Evergreen Christmas

Frosted Firs Ranch #1

by Janet Dailey

The first in a new cozy Christmas series where the 12 annual Competitions of Christmas in the, close-knit town of Noel, North Carolina are underway! This year horse breeder, and newcomer, Jordyn Banks decides to take on the resident Christmas tree decorating champion, who happens to be her handsome next door neighbor. Barrel racer Jordyn Banks is thrilled to discover affordable land for sale in charming Noel, perfect for breeding her horses. But that’s not all. A nomad with no family—other than her beloved Quarter Horse, Star—she also hopes to find a home within the close-knit Appalachian Mountain community. Yet Jordyn didn’t bargain on inheriting a controversial Fraser Fir—or falling for a handsome single dad whose adorable little girl tempts her to dream of being far more than a property owner . . . Since losing his wife in childbirth six years ago, Nate Reed has devoted himself to their daughter, Roxanna, and built up their thriving Frosted Firs Ranch. For nine years straight he’s won Noel’s contest for the most perfect Christmas tree for the Town Square. It’s a tradition he began with his late wife. But this year, Jordyn Banks is determined to harvest her Fraser Fir and compete—meaning Nate will finally be challenged—in more ways than one . . . Throughout the event, Nate can’t help noticing that Roxanna is dazzled by Jordyn’s strength, beauty, and quirky sense of humor. Soon enough, Nate is falling for her, too. But can a feisty wanderer ever really settle down? Is Nate ready to open his heart to someone new? And is it possible that sometimes love does grow on (Christmas) trees? . . .

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2024

About the author

Janet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.

Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.

She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.

Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.

Reviews

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hardly recognize myself. Who even am I?

There was no blood, there was no murder, no haunting atmosphere and I enjoyed this so, so much. This is essentially a pure and golden Hallmark Christmas movie brought to the page and I was filled with the warmest feelings through the whole darn thing.

❤️🎄💚❤️🎄💚❤️🎄💚❤️🎄💚❤️

Full review to come...stay tuned!!!

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janet Dailey shines the light on Noel, North Carolina to highlight how a small town at Christmas pulls together to help those in need and showcase the magic of the season. It’s the first in a cozy mystery series, Frosted Firs Ranch, and has readers considering if love could possibly grow on trees!

Nomad and barrel racer, Jordyn Banks, arrives in Noel looking for a place to breed her horses and hopes that it’s also somewhere she can call ‘home’. The Appalachian Mountain community eagerly accept her and force her to open her heart to new possibilities.

I loved the Competitions of Christmas, the sense of community, the tension that arose when Jordyn met Nate Reed (the winner of the past 9 years) and appreciated a unique holiday-themed read. After Dailey’s passing, the Dailey family and a close associate have managed (through notes left) to capture Dailey’s ability to create relatable small-town characters and heartwarming holiday magic stuffed with new beginnings, family and romance.

I was gifted this copy by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never read anything by Janet Dailey (yeah, I know kind of shocking), I was kind of excited to read a holiday story from a well-known author of two other holiday series. I knew going in that it was going to be heavy on the romance and light on anything else, which is ok. As a character driven reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the amusing and entertaining ensemble of characters that Dailey has included in this heart-warming, holiday, romance story of found family and moving on from grief.

The book summary introduces the two MC’s, Jordyn and Nate, along with overall storyline of them competing against each other in the town Christmas competitions, which the townspeople of Noel, NC take very seriously! As a newcomer in town, Jordyn is taken under the wings of the Noel Nannas, Carolbel, Candy, Eve, and Holly, who also run and manage the Christmas competitions. The Nannas are determined to break Nate’s Christmas tree winning streak for the past nine years and have recruited Jordyn to become this year’s Christmas tree winner with her extraordinarily beautiful Frazier fir tree, Fabio. It’s not long before Nate approaches Jordyn about buying Fabio from her and Jordyn, with an intense competitive streak, responds with a resounding “No, because I’m going to win and I’m going to wipe the floor with you.” The games on!!!

Most of the story revolves around Noel’s Christmas competitions (there are 12 of them), that provide some hilarious and entertaining reading. LOVE the Nannas, who are some of the best characters in the story. Little Roxy, Nate’s 6yr old daughter, was adorable. The character development for Jordyn, Nate and Roxy as well as some of the Nannas was well done and the pacing steady. The storyline was entertaining and the writing was on par for the genre. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME🎄🎄!!!!!!!!!!

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Felt too much like the sappiest Hallmark movie that was going to turn my brain into mush. Closed it after 40 pages. Sorry to my friend who gave it to me as a gift. Will donate it to a free library where someone else might really need a feel good, low thought romance, cuz sometimes, that’s what you need - but that’s not me today.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute Christmas read with a fun competition aspect. I really liked how the entire small town got super into the game. A lot of the games sounded fun too (if not terribly realistic). The romance was very much love at first sight (which both Nate and Jordyn were aware of). Unfortunately, I found both of them to be somewhat one note with Jordyn’s defining trait being that she was a barrel racer who grew up in the foster system and Nate’s trait being that he was a single father. Neither of them were as developed as they could be. Roxie was your typical precocious youth often found in these types of stories or in Hallmark Christmas movies. Overall I would recommend this book to those who love a sweet and clean Christmas story with plenty of festive feels!

[Vicki F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my! Such delightful characters in the four Noel Nanas, each unique from grumpy Carol Belle to colorful Kandy. The plotting (from page one) to change the winner of Noel, North Carolina's Annual Christmas Challenge Crown. Plus the plotting to pit the newcomer, Jordyn Banks, against the past nine year winner Nate Reed. Evergreen Christmas by Janet Dailey is a light, fun read. Cannot wait for a sequel.

Releases Sept 24th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024
Goodreads Giveaway winner

If you are a fan of romance, Christmas, or Nora Roberts you will love this book! You'll be rooting for Jordyn (with a y) every step of the way!

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Dailey died ten years ago; a ghost writer now authors Ms. Dailey's books. Fans of Ms. Dailey can certainly tell the difference.

[Marian Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evergreen Christmas is a charming holiday read set in Noel, North Carolina, a close-knit town where the residents take their Christmas competitions seriously.

Newcomer Jordyn arrives in town after purchasing a ranch for her horse breeding business. A group of women who are in charge of the towns holiday events convince Jordyn to participate as she has a fir tree on her ranch that could win the tree decorating contest.

Nate is Jordyn’s neighbor, a widow and the father of Roxie, who owns a Christmas Tree Farm. They enjoy spending time together but agree to just stay friends as Nate doesn’t feel he will ever be ready to date again.

As the snow falls and the competition begins, the residents are convinced that Jordyn and Nate belong together.

I love Christmas books and read them all year. Loved this charming town and community. I recommend this book and looking forward to continuing this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas story of friendship, love, and what makes a family. Fun, flirty, and sweet.

[Jessica Livengood · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a charming small town called Noel, North Carolina, a new resident, Jordyn, becomes part of the close-knit community. Upon her arrival, she is welcomed by the Noel Nanas—a lively group of four older women who share a lifelong bond and are always ready to stir up some fun. This year, their mission is to help someone new win the town’s Christmas competition, and Jordyn is their chosen candidate.

As Jordyn settles into her new home, she meets her neighbor, Nate, his daughter Roxie, and his brother Tucker. Nate has lived in Noel all his life, but after losing his wife during Roxie’s childbirth six years ago, he’s been grieving deeply. Despite this, Jordyn finds herself irresistibly drawn to him, and slowly, her warm and endearing personality begins to soften Nate’s heart. For the first time since his loss, he starts to reconsider whether he’s ready to open himself up to love again.

This book is the perfect feel-good Christmas novel. The story is so engaging that you’ll find yourself eagerly turning the pages, fully engrossed in the warmth and charm of Noel. The author’s detailed descriptions make it easy to visualize the town and its people, creating an immersive experience that feels like watching a classic holiday movie—just in book form.

The characters are lovable, especially Jordyn, whose vibrant personality is sure to win over readers. There’s a beautiful blend of light romance, friendship, and a fun, friendly competition that brings the story to life. The relationships, especially Nate’s gradual healing and his connection with Jordyn, are heartwarming and satisfying.

This was my first time reading a work by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. It’s the kind of story that wraps you up in warmth, perfect for the holiday season. If you’re in the mood for an easy, uplifting read with a sprinkle of romance and community spirit, this is the book for you. I’ll definitely be seeking out more works from this author in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful novel!

[Bright Book Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

Janet Anne Haradon Dailey
May 21, 1944-December 13, 2013

“After the passing of Janet Dailey, the Dailey family worked with a close associate of Janet’s to continue her literary legacy, using her Notes, ideas and favorite themes to complete her novels and create new ones, inspired by the American men and women she loved to portray.”

—

When I signed up to review this book, I had no idea that Janet Dailey had passed in 2013.

Evergreen Christmas is the first in a cozy Christmas series. It is a holiday romance set in Noel, North Carolina that combines the sworn-off love/widower with child and fish out of water types of stories. It also features a womanizer.

I enjoy reading Christmas stories and reading about a town called Noel and its twelve Christmas contests sounded like fun to me.

Unfortunately, I found the story to be boring. I did not like reading about the characters. I found several of those characters to be annoying/offensive.

I could not force myself to finish it.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a sweet, somewhat cheesy, Hallmark movie type of Christmas book, this is for you. It is a romance that takes place in the small town of Noel somewhere in NC. The book has no swearing or sex. It has all the stereotypical elements you expect in this type of story. The events in the town’s annual Christmas celebration are somewhat over the top.
2 1/2 rounded to 3

[Gwendolyn W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet holiday romance with small town vibes, and wild Christmas contests.

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Evergreen Christmas by Janet Dailey has set the stage for an excellent holiday series.

Will Jordyn and Nate be more than just competitors for the Christmas competition?

The Christmas Competition has twelve events that end near Christmas Eve so that the Christmas tree that wins the competition can be displayed for the whole town to celebrate and marvel over. Will Nate, Roxie, and Tucker Reed's tree win for the tenth year in a row, or will newcomer Jordyn Banks beat him? Only time will tell on that front.

Jordyn Banks
Jordyn Banks bought Chestnut Ridge while finishing her last circuit in the Rodeo before semi-retiring to set down some roots somewhere. She arrives in Noel, North Carolina, on Black Friday and falls in love with the town. As time passes, Jordyn falls in love with the town and their competitive spirit for the competition. I love Jordyn and how she pushes Nate's buttons in a good way that draws out his competitive spirit and maybe a little spirit he hasn't had for the season since before his wife died. Jordyn is awesome.

Nate and Roxanna Reed
Nate Reed has been raising his daughter Roxanna (Roxie) with the help of his baby brother Tucker for the past six years since his wife passed away. He thinks winning the yearly competition will help his daughter feel closer to her mom. Nate doesn't realize that he's been hogging the glory by being the winner for too long. Not only that, but he hasn't been living either. Roxanna is just the cutest little six-year-old who knows who her mom is and is ready for her dad to do more in his life than just how he has been living. These two are the cutest little family pairing ever, and I love how Roxie unintentionally gravitates to Jordyn for help with things like a daughter would with a mother.

The Romance and Family
The romance between Nate and Jordyn was more of an instant connection that Nate denied. Jordyn respected his wishes, especially during the competition, but she couldn't help how her feelings for him kept growing. Nate's own feelings for Jordyn kept increasing as well. These two are so cute together, and how they helped each other during the competition events was cute. Nate, Roxie, and Jordyn as a family unit are adorable since they began feeling like a family at the first event, even if they were still denying it.

Five Stars
My rating for Evergreen Christmas by Janet Dailey is five stars. Evergreen Christmas by Janet Dailey is the first book I've read by Ms. Dailey, and I loved her writing style and how jumping between being with Jordyn and Nate happened seamlessly so that it didn't make me go, "Wait, what is going on?". I can't wait to see what happens next!

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Evergreen Christmas by Janet Dailey.

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you kensington books for the copy and in exchange I am presenting an honest review
prefacing my comments with *honest* because this was.. rough for me. I try to be nice and go in with the expectations that this is someone sharing their art and hard labor with the world. But, this is an established author.. I am a bit disappointed.
to summarize the story, we follow Jordyn with a y who moves to Noel, NC and gets sucked into the town's annual christmas competition where the leaders of the competition, the Nanas, aid in her upsetting the reigning champion, Nate. She participates 12 goofy competitions, culminating in the final christmas tree decorating contest before determining the winner of the entire contest.
To start with the good:
it's a quick, easy read that is perfect in the chaos of the holiday season. I received this shortly before december but waited until christmas really kicked off to read it and I am glad I did. It aided in feeling the christmas spirit. It also served as a wonderful distraction from the chaos of the holiday season, to just cozy up with an easy book that you know won't mess with your emotions.
I got a question right at trivia from this book, having learned that NC is the state that the white house has the most annual christmas trees from.
The competitions were so cute and creative, and some could easily be implemented at my own family holiday events. I am not sure if these games already existed or if Dailey made them up, but I loved it. I wish she had included all 12 events in detail in the story and not just a few.
the bad:
It was uncomfortably christmas themed. Noel, NC. Carol Belle, Eve Night, Holly and Kandy. Kingle's Cafe. Ugh. After a while it just got to be ridiculous..
The daughter of our male protagonist, Roxie, can't pronounce a word to save her life. That isn't realistic for a 6 year old and is such an annoying trope to read.
The author uses the phrase "his male interest" a lot to refer to men checking out a woman. It's giving incel vibes.. I wish she would not have used that phrase.
There lacks an actual motive behind most things to make sense. The Nanas go back and forth in whether they hate Nate or not, claiming that he's won the crown too many times, but also that he's in too much grief from his late wife and he is using the contest as a coping mechanism. At first, Carol Belle has a *strong* dislike of Jordyn but that immediately disappears and suddenly they're BFFs. Jordyn's personality is inconsistent- is she a sassy, fiery girl? or is she a sweet southern charm just looking to fit in? it really fluctuates in an inconsistent way.
Overall, I can only say I enjoyed this book as it aided in the christmas spirit, but I am not sure I would read it again. I think if you are someone looking for an easy, no worry read at christmas time, this is probably more your speed.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jordyn moves to a new town right before the holidays and her home comes with a beautiful fir tree, which leads “the Nanas” right to her door.
The Nanas are a group of women in their 70’s. They want to talk Jordyn into entering her Christmas tree into the town Christmas competition.

The Nanas actually originated the Christmas competition when one of their husbands died about ten years earlier. But they think widower Nate is unhealthily obsessed with winning.
Nate has been raising his 6 year old daughter Roxie (you know I approve of her name!) by himself since his wife died in childbirth.
The first few years they won the competition as a married couple and now he enters with his brother Tucker and daughter Roxie.
He feels like he has to win in order to keep him and his wife’s tradition going.

But the Nanas can see that Nate isn’t actually having fun. And he keeps his heart very guarded too.

They think Jordyn just might solve more than one problem.

I liked the storyline. The characters were likable and I liked the town. I especially liked Tucker, Nate’s brother.

Some of the competitions were too ridiculous. Here’s a summary of the competitions:
Snowman fight
Candy cane fishing
Terrible tinsel triathlon
Christmas cookie crumble
Sexy Santa’s eggnog contest
Gingerbread
Christmas karaoke
Christmas dance craze
Ugly sweater wrapping pretty
Christmas light contest

Does Sexy Santa make you cringe? Me too lol

And the terrible tinsel triathlon sounded awful.

I did appreciate that Jordyn had the same problem with the Christmas tree lighting competition as I did.

I also would have liked the horse storyline to feature a bit more.

I was a bit confused about how the author wrote this book when she passed away ten years ago. Was it really a new book or a reissue with a new cover? Turns out there’s been a ghostwriter since the original author passed.

I thought this book had more potential. It was cute but it could have been better.

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evergreen Christmas by Janet Dailey
Frosted Firs Ranch #1
8h 51m narrated by Theresa Buchheister, 288 pages

Genre: Holiday: Christmas; Contemporary Romance, Comedy

Featuring: North Carolina, Christmas Town, Septuagenarians, Newcomers, Christmas Tree Farm, Horse Breeder, Foster Kid, Long Chapters, Holiday Competitions, Widower, Single Parent, Motherless Child, Appalachian Mountains, Tricenarian, Vicenarians, Friendships, Heartwarming Moments, Hilarious Antics

Rating as a movie: PG-13 for sexual innuendos

Songs for the soundtrack: "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway, "Lil Snowman" by Mariah Carey, "This Year" by Christina Aguilera, "Wrapped In Red" by Kelly Clarkson, "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt, "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love, "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives, "Gingerbread Man Dance And Freeze" by Jack Hartmann, "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley, "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" by Bruce Springsteen, "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🐴🌲🏔⛄️🤶🧑‍🎄🍪🎄

My thoughts: 📱52% 4:35:40 Chapter 8 - Quirky, but I love it.

I wasn't exactly sure where this was going with the opening, but it was very good. If this was a movie, I'd watch It multiple times. It had everything you'd want in a Christmas movie: good times, friends, fun, and a romance that goes beyond the surface. I wish I could visit Noel.

Recommend to others: Yes. I'm excited about book 2.

Frosted Firs Ranch
1. Evergreen Christmas (2024)

[Juli Grasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lit Whisperer's analysis finds this to be a quintessential holiday read, earning a warm 4 stars.
​Janet Dailey excels at creating an immersive, cozy atmosphere that makes you want to curl up with a hot cocoa. The setting is vividly described, capturing the magic of a snowy winter perfectly. It’s a good story with a solid emotional arc and a cast of characters that feel like old friends by the end. While the plot follows some familiar holiday tropes, it is executed with such charm and sincerity that it feels fresh. This is a story that leaves you wanting to know more about the community and provides a truly satisfying festive escape.
​Follow me for more reviews @TheLitWhisperer.

[Enza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought I would devour this book as who doesn’t love a sappy Christmas romance? Instead, it took me over eight months to finish. It wasn’t until the last 80 pages or so that this book picked up, otherwise it literally kept putting me to sleep. Very cute but so much filler. And also, why does Roxie’s vocabulary go from a six year old to a 20 year old’s by the end of the book??? Last few pages felt a bit rushed but overall cute story / okay book with disjointed delivery.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

This book was very clean and well written. Very sweet romantic comedy with some very timely themes. I had never read any of the authors' books before. But, I might have to read more of her books.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy holiday read set in a stunning location and filled with warm characters. Definitely recommend this lovely read.

Thank you to Janet Dailey, NetGalley and Kensington for the arc of this book.

[Judy Zell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rom-com with the craziest Christmas contests ever, and 4 delightful Noel Nanas

[Allie Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

My FAV Christmas book I read this year. Sweet, cute, heartfelt…. A little Hallmark-ish but still a great read!

[Chantell Kraemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Hallmark-ish movie style Christmas read. Enter the town of Noel where you will meet some of the most endearing characters and town. You have arrived just in time for the annual Christmas competition games set right in the middle of a love story with a new comer to town and a single widowed Father afraid to fall in love again. Perfect read for the Holidays!

*** I won this ARC book via a GoodReads giveaway***

[Andria Parrish-kretzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great family Christmas book.

[Tammy Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story. Good holiday read!

[Blair Pullman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Susie Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow start, but overall a great holiday read!