The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson Novella Review

About the Novella:

Christmas is the perfect time for old memories, new beginnings, and second chances

When Madison McDowell returns from 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, Madison's former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break her 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 require 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 Christmas miracle to restore her relationship with her sister.

My Review:

This is an enjoyable Christmas novella. While it is a romance, much of the story centers around family relationships, especially sisters. The tension between the sisters is believable. Addie has been taking care of family responsibilities while Madison has been living her dream being a missionary. I can certainly understand Addie's frustration when Madison comes back and wants to change things. My favorite character was Lilly, child of next door land owner Gavin. She is a little spitfire and made me want to try dirt bike riding myself.

The romance is a troubled one. While we might root for Gavin and Madison to reconnect well, Addie has set her sights on him. We hope that Madison and Addie will some how be reconciled. Carlson adds a few more people to the mix to stir the relationship pot, such as a mother who thinks she can cook but produces food poisoning instead.

There are some revelations near the end that allow for a satisfying ending to a situation of otherwise tense relationships. There is a subtle Christian faith presence. There is some interesting information about successfully running a Christmas tree farm too. This is a fun novella to read for the holidays.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

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. Learn more at MelodyCarlson.com.

Revell, 176 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this novella from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)