About the Book
Book: Belle’s Christmas Carol
Author: Michelle Griep
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Release Date: September 1, 2026
While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.
When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.
Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?
With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos.
More from Michelle
Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol
Guest post by Michelle Griep
I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.
Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.
What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.
In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.
Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.
Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.
Blog Stops
Where Faith and Books Meet, October 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 7
The Avid Reader, October 7
She Lives To Read, October 7
Texas Book-aholic, October 8
Devoted To Hope, October 8
Betti Mace, October 9
Inkwell Inspirations , October 9
The Lofty Pages, October 9
For Him and My Family, October 10
Romances of the Cross, October 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11
Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 11
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 12
The Vine and The Branch, October 12
Maureen’s Musings, October 13
Fruitfully Planted, October 13
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 13
Books You Can Feel Good About, October 14
Mornings at Character Cafe, October 14
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 15
Simple Harvest Reads, October 15 (Guest Review from Donna)
Cover Lover Book Review, October 16
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 16
Vicky Sluiter, October 16
Devoted Steps, October 17
Lily’s Corner, October 17
Holly’s Book Corner, October 18
Mary Hake, October 18
Blossoms and Blessings, October 19
Pause for Tales, October 19
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/KNJXt/belles-christmas-carol-celebration-tour-giveaway
MY THOUGHTS: When I found out that Michelle Griep was writing a new book and it was set at Christmas time, I knew I had to read it. And I was right! To me, Michelle Griep's books are always delightful. And Belle's Christmas Carol sings with enjoyment as Michelle uses the perfect historical Victorian English words, setting, and plot that drew me into the story immediately. And the book cover is gorgeous, too!
Set in Victorian England, it it the sweet, scintillating story about Isabella "Belle" Beaumont, who was Ebenezer Scrooge's former fiancé. When she inherits a fire-damaged orphanage, she meets up with havoc from seven sweet and ornery orphans, mayhem from the orphanage's staff, repair delays galore from the construction company, and the handsome Rafe Munro who is a barrister with an agenda that leads him to Haven House, the orphanage.
Belle's wish for snow coincides with her hopes of giving the children a Christmas worth remembering at Haven House. As she progresses through the ups and downs of life, she mentally make notes in her running list of things to do which gives a peek into her calm inner emotions despite the havoc around her.
Rafe Munro is a hero who is gentle, yet strong. He immediately falls in love with Belle when they meet. Both Rafe and Belle are worthy of all that is good in the world and their match is made in heaven, as is said a lot about couples who belong together.
Ebenezer Scrooge himself plays a role in the story, one that gives a little history about the miserly curmudgeon and his once-love Belle, before money defiled his lifestyle.
Along with a supporting cast of characters is Rafe's opulent mother, Belle's faith-filled father, and the seven orphaned children, a couple who are whacky yet loving to all, and the other characters who round out the story and give readers a good chuckle in this Christmas story of loss, troubles, and surprises.
This delightful Christmas tale has all of the ingredients readers want from a holiday story, with a generous mix of humor and heart. The characters feel like real persons making their way through life in London, 1819, and they take readers along with them.
One Christmas-y element I found missing in the story is a Christmas tree....usually the tree is THE ultimate decoration that delights everyone. There are gifts, just no tree towering above them.
I give Belle's Christmas Carol 5 stars, it's a true gem, a keeper on my bookshelf, endearing and catchy, and one that I will read over and over. Don't miss it!
DISCLAIMER: A complimentary copy of this book was provided through Celebrate Lit tours. I was not required to leave a favorable review and this is my opinion.
The recipe for joy? A grateful heart and helping hands!
Fay A. Klingler
Ever made apple juice by pressing apples through an old wooden apple press? One of my favorite scenes in The Secret Sauce came about because it happened to me in real life—swallowing a fly! I was just a young teenager helping a neighbor press apples for juice. I opened my mouth and in flew a fly. Just like Harper in the story, I coughed and coughed to expel the insect, but instead I swallowed it! I’m the one taking this picture at my neighbor’s home.
To celebrate her tour, Fay is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book!!
A hidden identity. A relentless marquess. And a summer where love could expose everything.
Abbey Downey
