 Author: Melody Carlson Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance Pages: 176 Release Date: September 3, 2024 Publisher: Revell When Madison McDowell returns from several years teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie's unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, her former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break Madison's heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter. With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides there's only one thing to do: double down on her dreams. It will take a ton of hard work--and some help from an unlikely ally--to save the farm she so dearly loves. But it may take a miracle to restore her relationship with her sister. Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson charms and delights with this uplifting Christmas story full of old memories and new beginnings.
 Reviewer: Marie Edwards I’ve enjoyed reading Melody Carlson’s holiday books since I was introduced to them with The Christmas Swap back in 2020. As usual, each Christmas book is a novella with short chapters. The stories are less than 175 pages. A big enough book for a weekend (1-2 days) read on the couch with hot chocolate, but not too big that readers wouldn’t finish it in that weekend. Family angst and tension are a common theme in Carlson’s Christmas books. This is no different. There are also elements of second-chance romance, deception, and a love triangle. For those still sensitive to the Covid pandemic, there are some references to it. This is about the economic effect rather than the biological impact. Another major part of the story is linked to a recent wildfire. This might be traumatizing or triggering to some readers. Unlike some books, this only had a singular, third-person POV—Madison’s. I felt sorry for Madison right off. She comes home from teaching overseas after five years and wants to work the family’s Christmas tree farm, only to discover her sister has been neglecting it. So much so, there might be a need to sell it. That’s something that Addie wants and something Madison will fight to prevent. Madison is so intent on keeping the farm, she invests her own time and money to salvage it. She’s wondering why Addie is so adversarial towards the farm. Gavin, now a widow, and his young daughter Lily live next door. His plans to turn his family’s former filbert (hazelnut) farm into a dirt bike park don’t align with Madison’s idea of quiet. Despite that, Gavin and Lily help Madison with getting the tree farm up and running again. Even though Madison and Gavin have a history, it seems Addie has her sights on him as well. This further increases the tension between the sisters. This is a sweet holiday read due to Carlson’s descriptive writing and her penchant for writing complex characters that tend to redeem themselves in the end. Some remain morally ambiguous. I was drawn right in and managed to read this inside of a 14-hour period. Without really spoiling the story, there was a major part of the plot that really didn’t get addressed by the end of the book. While this is distributed by a primarily Christian publisher, the faith tones are light and almost unnoticeable. I am very interested to see what Carlson has planned for next Christmas. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.  Reviewer: Emily Stephens Even though it's only September, I'm ready to start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. This made it the perfect time to read The Christmas Tree Farm! Madison has been working overseas and returns home to the family tree farm to find it struggling due to her sister Addie's disinterest and neglect. The book follows Madison's attempts to restore the farm and make it profitable again. While billed as a holiday romance, I found that the romance aspect took a backseat to the primary story of Madison's relationship with her sister. Addie has a bad attitude about life in general and about her sister and the farm in particular. I enjoyed this sibling relationship story set against the backdrop of a Christmas tree farm. As for the romance, Madison also has to deal with her widowed ex, Gavin. He owns the land next door and wants to turn it into a bike racing track for his daughter. As the two clash and reconnect, the reader is treated to the gradual and natural reawakening of romantic feelings between the two. The relationship doesn't really get started until near the end of the book, leaving the reader to imagine what happens next. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the tree farm, and of Madison's attempts to revive the business. A perfect holiday (or pre-holiday) read! 5 stars! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders Author Melody Carlson’s newest novella is a heartwarming story with realistic characters, authentic life situations, and the special emotions associated with Christmas. Madison McDowell’s return to her family’s Christmas tree farm isn’t what she expected, and her dream for this family business is entirely the opposite of her sister’s intent. Will Madison discover that the adage “You can’t go home again” is especially true for her? Reading Carlson’s annual Christmas novella has become one of my traditions and The Christmas Tree Farm didn’t disappoint! Music, food, and beautiful decorations helped set the stage, and intriguing drama provided interest, but the joy of family and rekindled romance made it especially appealing! Reading this story revived some of my personal Christmas memories! If you enjoy Christmas stories and second-chance romance, grab a copy of The Christmas Tree Farm. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Tammy Lunsford This book was a wonderful lesson about the Christmas spirit, mending family relationships, second chances and working together to accomplish something bigger. Madison McDowell has been teaching overseas for some time. She has decided it is time to come home and work on her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon. When she arrives, she realizes her sister, Addie, has been neglectful in running the farm. There is a lot of work to be done if they want to sell Christmas trees for this season. Addie’s heart is not in it at all, and she just wants out. Madison wants to preserve her family’s legacy. They are at odds with one another, and their relationship is strained. Gavin Thompson is living next door with his daughter. Gavin was the one who got away from Madison. He broke her heart. Madison would love to catch up with him, but Addie makes it clear it is hands-off for her, as she has staked her claim on Gavin, whether he knows it or not. Things will get tense and testy, but I applaud Madison. She kept a good attitude and did not mind working hard. Addie was actually acting more than a little bratty, but Madison took it in stride. She craved a good relationship with her only sister, so she was willing to go the extra mile. You can never go wrong with this author’s Christmas novellas. This one was heart-stirring and special. This was a meaningful read with characters with unique personalities and real-world problems. If you need a good dose of Christmas spirit, this book will fill your heart with joy. Thank you to Revell through Interviews and Reviews for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Reviewer: Elizabeth Eckmeyer
What a delightful Christmas story that reads like a Hallmark movie! Madison comes home to her farm after being out of the country. While she was gone, a fire caused a lot of damage to the farm and the farms nearby. Between the fire and neglect, Madison does her best to restart the farm back up. While Madison makes plans, her sister Addie has been on the farm the entire time her sister has been gone. Her irritation grows as Madison works on the farm. Meanwhile, Gavin, a high school crush, is living next door to the farm with his daughter. The two start building a friendship that they lost years ago. This is a sweet story of coming home and learning who you are. You will not want to miss this light and airy story. You won’t want to put it down. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell Publishing Group through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Leave a Reply. |
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