Tis the season for Christmas books and Melody Carlson’s The Christmas Tree Farm delivers in this sweet, second chance romance. What better way to start the season with a novella set on a Christmas tree farm!

After several years teaching overseas, Madison McDowell returns to her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon to pick up where she left off. Due to neglect from her sister Addie’s unwillingness to invest in the farm and damage from a recent wildfire, the farm is in bad shape. Addie is determined to sell the property and Madison’s former high school flame, now widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to turn his neighboring property into a noisy bike track for his daughter. But Madison is determined to save the farm she loves and to repair her relationship with her sister. It’s going to take a lot of hard work but with some unexpected help and the magic of the season maybe miracles do come true.

I loved the setting of the Christmas tree farm and learning about the business. The story was about forgiveness, second chances and the true meaning of Christmas. I highly recommend this novella for fans of Hallmark Countdown to Christmas and fans of second chance romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet, sweet story of second chances. Madison is returning home to help with the family Christmas tree farm, only to discover her next door neighbor is none other than her former childhood love. Years ago they were a couple, but they had kept it quiet and had snuck off to spend time with each other. But as life happened they got separated and despite their best efforts weren't able to maintain their relationship. When she returned home finally... she discovered Gavin married right out of high school. It broke her heart, she left, and hadn't been back since. But now she was home , trying to mend her relationship with her sister and save the families Christmas Tree Farm. But the hardest part to coming home is finding out that Addie, her sister has her sights set on Gavin. No one knew about Gavin and Madisons past relationship, so they kept it a secret. But the more time Madison spends with Gavin the more they both discover they still have feelings. But it seems everyone around them isn't okay with it. So Madison and Gavin have to push away those feelings, but for how long? And can she save the farm?

This is a sweet story of second chances. A love that honestly never died. And even a love triangle is squeezed into the pages. I loved this story. It did come to what felt was a quick ending, but all in all, I loved how it all ended up. ❤️

I recieved a complimentary copy of this story. A review was not required and this review is all my own opinion.

I received an ARC of this book. I enjoyed this Christmas novella. Interesting story with relationship challenges. Well worth reading.

This was cute! A sweet story of two sisters taking on co-ownership of their family Christmas tree farm -- if you love Hallmark movies, this one is for you! It's a quick read and perfect for getting into the holiday spirit.

This holiday novella has a second chance romance, sister relationship and small town vibes all mixed together.

This novella would be a perfect way to start your holiday reading or even dabble between your spooky reads.

Thanks to @netgalley and @revellfiction for providing the ARC.

I love Christmastime. And I love the way this author can draw you into her sweet, heart-tugging stories.


A lot has happened back home in the years that Madison was away teaching in Mongolia. Her Dad and Grandmother have both passed on and her sister, Addie, is holding down the fort with the McDowell Family Christmas Tree Farm, which Madison is now the co-owner of. When she returns to the home where they spent their childhood summers, she is also faced with seeing the destruction of a wildfire that damaged many of the nearby farms and part of her own. She feels emotional and remembers her grandmother's words just before she passed away. She told Madison in a letter that they were blessed and that God spared them for a reason.

Madison's return home was a surprise to her sister and seemed to be an unwelcome one. She soon finds out that Addie has every intention of selling the farm but Madison wants to hang on to their roots and digs her heels in deep. She plans to make the current season a success so that Addie will change her mind, even if she has to do it all on her own. She also learns that her teenage ex-boyfriend, Gavin, is back and now owns the destroyed hazelnut farm next door. She is horrified to learn that he plans to build a dirt bike destination for his young daughter, Lily, right next to their tree farm!

This may be considered a novella but I have to say, there is so much packed in this beautiful story! We see Madison struggle not only with trying to help the farm succeed but also with the emotional relationships between herself and both Addie and Gavin. I found the budding friendship with Gavin's daughter, Lily, to be enjoyable and very sweet. This feel-good story and happily ever after just makes you want to bundle up, grab a hot cocoa and find these wonderful characters this Christmas season!


Thank you, NetGalley and Revell for this eARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions of this book are solely my own.

The Christmas Tree Farm: A Christmas Novella by Melody Carlson was a heartwarming Christmas read. It was a nice escape from the summer heat. I’ll probably re-read it closer to Christmas. There were challenging family dynamics and romance. I look forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to the author, Revell, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Madison McDowell returns to her family’s Christmas tree farm after working overseas for a few years. She hopes life will return to how she remembered it when she spent summers and school breaks at her grandparents’ farm.

But a recent fire has changed most everything—and her baby sister sure is set on selling the farm.

Will Madison be able to convince Addie to save the farm? Or are Madison’s days at the Christmas tree farm over?

This was my first novel by Melody Carlson. While I enjoyed some aspects of the story, like the nostalgia that surrounds a family’s traditions and history, the Christmas vibes, and Madison’s care for Lily, I found the writing to be subpar and the plot was flat.

Addie’s character was wishy washy and I had a hard time following what her feelings were for the day. I also would’ve liked the romantic relationship developed more. It was lacking in depth and felt rushed and incomplete.

Also the relationship between sisters—parts of it felt so forced and it switched gears so fast I couldn’t keep up. One minute they got along, the next they were upset with one another and not talking. I had a hard time keeping up with their back-and-forth relationship.

All in all, this book just fell flat for me.

I’m usually a big fan of Melody Carlson books but this one missed the mark with me because the 2 sisters were fighting so much. I understand people fight in life but I’m generally not one.

This is an enjoyable Christmas novella. While it is a romance, much of the story centers around family relationships, especially sisters. The tension between the sisters is believable. Addie has been taking care of family responsibilities while Madison has been living her dream being a missionary. I can certainly understand Addie's frustration when Madison comes back and wants to change things. My favorite character was Lilly, child of next door land owner Gavin. She is a little spitfire and made me want to try dirt bike riding myself.

The romance is a troubled one. While we might root for Gavin and Madison to reconnect well, Addie has set her sights on him. We hope that Madison and Addie will some how be reconciled. Carlson adds a few more people to the mix to stir the relationship pot, such as a mother who thinks she can cook but produces food poisoning instead.

There are some revelations near the end that allow for a satisfying ending to a situation of otherwise tense relationships. There is a subtle Christian faith presence. There is some interesting information about successfully running a Christmas tree farm too. This is a fun novella to read for the holidays.

I received a complimentary egalley of this novella from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson
lighthearted medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0

This felt like the perfect read to get a person in the Christmas spirit. I have love reading Christmas books by the pool this summer. Who even am I? I did struggle with the sister who had some growth to do but overall this wrapped up nicely.

If you are like me and are not so patiently waiting to start diving into Christmas books, you will be happy to hear that some pretty fabulous Christmas books are coming out in the next couple of months. The Christmas Tree Farm is the first holiday book I have read this season, and I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed this short novella. This is a charming, clean romance, so if you like your romances on the spicier side, this book might not be for you. I love a story that centers around the heroine having to save a failing business. In this case, Madison has returned home only to find out that her families Christmas tree farm is on its last leg. Between her sister letting the business run to the ground and a forest fire that whipped out a good portion of their trees, Madison realizes that she has her work cut out for herself. She is determine to prove to her sister that their family farm is worth fighting for.

There is plenty of drama and tension between Madison and Addie. Addie definitely comes across as petty and cold-hearted. There is miscommunication, past hurts, and resentment between these two sisters. To add more tension to the situation, Addie has a crush on Gavin (their neighbour) and doesn’t like the fact that Gavin and Madison have been hanging out a lot. It was interesting watching Addie and Madison interact with each other and I was curious to see how Melody was going to bridge that rift between these two sisters. Now, there are definitely some Hallmark vibes in this story, so the mending of this broken sister relationship happens pretty quietly and neatly.

I think my favourite part of this book was the developing relationship between Madison and Lily (Gavin’s youngest daughter). At first this two clash over Lily’s desire to build a dirt bike park on their property, an idea Madison isn’t too keen on. But as Lily helps Madison plant seedlings and get the tree farm back on its feet, they develop this sweet and fun friendship.

The romance is a sweet, heartwarming, slow burn. It’s clear right from the moment that Madison and Gavin meet that there is some unresolved history and misunderstandings between them. But as a reader we have no idea what happened. This not knowing is a great way to hook readers in because the desire to figure out what happened was strong, and I had to keep on reading. There are some hurdles that these two have to overcome before any sort of romantic relationship can happen between them. The first hurdle is Gavin deciding whether he is ready to start dating again after losing his wife. He is a single dad, who is trying to raise his two daughters and start up a new business on his farm. Another hurdle between these two is that Addie has a crush on Gavin and has told Madison that she needs to stay away from Gavin. And finally the last hurdle whatever happened between these two when they are teenagers that left Madison hurt and angry at Gavin. For such a short book there is a lot going on. I enjoyed the chemistry between these two characters. Things sometimes felt rushed, but that happens when you read a novella romance.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a short and quick holiday read, perfect for bookworms who want to get lost in a romance for a few hours.

A delightful holiday story that highlights the differences in families and particularly sisters and showcases forgiveness, healing, and love.

Sisters, Madison and Addie, could not be more different. When Madison returns to the family tree farm after living abroad, her and Addie do not see eye to eye especially concerning their neighbor, Gavin. Addie is ready to sell the tree farm they have inherited while Madison refuses to give up so easily. With the holidays fast approaching, is it possible for the sisters to find peace with each other?

I found this quick read to be a perfect introduction to the holiday season. It is filled with delightful characters and a believable storyline. I found myself wishing it was longer than a novella.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

An enjoyable Christmas novel that hits all the marks! It’s full of romance, holiday touches and a happy ending!

Melody Carlson’s The Christmas Tree Farm is a heartwarming hug of the Christmas season, intricately wrapped in the complexities of family dynamics. Madison McDowell’s return to her family’s beloved Christmas tree farm unveils the harsh reality of wildfire damage and her sister Addie’s reluctance to revive the cherished homestead.

The festive charm of the season stands in stark contrast to the chaos of a dirt bike track being planned next door, adding another layer to Madison’s challenges. The characters, while not deeply intricate, exude a comforting warmth that makes the story both endearing and relatable.

This story captures the cozy traditions of a Christmas tree farm and the special, sometimes rare, moments of family togetherness with a gentle touch. Carlson’s storytelling casts a soft, festive glow over the struggles, offering a delightful escape into a world where Christmas and family bonds are sweetly intertwined.

I received a digital copy of The Christmas Tree Farm from the publisher. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

If you’re looking for the perfect lighthearted read to get you into the Christmas spirit, this is it! It’s the perfect length for the short season, and gives all the holiday feels!
The characters are fun, and I love the atmosphere of the tree farm. Of course, there’s a happy, festive ending right on Christmas Day.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Christmas Tree Farm, by Melody Carlson, is a fun novella for the holiday season. Madison McDowell surprises her sister, Addie, when she suddenly shows up at their family farm. After a lengthy commitment to teach English to students in Mongolia, she is home to help wherever she can. Unfortunately, Addie does not seem excited that Madison is home!

Gavin Thompson, a face from Madison’s past, suddenly shows up on the scene. He is now her neighbor and wants to build a motorbike park right next door. This is the last thing Madison is interested in!

Ever since her first kiss with Gavin when Madison was just fifteen years old, she had not forgotten this man. However, now her sister, Addie, seems to have an interest in him. You wonder what will happen by the end of this tale!

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Such a cute and fast paced read that really makes you ready for Christmas even in the midst of a Texas summer. I loved the relationship between Madison and Gavin. It was cute and wholesome! The sister drama felt very realistic and added just the right amount of tension to move the story along and keep it interesting. Overall a great, wholesome read for anyone who loves Christmas, with themes of forgiveness, second chances, and family.

This book just didn't work for me. I think it had a lot of potential, but lacked the follow through. I honestly would have loved it to be a longer book with more time to develop the characters.