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The Trees of New Cheltenham
Falling for his boss? Since when did Daniel become some romance cliche?
Daniel Murray is flat worn out trying to support his mother and siblings, but an unexpected inheritance offers a reprieve. Still, his siblings are squabbling, his mother is worn out, and working two jobs might just crush him—or rather, he’s crushing on his new boss (but he’ll never admit it).
So, when his little brother finds an abandoned Christmas tree farm at the back of their new property, hope swells. Maybe they can salvage some of the trees and he can quit his extra job… or not. After all, they say to keep your enemies close and your crushes closer… right?
The Trees of New Cheltenham might do more than give one struggling family a chance at a Christmas celebration. It might just bring two hearts together as well.
Don't miss out on this latest New Cheltenham installment--a full-length novel that brings together Ready or Not vibes with New Cheltenham shopkeepers.
Daniel Murray is flat worn out trying to support his mother and siblings, but an unexpected inheritance offers a reprieve. Still, his siblings are squabbling, his mother is worn out, and working two jobs might just crush him—or rather, he’s crushing on his new boss (but he’ll never admit it).
So, when his little brother finds an abandoned Christmas tree farm at the back of their new property, hope swells. Maybe they can salvage some of the trees and he can quit his extra job… or not. After all, they say to keep your enemies close and your crushes closer… right?
The Trees of New Cheltenham might do more than give one struggling family a chance at a Christmas celebration. It might just bring two hearts together as well.
Don't miss out on this latest New Cheltenham installment--a full-length novel that brings together Ready or Not vibes with New Cheltenham shopkeepers.
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 20, 2024
6 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Chautona Havig
276 books1,844 followers**fingers skittle across the keyboard. Stop. Eyelids blink over the top**
Oh, was this bio day? Oops! I forgot. I was lost in my latest manuscript. Umm... bio. Yeah.
Hi! I’m Chautona Havig. (for those who care, that’s Shuh-TONE-uh HAVE-ig). Yeah. Just work with me here. I should have used a pseudonym, but when you grow up with a name like Chautona, it kind of sticks.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 23–25
Those aren’t just words on a page for me–they’re why I write. I write to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ. The stories I create are to make people laugh, cry, question, consider.
They’re for you.
When the world screams for hope, I try to point you to the true Source of hope–Jesus.
Sometimes life in the church no longer seems a refuge from the pain of a self-serving world around us, but through my stories, I try to point you to the only Refuge that can truly help–the Father’s Everlasting Arms.
And sometimes we just need an escape from the monotony, the emptiness we see around us. We need joy, laughter–what I like to call “just the write escape.”
Christian fiction without apology or pretense–lived, not preached.
What does that even mean?
It means I care–about you. About your walk with Jesus. I care about the words you put before your eyes, the mental pictures those words conjure. It’s difficult to express just how much I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s difficult to share just how much I love you.
But I do.
And I write for you. I sit in my little house in California’s Mojave Desert and I write to show you why one sister believes one thing, why a brother believes another. I write to show you how some Christians handle trials or triumphs–for you. So when you’re faced with something–good or bad, it doesn’t matter–maybe it’ll spark a memory. Maybe that memory will smolder until you pull out your Bible and see what the Lord said about it–about His great love for you. For YOU!
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll share that love with another hurting, confused, or blessed-with-more-than-she-knows-what-to-do-with soul.
I just happen to think that’s the most blessed giving anyone could hope to receive.
Oh, was this bio day? Oops! I forgot. I was lost in my latest manuscript. Umm... bio. Yeah.
Hi! I’m Chautona Havig. (for those who care, that’s Shuh-TONE-uh HAVE-ig). Yeah. Just work with me here. I should have used a pseudonym, but when you grow up with a name like Chautona, it kind of sticks.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 23–25
Those aren’t just words on a page for me–they’re why I write. I write to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ. The stories I create are to make people laugh, cry, question, consider.
They’re for you.
When the world screams for hope, I try to point you to the true Source of hope–Jesus.
Sometimes life in the church no longer seems a refuge from the pain of a self-serving world around us, but through my stories, I try to point you to the only Refuge that can truly help–the Father’s Everlasting Arms.
And sometimes we just need an escape from the monotony, the emptiness we see around us. We need joy, laughter–what I like to call “just the write escape.”
Christian fiction without apology or pretense–lived, not preached.
What does that even mean?
It means I care–about you. About your walk with Jesus. I care about the words you put before your eyes, the mental pictures those words conjure. It’s difficult to express just how much I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s difficult to share just how much I love you.
But I do.
And I write for you. I sit in my little house in California’s Mojave Desert and I write to show you why one sister believes one thing, why a brother believes another. I write to show you how some Christians handle trials or triumphs–for you. So when you’re faced with something–good or bad, it doesn’t matter–maybe it’ll spark a memory. Maybe that memory will smolder until you pull out your Bible and see what the Lord said about it–about His great love for you. For YOU!
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll share that love with another hurting, confused, or blessed-with-more-than-she-knows-what-to-do-with soul.
I just happen to think that’s the most blessed giving anyone could hope to receive.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 20, 2026
The Trees of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig
Content Rating 5 stars
Romance 2 light kissing
Violence 2 None
Faith 2 Naturally Integrated
Profanity/Language 2 None (or just mentioned)
Youth Appropriate 1 Young Adult
Personal Rating 6 stars
Thoughts:
SO GOOD!!!!
It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me melt with the sweetness, it made me fall in love with the whole cast of characters...
I also love how it seemed to go from friends to more; they didn't start out knowing each other, but it wasn't the weird we just met and I want to date you... That kind is based on looks but friends to more are based on knowing the person.
Daniel's care for his family is so sweet!
And Chautona Havig has a nack for writing characters that are relatable, realistic and natural. And I love it!
Bible Verse
Matthew 22:38-40 KJV
[38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Part of a Series:
Second to last book in the Christmas at New Cheltenham series. The books can be read in any order, though there might be mentions hear and there about things that happen in previous books.
Synopsis:
Falling for his boss? Since when did Daniel become some romance cliche?
Daniel Murray is flat worn out trying to support his mother and siblings, but an unexpected inheritance offers a reprieve. Still, his siblings are squabbling, his mother is worn out, and working two jobs might just crush him—or rather, he’s crushing on his new boss (but he’ll never admit it).
So, when his little brother finds an abandoned Christmas tree farm at the back of their new property, hope swells. Maybe they can salvage some of the trees and he can quit his extra job… or not. After all, they say to keep your enemies close and your crushes closer… right?
The Trees of New Cheltenham might do more than give one struggling family a chance at a Christmas celebration. It might just bring two hearts together as well.
Content Rating 5 stars
Romance 2 light kissing
Violence 2 None
Faith 2 Naturally Integrated
Profanity/Language 2 None (or just mentioned)
Youth Appropriate 1 Young Adult
Personal Rating 6 stars
Thoughts:
SO GOOD!!!!
It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me melt with the sweetness, it made me fall in love with the whole cast of characters...
I also love how it seemed to go from friends to more; they didn't start out knowing each other, but it wasn't the weird we just met and I want to date you... That kind is based on looks but friends to more are based on knowing the person.
Daniel's care for his family is so sweet!
And Chautona Havig has a nack for writing characters that are relatable, realistic and natural. And I love it!
Bible Verse
Matthew 22:38-40 KJV
[38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Part of a Series:
Second to last book in the Christmas at New Cheltenham series. The books can be read in any order, though there might be mentions hear and there about things that happen in previous books.
Synopsis:
Falling for his boss? Since when did Daniel become some romance cliche?
Daniel Murray is flat worn out trying to support his mother and siblings, but an unexpected inheritance offers a reprieve. Still, his siblings are squabbling, his mother is worn out, and working two jobs might just crush him—or rather, he’s crushing on his new boss (but he’ll never admit it).
So, when his little brother finds an abandoned Christmas tree farm at the back of their new property, hope swells. Maybe they can salvage some of the trees and he can quit his extra job… or not. After all, they say to keep your enemies close and your crushes closer… right?
The Trees of New Cheltenham might do more than give one struggling family a chance at a Christmas celebration. It might just bring two hearts together as well.
November 25, 2025
The Trees of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig is a heartfelt romance that touched me, had me chuckling, and left me swooning too. Daniel Murray is a very Dickensian type hero, brilliantly appropriate on the author’s part given the Victorian theme and name of the store in New Cheltenham where he becomes a part time employee. His family is still struggling financially (to put it mildly) after his father’s untimely death three years ago, and of course Daniel takes most of that burden upon himself. Enter the breath of fresh air that is his new boss, Mikki. I adored this character – and Daniel (just in different ways) – and I adored the two of them together as coworkers, then friends, and then more. The alternating perspectives between Mikki, Daniel, his mom Thea, his sister Persi, and another supporting character gave this story some wonderful layers and lots of heart. I think you’re going to be as moved by this story as I was, and I look forward to my next trip to the quaint village of New Cheltenham. (I also loved seeing Lewis and his niece again from last year’s collection!)
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book as part of the An Evergreen Christmas collection)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book as part of the An Evergreen Christmas collection)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
December 1, 2024
This is my favorite book for the month. I had just read several mediocre books, and starting this one was a breath of fresh air. I quickly fell in love with the Murray family, especially the mother, and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. The author knows big families, and she knows homeschooling families, and has done a delightful job at bringing the Murrays to life. I loved that the romance in this book was a secondary plot, not the main one. The main plot ended up fairly complicated as Daniel did his best to keep the family together, while other parties tried to get rid of them. There is nothing too intense in this book, just the kind of scenarios that might happen in real life—just the way I like a story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
December 1, 2024
Havig's novella is a delightful read in the An Evergreen Series of Christmas reads. It has an enjoyable second chance romance in which the two main characters work together to help both their Christmas tree needs and find themselves once again in love.
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December 26, 2024A sweet Chautona-style Christmas romance -- both chaste and fun. Always love her Christmas stories and their unique but loveable characters.
December 15, 2025
I'm so glad to see a large homeschooling family featured in a book. I hope to see more of these characters.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews