Ink and Ivy: A Cozy Christian Fantasy Romance

by Ashley Willingham

A little tea. A lot of grace. And a love worth fighting for.
Welcome to Gracehaven.

Ivy Fairwood has only ever wanted one thing: her own shop where she can sell her special tea blends and medicinal herbs. But when the mysterious elf, Caelen Vael, and his young daughter move into Gracehaven and purchase the very empty storefront she has her heart set on, that dream is dashed.

Caelen is cold, aloof, and carries himself with all the airs of a nobleman rather than the owner of Gracehaven's first stationery and art supply shop. Ivy wants nothing to do with him.

Unfortunately for her, God has other plans.

And when letters from a secret admirer start to arrive—an admirer who seems to know her better than she knows herself—she will soon find herself having to make an impossible choice.

Because sometimes God answers prayers in ways that overturn every plan.

And soften even the hardest of hearts.

Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy and clean romance, Ink and Ivy delivers a heartwarming tale of faith, small-town charm, and unexpected love in a whimsical fantasy world shaped by missionaries from Earth. If you love grumpy-sunshine dynamics, secret admirers, and Christian fiction filled with on-page prayer and quoted Scripture, then prepare to be swept away into the charming town of Gracehaven today!

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction

431 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 16, 2026

About the author

Ashley Willingham is a Christian, wife, mother of two, and an author of clean books. She enjoys writing high-stakes plots, swoony romances, and stories free from explicit content. When she's not busy writing, she can be found in the kitchen pursing her second passion—baking. She currently lives in Arkansas with her family and one very fluffy dog.

Reviews

[thelilcloseddoorbookgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading this book. It was such a fun read. I loved the whimsical world and light atmosphere, and all of the characters were lovable with great dynamics between them. The MCs especially felt fleshed out and layered.

One aspect that was a little off-putting for me were a few of the descriptions of the MMC, such as his “dark baritone” and “his deep voice vibrating.”

I also liked how the story handled Christian themes and verses overall, but the way it explained Christianity as originating from Earth and being transplanted into the fantasy world did not fully work for me. My issue was not the presence of Christianity within the setting, but the framing of the Bible as literally historical to this world through Earth. For me, that altered the theological feel of Christianity in a way that felt somewhat at odds with how Scripture presents it. Personally, I would have preferred a more allegorical approach for the fantasy genre. That being said, I really appreciated how specific Scriptural principles were integrated throughout the story. I know I needed a reminder of the main Scriptural theme with the FMC at this time in my life, so that was encouraging to me.

I pretty much stayed immersed the entire time and did not want to put the book down. And THE LETTERS. They made me go HEHEHEHEHEHE.

There were also a few scenes that felt VERY close to Pride and Prejudice movie scenes, even down to some of the wording, but honestly, a lot of authors take inspiration from other works, and the book still had originality overall.

Were there a couple things I did not like? Yes. Did I still love the story? Also yes. I could absolutely see myself rereading it, and I am super excited for the next book. I will read every book the author writes.

I got an eARC as being part of the street team. These are my own honest thoughts.

📖 content 📖
-non descriptive kisses only
-zero profanity
-nothing graphic

[Ashley (cozytaleswithash) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun!

I’ll admit, I struggled a bit with the idea of our true Christianity, that is so tied to the earth and humanity, dropped into a fantasy world with talking animals, centaurs, and elves. But once I told that overthinking part of my brain to just shut up and enjoy the story, I got really into it. 😂

The FMC Ivy is funny, endearing, and relatable in her struggles. The MMC Caelen is 100% Mr. Darcy coded. In fact, there is a lot of Pride and Prejudice inspiration in this book, from our MMC to certain scenes and dialogue!

I loved the cast of side characters, too. I can’t wait for Marigold’s story!
The setting is cozy and whimsical and so much fun. I’d move to Gracehaven in a heartbeat.

If you like cozy fantasy with Christian themes and scripture on page, a quirky cast of characters, a secret admirer, letter exchanges, and a dislike to more romance, you should definitely check this one out!

Content:
Kisses only romance
No language
No violence


I received an eARC as part of the author’s hype team. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Leah (faithfulreadingcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. From the cozy Narnian vibes to the P&P romance, Ink and Ivy sweeps you into the whimsical world of Gracehaven.

I loved reading about the portals between earth and Gracehaven, though they are only mentioned a few times. The unique characters and creatures gave the story a cozy, magical feeling that fits the theme so well.

What made me love the book more was the faith content and Bible verses. I loved how the characters would quote scripture and apply it to their own lives and circumstances. Truly inspiring.

The only thing that lowered my rating was the pacing of the book. I felt that the romance dragged a bit too much and felt rushed at the end. But that’s just my personal opinion.

Overall, I’d highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more from Gracehaven! 🩷💚🤍

*I received an e-arc from the author; all opinions are my own*

[Tabitha Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC copy of Ink & Ivy by Ashley Willingham from the author, but these are my honest thoughts about the book.

Ink & Ivy is such a cozy and heartwarming Christian fantasy read. The story takes place in a fantasy world filled with characters like dryads and fable rabbits, but what made the setting especially unique was the portal to the human world that introduced them to God and the Bible. It gave the story a very different feel from most fantasy books I’ve read.

The town itself felt warm and welcoming, almost like stepping into a small community where everyone knows each other. I loved getting to know the local pastor, the bakery owner, the grandmother who runs the inn, the mayor’s family, and Ivy’s close-knit group of friends. Their weekly Sunday lunches and crochet club gatherings added so much charm and comfort to the story.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the banter between Ivy and Caelen. Their conversations were witty and genuinely amusing at times. The secret admirer letters added another layer of fun. As a reader, it was pretty obvious who was writing them, but watching Ivy jump to the wrong conclusions was both entertaining and endearing.

At its heart, though, this story is about Ivy struggling with feelings of not being enough, and that theme really resonated with me personally. Seeing her journey toward realizing her worth was emotional, uplifting, and beautifully done.

This is different from the romantic suspense books I normally gravitate toward, so it didn’t immediately hook me with fast-paced tension right from the beginning. However, once I got further into the story, especially in the second half, I genuinely did not want to put it down because I needed to know what would happen next.

If you enjoy cozy fantasy, lovable side characters, lighthearted romance, faith-centered themes, and stories about overcoming insecurity and finding your worth, I would definitely recommend Ink & Ivy. I’m already looking forward to reading Marigold’s story in the next book.

[Kate Ditto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this sweet and cozy romantasy! Gracehaven is my kind of town, with neighbors who all know and look out for each other.

At first, it was a little hard to get over the idea that the characters were introduced to faith by missionaries from Earth. But in doing so, the author was able to use on page scripture and prayer which I always love having in the books I read. I find it so encouraging and relatable to my own walk. So although I like the idea of allegory in Christian Fantasy, I also think the way faith was written into this story just works once you get past it. And knowing the author's reasoning behind WHY she wrote it as she did helped a LOT.

I very much enjoyed peeling back the layers to the MC's as I read this book. Ivy and Caelen had real life struggles, insecurities, wit, friendships, and relationship dynamics. Their insecurities weren't quickly glossed over and tied with a neat little bow. Neither were they solved by another person. Instead, they wrestled, prayed, and sought the Lord. They found answers in the Word. I related to Ivy's struggles and insecurities a lot, so I appreciated this very much!

This book had elements of both Narnia and Pride & Prejudice while still being an original work. It did have some lines that one might almost consider quotes, yet the plot and storyline were unique and fun. And being that I LOVE both Narnia and P&P, that just made me love the book even more. It was like briefly saying hello to an old friend. I was so caught up in the story, I did not want to put it down! I cannot wait for the second installment with Marigold!

I received an eARC as part of the author’s hype team, but these thoughts opinions are my own.

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so sweet and precious🥹 and all the descriptions of the baked goods had me craving treats🤤 also, the descriptions of the nature scenes were so magical✨

The reason why I absolutely adore all of Ashley Willingham’s books is the way she weaves faith seamlessly into her worlds and writing. In Gracehaven, the faith is the most clear since it is the same as in our world but it was wonderful. I loved the idea that missionaries from earth (our world) came and brought the gospel to the world of Luminara and the history of the place with mentions of the Troll Wars and the portals to earth closing and human kings (Narnia-vibes), so fun and interesting!

And of course, the letters😍 the secret admirer and yearning and the Mr. Darcy awkward, stoic vibes coming from Caelen - I loved it!❤️ And I loved with all the characters, but with Ivy specifically, the character development and increase of faith was so well done. She did not just accept her flaws and say “oh that’s just my quirks” but she knew she needed to bring it to the Lord and try to be better. I appreciated that so much!

So cute, so cozy! If you are looking for a springy/summery book to curl up with kicking-your-feet, swoon-worthy romance but with faith-filled depth then look no further because this is it!🤗💕

I’ll be eagerly awaiting book 2👀

I received an ARC of Ink & Ivy from the author, but all thoughts are my own.

[Lizcherry88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I got the email announcing this adorable world in book form, I got excited to be one of the first to dive in! I had heard it pitched as Pride & Prejudice meets Cruel Prince. I adore CP so I had high hopes! I will say that the miscommunication trope is not for me, so I found myself becoming a smidge anxious with the pacing. I would say it’s more Legends & Lattes over Cruel Prince, though. Very cozy, but fantasy only in the types/species of characters.

I loved the character development, loved the town, loved seeing their responses to conflict. It felt very akin to my own experiences, endeavoring to always become a better version of myself. Ashley does a great job of letting us see their struggles, how they come to terms with how their response should’ve been, and how they come to seek forgiveness from one another. It happened a few times in this book, and I look forward to continuing to hear more about the residents of Gracehaven.

[Tanya E · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I read this ARC as part of the street hype team, but all thoughts are my own.**

I absolutely adored this cute, whimsical romance featuring Ivy and Caelen - a half dryad and an elf, who live in the town of Gracehaven, a place that is a mixture of fantastical creatures meets Bridgerton society.

One of my favourite classics is Pride and Prejudice and this reminded me of it in the most sweet way. This was the first Christian fantasy novel I have read, and I loved the inclusion of passages from our Gospel. It was so endearing to see characters imprinting scripture onto their hearts, and applying it to day-to-day situations.

I also was very impressed with the writing style as this was the first novel I have read of hers, and I have to say - I can't wait to read more!

[Emily Fantasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! It was so cozy and had me kicking my feet and giggling in some parts, and wanting to cry and hug the characters in others. I LOVED the inclusion of scriptures and prayer, and just the way everything flowed so naturally in the book. I would love to have an epilogue for the next book with a 'what happened next' for the main characters.