the worldbuilding incredible. The detailed descriptions and scene depictions of this novel knocked my socks off. It was like I was there in the rain-drenched seedy streets of old Seattle. I could smell the musty odors of old plaster and the acrid odor of rusty metal hinges. The enticing smells of expertly cooked dishes whet the palate. The dark and forbidding basements and alleys had my heart racing. I found Ivy's steady faith an encouragement to keep God close in moments of fear. Victoria Simcox has penned yet another winner, and The Butterfly Guild promises to be the start of a gripping adventure mystery series. Five Stars!
About the Author
Victoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother and a Dutch immigrant father. She now calls Western Washington home. Besides her writing career, Victoria taught elementary-school art for several years. Her past times are writing, reading, painting watercolors. She likes to read theological as well as some fantasy genres. Two of her favorite authors are R.C. Sproul and C.S. Lewis.
Blog: victoriasimcox.blogspot.com
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Twitter:http://twitter.com/#!/VictoriaSimcox
