Happy Wednesday Everyone :)
I hope you're all having a great week so far.
Mine hasn't honestly been the greatest as I'm still fighting off this nasty cold, but I guess on the positive side it's given me lots of time to catch up with my neverending TBR Pile.
Friday is my hubby's birthday, and I'm just hoping I'll be over it before then as I'm really looking forward to celebrating his special day together.
However, in the meantime I'd love to share with you guys about one of the fabulous books I finished while I was in bed sick with this cold a few days ago. And as you can tell by the title of the review, that is of course Christmas In Icicle Falls by Sheila Roberts.
I've really come to love this series in the last year or so, and Sheila Roberts has definitely made her way onto my favorite authors list. I'd been both anxiously anticipating and dreading this book at the same time, as I definitely didn't want to see this beloved series come to an end, however I'm glad I got the chance to read it this holiday season, and I can't wait to share what I thought with all of you.
Christmas in Icicle Falls by Sheila Roberts:
Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: October 24th, 2017
Source: Library
Synopsis:
"Join USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts this Christmas as she returns for the final installment in her treasured Icicle Falls series When Muriel Sterling released her new book, A Guide to Happy Holidays, she felt like the queen of Christmas. She's thrilled when the new tree she ordered online arrives and is eager to show it off--until she gets it out of the box and realizes it's a mangy dud. But rather than give up on the ugly tree, Muriel decides to make a project out of it. As she pretties up her tree, she realizes there's a lesson to be learned: everything and everyone has potential. Maybe even her old friend Arnie, who's loved her for years. Except, she's not the only one seeing Arnie's potential... Meanwhile, Muriel's ugly-tree project has also inspired her friends. Sienna Moreno is trying to bring out the best in the grouchy man next door, who hates noise, hates kids and hates his new neighbors. And while Olivia Claussen would love to send her obnoxious new daughter-in-law packing, she's adjusting her attitude and trying to discover what her son sees in the girl. If these women can learn to see the beauty in the "ugly trees" in their lives, perhaps this might turn out to be the happiest holiday yet."
********synopsis taken from goodreads********
My Review:
Over the course of reading this series, the characters have come to feel like old friends, and it was nice to get to catch up with everyone one last time at the holidays before I have to say goodbye to this much beloved series. As in her previous books in the series, Sheila Roberts chose to tell this story from the viewpoint of three vastly different female characters. First up is Muriel Sterling Whitman, the town's matriarch, and holiday guru who teaches others through her books how to have the perfect Christmas, and yet this holiday season she has trouble following her own advice. Next is Sienna, a single mother with a son with special needs who has trouble getting her ex to pay his overdue child support, much less spend anytime with his son. And who is living next door to the crankiest man on Earth. Lastly is Olivia Claussen, the owner of the beloved Lodge of Holly Road, who this Christmas has the unwelcome surprise of a new daughter in law who isn't anything like she'd imagined, and is the last woman alive she'd ever want for her son.
Muriel Sterling purchases a Christmas tree that once taken out of the box is nothing like the picture she was expecting. As she tries to come to terms with what to do with her "ugly tree" she realizes that she's taken her best friend Arnie for granted, and never looked at him in the light he looked at her. She turns down a cruise to Germany with him, and watches him take off with their good friend Dot instead. Muriel is hosting a holiday party, and determines to make her "ugly tree" beautiful, which she succeeds in doing. At her holiday party, herself, Sienna, and Olivia determine to take the complicated people, or "ugly trees" in their own lives, and make them beautiful like Muriel was able to do with her tree. However, they'll discover that this is a much bigger undertaking than any of them could have ever imagined, and it'll take persistence, holiday spirit, and a change in their way of thinking before they'll ever see their goals come to reality.
Like previous novels in the series, Christmas In Icicle Falls is a heartwarming read, that felt like you were right there experiencing everything with the characters. I particularly loved that Muriel finally got her own story in this book, instead of just being one of the secondary characters like she usually is. Right from the start of the series the reader has seen how Muriel always has the perfect advice for everyone else, but it was interesting to see her struggling to apply it to her own life when things don't go the way she'd planned at all. Sienna is a new character to the series, but her story fit right in with this beloved town. She's a struggling single mom who only wants the best for her son, and yet she's facing unwelcome hurdles at every step including mean neighborhood kids, and a neighbor who's name should be Scrooge. However, she'll discover things looking up when Scrooge's nephew comes to visit, and just might be the man she's been holding out for, if only she can finally take a chance again with her heart. Olivia Claussen was one of my favorite characters in the previous novels, and that did definitely continue here. She's always had a warm and welcoming personality, but that'll be tested to the limits when her new daughter in law moves in, and doesn't know the first thing about tact, manners or class.
These three women will soon discover that sometimes these unwelcome situations can turn into something we never would have expected, and taking a chance on the unexpected can often have the best results. All in all, I loved this final visit to Icicle Falls, and I especially loved that Sheila Roberts chose to set it during the Christmas season. It left me happy, in the Christmas spirit, and with a huge smile on my face over the beloved holiday story contained within. I gave this one four out of five stars, and I highly recommend this beautiful story, and this entire series to anyone looking for a heartwarming holiday story, or a beloved story about family, friendship and romance.
Thanks so much for reading guys! I'll see you all again on Friday :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me and all rights to the respective owners.
I hope you're all having a great week so far.
Mine hasn't honestly been the greatest as I'm still fighting off this nasty cold, but I guess on the positive side it's given me lots of time to catch up with my neverending TBR Pile.
Friday is my hubby's birthday, and I'm just hoping I'll be over it before then as I'm really looking forward to celebrating his special day together.
However, in the meantime I'd love to share with you guys about one of the fabulous books I finished while I was in bed sick with this cold a few days ago. And as you can tell by the title of the review, that is of course Christmas In Icicle Falls by Sheila Roberts.
I've really come to love this series in the last year or so, and Sheila Roberts has definitely made her way onto my favorite authors list. I'd been both anxiously anticipating and dreading this book at the same time, as I definitely didn't want to see this beloved series come to an end, however I'm glad I got the chance to read it this holiday season, and I can't wait to share what I thought with all of you.
Christmas in Icicle Falls by Sheila Roberts:
Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: October 24th, 2017
Source: Library
Synopsis:
"Join USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts this Christmas as she returns for the final installment in her treasured Icicle Falls series When Muriel Sterling released her new book, A Guide to Happy Holidays, she felt like the queen of Christmas. She's thrilled when the new tree she ordered online arrives and is eager to show it off--until she gets it out of the box and realizes it's a mangy dud. But rather than give up on the ugly tree, Muriel decides to make a project out of it. As she pretties up her tree, she realizes there's a lesson to be learned: everything and everyone has potential. Maybe even her old friend Arnie, who's loved her for years. Except, she's not the only one seeing Arnie's potential... Meanwhile, Muriel's ugly-tree project has also inspired her friends. Sienna Moreno is trying to bring out the best in the grouchy man next door, who hates noise, hates kids and hates his new neighbors. And while Olivia Claussen would love to send her obnoxious new daughter-in-law packing, she's adjusting her attitude and trying to discover what her son sees in the girl. If these women can learn to see the beauty in the "ugly trees" in their lives, perhaps this might turn out to be the happiest holiday yet."
********synopsis taken from goodreads********
My Review:
Over the course of reading this series, the characters have come to feel like old friends, and it was nice to get to catch up with everyone one last time at the holidays before I have to say goodbye to this much beloved series. As in her previous books in the series, Sheila Roberts chose to tell this story from the viewpoint of three vastly different female characters. First up is Muriel Sterling Whitman, the town's matriarch, and holiday guru who teaches others through her books how to have the perfect Christmas, and yet this holiday season she has trouble following her own advice. Next is Sienna, a single mother with a son with special needs who has trouble getting her ex to pay his overdue child support, much less spend anytime with his son. And who is living next door to the crankiest man on Earth. Lastly is Olivia Claussen, the owner of the beloved Lodge of Holly Road, who this Christmas has the unwelcome surprise of a new daughter in law who isn't anything like she'd imagined, and is the last woman alive she'd ever want for her son.
Muriel Sterling purchases a Christmas tree that once taken out of the box is nothing like the picture she was expecting. As she tries to come to terms with what to do with her "ugly tree" she realizes that she's taken her best friend Arnie for granted, and never looked at him in the light he looked at her. She turns down a cruise to Germany with him, and watches him take off with their good friend Dot instead. Muriel is hosting a holiday party, and determines to make her "ugly tree" beautiful, which she succeeds in doing. At her holiday party, herself, Sienna, and Olivia determine to take the complicated people, or "ugly trees" in their own lives, and make them beautiful like Muriel was able to do with her tree. However, they'll discover that this is a much bigger undertaking than any of them could have ever imagined, and it'll take persistence, holiday spirit, and a change in their way of thinking before they'll ever see their goals come to reality.
Like previous novels in the series, Christmas In Icicle Falls is a heartwarming read, that felt like you were right there experiencing everything with the characters. I particularly loved that Muriel finally got her own story in this book, instead of just being one of the secondary characters like she usually is. Right from the start of the series the reader has seen how Muriel always has the perfect advice for everyone else, but it was interesting to see her struggling to apply it to her own life when things don't go the way she'd planned at all. Sienna is a new character to the series, but her story fit right in with this beloved town. She's a struggling single mom who only wants the best for her son, and yet she's facing unwelcome hurdles at every step including mean neighborhood kids, and a neighbor who's name should be Scrooge. However, she'll discover things looking up when Scrooge's nephew comes to visit, and just might be the man she's been holding out for, if only she can finally take a chance again with her heart. Olivia Claussen was one of my favorite characters in the previous novels, and that did definitely continue here. She's always had a warm and welcoming personality, but that'll be tested to the limits when her new daughter in law moves in, and doesn't know the first thing about tact, manners or class.
These three women will soon discover that sometimes these unwelcome situations can turn into something we never would have expected, and taking a chance on the unexpected can often have the best results. All in all, I loved this final visit to Icicle Falls, and I especially loved that Sheila Roberts chose to set it during the Christmas season. It left me happy, in the Christmas spirit, and with a huge smile on my face over the beloved holiday story contained within. I gave this one four out of five stars, and I highly recommend this beautiful story, and this entire series to anyone looking for a heartwarming holiday story, or a beloved story about family, friendship and romance.
Thanks so much for reading guys! I'll see you all again on Friday :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me and all rights to the respective owners.
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