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The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy #1
The Dressmaker's Secret
This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B01AF700LG.
If they knew who she was, they’d never accept what she’s become.
Claire will stop at nothing to provide for her daughters. An unwed mother, she does everything possible to raise them whilst avoiding her scandalous past. Some secrets are best kept, even between mother and daughter.
Alice longs for a father, especially if that means her mother will be happy. She takes matters into her own hands—but she never expected what she finds.
Despite her efforts to shelter her daughters, Claire’s ghosts rise up to haunt her, and any semblance of control over her life vanishes. If her secrets are uncovered, what will become of her family?
If they knew who she was, they’d never accept what she’s become.
Claire will stop at nothing to provide for her daughters. An unwed mother, she does everything possible to raise them whilst avoiding her scandalous past. Some secrets are best kept, even between mother and daughter.
Alice longs for a father, especially if that means her mother will be happy. She takes matters into her own hands—but she never expected what she finds.
Despite her efforts to shelter her daughters, Claire’s ghosts rise up to haunt her, and any semblance of control over her life vanishes. If her secrets are uncovered, what will become of her family?
Paperback
First published January 10, 2016
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948 people want to read
About the author
Kellyn Roth
28 books1,128 followersKellyn Roth is the author of historical romance novels with strong Christian themes, a touch of humor, and messy situations that put the main characters through the wringer and force them to face hard questions. Her stories include The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, a Christian Victorian family saga.
Kell is the founder and owner of Wild Blue Wonder Press, a small press with the mission of sharing fictional stories full of grace and truth. Their goal is to create stories that matter, to delve into the deepest and sometimes the saddest parts of life, and to return from the darkest valleys resplendent in the light of hope and the fullness of joy.
When not building her author career, Kellyn is likely drinking iced coffee with her husband, getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collie.
Find out more at https://kellynrothauthor.com/
Kell is the founder and owner of Wild Blue Wonder Press, a small press with the mission of sharing fictional stories full of grace and truth. Their goal is to create stories that matter, to delve into the deepest and sometimes the saddest parts of life, and to return from the darkest valleys resplendent in the light of hope and the fullness of joy.
When not building her author career, Kellyn is likely drinking iced coffee with her husband, getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collie.
Find out more at https://kellynrothauthor.com/
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August 26, 2025Dear reader,
I hope you enjoy my novel! This is a work of Christian historical women's fiction with a slight romantic subplot. It's basically Downtown Abbey but with strong Christian themes.
Concerned about the content? Read my official content guide here.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
TTFN!
~Kell~
I hope you enjoy my novel! This is a work of Christian historical women's fiction with a slight romantic subplot. It's basically Downtown Abbey but with strong Christian themes.
Concerned about the content? Read my official content guide here.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
TTFN!
~Kell~
October 14, 2025
5 stars. I honestly don’t know how Kellyn Roth pulled this off. Normally, these type of books would bug me. The characters sounded like Americans, not Britishers. They also sounded very modern and not very 1870-ish. Yet somehow, Roth managed to make them still fit perfectly in their setting. All that aside, I really enjoyed the characters and the plot line. Alice is such a humorous, precocious child; Claire is so broken but so relatable in her pride and fear; Philip is somehow still loveable in spite of his failings; Steven is terrifying; and Nettie—strong, beautiful Nettie—she is an inspiration and a delight. I love them all—and they create a wonderful saga.
The plot was really intriguing and kept me questioning right to the very end. Now, it does have some content. (see detailed list below) However, Roth dealt with it tastefully and well. The first time I read this, I didn’t really care for it. Having read the other books, though, and come back, I liked it far more, because it makes so much more sense. In this series Roth tackles the brokenness and hardships of life, and the consequences of sins. She does not shy away from difficult things, and there are no happily forever after bows to tie up, no perfect ending to slap on. This is raw and complex and difficult, and a very faithful picture of real life. Thus the characters and plot are very relatable.
We’ve not all been in these exact circumstances, but we’ve experienced similar emotions, pains, dilemmas. We’ve struggled with prayer, and believing God cares for we filthy broken ones, and finding the good that came from evil, and figuring out which is the wisest or most honourable decision. We’ve looked back and realized we got ourselves in situations by making what was perhaps the wrong choice—but then wondered what WAS the right choice. It’s all hauntingly human—AND YET—and yet, it’s full of grace and beauty and love. All the brokenness and pain and fear and evil cannot keep the Lord away nor stay His everlasting love, and THIS is what the book shows. The hope it contains—!
It is, perhaps, weaker than the other book in the series. The story is only beginning. Over time, as the stories of Alice & Ivy develop, the stories of Claire and Nettie and Charlie and Philip blossom as well, and one gets a better glimpse and a deeper understanding of what really happens in this book. The saga has just started, and it continues in Ivy Introspective.
Final note. I LOVE THESE COVERS. And the humour. And the pro-life thread. <3
Content: A woman is assumed for most of the book to be a single mother. Divorce plays a large part in the plot and MASSIVE SPOILER END OF MASSIVE SPOILER A man is known as a womanizer and it is subtly hinted that he has some unsavoury skeletons. Rape and a child conceived in rape is also a part of the plot. There is also some talk about pregnancy, conceiving, and miscarriage. Recommended age: 18+
A Favourite Quote: “She’d often heard Nettie say the word instead of happiness as a way of indicating true contentment, true well-being. Joy, Nettie said, was something no one could ever take away from her, something that not even the greatest tragedy could remove from her soul. Joy was more than happiness in that it was interior and did not depend on what happened to you or how people treated you. Joy belonged only to God. Joy was the only way to be truly happy.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Of course, we found a great many things—I enjoy buying presents.’
“Uncle Charlie, who liked nothing more than to express his dislike of shopping, grunted. ‘Yes, well … Alice does, too.’”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
The plot was really intriguing and kept me questioning right to the very end. Now, it does have some content. (see detailed list below) However, Roth dealt with it tastefully and well. The first time I read this, I didn’t really care for it. Having read the other books, though, and come back, I liked it far more, because it makes so much more sense. In this series Roth tackles the brokenness and hardships of life, and the consequences of sins. She does not shy away from difficult things, and there are no happily forever after bows to tie up, no perfect ending to slap on. This is raw and complex and difficult, and a very faithful picture of real life. Thus the characters and plot are very relatable.
We’ve not all been in these exact circumstances, but we’ve experienced similar emotions, pains, dilemmas. We’ve struggled with prayer, and believing God cares for we filthy broken ones, and finding the good that came from evil, and figuring out which is the wisest or most honourable decision. We’ve looked back and realized we got ourselves in situations by making what was perhaps the wrong choice—but then wondered what WAS the right choice. It’s all hauntingly human—AND YET—and yet, it’s full of grace and beauty and love. All the brokenness and pain and fear and evil cannot keep the Lord away nor stay His everlasting love, and THIS is what the book shows. The hope it contains—!
It is, perhaps, weaker than the other book in the series. The story is only beginning. Over time, as the stories of Alice & Ivy develop, the stories of Claire and Nettie and Charlie and Philip blossom as well, and one gets a better glimpse and a deeper understanding of what really happens in this book. The saga has just started, and it continues in Ivy Introspective.
Final note. I LOVE THESE COVERS. And the humour. And the pro-life thread. <3
Content: A woman is assumed for most of the book to be a single mother. Divorce plays a large part in the plot and MASSIVE SPOILER END OF MASSIVE SPOILER A man is known as a womanizer and it is subtly hinted that he has some unsavoury skeletons. Rape and a child conceived in rape is also a part of the plot. There is also some talk about pregnancy, conceiving, and miscarriage. Recommended age: 18+
A Favourite Quote: “She’d often heard Nettie say the word instead of happiness as a way of indicating true contentment, true well-being. Joy, Nettie said, was something no one could ever take away from her, something that not even the greatest tragedy could remove from her soul. Joy was more than happiness in that it was interior and did not depend on what happened to you or how people treated you. Joy belonged only to God. Joy was the only way to be truly happy.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Of course, we found a great many things—I enjoy buying presents.’
“Uncle Charlie, who liked nothing more than to express his dislike of shopping, grunted. ‘Yes, well … Alice does, too.’”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
March 30, 2023
So, I’ve finally generated a formula for proper, contained, not-so-crazy reviews, and Lord knows I’d wanted to stick with it, but after the Queen of Assumptions (who has been known to bet some strange things on said assumptions) got blindsided, I decided to forgo the aforementioned formula.
The Dressmaker’s Secret is insane. I say that from the point-of-view of a reader who just finished being pummeled by plot twist after plot twist after plot twist, so had I given myself a couple days before writing this review, I might not have put out such a remark.
That being said, there is no doubt that TDS will probably drive you insane. Kellyn Roth can twist like an accomplished mystery writer. Not even Poirot could have seen some of the revelations in this book coming.
Punches in the gut aside, I was extremely surprised by this novel (and I’m not talking about the twists this time). There was no doubt in my mind that Roth is a fantastic writer—I knew that before I got into TDS. Her prose is even and measured, with a kind of philosophical slant (I understand that because I write very philosophically myself, so…). She writes with a maturity and authority, which is great to see in an indie author, because so many (myself included) doubt their abilities as writers, in multiple aspects.
*returns to finish this review several days after the first part was written* Well, needless to say, I think I’ve regained my composure. Granted, if you asked me about Ivy, McCale House, and Jordy McAllen, I’d start goin’ on again—but we’re talking about TDS. Claire and Nettie. Alice and Ivy. Mr. Parker *shudders* and Mr. Knight.
What was I saying?
Ah, yes. Roth’s performance was exquisite. Her plotting prowess is apparent by her careful maneuvering and twisting of all the many elements of said dressmaker’s secret. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something else would happen or someone else would turn up and I’d be left guessing again.
Granted, I totally called Mr. Knight. The Queen yet reigns!
Ahem. What struck me the most was how well she wrote from Alice’s POV. I know from firsthand experience that writing from the perspective of a child is strenuous, nigh impossible. (Mind you, I try to write from the POV of tween boys, which is perhaps worse, me being a girl and all.) I’m even more stunned, going into Ivy Introspective, by how well she writes Ivy’s POV.
But we’re talking about Alice here.
Alice (or Gracie, whichever you prefer; I’d rather use Alice, since Gracie is a mite confusing for moi) is a colorful narrator. She grew and matured mentally, and her outlook on her life and family shifted smoothly as she changed from a scared seven-year-old to a blossoming eleven-year-old. I enjoyed reading her interactions with her family and the few outside it. Her fears and hopes, concerns and dreams, were all portrayed so well that I would have been convinced that Roth was Alice had she not applied the same expertise to Claire’s POV.
TDS was a wee bit outside my comfort zone. I’m used to adventures and romance, spies and cowboys—not children. But somehow The Dressmaker’s Secret captured me. In all honestly, I’d say ‘twas the mystery. I do love a good mystery. I wanted to know who and what Claire was, what her story was. This curiosity lured in me, but my growing affection for the characters reeled in the line!
That being said, I would have liked to see Claire’s relationships with the other characters (Charlie, Parker, Knight, etc.) develop a little more. Since I’m devoid her perspective in Ivy Introspective (and since Charlie is quickly becoming a most delightful character), in hindsight I wish for more of Claire. More of her thoughts and dreams and her struggles.
Also in hindsight, she was mighty nice to Mr. Parker. My, I could’ve strangled that man. Hmph.
Either way, Alice kept me entertained. Stories such as Alice’s remind me of Elsie Dinsmore (a beloved favorite of mine), for whom my soul ached until I simply had to stop reading. (Seriously, I won’t pick up the next Elsie book because I just don’t want Mr. Vanilla—I mean, Travilla—to die. Noooooo!!!!! Why???!!! I love you, Edward!!!!)
Pardon me. You must forgive my errant displays of emotion. At times, my feelings get the best of me.
On a not-so-bookish note, Roth is a fantastic example for young indie authors to follow. She started writing at a young age, published her books at fifteen-years-old, and has now risen to popularity. I can’t wait to see where she’ll go!
Long story short, I really enjoyed The Dressmaker’s Secret. Kellyn Roth knows how to write. She knows how to write a mind-boggling plot twist. She knows how to write fun, lovable characters. She knows how to make you laugh, cry, and think. She is definitely going far!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions stated above are my own.
The Dressmaker’s Secret is insane. I say that from the point-of-view of a reader who just finished being pummeled by plot twist after plot twist after plot twist, so had I given myself a couple days before writing this review, I might not have put out such a remark.
That being said, there is no doubt that TDS will probably drive you insane. Kellyn Roth can twist like an accomplished mystery writer. Not even Poirot could have seen some of the revelations in this book coming.
Punches in the gut aside, I was extremely surprised by this novel (and I’m not talking about the twists this time). There was no doubt in my mind that Roth is a fantastic writer—I knew that before I got into TDS. Her prose is even and measured, with a kind of philosophical slant (I understand that because I write very philosophically myself, so…). She writes with a maturity and authority, which is great to see in an indie author, because so many (myself included) doubt their abilities as writers, in multiple aspects.
*returns to finish this review several days after the first part was written* Well, needless to say, I think I’ve regained my composure. Granted, if you asked me about Ivy, McCale House, and Jordy McAllen, I’d start goin’ on again—but we’re talking about TDS. Claire and Nettie. Alice and Ivy. Mr. Parker *shudders* and Mr. Knight.
What was I saying?
Ah, yes. Roth’s performance was exquisite. Her plotting prowess is apparent by her careful maneuvering and twisting of all the many elements of said dressmaker’s secret. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something else would happen or someone else would turn up and I’d be left guessing again.
Granted, I totally called Mr. Knight. The Queen yet reigns!
Ahem. What struck me the most was how well she wrote from Alice’s POV. I know from firsthand experience that writing from the perspective of a child is strenuous, nigh impossible. (Mind you, I try to write from the POV of tween boys, which is perhaps worse, me being a girl and all.) I’m even more stunned, going into Ivy Introspective, by how well she writes Ivy’s POV.
But we’re talking about Alice here.
Alice (or Gracie, whichever you prefer; I’d rather use Alice, since Gracie is a mite confusing for moi) is a colorful narrator. She grew and matured mentally, and her outlook on her life and family shifted smoothly as she changed from a scared seven-year-old to a blossoming eleven-year-old. I enjoyed reading her interactions with her family and the few outside it. Her fears and hopes, concerns and dreams, were all portrayed so well that I would have been convinced that Roth was Alice had she not applied the same expertise to Claire’s POV.
TDS was a wee bit outside my comfort zone. I’m used to adventures and romance, spies and cowboys—not children. But somehow The Dressmaker’s Secret captured me. In all honestly, I’d say ‘twas the mystery. I do love a good mystery. I wanted to know who and what Claire was, what her story was. This curiosity lured in me, but my growing affection for the characters reeled in the line!
That being said, I would have liked to see Claire’s relationships with the other characters (Charlie, Parker, Knight, etc.) develop a little more. Since I’m devoid her perspective in Ivy Introspective (and since Charlie is quickly becoming a most delightful character), in hindsight I wish for more of Claire. More of her thoughts and dreams and her struggles.
Also in hindsight, she was mighty nice to Mr. Parker. My, I could’ve strangled that man. Hmph.
Either way, Alice kept me entertained. Stories such as Alice’s remind me of Elsie Dinsmore (a beloved favorite of mine), for whom my soul ached until I simply had to stop reading. (Seriously, I won’t pick up the next Elsie book because I just don’t want Mr. Vanilla—I mean, Travilla—to die. Noooooo!!!!! Why???!!! I love you, Edward!!!!)
Pardon me. You must forgive my errant displays of emotion. At times, my feelings get the best of me.
On a not-so-bookish note, Roth is a fantastic example for young indie authors to follow. She started writing at a young age, published her books at fifteen-years-old, and has now risen to popularity. I can’t wait to see where she’ll go!
Long story short, I really enjoyed The Dressmaker’s Secret. Kellyn Roth knows how to write. She knows how to write a mind-boggling plot twist. She knows how to write fun, lovable characters. She knows how to make you laugh, cry, and think. She is definitely going far!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions stated above are my own.
January 10, 2020
TBH I don't know how I feel.... I guess mostly just sad.
Being such an emotional reader I began this book feeling very sad. As I ventured deeper into the pages I became more distraught and somber as time passed on. These characters deal with a lot of realistic pain. I'm used to harsh books, but I'm also used to "happily ever after's". Because of my emotions I can't love this book, but I certainly like how well written it is.
The ending was bittersweet....but at the same time the sadness that envelopes this story just took over my feels. I honestly couldn't feel happy at the end. I just felt numb. I even felt numb when reading the book from Alice's perspective.
And if I'm being completely honest I'd say this book isn't particularly for me. I'm not super big on historical romance....it's just not my normal genre. If there's suspense and action mixed with the romance then I can enjoy it. This book wasn't what I'd call "action packed" however.
I wouldn't have rated it four stars if it weren't so perfectly handled. The author did an amazing job crafting the characters and working with their tragic situation. I appreciated her gentle way of helping the reader realize what was going on. It wasn't pushy or secretive .... I found it rather evenly paced.
Setting ~ England amongst the society [or rather hiding from society (hey, that sounds like me!)]. I found it historically accurate .... and while I'm not a history geek (so I could have missed something) I do know a lot about England. ^.^
Description ~ Its not immersive, but it's not half bad either. :P I'd give it 3 stars for detail.
Plot ~ Like I mentioned already I found it rather evenly paced. The author spouted many questions and answered them rapidly. There was a mix of puzzlement and clues before the solved solution. I personally love it when an author gives enough foreshadowing so the reader can connect things if they're smart. Kellyn Roth did it perfectly!! And I was shocked by that ending (although I should have seen it coming....)! ;)
Romance ~ So. The book revolved around the characters and the romantic tension. I would say this book isn't overflowing (PG for a movie rating...like a nice family film 😂😂) in the romance.....it's just more subtle. I'm also not gonna call it cute, because to me it was just far too many broken hearts to be adorable. ;P
Content ~ Maybe one crude comment. A kiss....some small touching moments. Suggestive conversations. Mentions of a girl being raped. VERY CLEAN.
Characters ~ Very well developed and consistent to their personalities. My favorite character? Probably Kirk. 😊💖 They all came across being realistic...but I was far to immersed in being sad to love them. :P
Overall ~ Yeah, I was sad. Sad that the whole thing had to happen. Sad because of the children's situation. Sad because of the disloyal relationship. (*mini rant* Gahhh!!! WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST BE LOYAL???!!! *bangs fist against wall*) Sad because of the terrible darkness in this world. Sad because THEY JUST KEPT MOVING. O.O
**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a positive review. This review is my personal opinion and is not meant to be taken personally. Thanks!!
Being such an emotional reader I began this book feeling very sad. As I ventured deeper into the pages I became more distraught and somber as time passed on. These characters deal with a lot of realistic pain. I'm used to harsh books, but I'm also used to "happily ever after's". Because of my emotions I can't love this book, but I certainly like how well written it is.
The ending was bittersweet....but at the same time the sadness that envelopes this story just took over my feels. I honestly couldn't feel happy at the end. I just felt numb. I even felt numb when reading the book from Alice's perspective.
And if I'm being completely honest I'd say this book isn't particularly for me. I'm not super big on historical romance....it's just not my normal genre. If there's suspense and action mixed with the romance then I can enjoy it. This book wasn't what I'd call "action packed" however.
I wouldn't have rated it four stars if it weren't so perfectly handled. The author did an amazing job crafting the characters and working with their tragic situation. I appreciated her gentle way of helping the reader realize what was going on. It wasn't pushy or secretive .... I found it rather evenly paced.
Setting ~ England amongst the society [or rather hiding from society (hey, that sounds like me!)]. I found it historically accurate .... and while I'm not a history geek (so I could have missed something) I do know a lot about England. ^.^
Description ~ Its not immersive, but it's not half bad either. :P I'd give it 3 stars for detail.
Plot ~ Like I mentioned already I found it rather evenly paced. The author spouted many questions and answered them rapidly. There was a mix of puzzlement and clues before the solved solution. I personally love it when an author gives enough foreshadowing so the reader can connect things if they're smart. Kellyn Roth did it perfectly!! And I was shocked by that ending (although I should have seen it coming....)! ;)
Romance ~ So. The book revolved around the characters and the romantic tension. I would say this book isn't overflowing (PG for a movie rating...like a nice family film 😂😂) in the romance.....it's just more subtle. I'm also not gonna call it cute, because to me it was just far too many broken hearts to be adorable. ;P
Content ~ Maybe one crude comment. A kiss....some small touching moments. Suggestive conversations. Mentions of a girl being raped. VERY CLEAN.
Characters ~ Very well developed and consistent to their personalities. My favorite character? Probably Kirk. 😊💖 They all came across being realistic...but I was far to immersed in being sad to love them. :P
Overall ~ Yeah, I was sad. Sad that the whole thing had to happen. Sad because of the children's situation. Sad because of the disloyal relationship. (*mini rant* Gahhh!!! WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST BE LOYAL???!!! *bangs fist against wall*) Sad because of the terrible darkness in this world. Sad because THEY JUST KEPT MOVING. O.O
**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a positive review. This review is my personal opinion and is not meant to be taken personally. Thanks!!
December 20, 2017
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
8-year old Alice starts to wonder why she and her twin sister don't have a father after a revealing conversation with children her own age. Concluding that her mother is unhappy at his absence she determines to find him and create the family she believes her mother always wanted.
This book is quite conflictal for me.
The new covers are quite good and I can see why the author chose those images. Even the title quite works... The historical setting is quite well done and even believable despite its modern sentiments. I LOVED the characters... in fact the adults were as well written as the children. Specifically their relationships to one another were well developed and didn't feel overtly easy even though most everybody liked one another.
The writing isn't poor and except for the way religion is rather forcibly crammed into the story I was quite engaged. Here's the thing... I'm not sure why parents lying to their children about their birth is the ONLY plot that is safe to be included in a Christian story but oddly another book I reviewed that is also Christian Lit also has the same plot device! The ENTIRE story is centered around this and the conversions of their mother to God.
As a religious person myself I was quite uncomfortable how "in the moment" her mother's conversion was... Here is what I wrote after reading it... "A little scary when their Mom said I'm a Christian now Nettie! Uh whot? That fast?! Scary!" A secular person frankly can't read this book...
If you are the type of reader who IS NOT scared by that instant of a conversion (it should be scary because if you can covert that easily to God then you can go back again just as easily!) then this book is for you... Other that this scary moment and the stereotypical plot, the characters are sweet and I cared about them! The setting is great and the time period is fun.
I'm totally reading the next book despite my misgivings about the religious content. This is a truly gifted writer and I look forward to her slightly more secular stories...
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Premise & World Building
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cover & Title
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐ Development & Storycraft
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing & Narrative
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Relationships
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⭐ Feelings
BOTTOM LINE: Perfect Christian Lit Historical middle grade novel.
Thanks to Kellyn Roth for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
April 1, 2023
I DID NOT SEE THAT PLOT TWIST COMING
AND I THINK I KNOW WHO DID WHAT TO WHO
HOW DARE HE
I'D LIKE TO PUNCH HIM
****UPDATED REVIEW****
Still an excellent story with excellent plot twists! And I still want to punch you-know-who...
AND I THINK I KNOW WHO DID WHAT TO WHO
HOW DARE HE
I'D LIKE TO PUNCH HIM
****UPDATED REVIEW****
Still an excellent story with excellent plot twists! And I still want to punch you-know-who...
April 1, 2023
I just finished editing this book. It's my favorite of Miss Roth's books so far. Such a charmer!
March 22, 2021
I thought I was going to rate this four stars. And I did. But then, when after about thirty minutes I still couldn't calm myself down and was still thinking about all the things that make this book amazing...well. I changed my rating.
So what makes this book amazing? I'm so glad you asked!
✴ The characters, in particular Alice (being a favorite of mine, such a darling <3) what a spunky but adorable child. She makes me immensely happy.
I'm going to be honest, I originally thought Nettie was going to be annoying but I'm so thankful that I was terribly wrong about her. She was just an absolute dear. And I was so happy that, even though she played the wise-nanny role, she was still young!! It made me so happy every time I remembered that.
Claire, ahh. I appreciated how "strong" and reasonable she was throughout (even though she struggled) and oh goodness. I didn't love her most, no, but I wanted good things for her so much and she was trying so hard. *sniff*
Ivy was sweet and very quiet so I look forward to hearing more from her later. :)
Mr. Knight. I pretty much felt exactly the way Alice felt about him every step of the way. (I'm just so happy with his...his choices! no spoiler there, right? :P)
Mable. Just wanted to mention her because she deserves it.
You get the picture, you're going to love everyone...except.
We won't mention the unmentionable man here though, this is a happy review. :)
✴ The plot. Again, I thought it was going to be so much more cliché (what had set my expectations so low? I have no idea). The point is it wasn't cliché and it kept me interested and invested almost the entire time, especially through the middle/end. And the twists um...there was a couple things that...I did. not. foresee. O.o
✴ Worldview. This made me happy. There were so many things said in this book and ways of saying things that just oozed strong, heart-changing theology. It is much appreciated. <3
✴ POVs. I thought the pov of Alice was done really well. Capturing the childlike view of the world and yet not distracting from the story. It was very enjoyable. For example: "She might not be an adult, and secretive glances would never be her forte, but now she’d lived nine years. That was enough for people to begin taking her seriously." Course, some of that is just Alice. The commentary. <3
There are more, I'm sure there are more. But what more do you need?
So what makes this book amazing? I'm so glad you asked!
✴ The characters, in particular Alice (being a favorite of mine, such a darling <3) what a spunky but adorable child. She makes me immensely happy.
I'm going to be honest, I originally thought Nettie was going to be annoying but I'm so thankful that I was terribly wrong about her. She was just an absolute dear. And I was so happy that, even though she played the wise-nanny role, she was still young!! It made me so happy every time I remembered that.
Claire, ahh. I appreciated how "strong" and reasonable she was throughout (even though she struggled) and oh goodness. I didn't love her most, no, but I wanted good things for her so much and she was trying so hard. *sniff*
Ivy was sweet and very quiet so I look forward to hearing more from her later. :)
Mr. Knight. I pretty much felt exactly the way Alice felt about him every step of the way. (I'm just so happy with his...his choices! no spoiler there, right? :P)
Mable. Just wanted to mention her because she deserves it.
You get the picture, you're going to love everyone...except.
We won't mention the unmentionable man here though, this is a happy review. :)
✴ The plot. Again, I thought it was going to be so much more cliché (what had set my expectations so low? I have no idea). The point is it wasn't cliché and it kept me interested and invested almost the entire time, especially through the middle/end. And the twists um...there was a couple things that...I did. not. foresee. O.o
✴ Worldview. This made me happy. There were so many things said in this book and ways of saying things that just oozed strong, heart-changing theology. It is much appreciated. <3
✴ POVs. I thought the pov of Alice was done really well. Capturing the childlike view of the world and yet not distracting from the story. It was very enjoyable. For example: "She might not be an adult, and secretive glances would never be her forte, but now she’d lived nine years. That was enough for people to begin taking her seriously." Course, some of that is just Alice. The commentary. <3
There are more, I'm sure there are more. But what more do you need?
October 23, 2016
2.5 stars.
This has a sweet ending and is an overtly Christian tale. The main character is eight year old Alice who is a caring, perceptive, loyal girl who doesn't know who her father is and is determined to find out. When her mother refuses to tell her, she investigates secretly. What she discovers surprised me and about three quarters of the way through this story I wondered if Alice would ever see her dreams come true. To her credit, she wants to see her mother happy but this seems an impossible goal.
There were some characters and scenes here that seemed unnecessary for the plot and weighed the story down. Towards the end the pace picked up and the story became more interesting. I did however find myself questioning whether certain things were likely for the era.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This has a sweet ending and is an overtly Christian tale. The main character is eight year old Alice who is a caring, perceptive, loyal girl who doesn't know who her father is and is determined to find out. When her mother refuses to tell her, she investigates secretly. What she discovers surprised me and about three quarters of the way through this story I wondered if Alice would ever see her dreams come true. To her credit, she wants to see her mother happy but this seems an impossible goal.
There were some characters and scenes here that seemed unnecessary for the plot and weighed the story down. Towards the end the pace picked up and the story became more interesting. I did however find myself questioning whether certain things were likely for the era.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2016
Review's coming!!!
October 10, 2018
I’m so excited to have read this book! I had heard a lot about Kellyn’s books, so I totally jumped at the opportunity to review it. 😉
I love how Kellyn pulled off an eight year old’s POV (actually two! eight year olds’ POVs), though I think (?) she has a sibling around that age, so that might have helped her. Or maybe she has pure talent in writing, which I don’t doubt either. 😉 I loved learning about the characters- good dependable Nessie, curious Alice, and Ivy who everyone thinks is simple but I LOVED HER (I read Ivy Introspective already, so if you haven’t you might think that Ivy’s character is a little under-developed. BUT IT’S NOT. I PROMISE. Read the second book to see what I mean). Ivy’s probably my favorite character. I found Mrs. Chattoway to get under my skin a couple of times at first because of the rather impatient way she dealt with Alice’s curiosity about her father, but I appreciated the way she came to God in the middle and poured out her troubles. Also, I
Anyway, characters aside. I love how Kellyn approaches Christianity in this book. It’s not blatantly obvious, but it’s woven in a way where it’s just part of the book and without it the book would just be off. I’m not sure if I explained that well, so if you have questions I’d be happy to explain further in the comments. Kellyn also explains why Alice doesn’t have a father (through Mrs. Chattoway, of course) in a very realistic and appropriate way – which is why I think it’d be totally fine for even a nine year old to read.
Overall, great book! I absolutely loved reading it and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! Super excited. 😀 4 stars.
Recommended to 9 year olds+.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Like my reviews? Read more on my blog.
I love how Kellyn pulled off an eight year old’s POV (actually two! eight year olds’ POVs), though I think (?) she has a sibling around that age, so that might have helped her. Or maybe she has pure talent in writing, which I don’t doubt either. 😉 I loved learning about the characters- good dependable Nessie, curious Alice, and Ivy who everyone thinks is simple but I LOVED HER (I read Ivy Introspective already, so if you haven’t you might think that Ivy’s character is a little under-developed. BUT IT’S NOT. I PROMISE. Read the second book to see what I mean). Ivy’s probably my favorite character. I found Mrs. Chattoway to get under my skin a couple of times at first because of the rather impatient way she dealt with Alice’s curiosity about her father, but I appreciated the way she came to God in the middle and poured out her troubles. Also, I
Anyway, characters aside. I love how Kellyn approaches Christianity in this book. It’s not blatantly obvious, but it’s woven in a way where it’s just part of the book and without it the book would just be off. I’m not sure if I explained that well, so if you have questions I’d be happy to explain further in the comments. Kellyn also explains why Alice doesn’t have a father (through Mrs. Chattoway, of course) in a very realistic and appropriate way – which is why I think it’d be totally fine for even a nine year old to read.
Overall, great book! I absolutely loved reading it and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! Super excited. 😀 4 stars.
Recommended to 9 year olds+.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Like my reviews? Read more on my blog.
October 19, 2020
Soooo historical fiction is a tricky genre. I can never be sure whether I'll like a certain book written in that genre, even if the author has written other books I've loved. All his-fic books, no matter the author, are always hit-and-miss for me. It's weird but that's how it happens.
So far, I've enjoyed all the books I've read by Kellyn Roth. Including one of the earlier versions of this one. While I didn't love it, I liked it, and I'm so glad she decided to revise it because this new edition is absolutively wonderiferous! (You know that this review is gonna be a scrambled one when I start using mixed-up Wonderlandian terminology.)
Before we get this review going, I'd like to comment on the AMAZING cover job. Actually, I thought the last cover was pretty darn awesome too, but I won't object to their being changed if they'll end up looking like this ;) But enough about the cover. Onto the book.
When I first reviewed last year's version, I called it a "comfortable read." I think that's how I'd best describe this book. The book just guides you along through the story, not forcing or pulling you as some other books do. You can put it down and pick it up again without much thought. Kell's writing style flows well, and she handles a few quite heavy matters so that the reader doesn't have to feel uneased going over it. On that note, there's practically no on-page questionable content, for which I am ever so grateful. As I said, there were some heavy matters. I think the way Kell chose to portray it, mainly through the eyes of a young girl, played a huge role in helping with that.
The story itself is pretty unique, in my opinion (though I, of course, being a reader of speculative fiction mainly unlearned on the topics of Victorian fiction, could be wrong). It was also well done, not flat or boring but set at an easy pace.
The characters were, for the most part, likable. To be honest, Miss Chattoway and Mr. Knight and Nettie were all characters I liked more than loved, but on the other hand, I really loved Alice and Ivy! They were so sweet and adorable and *pounds fist on table* they were REALISTIC. That is seriously more than I could ever ask for from a family-saga book like this. Alice had the deepest character (I mean, she was the main lead, after all...). Ivy, in my opinion, could have used a little more depth, but I understand why she's so distant in this book, and that the next one, being in her point of view, will give us a better glimpse into her personality.
The other characters were great too! Mrs. Knight, Kirk <3, Uncle Charlie... Kell knows what she's doing, haha!
The mystery aspect of the book was kind of hmm for me. Kell did a good job with the foreshadowing, though. And that ending... was that even in the last edition? *is panicking*
All in all, a pretty easy, comfortable read. 4/5 stars
So far, I've enjoyed all the books I've read by Kellyn Roth. Including one of the earlier versions of this one. While I didn't love it, I liked it, and I'm so glad she decided to revise it because this new edition is absolutively wonderiferous! (You know that this review is gonna be a scrambled one when I start using mixed-up Wonderlandian terminology.)
Before we get this review going, I'd like to comment on the AMAZING cover job. Actually, I thought the last cover was pretty darn awesome too, but I won't object to their being changed if they'll end up looking like this ;) But enough about the cover. Onto the book.
When I first reviewed last year's version, I called it a "comfortable read." I think that's how I'd best describe this book. The book just guides you along through the story, not forcing or pulling you as some other books do. You can put it down and pick it up again without much thought. Kell's writing style flows well, and she handles a few quite heavy matters so that the reader doesn't have to feel uneased going over it. On that note, there's practically no on-page questionable content, for which I am ever so grateful. As I said, there were some heavy matters. I think the way Kell chose to portray it, mainly through the eyes of a young girl, played a huge role in helping with that.
The story itself is pretty unique, in my opinion (though I, of course, being a reader of speculative fiction mainly unlearned on the topics of Victorian fiction, could be wrong). It was also well done, not flat or boring but set at an easy pace.
The characters were, for the most part, likable. To be honest, Miss Chattoway and Mr. Knight and Nettie were all characters I liked more than loved, but on the other hand, I really loved Alice and Ivy! They were so sweet and adorable and *pounds fist on table* they were REALISTIC. That is seriously more than I could ever ask for from a family-saga book like this. Alice had the deepest character (I mean, she was the main lead, after all...). Ivy, in my opinion, could have used a little more depth, but I understand why she's so distant in this book, and that the next one, being in her point of view, will give us a better glimpse into her personality.
The other characters were great too! Mrs. Knight, Kirk <3, Uncle Charlie... Kell knows what she's doing, haha!
The mystery aspect of the book was kind of hmm for me. Kell did a good job with the foreshadowing, though. And that ending... was that even in the last edition? *is panicking*
All in all, a pretty easy, comfortable read. 4/5 stars
March 30, 2023
My Review || The Dressmaker's Secret
Recommended for 16+ 🧵🪡|| Content Meter: 4/5 🧵🪡|| Quality Meter: 9/10 🧵🪡|| Personal Enjoyment: 8 🧵🪡|| Overall: 8/10 🧵🪡
The Story || This is the second time I've read this book. Frankly, I am in a better place to be reading this book. The first time was too soon and I didn't appreciate it. But this time...I adore it. Alice is a dear and I deeply identify with her. Claire too, but in an out of context way 🤣 Nettie is by far my favorite character and I would love a whole book about her 🥰 Ivy is a dear and the whole story is one big Victorian hug. 🧵🪡
I'll sandwich my complaints between the praise, I've only two. The part about the War Between the States didn't fit, it felt completly random (Also, I listened to part of the audio book and y'all, southerners don't sound like that 🙄). The second issue is that most of the time, I just thought I was in turn of the century New York rather than Victorian England, but that may just be me. 🧵🪡
It's deep and uncomfortable but in a way people need to be made uncomfortable. Prejudging people is not okay. It just isn't. And even if the person is in the wrong, you will never help them see it if you cast them out. I firmly believe that. Jesus didn't refuse to speak to those who rejected Him and neither should we. I am very much looking forward to binging the rest of the series! 🧵🪡
The Aesthetic || This book is a book that makes me want to grab a cup of tea; fabric, thread, old sewing machines; tea, finger sandwiches and tea cakes; lace, pearls and ponies; handkerchiefs, kittens and school books; Dickens, shop girls and butlers🧵🪡
The Writing || I’ve said it before, Kelly’s is a talented author. I’ve never seen someone craft a story on such a taboo topic with such grace and honesty, balanced with struggle, realistic conflict and grounded truth. I can honestly say, this is a book I would gladly recommend to my friends.🧵🪡
The Vibe || This book gives a vibe of desperation, perseverance, love, agony, betrayal and fulfillment. It’s moody with the rainy London backdrop and cheery with the visits out of the city. It’s a reminder that olden days weren’t perfect, yes, far from it. There is darkness…but also Light…🧵🪡
The Content || Insinuations of immorality happening in the past, but no details; mentions/assumptions of rape; mention (vague) of how babies are made; mention of running away; verbally/emotionally abusive father; SPOILER: forced annulment and the man remarried while first wife is living, but the situation is resolved in a biblical manner.🧵🪡
Recommended for 16+ 🧵🪡|| Content Meter: 4/5 🧵🪡|| Quality Meter: 9/10 🧵🪡|| Personal Enjoyment: 8 🧵🪡|| Overall: 8/10 🧵🪡
The Story || This is the second time I've read this book. Frankly, I am in a better place to be reading this book. The first time was too soon and I didn't appreciate it. But this time...I adore it. Alice is a dear and I deeply identify with her. Claire too, but in an out of context way 🤣 Nettie is by far my favorite character and I would love a whole book about her 🥰 Ivy is a dear and the whole story is one big Victorian hug. 🧵🪡
I'll sandwich my complaints between the praise, I've only two. The part about the War Between the States didn't fit, it felt completly random (Also, I listened to part of the audio book and y'all, southerners don't sound like that 🙄). The second issue is that most of the time, I just thought I was in turn of the century New York rather than Victorian England, but that may just be me. 🧵🪡
It's deep and uncomfortable but in a way people need to be made uncomfortable. Prejudging people is not okay. It just isn't. And even if the person is in the wrong, you will never help them see it if you cast them out. I firmly believe that. Jesus didn't refuse to speak to those who rejected Him and neither should we. I am very much looking forward to binging the rest of the series! 🧵🪡
The Aesthetic || This book is a book that makes me want to grab a cup of tea; fabric, thread, old sewing machines; tea, finger sandwiches and tea cakes; lace, pearls and ponies; handkerchiefs, kittens and school books; Dickens, shop girls and butlers🧵🪡
The Writing || I’ve said it before, Kelly’s is a talented author. I’ve never seen someone craft a story on such a taboo topic with such grace and honesty, balanced with struggle, realistic conflict and grounded truth. I can honestly say, this is a book I would gladly recommend to my friends.🧵🪡
The Vibe || This book gives a vibe of desperation, perseverance, love, agony, betrayal and fulfillment. It’s moody with the rainy London backdrop and cheery with the visits out of the city. It’s a reminder that olden days weren’t perfect, yes, far from it. There is darkness…but also Light…🧵🪡
The Content || Insinuations of immorality happening in the past, but no details; mentions/assumptions of rape; mention (vague) of how babies are made; mention of running away; verbally/emotionally abusive father; SPOILER: forced annulment and the man remarried while first wife is living, but the situation is resolved in a biblical manner.🧵🪡
March 2, 2017
While this was written mostly from an 8-10 year old's perspective (POV hopped to a few different characters), I would not say that this is a children's book, due to content (more on that later).
I really liked Alice. She was probably too smart for her age, but I did enjoy her wit and deduction skills. She was very human, struggling and gaining victory. Ivy was also a sweet character. I never fully understood Miss Chattoway, but then, I don't think she understood herself; in that way, I found her character compelling.
I'm giving this book 2.5 stars based on my preference. For me, the story was a bit scandalous. I'm not one for spoilers, but for the sake of some of my review followers, I'll give it. Miss Chattoway was indeed married, but the marriage was annulled by her father and her husband ended up married to someone else. This whole thread, it's complexity, and "resolution," I found it a little uncomfortable and disturbing. If it were not for this, I wouldn't have a problem giving a higher rating. It just didn't set well with me.
Overall, though, this young author shows great potential! I was captivated with the story and found several of the characters very likable.
*I received this ebook from the author and happily gave my honest review*
I really liked Alice. She was probably too smart for her age, but I did enjoy her wit and deduction skills. She was very human, struggling and gaining victory. Ivy was also a sweet character. I never fully understood Miss Chattoway, but then, I don't think she understood herself; in that way, I found her character compelling.
I'm giving this book 2.5 stars based on my preference. For me, the story was a bit scandalous. I'm not one for spoilers, but for the sake of some of my review followers, I'll give it. Miss Chattoway was indeed married, but the marriage was annulled by her father and her husband ended up married to someone else. This whole thread, it's complexity, and "resolution," I found it a little uncomfortable and disturbing. If it were not for this, I wouldn't have a problem giving a higher rating. It just didn't set well with me.
Overall, though, this young author shows great potential! I was captivated with the story and found several of the characters very likable.
*I received this ebook from the author and happily gave my honest review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
Well, yet another book outside of my genre that I enjoyed.
Kellyn is a great person and an extremely talented writer. This story was plotted incredibly well - I don't know how she managed to keep up with all of the strings and then tie them up nicely (I mean, except the ones that were intentionally left unfinished because, y'know, this is a series).
The characters are fun and real-life. Like, I'm not sure I'd be completely surprised I was able to meet them in person. The fact that they're from a different time period feels like more of a barrier than that they're fictional.
This book had serious moments with great bits of dialogue and writing, but then it had laugh-out-loud moments. And that's the best kind of story.
There's nothing I can even say was done badly. I just didn't enjoy it enough to give a full 5 stars. But it was still wonderfully written.
I would give a content review, but I think Kell covers that quite well in her Goodreads author review (which I greatly appreciate).
*Thanks to the author for providing a free copy of this book. A positive review was not required. All thoughts expressed are my own.*
Kellyn is a great person and an extremely talented writer. This story was plotted incredibly well - I don't know how she managed to keep up with all of the strings and then tie them up nicely (I mean, except the ones that were intentionally left unfinished because, y'know, this is a series).
The characters are fun and real-life. Like, I'm not sure I'd be completely surprised I was able to meet them in person. The fact that they're from a different time period feels like more of a barrier than that they're fictional.
This book had serious moments with great bits of dialogue and writing, but then it had laugh-out-loud moments. And that's the best kind of story.
There's nothing I can even say was done badly. I just didn't enjoy it enough to give a full 5 stars. But it was still wonderfully written.
I would give a content review, but I think Kell covers that quite well in her Goodreads author review (which I greatly appreciate).
*Thanks to the author for providing a free copy of this book. A positive review was not required. All thoughts expressed are my own.*
December 27, 2019
I'm still reeling a bit. I just read the newest edition of The Dressmaker's Secret (having not read the original) and while I can't compare this one to the first edition, I can say that this book was an absolute pleasure to read. Unraveling the mystery of Alice and Ivy's birth was one I definitely didn't see coming -- there's a series of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and curious. The prose for this book was also genuine and wonderful for the genre; readers of Austen and similar Regency authors will likely enjoy the first book in the Chronicles of Alice and Ivy. It's a definite must-read!
December 12, 2019
I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
When I first got into this book, I found it intriguing. There was a mystery to unpack--a secret known by one of the characters but hidden from the other POV character and the audience. However, I had to wonder how far Miss Roth could take this plot without either revealing it all too early or dragging it on to the point that readers stopped caring. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Miss Roth successfully weaved a plot intricate enough to keep me guessing and keep me excited about knowing the full truth. Every plot twist was a game-changer, locking another piece of the puzzle into place. It's a satisfying read.
The Dressmaker's Secret is the perfect book for lovers of Victorian England, social dramas, and, of course, adorable children. In the tradition of Jane Austin, it is a quiet, sweet read that obviously won't appeal to all readers but will be the perfect story for some. So, if this does sound like your cup of tea, pour yourself a real one, sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey this book will take you on.
At the time of this review, The Dressmaker's Secret has not yet released. It will be available for purchase on January 10th, 2019.
When I first got into this book, I found it intriguing. There was a mystery to unpack--a secret known by one of the characters but hidden from the other POV character and the audience. However, I had to wonder how far Miss Roth could take this plot without either revealing it all too early or dragging it on to the point that readers stopped caring. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Miss Roth successfully weaved a plot intricate enough to keep me guessing and keep me excited about knowing the full truth. Every plot twist was a game-changer, locking another piece of the puzzle into place. It's a satisfying read.
The Dressmaker's Secret is the perfect book for lovers of Victorian England, social dramas, and, of course, adorable children. In the tradition of Jane Austin, it is a quiet, sweet read that obviously won't appeal to all readers but will be the perfect story for some. So, if this does sound like your cup of tea, pour yourself a real one, sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey this book will take you on.
At the time of this review, The Dressmaker's Secret has not yet released. It will be available for purchase on January 10th, 2019.
February 20, 2017
This book reminded me quite a bit of the Lamplighter books. It had the same feel and time period as a lot of them, but unfortunately was sub-par in writing quality. I did make it through the entire book, and some of it was enjoyable, so I gave it two stars for that. However, I had multiple issues with it, which I will get to in a minute.
The Good:
-The characterization was strong, and I felt like I came to know the characters well.
-The Dressmaker's Secret had a classic feel to it, and held to the strong moral integrity of bygone ages, while still feeling like a new story.
-I liked the premise of the story and the intriguing mystery that was wound through it.
The Bad:
-While I liked most of the characters, there was an overabundance of them, and the author tried too hard to make each of them an integral part of the story. Also, I felt like telling the story through the eyes of an eight-year-old wasn't a wise decision, and it led to several problems (such as the character making poor decisions, but no consequences resulting, and the story was limited to what the character could know/comprehend).
-Plot issues. For the first half or so, the plot was pretty good. Not strong, but good. Then after about the halfway mark, it plummeted. It skipped around in time to explain things which lead to confusion. The worst part however, is a spoiler.
Overall, I would say pass on this one. The talent is there, it just needs time to develop and grow.
Rating: 2 stars
Recommended: No
Content guide:
Violence: 3/10 (injuries, death)
Language: 0/10 (that I can recall)
Sexual Content: 2/10 (rumors of children out of wedlock, man sleeping with another woman before his wife, etc)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review*
For more book reviews, see gabriellenblog.wordpress.com
The Good:
-The characterization was strong, and I felt like I came to know the characters well.
-The Dressmaker's Secret had a classic feel to it, and held to the strong moral integrity of bygone ages, while still feeling like a new story.
-I liked the premise of the story and the intriguing mystery that was wound through it.
The Bad:
-While I liked most of the characters, there was an overabundance of them, and the author tried too hard to make each of them an integral part of the story. Also, I felt like telling the story through the eyes of an eight-year-old wasn't a wise decision, and it led to several problems (such as the character making poor decisions, but no consequences resulting, and the story was limited to what the character could know/comprehend).
-Plot issues. For the first half or so, the plot was pretty good. Not strong, but good. Then after about the halfway mark, it plummeted. It skipped around in time to explain things which lead to confusion. The worst part however, is a spoiler.
Overall, I would say pass on this one. The talent is there, it just needs time to develop and grow.
Rating: 2 stars
Recommended: No
Content guide:
Violence: 3/10 (injuries, death)
Language: 0/10 (that I can recall)
Sexual Content: 2/10 (rumors of children out of wedlock, man sleeping with another woman before his wife, etc)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review*
For more book reviews, see gabriellenblog.wordpress.com
May 7, 2018
I was a bit hesitant to start this book, but I really appreciated the fact that the author took the moral high-road as far as the circumstances that left her characters in their respective positions. Not that everyone had always done the right thing, but the obvious assumptions were usually not the right ones. That was my main worry when I picked this book up, and I appreciated the way it was handled.
Alice was a very interesting character, although sometimes she felt a bit too perceptive for her age and other times she came across as very naive. Perhaps such is the life of an eight-year-old--it's been a while. ;)
My only real complaint--not a huge one--was that everything seemed to move very fast. It wasn't that certain scenes, settings, and character changes came out of the blue with no warning; it was just that they came and went so fast, when I'd have liked to slow down and settle into them a bit more. Overall, I enjoyed the book, though, and I will probably continue the series. :)
Alice was a very interesting character, although sometimes she felt a bit too perceptive for her age and other times she came across as very naive. Perhaps such is the life of an eight-year-old--it's been a while. ;)
My only real complaint--not a huge one--was that everything seemed to move very fast. It wasn't that certain scenes, settings, and character changes came out of the blue with no warning; it was just that they came and went so fast, when I'd have liked to slow down and settle into them a bit more. Overall, I enjoyed the book, though, and I will probably continue the series. :)
June 27, 2017
1. ALICE AND IVY ARE ADORABLE.
2. This was an easy read!
3. ..So, is Ivy neurologically atypical (ASD, possibly?) because it was a difficult birth, or is that what the commonly used explanation in history?
4. Not preachy at all so <3
5. ALICE IS SO CUTE.
6. The plot was a teeeeensy bit predictable but I LIKED IT.
7. ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE FLESHED OUT AND RELATE-ABLE.
8. I just got book 2 and am so excited!! (!!!!)
2. This was an easy read!
3. ..So, is Ivy neurologically atypical (ASD, possibly?) because it was a difficult birth, or is that what the commonly used explanation in history?
4. Not preachy at all so <3
5. ALICE IS SO CUTE.
6. The plot was a teeeeensy bit predictable but I LIKED IT.
7. ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE FLESHED OUT AND RELATE-ABLE.
8. I just got book 2 and am so excited!! (!!!!)
July 28, 2020
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required. The following review is my honest opinion.
Such a sweet story! I become a bigger fan of Kellyn Roth's writing with every story of hers I read. She has such a talent for telling stories full of heart and well fleshed-out characters. I loved getting to know Claire, Alice, and Ivy and watching their journeys from broken to healing. I also thought Kellyn did a great job handling the subject matter of a single mother in a time when a woman in that situation would have been gossiped about and judged. Kellyn handled it with much grace, skill, and tact and I thought that adding the children's perspectives on everything was a great touch. I'll also note that she did an excellent job making the children actually sound their respective ages. That's something that can be difficult, but she pulled it off!
As for the quality of the audiobook, it was excellent. The narrator spoke clearly and brought the characters to life.
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much and am excited to read more books about these characters!
Content Advisory:
While this book does feature the perspectives of children, it's not necessarily a story meant for children since it deals with a couple difficult topics. However, these topics are handled in such a way that I feel it's plenty appropriate for teens who enjoy historical fiction.
As mentioned above, the adult main character is a single mother and some people gossip about and judge her, believing that she had the children out of wedlock. However, the reader learns later on that
It is revealed that one woman was attacked at some point in the past and thus conceived a child. (No details given.) It is made very clear that the attack was wrong, but the child that resulted from it was NOT a punishment, nor is she bad because of who her father is and what he did.
A couple shares a kiss. (Barely described.)
Such a sweet story! I become a bigger fan of Kellyn Roth's writing with every story of hers I read. She has such a talent for telling stories full of heart and well fleshed-out characters. I loved getting to know Claire, Alice, and Ivy and watching their journeys from broken to healing. I also thought Kellyn did a great job handling the subject matter of a single mother in a time when a woman in that situation would have been gossiped about and judged. Kellyn handled it with much grace, skill, and tact and I thought that adding the children's perspectives on everything was a great touch. I'll also note that she did an excellent job making the children actually sound their respective ages. That's something that can be difficult, but she pulled it off!
As for the quality of the audiobook, it was excellent. The narrator spoke clearly and brought the characters to life.
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much and am excited to read more books about these characters!
Content Advisory:
While this book does feature the perspectives of children, it's not necessarily a story meant for children since it deals with a couple difficult topics. However, these topics are handled in such a way that I feel it's plenty appropriate for teens who enjoy historical fiction.
As mentioned above, the adult main character is a single mother and some people gossip about and judge her, believing that she had the children out of wedlock. However, the reader learns later on that
It is revealed that one woman was attacked at some point in the past and thus conceived a child. (No details given.) It is made very clear that the attack was wrong, but the child that resulted from it was NOT a punishment, nor is she bad because of who her father is and what he did.
A couple shares a kiss. (Barely described.)
October 26, 2021
"It’s all in the past, and nothing can ever change it. We have only the present to work with, the future to hope for."
It's something very cool to see a story you already loved get revamped and changed in a way that makes you love it even more. I've counted the Chronicles of Alice and Ivy as one of my favorite historical fiction series since 2018, and that hasn't changed. I still adore it, so much.
The audiobook was fantastic, well performed and captivating, and I had a wonderful time reliving this story in a new way. It's a story of grace and forgiveness, especially when giving those things to yourself. I don't remember if the original had as many chapters from other points of view, but I loved what they added to the overall understanding of each character. ((also there's a twist toward the end that I fully didn't remember, idk if it was in the original but whoa 0-0 didn't see that coming.)) Alice continues to have my heart. There's so much to love.
I'm so excited to continue with the Chattoways and Knights, and I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a historical novel full of feels, with excellent sibling relationships, and gentle plots full of twists and reveals. Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
It's something very cool to see a story you already loved get revamped and changed in a way that makes you love it even more. I've counted the Chronicles of Alice and Ivy as one of my favorite historical fiction series since 2018, and that hasn't changed. I still adore it, so much.
The audiobook was fantastic, well performed and captivating, and I had a wonderful time reliving this story in a new way. It's a story of grace and forgiveness, especially when giving those things to yourself. I don't remember if the original had as many chapters from other points of view, but I loved what they added to the overall understanding of each character. ((also there's a twist toward the end that I fully didn't remember, idk if it was in the original but whoa 0-0 didn't see that coming.)) Alice continues to have my heart. There's so much to love.
I'm so excited to continue with the Chattoways and Knights, and I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a historical novel full of feels, with excellent sibling relationships, and gentle plots full of twists and reveals. Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
February 6, 2017
4.5 stars. . .
WOW! This book! I was blown away.
The story is complex and it reminded me of books such as The Lamplighter, The Wide Wide World and others from that era that I enjoy. It was written in such a way that younger girls 12+ would enjoy it just as much as I did. And I am in my 20's! The societal and family issues that are portrayed were fascinating.
As a compliment to the author, I fought through an hour of intense eye-strain to finish this book it was so good and I didn't want to leave without finding out what happened to Alice, Ivy, and their mother Molly. Kellyn Roth does a fabulous job of giving you insight into each character without it becoming confusing. EVERY CHARACTER was well rounded and interesting, even the second and third string characters. And she does all this without it becoming muddled and confusing.
There were moments of plot twists that I was literally talking to the book and to myself out-loud, "No way! She did not just do that!" It also made me laugh and I enjoyed this book so much! I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Kellyn Roth was quite young when she penned this book. Which made it even more amazing. She is definitely an author to look out for in the future and I look forward to reading more by her! Bring on book 2!
The only reason I docked a half star was because some of the historical accuracy was missing. Some of the dialogue was a little too modern to be period correct. But this book was so good that it didn't bother me.
*Spoiler*
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
WOW! This book! I was blown away.
The story is complex and it reminded me of books such as The Lamplighter, The Wide Wide World and others from that era that I enjoy. It was written in such a way that younger girls 12+ would enjoy it just as much as I did. And I am in my 20's! The societal and family issues that are portrayed were fascinating.
As a compliment to the author, I fought through an hour of intense eye-strain to finish this book it was so good and I didn't want to leave without finding out what happened to Alice, Ivy, and their mother Molly. Kellyn Roth does a fabulous job of giving you insight into each character without it becoming confusing. EVERY CHARACTER was well rounded and interesting, even the second and third string characters. And she does all this without it becoming muddled and confusing.
There were moments of plot twists that I was literally talking to the book and to myself out-loud, "No way! She did not just do that!" It also made me laugh and I enjoyed this book so much! I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Kellyn Roth was quite young when she penned this book. Which made it even more amazing. She is definitely an author to look out for in the future and I look forward to reading more by her! Bring on book 2!
The only reason I docked a half star was because some of the historical accuracy was missing. Some of the dialogue was a little too modern to be period correct. But this book was so good that it didn't bother me.
*Spoiler*
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2018
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
I loved Alice and Ivy (especially their names!!!!) and their childlike faith and fears. Mrs. Knight was such a darling and acted in a Christlike manner even when life was hard or awkward for her! It was also very revelatory to see that one small decision can affect generations for good or evil, and we are responsible before God for this. The writing style gave this book a delightful old-fashioned feel, but it also was a bit melodramatic which isn’t my always favorite. Not recommended for younger readers because of some very fragmented family relationships, adult descriptions of marriage and abortion, and much “appearance of evil” though .
Best quote: “The grand building was so tall that she had to tilt her head back to see the top. Alice smiled. She was going to stay in a relative palace! Oh, who knew what secrets it might hold! Secret passages, attics full of old relics, basements haunted by ghosts! There was a world of possibilities! Alice was looking for Rapunzel’s tower, which she knew must be there someplace, when Miss Christina put a hand on her shoulder and told her to close her mouth.”
Other best quote:
Altogether I found this to be an entertaining read perfect for anyone who loves light romance with a hint of mystery and a touch of melodrama. ;)
I loved Alice and Ivy (especially their names!!!!) and their childlike faith and fears. Mrs. Knight was such a darling and acted in a Christlike manner even when life was hard or awkward for her! It was also very revelatory to see that one small decision can affect generations for good or evil, and we are responsible before God for this. The writing style gave this book a delightful old-fashioned feel, but it also was a bit melodramatic which isn’t my always favorite. Not recommended for younger readers because of some very fragmented family relationships, adult descriptions of marriage and abortion, and much “appearance of evil” though .
Best quote: “The grand building was so tall that she had to tilt her head back to see the top. Alice smiled. She was going to stay in a relative palace! Oh, who knew what secrets it might hold! Secret passages, attics full of old relics, basements haunted by ghosts! There was a world of possibilities! Alice was looking for Rapunzel’s tower, which she knew must be there someplace, when Miss Christina put a hand on her shoulder and told her to close her mouth.”
Other best quote:
Altogether I found this to be an entertaining read perfect for anyone who loves light romance with a hint of mystery and a touch of melodrama. ;)
February 22, 2018
5 Stars
I've been wanting to read some of Kellyn Roth's books for a long time now, so when I finally started this, I was really excited! And I was not disappointed.
~wonderfuls~
characters
All of the characters had well-developed personalities. Although I was annoyed with Miss Chattoway until about halfway through, I ended up feeling sorry for her. I really loved Nettie and Jameson's relationship, and Nettie was really sweet to everyone. I was really excited with a the narrator being young, because I don't read books with young narrators often (although this is like the second one in a week?).
the way the issues were handled
I don't read books with issues like this very often at all, so I was a bit wary about it. But I was really pleased with how Kellyn handled it.
plot
The plot kept me really engaged, and it wasn't at all predictable. (I pride myself on being able to figure out how things will end, and I was thoroughly confused the whole time. Except about .)
~not-so-wonderfuls~
N/A
~personal thoughts~
Kellyn was one of my first friends on Goodreads, so I've known about her books for a while. I'm really glad I read this one, and I look forward to reading others!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've been wanting to read some of Kellyn Roth's books for a long time now, so when I finally started this, I was really excited! And I was not disappointed.
~wonderfuls~
characters
All of the characters had well-developed personalities. Although I was annoyed with Miss Chattoway until about halfway through, I ended up feeling sorry for her. I really loved Nettie and Jameson's relationship, and Nettie was really sweet to everyone. I was really excited with a the narrator being young, because I don't read books with young narrators often (although this is like the second one in a week?).
the way the issues were handled
I don't read books with issues like this very often at all, so I was a bit wary about it. But I was really pleased with how Kellyn handled it.
plot
The plot kept me really engaged, and it wasn't at all predictable. (I pride myself on being able to figure out how things will end, and I was thoroughly confused the whole time. Except about .)
~not-so-wonderfuls~
N/A
~personal thoughts~
Kellyn was one of my first friends on Goodreads, so I've known about her books for a while. I'm really glad I read this one, and I look forward to reading others!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2018
Yay for the ending!
Some advise, people: don't read reviews of books while you're reading the book. It's not a good idea!! (Especially spoilers!)
The Characters
Alice - I liked her!!! All her questions made me smile, but they were for a good cause.
Ivy - Awww, loved her!
Claire - was it wrong for me to be driven mad by her attitude almost the entire time? Yeah, well, that's how I felt with her. I started really liking her after
Nettie - sweet lady!!!
Mr. and Mrs. Knight - loved them both!
The story-line:
It was good. I haven't read a lot of medieval stories, but I liked it!
Content:
The whole thing with the father was kind of deep and uncomfortable, but I'm really glad it was all resolved.
All-in-all:
I really liked it! I'm glad it ended the way it did! Perhaps I'll like the second one a lot better since things will be different! ;)
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Some advise, people: don't read reviews of books while you're reading the book. It's not a good idea!! (Especially spoilers!)
The Characters
Alice - I liked her!!! All her questions made me smile, but they were for a good cause.
Ivy - Awww, loved her!
Claire - was it wrong for me to be driven mad by her attitude almost the entire time? Yeah, well, that's how I felt with her. I started really liking her after
Nettie - sweet lady!!!
Mr. and Mrs. Knight - loved them both!
The story-line:
It was good. I haven't read a lot of medieval stories, but I liked it!
Content:
The whole thing with the father was kind of deep and uncomfortable, but I'm really glad it was all resolved.
All-in-all:
I really liked it! I'm glad it ended the way it did! Perhaps I'll like the second one a lot better since things will be different! ;)
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 28, 2017
**This is a review of the second edition of The Dressmaker's Secret, published June 2017**
First off, bravo!!!! Encore!!! Amazing job, Kellyn! These books have to be among my favorite historical novels I've read. I enjoyed Ivy Introspective a bit more than I did The Dressmaker's Secret, but they both reminded me somewhat of A Little Princess. Maybe it's the setting, or the time period, or the sweet little girls (or all three), but I LOVED it. A Little Princess has always been a favorite for me, and the relation of the books to it but also how they were different made it a splendid read.
The plot lines were easy to follow, and I caught many of the small lessons that made both books whole. There were many plot twists that caught me off guard, and one in the first book that made me a tad bit sad, but as usual, I got over it. Books are meant to stir up emotions. ;)
I didn't catch any errors in both books (yay!!) and loved how there was a Bible verse at the beginning of every chapter. I hope that that is something that will be continued for the whole series.
**This is a review of the second edition of The Dressmaker's Secret, published June 2017**
First off, bravo!!!! Encore!!! Amazing job, Kellyn! These books have to be among my favorite historical novels I've read. I enjoyed Ivy Introspective a bit more than I did The Dressmaker's Secret, but they both reminded me somewhat of A Little Princess. Maybe it's the setting, or the time period, or the sweet little girls (or all three), but I LOVED it. A Little Princess has always been a favorite for me, and the relation of the books to it but also how they were different made it a splendid read.
The plot lines were easy to follow, and I caught many of the small lessons that made both books whole. There were many plot twists that caught me off guard, and one in the first book that made me a tad bit sad, but as usual, I got over it. Books are meant to stir up emotions. ;)
I didn't catch any errors in both books (yay!!) and loved how there was a Bible verse at the beginning of every chapter. I hope that that is something that will be continued for the whole series.
**This is a review of the second edition of The Dressmaker's Secret, published June 2017**
October 3, 2022
Full review coming soon.
December 5, 2019
Lovely story! As good as the last version of this story was, I can definitely tell Kellyn's writing has improved a bunch in this version and it shows!
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