The Christmas Tree Farm

by Melody Carlson, Stephanie Cozart (Narrator)

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 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.

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

6 pages, Audiobook

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME🎄🎄!!!!!!!!!!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about books with the setting of a Christmas tree farm that brings to mind a real sense of Christmas spirit that I enjoy, and I found this book hard to put down and was a quick read. 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.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As soon as McDowell’s Family Christmas Tree Farm runs out of Christmas spirit, we’ll be out of business.”

With Madison in Mongolia teaching, her sister Addie was left managing the family’s farm in Oregon for the past five years. Weary at dealing with wildfire damage and resentful at Madison’s globetrotting, Addie has failed to do what it takes to keep the Christmas tree farm viable. She wants to sell and move on with her life. When Madison returns and makes changes to the way it’s run, hoping to resuscitate the business, the sisters find themselves at a standoff. It doesn’t help that Madison’s first love, Gavin Thompson, has moved in next door and has plans for his property that Madison finds irksome. Can they put their past behind them to move forward? Can they coexist? What about Addie?

I loved this immersive story full of the true meaning of Christmas and highlighting peace, forgiveness, unity, and second chances. I appreciated learning about the tree planting business (plugs, etc) as I read and found the delicate balance between sibling drama and percolating romance enjoyable. It was refreshing to read about a character who was willing to take a risk to keep her heritage and one who realized the value of community spirit and working together.

This new-to-me author is one I'll put on my radar as I love her writing style and message.

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

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Madison McDowell has spent the last five years on a teaching mission in Mongolia. She returns to the Christmas tree Farm where she had spent her summers with her grandparents and Dad when she was growing up. Now Madison is a co-owner of the tree farm with her younger sister Addie. Madison hopes to surprise her sister with her unannounced arrival but Addie is not happy to see her. Addie wants to sell the Christmas tree farm but Madison wishes to fix up the neglected farm and build the business back up to what it was when her grandparents ran it. The two don’t see eye to eye and things become stressful at times. To make matters worse Madison’s old high school flame lives next to the tree farm. Addie has her eyes on Gavin Thompson for herself but Gavin has his eyes on Madison. Can anything good come out of this unhappy reunion between the McDowell sisters?

I recommend this novella to readers of Christian Fiction, contemporary romance and Christmassy books.This is a standalone Novella . It is scheduled for release on 9/3/24.

I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are solely my own.

#TheChristmasTreeFarm #NetGalley

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Melody Carlson’s Christmas books are so hit or miss for me. I enjoyed this one for the most part, but she can write some truly unlikable characters that dampen the whole story.

Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3.25 stars
Narrators: Stephanie Cozart
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Christmas
Length: 5h 28m

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Hallmark holiday style book 👍🎄

[Kelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very juvenile, no character development, ridiculously cheesy ending. Wanted a cute Christmas romance and this fell flat big time.

[Lisa Burgos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Novella filled with family, sisters with different agendas, and a dash of romance.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Christmas Tree Farm, by Melody Carlson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When Madison McDowell returns home from Mongolia, a lot had changed, fire has damaged the town, and their tree farm. Madison wants to help her sister with the farm, but Addie wants to sell, they both also like the same man. This was a really good, read, short though.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very solid 3 stars, but not quite 4.
I really got into the story at the beginning with all of the Christmas farm cozy vibes, but then the juvenile catty drama over a man and some romance cheese took off pretty quick and lasted right up to the very last chapter, so then I was like yeah, peace out.
The almost 40 year old women acting like 12 year Olds and the hasty resolution were quite annoying.
If drama isn't an irritation point for you, and you love rustic Christmas at home stories with second chance romance, you'll probably get more out of this than I did.

[angelpompom · Rating 2 out of 5]

After I loved the last book I read by her, I was exited to start this one. Unfortunately, almost immediately I started to hate it. Second changes really haven’t been working for me lately:(

[Krystle smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not sure where to even start.

1st, I was completely unaware that this was Christian fiction. 2nd, Every single person was completely insufferable.

Madison leaves her family to work in Mongolia. After the death of half of her family and a fire in the city, she decides to come home and suddenly be invested in the family business. In comes her bratty immature 30 something sister. (I seriously thought these people were in their 20’s) They then began to fight over Madison’s old fling. Twice Gavin is referred to as territory.

Gavin’s dead wife only marrying him to steal him from Madison seems petty AF. Their daughter being the one to tell Madison is even worse. It’s okay though. The daughter loves Madison’s sister and mom. You know, they are all into fashion and not tomboys.

The “let’s go to church together” aspect made me want to gag. Him proposing after 1 date made me want to fully throw up. I fully lost it when the younger daughter said her dad must have been a “good boy” because he has the biggest gift.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet second chance romance set on a Christmas tree farm.

When Madison travels back home to help with the family's farm, she funds the farm not doing so great. A surprise next door neighbor and problems up to ears. Perfect setting and a lovely story.

I loved the character of Madison as well as the sweet second chance. I was kind of sad how their relationship ended the first time, but was so happy they got their chance. I also really liked the family dynamics and the family drama worked well with how the story unfolded.

If you love Christmas books with deep heartfelt characters and stories, pick this one up!

*thank you to Baker Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book to read, all thoughts are my own.

[Alissa J. Zavalianos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, wholesome, sweet…I loved this one! Another winner by Carlson :)

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my fist Melody Carlson book and I have to say, I had just a great time. Reading a book in July like Christmas in July. Only thing I forgot was to put a Hallmark Christmas movie on in the background.

Madison has spent the past five years in Mongolia teaching English but with a change in her relationship she has finally moved back to the place she grew up on. A Christmas tree farm that her grandparents had built.

When she gets home to her sister, who has been handling the farm, he gets a bit of resistance and the sister wants to sell. Madison is determined to prove that the Christmas Tree farm is in fact profitable and worth keeping. Plus, her old crush from when she was a teenager is back living on the neighboring land.

I really did have fund with it. It was like a cozy, comfortable and down home story. I also loved that it wasn't just Christmas. We got to experience Autumn and Thanksgiving as well and Madison did a lot of things that remind you of small town events in a Hallmark movie.

This is a novella so it's super quick to read and just wholesome! Start your Holiday reading now! You won't regret it!

*Copy provided by Netgalley for an honest review*

[Karen J · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An absolutely delightful Christmas read, wonderful story line and characters.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fuckass book pissed me off. Like I’m sorry her little sister is 32-34 and she’s acting like a 20 year old. Also cannot believe I got got by Christian fiction again (no hate to the genre just I’m begging authors to make it more obvious that their work is Christian fiction because I would just avoid it instead of disliking the book cause I know it won’t be my cup of tea).

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this touching story grew on me, just like the trees on the farm grew in this second chances story. I appreciated the growth of the characters too as they deal with loss and pain and struggle with relationships. I also like the setting and the attempt to revive the area plus the leadup to Christmas—my favorite time of year. All this makes for a satisfying tale to read any time, but by a fire on a cool day sounds great right now. I would also recommend this for a fun book club discussion. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #TheChristmasTreeFarm #NetGalley

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gavin and Maddie were the perfect pair, and I devoured this book. NO ONE does a touching Christmas book like Carlson. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

[Desiree Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE GOOD:
A sweet, light, happy tale, perfect for reading around the Christmas tree.
Clean fiction with no swearing, steamy scenes, or diversity checklist bingo.
A beautiful setting on a Pacific Northwest Christmas tree farm.
11-year-old Lily, Madison’s neighbor, is a hoot! And adorable to boot.

THE BAD:
As a novella, story lines and back story obviously have to be compressed. The second chance romance may feel like it went way too fast, for some readers.
Madison’s sister is super bratty - more a caricature than a fully-developed character.

CONCLUSION:
Recommended for clean fiction lovers and for that Hallmark holiday movie feeling.

[Langleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out decently well but then I felt like it just didn’t hold up in the second half. Like the author was rushing to get this book published before Christmas and was running out of time. I was so not behind these people being a couple. It was based on a fling they had around two decades ago and just didn’t seem to have much charm with each other. The sister and mom acting like the evil sister and mom of Cinderella was also an odd touch. The sister was so weird the whole book but one conversation later she was chill? It was a strange book, not even bad but like strange? 4/10

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madison returns to the family farm after being away for years. She is hoping to reconnect with her sister. The farm is going to need everything she has to survive. A nice holiday read

[Milena Loves Books❤️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I believe I would be an outlier here, I didn't enjoy it personally and it may not be to my taste, but it could appeal to others.

When Maddison returns from several years of teaching overseas to her family's Christmas tree farm, she finds that her sister wants to sell the farm and has no interest in running the business. To make matters worse, her ex-boyfriend returns and lives next door — the man she still has feelings for, the one who left her without any explanation and married someone else. And to top it off, he wants to open a dirt bike track for her daughter, bringing lots of noise and dirt to her once peaceful agricultural land.

I didn't like any of the characters. Her sister is selfish and immature, and her ex's daughters are rude and spoiled. I had a hard time finding anything relatable in the story; everything seemed very unrealistic.

The romance and the ending were rushed. Gavin never apologized for why he married another woman or explained what happened and why he hurt Maddie, even though he had said that Maddison was the only woman he ever loved.

I loved the cover and Christmas stories, but unfortunately, I did not enjoy this particular one...Releases Sep 03.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the eARC.

[DevotedToHope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melody Carlson’s The Christmas Tree Farm is a heartwarming hug of the Christmas season, intricately wrapped in the complexities of family dynamics. Madison McDowell’s return to her family’s beloved Christmas tree farm unveils the harsh reality of wildfire damage and her sister Addie’s reluctance to revive the cherished homestead.

The festive charm of the season stands in stark contrast to the chaos of a dirt bike track being planned next door, adding another layer to Madison’s challenges. The characters, while not deeply intricate, exude a comforting warmth that makes the story both endearing and relatable.

This story captures the cozy traditions of a Christmas tree farm and the special, sometimes rare, moments of family togetherness with a gentle touch. Carlson’s storytelling casts a soft, festive glow over the struggles, offering a delightful escape into a world where Christmas and family bonds are sweetly intertwined.

I received a digital copy of The Christmas Tree Farm from the publisher. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

[Bella Raine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw so sweet! Longer RTC

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melody Carlson has a new Christmas novella every year. I’ve read many of her Christmas novellas and enjoyed them. It is always a treat to read another one by her.

This book follows Madison, who has returned to the Christmas tree farm that she inherited (and now co-owns) with her sister after devastating wildfires have hurt much of their community.

This story was so cute. I loved the Christmas tree farm setting. I will say, this is a perfect Christmas book to read early in the season, as it actually begins in September and goes forward to Christmas. Thanksgiving was around the 60 percent or 2/3rds mark if I’m remembering correctly. Normally, I like my Christmas books to be more Christmas focused, but this was about life on the Christmas tree farm so it focused on planting, wreath-making, and other things to get ready for the Black Friday rush to get a tree.

Madison was constantly butting heads with her sister Addie, to the point where I looked at my Kindle and saw I was almost done with the book and had no idea how all that conflict would resolve. Being a novella, it definitely happened quickly (almost too quickly, especially given how prickly Addie was).

This novella also has a small subplot of Madison getting reacquainted with Gavin, a guy she had a major crush on as a teenager, and his preteen daughter Lily. I really liked the relationship that developed between Madison and Lily. They had many sweet scenes together. I was fairly meh about the romance though. If Gavin was supposedly so ~~in love~~ with Madison back then, why did he sleep with the other girl (who became pregnant and he married her at age 18)? Yes, it was explained that the other girl was “out to get him” but he still could have said no, especially if he was as enamored with Madison as he claimed to be.

His proposal to Madison at the end came out of nowhere as well.

Overall, though, this was a cute Christmas read that would be perfect to read early in the season.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the characters and relationship between the characters, and was pleased that it did not go along as I expected. I didn't feel like it was the typical Christmas novella. It really seemed like the main character Madison, was the underdog and just couldn't win in any situation sometimes. I got fed up with one of the other main characters attitudes! Lol. Definitely loved one of the younger characters so much and her relationship with another character. It had strong Christmas vibes and some faith based themes, but they were light. Not sure if I loved the ending.
Also, I listened to this on audio book and was filled with pure delight when I realized it was narrated by the amazing Stephanie Cozart. She's my absolute favorite narrator. Definitely recommend on audio book if you like to listen to books!

[Krislyn Vergara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance romance and the aspect of two sisters pining for the same man. There was a lot of family building as well as found family all based on a Christmas tree farm! 🎄🎄

[Melany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, gave me small town Hallmark Christmas movie vibes.