This was my first read from Melody Carlson and it was so much fun! This was a cute quick holiday read and I can’t wait to ready more from Melody!

"The Christmas Tree Farm" by Melody Carlson is a heartwarming Christmas story about two neighboring families. The older McDowell sister returns home to find the family tree farm struggling, worsened by a fire. The younger sister has been caring for their relatives while the business falters. Addie, the older sister, takes an interest in Madison's former crush, creating tension. Madison is a hardworking, family-oriented woman who loves the farm. Their city-girl mom stays with them, making Madison feel like an outsider. Meanwhile, their neighbor, a widower with two daughters, faces challenges. Through hard work, hope, and humor, these families come together during the holidays. The novel beautifully captures family bonds and faith, making it a perfect Christmas read.

While we've put up artificial Christmas trees for several years, some of my favorite holiday memories revolve around live trees. First as a little girl, I remember going up into our woods with my dad and selecting a long needled pine each year for our family tree. Not groomed and shaped like purchased trees, sometimes our choice needed to have a bare spot nestled against the wall for optimum beauty. Then with our own young family, it became a family tradition to head to one of the local tree farms to cut our choice. If we cut it a bit too tall for the house, I would use the bottom branches for wreathes or mantel decor. Now one of my personal traditions is reading a few Christmas novellas each season. I've always liked Melody Carlson's stories so I was glad to see she had a new holiday novella this year, and even better it was about a Christmas Tree Farm. Madison, who has been teaching overseas for several years, returns to her grandparents Christmas tree farm just in time for the Christmas push. Delighted to find that the farm did not have much damage from the devastating fires that had hit much of the river region. But her delight is soon dashed when she finds that her younger sister wants to sell the farm, saying it has no future. Family conflict and jealousy, an old flame, and the prospect of a dirt bike track next door all add for some bumps along the way to Madison's first Christmas home in years. This is a fun, clean read that will appeal to multiple ages.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a quick read with a sweet happy ending. Madison comes back home to the family Christmas tree farm after teaching in Mongolia for 5 years. She wants to bring it back to life after her grandparents and dad die and a wildfire damaged some of their crop but her sister Addie just wants to sell and move or marry the rich neighbor who happens to be Madison’s crush in high school. This was a good, clean romance story, but the bickering back and forth got to be a bit much in my opinion. It will get you in the Christmas spirit if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thanks so much NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson is a super cute and fast read Christmas story. It is the story of Madison who has been teaching overseas for a while and is now back home to her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. The Christmas tree farm has suffered from a wildfire and her sister's neglect, but Madison is determined to bring it back and make a success of it this season. The story is charming, wholesome, and sweet, I really enjoyed it.

Something about a Christmas book just puts me in all feels for the holidays! This was a great way to start the holiday season. Felt like a happy little Hallmark movie playing as I turned every page. Plus, adding in a little romance was the perfect touch to get you in all your feels.

Addie returns from teaching to help run her family’s tree farm that was hit by a wildfire and with the help of a “friend”, she is able to restore what it once was and keep her family’s legacy alive.

Absolutely loved and it’s a quick, must read if you love holiday books.

Loved loved loved the cover on this. Super cute and festive! When I saw it was set on a Christmas tree farm I requested it immediately (second favourite location setting after the beach). Melody has returned home determined to save her family’s Christmas tree farm but of course there are many obstacles in her way. This book gave me all the hallmark vibes (a compliment). Sweet, fun and cosy. Highly recommend. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

This story has some real family struggles with underlying and unresolved issues that are brought out when Madison returns from a five-year contract teaching in Mongolia after hearing how the area was hit hard by wildfire. Her sister Addie has stayed at the farm helping her dad and grandmother for the time period but now both are dead, and Addie is overwhelmed and honestly, quite ugly and childish acting towards Madison. She has given up working the farm, so Madison works to revive the farm by replanting trees and opening it for Christmas tree sales against Addie's wishes. I was not a fan of Addie especially when Gavin, an old high school crush of Madison's, and Lily, his daughter, get close to Madison and Addie is jealous. But this story ultimately is about forgiveness, healing, grace, love, and faith tied in with the spirit of Christmas as more family members join together to celebrate the holidays.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson is such a great read! So who says you can't go home? Well Madison is really re-thinking her plans by coming back home. Nothing is what she expected, her sister is being unreasonable, the tree farm is in terrible share and then there's Gavin. Can Madison turn things around and save The Christmas Tree Farm? Read and find out for yourself!

This is a story of family, of sisters with different agendas, but with a sprinkling of romance as the story progresses.

When Madison returns home from overseas she finds that the farm has changed due to a wildfire that has damaged or destroyed much of the woods surrounding their Christmas Tree farm. Madison is determined to bring their Christmas Tree farm back to life, while her sister wants nothing to do with it, but Madison goes forward with her plan, with no help from her sister.

There’s a bit of jealousy, as well, as Madison reconnects with Gavin, a man who she had feelings for before she left to go overseas. Her sister also has plans for pulling him into her life. Madison spends more time with his daughter, who wants to help Madison with her plans for the Christmas Tree farm, and they form a bond.

A sweet story with a sprinkling of romance, family and love.


Pub Date: 03 Sep 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Revell

I love Melody Carlson's annual Christmas stories and always look forward to the new one each year, and this one did not disappoint. Madison returns back to the family Christmas tree farm after being overseas for several years. Her sister Addie is less than excited having her back on the farm. There was a wildfire earlier that did lots of damage in the areas but spared most of the farm, and Madison wants to replant and revitalize the tree farm. Addie wants to sell. Then throw in the handsome neighbor and his young daughter and of course there are going to be fireworks between the sisters. Madison decides to replant a section of the farm and will do it by herself if she has to. But she finds a shocking ally in the planting department. I think you will enjoy this holiday story.

Maddison returns home from teaching overseas after a fire and death of her grandmother to try to save her family’s Christmas tree farm. The farm was left to Maddison and her sister Addison but she doesn’t have any desire to put any work into trying to fix it up and just wants to sell it. Maddison really wants to try to turn a profit this year and make a go at saving the farm. Her former high school flame also moves back to the adjoining property after his wife has passed away and he too is trying to reinvent his property with the help of his 9 year old daughter Lilly.

Melody Carlson knows how to write a Christmas Story! I always look forward to reading her books and I search them out! The cover of this one is just so cute!

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

Melody Carlson is the queen of the Christmas novella, and this year's book is a cozy delight. Part family story, part romance, the plot follows Madison on her return home to the family Christmas tree farm, which is failing. Her sister has given up, but Madison is determined to revive the business even if it means planting trees herself with no help. She also reconnects with her former flame, Gavin, now a single dad, whose plans to build a dirt bike track for his daughter on the property next door might impact Madison's plans.

Though this is eventually a Christmas book, it starts early enough in the season that it also makes a nice, cozy fall read. Madison and Gavin have great chemistry on the page, and the conflict between the sisters is very belivable. A feel-good story with a happy ending, this is a great addition to Melody Carlson's canon of Christmas books.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This story was a Hallmark Christmas movie brought to life. It was fun and sweet and predicable. Which is what I want from my Christmas stories so it definitely did it's job. It was cozy and cute and such a quick read. I liked the characters and thought the overall message and ending was perfect!

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.

Madison finds herself part owner of the family Christmas tree farm. Sadly, a wildfire has destroyed part of the farm, as well as others. Her sister, Addie, isn't very thrilled to see Madison. She just wants to sell the place and the farm.
As luck (or fate) would have it, who has the farm next to theirs but Madison's old high school flame, Gavin. His hazelnut farm has been destroyed by the fire. Oh, but he has plans! What he wants to build there is definitely not something Madison wants next to her Christmas tree farm.
Can Madison save the family farm and restore her relationship with her sister? And, what about Gavin in the next farm over? Hmmmmm...
Lots packed into this novella. Sweet, sweet story.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Revell, through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

The Christmas Tree Farm Book Review
Thanks to NetGalley for offering me this book in exchange for my opinion. All opinions are my own.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson.
When Madison McDowell returns from several years of teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But the farm is in sad shape between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie's unwillingness to invest. In fact, Addie intends to sell 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.

My Take:

My favorite genre of books is Christmas holiday fiction. This novella has a lot packed into this story. Set in modern times, two sisters are owners of a family farm. One wants to see it succeed, the other not so much. The emotional relationships in the book are easy to believe and follow. Lily, one of the younger characters, is someone that I would like to watch grow up in future books by Melody Carlson. The author does a wonderful job of describing Christmas in a farm setting. A cup of cocoa, a few cookies and I was in my favorite place: Christmas.



About the Author:


Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carter is a delightful and predictable story of love conquering all. When Madison McDowell returns from several years teaching overseas she is disappointed to find that the Christmas Tree farm left to Madison and her sister, Addie is run down and her sister Addie wants to sell it and move on.
Madison needs to convince Addie that the farm could be viable again with some hard work.
Unfortunately the farm next to theirs is going to be used as a bike dirt track for racing, which the widowed owner has promised his daughter he will build.
Will Madison get her way or will Addie?
A pleasant romantic story with an interesting storyline.
Recommended

I thought this was such a cute read and It really got me into the festive mood. Perfect holiday read!

If you’re looking for a Christmas in July book to read or perhaps just browsing through Christmas books before the holiday this cute novella might be just what you’re looking for. Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors and it’s become a favorite tradition for me to read her new Christmas novella each year. This story is an uplifting novella about a second chance romance. I thought it was romantic and Christmassy. It was an easy and quick read and it didn’t disappoint this reader.

I received this book from Melody Carlson and NetGalley in return for my review.

I feel this book was a great Christmas read. It relays a heartfelt family story. Christmas is my favorite holiday so I had no doubts I would enjoy this book.