Piper Nuelle

So it is time to fall back into the cutesy and lovely little world of Dream Harbor.

(Beware, may be some spoilers ahead!!!) I’ll try to be good but sometimes to review the book I have to mention some things to make it make sense, plus I do get a little excited sometimes when it is a book I love and have enjoyed reading.

This is the third book in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore and I have to say I was totally hooked by the first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Café. I adored the characters, I loved the romance and it was a nice easy read that just made my day better. Obviously I went on to read the second book in the series, The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, which although is an extension on the first book, it focuses on other characters in the Dream Harbor world and was just as lovely as the first one, if not a little naughty hehe.

The Christmas Tree Farm is the third book and it really does not disappoint. It carries on from the second one, but obviously moving more towards the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas. And focuses on two different characters again but like the second book, all the other characters are around in the background.

The two main characters in this one are Kira who funnily enough hates Christmas lol but decided to buy herself a Christmas Tree Farm, just to show herself and everyone else that she can be sensible and do things on her own, including moving to a faraway town and own a business. Only thing is, the way she went about acquiring the farm without so much as a glance was maybe not so… Sensible.

The other character is, Bennett Ellis, who is vacationing to see his sister Jeanie in Dream Harbor, she owns the Pumpkin Spice Café. Bennett is a work-a-holic and desperately needs to have some down time, even if that means sitting in his sisters apartment with his pet dogs and doing work remotely on his laptop.

Kira and Bennett cross paths one day when he takes his lovely little pups out for a walk, and even though Kira is standoffish and doesn’t want to human and be social, Bennett can’t but help feel drawn to her. Their next few encounters are comical with some colliding, and Kira mentioning how she doesn’t like ‘Nice Guys’… But it’s not until a certain someone gets snowed in at her failing tree farm business that Kira comes to realise that although he is classed as a nice guy, in the bedroom, he’s a bad boy.

With the idea of them having a Christmas fling and just someone to hold whilst its cold, the two of them and their friends come up with a plan to help Kira with her business and help her to potentially become part of the community of Dream Harbor.

But with all Christmas romances and flings, it seems this one must come to an end… Especially as Bennett’s heart is torn… But why?

I really enjoyed this book, it went very well with a nice scented candle and some bubble tea. I liked the opposites attract theme with Kira and Bennett but I did find Kira a little unrelatable and self sabotaging at times, although it is nice to see her come full circle in the end. There are elements to her that you see within the story that are different to normal characters, there is not the normal poor and money struggles and working hard to get out of being poor storyline that some stories often have, with Kira, that is kind of flipped on its head. Bennett on the other hand I loved, he was such a great guy and just wanted to help and in the past that has got him in situations where he has been used a lot by women, but it was nice to see him paired with Kira who is so independent and so wanted to prove herself that she would not use him.

Again with the other books in the series there is some sexy time talk, these are after all in my opinion like a ‘soft’ porn type of romance story, they are not ’50 shades!’ but the sexy time and romance is done with compassion in these books by Laurie Gilmore, and what I like about how she tackles each book is that all the characters have different experiences and preferences, there isn’t a one fit’s all umbrella. It’s great to see the individuality of them and it makes it more realistic and believable to read, almost like I mentioned once before with these books, like these could be your own friends and neighbours all in their own relationships.

The cover of course is stunning! The little cabin on the front with its wooden beams and cute windows that are glowing with warmth. The sweet little pooch sitting on the door step as the snow is falling and settling. There are also some gold sparkles glistening all over the cover making it look very Christmassy in vibes.

I would highly recommend this book if you have read the others in the series, it continues on from the last and even leaves space for the series to grow again some more in the next one. And if you love romance books or even those Christmas romance films, then this is for you!!!

I am also so excited because I have finished reading the next one which is ‘The Strawberry Patch Pancake House’, so I will review that one very soon, but I also just got my mitts on the newest one out!!! The Gingerbread Bakery which has Annie and Mac in it, it’s finally their story (If you know, you know…)

So, watch out, as I will be reading that one next and I will review once finished with that one too!!!

I hope you enjoyed my book review on ‘The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore’, if you did, please let me know your thoughts, will you read it? Have you read it? What did you think?

Take care, xo Piper xo