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The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy #2.2
The Knights of Pearlbelle Park
Enjoy Christmas with the Knights of Pearlbelle Park …
Claire Knight's two youngest sons have come down with a mysterious illness just before Christmas, and she can't focus on a thing but them, despite her many duties. Everything is so utterly overwhelming—yet relying on others, especially her husband, for comfort and aid seems impossible.
Lois Chattoway is finally married to the love of her life and expecting their first child. She should be perfectly content. If only her husband were as enthusiastic about their upcoming arrival as she is. When her niece, Posy, arrives at Pearlbelle Park with her neglectful father, Lois longs to convince her husband to adopt the child. Yet she knows he'll never agree to it. Not likely.
Ned Knight is frightened. His mother is afraid, and there's only one person he can tell—Mama. Oh, not his mother. He means Mama, who Ned never properly met but whose portrait hangs in a locked bedroom all by itself. Finding his place in the family is hard, but she makes it easier because she always listens—always. If only everyone else wanted to remember Mama as much as Ned does.
Set between books 2 and 3, this Christmas story features some of our favorite minor characters from The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.
Claire Knight's two youngest sons have come down with a mysterious illness just before Christmas, and she can't focus on a thing but them, despite her many duties. Everything is so utterly overwhelming—yet relying on others, especially her husband, for comfort and aid seems impossible.
Lois Chattoway is finally married to the love of her life and expecting their first child. She should be perfectly content. If only her husband were as enthusiastic about their upcoming arrival as she is. When her niece, Posy, arrives at Pearlbelle Park with her neglectful father, Lois longs to convince her husband to adopt the child. Yet she knows he'll never agree to it. Not likely.
Ned Knight is frightened. His mother is afraid, and there's only one person he can tell—Mama. Oh, not his mother. He means Mama, who Ned never properly met but whose portrait hangs in a locked bedroom all by itself. Finding his place in the family is hard, but she makes it easier because she always listens—always. If only everyone else wanted to remember Mama as much as Ned does.
Set between books 2 and 3, this Christmas story features some of our favorite minor characters from The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.
75 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2022
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Kellyn Roth
28 books1,125 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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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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August 16, 2025Dear reader,
I hope you enjoy my novella! This is my "Christmas special" for the series.
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 novella! This is my "Christmas special" for the series.
Concerned about the content? Read my official content guide here.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
TTFN!
~Kell~
Read
January 1, 2023Such a wonderful Christmas story!
Ned is such a kind and thoughtful soul. Seeing his curiosity about his mama was touching, especially as it's an aspect of the family's past I hadn't thought of that way. I loved seeing Claire's POV as well. She's caring, but brusque and stressed, which I see often and can also relate to, even though I'm not a mother. Seeing her managing the household and helping but learning to let go of some of the stress and control was brilliant. Make sure to rest, dear Claire. And Lois and Posy! Oh my. Such a lovely adoption story. We need more of those in fiction! The multifaceted story was done brilliant for such a short space, and these charts are all dear to me. Christmas with the Knights truly is special. Now I want a Christmas story for the Strauss and McAllen families later down the road too... xD
I originally beta read this, if memory serves me right. I loved it then, and it's even better now.
Ned is such a kind and thoughtful soul. Seeing his curiosity about his mama was touching, especially as it's an aspect of the family's past I hadn't thought of that way. I loved seeing Claire's POV as well. She's caring, but brusque and stressed, which I see often and can also relate to, even though I'm not a mother. Seeing her managing the household and helping but learning to let go of some of the stress and control was brilliant. Make sure to rest, dear Claire. And Lois and Posy! Oh my. Such a lovely adoption story. We need more of those in fiction! The multifaceted story was done brilliant for such a short space, and these charts are all dear to me. Christmas with the Knights truly is special. Now I want a Christmas story for the Strauss and McAllen families later down the road too... xD
I originally beta read this, if memory serves me right. I loved it then, and it's even better now.
December 23, 2022
I love "Christmas specials". I just do. And this one is no exception! Christmas at Pearlbelle Park was delightful, just a bit emotional, and a lovely time spent with some of the side characters of the series. This one drops in post-Ivy Introspective and pre-At Her Fingertips, and Alice and Ivy only make one appearance outside of a couple of mentions. I loved getting to further know Claire, Ned, and Lois, and fill in a few of the blanks left in other books of the series. I almost cried at the end, tbh, and I'm giving it 5 stars!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
December 8, 2022
I will read and love ANYTHING written by Kellyn Roth and this short story is no exception.
Set between books 2 and 3, we get fun perspectives from some minor characters and get to experience a Knight family Christmas; although, there are more pressing things than Christmas apparently...
I loved all the characters as usually and the themes were on point! I loved getting to know these minor characters a bit better. I feel like I understand them so much better now. I especially loved seeing Lois and Charlie together. Ned was so sweet!!! And he was written really well.
Overall, this is definitely a super fun and quick read perfect for Christmas ;) I finished it in an evening.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Set between books 2 and 3, we get fun perspectives from some minor characters and get to experience a Knight family Christmas; although, there are more pressing things than Christmas apparently...
I loved all the characters as usually and the themes were on point! I loved getting to know these minor characters a bit better. I feel like I understand them so much better now. I especially loved seeing Lois and Charlie together. Ned was so sweet!!! And he was written really well.
Overall, this is definitely a super fun and quick read perfect for Christmas ;) I finished it in an evening.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
February 1, 2023
What a sweet Christmas story! A quick and easy read, plus it’s a must if you enjoyed The Dressmaker’s Secret.
December 26, 2022
Ah, I love this story so much!! Returning to the world of Alice & Ivy is always a delight, and revisiting (less) familiar faces like Ned, Claire, and Lois was simply lovely. I love seeing how the characters have grown and changed over time! What can I say? It’s heartwarming and sweet. I read it in one sitting before getting out of bed in the morning. Kellyn’s writing never disappoints, and this Christmassy vignette was a Christmas gift in and of itself!
December 19, 2022
Lovely little story for Christmas time! Kellyn never fails to pack beauty and truth into her stories, even the short ones!
Out 12.20.22
Out 12.20.22
October 14, 2025
5 stars. This is such an excellent followup to Ivy Introspective. I loved seeing more of Claire’s POV after
The Dressmaker's Secret
and getting to know Philip was great! He’s such a lovely guy. Finally, I really enjoyed Ned’s perspective on Claire & Philip’s family and Lois’ about the rest of the Knights. It was fun to meet everyone again…
While set at Christmas, this wasn’t exactly a Christmas story, but it did have a slight christmassy feel. I loved the theme of love coming out in the adoption, the marriages, and the families. Claire’s lesson on not trying to take everything on and allowing Philip to help her was epic, as well as facing her trauma to become stronger, was excellent. So was the lesson on understanding people’s personalities & love languages, but also speaking up and asking questions instead of worrying. Overall, a sweet little story and a lovely addition to the series. <3
A Favourite Quote: Now she sat, upstairs hours before the other adults and even before her daughters, watching her husband read the Bible, listening to his soft, deep voice, and wondering how many more of these moments she’d missed in the rush. The rush to where? There was no destination but Heaven, and the work she did on earth would mean nothing if her reasons for doing it were not grounded in God’s Word. Yet everything always seemed much more important. How dangerous it was to base one’s life on what ‘seemed,’ when ‘was’ ever proved the more vital verb.
While set at Christmas, this wasn’t exactly a Christmas story, but it did have a slight christmassy feel. I loved the theme of love coming out in the adoption, the marriages, and the families. Claire’s lesson on not trying to take everything on and allowing Philip to help her was epic, as well as facing her trauma to become stronger, was excellent. So was the lesson on understanding people’s personalities & love languages, but also speaking up and asking questions instead of worrying. Overall, a sweet little story and a lovely addition to the series. <3
A Favourite Quote: Now she sat, upstairs hours before the other adults and even before her daughters, watching her husband read the Bible, listening to his soft, deep voice, and wondering how many more of these moments she’d missed in the rush. The rush to where? There was no destination but Heaven, and the work she did on earth would mean nothing if her reasons for doing it were not grounded in God’s Word. Yet everything always seemed much more important. How dangerous it was to base one’s life on what ‘seemed,’ when ‘was’ ever proved the more vital verb.
December 19, 2022
5 stars
Characters:
It was fun to see some different sides of the characters from the main storyline! This story focuses more on the younger Knights and Lois, who we don't see as much of in Alice and Ivy's books, especially as they grow older. I also enjoyed seeing a bit of married Claire and the book didn't dismiss the fact that Claire didn't have an easy past, but dealt with that past in such a realistic way.
Plot:
As I said this book follows Ned Knight, Claire, and then Lois and Charlie a little as well. I loved getting to understand Lois a bit more. The story sort of jumped around a bit between Ned/Claire and then Lois, but to readers of the series, it's not confusing at all. I appreciated the way the Knight parents chose to talk with Ned about his birth mother and all of that because you don't see that a lot in historical fiction.
Overall:
Such a sweet Christmas story! This series can get heavy at times so it was fun to read about the characters just sort of moving on with life and attending Christmas celebrations.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Characters:
It was fun to see some different sides of the characters from the main storyline! This story focuses more on the younger Knights and Lois, who we don't see as much of in Alice and Ivy's books, especially as they grow older. I also enjoyed seeing a bit of married Claire and the book didn't dismiss the fact that Claire didn't have an easy past, but dealt with that past in such a realistic way.
Plot:
As I said this book follows Ned Knight, Claire, and then Lois and Charlie a little as well. I loved getting to understand Lois a bit more. The story sort of jumped around a bit between Ned/Claire and then Lois, but to readers of the series, it's not confusing at all. I appreciated the way the Knight parents chose to talk with Ned about his birth mother and all of that because you don't see that a lot in historical fiction.
Overall:
Such a sweet Christmas story! This series can get heavy at times so it was fun to read about the characters just sort of moving on with life and attending Christmas celebrations.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 19, 2022
I enjoyed the chance to return to the world of Alice and Ivy, and the luxurious Pearlbelle Park, in this novelette. While set during the Christmas season, it could be read at any time. This story centers around Mrs. Claire Knight, who is worried because two of her sons are ill, Lois Chattoway, who wants to adopt neglected Posy Parker but fears her husband will object, and young Ned Knight, who feels curious about his Mama, whom no one ever talks about.
The character voices in this novelette are well done. Each was so distinct! Even if there were no names at the beginning of each chapter, I still would've been able to tell who was speaking.
The plot was perfect for a novelette of this length. I am impressed at the author's ability to interweave three plot threads in such a short story.
I only have one complaint: not enough Ivy! Maybe next year...
I would like to thank the author for giving me a free ARC in exchange for a review.
The character voices in this novelette are well done. Each was so distinct! Even if there were no names at the beginning of each chapter, I still would've been able to tell who was speaking.
The plot was perfect for a novelette of this length. I am impressed at the author's ability to interweave three plot threads in such a short story.
I only have one complaint: not enough Ivy! Maybe next year...
I would like to thank the author for giving me a free ARC in exchange for a review.
April 25, 2023
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.
Overview: What a sweet little story! There’s something about short stories and Christmas that just go together. I greatly enjoyed this return to the earlier, happier years in the lives of the Knights, and it was a lot of fun to get to know some side characters better.
Characters: Ah, Claire… She’s grown so much over the series, but she’s still got a ways to go. She’s a complex character who sometimes aggravates me but always stirs my pity. One of these days she’s going to let go and let God do His work!
Ned is precious. I loved getting to see things from his perspective! Roth always does a fantastic job with child narrators, and Ned is a worthy addition to that list.
Lois and Charlie are definitely my favorites. I could never quite connect with Lois in the main series, but seeing things from her perspective has made her one of my favorites. She and Charlie have a unique, fun relationship. I would love a whole book about them!
Content: The book is quite clean, with no language or violence (unless you count Charlie’s disdain for his wife’s dog, which he refers to as a demon).
A married couple kisses, and the wife reflects on the beauty of intimacy between a married couple. It’s written in super veiled language, so if you don’t know what’s going on, you wouldn’t know what’s going on.
Writing: As always, Roth’s writing shines. The book flows effortlessly from scene to scene, weaving three complete stories into a harmonious whole. And as aforesaid, Ned’s POV is written so well!
Summary: This is a sweet Christmas story perfect for the holidays. It’s short enough to squeeze into a busy evening, and it will leave you with that cozy feeling we’re all looking for from a Christmas story. Anyone 14+ will love it!
Overview: What a sweet little story! There’s something about short stories and Christmas that just go together. I greatly enjoyed this return to the earlier, happier years in the lives of the Knights, and it was a lot of fun to get to know some side characters better.
Characters: Ah, Claire… She’s grown so much over the series, but she’s still got a ways to go. She’s a complex character who sometimes aggravates me but always stirs my pity. One of these days she’s going to let go and let God do His work!
Ned is precious. I loved getting to see things from his perspective! Roth always does a fantastic job with child narrators, and Ned is a worthy addition to that list.
Lois and Charlie are definitely my favorites. I could never quite connect with Lois in the main series, but seeing things from her perspective has made her one of my favorites. She and Charlie have a unique, fun relationship. I would love a whole book about them!
Content: The book is quite clean, with no language or violence (unless you count Charlie’s disdain for his wife’s dog, which he refers to as a demon).
A married couple kisses, and the wife reflects on the beauty of intimacy between a married couple. It’s written in super veiled language, so if you don’t know what’s going on, you wouldn’t know what’s going on.
Writing: As always, Roth’s writing shines. The book flows effortlessly from scene to scene, weaving three complete stories into a harmonious whole. And as aforesaid, Ned’s POV is written so well!
Summary: This is a sweet Christmas story perfect for the holidays. It’s short enough to squeeze into a busy evening, and it will leave you with that cozy feeling we’re all looking for from a Christmas story. Anyone 14+ will love it!
December 8, 2023
I’ve spent a large part of 2023 reading and reviewing the books in The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and a Christmas novella is a welcome seasonal addition! As an added bonus, this story focuses on secondary characters from the primary works. Alice and Ivy have so many siblings, and there isn’t a lot of time in the main books dedicated to getting to know them. Here we get to see the world through one of them and learn more about the younger kids’ personalities. The primary narrator is Ned, although we also hear from Claire, Phillip, and Lois.
If you have not read the first two books in this series, this one contains major spoilers. It isn’t a stand-alone Christmas story as I initially expected. Additionally, not every page rings with the light-hearted seasonal sparkle that some might expect. However, it fits the series well. The emphasis is on character development and fleshing out the story that the entire series tells rather than baubles or seasonal tropes. With Christmas preparation as the backdrop, we watch the characters learn about themselves, their past, and what they need to do to grow for the future.
I hope we see more of Lois, Charlie, and Posy later in the series, as well as their dog Frosty. Their storyline is full of hope and love. It was good to see those who have supported others so much have the spotlight for themselves here briefly. As of book six, I don’t think there is much more than a few passing mentions, but I will still hold out for more!
The Verdict:
Alice and Ivy were almost entirely absent from this novella, but I can’t be mad about that when we get to know their family members better. This story is kind of a look behind the scenes, or perhaps around the corner into the next room from the primary books in the series. I enjoyed it very much, and highly recommend that you don’t skip this novella when reading the series. It would be a good book for easing into the Christmas season, as it is set at Christmas but is not overflowing with the things I expect in most Christmas stories. Neither commercial nor religious elements are emphasized much. Gifts are mentioned and a church service is attended, but the focus is definitely on the characters and the things they are dealing with. Still, this is a short five-star read which I am glad I saved for this season!
This review was first posted on my blog, Reviews From the Stacks.
If you have not read the first two books in this series, this one contains major spoilers. It isn’t a stand-alone Christmas story as I initially expected. Additionally, not every page rings with the light-hearted seasonal sparkle that some might expect. However, it fits the series well. The emphasis is on character development and fleshing out the story that the entire series tells rather than baubles or seasonal tropes. With Christmas preparation as the backdrop, we watch the characters learn about themselves, their past, and what they need to do to grow for the future.
I hope we see more of Lois, Charlie, and Posy later in the series, as well as their dog Frosty. Their storyline is full of hope and love. It was good to see those who have supported others so much have the spotlight for themselves here briefly. As of book six, I don’t think there is much more than a few passing mentions, but I will still hold out for more!
The Verdict:
Alice and Ivy were almost entirely absent from this novella, but I can’t be mad about that when we get to know their family members better. This story is kind of a look behind the scenes, or perhaps around the corner into the next room from the primary books in the series. I enjoyed it very much, and highly recommend that you don’t skip this novella when reading the series. It would be a good book for easing into the Christmas season, as it is set at Christmas but is not overflowing with the things I expect in most Christmas stories. Neither commercial nor religious elements are emphasized much. Gifts are mentioned and a church service is attended, but the focus is definitely on the characters and the things they are dealing with. Still, this is a short five-star read which I am glad I saved for this season!
This review was first posted on my blog, Reviews From the Stacks.
February 9, 2023
Edited in 2022. Review to come upon reread, as a reader rather than as an editor.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews