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.

I thought this was an interesting read! The format is unique, and the fact that it was translated from Norwegian is very cool. It’s definitely a Hallmark kind of movie in book form, with a little bit of a mystery twist and romance. It is a fun book for the season! 3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for this copy of "Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge."

I'm still feeling festive by reading holiday-themed books. "Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge" showcased traditional Norwegian Christmas celebrations and expressed the warmth, generosity, and togetherness of the season.

After surviving a horrible avalanche, climbing expert Ingrid has come home to the Norwegian mountains to run financially-troubled Glitter Peak Lodge. It's been in her family for over 130 years, but after the Christmas holidays, she has to decide whether to sell the Lodge to a big hotel chain that wants to buy it.

From the Lodge archives of old newspaper articles, an unsolved mystery about a missing bride is unearthed that leads to more questions.

I was very impressed by author Johnson's and translator Lasky's descriptions of the beauty, silence, serenity, peace, and timelessness of the mountains. All while knowing that they can be treacherously dangerous.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was a quick read. Ingred returns home to her family inn. The mystery wasn't really a mystery but still an enjoyable read.

This book was beautifully translated from Norwegian to English. It is not a typical mystery. I would classify it more as a women's lit or romance novel because the mystery comes from why the town bully wants the lodge to fail and the family secrets revealed at the end. It was an emotional, slow-burn read at the beginning but picked up towards the end when all the secrets were finally revealed. The romance between Ingrid and Preben was so sweet and charming. It was my favorite part of the book. Another favorite was all the traditions, superstitions, foods, and festivals enjoyed during the Christmas season. I learned a lot about Norwegian life and culture. A glossary that explains the holidays celebrated in more detail and recipes mentioned in the book are included at the end of the book. It’s a great way to interact with the story and experience the Norwegian culture in your home.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Via for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

After surviving a traumatic climbing accident, Ingrid moves back to her family hotel. She is planning to take over running the hotel from her Grandmother. But will it be more than she can handle, with pipes leaking, suspected mold, and last minute cancellations? When one of the guests seems familiar to her Grandma, old secrets start to unfold, along with an unexpected relationship.

This is a feel good story set in Norway. Great characters and plot. It also has a glossary for some of the Norwegian words used and a few recipes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Sort of melancholy but feel-good in the end, Christmas oriented book, tho I’d classify it more as a women’s fiction than a mystery. There was some mystery but it was easy to piece together rather early on, so it didn’t really feel like a mystery, just something no one in the book wanted to talk about. It had a weird speed - overall really slow and introspective, then fairly dramatic, from reactions, to all the exclamation points, to the characters themselves. It felt a little forced and weird at times.

The culture and setting of Norway was nice to walk thru - those pieces were descriptive and well described.

The blurb for the book about the whole Advent thing was weird to me. I didn’t get that vibe from the book at all so I’m not sure why it was marketed that way. It was just like a regular chapter progression.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperColins for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

I read a quarter of the book in the suggested "Advent Calendar" format, and I wouldn't say it's either a thriller or a romance. Maybe it's a mystery, but I certainly hadn't gotten that sense either before quitting. I had no sense of romance at all and very little urgency to continue reading because, other than sitting with Ingrid's trauma all the time, I had no notion of the throughline of the story. All of that should have been more evident by 25% through.

CHRISTMAS AT GLITTER PEAK LODGE

A Holiday Mystery Revealed - 3 stars

Plot - 4 stars - After a climbing accident, Alpinist Ingrid Berg has returned to the small Norwegian village that her family has called home for generations. She’s there to take over the management of the Glitter Peak Lodge from her aging grandmother. With Christmas approaching, guests are expected, and Ingrid is welcomed as the inn's savior. But complications soon arise. Will Ingrid be able to keep the inn alive, or will her family's legacy be lost forever?

Writing - 3 stars - This book seemed a bit slow, right from the beginning. I'm not sure if it was the translation that felt awkward or if the author spent too long setting up the story, but this book seemed to take a long time to get going.

Characters - 4 stars - There are plenty of characters to like in this book. Ingrid has been so focused on her climbing passion that she almost forgot about her family, but now she has returned to take over the inn from her grandmother. Has she been self-absorbed? Yes, but her grandmother made it easy on her and allowed her the time to spread her wings. Now she has the strength and practicality to take over. Thor is a kind and shy main character. He is so settled in the town that he seems like a part of it. He's also strong and settled, but he yearns for something more. They seem to complement each other. Loved Vegard, the best friend. He is charming and funny, yet he's full of good, common sense. The other characters (Borghild, Hallgrim, and the workers at the hotel) all add some interest to the story in their own ways.

Title - 3.5 stars - Straightforward, clear, and definitely set the wintery mood.

Cover - 4 stars - Beautiful northern colors with a hint of the holidays. Very pretty and eye-catching.

Overall - 3 stars - There were many good points about this book. The mystery about Caroline was interesting and kept my interest throughout, although it seemed to take a long time for the reveal. I think less time spent building a complicated history would have benefited the book, especially since it seemed pretty obvious what had happened (even to me, and I'm not usually one who figures out the whodunnit in advance). The romance between Ingrid and Thor was sweet and so natural, with just enough sexual tension between them, and the potential lover's triangle conflict with Preben added some drama. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery of such a beautiful place, and the traditional Christmas celebrations were fascinating. Adding the suspected sabotage at the hotel, Ingrid's personal back story, and the Instagram obsession of everyone there were interested, but I didn't think they were necessary additions and added to the bulk of the book.

BarbaraChristmas at Glitter Peak was charming. I enjoyed the characters and the Norwegian food and traditions. A little mystery thrown in to keep you on your toes. A good read.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

A sweet and cozy story about starting over and found family.

I loved the setting for this and thought the author’s rendering of it was pretty good, and definitely a cut above most of what you find in this subgenre.

It’s not truly a Christmas book, which definitely bugged me a little as someone who really hates misleading titles and publisher summaries, though there is a bit of cute holiday content toward the end of the novel.

The premise and characters were fine if not terribly original, and I appreciated that the book managed to be sweet without tipping over into saccharine. There’s some tragedy, particularly in the characters’ backstories, but the book mostly maintains a hopeful and reflective tone and never gets too overwrought and maudlin.

I would have preferred more focus on the day-to-day of the hotel, the settling, and the holiday content, but on the whole it’s a quick and satisfying feel-good read.