Book Review and Giveaway: The Dressmaker's Secret

The Dressmaker's Secret was quite a unique book in that the multiple points of view included that of one of the little girls in the story.  Alice, her twin sister Ivy, their single mother Claire all live together in secret in hopes of no one from their past lives discovering them and destroying their lives and livelihood.  Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  There were some surprises in the middle and the end.  The ending surprised me so much I re-read much of the first chapter right away to see if there was a hint of it.  Someday, I would love to re-read the book to catch all of the hints.  I knew that some details seemed odd, but I couldn't figure out why.  I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed the characters.  This is a story worth reading!

Here are a couple of quotes I highlighted in the book:

A decade she had assumed the worst of others whenever something was not as it should be.  Better to believe the worst than look for a proper explanation.

When Claire realized that she was being judged unfairly by someone else for her life, she realized she had once done the same in her previous life.

But, again, eyes often stories hearts didn't echo.

I found this line interesting since it seems to contradict the saying "the eyes are the windows to the soul;" however, at this point, Claire is skeptical of what she sees in the eyes of the person with whom she is speaking.  I think it's a lie she's told herself, a dangerous practice for anyone to do.

Celebrate Lit gave me the opportunity to request, receive, read, and review this book.

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!

 

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!

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27

Jeanette's Thoughts, January 27

Splashes of Joy, January 27

Remembrancy, January 28

Genesis 5020, January 28

Worthy2Read, January 29

Vicky Sluiter, January 29

Maureen's Musings, January 29

The Write Escape, January 30

Sara Jane Jacobs, January 30

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 31

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, January 31

A Novel Pursuit, January 31

Texas Book-aholic, February 1

CarpeDiem, February 1

Library Lady's Kid Lit, February 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 2

Inklings and notions, February 3

lakesidelivingsite, February 3

Betti Mace, February 4

Reflections From My Bookshelves, February 4

deb's Book Review, February 4

For Him and My Family, February 5

Connect in Fiction, February 5

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 6

Connie's History Classroom, February 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 7

Godly Book Reviews, February 7

Labor Not in Vain, February 7

Artistic Nobody, February 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Blogging With Carol, February 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 9

Sodbuster Living, February 9

Bizwings Blog, February 9

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