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.

Thank you, Netgalley, Melody Carlson, and Revell for the ebook. This book was like reading a Hallmark movie. A great story of finding oneself after tragic events and living the life that is meant to be lived for you, despite all the obstacles in the way.

Not only is the cover gorgeous, but the novella is a fun pre-holiday adventure. I know it's not Halloween yet, but this got me excited for the holidays to come.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson is a feel-good Christmas story. The story was easy to read and can be read in one sitting. I liked the characters except for Madison’s sister, Addie. I felt Addie needed a swift kick in the pants. Gavin’s daughter, Lily, is spunky, smart, and an industrious worker (though her father has spoiled her with the dirt bikes and dirt bike track). I would have liked to see a tad more character development. There were some issues that were never addressed between Maddie and Gavin plus I felt that the ending was rushed. I wish there had been a couple more chapters or an epilogue that would have allowed things to be wrapped up properly. The Christmas Tree Farm is a nice story, but it lacked the charm and humor that is normally present in the author’s Christmas novellas. The Christmas Tree Farm is a cute Christmas tale with sister troubles, a faltering tree farm, loud dirt bikes, planting trees, and holiday happiness.

Madison McDowell returns home from teaching in Mongolia to her late grandparents' Christmas tree farm only to discover that her now-widowed high school boyfriend is living next door and her younger sister has staked her claim on him. If this sounds like a soap opera to you, you wouldn't be far off the mark. While the story is a clean read, it has its share of jealousy, family conflict, manipulation, and drama. Being a novella does not provide ample opportunity for realistic conflict resolution, but as is true for many stories set at Christmastime, it does have a happily ever after evening. You will just have to read the book to see who gets to live happily ever after and who, if anyone, gets left out in the cold.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Christmas Tree Farm from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Melody Carlson always writes such enjoyable stories. Her characters are light hearted but very relatable. Madison McDowell returns to the one place she can really relax and regroup. After years away teaching overseas, Madison returns to the Christmas tree farm that shaped her childhood. However, years of neglect and a out of control wildfire has left the farm in a sad state. What has Addie, her sister, been doing or not doing at the farm? Madison plans to roll up her sleeves and make the farm profitable again. Only one more thing may stop her plans. Her former high school flame owns the land next door. Now widowed, his plans to turn the property into a noisy dirt bike track. Can she stop this plan and bring the farm back to life? With the help from an unlikely source, she just might find two dreams. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

CW for readers: reference to death of a spouse, wildfires, religion.

After a couple of years away teaching in Mongolia, Madison McDowell has returned to her family Chrismas Tree farm. While she has been away, the farm has been ravaged by wildfires, and her father and grandparents have passed away, leaving the farm in the hands of Madison's little sister Addie . But Addie has had enough of farming and plans to sell if this last Christmas season doesn't turn a profit.

As Madison throws herself in to resurrecting her family's livelihood, matters are complicated by a widower old flame living next door - and who Addie has her eye on.

And so begins a take of complicated relationships - between Madison and Addie; between Madison and Gavin and his children and so on.

I wanted to like this, but Ifeel this novella was a part of a larger story of the farm and the going-on there, but being dropped into the middle left little room for character growth. The only character with any real substance was Lily, Gavin's 11year old daughter, and other characters were brought in and dropped without any impact on the story. Neither Madison nor Addie were particularly likeable, there was zero communication between any of them, and the ending felt rushed.

The tale of the farm and the Christmassy vibe was nice though - this author does the Christmas/seasonal flare well. The story has a real hallmark holiday movie feel.

This is a zero spice novella, and there are many mentions of the Christian religion (outside of seasonal references) in the characters interactions.

Fans of hallmark movies ans light conservative romance may enjoy this, but it was not for me.

~Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~

Madison McDowell returns to the Christmas tree farm, after teaching in Mongolia for five years. Her younger sister and herself inherited the farm, and Madison decided to go home and carry on the traditions that her grandparents had.
She tried, but her sister made it difficult, but she kept plugging away, when you read the book you will understand my choice of word, away. A wildfire burnt most of the trees, and Madison was determined to plant new trees. She met the neighbor who was someone she knew when she was younger and his daughter.
Melody Carlson takes us on their journey, through everything that is going on. It is a Christmas story, and you have to have hope and faith, There are a lot of emotional feelings, a tad bit of stubbornness, and I did take sides a few time, which made it exciting, but like life I had to ride it out to see where they all come out. It was a story that makes you feel like you are stepping right into the Christmas tree farm and the people there.
I received an ARC from Revell through NetGalley.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a cozy Christmas novella by Melody Carlson.
Carlson doesn't disappoint in this sweet Christmas romance.
This story drew me in so deeply I could see a scene play out in my mind as I flipped the pages.
The book was so engaging from page one. And I really enjoyed the characters.

3⭐️ The whole premise of this book sounded cute. Ya know, a Christmas tree farm where two people fall in love. But it just wasn't that, so here we go.

The romance felt forced and rushed. It's a novella yes, but you'll understand why I say that if you make it to the end of this book (literally the last page)

The sisters' relationship bothered me soooo much. Addie was INSUFFERABLE. And her attitude toward Madison doesn't change until the very last chapter. I was so frustrated!

I really loved Lily. She was adorable and not your typical annoying child that you sometimes get in books. I liked Madison and Gavin too but not together. Like I wanted them together, but they didn't make sense. They had no chemistry and their conversations were so robotic.

With all of that said, it's still a 3 star because it wasn't the worst book l've ever read. The setting was cute, the premise of it all was admirable, in Madison's case, and it takes place around Christmas. It's cozy. So give it a try if you're okay with all the negative things I said lol and want a quick, cozy read.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Revell, and Melody Carlson for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read if you enjoy:
- Cozy Oregon setting
- Christmas tree farm
- Second chance romance
- Clean romance

This is a cute, quick read about a woman returning to her family Christmas tree farm after living abroad as a teacher and the widower who broke her heart and lives next door. Her sister, who is quite the brat for most of the book, has been holding down the fort and is ready to move on.

There's a lot here about forgiveness, faith and family. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

This is Christian fiction so expect discussions of faith.

Family friendly.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good cozy holiday read. You don't get too many plots involving a Christmas tree farm! Great read for holiday spirit.