Publication Date: September 3, 2024
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.
The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson follows the story of Madison McDowell, who, after years of traveling the world, decides to finally return to the place that holds some of her most cherished childhood memories: her grandparents’ family Christmas tree farm. However, upon her arrival, Madison soon realizes she may not be able to slip back into life at the farm as easily as she had hoped.
While Madison had been traveling the world, her younger sister Addie took the responsibility of caring for their grandparents, their father, and the farm. However, when Madison returns, she finds the farm has fallen into disrepair. Addie intends to sell the family farm and has little interest in Madison’s plans to salvage it.
Much to Addie’s chagrin, Madison sets out to restore the McDowell farm to its former glory. As she begins this seemingly impossible task, Madison realizes her childhood sweetheart, Gavin, lives next to the farm with his daughter, Lily.
As Madison starts to transform the farm, she is forced to confront her past, mainly her past relationship with Gavin, which ended abruptly when Madison came to the farm one summer to realize Gavin had gotten married right out of high school and had a baby on the way.
We read as Madison forms new friendships, tries to keep the peace between her and her sister, and uncovers the truth from the past she had tried to forget.
If you’ve never considered owning a Christmas tree farm, The Christmas Tree Farm will have you daydreaming of a simple farm life filled with tree planting, wreath making, and holiday cheer.
This novel is perfect for lovers of rekindled romances. I love when a character comes back to a place of their childhood as an adult. Throughout the book, more of the past is unraveled until we find out the true reason behind a failed relationship or an unexplained action.
While I hate to do this, I did take away half of a star. I didn’t understand Addie’s actions. She had no interest in living on the farm or in nature. She was a city girl through and through who liked nice things and didn’t want to get her hands dirty. I’m not sure why she didn’t take Madison up on her offer to help out with their grandparents and her father.
I also don’t understand why Addie would be so hung up on Gavin. They didn’t have any of the same interests. She knew Gavin intended to stay in the country and build a bike park. Addie was clearly miserable there, so it didn’t make sense why she would go after someone who wanted the opposite of what she wanted.
I enjoyed The Christmas Tree Farm. It’s the perfect holiday book to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie, and the movie based on her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023. She and her husband live in central Oregon.
