I enjoyed this book. And I'm surprised at the low ratings. I find it a lovely story. The overall theme is family secrets. I think there is hardly a character In this book who isn't holding a secret close to their heart. But secrets have a way of coming out and this book shares the story of a old secrets, new secrets, lost love, dreams reborn, new beginnings and the type of cozy you want at the holidays. Each chapter is a day in the month of December. You can Make this a daily read for the entire month. Or you can read it as you normally would. Either way, you are invited into Ingrid's life as she recovers from an accident and her new normal of managing her family's hotel. The first half is setting the story and is mostly narrative from Ingrid. Its a bit of a slog to get through. However, it is the set up for an exciting 2nd half. You also get to explore Norwegian culture and Holiday customs. This is also the first book I've read that talks about mountain climbing. The lives of each character and family grouping as they intersect and how each bring peace & comfort when most needed is just a cozy holiday read that takes you away from all the crazy shopping & decorating to see what really matters. A Small touch of closed door romance is added. The cover is beautiful. The translation was spot on and I would read more by this author. Thank you netgalley and #HarperVia for the eArc.

While this wasn't my favorite Christmas mystery, it was a decent read. I feel like some parts just didn't jive well. Loved the grandparent mentions.

I would give this author another go.

I love, love, love to read books about the holidays during holiday time and this year was no exception. I read or listened to four different ones this year.
I was sent Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge by Kjersti Herland Johnsen by the publicist. This one can be read one chapter a day “like an Advent calendar” it said. Loved it! I loved the mix of mystery and romance. I thought it might be light and fluffy but it was a solid story.

This book is set up so you can read a chapter a day - a reading advent calendar for Christmas. I thought it was a cute concept. The story revolves around Ingrid, a young woman who runs a family hotel in the mountains, uncovering family secrets and trying to keep the hotel running despite issue after issue popping up. I think if you read this like you might any other book (several chapters at once) and see it as a lighthearted Christmas read, you'll enjoy it. Unfortunately I think the chapter a day method felt clunky. To better immerse readers in the Norwegian culture, the English translation includes some detailed descriptions of Norwegian culture and words. Occasionally this took me out of the moment, but I did appreciate the reference at the back.

"Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge" was not at all what I'd anticipated. Set in Norway, there's a lot of cultural things to learn about, which was fun. But, for me, the characters weren't relatable, so I found the story a bit of a chore to get through.

You have the FMC, Ingrid, who is recovering from a mountaineering accident that cost her her unborn child, her lifelong passion, and her partnership. Facing an uncertain future, she decides to return home finally and take over the family business that her grandmother has been running on her own. The problem is, there are forces at work that are trying to force Ingrid and her grandmother to sell their beloved hotel.

Add to that, unusual guests and mysterious goings-on, and I spent a lot of time just trying to piece everything together.

Thank you to Kjersti Herland Johnsen, HarperVia, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

When NetGalley offered me an advanced reader copy, I was delighted to have an early Christmas read. However, this was not an easy book to embrace. It just seemed to lose direction a few times. Think of one of the average Hallmark movies, and you will have a sense of this book. I recommend it for a weekend where you don’t want a book to take over your time but rather allows you to come and go without becoming obsessed. But, I am wondering if it would be more enjoyable as a hard copy so I might look for a copy. This somewhat tepid opinion is my own.

Translated from Norwegian, this story is set in the Norwegian mountains in a picturesque small village. There are the usual cast of characters from a small town, the oligarch and town bully, the close-knit villagers wary of outsiders and the boy from school that had been Ingrid’s best friend and becomes her romantic interest. The descriptions are such that it is easy to imagine the area and the atmosphere of the season. The author describes many of the Norwegian traditional Christmas dishes and celebrations and thoughtfully includes a glossary of terms and recipes at the end. It is a light story that holds your interest and provides an insight into Norwegian traditions for the holiday season.

This book is sold as “structured like an advent calendar for your daily reading pleasure,” but marketing it that way seems like a huge mistake. The 25 chapters are just arbitrarily divided and not set up to work for a day-by-day pace. My group of 10 friends I read it with this way all agreed it made the story feel tedious instead of cozy.

If you’re going to read it, skip the advent calendar gimmick and just enjoy it in a couple of sittings like any other holiday read.

Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge
By Kjersti Herland Johnsen

Ingrid Berg, after being caught in a landslide with terrible consequences, has returned to Glitter Peak Lodge to take over as manager and relieve her Nana Borghild. Nana had raised Ingrid since her parents were killed when she was three, and has kept the family business going as it has been for over 100 years.

The job of staving off creditors and keeping the lodge operating is daunting. This is Ingrid's first Christmas season as manager and she is overwhelmed. And this is definitely not a normal Christmas.

There are too many plot lines to discuss in a review. Suffice it to say that the cast of characters is delightful – even the ones you may choose not to like. They are all well developed and readers will find themselves captivated by all their individual stories. The author has done a masterful job of bringing all of these stories together in the end.

All of these characters are imperfect. It is just these imperfections that make them human and endearing. Everyone from grumpy old Hallgrim to the young and rambunctious Hussein well keep you engrossed in this wonderful Christmas story.

There was a lot going on in this book.
I loved the mountaineering aspects in the book. I loved hearing about the FMC’s experience as a climber. I also loved all the pieces of Norwegian culture and traditional sprinkled throughout the text. It made it so atmospheric having those cultural aspects in the story. There’s a glossary in the back and recipes to help solidify these cultural and traditional holiday foods and activities which is an excellent feature.
I also loved that it is set up like an advent calendar, where there’s a chapter for each day of December leading up to Christmas.

The storyline has some cheesy, cringey moments in it, but that doesn’t really bother me in holiday stories.
This one is kind of all over the place; there’s a lot of things going on. I think it would have been better if it focused more on one or two side stories rather than all of the ones mentioned.


Overall I think it’s a nice holiday read. The daily advent chapters made it easy to keep going and if you like learning about other cultures you’ll love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Ingrid returns to her Nanas Inn after a bad skiing accident for a fresh start. Things start happening at the inn that she has to work through. This book is meant to be read a chapter per day . If you like a cozy mystery set in Norway you will like this one.

I loved the idea of this book. The "1 chapter a day in December like an advent calendar", the atmospheric setting, and the story set up. Unfortunately, I found the book long winded - even each sentence just felt a bit over the top. This could also be because it was translated. This just wasn't the holiday book for me. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for this ARC.

After surviving a climbing accident, Ingrid returns to the mountain lodge managed by her family. She is faced with some decisions and also some mysterious happenings that threaten the existence of the lodge. The novel is translated from the original Norwegian language into English. Readers who like a lot of detail will probably enjoy this novel, but it might take awhile to get into it.

I received this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I was honestly just so bored and I couldn’t get into the story. Nothing happened and it was just not for me.

I hope others love this one.

Mountain climbing was Ingrid Berg's life until her life was shaken by a deadly accident. Now she has returned home to the small town in Norway where she grew up to take over the running of Glitterpeak Lodge which has long been owned by her family. There is much to be done with the coming of the holidays, one of the busiest times for the lodge. The smells of baking fill the air and the twinkle of the lights on the tree bring the excitement of the holiday to the lodge.

But not everything is going as Ingrid had hoped. The Lodge is plagued by strange maintenance issue that may be more than they seem and unexplained cancellations. And Ingrid's frustration and anxiety is growing. Will she be able to continue the family legacy, or will this be the last Christmas at the lodge?

It took me a bit of time to warm up to Ingrid, but I really liked her grandmother and her can do spirit. Though getting up in age, she is still a strong woman, matriarch of the family. She was able to lift Ingrid up when everything just got too overwhelming. The young boy Hussein lends a bit of humor, but melancholy as well as he misses his father who is unable to be with him and his mother for the holiday. While the mystery that starts with the maintenance issues often takes a backseat to holiday preparations, there is a cozy feel to the story. What stands out most, though, is a strong emphasis on family, both the one you're born into and the one you choose, of the importance of community and the bonds of friendship.

This story is translated from the original Norwegian. While I enjoyed the story, I did find it slow moving at times. It was also difficult to read in parts as I struggled to determine exactly how to pronounce some of the Norwegian words. We learn a lot about the local customs, the way they celebrate the holidays. Food plays a big part. The book includes a glossary that identifies the foods that are mentioned in the story, the customs celebrated leading up to Christmas, their traditional costumes and more. It also includes recipes for several of the dishes that were an important part of their celebration.

The story is written in twenty four chapters, meant to be unwrapped like an advent calendar. You can sit down and enjoy a chapter each night throughout the month December, or just enjoy it, as I did, in one fell swoop.

Imagine a mountain climbing guide/skier who survives an avalanche, but has been so traumatized by the experience that she can't return to what had been her life's passion for more than 25 years. She takes over the responsibility for running a Norwegian mountain top lodge. Besides the normal challenges of running a lodge, she has an enemy who is attempting to sabatage the resort. Throw in Norwegian Christmas traditions and recipes for holiday meals and you have an amazing Christmas treasure. This is excellent winter reading.

Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge is part mystery, part character study by Norwegian author Kjersti Herland Johnsen. After years of life on the road mountain climbing, rock climbing, and leading excursions, Ingrid Berg is back home in Dalen, Norway, at her family’s Glitter Peak Lodge with her beloved grandmother. Nana Bolghild raised Ingrid from the time her parents died in an accident when Ingrid was 3.

After a tragic climbing accident when she and her boyfriend, famous mountaineer Preben Wexelsen, were seriously injured and their dear friend Father Giovanni was killed, Ingrid left everything and everyone in that life behind. But she has kept the even heavier reasons deep in her soul, telling no one at home the full story.

In fact the Lodge and the town seem to harbor many secrets, and these secrets could become the downfall of the Lodge or, perhaps, its saving grace. As this story follows the events of December day by day, the story unfolds as Ingrid, Nana Bolghild, the lodge staff, Ingrid’s friends, and folks from the town each plays a role in the culminating events on Christmas Eve.

This is the first time I have read this author and it won’t be the last. The English translation, unlike some other translations I have read, seemed flawless. The imbedded clues are like breadcrumbs that help the readers find their way to the exciting conclusion and the Norwegian traditions revealed throughout the story add to the interest of the book. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I was completely charmed by this Norwegian holiday family drama meets mystery. Ingrid Berg was an accomplished mountain climber until a tragic accident. She returns to Norway to run the family hotel and spend more time with her beloved grandmother. There are quirky guests and quirky employees and townsfolk to add color and conflict. Add in some secrets, some conflicts, some healing and a snowstorm. I especially loved all the Norwegian foods and holiday traditions. It's the perfect cozy Chrismas read.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this. #ChristmasatGlitterPeakLodge #NetGalley

This book felt like all of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies wrapped into one cozy book. It was just the thing I needed to help me get in the Christmas spirit.

What a wonderfully, delightful book! The title may say Christmas, but this is a charming read that can be enjoyed any time of the year. Ingrid arrives back at her family's hotel after suffering a climbing accident that has changed her outlook on life. Tasked with taking over operations management from her grandmother, she finds new challenges around every corner as they draw closer and closer to the busy holiday season. But beyond any maintenance or financial issues, the staff and the guests are all keeping secrets.

Each character is well developed and has you interested to know where their stories will go. The setting is picturesque and leaves you wanting to hop on a plane to Norway. Love that this was set up with 24 chapters that you could read each day of the Christmas season, but it is so enjoyable you probably find yourself going well beyond a chapter a day.