Review: The Lodge on Holly Road by Sheila Roberts

Title: The Lodge on Holly Road   

Author: Sheila Roberts     

Series: Life in Icicle Falls, #6     

Published: October 2014, Harlequin MIRA  

Format:  ARC e-copy, 364 pages  

Source:  Netalley 

How Santa Gets His Christmas Spirit Back…

James
Claussen has played Santa for years, but now that he’s a widower, he’s
lost interest—in everything. So his daughter, Brooke, kidnaps him from
the mall (in his Santa suit!) and takes him to Icicle Falls. She’s
arranged a special Christmas at the lodge owned by long-widowed Olivia
Wallace and her son, Eric. And yet…Brooke wants Dad to be happy, but
she’s not ready to see someone else’s mommy kissing Santa Claus.

Single
mom Missy Monroe brings her kids to the lodge, too. Lalla wants a
grandma for Christmas, and her brother, Carlos, wants a dog. Missy can’t
provide either one. What she’d like is an attractive, dependable man. A
man like John Truman… But John’s girlfriend will be joining him in
Icicle Falls, and he’s going to propose.

Of course not everything goes as planned. But sometimes the best gifts are the ones you don’t expect!

My thoughts: While this is the sixth book in Sheila Roberts’ Life in Icicle Falls series, it really can be read as a stand-alone. I’ve happened to have read all the previous books, but there really weren’t too many characters or connecting stories in this book that would make you feel that you were missing out on anything if you picked this up one first. That’s not to say it wasn’t a charming read, just that it really does stand on it’s own.

I love the little town of Icicle Falls and everything it seems to stand for. The magic of Christmas is certainly felt throughout this book, with the spirit of Christmas almost like another character in the story. I love the characters that Sheila Roberts creates – each one brings a little something to the table that we all can relate
to, from love, to loss, to the promise and hope that is Christmas. We get to take an intimate peek into the lives of these characters
until we feel we’ve known them for much longer than just a holiday
season. They feel like they’ve become friends and you only want the very best for them. 

And these characters really are just charming. From Olivia, the lodge owner who wants everyone to have that perfect stay; to a
single mother who saved up all year so she could give her two children a magical Christmas; to a widowed man playing Santa with not
much Christmas spirit and his two grown children;  to a young man hoping to plan the
perfect holiday to pop the question to his girlfriend – these are just some of the characters that will tug at your heartstrings in this book. 

This is definitely a great holiday read and would make the perfect holiday movie. I know at least two of her books have already been made into tv movies and hope they decide to make this one into one as well. At the back of the book, Sheila has included some of the recipes that were mentioned throughout the book that were served at the Lodge – I think I might have to try out a few as they sound pretty good!

Books in this series:  

     .5  Welcome to Icicle Falls             
     1.  Better Than Chocolate               
     2.  Merry Ex-Mas                           
     3.  What She Wants    
     4.  The Cottage on Juniper Ridge

     5.  The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane

     6.  The Lodge on Holly Road