Cinder Bella

by Kathleen Shoop

NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS--ROMANCE
She never had anything.
He lost everything.
Together they create a Christmas to remember.

December, 1893--Shadyside, Pennsylvania

Bella Darling lives in a cozy barn at Maple Grove, an estate owned by industrialist Archibald Westminster. The Westminster family is stranded overseas and have sent word to relieve all employees of their duties except Margaret, the pregnant maid, James the butler, and Bella. Content with borrowed books and a toasty home festooned with pine boughs and cinnamon sticks, she coaxes the old hens to lay eggs--extraordinary eggs. Bella yearns for just one thing—someone to share her life with. Always inventive, she has a plan for that. She just needs to get the right egg into the hands of the right man.

Bartholomew Baines, a Harvard-educated banker, is reeling in the aftermath of his bank's collapse. With his friends and fiancé ostracizing him for what he thought was an act of generosity, he is penniless and alone. A kind woman welcomes him into her boarding house under conditions that he reluctantly accepts. Completely undone by his current, lowly position, and by the motley crew of fellow boarders who view him as one of them, Bartholomew wrestles with how to rebuild.

With the special eggs as the impetus, the first meeting between Bella and Bartholomew gives each the wrong idea about the other. And when the boarding house burns down a week before Christmas it's Bella who is there to lend a hand. She, Margaret, and James invite the homeless group to stay at the estate through the holidays. But as Christmas draws closer, eviction papers arrive. Maple Grove is being foreclosed upon. Can Bella work her magic and save their Christmas? Is the growing attraction between Bella and Bartholomew enough for them to see past their differences? Only time will tell and only if time doesn't run out before they all have the Christmas of their lives.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Holiday, Historical Romance

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2021

About the author

Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories with a festive Christmas setting!

Cinder Bella (‘Tis the Season book 3) is such a touching tale that oozes with positivity and celebratory spirit. I enjoyed the historical 1893 Pennsylvania setting, and especially Bella’s infectious upbeat nature. It is effortless to connect with her as she fills the story with her warm personality. The special message is conveyed in such a kind-hearted and meaningful way, showcasing what it means to truly be fulfilled.

This Christmas story will seep into your heart and mind, quickly transporting you to the 1892 Christmas season. It is beautifully written, beautifully conveyed.

First Line: Bella’s breath caught.
Page Count: 228
Genre: Holiday Fiction

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Christmas story by Kathleen Shoop that will fill you with hope and leave you believing in magic and miracles. Each and every story I read by Shoop is a beauty in itself. Cinder Bella is a perfect Christmas story to read again and again and share with all you hold dear! So touching and heartwarming, you can't help but fall in love with all the characters.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kathleen Shoop's ability to whisk us into history, fully-immersing you into the time frame. It's financially a difficult time for everyone in this book, but love how the characters, as well as you, the reader, will discover how much more to life there is than material things.


Bella is a darling (in name and personality!) who has a contagious "glass half full" positivity through such darkness. I felt a kinship with her to ensure the well-being of those around her, navigating a world that is cold, cruel, and nowhere near as pure as her.


By the end of the book, you'll love that seed of hope that roots in your heart for a season that brings you as much joy as this book pictures. The struggles seem harsh and difficult at the forefront, but as time passes, you'll discover that without them, the rewards reaped wouldn't be as sweet.


I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinder Bella is one of the sweetest and somewhat magical woman. She is a loner except for her hens and a cat. People line up for the eggs her hens lay. There was a depression and people were in a bad way. The family who owns the large house are stranded in England. When The house where many people were staying burned to the ground and they all ended up living, for a while at least-at the big house. It was near Christmas and they decided to decorate and to invite others for a meager meal. Well, suddenly packages began to arrive. Bella and Bartholomew took quite a while to learn to like each other---Another very happy ending by Kathleen Shoop!

[Sonya Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I had a hard time because it seemed so odd to write a Christmas story during such a difficult time, when so many people were broke and struggling. However, as the story progressed I learned to love so much about the struggle. I couldn't help but wish for this wonderful group of people to have a happy ending and spent the second half of the book trying to figure out how it could happen.

I absolutely love how even though their lives are imploding this ragtag group makes sure the holidays are special for the people living nearby.

[KK from KY · Rating 5 out of 5]

…and a Happy New Year!

What a delightful story! Perfect for the holiday season. A riches to rags and back again story. Loved the take on a Beauty and the Beast retelling. So many characters and I loved them all. This was my first book from the series or by this author. Happy that they do not need to be read in order. I feel that it was well written and it kept my interest piqued. A beautiful story about love in its most pure form, charity. Recommend as a quick Christmastime read or any time of year.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is full of challenges, trials, and at the same time happiness

Oh, sweet Bella who has a heart of gold despite being poor. You cannot help but adore her for what she does. Being an owner of chickens, I am feeling her character. I shed a tear with that chapter.

Then there is Bart who is the opposite of Bella who grows up with everything. These two are meant to be. A dreamer and a failure are what make this story so beautiful to read. What a beautiful story to end. It brings joy to my heart. Indeed a fairy tale comes true for Cinder Bella.

Ms. Kathleen Shoop knows how to capture our hearts with amazing stories. I loved reading this book.

[Laura - LaurasLibraryy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chefs kiss, true perfection. Exactly what I wanted out of a holiday book! This was the perfect amount of romantic-comedy without ever being too cliche or silly. It was heart-warming and funny and is a new favorite Christmas book!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25

[lisa jung · Rating 4 out of 5]

cinder Belle is all about the truCinder Bella (‘Tis the Season book 3) is such a touching book that oozes with positivity and Christmas spirit. I enjoyed the historical 1893 Pennsylvania setting, And Bella’s infectious joy of the season makes for a wonderful read. The special message is conveyed in such a kind-hearted and meaningful way.

This Christmas story will seep into your heart and mind, quickly transporting you to the 1892 Christmas season. It is beautifully written, beautifully conveyed.e magic of Christmas.

[Cindy Feigert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part of this Cinder Bella story was the historical fiction aspect. Since I live about an hour away from Pittsburgh we did a lot of day trips into the city. One of my favorite visits was the Heinz Factory. We got to see ketchup being made and everyone got a pickle pin at the end. So I was glad that Mr. Heinz was a good character in this story. I really didn't know about the financial crisis in the 1800's so I learned something new!

[Shelby Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great Christmas story! Based in 1893 in the Pittsburgh area after the economic crash, Bella doesn’t have much, but she has the best hens that lay magical eggs & Bartholomew, who was once a banker, has lost everything. In a turn of events, they meet & end up working & living together with a group of other people. They all make the best of all their different circumstances & the best possible outcomes occur cause of it.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

KimCinder Bella by Kathleen Shoop has a promising Christmas plotline. And a wonderful book synopsis. In reality ... it was a very slow crawling, fairly boring story, until New Year's Eve 1893.

The two main characters are Bella and Bartholomew (aka "Bart"). Bella's story was she lost her parents as a 2 year old "so the story goes" and later lost the grandparents who took her in . She has scars on wrists from supposedly a hot water burning, possibly by her parents, but she blows it off, like she blows everything off. And she believes only her chickens and cat love her. She also creates in her mind happy loving stories but never believes she'll ever have that type life and love herself.

Bart is a self-serving, woe is me, I lost everything failed banker. His outlook on life is strictly monetized on material things. Even when he's surrounded by the "Maple Grove family", he's still very "look at me, I have nothing."These two characters bored me to tears! I read a book of this length anywhere from 1-3 days ; it took me 13 days to finish Cinder Bella. Mrs Tillman, who lost her boarding house in a fire, had more to "woe is me" but was happy and content.

I have read and enjoyed other books by Kathleen Shoop. I sincerely hope Cinder Bella is just a "one off book" and the next Shoop book I read will be more interesting and way less boring.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF Couldn't get past the boring beginning.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place right after the stock market crash. The banks have fallen, and everyone is poor and struggling to live.

Bella lives in a barn, taking care of chickens. The wealthy people who live in the mansion said she could stay as long as her chickens were laying eggs. Somehow, Bella's chickens continue to lay eggs. Some of her chickens were given to her because they no longer laid eggs, but Bella had the touch. Bella's magic eggs are the weird part of the book. They create more food than they should, and they save marriages. I'm not really sure what all of that is about. I absolutely love it, but I'm afraid I missed something.

At the mansion, no one is left except a maid and rhe butler. The owners are in Europe, and they smartly never come back. As the story progresses and we get to know the characters more, we learn that the maid is pregnant. She's not pregnant to the butler, but he takes care of her just as if she is.

The other major half of the story is Bartholomew. He was a banker when everything broke. He gave up his own money to save a family, and now he sleeps on a couch at a boarding house. The owner sends him to market to get magic eggs. Bartholomew doesn't believe in these magic eggs, but man, when they crack some of them open and they gave messages instead of yokes, he decided that things gad gone too far.

That initial angry interaction leads to a fraught friendship when the boarding house burns down and everyone who lives there ends up at the mansion.

And if you are reading reviews to find out sonething, yes, he does.

Then, of course, the something, maybe a bank, comes to foreclose on the mansion, and they talk him into giving them until January 2nd.

The two groups of people living in the mansion grow close and really begin to lean on each other and become a found family. They celebrate Christmas with neighboring people

All the while, Bella and Bart are slowly falling in love. What started off as antagonism turns to friendship turns to a real understanding of each other.

Though I still don't think I understand Bella's arms. I thought that was going to be a big reveal.

You would think a story about poverty and bring possibly homeiess would feel bleak, but honestly, it feels warm and hopeful.

The only bit I didn't like was using a known family in historical fiction. It makes it feel like this actually happened, and they just embellished the story. Knowing that it is all made up didn't distract from the lovely ending.

This story really put me in the Christmas spirit!

[AF Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite time of the year- Christmas- a sweet love story of home and family, love, honor and joy.

The tale worked for Cinderella and it absolutely works for Cinder Bella. The funny thing is I didn’t even realize that what the title of the book was. I just saw the cover and said oh yay- a Christmas story so I got it for my Kindle. If I’ve read the title, I might not have been inclined to pick it up and read it.

And I read it because I wasn’t feeling good, having a bad reaction to some medication. I was feeling pretty hopeless for several weeks and because the new medication was making me feel so bad I couldn’t even get out of bed. So I picked up this book and started reading. Is it fanciful, far-fetched, a real reach? Yeah! But it was good. Written by someone who wanted to see good in the world. Kathleen Shoop is an excellent writer. This is not my first book written by her that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. One of the things I do like about Ms. Shoop is that she has her characters reaching for something better, reaching for the best that they can be and do. That’s a good message anytime of the year, but in a Christmas story, it’s perfect. I didn’t see it coming, the end, that is, when that newly created family found a way to stay together, and every one of those people were going to have lives, creative lives, interesting lives and using their best skills. Pretty special.

If you’re gonna want to know more about the story, you’re going to have to read the book. I’m sure there’s been some killjoy who sent a review and told the tale from the beginning to the end ruining a perfectly lovely book for somebody that read the review. If you’re not in the mood for a Christmas story, don’t read the book, save it for when you are in the mood. Save it for when your own heart and your own head need the lift that the good of Christmas is needed.

Is this the finest literature in the world? No!! But I don’t think the author was quite going for that. She was desirous of writing a good book that would appeal to a lot of people. This one fits the bill. So if you’re in the mood for a good Christmas story now or next month or you insist on waiting till after Halloween– then read this book. You won’t regret it. It’s at the end of the day now and I’m ready for bed. But this is lovely having read a great story- a cute story and all turns out right in the end – I think I’m gonna have sweet dreams tonight when I head into dreamland.

Good night, my fellow readers, sweet dreams to you.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bartholomew is an well educated man that just doesn’t seem to have much luck lately. Out of a job and money, he’s suddenly facing hardships completely alone. With his friends and fiancé turning their backs on him, he’s got to figure out how to put his life back together alone. A boarding house is his saving grace , filled with fellow boarders who are in similar situations as himself. Though he thinks he’ll be viewed differently, he’s welcomed and treated as equal, a comfort he so desperately needed. But his bad luck seems to be right around the corner when the boarding house burns down the week before Christmas. Homeless once again Bartholomew and his new group must find a place to live and are welcomed to live in Maple Grove, an estate owned by a family that’s stranded over seas.

A few of their employees were kept to keep the estate running, and one of them Bella Darling invites the homeless group to take up home over the holidays . Her kindness is welcomed , but there’s just one thing. Eviction papers have arrived. As if the entire group hasn’t been through enough already, a feeling of dread and hopelessness clouds around them all. But can Christmas be saved?

This was a great read, the entire feel of the holiday spirit is so inviting. I felt really bad for Bartholomew, one thing after another and he just seems to lose all hope, but as he and Bella grow close there seems to be a spark of light left in him. I always love how people help each other and come together to help or support each other when needed, so this was a great read. Reminded me that, there’s still a lot of good in the world and in people.

If you enjoy some Christmas Miracles and some light romance I highly recommend this book!

[Fernanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Spice: No spice. ✨

Short review: Sweet and comforting. Feel good vibes. Good ending. He falls first.

TC: Death (non violent), animal death (minimal description).

Long review:
This is a historical romance set in the month of December at The Panic of 1893, where our main characters and their friends find themselves trying to do the best they can to survive and have memorable holidays.

In this book we meet Bella Darling, good hearted and loved by everyone she meets who loves stories and loves to read, and has been lucky enough to get for her animals (three hens and a cat) and herself a place to live, as long as her hens lay eggs; then we have Bartholomew Baines, a bankrupt banker who's a bit of a Scrooge that just lost everything he had: his friends, his fiance and his property and money, and has to live in a house with other people as unfortunate that also found themselves in a bad situation in life.

I loved it. It was the perfect book to get my out of my reading slump. Also, the perfect reading to end 2024.
It was sweet, made me immerse myself to the story easily and connect with the characters. I had an amazing time getting to know the characters and their stories, and I enjoyed Bart and Bella's banter and growing romance.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinder Bella by Kathleen Shoop is a historical Christmas Tale with some romance mixed in for y'all to read this Holiday Season! I love the FMC of Bella, she is relatable to the readers as she is just trying to do her best in life and take care of her chickens and her life. Bella lives in 1893 Pennsylvania and sells her eggs at the market to sell them as they are 'magic', she always sells out and has a long line. Bella lives in a barn that a family owns who are stuck in England, one holiday season. Bella and the servants of the family take it upon themselves to invite people displaced by a fire and who lost their homes, to the family's empty house for a holiday that they need and won't forget! But of course Bella starts to fall for a man named Bartholomew who is a man who was recently displaced from a prestigious career as a banker, and is now down on his luck. I really enjoyed these two finding themselves and also how they grow to love eachother throughout the book. But this is so much more than a romance. There is so much to the rest of the book which is about reaching out to those in need at the holidays and just in general to help those who have had tragedies and need help whether it be financially or otherwise. I think that this was an excellently written holiday read that touches the readers heartstrings and also has a hint of romance for the season.

[Texas · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Christmas Coat - Not sure what I think about this story because of the lecturing. I chose to concentrate on the coat, its gifts and the magic of Christmas, which is another way of saying the miracles and grace of God.

There are bits of Dickens, bits of giving and bits of forgetting the past. I did not like the extreme reactions of his family to the FB videos, no discussion, just condemnation. I agree that his mind was not present when his heart made the real estate purchase. It was unrealistic and unreasonable of him to expect people to move within two weeks. Sadly, he's not a planner on that project. Too much cursing for me to fully consider this a real Christmas story amongst the other wrongs. 3*

Cinder Bella - Set in 1893. I could not get into this book, made it half way through chapter five before giving up. Some of the dialog and actions put me off. The characters did not interest me. 2*

[PAMpublish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The crash of 1929 suddenly left many people destitute including Bart a past owner of a bank and industrial and rich people whose mansions went into foreclosure. Bella was one of three people retained during the decline living in an estate's barn with her books and animals. Kindhearted, it was said her hens laid magical eggs that she sold at the market every week. Bart resided with a medley of others in a boarding house until it burnt down and despite the estate being foreclosed upon, the motley crew were invited to reside at the mansion until they were officially evicted. This gave time for Bart to know Bella while organizing holiday parties. It was then that Bart came to love Bella who believed there was too much of a gap in their lifestyles to make a future together. A unique plot surrounding a Cinderella story that provides an alternate story line for an enjoyable read.

[Kathy Averbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the past, before our society had safety nets for the poor and elderly, this novel could have been quite bleak. A market crash caushed a banker to lose everything and he found himself in a boarding house with a diverse group of other people. Then the boarding house was lost to fire and this group found themselves homeless. There is also Bella, an orphan who had been on her own most of her life who has a magical way with chickens who seem to lay magical eggs for her. Because of this trait, she has been given housing in a small (but cozy) barn on the estate of a wealthy family in Pittsburgh. With the wealthy family overseas, the homeless group of borders ends up on the estate right at Christmas time.

I enjoyed this Christmas tale set in the past and the happy ending when all had seemed lost.

[Kissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is the third of a series, it is a stand-alone story. From the start, I knew I was going to fall in love with the story as it gave me Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age vibes as we had characters from different walks of life being brought together on a similar level due to circumstances caused by the Great Panic. Although there were a large number of characters, both main and side ones, I never felt lost on who was who. Each person had their own unique personality and the interactions with each other felt genuine as they rediscover themselves. The romances between the various couples, including Bella and Bart, was sweet to see develop and I appreciated it didn't pull too much attention away from the main focus - found family. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book, not for a Christmas-themed read but a fictional look into the events of a historical event.

[Kanan Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Shoop's Cinder Bella is a heartwarming Christmas romance set against the backdrop of the 1893 financial panic in Pittsburgh. Bella Darling, a perpetually cheerful woman living in a barn, uses eggs from her "magic" hens to spread kindness, even as she faces her own looming eviction. Her path crosses with Bartholomew Baines, a recently disgraced and cynical banker who has lost everything.
When a fire leaves Bartholomew and other boarders homeless just before Christmas, Bella offers them refuge. A romance slowly blossoms between the mismatched pair, as Bartholomew learns valuable lessons about hope and community from Bella and their newly formed family of misfits. Praised as an uplifting "feel-good" story, the narrative draws on Dickensian themes and the Cinderella fairy tale to deliver a touching, festive read about finding love and kindness even in the darkest of times.

[Sharon Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story that will have you overflowing with festive spirit. Kathleen's heartfelt story transports you back in time to a harsh winter in Pennyslvania, in the midst of a financial crash, and depression, that serves as a reminder that the magic of Christmas can be felt, regardless of what you have in life. Bella is the centre of the story, her positive love of everything in life is quite contagious, and is joined by a group of people from all walks of life who find themselves in dire need of help and support, they have absolutely nothing yet have everything they could have wanted.

Bella asks does riches in life involve money, are they important? I think you will find the answer among these pages, for sure!

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Shoop weaves her historical magic yet again and brings us to December, 1893 in Shadyside, Pennyslvania. Cinder Bella is almost like a re-tellling of Cinderella/Golden Goose combined, Bella Darling comes from nothing really, living in the barn on an estate she tends to the animals especially the chickens who lay the most extraordinary eggs. Bella and her hens eggs are central to the story and with the threat of eviction she works her magic to save Christmas for all involved.

This story is heartwarming and filled with the festive spirit and it will leave you believing in magic and miracles.

[Cryssie Addis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinder Bella just gives you all the Christmas love and magical feels. Bella is one of our main characters and honestly, from the get go, I LOVED HER. I really felt like in real life, she would be one of my besties. Just wait until you also meet Bartholomew Baines, a Harvard-educated banker. How will their lives intertwine and what will come of the ups and downs in this particular season? Between the harsh Pennsylvania winter and a financial crash, kindness and love emerge. This book truly brings warmth and a sweet and gentle reminder that money isn’t everything. The heartwarming tale of Cinder Bella brings a mixture of sadness and joy that will keep you intrigued with each page turn.

[Anne Marie Cardone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this newly found author!

As was written, " She's the Greatest Author in the World ". I can't express my feelings well. I have a hard time getting the message out. So to do my best wouldn't say much. I can only try to give Kathleen Shoop the praise and glory she deserves! She is the best author! This book touches your heart in many ways. It's a story about hardship and the luxuries, as well. It taught the characters how to live with their feet things in life and then to lose it all. But what mattered was friendship and coming together as one. Another great book I will never forget!

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story but too long. I felt like I kept reading the same thing over and over again.

I think the basis of the story was a good one. It’s about people coming together when they’ve lost everything and everyone and building a new life and creating their own families. New and old traditions come together to create a unique, one of a kind place that people want to be a part of.

I do wish things with Leonard had happened differently. I just felt like these people had already had so much heartbreak and sorrow that it seemed cruel to subject them to more.