Member Reviews
I have been a fan of Jaimie's work for a little while now. I love how she combines the dramatic with the funny. Her books leave you with a fuzzy warm feeling inside. Anyway enough of the fan girling. I couldn't wait to get hold of a copy of her latest book called 'Snowflakes At The Little Christmas Tree Farm', which was released on 9th October 2019. I had a sneaky peek at an early review copy and I thoroughly enjoyed it but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to Leah Griffiths from the first time I came across her. She used to work with her significant other but she walked in on him having an extremely close one to one (or should that be one on one?) meeting. Leah sort of gets her revenge on her boyfriend by telling everybody else who works there exactly what he has been up to......which comes as a big surprise to the other half a dozen women that he has on the go. Leah goes on a drinking binge and she makes the fatal mistake of going online when she is hammered and spending a fortune. When she wakes up sober, she is horrified to realise that she has bought a Christmas tree farm. After giving it some consideration,, she decides to go through with it as the description of the farm sounds idyllic and she needs to make a fresh start. However when she gets to the farm she is well and truly brought down to earth with a bump. The description of the Christmas tree farm online bears no resemblance to the true state of the Christmas tree farm. Leah has no option but to make the venture work as she has very little money in reserve. Leah soon meets her nearest neighbour who is a handsome sounding pumpkin farmer called Noel (the right sort of name for a Christmas book). They don't exactly hit it off when they first meet but there's definitely some sort of chemistry there because sparks fly. Will Leah make a success of the Christmas tree farm? Will Leah and Noel get together? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
'Snowflakes At The Little Christmas Tree Farm' was a delightful read that had me gripped throughout. I took to the main character of Leah so well that I ended up thinking of her as being a friend of mine. I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out and what implications, if any, that had for Leah. I didn't manage to read the book over the course of a day as real life commitments kind of intervened but I did the next best thing as I read the book over the course of a couple of days. The pages turned over increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened grew and grew. I would say that I flew through the last third of the book but I can't tell you how long that last third took to read because I was enjoying the book that much that I lost all track of time.
'Snowflakes At The Little Christmas Tree Farm' is beautifully and brilliantly written but then I wouldn't expect anything else from Jaimie Admans. She has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Reading this book felt more like a conversation between friends. That's exactly how I thought of Leah and Noel- as friends. As I mention above, I love the way in which Jaimie mixes the drama with the comedy and even certain serious moments have their funny sides. I am thinking in particular of the way in which Leah left her fellow colleagues under no illusion as to what her boss had been up to. I found that this book made me chuckling away practically all the way through at something I had either read or visualised in my mind.
In short, Jaimie has done it again and she has written one hell of a brilliant book that really was a delight to read. I will definitely recommend this book to other readers but particularly to those readers, who enjoy books that will leave you with a smile on your face and which feel like a hug from a mug as it were. The score on the Ginger Book Geek is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
A must read for everyone who loves Christmas.
Who’d have thought a Christmas tree farm setting was perfect for a heartwarming, festive, romantic story? Guaranteed to get you in the Christmas mood. The descriptions of the farm are spot on and you could believe you are there involved in this great read. The characters are believable, kind, humorous and great sense of community comes through which is what happens in a farming community, I know because I’m a farmers daughter. Just brilliant.
Jaimie Admans is without doubt, my new favourite author of these kinds of books, I just love them all!
In this story, Leah finds herself having bought a Christmas tree farm in an auction, in Scotland, despite never having run one and not having actually clapped eyes on it until she bought it. Bit of a shock to the system to see it for real, but Noel, her dishy neighbour, gives her a hand and sparks fly. But does Noel have a hidden agenda? The path of true love never runs smooth, of course.
I love every single character in this book, not just Leah and Noel. I want to meet Glenna and spend time in her kitchen, just sniffing the air as she bakes. I also want to meet Fiona and Fergus, eccentric characters that they are. And, of course, little Gizmo. He sounds completely adorable! I love the feel of this book, the fact that the community is such a close-knit one and people help each other, aaah :)
5 stars, of course.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital.
I loved this cozy holiday read! The cover drew me in first to be honest. Once I started to read, I was hooked!
🌲Good concept, too much detail and not enough romance!🎄
This story of a city girl who tries her hand at farming and finds a seemingly endless supply of support from her handsome neighbor started out well. The basic plot is good, the main characters are well-developed with interesting backstories and there are some really great scenes, like the heroine's first arrival at her new property and the storm at the book's climax.
But it's got way too much detail and lost my interest multiple times. In this case, yes, the devil is in the details because they just made me want to put the book down without finishing. I did make my way to the end, finally, with the aid of strategic skimming. I would have liked it much more in a more stream-lined version that focused on the romance and budding friendships.
Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This was a sweet and fluffy read that will get you in the mood for the holidays! Leah and Noel had more depth than I expected, with their combined stories touching on some real issues. I could tell the author did her research on tree farms because I felt like i was reading nonfiction at times, but that's really my only complaint. As a woman who has long ago waved goodbye to my 20s, it was refreshing that Leah is in her 30s. I was able to relate to her more.
If you're counting down to the holidays, this is the book for you!
This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wine and a broken heart are never a good combination. Add an online auction and the consequences could be disastrous… or maybe not? Leah Griffiths has been fired after finding her boss/lover closed in his office with someone else and after a night drinking bottle after bottle of wine she wakes up the next morning to discover that she is the lucky winner of the online auction for the sale of a Christmas tree farm in Scotland. With nothing and no one to keep her in London, Leah packs her things and moves to Scotland but, when she arrives there, she finds out that the real Christmas tree farm is nothing at all what she saw in the pictures. Everything is in a state of despair and she knows nothing about trees. Luckily, handsome and grumpy neighbour Noel seems always to be there to help her and Leah has to work hard to make sure that the farm is ready for Christmas.
With humour, romance, and very informative details about tree farming (the author did her research!), Jaimie Admans created an entertaining Christmas novel. It’s heartwarming and so Christmassy and I enjoyed the close community atmosphere as everyone from the village help each other. The characters are very interesting and I especially liked Leah who is relatable and determined to succeed.
Love, friendship, hard work, and a festive atmosphere mix perfectly in this magical and engaging novel. This is only my second novel by Jaimie Admans and after reading Snowflakes At The Little Christmas Tree Farm I will certainly keep reading her and catch up with her previous novels.
Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans a charming five-star read. What a lovely and sweet read, it was sweet but also a little sparky and that just kept the story going and gave it a great depth. Leah as a character, just kept me hooked, she made me chuckle and I could imagine her as a good friend, one you could laugh over drinks with when you do stupid stuff (cough, cough). This is a great story and its also a great Christmas story, don’t miss this fabulous read.
Oh how I love novels by Jaimie Admans! They're funny, lighthearted and easy to read. Perfect! This novel in particular had it all, Christmas, romance, humour and I was left feeling all warm and fuzzy once I had finished it. I liked the character of Noel, he seemed like a gentleman and was funny! Leah was nice too, she seemed down to earth and as she had been through a lot, I was really routing for her to have a happy ever after. It was wonderfully festive and has made me feel so excited for Christmas.
I am so ready for Christmas after reading Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans. Even Scrooge would be ready to play Santa at the local mall after reading this story! We meet Leah as she is drunkenly winning an online auction for a Christmas Tree Farm in Scotland. The lead-up to this is hilarious and you immediately want her to be successful. She deserves it! Admans has given us a character that the reader immediately falls in love with. She is far from perfect but that’s why we want her to be happy. Enter the sexy pumpkin farmer whose property borders Leah’s Christmas tree farm. I picture him stepping off the front cover of a bodice-ripping novel. His is THAT gorgeous! Ok, ok, there is actually a good story surrounding these two lovable characters. Every possible image of Christmas is written into the story. From the weather to the food to the decorations and especially the villagers as we are completely immersed in the Christmas season. This book should be headed to the Hallmark channel. It would definitely become a seasonal favorite. I will be planning my trip to Scotland soon. I absolutely must find the market in the village of Elffield (get it? Elf?) and visit Leah and Noel. I really wish I hadn’t finished the book so quickly. I will be reading it again if the Bah Humbug mood hits me his Christmas season. Before I forget there is also lots of pumpkin involved too. Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin hot chocolate, pumpkin cookies.....
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.
I absolutely loved this book, it is funny, romantic, sweet, cosy, a delightful read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC. I love Jaimie Adman's books, and each new book seems to get better and better.
Jaimie always has a wonderful and perfect leading man. and Noel is no exception. His dog is so cute.
With the setting of a Christian tree farm in Scotland, you just know it's going to be festive. Noel is a pumpkin farmer, and this book focuses on Halloween too, which is good in my opinion, as Autumn is a season which I feel is overlooked in books.
Overall this is a charming and lighthearted read, with a quirky cast, and a slow burning romance. I highly recommend this festive book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Leah wakes up in her London apartment with a terrible hangover and the realization that she had just purchased a Christmas tree farm in Scotland on an online auction. She was hungover because she had discovered her boss/boyfriend having a go at a different female coworker. She had purchased the Christmas tree farm because she wanted a new life, she had money from her parent’s estate, and she had seen the tree farm auction prior to the disaster at the office. When she gets there, Leah finds out the property is in poor shape, the very hot, Scottish, pumpkin-farming, neighbor is not exactly impressed with her chances of succeeding, and she is not very sure she wants to even try.
This story is very Hallmark-ish but with a lot more romantic activity. As Leah is helped by her neighbor, becomes part of the community, and sees some possible successful scenario, the reader just waits for something to happen, and it does.
This was a great story. Even though Leah’s small budget did not seem to stop a lot of things happening, it was a delightful read.
It’s a cute cozy winter story. I like the premise of the Christmas tree farm and the characters were likable as well.
This is such a cute book and absolutely perfect for the Christmas season. I love that Leah bought a Christmas tree farm whilst a bit tipsy lol. I knew I would love the character from the very first chapter plus Noel (insert heart eyed emoji here) we all need a Noel in our lives he's just perfect!
I've now been left with a bit of a book hangover and I just want more!
I loved this, it’s Christmas, happiness and warmth in book form. I love Scotland so this was even more fabulous for me, my problem with the book, Noel, he’s just too amazing, it’s a big problem because he doesn’t exist in the real world. A fantastic read full of seasonal joy and romance, thoroughly recommended reading this Christmas
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
"Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm" is a perfect cozy up for Christmas read. This story reads like a Hallmark holiday movie and hits all the high points that you could wish for - a slow building romance, hot chocolate on a cold night, and christmas trees galore! Possibly my favorite part of the book was that it justified my love of playing Christmas music in October. All in all a very cute and cozy holiday read.
I was so egg-cited to start my third Christmas-themed romance read of the year! Tell me I’m not the only one who is excited for the holly-days. What can I say? I’m a sentimental sap who is pining for all things festive. *snorts*
Sorry! I’ll stop with the puns now. Just my little homage to Noel.
*giggles*
*clears throat*
Depending on your POV, some of your best or worst decisions can be made under the influence of a glass or two of Prosecco.
Whaaa? Don’t look at me like that. We’re talking about Leah here, not me. My lips are sealed. *blushes*
Now, where was I? *taps chin*
Ah, yes.
Now, I’m sure we’ve all had a ‘waking up after the night before’ moment, but I don’t think many of us awaken to find out we’d purchased a Christmas Tree farm, and all responsibilities that entails.
A new beginning is exactly what Leah Griffiths needs. The last couple of years have been tough to say the least and if anyone needs to find their happy, it’s Leah.
Set in the picturesque Scottish countryside (I’m biased, I know), SATLCTF is ridiculously romantic, festive and full of Christmas spirit. My tender-hearted, over-productive tear ducts can attest to this fact.
I only have one quibble with the story, I have lived in Scotland for 41 years (shut it!), and I have yet to meet such a fine specimen as Noel. Honestly, he is hazardous to your ovaries. *smirks* Add little Gizmo into the mix and it's cuteness overload. Ovaries exploding in 3, 2, 1...
I honestly wondered if Jaimie could top It’s A Wonderful Night, as that story holds such a special place in my heart.
What can I say? SATLCTF shines all on its own!
I loved, loved, loved this book. What a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. Learning about all that goes into Christmas Tree farming only made this book more special. The author did a great job developing all the characters and their fun personalities. Such a wonderful read.
My goodness am I excited for Christmas! This book made me feel all sorts of Christmassy, from the setting on an actual Christmas tree farm, to the markets, to the food to just everything! It was truly a lovely read and perfect for curling up on a quiet evening with a mug of tea or perhaps a hot chocolate.
We've all heard of the mistakes that may occur when one isn't necessarily in their right minds, but buying a Christmas tree farm in the last few seconds of an auction certainly is a new one. But, that's exactly what our protagonist, Leah does. And she follows through with it, packing up and moving to Scotland to a Christmas tree farm that she hasn't inspected, and has just bought... And boy, does it need work. While there, she meets her handsome and quite grumpy (to be honest) neighbour Noel (more on him later) and so the adventure begins...
Characters:
Leah - I liked her well enough. She was a bit spunky and definitely determined which is always a fantastic characteristic, and I really enjoyed seeing her grow in her farming abilities but also in realising her own potential as a business owner.
Noel - perhaps an unpopular opinion, but honestly? Not my favourite lead. Although I could see some of the characteristics that make him popular - strong, (mostly) kind, cares for Leah, attractive, etc. I just couldn't get over how almost abnormally moody I found him at times. Of course, for some of these times, there were plotting reasons but I still didn't enjoy that aspect of his character.
Storyline and Plotting:
Perhaps one of the more original plots I've read in recent Christmas novels, there were delightful twists and the overall plotting was well done. the story at times did move a bit slowly for me - for example the time spent detailing the more agricultural side of the Christmas tree farm (although congratulations to the author for showing that this was definitely well-researched!), moved a bit too slowly for me personally.
Overall:
I did enjoy this novel - and it is indeed perfect for reading as we edge closer towards the festive season. A couple of things for me here and there that didn't quite hit the mark, but overall a nice read!
Note: I was very kindly gifted an ARC of this novel by the publisher and the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is the first time I have read a book by Admans and I so wish I had discovered her sooner. This was a well written book that really helped me feel all christmassy. It was funny and sweet. I loved everything about this book, from the setting to the characters. I did find it difficult to put down, I managed to read it in one day. It also reminded me of the Christmas movies I enjoy watching on the Christmas Channel. I absolutely loved reading this and look forward to reading more from Jaimie Admans.