December 2024 Not First in a Series BOTM - The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

[Jamie]

From the author of the viral TikTok sensation, The Pumpkin Spice Café, comes the only spicy grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom you need this year!

Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.

Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.

After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing.

Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it.

But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questionning why she refused help in the first place..

The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery for fans of Gilmore Girls with a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

• grumpy x sunshine
• small town
• forced proximity
• one bed

**This BOTM thread will be open until January 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Grace]

Quick question, does anyone know if this is a standalone or I should read the first 2 books in the series before?

[Jamie]

I've searched reviews and I believe there are cross over characters, but a lot of people say it can be read as a standalone.

[Kim]

i finished book 2 last night and started book 3 this morning. i think you could read it as a standalone but the crossovers make more sense (and make me laugh honestly). the audios aren't too long

[Grace]

Thanks Kim for the update!
I've seen mixed reviews, so I guess this is pending until I finish my priority reads for the month

[Kim]

65% whoops! (view spoiler)[ I’m doing the audio again for this one since it worked well for the last 2. At the beginning Kira was ultra annoying but I think it was mostly the “ugh” and “agh” sounds she was making that made feel she was a petulant child. I do love her relationship with her sister though. Absolutely adore Bennet but have since book 1 so not surprising. Kira just described him as “a bad decision wrapped in a good decision package” and that made me giggle. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Ch.19-24 (view spoiler)[ agh this miscommunication nonsense again!! i think it's cute that she asked Jeanne to go to the wreath making class though and so even if it doesn't work out (which let's be honest, it probably will) at least she's trying to make a life for herself. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Finished! I hope there's a 4th book about Annie 🤞🏼
(view spoiler)[ i love the little tree of letters! easily best part of the book. i love these grand gestures of love by Bennett and Noah. Kira annoyed me for a good bit but by the end i liked her much more and was rooting for her farm. i can't believe they are going to sell the jewelry though!! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-7 (view spoiler)[This is cute so far. I love how she opened up the farm and was questioning why no one was coming after scaring everyone away. Ben seems like too nice of a guy that gets taken advantage of too often. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8-15 (view spoiler)[This is cute so far. I get why they are both concerned about starting something with the other but they seem to fit well. I love how she opened up the farm too. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 16-22 (view spoiler)[I get that she wants to make sure he knows that he cant uproot his life for her like he did with nicole. I liked how he chopped down a Christmas tree for her. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[This was cute overall. Glad that they found the treasure. I’m surprised that it took her so long to reach out to him after he left, but I guess it makes sense that she wanted to prices to herself that she could do things on her own without him first. I’m glad that he also finally told Nicole how he felt about being used. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlee]

didn’t read book 2 but this one still made sense. it was a quick easy read. not as much spice as the pumpkin spice cafe, and was honestly disappointed, but the story line was cute.