A lovely short story which really makes you feel festive. I could smell pine whilst I was reading this and I wish it could have been longer. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Madison McDowell returns to her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon after teaching overseas, only to find it damaged by wildfire and neglected by her sister Addie, who wants to sell it. Facing the challenge of restoring the farm, Madison must also navigate her complicated feelings for her former high school flame, Gavin Thompson, who plans to turn his neighboring property into a dirt bike track. With determination and unexpected help, Madison strives to save the farm and mend her relationship with her sister.

Returning to her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon, Madison McDowell faces numerous challenges, from wildfire damage to strained family relationships. This heartwarming story beautifully captures her determination to restore the farm and mend bonds with her sister. The author masterfully weaves themes of resilience, love, and community, making it a truly inspiring read. Madison's journey is both touching and empowering, reminding us of the importance of perseverance and the strength of family ties. A must-read for anyone who loves stories of hope and redemption.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a lovely holiday novella by Melody Carlson. Madison McDowell has returned to the family’s Washington state Christmas Tree Farm after being on a 5 year teaching contract in Mongolia and in the wake of her grandmother’s passing. Her sister, Addie, had been with their grandmother and stayed on thereafter even though the farm was really the last place she wanted to be. Both Addie and their mom were city girls at heart and not happy on the farm.

Madison and Addie had jointly inherited the farm and Addie very much wanted to sell the property, to the point where she might be misleading her sister about the financials. When Madison wholeheartedly tackles tree sales, wreath making, and decorating with the help of Lily, the daughter of her neighbor, her teen boyfriend and widower Gavin Thompson. And, although Addie calls dibs on Gavin, it is the chemistry between Madison and Gavin that ignites.

With misadventures and misunderstandings, this story will bring a smile, and perhaps a tear, to the readers. I very much enjoyed this story and I do recommend it!

This book is a novella which details the return of Madison to her family Christmas tree farm that is currently being run, not very successfully it seems, by her sister. Madison is determined to try and get the business back on track whilst her sister seems determined to see it fail. Added to this challenge is the fact that Madison's high school sweetheart is living right next door with his daughter who seems intent on establishing a dirt bike track right next to the farm which Madison is less than pleased about. Despite the attraction to Gavin, her neighbour, who has returned to the town after being widowed, still being there, her sister now seems to0 have designs on him.

This book provides the warm and fuzzies that you expect of a Christmas romance but also is great at also making you feel the frustration that often bubbles up around families during the festive season.

It was a great quick read and this is the first book that I have read by Melody Carlson but I will most definitely make sure I get to read more of her work.

This was a sweet Christmas novella to kick off the holiday season. A lot of sweetness and characters who were easy to connect with and root for.

I received this for review. This was a very enjoyable Christmas novella. Melody Carlson leads toward Christian fiction and I really enjoy that about her writing. For years now I have been enjoying her Christmas books and look forward to a new one every year
This story takes place on a Christmas Tree Farm, so immediately it’s a yes for me dog. A young woman returns to the family farm after a devastating fire in the hopes of fixing up the farm and her relationship with her family. A very wholesome light family story that I very much enjoyed reading with the Christmas tree lights on next to me.

This is a great book where what is really important wins out. The characters are likeable and relatable. The story line is easy to follow and enjoyable.

I feel like I might be the only outlier regarding this book, but I really have to say I didn't enjoy this novella much at all. The things that I did like were the Christmas tree farm vibes. I loved the celebrations in the book. I found there to be so many more things I didn't really enjoy, unfortunately. I found the characters to be not likeable in the least bit. I thought the romance element was extremely rushed, especially at the end. I just didn't have all the lovely Christmas vibes that I wish that I left with when I finished this book. While it is not for me, it could potentially be your cup of tea so it might be worth checking out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

This is very seasonal, very Christmassy... but I really didn't enjoy it. I couldn't get along with the characters - the sister, Addie, is completely selfish and acts about thirteen years old when she's in her thirties; she goes the whole novella telling Madison that Gavin is "hers" and she has "dibs" or whatever, but then all of a sudden that's completely forgotten about and never brought up again? The ending was so rushed as well, and all of a sudden started bringing in forcing other people to go to church who don't want to go? It was very weird. Also, I HATE when siblings are written as talking to each other with "baby sis" and "big sis". No siblings talk that way! Stop it!

(Another major ick I have with the love interest is that he seems to not actually like his children. He has two daughters and whenever he talks about them to anybody, especially the older daughter - whose mother died not all that long ago, so you can forgive her for being a bit standoffish - he seems so ashamed of them? And disses on them? Pretty shit dad if you ask me).

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cozy, heartwarming book. I enjoyed it a lot!

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This was a sweet second chance romance with single (widowed) father set on a Christmas tree farm trying to make a comeback after a wildfire affected the local river valley. I thought the characters were excellent until they came together to interact. That is unfortunately where the writing suffered, in my opinion. Sisters Madison and Addie were so immature they drove me crazy, and even their mother wasn't much better. Madison was quick to judge Gavin's daughters (though she quickly warmed up to Lily who turned out to be a hard worker) and very much wanted things her way after returning from working in Mongolia for several years. I understand wanting to carry on her family traditions and legacy but I understood why her sister struggled with such a rapid change. AND. Whew, whiplash at the end, but still, very warm and sweet.

Madison returns to her families Christmas tree farm after wildfires have devastated the area. Her sister advises her that the farm is in trouble and they should sell but Madison is determined to save it.

I thought this was a romance but felt it didn’t really have any in it. Gavin and Madison are reunited after years. Gavin has two daughters and Madison had been working abroad before she returned to the farm. As teenagers they had a thing but it didn’t come to anything due to *spoilers!*

I felt the book focused more on saving the farm over the actual characters. I didn’t feel a connection with any of them. I liked the storyline but would liked to have seen more of the relationship build between Madison and Gavin. I felt both Madison and her sister Addie were both being particularly awkward over certain situations.

This book has a really cute cover which was initially what drew me to want to read this book. I understand it’s under 200 pages so that could be why I was left wanting more development. This wasn’t a bad book, I was just expecting more romance which left the ending feeling very out of place.

The Christmas tree farm

A great short story. Madison arrives home after being out of the country for a while. Her sister Addie is not too thrilled to see her. Madison wants to save the Christmas trees but Addie doesn’t. I really enjoyed the characters. Loved how all the characters interacted with each other. I could see the characters, they were so real to me. I definitely recommend reading this book.

I received an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley. This book review is my own opinion.

Year after year, I look forward to Melody Carlson's novellas. They're always a pretty quick read, full of heart, inspirational and super sweet. The Christmas Tree Farm is absolutely no exception! This is a Christmas novella you won't want to miss this year!

I enjoyed The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson. Read in one sitting about two sisters and their inherited Christmas tree farm and the ups and downs of making it work out. Great book to get me into the Christmas spirit.

What an awful bunch of women. Every single woman in this book was petty, entitled, spiteful, bitter, mean and childish, the main character included. Could not stand any of them. The only reason I didn’t DNF the book in the first couple chapters was because it was an ARC I needed to rate and it was short.

The sisters’ relationship was bizarre how terrible it was. Addie not only acted like a 12 year old in her immaturity, but was delusional and psychotic at times with how she felt about Gavin. Neither she nor Madison talked about or were honest about anything (and no one addressed the whole love triangle thing either btw which is weird).

To make it more strange, the resolution with the farm wrapped up in seconds without any animosity over a really big issue, whereas the tiny things were dragged out in the book full of constant animosity. It just wasn’t balanced and had constant tension except where it needed it.

Honestly I hated the book all the way around.

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

I absolutely love a holiday book set at a Christmas tree farm! I don't know what it is exactly, but it just brings so much festive spirit and nostalgia instantly. I really enjoyed this one! It was a quick and sweet read. Most of the characters were enjoyable, however I really didn't like Addie. I felt she was childish and and mean a lot of the time. It was nice to see them all come together in the end though.

Madison has returned home to her family's Christmas Tree Farm, which she co-owns with her sister, after a fire. She is met with a property in decline and a sister who doesn't seem to want her there. To make things worse, her old crush is living nearby.

This is a sweet family Christmas story. The ending is very predictable, but it's a nice, light read during the holiday season.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a heartwarming Christmas novella by Melody Carlson. It's a fun, heart warming, cozy book full of Christmas spirt. It has Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. Very sweet story.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Revell, through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.