Belle's Christmas Carol Michelle Griep

Belle's Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep Celebrate Lit Tour Banner

About the Book

Michelle Griep, author of Belle's Christmas Carol

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.

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.

Devoted To Hope's Review of Belle's Christmas Carol

This is a book I would happily tuck into someone’s Christmas gift. I loved Belle’s Christmas Carol … the writing, the emotions, and the substance within such a lovely Christmas story. It was an incredible joy to read!

Michelle Griep beautifully respects Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol while imagining a fuller life for Belle, Scrooge’s former fiancée. I appreciated the care she took with those connections. After the hurt Belle had experienced with Scrooge, I loved seeing her find joy again and begin to trust that she could be loved and cared for, too.

The children at Haven House and the adults caring for them give the book such personality. I enjoyed their commotion and the humor that comes with it. Seeing affection and attention given to children who have already experienced loss makes the happy moments mean more. You want them to have a wonderfully blessed Christmas. You want them to know they matter … they truly matter … every day.

The romance is lovely, and the unfolding questions kept me interested in how everything would come together. Griep fits so much into this novella without losing the pleasure of spending time with these characters. The Christmas preparations add to that happiness, especially because Belle wants so much to give the children something special.

Belle’s struggle with responsibility was meaningful to me. When people depend on you, it can be difficult to accept help or admit that you cannot manage everything. I appreciated the reminder that God is in charge, even when we feel responsible for every detail. We need Him in the work He gives us, and we need to receive the help He provides.

God’s care for the children and the reminder of Christ’s coming give meaning to the love being shown to them. I appreciated how their faith shaped the way they cared for the children.

An excellent five-star read with plenty of heart and a wonderfully Christmas-y feel. I highly recommend reading Belle’s Christmas Carol and giving it as a gift. I would be so happy to introduce someone to this book.

I received a digital copy of this book via Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.