Belle's Christmas Carol

About the Book

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.

My Thoughts

Ring the bells and settle in for a story sparkling with Christmas charm! Belle’s Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep is an endearing novella that captures the warmth and wonder of a Dickensian Christmas while exploring love, faith, and human resilience. Griep fills the tale with memorable, multidimensional characters—from mischievous Cricket and swoon-worthy Rafe to the delightfully eccentric caretakers—whose humor and tenderness enrich every scene. Belle Beaumont shines at the center of the tale, her compassion, resilience, and unwavering integrity giving the story its heart. I especially enjoyed seeing Griep reimagine Belle’s life beyond Scrooge while retaining the story’s Dickensian charm and giving Belle the joyful ending she deserves. With its winning blend of comedy, romance, faith, Victorian flair, and holiday cheer, this heartwarming tale is a merry little gift for the Christmas season!

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 here to enter. Good Luck!

Deck the shelves with a little holiday reading cheer! Michelle Griep’s Belle’s Christmas Carol is available from Amazon. If you enjoy historical novels, be sure to explore the author’s other delightful tales as well. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway! I’ll be back on Thursday, October 8, to feature Darlene L. Turner’s Coordinates of Death—and there will be another giveaway. Until then, may your days be merry, bright, and filled with wonderful books!

Kris

The Avid Reader