The Snow Globe

by Sheila Roberts

Discover an unforgettable holiday treasure in Sheila Roberts' heartwarming tale of love and laughter, magic and miracles, friendship and coming home… On a blustery afternoon, Kylie Gray wanders into an antique shop and buys an enchanting snow globe. "There's a story behind that snow globe," the antique dealer tells her. The original owner, he explains, was a German toymaker who lost his wife and son right before Christmas. When the grieving widower received the handcrafted snow globe as a Christmas gift, he saw the image of a beautiful woman beneath the glass—a woman who would come into his life, mend his broken heart and bring him back to the world of the living. For years, the snow globe has passed from generation to generation, somehow always landing in the hands of a person in special need of a Christmas miracle.Kiley could use a miracle herself. This year, all she wants for Christmas is someone to love. A hopeful shake leads her on an adventure that makes a believer out of her. When Kylie shares the story of the snow globe with her best friends—two women with problems of their own—they don't believe it. But they're about to discover that at Christmastime, sometimes the impossible becomes possible and miracles really do come true.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Fiction, Holiday, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Family

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

With fifty books to her credit, both fiction and non-fiction, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller - and a fan favorite. Her books have sold over three million copies and have been turned into movies for the Hallmark, Lifetime and Great American Family channels. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she's not traveling, Sheila can be found hanging out with friends, playing tennis, and, of course, writing and reading. Sometimes she even remembers to post books she's read!

Reviews

[Magdalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiley Gray discovers a snow globe with a fantastic backstory in an antique shop. The snow globe has passed from generation to generation always fallen in the hands of a person that needs a Christmas miracle. Will this snow globe fulfill Kiley’s deepest desires and also help her friends who are also in need of a Christmas miracle.

I haven't had the best track record when it comes to romance novels these last couple of months. So I was a bit weary when it was time to reading this book. But I was in for a surprise​! This book was sweet and cozy and had a wonderful Christmas feeling all over it. Sure it was romance in it, but it was much more than that. It was about family, happiness, and miracles. And the romantic part of it…it was perfectly ok. Not a single graphic sex scene. I'm happy!

The best part of the book was that it wasn't just a girl that needs to find a guy, sure Kiley wanted to find someone to love, but her friends didn’t need a man to love, Suzanne was married with a child and was about to lose her family because she was blind to anything else than making money and Allison grieved her grandmother who died the year before.

Thank you Piatkus for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

[kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

What? Only two stars for a book with Christmas, a magical snow globe and romance? How can that be? Well, my friends, it be because the characters are cardboard, one-dimentsional stereotypes and some of the dialogue between them sounds more like middle schoolers than adults? One of the first questions asked by one leading man is do you have a boyfriend. I don't think a grown man would say this. Something more like are you single or seeing someone sounds more like a grown-up. And they are just immediately together. Yes, she has to wait a few days for him to call. I guess that was supposed to add tension, but failed for me. The constant comparing to her ex was grating. Seriously, if everyting new guy does just makes you think of old guy, then maybe you haven't really moved on at all. This plot wasn't deep enough to be engaging.
The second plot about the workaholic wife and mother was just very typical. She must learn her lesson before it is too late. Shallow characters and shallow plot.
And the third magical plot is so short and abrupt with an almost maniacally ridiculous family and her snow globe magic being having tea with an old lady. Really. Well, that is kind of a rip considering what her friends got, I think.
This doesn't sparkle and shine as you'd expect a holiday story to do. It is just very blah.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is at least the second time I have read this book. I received it many years ago from a dear friend of mine. The cover is so lovely.

It’s a cute, sweet, cozy little story of three friends and their experiences with a ‘magical’ snow globe. I wouldn’t have minded more for the stories of Suzanne and Kiley (spelled Kylie twice before switching to Kiley in the inside flap of the hardcover book🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️😂. Only noticed because I was looking how to spell her name for my thoughts on the book. Oh I guess one more Kylie shows up on the flap. Then they decided on Kiley for the story. At least the few pages I flipped through right now. No one caught that before shipping it to the stores??!!.). Allison’s family was annoying, so less was fine with me for her!

I have a video, of me ‘dancing’ with my then 2 year old, now 10 year old little buddy. Basically I am holding him and we are spinning around to the music from a snow globe (let it snow let it snow let it snow is the one in the video.)He loved dancing to snow globes when he was little. He’d laugh and say ‘I’m spinninining’ ☺️. Oh the days when I could hold a little kid and spin! I wish I could share the video…..short pause while I watched another video of him bouncing a baby orange on my bed and then pulling all of the floss out of my floss dispenser. Sounds boring, but dang were those some good times!! I have to go to a video recorder memory card or an older phone for videos of his brothers at that age. That’s a lot of work!

Anyways the book. It’s cute.

Rating (a very positive 3.5⭐️’s. 3 can go either way for me, but this is a good 3)and thoughts posted: 11/10/25

Side note, it took me until probably 6 years ago, to understand the lyrics of let it snow let it snow let it snow. All the sudden I had a lightbulb moment. Like, if you have no place to go, as in can stay home where it’s warm and safe and the snow won’t cause problems, then let it snow let it snow let it snow. I realize it states it right in the lyrics, but it took me until my mid 30’s to put that together in my head. I was so excited when I told some of my co-workers after I figured it out. They laughed because, well, they already got it. It wasn’t quite the revelation I thought it was😂.

[Susan Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I have read by this author. Won’t be the last. Great characterisation, warm feel to it and oodles of magic

[Maureen DeLuca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute winter/Christmas time read.... 2 stars for cuteness, 1 star for the snow globe and 1 star cause it the Christmas time season.....

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a wonderful way to spend a winter afternoon, especially when you need a positive pick-me-up!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, utter schmaltz. Riley’s love story wasn’t believable, poor Suzanne was brainwashed into thinking giving up her life for her loved ones was better than a compromise and poor Allison got a “new” Grandmom, which is cool, but also going to be a new heartbreak for her in the future. And WOW her family was made out to be incredibly trashy. And her story was the shortest of them all. I think she needed more. Riley too, as her love story just wasn’t believable. Too much time spent on Suzanne and her life being flipped. This book is not one of the better Christmas cheer genre. Avoid. It’s just weird and depressing.

[Cee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Snow Globe is a short novel filled with Christmas spirit. An antique snow globe is being passed from person to person, working in a miraculous way to change their lives for the better. In the book, the snow globe makes its way to our three female main characters, and plays a pivotal role in changing their lives.

Fans of holiday movies will gobble this up. Filled with every-day problems, The Snow Globe solves them all with a neat little bow. Written in a forward manner, Ms Roberts goes straight to the point - the problems of the three friends, Kiley, Suzanne and Allison, are immediately and concisely laid before us. Kiley is dealing with a crappy break-up and the lack of a boyfriend, Suzanne tries to juggle her career and her family with the family drawing the short end, and Allison misses her grandmother who passed away a year ago. These issues are dealt with in a predictable, though satisfying way.

The Snow Globe does exactly what it promises: leave you with a good mood and the belief that all is right with the world. It left a slightly bitter taste for me, because I had some fundamental issues with the way some subjects were handled. But don't mind this Grinch if you're looking for something light and fluffy for the holidays - The Snow Globe will probably do perfectly.

Grinchness and huge spoilers beyond this point.
The sad thing is that I have something bad to say about every single of the stories in this book.

First of all, we have Kiley. Kiley is incredibly obsessed with her ex boyfriend, to the point where I'd calmly escort her to a psychologist, because girl, you're not coping well. Of course Kiley finds a perfect hunky boyfriend, whom she knows she will marry in like a year. Healthy, right?

My gripe with Suzanne's story is pretty stupid. Suzanne has a daughter (and a terribly obnoxious one at that), who desperately wants a puppy. Her husband is like "don't be such a stuck-up, let's get a dog". Suzanne responds with "but we don't have time for a dog, they need company". Husband says "you're just making up reasons, I'm sure we can figure something out". NO. Just NO. You do not adopt an animal if you're not sure that you can actually care for it. That's why animal shelters are so incredibly bursting with abandoned animals. A neglected dog will bark, whine, destroy your stuff, and basically turn into a huge nightmare. This completely ruined that story for me. You don't adopt a puppy without having a plan.

And the Allison story just didn't make much sense to me. Yes, your grandmother passed away. And the solution is that you meet a completely random old woman that resembles your grandmother, and now everything is okay? There are plenty of old people in any retirement home near you, she could have just visited any of those.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, this book was a big letdown. Big time meh. It was full of cliches (writing and story telling) and for the most part, it held no identity. Around the 1/3rd mark it started to feel like the story was being rushed and then this happened. The plot was completely taken over by this secondary characters' story, who is an exceedingly negative, ungrateful, hyper privileged white woman, who just exudes shitty character throughout the story. Now I'm well aware the point of the story is that this magical snow globe helps to reverse its owners poor fortune, but as a reader, why should I give a shit about this woman's "outlook" on her privileged-ass life. For me there was nothing redeeming about her character. I'll refrain from getting into the part where an angel in a dream tries to talk her out of being a shitty person. There was some sloppy, lazy writing. Example: two people will be having a conversation, four sentences are exchanged then magically a half hour has passed, all within the same paragraph. Or the opposite of that, an event happens, paragraph ends, a new paragraph starts and the event is simply continued. I find that sloppy and ugly to read. Maybe I'm being picky but I don't see the point of it.

To sum up, first half was fine, very bland but fine (Kiley). First quarter of the second half (Suzanne) was absolute garbage, and the final quarter (Allison) was somewhat redeeming and really well done! It was sweet and charming and had a super believable chaotic family dynamic in it. I wish the rest of the book was like the Allison part.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this whole book had been expanded and just been about Kylie. Either that or the book should have been much longer to fully develop the stories of her friends.
Even though this book left me wanting more it was still an enjoyable holiday read.
Rest of my review:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....

[Emily W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute for the holidays. It was nothing exceptional, but I enjoyed it for what it was. It was pretty much exactly what I was expecting. It's the first book I've finished in a while, considering I've been in a huge slump for about 5 months. If it had been any longer, I probably would have never finished this one either. Thankfully, thought, it was quick, light, and easy to read.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this book. 

Kylie is feeling down this holiday season. Her fiancé, Jeremy Horne, has dumped her during her own Halloween party for her younger sister, Gwinnie. Additionally, she has lost her job as a Website Designer. 

Kylie, Suzanne, and Allison decide to take a girls trip to Fawn Island where Kylie decides to splurge on a beautiful snow globe at an antique store. Right after Thanksgiving Kylie gives the snow globe a shake and the scene changed to a toy store in Pike Place Market. The next day Allison and her go shopping in search of the toy shop shown in the snow globe. Kylie finds the store and meets Craig, the owner, which develops into a relationship. 

Next, Kylie gives the snow globe to Suzanne. The snow globe ends up revitalizing Suzanne's relationship with Guy, her husband, and Bryn, her daughter. 

Finally, Suzanne gives the snow globe to Allison. Allison develops a friendship with Mrs. Ackerman, the woman who owned the snow globe before Kylie purchased it at the antique store. She attempted to give it back to her but she refused it. Thus, Allison then leaves the snow globe on a bench with a written note underneath "This is for someone who needs a miracle. If that's you, please take it."

Overall I thought it was a cute Christmas Novella. I was disappointed in how slow the Kylie / Craig romance story. Roughly 55% of the book was dedicated to this slow moving romance. Approximately 23% of the novel was committed to Suzanne's dysfunctional family. In the end, poor Allison got shortchanged with a tale that was confusing at best (I still have no clue what miracle she obtained other than a relationship with an elderly lady).

[Diane Coto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The German snow globe had a history. In December 1880, Otto Schwartz, a German toymaker, was still grieving for his wife. He’d lost both his wife and child during childbirth the year before. His sister sent him the snow globe with an angel inside to comfort him. As he shook it and saw the snow fluttering over the little scene; the image began to change. The angel’s hair was turning darker. She began to bear a similarity to his beloved wife.

At the Christmas season in present day, Kiley Gray feels herself compelled to enter the antique shop. Her boyfriend, Jeremy, had dumped her during her Halloween party. As if that is not already bad enough, he dumped her for her younger sister. In a few days, she’d be forced to face her family for Thanksgiving who would include her sister, Gwinnie, and Jeremy. She couldn’t understand exactly what attracted her to the snow globe, but she bought it. Her friends thought it was beautiful. Within a few days’ time, Kiley was calling her friends explaining the changes she was seeing in the snow globe. Those changes seemed to correspond, even foretell, her first few days after she met Craig Peters, a toy shop owner. Everything was going so well, her friends began to call him Mr. Wonderful. But the magic of this enchanted snow globe doesn’t stop there.

This is pure fantasy, but a nice fantasy to have. It is a delightful, feel-good type of story. I loved that Kiley had good friends to help her through a bad spot and supported her when she found happiness again. If only we all had a snow globe that could help to lead our paths when we’re completely lost, but that would be too easy. If you love Christmas; love Romance; and love happy endings, this would be a nice book to spend a bit of time with. Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for an easy holiday read with a little bit of Christmas magic and just enough romance to make you smile, this is a great option.

Roberts has a wonderfully warm and cozy voice that pulls you in from the very first page. The characters feel real; I can see a piece of myself in each of the three main female characters. And while I recognize that the book is a bit silly, it's not as shallow as you might think. There is self-realization, familial love and loyalty (and also a bit of betrayal and anger, so...it's realistic!), friendship, a change of heart, marital struggles and reconciliation, coping with grief, and so much more. But above all, there's love. Love between friends, spouses, siblings, parents and children, new flames, and even a dog.

This book is cute, fun, and well-written enough that you won't even care that its plot is a cheesy Hallmark movie style holiday read. I'd actually love to read a sequel.

[Lori Henrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiley pops into a shop and finds a beautiful and very old snow globe. There even is a story that goes along with it. When Kiley shakes the globe the settling snow reveals a different scene than when she saw it in the store. It reveals a toy store in a out of the way shopping area. Kiley and Allison go on the hunt for the store and when they find it Kiley goes off with the owner for a cup of coffee. Next time Kiley shakes the globe the scene has changed again. Kiley passes the globe on to Suzanne who isn't so thrilled with what the globe reveals. When Allison receives it she sees someone she misses very much, someone who made her growing up years more bearable.

Good Christmas story. I love the way the story flowed and the secrets the globe revealed. I think most of us wish we could peak into the future once in awhile.

[Jayme(theghostreader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute book for the Christmas season. This young woman Kiley, buys a snow globe. The image she sees in the snow globe leads her to a new romance. She gives it to her friend and she sees something different in the snow globe and that image comes true. It gets passed to another friend and the image she sees in the snow globe comes true. I thought it was a nice book for the Christmas season. It is a short quick read that puts you in the Christmas spirit. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought it had a nice story and a feel good sense when you finished reading it. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a holiday read.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a definite 5 out of 5. Magical, delightful Christmas novella with a trio of girlfriends and a mysterious snow globe.

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute read with a touch of magic for those who need it.
Kylie is fascinated by the story of the snow globe she sees in an antique shop while on a getaway with her closest friends. She buys it because she wants to believe that it will show her how to get past the bitterness in her life. When the swirling snow inside the globe reveals more to her than others can see, she decides to reach out for the new possibility.

It's about hope and second chances and the power of believing in something.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good thing it was under 200 pages because this was painful to read.

[Ronna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet Christmas book about love, friendships, family and miracles. Kylie is feeling alone right before Christmas. She's lost her job, her boyfriend has left her, and her friends are too busy to really include her in their activities.

She decides to treat herself to an antiques store trip, where she finds a snow globe that she fancies, but should she spend some of her dwindling money to buy it. The store owner convinces her with a story of it's history, that it is special for people who need it. When she takes it home, she realizes that it has special powers. She eventually shares it with her doubting friends, and they too find it does great things for them too.

I found this book to be an uplifting read. Very creative thinking and just a perfect read for the miracles of the season. Though it is a small book, the simplicity makes it a fun read. We love snow globes in our house, which might have added to enjoyment to this fantasy read!!

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a bunch of favorable reviews of this one, so when given the opportunity to review this I jumped at the chance. I'm glad that I took the time to read this holiday story as I really enjoyed Kylie's story and the back story about the Snow Globe. What I didn't care for was including two underdeveloped stories in addition to Kylie's. They both felt rushed with lackluster conclusions. I feel that Sheila would've have been better off to just expand on Kylie's story while including her friends in her journey with the Snow Globe. Overall, I laughed and my heartstrings were tugged with Kylie's story which helped even out my disappointment with the other two.

[Dierdra McGill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This really is not a novel it is very short stories, to short for me to really get into any of them a lot. The story left a lot of parts out, skipping over them or just never talking about them at all. I was disappointed in this book and I felt like it was the same story I have read in other much better written Christmas story's that I love!
It was a quick read and was not horrible but I really wanted more and would not have paid the $10 if I knew they were just short stories.
I gave this one more star on Amazon only because they rate there stars different the book was ok, but not something I would ever recommend to anyone.

[Carla · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first read of the 2023 holiday season. I have to admit that this wasn't one of my favorite reads of the year. It actually has been sitting on my shelf for a few years. But now that I've finally read, I actually feel rather disappointed by it.

It just felt like it was mostly complaining from the characters with only a few short paragraphs of a "sudden" epiphany" and happy ending for each of the 3 main characters.

I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the story went into the lessons learned behind their changes of hearts.

[Taru-Tuulikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many old fashioned cliches and the need for a woman to be with a man. One out of three friends ends up happy without a man, but she is the bigger one out of the three. Really? Really disappointing read that I almost gave up on.

[Heather McNichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short read when you want a light happy mood! :)

[Traci Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book of Sheila Roberts and I loved it. Kept me very encaged in wanting know what happened next.

[Nova! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book! Had a little bit of everything in it. From romance to friendship to a little bit of Christmas magic it was packed. Loved it

[Caitriona Riding · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This was cute! Felt like a hallmark movie!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiley has just lost her job, her sister stole her boyfriend, and she will have to see them at Thanksgiving. On a shopping trip with her two friends she finds an antiques snow globe and even though it is expensive she buys it. The dealer tells her a story about the globe. At home when she shakes it she sees a different scene. It's a toy store and later she sees a guy in the doorway and then herself in the scene. She finds the store, meets, the guy, and they fall in love. She gives it to her work-aholic friend. Her daughter has been wanting a puppy for Christmas and her marriage is wearing thin. Her daughter sees a puppy in the globe. She tries to prevent her daughter from falling with the globe and breaks her ankle. While holding the globe she sees herself and her daughter sitting by the fire with a puppy. She fights it but eventually gives in and tones down her life. The third friend's story is the least exciting. He mother died when she was young and her father remarried a wild woman. She has memories of her grandmother taking care of her and she sees herself having tea with her grandmother in the globe. She and her friends go to visit the original owner of the globe and the friend realizes she saw herself with that lady having tea. On the way home on a ferry the friends decide to leave the globe on the ferry with a note that it for someone who needs a miracle. Would probably make a good Lifetime movie.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I love a little hopeful story with some magic thrown in. This book follows three friends and a snow globe they find at an antique store one weekend. Kiley is the first of her friends to have the snow globe. She doesn't believe the snow globe will actually bring her her heart's desire, but after seeing a toy store in it one night, she is on a quest to find the store and what message it has for her. She meets Craig who owns the toy shop and they instantly fall in love. It's just so cute and sweet that you don't really question how fast they fall for one another or how perfect he seems. Kiley is on her own little romantic adventure and gives her friend Suzanne the snow globe next. Suzanne, for reasons that aren't fully explained, is a workaholic and wants her house to be perfect. Her daughter and husband want a puppy for Christmas and she is dead set against it until she ends up hurting her ankle one night and seeing a vision in the snow globe too. She then turns the snow globe over to Allison who has probably the weakest story in the book. I finished reading it and wondered what in the world was her vision and how did that change her life?
This book was close to a five star read for me because it was full of magic, love, and hope, but because Allison's story was so weak and very stereotypical of poorer people, I knocked a star off. Otherwise, I absolutely loved this book and will probably re-read just for Kiley and Suzanne's stories.