Laurie Gilmore doesn't disappoint again! This book was quintessential Christmas x hallmark x filthy

And dogs! So many dogs!

Thank you NetGalley for the read

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

A huge thank you to One More Chapter, HarperCollins, Netgalley, and Laurie Gilmore for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was yet another INCREDIBLE book by Laurie Gilmore! If you ever wished to read a book that has Hallmark vibes but with some spice, then Laurie Gilmore’s newest book is the perfect choice.

Kira and Bennett are such a cute couple! I love the grumpy x sunshine trope (especially when the FMC is the grumpy one) and Laurie really nailed it in The Christmas Tree Farm. Seeing how the MCs learn what they want, grow, and become the best version of themselves was so wonderful.

Since I LOVED the first two books in the series, I was thrilled to see that the characters from the other books make an appearance! The world that Laurie Gilmore has made in Dream Harbor feels so cozy and the character building is just perfect! This series just keeps getting better. HIGHLY recommend adding this one to your holiday TBR!

The Christmas Tree Farm is book three in the phenomenal Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore.
Honestly I was too hyped about this book and didn’t think I would be approved! So to utter delight I was and I can’t thank this publisher enough!
This series has been seriously some of the absolute best books I’ve read in a long time!

A charming holiday romcom packed with cozy small-town vibes, witty banter, grumpy x sunshine tension, and some added spice.
I flew through this book, not wanting to put it down and needing to absorb every bit of this perfectly written story.
Kira and Bennett were absolutely amazing! I devoured their journey and gobbled them up!
I just adored how well fleshed out Kira and Bennett were. Their characters and how well developed they were really made their romance for me.

I can’t wait for book four The Strawberry Patch Pancake House and five The Gingerbread Bakery!

Thank You NetGalley and Harper 360 for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I received a copy of this for my honest review

In book 3 of the Dream Harbor series, our MMC is the brother of the cafe owner in book 1. He's staying in town for a few weeks to just get away from his life and spend time with his sister. Our FMC left her phone in Georgia to buy the Christmas Tree Farm. She did this after her ride or die, her twin sister, had the audacity to fall in love, get married and move to Denmark. She is trying to prove she can do this on her own, she has had everything in life handed to her, she wants to earn this. But this farm is more than she bargained for. He has always wanted to fix things for people, and a run down farm owned by a beautiful woman is like kryptonite. But they both worry that they will fall into old patterns and not be able to move on and truly fulfill their needs.

Thank you Harper 360 for the gifted advanced copy!

I unfortunately decided to DNF this one, I had a really hard time connecting with the characters or the storyline.

NetGalley is the only retail site that I will leave a rating for this book - I do not typically rate books I do not finish.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore is a charming holiday romcom packed with cozy small-town vibes, grumpy x sunshine tension, and a sprinkle of spice! Kira and Bennett’s dynamic is filled with chemistry, witty banter, and the classic forced proximity that romance readers adore. Watching these two opposites navigate a Christmas tree farm and their growing feelings makes for an irresistible holiday read. Add in adorable dogs, festive cheer, and a heartwarming HEA, and you've got the perfect recipe for a holiday escape. If you’re a fan of grumpy heroes and swoon-worthy Christmas settings, this book is for you!

Fans of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe are welcomed back to Dream Harbor. Bennet is in town to get away from his busy big city life and to visit with his sister Jeanie. An accidental run in with Kira, the new owner of the Christmas Tree Farm sets in to motion an attraction they both try hard to fight. This small town romance is a mix of cozy and spicy while also giving all the holiday vibes!

Thank you @netgally and @lauriegilmore for the opportunity to read and enjoy this ARC!

I apologize but I'm unable to review this book. I don't like reading books with sexual content, and I wasn't aware there was any.

Ok this was SUCH a cute story. This is the third installment of The Dream Harbor Series by Laurie Gilmore. I think I connected most with Bennet and Kira, the two kind of outcasts in some sense, and reformed in their ways. Kira coming from money, and Benner from just needing to be needed. I truly loved this with the Christmas vibes. I think between this book and book 2, they are competing for the best of the series! My rank so far is 2,3,1 I think. You can tell Laurie is upping her writing game with each story. These characters felt more well developed. The spice was spicing as well! This Christmas book is Chefs Kiss! Add it to your TBR now!

I LOVED this one!! This is the third book in the Dream Harbor series! It is written so you can read them as stand alone books but I recommend reading them in order as you get so much background info on each couple and its so fun to see them pop back up in the other books!!

Kira and Bennett are the main characters in this book. Kira who just bought a Christmas tree farm (even though she hates Christmas) and Bennett who is in dream harbor on vacation while escaping a bad dating life back in California. This book was funny, full of banter and love. it is a guaranteed HEA which I love.

Tropes:
- Grumpy x sunshine
- one bed
- small town
- forced proximity

A totally unrealistic but totally fun festive lovefest. The Dream Harbor series has quickly become a fun fluffy guilty pleasure and I’m not mad about it. I’ll read as many as Laurie Gilmore wants to write. Love the focus on seasonal vibes and characters who love to read (they’re just like us!), with character growth (Kira’s and Ben’s grumpy/sunshine personalities and Mr fix-it/no-I’m-Miss-Independent issues fit together so nicely!). The mysteries are completely Hallmark cheesy and unnecessary, but the point is the love story, so I don’t even care.

Thank you to One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC!

***ARC Review***

4.5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Small Town
Forced Proximity
One Bed

This is the third book in the Dream Harbor series featuring Kira North and Bennett Ellis with some familiar appearances.

Kira North is the grumpy sunshine who decided she needed a fresh new start after her twin sister got married. After some influencing from her doom scrolling, she bought a farm. And not just any farm, A Christmas Tree Farm. Kira North hates Christmas.

Bennett Ellis is a software engineer from California visiting his sister Jeanie, owner of the Pumpkin Spice Cafe, for the holidays. In tow with him are his three cuter than ever pups.

The story between Ben and Kira is super cute! This small town romance between the pair delivers the perfect amount of playfulness, tease and spice. I absolutely gobble the One Bed trope!

Everyone should definitely add this to their winter holidays TBR!

Welcome back to Dream Harbor!

I thought Logan and Jeanie were my favorite Dream Harbor couple, but I think Bennett and Kira are my new favorites!

On a whim, Kira decides to purchase an abandoned Christmas tree farm and move to Dream Harbor for a fresh start. Bennett is in town for the holidays visiting his sister when he runs into Kira while walking his dogs on her property, which he thought was still vacant. While the two have a bumpy first meeting, Bennett is a fixer and offers his help to Kira. The more they hangout, the more they enjoy each other’s company and eventually can’t resist the chemistry.

I loved the banter between Kira and Bennett! And the small town hallmark movie vibe. I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine trope, Kira being the grumpy one and Bennett the sunshine-y cinnamon roll. Usually the grumpy/sunshine tropes I read, it’s the opposite.

The third book in the Dream Harbor series is interconnected and can be read as a standalone but I definitely recommend reading in order to get a better background of the other couples and characters.

I can’t wait for more Dream Harbor books!

EXCELLENT during times of stress, love the happy, simple-life vibe. It helped me during a dark time to remember how simple joy feels again.

It is very difficult not to like any of Gilmore’s books especially this one that revolves around Christmas, the happiest of holidays. Everything about the book is lighthearted and entertaining. There is some mild steaminess in the book. Overall, this is a good book to read as the holidays are approaching!

Gilmore’s use of the small town setting allows her to connect this book with the ones before it. Thus, there are characters that are already familiar to any reader having read the previous books. Even so, this book can be read on its own.

A few other things: Grumpy Kira is not a nice Kira. Kira does not like Christmas?!?!? How is this possible when she owns a Christmas Tree Farm! And Bennet - his love language is helping people he cares about (swooning here!); the littlest things he does made me smile.

Obviously there is snow; there is SOOOOOOO much snow however there are advantages to a snowstorm & a snowball fight with a hot guy. And the ending is so romantic - just be ready. I can say no more.

If you are ready for the holiday magic to begin then start by reading this book.

Holy cow this book was AMAZING! I’m gonna have to say the best one yet! 😭 I gotta take my time on this review so stay tuned. This book deserves time and love in the review. ❤️

Ok. This book. Was amazing. Kira and Bennett were way too cute together. Their attraction started next to immediately. Kira is the tough one and Bennett…I loovveedddd Bennett. He is literally a golden retriever MMC and just loves helping people. He fights his Mr. Fix-It urges because it’s only caused him to be taken advantage of in his past dating experiences but when it comes to Kira, he literally can’t help himself.

Once they finally stopped fighting their attraction for each other, their relationship immediately glows all over the pages. Not only is Bennett helping Kira fix up the old house on the tree farm she invested in, but they begin going through some of the things that the previous owner left behind. There’s a rumor throughout the town about a possible discovery somewhere on the farm and everyone puts Bennett up to the task of digging around.

But, y’all. My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PART in this book…are the letters. I’m not spoiling it so when you get there, you will know. And you’ll know which part almost made me cry while I was out eating lunch and watching a game with hubby. Please visit me on my insta when you read this so I can hear your thoughts too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and opinions expressed in the review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publisher for this opportunity!

3.5 stars (rounded up).

"The Christmas Tree Farm" by Laurie Gilmore is the third book in the cozy and slightly spicy Dream Harbor series. This book revolves around Kira, a grumpy heiress who has just bought the town's Christmas tree farm, and Bennett, a sunshine-y guy who is visiting his Jeanie (who owns the Pumpkin Spice Cafe!) while trying to enjoy a vacation away from his California tech job. At first, Kira is totally standoffish and rude to the people of Dream Harbor, but we come to understand why she is the way she is. I think this plotline won't work for a lot of readers, but it was ok for me. I liked the exploration of how her privilege led her to buying the Christmas tree farm sign (and experience) unseen. I also appreciated the commentary about how Bennett stayed in a toxic situationship/relationship long past its expiry date. I also loved how Bennett was the sunshine-y cinnamon roll and Kira was the grumpy black cat! More of this in romance, please! My main issue is with the pacing. It takes far too long to get the story going. It starts very, very slowly, and eventually, it does open up, but slows down again toward the end. I liked the spice, the chemistry between characters, the little looks into the other two couples in the series, and the set-up for a future book. They are like less cheesy version of Hallmark/Netflix original Christmas films. These books go down as easy as a cup of Christmas cocoa. They will give you warm, fuzzy feelings, and the spice will heat you up from the inside. It is a really fun series, and I will definitely read the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laurie Gilmore, and Harper 360 for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

What fun sweet book. Now I have not read the prior books, time crunch honestly. I do believe the other books tie in, the brother of Pumpkin spice café owner is the MMC in this book but overall it could be stand-alone! I was not expecting the dynamic between the characters but this book gave me Hallmark and Gilmore Girls combo with extra spice and I loved it!!!

Bennett is in town to visit his sister Jeanie (owner of the Pumpkin Spice Cafe) and has somehow been appointed by the town to check in on the grumpy Christmas tree farm owner Kira. She had dreams of owning a farm and homesteading, so she bought a farm sight unseen without realizing it was the town’s beloved Christmas tree farm. She’s been a hermit for the past few months trying to prove that she can be independent and she doesn’t need anyone’s help. Until she runs out of money and needs to re-open the farm for tree buyers. Bennett is the ever-helpful rescuing type of guy who relies on his helpfulness to be wanted by his dates. He’s trying both the help and resist helping Kira, and she is definitely resisting any assistance. It’s a lot of push and pull, but they ultimately get stuck together in a snowstorm and a temporary fling develops. It was fun to revisit this quirky little town and to see Bennett and Kira integrate into a bigger friend group.

I would like to thank NetGalley for this ARC. I definitely think this book is the best one in the series so far! I can't wait to see what else this author will bring to this series!