Remembrancy

*Inspirational and clean reads to remember and see

The Dressmakers Secret by Kellyn Roth – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

by 3 Comments

About the Book

Book: The Dressmaker’s Secret

Author: Kellyn Roth

Genre: Christian historical women’s fiction

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?

Click here to get your copy!
 

In My Opinion

While this story is told mostly from Alice’s point of view, a couple other points of view enhance the overall plot of the book. Alice longs to know who her father is but the past, filled with broken hearts and broken promises, is complicated to unravel.

Kellyn excels at telling this story from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl who is both curious and smart for her age. But Alice isn’t the only well-developed character. Alice’s sister and the adults—especially their relationships with each other—are written just as well.

I appreciated the way both Alice and her nanny nudge Alice’s mother toward faith in God. The talk to her about their own faith and the hope God gives them but they don’t force anything with her.

There was also a little reveal that came at the end of the book I hadn’t seen coming (although, in hindsight, the correct crumbs to the reveal were dropped).

We only get to know Ivy in this book through other people’s perspectives, but that’s okay because the second book in the series is all about her.

My Rating:

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

 

About the Author

Kellyn Roth is a Christian historical women’s fiction & romance author from North-Eastern Oregon who has independently published multiple novels, the most notable being The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy series. You should definitely call her Kell.

Kell lives on family-owned property outside an unmemorable but historical town with her parents, two little brothers, arbitrary cat, precious border collies, a dozen cows, and lots of chickens. She also possesses a classic, vintage aesthetic which does not at all speak to her country girl side, but such is life.

When not writing, Kell likes to blog, teach writing to her various students, have day jobs which allow her to keep her car properly insured, and spend lavish amounts of money on Dairy Queen french fries.

 

More from Kellyn

I’ve honestly never rewritten a book as many times as I rewrote The Dressmaker’s Secret, and I hope I never do.
 
A first draft flew out of me one November when I was fourteen, and before the next November had come around, I’d gone through twelve drafts, changed points of view multiple times, and eventually rewrote the whole thing from scratch.
 
The ending especially went through many, many versions … until at last I settled on the final. Or so I thought.
 
Not long after, some more issues were called to light, and I revised again. And again. Years passed. I went through over twenty-five drafts! And, at the time, I liked all of them. Would I ever like one for longer than a month, though?
 
Well, turns out, it was possible! I’m over a year and a half into loving my draft of The Dressmaker’s Secret – e.g. the published draft – and that’s not likely to change any time soon.
 
This book taught me a lot. It practically taught me how to write – and edit! – a good book, and it made me really focus in on quality, even when it took some humility to admit I was wrong and critics were right – or, sometimes, that my gut was right. It taught me to not give up on something I love. It taught me that the risks I always wanted to take are worth taking. It taught me that no mistake is too great to be corrected … well, in some ways, at least.
 
And it taught me that there’s a great God out there who has grace for all my delays and mistakes and learning experiences.
 
So, that’s the story of how The Dressmaker’s Secret came to be written!

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kellyn is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of both The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective, as well as a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10689/the-dressmaker-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

Blog Stops

Visit the Tour Landing Page to read more reviews, author interviews, and to get those extra entries into the giveaway.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Roxanne C. says

    Writing the main POV in this story through in that of a child is a refreshing change. I thought the book was written from Claire’s POV. I will enjoy the change.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.