Hi everyone! I’m super excited to be helping to open Kellyn’s Roth’s blog tour for her two novels, The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective, books 1 and 2 of The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy!
Kellyn previously published The Dressmaker’s Secret, but she’s republishing it with some changes as she releases the second novel on June 24, 2017. So let me tell you a little bit about them! I’ll do a little spotlight on both books and then give you a character spotlight on Jordy McAllen, one of my favorite characters from Ivy Introspective! And then the giveaway, of course!
The Dressmaker’s Secret
After a revealing conversation with the first children of her age she’s ever met, curious eight-year-old Alice Chattoway realizes that one ought to have a father … and she doesn’t. Having determined that his absence is making her mother unhappy, Alice resolves to find him and create a family for herself.
However, Alice’s mother, Miss Chattoway, is reluctant to answer any questions posed about a man she’d much rather forget. While Alice investigates, Miss Chattoway tries to balance her own spiritual turmoil with her need to be both mother and provider to her daughters.
Will Alice ever unravel her mother’s secrets? Can Miss Chattoway let go of the past to reach for the future?
This novel is narrated by a little girl, but it’s actually about both Alice and her mother, Miss Chattoway. It deals with love, spirituality, and family, which are all awesome themes and so fun to read about. Plus, Alice is so funny. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, then you’ll love reading The Dressmaker’s Secret!
Find The Dressmaker’s Secret on Goodreads
Order The Dressmaker’s Secret on Amazon
Ivy Introspective
Trapped in a world where she doesn’t belong, twelve-year-old Ivy Knight struggles to keep her head above water as her simplicity is brought to light by her new position as a young lady growing up at Pearlbelle Park.
Worried about their daughter’s inability to fit in, Ivy’s parents decide to send her to McCale House, a boarding school in Scotland for boys and girls like her. However, alone and frightened without her beloved mother, sister, and nurse, Ivy can’t seem to focus.
Will Ivy ever learn what Dr. McCale is trying to teach her? Or will she remain lost in her own mind forever?
Ivy Introspective is a fitting sequel to The Dressmaker’s Secret, though, this time, we get to hear about Alice’s twin sister, Ivy, who was born “simple.” We also get to hear about another young and irresistibly lovable girl, Posy, as she goes to her own boarding school.
I loved reading this novel and getting to know Ivy, with her love for stories and for music! (I can’t help but love characters who love music and stories!) The portrayal of Ivy’s struggles is interesting, and I loved to watch her learn and grow, even to the point where she can help other people! Ivy is so lovely and sweet–you can’t help but love her.
Find Ivy Introspective on Goodreads
Pre-Order Ivy Introspective on Amazon
Character Spotlight: Jordy McAllen
Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for (or at least the moment I’ve been waiting for!), the spotlight on Jordy McAllen, a minor but awesome character from Ivy Introspective.
I mean, he just somehow decided to be my favorite character in Ivy Introspective (besides Ivy, of course). Have I ever had a favorite character who was only in a few scenes of a book. Nope…until now!
Okay, so first off, he’s Scottish! So not only does he have look awesome, with his cool reddish/auburnish hair and greenish eyes, but he also sounds awesome with his Scottish brogue! It’s so fun to read his parts out loud, and it’s especially fun to say “Ivy” the way he does: “Ay-vee”. Seriously, try it. You’ll be glad you did.
And secondly, he has such an awesome personality! He’s an ESFP, so not only is he optimistic, enthusiastic, and fun to be around, but he also cares deeply about other people! Seriously, I want him to be my friend, too.
For some background on Jordy: he was born to a farmer’s family with five other siblings. At age 12, approximately four years before Ivy Introspective, he decided he wanted to be a doctor. When Jordy met Dr. McCale, he was offered a job as Dr. McCale’s assistant at the McCale House, a boarding school for mentally challenged children. That’s where he meets Ivy!
Jordy is so awesome, it’s almost worth reading the book just for him. I say “almost” because he only stars in a few short scenes, to my sorrow… But guess what? He’ll be back in Beyond Her Calling (book four)! I’m probably way too excited about that…but I don’t really care! I can’t wait!
Giveaway!
Enter into this giveaway for a chance to win a paperback copy of both The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective! (U.S. only.) Or, if you don’t live in the U.S., you can enter the second giveaway for an ebook copy of both books!
Enter the giveaway here!
Continue on the blog tour
The blog tour for The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective continues from the 20th through the 30th. You can follow along with this schedule and see all the awesome posts that are planned–and find some new blogs and blogging friends along the way!
let’s talk!
Are you excited for Kellyn’s new releases? Will you be following along/participating in her blog tour? And do you adore Jordy as well? What accent is your favorite to talk in? (I like to read Scottish/Irish out loud, but I can’t do it on my own. I can sort of do an Australian accent, and then another accent that probably isn’t even from a real country…) And…how has your summer been so far? Do you have any fun plans?
The Music of Words 
This was an amazing post, Lana! It’s so gorgeous and I love how you talked about Jordy and such! ❤ Thanks so much for doing this. And I'm actually going to answer the questions.
Are you excited for Kellyn’s new releases?:
Yes, I am! I can't believe they're finally coming out … so exciting! 😀
Will you be following along/participating in her blog tour?:
Um … you could say that …
And do you adore Jordy as well?:
Haha, yes!
What accent is your favorite to talk in?:
Yes, Irish. Although, like you, I can't really do it unless I'm reading something written in a Irish accent. Yet sometimes I can remember lines spoken in an Irish accent and then get myself talking in an Irish accent … Scottish is far easier for me. 🙂
And…how has your summer been so far?:
Eh … busy, but not too bad. Lots of stuff to do and very little time to do it, but I still enjoyed it. 🙂
Do you have any fun plans?:
Not really. Besides this tour and having free time. I was going to get horse riding lessons, but I don't know if that's going to go through or not, and I'm volunteering once a week.
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Aww, thanks! 😀 And it was so much fun to talk about Jordy…he’s great. So, um, you should write Beyond Her Calling soon. *grins*
Whaaat? I would have never guessed that you were following along! 😛
Woah, can you, like, do a Scottish accent on demand? That’s awesome. 😀
Oh, I hope you can get horse riding lessons! That would be so fun! 🙂 And I’m pretty sure you’ve told me what you’re volunteering for, but I can’t remember…what are you doing, again?
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I’m planning to write it in November, and hopefully that will happen. I was able to figure some things out just because I’ve done some character sketches and such on (adult) Ivy … so I feel like I’m a little more prepared and such. And can actually figure it out and get outlined …
Weeell, I don’t know if it’s exactly on demand … it’s more like whenever I want to except when I actually have to do it because someone asked me to. XD
I’m volunteering at a local … museum of sorts. It’s an old fort (well, the only thing that’s left is the surgeon’s quarters which is just like an old-fashioned house and then tons of old stuff and some antique vehicles … and then there’s also an old-fashioned homestead with a barn … so just some old buildings that have been renovated and have lots of old things in them; like a ton … and there’s old stories and such … I feel like I’m over-explaining it …). Anyway, it’s called the Fort Dalles Museum.
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Oooh yay, yes please write it in November!
Oh, that’s cool! So do you give tours or what do you do when you volunteer?
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Right now I’m just learning the ropes (well, the history) and cleaning up and watching other people give tours, but I will be giving tours, yep.
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Ahh, that’s cool! Is it really interesting to learn about?
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Yes, it is! There are lots of cools stories and such. 🙂
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That’s awesome! 🙂
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BRITISH ACCENTS ALL THE WAY. I can sort of do an Australian accent, and a Ukranian/Russian accent, but that’s it… And also American accent of course. 😛 And I just said Ivy as Ay-vee and YOU’RE RIGHT. IT’S FUN. Congrats Kellyn, because getting published is such an awesome thing! Best of luck with all your future novels. 😉
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FUNNN I WISH I COULD DO A BETTER BRITISH ACCENT. And ooh, a Russian accent is awesome! I should learn how to do that… IT IS! Yes, congratulations, Kell! 😀
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Jordy is one of my favorite characters, too! I just discovered that he’s in book 4, and now I’m excited, too. 😀 I can’t really talk in an accent other than American, but I do kind of like Irish accents. And Australian. But mostly different American accents, like Southern.
CutePolarBear
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I know!! I can’t wait to read more about him! 😀 Oooh, Southern accents are fun! I’m alright at them…if I can get into the right mood. 😛
Thanks for the comment! 🙂
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Yes! I’m excited to read her books! Jordy sounds awesome! I totally want to read it just for him now! And I’m so excited to be participating in her blog tour! It’s my first one! 😀 And this summer I’m just trying to read as many books as I possibly can and blog about them before I have to go back to college this fall because I know homework will suck up most of my time because college is HARD. 😦
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Jordy is awesome; you’ll totally love him! And yay, I’ll check out your post for the blog tour when you do it!
Reading is a great summer pastime! But nooo, homework! I’m still in high school, but I still don’t want to have to go back to school this fall! I suppose I’ll survive, though… 😉
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