Today's Special - - Guest Post and Review - - Christmas in Icicle Falls

Christmas in Icicle Falls

By Sheila Roberts

Publisher: Harlequin / Mira

Release Date: October 24, 2017
Reviewed by Janga

Sheila Roberts takes her readers back to Icicle Falls, Washington, for the eleventh and final novel in this popular series.

Muriel Sterling-Whitman, author of several successful self-help books, has just published a new one, A Guide to Happy Holidays, and she is set to begin her own holiday celebrations. Since her artificial tree is old and tired—and looks it, she decides to order a new one online. To her disappointment, the tree that looked as full and beautiful as a real tree in photographs turns out to be a skimpy, bald tree. Even her three-year-old granddaughter Rose recognizes that it is an “ugly tree.” When Muriel’s efforts to replace the pitiful tree fall through, she decides to turn the ugly tree into an object of beauty with the right decorations: “Maybe she could fix up her ugly little tree and make it into something pretty. Maybe it was salvageable.” The tree transformation is so effective that Muriel’s guests at her annual Christmas tea declare that the tree is gorgeous. One of the guests, Pat York, owner of Mountain Escape Books, suggests that the transformation of the ugly tree could serve as a metaphor for the human “ugly trees” in their lives who might be transformed by kindness and a determination to see the good in them. Muriel agrees that this is a “lovely idea.”

Many of the women find it quite easy to identify their “ugly tree.” Pat has had difficulties with a grouchy landlord who is reluctant to make necessary repairs at her bookshop. Sierra Moreno, a divorcee who moved to Icicle Falls hoping to find a place where her special needs son could be happy, loves the small town—except for her curmudgeonly neighbor, Mr. Cratchett, the Scrooge of the community and the bane of her life. Olivia Clausen, whose family owns Icicle Creek Lodge, is delighted that her younger son Brandon is back in town and involved in the family business, but she finds her new daughter-in-law Meadow crass, crude, and hard to tolerate.

Even Muriel, the perennial optimist, discovers that she may have a human “ugly tree” in her life. She is experiencing negative feelings toward one of her oldest friends. She has known Arnie Amundsen since they were children, and he has been her rock through the loss of two husbands. She loves him dearly, but she has never reciprocated Arnie’s romantic feelings. There is just no spark between them. Thus, when Arnie books a cruise to Germany as her Christmas gift, Muriel turns down the gift but suggests Dot Morrison accompany Arnie instead.  But Muriel grows jealous of the friendship that develops between Arnie and Dot. Is Muriel being a dog in the manger, or have her feelings for Arnie changed?

Christmas is the perfect time to visit Icicle Falls, and Roberts makes sure to give her readers the traditional sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday as well as visits with many of the Bavarian town’s favorite citizens. This book has the charm and the humor that have characterized the series throughout its five-year run. The “ugly tree” moral is not subtle, but it is credibly applied to the lives of these characters. And readers may find themselves asking if seasonal goodwill applied to their own “ugly trees” might produce changes as welcome as those that occur in Icicle Falls. The recipes at the end might add some extra cheer too. I’m considering the eggnog muffins myself.

Life in Icicle Falls debuted in September 2012 with Better Than Chocolate. Readers who have followed the series will certainly want to include Christmas in Icicle Falls in their 2017 Christmas reading. Readers who love a good Christmas story with a full cast of characters and a message with the merriment can appreciate this story even if they are unfamiliar with the series. Some may find the moral a trifle heavy-handed, but I found the reminder to try a little kindness appropriate for our times as well as the holiday season.

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OH CHRISTMAS TREE…

“Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree. How lovely are your branches.” So the old song goes. But what if you bought a tree online that is anything but lovely? What then? Do you return it? Haul it to the dump? Complain?

This is what happens to my character Muriel Sterling in CHRISTMAS IN ICICLE FALLS, the final installment in my LIFE IN ICICLE FALLS series. The tree that looked so lovely online doesn’t turn out to be so great once it arrives and she unpacks it. But Muriel decides to keep the mangy, little tree anyway and do her best to turn it into a thing of beauty.

Lo and behold, the tale of Muriel’s ugly tree transformation gets her and some of her friends thinking and inspires them to apply the same principle to some of the people in their lives.

This got me to thinking, too. There can be people in our lives who are a lot like an ugly tree, people whose potential we never see or, worse, who outright irritate or disgust us. As I wrote about Muriel and her friends discovering the hidden beauty in those around them I couldn’t help but think of myself. Do I take people for granted, overlooking what makes them special? Do I focus on what bugs me about those difficult people in my life or on what’s good about them? Do I try to make things better for those same people or do I make them worse? And how about me? Do I have my ugly tree moments? (I really don’t like going there!)

This year, with the holidays right around the corner, I’ve determined to find the good in everyone… even those people who are “ugly trees.” In addition to decorating my house, I’m going to decorate my life and make sure my days sparkle with goodwill and kindness. Tis the season to be jolly, after all, and to deck the halls. And ugly trees.

.....Sheila Roberts

Many thanks to Janga for today's review and to Sheila Roberts for five years of intriguing characters and heartwarming stories in Icicle Falls.

Do any of you have ugly tree stories? Were you able to turn your ugly tree into a Christmas beauty?

I love Sheila's goal to make her days sparkle with goodwill and kindness. I can't think of a better way to spend the upcoming holidays!