Tag Archives: Life in Icicle Falls

Home on Apple Blossom Road (Life in Icicle Falls 9) by Sheila Roberts-a review

Posted on by
9

HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD (Life in Icicle Falls #9) by Sheila Roberts-a review

Home on Apple Blossom Road

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

About the book: Release Date March 22, 2016

Home is where the love is…

Colin Wright and Mia Blair grew up in Icicle Falls, but they left years ago—and not on good terms. Now Colin’s grandmother, Justine, has died, and they’ve come home to honor this woman they both loved. That’s when they get some unexpected news. They’re about to inherit something. Jointly. They just have no idea what. It turns out that Justine’s designed a treasure hunt for them, like the ones they enjoyed when they were kids and best friends.

But they’re not kids anymore, and they sure aren’t best friends. As for that young love they once shared? Well…it’s complicated.

On the trail of Justine’s treasure, they follow a series of clues that take them down memory lane—ending up at the orchard on Apple Blossom Road. What will they find there? And what did Justine know that they didn’t?

•••••••

REVIEW: HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD is the ninth full length installment in Sheila Roberts’s LIFE IN ICICLE FALLS contemporary, romance series focusing on the town of Icicle Falls. This is Colin Wright, and Mia Blair’s story line. HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Colin and Mia) HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD is a second chance romance between two people who have loved one another for most of their lives. Following the death of Colin’s grandmother Justine, our leading couple are ‘sent’ on a treasure hunt designed to bring the lovers back together. Years have passed, and Colin and Mia have gone their separate ways only to rekindle what once was as they endeavor to follow the clues Grandma Justine left behind.

HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD is a story of second chances told from present day and flashbacks using Grandma Justine’s letters written to her own mother and friends; of family, friendships, and small town living wherein the townsfolk are all involved in a treasure hunt meant to bring two wayward souls home for good. Throughout the story, we are reintroduced to several of the previous story line characters, as well as revisiting some of the small, intimate shops of Icicle Falls. The rebuilding of the romance is slow to develop as Colin has complications of which he has yet to let go.

The story line focuses on the past; of what happened and what was always meant to be. We are up close and personal with Colin and Mia throughout their childhood; their ups and downs; and the eventual misunderstanding that destroyed their love for one another.

Sheila Roberts writes an emotional, clean story line of reflection; of regret; of forgiveness and love. HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD is a sweet romance about two people who lost one another when they lost themselves. The premise is a journey between the past and the present; the characters are colorful and idealistic; the romance is rebuild to a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

A Wedding on Primrose Street (Life in Icicle Falls 7) by Sheila Roberts-a review

Posted on by
8

A WEDDING ON PRIMROSE STREET (Life in Icicle Falls #7) by Sheila Roberts-a review

A Wedding on Primrose Street

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28, 2015

There’s nothing like a wedding!

The joy, the fun, the memories—the stress. As a wedding planner, Anne Richardson has seen mothers of the bride turn into Momzillas, and she’s determined not to do that when it’s her daughter’s turn to get married. But once Laney gets engaged, all bets are off. Anne becomes obsessed with giving Laney the perfect wedding she herself never had. And that wedding needs to be held in Icicle Falls at Primrose Haus, the perfect setting.

Roberta Gilbert, owner of Primrose Haus, has been hosting events at her charming Victorian for thirty years. She’s an expert on weddings, but not on mother-daughter relations. When her daughter, Daphne, comes home and decides to help with the business, the receptions become truly memorable—and not in a good way. Then there’s the added complication of Roberta’s gardener, who seems more interested in Daphne than he is in planting primroses…

Tying the knot is a business that has everyone tied up in knots!

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: A WEDDING ON PRIMROSE STREET is the seventh installment in Sheila Roberts contemporary Life in Icicle Falls romance series focusing on the men and women of Icicle Falls. A WEDDING ON PRIMROSE STREET is a bit of a departure from Sheila’s romance relationships as this particular novel focuses on the relationships between mothers and daughters-the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking disappointments.

Sheila Roberts takes a closer look at two mother-daughter relationships: Anne and Laney Richardson as Laney prepares for her upcoming wedding and Anne, as a profession wedding planner, wants nothing to do with Laney’s choices: and seventy one year old Roberta Gilbert, and her thrice divorced daughter Daphne whose personal life has imploded leaving Roberta to pick up the pieces where Daphne is concerned.

A WEDDING ON PRIMROSE STREET is a bit of a slow build that focuses on mother –daughter relationships using flashbacks, memories, dreams and recollections. Roberta’s own relationship with her mother was strained and virtually non-existent most of her adult life but with it comes the realization that the apple doesn’t fall very far from the proverbial tree. Anne, on the other hand, is a wedding planner whose own wedding dreams were quashed with a hasty wedding without any pomp and ceremony-Anne is unknowingly trying to live vicariously through her own daughter’s wedding and in this Laney begins to put up walls between her mother and herself.

The premise is at times heartbreaking knowing that some mother-daughter relationships are irrevocably destroyed while others are strengthened through understanding and love. The premise may be familiar to many readers whose own relationships are contentious whether it be through wedding planning-momzillas and bridezillas-or through the daily struggles between mother and daughter.

A WEDDING ON PRIMROSE STREET is more of a chic-lit storyline with relateable issues, characters, struggles and dreams. Sheila Roberts writes an encouraging, hopeful and impassioned story where sometimes taking a step back is the only thing keeping the love alive between two people tied together by more than blood. The ending was not unexpected in my opinion, as it was building from the very start.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Harlequin Holiday Reads Blog Tour-The Lodge on Holly Road by Sheila Roberts

Posted on by
31

Harlequin Holiday Reads Blog Tour-The Lodge on Holly Road by Sheila Roberts

 

The Lodge on Holly Road
Life in Icicle Falls #6
by Sheila Roberts
Release Date: October 24, 2014
Genre: contemporary, romance

The Lodge on Holly Road

Add THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD to you GOODREADS shelf

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 28, 2014

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!

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD is the sixth installment in Sheila Roberts’ Life in Icicle Falls contemporary romance series focusing on the people of Icicle Falls. Although this is the sixth in the continuing Life in Icicle Falls series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from third person point of view THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD is an ensemble storyline that focuses on three families (the Claussens, the Monroes, the Wallaces) and the Christmas celebrations at Icicle Creek Lodge- a bed and breakfast where Christmas wishes do come true. Sixty something widow Olivia Wallace is the owner and proprietor of Icicle Creek Lodge and is renowned for her Christmas celebrations. This year, a number of guests will discover love, happiness and a future at Olivia’s bed and breakfast.

As the holiday celebrations build Santa will find himself a new Mrs. Claus(sen), a broken heart will find a new love, and a grieving daughter will discover that life does go on. A little girl’s hopes for a grandma and a young boy’s loss of Christmas spirit will give Santa pause for thought when the guests at Icicle Creek Lodge pull together to make Christmas a celebration everyone will remember. And a single mother of two will find love and happiness when least expected.

A few of the previous storyline characters make an appearance in a secondary and supporting role giving the holiday storyline a familiarity with fans of the Life in Icicle Falls series.

THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD is a sweet holiday story about loss, grief and a promise for the future for all three families at Icicle Creek Lodge. The bonds of friendship and love will blossom for three couples as they embark on a new life and a happily ever after at the Lodge in Icicle Falls.

READING ORDER:

1. Summer in a Small Town: Welcome To Icicle Falls
2. Better Than Chocolate
3. Merry Ex-mas
4. What She Wants
5. The Cottage on Juniper Ridge
6. The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane
7. The Lodge on Holly Road
8. A Wedding on Primrose Street (July 2015)

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Guest Post

1. How do you choose which couple will be featured in a holiday storyline?

Great question! And thanks for having me, by the way.

I must say, before I start playing matchmaker with my couples I usually have a theme or idea in mind. The Lodge on Holly Road started with the question, “What would happen if Santa lost his holiday spirit?” and moved on from there. What if a man who loved Christmas, who’d always played Santa for family and friends and then worked as a department store Santa, suddenly got all Santa-ed out? What would make a person want to give up on the holidays? (In James Claussen’s case, it was facing Christmas as a widower, trying to get through his first holiday without his wife.) That question of course, leads to the important story question, “What would it take to give Santa back his holiday spirit?” Of course, those weren’t the only questions I had to ask for this book since I gathered an entire cast of characters at the Icicle Creek Lodge in search of a wonderful Christmas. I had a daughter who thought she knew what was best for her father, a man about to propose to the woman of his dreams and a single mom longing to give her children a perfect holiday, wishing she knew how to provide those things Santa can’t pull out of his bag of gifts, like a grandma and a daddy. Bringing them all to Icicle Falls and weaving their stories together was both challenging and fun. I hope readers will enjoy it.

2. When writing a series, is it more difficult or easier to write a holiday themed storyline that features all or most of the previous storyline couples? e.g. ensemble storylines

When you’re writing about a town full of people you can’t always bring back everyone in every book, but I tried to make sure many of readers favorites put in an appearance in this one. After all, it’s Christmas and there are plenty of gatherings and opportunities for old friends to catch up. In The Lodge on Holly Road Olivia Wallace finally gets a little more time center stage. And Dot Morrison and Muriel Sterling, and Pat Wilder, who owns the bookstore, will all be present. And, who knows? By the end of the story Icicle Falls might have a new resident.

~~Sheila Roberts ~~

About The author

Sheila RobertsFOLLOW Sheila:  Website / Facebook / Goodreads /Twitter

Sheila Roberts lives on a lake in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. Her books have been best-sellers, Amazon top ten romance picks, and her popular holiday novel, “On Strike for Christmas” was made into a movie for the Lifetime channel. When she’s not speaking to women’s groups or at conferences she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

Harlequin-Holiday-group-image

Looking for more holiday-themed reads? Click HERE to discover.

Blog tour Schedule

Week Three

12/15/2014   Poisoned Rationality http://www.prationality.com Sarah Morgan (Guest Post)

12/16/2014   Bookish Things & More http://www.bookishthingsandmore.com Christmas with a Billionaire; Carole Mortimer (Guest Post)

12/17/2014   Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf http://melissaseclecticbookshelf.com/ RaeAnne Thayne (Interview)

12/18/2014   The Reading Cafe http://www.thereadingcafe.com/ Sheila Roberts (Guest Post)

12/19/2014   Books a la Mode http://thestephanieloves.blogspot.com/ Brenda Novak (Guest Post)

 

Rafflecopter Giveaway

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share