Christmas on King Street

Heirloom Secrets

by Ashley Clark

Alice's flower shop is in trouble and her boyfriend has yet to propose. She's weary and disillusioned, so when her boyfriend suggests a trip to visit family and friends in Charleston, South Carolina, she's eager to go. But a discovery at her friend's vintage store reveals a decades-old music box with a secret that may just help Alice find what she needs this Christmas.

In 1942, witty Kit and a handsome soldier start a whirlwind romance at a USO dance. But when war takes him away and tests their love, all Kit wants for Christmas is to see him again. Her story becomes more complicated with the mysterious appearance of a music box on her doorstep, and their romance takes a turn she never expected...

Genres: Christmas, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Novella, Fiction, Christian Fiction

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one has a lot of good reviews but I'm definitely an outlier.

Luckily, it's a short novella. The dual premise was promising but it did not quite deliver for me. One thing about this story was that it was not Christmasy at all apart from a couple of mentions of decorations on the street and the home. Really puzzling!

It's part of a series but I didn't have trouble following along. It was just a quick plot (perhaps because it's a short novella) but it lacked any emotional connection for me.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Ashley Clark explores how an heirloom, a simple music box, can be a catalyst for characters finding out what really matters in their lives. As the music box journeys across continents, seas, homes and families, it ties together people, their heritage, their legacy and their love. I enjoyed returning to Charleston and meeting Kit and James as much as I enjoyed catching up with Alice and Sullivan. This was another 5-star clean romance I’d eagerly recommend.

Reminders I loved:
✔️to look with anticipation toward my ‘next thing’
✔️the path may not look like I expected but that doesn't mean it won’t be wonderful
✔️to learn more about where I came from so that I can figure out where I’m going
✔️to continue be honest and upfront with the love of my life

This was a perfect book to finish off the year! It held so many gems that will be seed for growth in the coming year.

I'm addicted to this series and this author's writing.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I loved this story. Absolutely 100%. Clark packed so much into one small novella! I mean, think about it.
Split time.
Two full stories (albeit short ones)
One convergence.
And without really feeling rushed. Delightful.

ONE CAVEAT: It would be BEST if you read When the Last Rose Blooms (or something like that) first.

[Rachel McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget Santa. Ashley Clark is bringing Christmas cheer with this heartwarming novella! One thing I adored was the opportunity to revisit the characters from The Heirloom Secrets series. Throw in some romance, a clever mystery from the 40s, and a beautiful hope that spans the eras, and you have a gem of a story that warms your soul like a cup of cocoa by the fire. Highly recommended!

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

1942-1945 & Present Day Charleston, SC

Lovely Christmas novella tied into the Heirlooms Secrets Series.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great epilogue to the Heirloom Secrets series! This book continues Alice and Sullivan's story, who we met in Where the Last Rose Blooms, as well as introducing us to Kit and James from the past. While I think this story would probably stand alone, it is best bolstered by the other books in the series (or at least Where the Last Rose Blooms). This book takes into account the effect of the pandemic on our characters and it was interesting to see that impact on some fictional "friends". I enjoyed the music box heirloom in this one and the story behind it. I'll admit to crying a bit at the end. And that proposal - wow! This was a thoroughly enjoyable dual timeline Christmas novella that put an exclamation point on this series!

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review pending

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so fun catching up with Alice & Sullivan and Peter & Harper and of course Millie! This is definitely best read after book 3 of the Heirloom Secrets series.

Clark always pens beautiful romance with soul-deep thoughtfulness. And that last plot twist gutted me in a way I wasn’t prepared for, though I was relieved there was something semblance of an HEA. ☺️

[Rosalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet little romance, adding a lovely famikybhistoey to some of our favorite characters
Full review to come

[Darcy Schock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, heartwarming novella, perfect for reading with hot chocolate by the Christmas Tree. I loved how this story showed the power of generations and heirlooms ❤️.

How I rate books:

I largely rate books on how they make me feel which is incredibly subjective 🥰.

5⭐️–Absolutely adored and loved the book, a favorite.
4⭐️-Really enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
3⭐️-Liked the book, it was engaging and interesting and I am glad I read it, but I wasn’t drawn in emotionally as much as others.
2⭐️- There was a strong theme that I did not agree with or overall the book just left me with a bad feeling.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely novella

Oh my goodness, I love this story! This is my 3rd Christmas novella this season, but definitely my favorite.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Heirloom Secrets series, and accompaning novellas.

[Savannah Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I stumbled upon this Christmas novella this year! The dual timeline was compelling and beautifully intertwined. It was a quick read, but there were several moments that drew me in that I found myself slowing down to reread. “What is life, really, but a series of beautiful moments that seem tiny in the moment but so significant thereafter?”

[Manda| Little Bitty Delights · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be a novella but this story packs a lot in with its dual timeline love stories. We come back to Alice and Sullivan from Ashley’s last book Where the Last Rose Blooms. They have been together a couple of years now, have weathered the global pandemic and both wondering just what the next step in their lives will be. Alice comes across an heirloom music box that was hidden in a box her mother sent to be donated. This discovery sends her down the path to find the original owner and discover how it ties back to her own family roots. Alice uncovers the love story of Kit, a vivacious swing dancer in 1940, doing her part to help the war effort. As Sullivan and Alice learn the love story of Kit and her solider James, they come to appreciate the here and now and how they can find what the next best thing is together.

This story was so moving with beautiful little gems of wisdom sprinkled in that had me highlighting and making notations to come back to later. Ashley you made me cry tears of joy and understanding of the experience we have all been thru these past few years. You made me laugh at movie references, and pause at the pearls of wisdom Kit’s mama shared with her.

This novella is now available in e-book and paperback. If you love romance and quick reads pick this one up I think you will enjoy it.

Thank you to the author for the e-arc copy of this book for me to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novellas where I get to revisit beloved characters are some of my favorites, and this one perfectly fits that mold! I only read the last book in Ashley Clark’s Heirloom Secrets series, but I absolutely adored it. So getting to follow up a little with Alice and Sullivan was a joy to begin with, but then we get to follow a mystery into the past and another beautiful romance blooms! And all set at Christmas time? A must read this holiday season! Highly recommend!

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and clean, but quite a few grammatical errors. (The improper use of the word "I" occurred several times---the objective pronoun "me" ought to have been used, rather than the subjective "I") Errors like that are distracting to me. I rarely read romance, but this popped up in my search for inspiring Christmas reads. Honestly, nothing Christmas-y about this, except the title. It is clean and wholesome, though, and it kept my interest.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and precious holiday magic

What a precious story this is! If you’ve read the other Heirloom Secrets books, you’ll enjoy catching up with Sullivan and Alice, Millie, and others, as well as recognize some places in Charleston and the surrounding area. But it’s the story at the heart of this book that I’ll be remembering. In present day, Alice finds a music box that is a family heirloom that seems to be wrapped in a mystery. Then there’s Kit and James who meet unexpectedly at the dawn of WWII, and somehow that chance meeting turns into something pretty wonderful. As the mystery unravels, the importance of family is featured, as well as the beauty of knowing you’ve fought the good fight. It was lovely!

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun holiday visit with much loved characters from Ashley’s Heirloom Secrets series. I enjoyed catching up with Alice and Harper and Millie and meeting some new characters while solving an old family mystery of Alice’s. A sweet easy read perfect for Christmas Eve as a reward for finishing wrapping all my family’s presents!

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful addition to Clark’s series. I love her little Christmas stories. So sweet.

[Gretchen Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read Where the Last Rose Blooms, don't miss this sweet Christmas novella featuring Alice and her boyfriend--and a glimpse into the past. I definitely didn't see that ending coming! And I loved the fact that Millie (everyone's favorite!) appeared in this book, too.

(Just be prepared to overlook the typos!)

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Christmas Novella..

I enjoyed the glimpse into peoples lives that we learned to know some from the series, their journeys intertwined with others. Well done.

[Sydney]

I started this, but realized it is set after the third book, so I'll revisit this next year to keep myself from getting spoilers. :)

[Caitlin (CMAReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, quick novella.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to get back to Alice and Sullivan after reading book three in the Heirloom Secrets series. While this happens in winter, it's not really Christmas-y except for the time of year.

I enjoyed the historical time period with Kit and James. You can feel the chemistry between them when they meet at a USO dance. Like Kit, I felt like swooning! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them in their short time together. Kit is full of life and James is the kind of man who finds the ONE woman he'll always love and you just want to sigh!

Alice and Sullivan are having a difficult time, but when she finds a music box, they're able to work together to find out its history. Once again, I adored Millie in this story. She's so cute! It was fun to have Peter and Harper in the story as well.

The story of the music box was a little confusing and I think if the story had been a chapter or two longer it might've been fleshed out a bit better. There was a part of the historical storyline that I wasn't quite comfortable with, although it was explained.

I would give the story a 3.5 if we could give half stars! If you haven't read this whole series I would suggest reading the other stories first so you know the characters.

*I received the book for review. This is my personal opinion.

[Liz Mannegren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet read, perfect for those who have read and are fans of Clark's Heirloom Secrets series! The novella follows up with characters we met in Where the Last Rose Blooms -- Alice and Sullivan. Alice's character has such a lighthearted dash of humor to her voice, even when things are rough, and it was really great to follow up with her and Sullivan's love story.

I also adored the 1940s timeline with Kit and James. There was a lot of story packed into this novella and I could have gobbled up a full-length novel about them!

All in all, this was a really quick and sweet read, that I would recommend for those who've read the Heirloom Secrets series!

[Angela Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Ashley Clark’s “Heirloom Secrets” series, I was absolutely delighted at the thought of spending “Christmas on King Street!” It was a treat to be reunited with old friends from the series—especially my favorite hat lady Millie!—and to make the acquaintance of Kit and James. Clark’s characters endear themselves to the reader straight away, and her beautiful writing makes you want to savor every page.

Charming, poignant, and wistful. This dual-time novella evokes the sentimentality and nostalgia of the holiday season. Like the classic song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” sung by the one and only Judy Garland, the story warmed my heart even as it brought tears to my eyes!

If you appreciate the history of family heirlooms and enjoy vintage holiday films like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” then you’ll feel right at home celebrating “Christmas on King Street!”

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like Clark's Christmas series of novellas. The stories are of sufficient length to feel complete and the reader is not left feeling it's ended too quickly or there's something outstanding.

This one features Alice and Sullivan who individually are experiencing some troubles with their respective careers. They head to Charleston and we are transported back to the 1940s in a parallel time-slip story when Alice stumbles across an old music box in amongst some old things her mother has encouraged her to donate.

The story reads easily and contains some nice little tidbits of wisdom. Alice and Sullivan are a well-matched couple and there are some charming romantic moments.

Very enjoyable. I hope there's another one under the Christmas Tree next year.

[Sarah Bowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this sweet novella as a companion to Where The Last Rose Blooms.

We get to go back with Alice and Sullivan. In this story, Alice finds a music box that has a song she recognizes as one her mother sang to her. Inside she finds a secret that will have her searching for what will bring a great gift in her life.

I like the found family that Alice finds which is the other story of James and Kit in WW2.

I really like the way that Alice and Sullivan support each other in their dreams and in their realities. Because they are the same but sometimes different.

The book ends in a very sweet way too.

[Lana Lynne Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet book started slow for me, but I liked the present day Alice and Sullivan. Then Chapter Four grabbed me with the introduction to Kit and James in the 1940s. I adored the rest of the story. Kit and James are memorable. Their faith interwoven within the challenges of WWII--between the battlefield and the homefront--shines.The mystery and tension in this dual-time romance caught my breath. Bittersweet yet satisfying revelations sailed me the to the quick but precious ending. It's a fast read during this busy holiday season.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is part of the Heirloom Secrets series, this little novella can be read on its own and will leave you with all the warm & fuzzy Christmas vibes.
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I absolutely loved the dual timelines. James and Kit's story left my heart all in a flutter. As a former military wife I know all too well how difficult it is to be away from your loved oned, so their story really hit home for me.
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Don't pass this little gem up 🖤
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A special thank you to Ashley Clark for sending me a copy of this book!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella that continued Sullivan and Alice's story (from Where the Last Rose Blooms, book 3 of the Heirloom Secrets series). Alice takes a box of old things from her mother to her friend Harper's vintage store. In the bottom she finds an old music box that plays a song she remembers her mother singing to her in her childhood. She and Sullivan work together to find answers about the history of the box.