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Snowy Pine Ridge #1
The Christmas Lodge
A heartwarming holiday romance with small town charm and Christmas cheer, perfect for reading by the fireside as you curl up under a cozy blanket.
As the head of a thriving investment firm in St. Louis, Lacy Preston thinks she has it all… until her fast-paced life is disrupted one day by a single phone call. She’s shocked to discover that her estranged grandfather has died and left her his sprawling old house in Snowy Pine Ridge, New Hampshire.
Although it’s the last thing she wants to do, especially with the holidays approaching, Lacy decides to head to Snowy Pine Ridge to oversee the sale of the property. She has no intention of staying in the cozy little town, and no intention of keeping the historic building her grandfather—a man affectionately called St. Nick by the locals—passed on to her.
But as she works on renovating the old house to put it on the market, she gets to know the residents of the town, including local dog-sledder Derek Morse, who almost runs her over with his sled the first time they meet.
Derek has lived in Snowy Pine Ridge all his life, and he has no use for the big city folks who sometimes come through… even if this particular city slicker has the most arresting green eyes he’s ever seen and a laugh that rivals the jingle of Christmas bells. Still, when she comes to him asking for help with an abandoned puppy, he can’t say no.
Lacy certainly isn’t looking for love this holiday season. But as she and Derek navigate the hijinks of the mischievous pup, delve into a mystery from her family’s past, and uncover a buried secret, she starts to realize that sometimes…
Love finds you even when you’re not looking for it.
As the head of a thriving investment firm in St. Louis, Lacy Preston thinks she has it all… until her fast-paced life is disrupted one day by a single phone call. She’s shocked to discover that her estranged grandfather has died and left her his sprawling old house in Snowy Pine Ridge, New Hampshire.
Although it’s the last thing she wants to do, especially with the holidays approaching, Lacy decides to head to Snowy Pine Ridge to oversee the sale of the property. She has no intention of staying in the cozy little town, and no intention of keeping the historic building her grandfather—a man affectionately called St. Nick by the locals—passed on to her.
But as she works on renovating the old house to put it on the market, she gets to know the residents of the town, including local dog-sledder Derek Morse, who almost runs her over with his sled the first time they meet.
Derek has lived in Snowy Pine Ridge all his life, and he has no use for the big city folks who sometimes come through… even if this particular city slicker has the most arresting green eyes he’s ever seen and a laugh that rivals the jingle of Christmas bells. Still, when she comes to him asking for help with an abandoned puppy, he can’t say no.
Lacy certainly isn’t looking for love this holiday season. But as she and Derek navigate the hijinks of the mischievous pup, delve into a mystery from her family’s past, and uncover a buried secret, she starts to realize that sometimes…
Love finds you even when you’re not looking for it.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
5508 people are currently reading
1346 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
January 10, 2024
Saw this one on Kindle Unlimited and decided to go for it as one of my holiday books this year. So glad I did because this was super cute!! Definitely going to read the others in the series.
December 22, 2022
I really did enjoy this sweet romance. Lacy and Derek were a match made in heaven. This is a quick read and one you will still be thinking about long after you read the last page and close the book. I can't wait to read the next two books in this series!
January 14, 2024
This book was just like any other small town romance, and it was adorable! But, I do have several complaints and unanswered questions:
1. What ever happened to Harv? We never learned ANYTHING new about him throughout the entire book!
2. Why did Harv and St. Nick abandon Lacy and her mom? It was never revealed even though it easily could have been.
3. What was in the unopened letters from St. Nick?
4. Why didn’t Lacy’s mom tell her the truth?
Overall, three stars!
1. What ever happened to Harv? We never learned ANYTHING new about him throughout the entire book!
2. Why did Harv and St. Nick abandon Lacy and her mom? It was never revealed even though it easily could have been.
3. What was in the unopened letters from St. Nick?
4. Why didn’t Lacy’s mom tell her the truth?
Overall, three stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2022
Lacy inherits a house from the Grandfather she never really knew. Once in Snowy Pine Ridge she starts renovating the house. She meets Derek, finds a puppy and learns more about her Grandfather and Father.
This was a lovely story. I wasn’t quite ready for it to end
This was a lovely story. I wasn’t quite ready for it to end
December 30, 2024
Very much a hallmark movie feel good
December 17, 2024
I enjoyed this story very much my only complaint was I wish it were longer and wish we had more answers in the end. There were parts that I would have loved to be extended with more detail and a little felt that the character development lacked a bit. However; the snowy holiday town seemed like a dream. I love that Lacy learned more about her grandfather and father as she started to get to know the town folks. I absolutely sympathized with her and wished there was a little more back story on her mother and what happened before the father left them. The friendships between Sarah and lacy, Collette and Emma , and derek were nicely formed. I hope to hear more in the future books about Lacy and Dereks relationship. I am looking forward to continuing the series in hopes to gain answers to some of the missing information im looking for!
December 13, 2022
I just enjoy a light Christmas romance this time of year. This book did not disappoint. It has a lovely setting and I appreciate that the author can tell a story without gratuitous sex scenes.
December 24, 2022
Sweet book that is set in a winter dream like setting. Perfect winter, easy read
December 30, 2022
excellent story about christmas
December 1, 2024
This was surprisingly really sweet and good. I say ‘surprisingly’ because I read Noah’s book first and didn’t love it. I then assumed the series wasn’t for me. But since I’d already gotten this one, I opened it and started to read. Soon enough I realized I liked it enough to commit to reading it. It was a light, fun, and adorable ride. It wasn’t very centered around Christmas and I think I liked that—that Christmas was more in the background.
I really felt the conflict between Lacy and her grandfather; it gave the story more appreciated depth. I also initially thought that Madeline would be a paper cutout best friend but toward the end, their friendship felt really sweet.
I was/am pretty pissed that Lacy never opened her grandfather’s letters. I felt like it made the storyline incomplete—I still wonder why her mother lied to her about her father and grandfather. The question wasn’t answered. It made the ending feel unfulfilling, especially with the addition that Lacy and Derek didn’t confess their feelings for each other. While I know it’s a series, I think romcoms like these should have more definite ends before the next couple is introduced—but that’s just my opinion! Also them leaving in the middle of the party she threw didn’t feel like a good move? What was the point of that? They could’ve enjoyed the party with their guests and then gone out after, and it’d be even sweeter.
Snowy pine ridge IS so cozy and sounds welcoming. Lacy and Derek genuinely had a lot of fun together, and I really liked following them through it. Dogsledding, going out to eat food that sounded so good, skiing, etc. Derek was a great guy, the dogs sounded great, and Derek and Lacy’s banter shows they’ll have a very fun and comfortable relationship/marriage!
I really felt the conflict between Lacy and her grandfather; it gave the story more appreciated depth. I also initially thought that Madeline would be a paper cutout best friend but toward the end, their friendship felt really sweet.
I was/am pretty pissed that Lacy never opened her grandfather’s letters. I felt like it made the storyline incomplete—I still wonder why her mother lied to her about her father and grandfather. The question wasn’t answered. It made the ending feel unfulfilling, especially with the addition that Lacy and Derek didn’t confess their feelings for each other. While I know it’s a series, I think romcoms like these should have more definite ends before the next couple is introduced—but that’s just my opinion! Also them leaving in the middle of the party she threw didn’t feel like a good move? What was the point of that? They could’ve enjoyed the party with their guests and then gone out after, and it’d be even sweeter.
Snowy pine ridge IS so cozy and sounds welcoming. Lacy and Derek genuinely had a lot of fun together, and I really liked following them through it. Dogsledding, going out to eat food that sounded so good, skiing, etc. Derek was a great guy, the dogs sounded great, and Derek and Lacy’s banter shows they’ll have a very fun and comfortable relationship/marriage!
December 12, 2023
Another Christmas series. If you want to learn more about dog sledding, this is the book for you.
"As the head of a thriving investment firm in St. Louis, Lacy Preston thinks she has it all… until her fast-paced life is disrupted one day by a single phone call. She’s shocked to discover that her estranged grandfather has died and left her his sprawling old house in Snowy Pine Ridge, New Hampshire.
Although it’s the last thing she wants to do, especially with the holidays approaching, Lacy decides to head to Snowy Pine Ridge to oversee the sale of the property. She has no intention of staying in the cozy little town, and no intention of keeping the historic building her grandfather—a man affectionately called St. Nick by the locals—passed on to her.
But as she works on renovating the old house to put it on the market, she gets to know the residents of the town, including local dog-sledder Derek Morse, who almost runs her over with his sled the first time they meet.
Derek has lived in Snowy Pine Ridge all his life, and he has no use for the big city folks who sometimes come through… even if this particular city slicker has the most arresting green eyes he’s ever seen and a laugh that rivals the jingle of Christmas bells. Still, when she comes to him asking for help with an abandoned puppy, he can’t say no.
Lacy certainly isn’t looking for love this holiday season. But as she and Derek navigate the hijinks of the mischievous pup, delve into a mystery from her family’s past, and uncover a buried secret, she starts to realize that sometimes…" long synopsis copied
"As the head of a thriving investment firm in St. Louis, Lacy Preston thinks she has it all… until her fast-paced life is disrupted one day by a single phone call. She’s shocked to discover that her estranged grandfather has died and left her his sprawling old house in Snowy Pine Ridge, New Hampshire.
Although it’s the last thing she wants to do, especially with the holidays approaching, Lacy decides to head to Snowy Pine Ridge to oversee the sale of the property. She has no intention of staying in the cozy little town, and no intention of keeping the historic building her grandfather—a man affectionately called St. Nick by the locals—passed on to her.
But as she works on renovating the old house to put it on the market, she gets to know the residents of the town, including local dog-sledder Derek Morse, who almost runs her over with his sled the first time they meet.
Derek has lived in Snowy Pine Ridge all his life, and he has no use for the big city folks who sometimes come through… even if this particular city slicker has the most arresting green eyes he’s ever seen and a laugh that rivals the jingle of Christmas bells. Still, when she comes to him asking for help with an abandoned puppy, he can’t say no.
Lacy certainly isn’t looking for love this holiday season. But as she and Derek navigate the hijinks of the mischievous pup, delve into a mystery from her family’s past, and uncover a buried secret, she starts to realize that sometimes…" long synopsis copied
November 27, 2025
Holiday romance
Lacy has lived her life because she believed her father and grandfather abandoned her after her grandfather passes away she finds out everything she thought she knew wasn't true at all. As she works to repair the mansion her grandfather left her she learns the truth.
Lacy has lived her life because she believed her father and grandfather abandoned her after her grandfather passes away she finds out everything she thought she knew wasn't true at all. As she works to repair the mansion her grandfather left her she learns the truth.
January 14, 2024
Sweet story of forgiveness
I enjoyed this sweet small-town romance but it was more a story of a woman who had been hurt and was learning the truth about her family and healing emotionally.
Didn't give it 5 stars though because it was a bit wordy and I was skimming paragraphs toward the end just to get to the point.
I enjoyed this sweet small-town romance but it was more a story of a woman who had been hurt and was learning the truth about her family and healing emotionally.
Didn't give it 5 stars though because it was a bit wordy and I was skimming paragraphs toward the end just to get to the point.
September 21, 2025
This was such a sweet Christmas book! Lacy re-discovering herself and her past while building a future with Derek was so good! I’m definitely a sucker for a cute old character and Emma was the perfect voice of reason in this story. I definitely need more of this couple and this cute little town!
December 16, 2023
Sweet book that reminds you of a Hallmark movie!! Nice read at this time of year!!
December 19, 2023
This book was truly like reading a Hallmark Christmas movie. Predictable but very sweet characters who I adored. I'll be reading the other books in the series when I need a light book!
January 3, 2024
Cheesy, but a quick fun holiday read
January 7, 2024
This was a fun, easy read during Christmastime. I like books that can whisk me away to someplace fun - in this case a Christmassy little town in Vermont. I enjoyed it.
November 27, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ This was like reading a Christmas Hallmark movie! 🎄 Sweet & easy read.
December 3, 2025
Good story arc, but too slow for me.
December 6, 2025
Wholesome holiday romance
November 24, 2025
I went in with low expectations and it helped lol. It was very hallmark-esque but it wasn’t nearly as Christmas vibes as I expected, or wanted, it to be. If you don’t think too hard while you’re reading it, it was a nice (and clean) holiday read.
December 10, 2023
Two-haiku review:
She inherits house
From grandpa she never knew
Moves to NH town
Simple and sweet book
Emotional characters
Interesting town
She inherits house
From grandpa she never knew
Moves to NH town
Simple and sweet book
Emotional characters
Interesting town
November 29, 2023
I loved it
This was such a wonderful Holiday book! It really got me in the Christmas spirit. It was so uplifting and I want to move to Snowy Pine Ridge. What a wonderful town Fiona Baker has created. The people are kind and helpful. It has dog sledding and lots fun things to do. The bed and breakfast sounded like a warm and inviting place! Warm Chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa in your room when you arrive! Sign me up. This book had a really good story with a sweet slow burn romance. I can’t say more without giving anything away. Buy this book you will love it. This would make a wonderful Hallmark movie.
This was such a wonderful Holiday book! It really got me in the Christmas spirit. It was so uplifting and I want to move to Snowy Pine Ridge. What a wonderful town Fiona Baker has created. The people are kind and helpful. It has dog sledding and lots fun things to do. The bed and breakfast sounded like a warm and inviting place! Warm Chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa in your room when you arrive! Sign me up. This book had a really good story with a sweet slow burn romance. I can’t say more without giving anything away. Buy this book you will love it. This would make a wonderful Hallmark movie.
December 1, 2025
Really, really bad
January 25, 2025
Obviously a Christmas “chick lit” book but still an enjoyable read. Interesting characters and a lovely small town.
Read it again January 2025. Enjoyed it again!
Amazon Synopsis:
As the head of a thriving investment firm in St. Louis, Lacy Preston thinks she has it all… until her fast-paced life is disrupted one day by a single phone call. She’s shocked to discover that her estranged grandfather has died and left her his sprawling old house in Snowy Pine Ridge, New Hampshire.
Although it’s the last thing she wants to do, especially with the holidays approaching, Lacy decides to head to Snowy Pine Ridge to oversee the sale of the property. She has no intention of staying in the cozy little town, and no intention of keeping the historic building her grandfather—a man affectionately called St. Nick by the locals—passed on to her.
But as she works on renovating the old house to put it on the market, she gets to know the residents of the town, including local dog-sledder Derek Morse, who almost runs her over with his sled the first time they meet.
Derek has lived in Snowy Pine Ridge all his life, and he has no use for the big city folks who sometimes come through… even if this particular city slicker has the most arresting green eyes he’s ever seen and a laugh that rivals the jingle of Christmas bells. Still, when she comes to him asking for help with an abandoned puppy, he can’t say no.
Lacy certainly isn’t looking for love this holiday season. But as she and Derek navigate the hijinks of the mischievous pup, delve into a mystery from her family’s past, and uncover a buried secret, she starts to realize that sometimes…
Read it again January 2025. Enjoyed it again!
Amazon Synopsis:
As the head of a thriving investment firm in St. Louis, Lacy Preston thinks she has it all… until her fast-paced life is disrupted one day by a single phone call. She’s shocked to discover that her estranged grandfather has died and left her his sprawling old house in Snowy Pine Ridge, New Hampshire.
Although it’s the last thing she wants to do, especially with the holidays approaching, Lacy decides to head to Snowy Pine Ridge to oversee the sale of the property. She has no intention of staying in the cozy little town, and no intention of keeping the historic building her grandfather—a man affectionately called St. Nick by the locals—passed on to her.
But as she works on renovating the old house to put it on the market, she gets to know the residents of the town, including local dog-sledder Derek Morse, who almost runs her over with his sled the first time they meet.
Derek has lived in Snowy Pine Ridge all his life, and he has no use for the big city folks who sometimes come through… even if this particular city slicker has the most arresting green eyes he’s ever seen and a laugh that rivals the jingle of Christmas bells. Still, when she comes to him asking for help with an abandoned puppy, he can’t say no.
Lacy certainly isn’t looking for love this holiday season. But as she and Derek navigate the hijinks of the mischievous pup, delve into a mystery from her family’s past, and uncover a buried secret, she starts to realize that sometimes…
December 9, 2022
I enjoyed this book, but I almost quit half a dozen times before I did!! Lacy Preston's Dad and Grandpa abandoned her and her mom when she was a little girl. The rest of her childhood and teens, her mom kept repeating how they were bad men, who swindled and conned those around them. As a result, Lacy had nothing to do with them and poured her heart and soul into proving she was nothing like them. Before Christmas one year, she gets notification that her grandpa has died, and left his mansion in Snowy Pine Ridge, NH. Shocked and frankly annoyed that NOW he would leave her something, Lacy leaves her home in St. Louis and goes to check out the house. Amazingly, when she gets there, everyone in town refers to her grandpa as "St. Nick" and talks about how much good he did for the town and the people.
This is where I had a problem. Lacy had not seen or talked to this man for at least 20 years, but she stubbornly derides everyone with anything good to say about him, because she knows how awful he was! I got that she had heard awful things from her Mom for many years, but to simply refuse to recognize that she might be wrong (don't forget she is the head of a fiancial company she built from the ground up) seemed short sighted and excuse me, dumb!!
Of course, over the course of the weeks that it takes to fix up the mansion, Lay softens in her thinking, and decides to get to know the cute dog sledder who almost "killed" her with his sled, and an adorable wanna be sled dog puppy. HEA achieved, and in reasonable fashion.
This is where I had a problem. Lacy had not seen or talked to this man for at least 20 years, but she stubbornly derides everyone with anything good to say about him, because she knows how awful he was! I got that she had heard awful things from her Mom for many years, but to simply refuse to recognize that she might be wrong (don't forget she is the head of a fiancial company she built from the ground up) seemed short sighted and excuse me, dumb!!
Of course, over the course of the weeks that it takes to fix up the mansion, Lay softens in her thinking, and decides to get to know the cute dog sledder who almost "killed" her with his sled, and an adorable wanna be sled dog puppy. HEA achieved, and in reasonable fashion.
February 18, 2023
This sweet romance book warms my heart.
The story, the characters, the ambience of Snowy Pine Ridge are just as good as a cup of hot chocolate in a cold day. It only took me 2 days to finish the book and couldn't take my eyes off of it.
A small town full of friendly folks, good food, doing dogsledding with breathaking mountain views, and met someone special along the journey just make this book whole lot better. Eventhough Lacy should learn from the past and it made her heart aches, she knew she couldn't being sad all the time after she found out the truth. At the end she decided to do something to her grandfather's inheritance to make him proud.
Not gonna lie, I cried here and there because I couldn't contain it. Never imagine being lied for years about someone who I thought abandoned me turned out they really did care for me but I never knew it until they're all gone. That's the saddest part of this book.
Anyway, I this book is a 5 stars for me, without hesitation.
The story, the characters, the ambience of Snowy Pine Ridge are just as good as a cup of hot chocolate in a cold day. It only took me 2 days to finish the book and couldn't take my eyes off of it.
A small town full of friendly folks, good food, doing dogsledding with breathaking mountain views, and met someone special along the journey just make this book whole lot better. Eventhough Lacy should learn from the past and it made her heart aches, she knew she couldn't being sad all the time after she found out the truth. At the end she decided to do something to her grandfather's inheritance to make him proud.
Not gonna lie, I cried here and there because I couldn't contain it. Never imagine being lied for years about someone who I thought abandoned me turned out they really did care for me but I never knew it until they're all gone. That's the saddest part of this book.
Anyway, I this book is a 5 stars for me, without hesitation.
December 27, 2022
Wrapping my holiday reads up with this giant hug in a Christmas book - this is the first in the Snowy Pines series (just found out we’re getting book 4 next year!) and I can definitely see me continuing with these next year - it does appear that these are standalone works that have a cross-over of characters (ex - book 2 stars Sarah, the owner of the bakery that Lucy and Derek go to), so I’m excited to see if we’ll see Lucy and Derek again. This romance was fun, innocent (I actually think I wanted more spice) and unexpected, but I loved the side plot of Lucy finding the truth with her grandfather and falling in love with Snowy Pines. Definitely recommend for those that want a nice Christmas read that’s not too spicy and heartfelt.
December 28, 2023
not bad but not good either
This story was mediocre. I wanted to like it. It had all the makings of a typical Christmas Hallmark plot. Business woman inherits mansion in small town then finds love. I just felt like the story needed a little more tension; everything came too easy. She jumped into town life easily, she did the repairs herself pretty easily despite not being into construction, she forgave her dad and grandpa easily and left her job easily. I find it improbable in the modern setting that her father and grandfather who hadn’t done anything wrong wouldn’t try to take her mother to court to get visitation rights. I don’t like that Lacy also never learned the reason her mother lied to her for so long.
This story was mediocre. I wanted to like it. It had all the makings of a typical Christmas Hallmark plot. Business woman inherits mansion in small town then finds love. I just felt like the story needed a little more tension; everything came too easy. She jumped into town life easily, she did the repairs herself pretty easily despite not being into construction, she forgave her dad and grandpa easily and left her job easily. I find it improbable in the modern setting that her father and grandfather who hadn’t done anything wrong wouldn’t try to take her mother to court to get visitation rights. I don’t like that Lacy also never learned the reason her mother lied to her for so long.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews