How to Read the Life in Icicle Falls Series
Nestled in the picturesque Icicle Valley of Washington State, the fictional, Bavarian-style village of Icicle Falls is a dream destination for contemporary romance lovers. Created by bestselling author Sheila Roberts, this beloved series centers around the Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company and the warm-hearted community surrounding it. While the series officially contains 11 primary novels and several companion novellas (bringing the total to 13 distinct works, though some database counts cite 15 due to omnibus collections), readers have a couple of options for how to navigate the town's stories.
The Recommended Chronological Reading Path
To fully experience the growth of the town, the evolution of the Sterling family business, and the recurring characters, reading the books in chronological order is highly recommended. Below is the recommended reading path, including both novels and novellas:
- Welcome to Icicle Falls (Book 0.5 / Prequel Novella): Set in the 1960s, this origin story follows a teenage Muriel Sterling as she navigates her family's expectations around the Sweet Dreams chocolate shop and meets Stephen Sterling.
- Better Than Chocolate (Book 1): The official series starter, following Samantha Sterling as she tries to save the family business and clashes with bank manager Blake Preston. (Also published under the title Sweet Dreams on Center Street.)
- Merry Ex-Mas (Book 2): A festive romance following three women navigating the holiday season, their ex-husbands, and new beginnings.
- Good Neighbors (Book 2.5 / Novella): Follows Meredith Lange as she moves to Icicle Falls to rebuild her life and finds herself in a cabin ownership dispute with Jed Banks.
- What She Wants (Book 3): Centered on Jonathan Templar and his friends who use romance novels to decode women. (Also published under the title Romance on Mountain View Road.)
- The Cottage on Juniper Ridge (Book 4): A heartwarming story of second chances and building a home in the mountains.
- The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane (Book 5): Follows Bailey Sterling as she returns to Icicle Falls to open a new tea shop next to a handsome rival's establishment.
- The Lodge on Holly Road (Book 6): A holiday-themed romance set around a cozy lodge, focusing on family secrets and unexpected love.
- A Wedding on Primrose Street (Book 7): Follows the wedding preparations and romantic tension on one of Icicle Falls' most charming streets.
- Christmas on Candy Cane Lane (Book 8): A Christmas maven's daughter tries to live up to her mother's holiday legacy while rebuilding her life after a separation.
- Home on Apple Blossom Road (Book 9): A heartwarming tale of finding love and comfort in the small town.
- Starting Over on Blackberry Lane (Book 10): Focuses on rebuilding life, career, and trust after a relationship ends.
- Christmas in Icicle Falls (Book 11): The final main novel, wrapping up the series with community kindness, holiday magic, and a sweet conclusion.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
If you prefer to read the books in the order they were released to the public, the sequence is almost identical to the chronological path, with one major exception: the prequel. Welcome to Icicle Falls was published in 2015, which falls between The Lodge on Holly Road and A Wedding on Primrose Street in release order. The novella Good Neighbors was published in 2013, appearing alongside Book 3.
For the best experience, most fans recommend starting with Better Than Chocolate to establish a connection with the modern-day Sterling family and the chocolate shop, and then reading the prequel Welcome to Icicle Falls later as a nostalgic trip back in time to see how the town's chocolate legacy began.
A Note on Alternate Book Titles
When searching for these books online or in libraries, you might encounter different titles for the same stories. Harlequin and HarperCollins have re-issued several books in the series under new names:
- Better Than Chocolate was later re-released as Sweet Dreams on Center Street.
- What She Wants was later re-released as Romance on Mountain View Road.
Keep this in mind to avoid purchasing the same story twice!
Key Families and Recurring Characters in Icicle Falls
One of the elements that makes the Life in Icicle Falls series so engaging is its recurring cast of characters. Rather than shifting entirely to a new set of faces with each book, Sheila Roberts keeps previous couples and families active in the background. Here are the key groups you will get to know as you read:
- The Sterling Family: As the owners of Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company, the Sterlings are the heart of the series. Matriarch Muriel Sterling and her daughters Samantha, Cecily, and Bailey all navigate major life transitions, business challenges, and romance across the books. If you love family-driven contemporary romance, their interactions are a major highlight.
- The Poker Club Guys: Introduced in What She Wants, this group of small-town guys—including Jonathan Templar—takes a hilarious approach to understanding the women in their lives by forming a secret romance novel book club. Their camaraderie and growth provide a lot of the series' trademark humor.
- The Cozy Business Owners: From the tea shop on Lavender Lane to the local lodge on Holly Road, the entrepreneurs of Icicle Falls are constantly interacting, setting up festivals, and supporting one another through personal and professional trials.
From Page to Screen: Movie Adaptations
Sheila Roberts' cozy storytelling has made her a favorite for television network executives looking for heartwarming holiday adaptations. In 2022, the Great American Family channel adapted Christmas on Candy Cane Lane into a feature-length holiday movie starring Andrea Barber (famous for her role as Kimmy Gibbler on Full House) and Dan Payne. The film brought the snowy, festive charm of Icicle Falls to life on screen, focusing on Ivy Donaldson's journey to restore her family's holiday legacy.
It is worth noting a common point of confusion among fans: while Sheila Roberts' popular novels The Nine Lives of Christmas and On Strike for Christmas were adapted into major Hallmark and Lifetime television movies, these stories are standalones and are not officially set in Icicle Falls or connected to the Sterling family's chocolate shop.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, here are a few practical tips to help you get the most out of your visit to Icicle Falls:
- Standalone vs. Series Reading: Every novel in this series features a self-contained romance with a clear happy ending, meaning you can technically pick up any book and enjoy it on its own. However, because characters run into each other at the chocolate shop, attend the same festivals, and share family ties, you will get a much richer experience if you read them in order.
- The Setting's Real-Life Inspiration: The town of Icicle Falls is heavily inspired by Leavenworth, Washington—a real Bavarian-themed mountain village in the Pacific Northwest known for its year-round festivals, beautiful scenery, and tourist charm. If you love the atmosphere of the books, Leavenworth offers a real-world equivalent to explore.
- Sensory Warning: Make sure you have a box of chocolates or a cup of hot cocoa nearby when reading! The descriptions of Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company's treats are frequent and mouth-watering.