Book Review: The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Christmas Tree Farm

Series: Dream Harbor #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

Format: ebook

Pages: 369

Published: October 10, 2024

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.

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 trying to take a break from both his life and his constant desire to fix things.

But somehow fate finds Ben trapped by a blanket of snow at Kira’s farm, and, despite her Grinchiest first impressions, with the glow of the fairy lights twinkling in the trees, and the promise of a warming hot chocolate, maybe, just maybe, these two lost souls will have a Christmas they’ll remember forever…

The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed, perfect to curl up with this winter!

Review:

Book 3.

Here we follow Kira, who has bought the Christmas Tree farm, but why? She hates Christmas and hates how cute this town is. Bennett is on vacation in Dream Harbor. He loves to fix things, and maybe he can help Kira fix the farm and fix her feelings on Christmas. Thanks to fate, Bennett and Kira are trapped by a blanket of snow on Kira's farm. 

You could read this as a standalone, but I feel like reading the other two will help get some backstory of the town and some of the people we come across. 

Kira is grumpy and just wants to succeed on her own. She has a lot of internal issues to deal with. She honestly needs a therapist before getting into ANY relationship.

Bennett is too sweet for his own good. He hates disappointing people. I liked him.

I did like watching these two interact. Their banter was funny. However, it got really, really old after a bit. Sure, they warm up and fall in love, but it was a long, long, LONG road. Was it...I dare say....boring at times? Sadly, yes. It took everything I had not to skip through. 

All-in-all, this was just okay. I enjoyed some of the banter, and it did feel very Christmas-y. However, there were some boring spots. I'm not sure I will continue with the series. Maybe if I have nothing else to read? I'll be nice since I do love the cover and this town. 3 stars. 

 Challenge(s):

- TBR #12 (Celebration/Holiday Story)

 

Book Review: The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Series: Dream Harbor #2

Genre: Romance, Cozy Mystery

Format: paperback

Pages: 384

Published: August 29, 2024

Where I got It: My shelf (Xmas gift)

Summary: 

When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can't understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just need someone to help her out.

Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he's been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!

Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells…

Review:

Weee! Back in this little town!

Here we follow Hazel and Noah. The two couldn't be more different. Hazel is a nearly 30 year-old book store owner who never does anything reckless or fun. Noah who is in his mid 20s and does countless reckless stuff. He doesn't want responsibility because he doesn't think he is smart enough. The two join forces to solve the clues left in books at Hazel's shop. Who doesn't love a fun scavenger hunt!!

These two were adorable. Noah is helping her out of her shell and she is helping him realize he is much more than fun-time-one-night-stand guy. They were simply perfect for each other and you can tell they fell hard, but they are not good at sharing their emotions. Adorable beans. 

The scavenger hunt was sweet, but I wanted more. More clues. More adventures. I sometimes forgot what they were up to lol. 

Annie....>_> ugh. She is getting a book eventually, but I was not impressed with her in this one. She just rubbed me the wrong way and I just wanted Hazel to SCREAM at her. GAH. 

But yes, overall, I enjoyed this much more than book one. I did want more clues for the scavenger hunt, but oh well. Hazel and Noah are such sweeties and I loved watching them come together. This town is adorable. I can't wait to start the next one. 4 stars from me. 

 

Favorite Character(s): Hazel

Least Favorite Character(s): Annie 

 Challenge(s):

- Romance Reading #19 (Food on cover - cinnamon rolls in the window)

- Cloak & Dagger #15

Book Review: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

Series: Dream Harbor #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Cozy mystery, Chick Lit

Format: ebook

Pages: 286

Published: August 30, 2023

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

A spicy small-town romance,

When Jeanie's aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. But Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie's happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won't fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

Review:

I had a couple of friends suggest reading this recently and it is simply perfect for October. I decided to try my library but the wait for this was 7 weeks!!!! EEEE too long, so I used my digital reward points I have been saving on Amazon to buy the ebook of this. Yayy. 

This is a small town and Jeanie is excited to start her new life after her aunt gifts her the Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Dream Harbor will give Jeanie a fresh start away from her dull desk job and hectic life. She meets a lot of folks, but there is something about Logan. He is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. However, Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and they can't stop thinking about each other. At the same time....weird stuff keeps happening. Jeanie will have to figure out who or what is going on.

This was simply perfect for the fall season. It made me want to eat all of the pumpkin glaze donuts we got from the cider mill. Nommmmm! 

I loved Jeanie. She was simply so adorable. Logan? He was okay. He annoyed me a little bit with his inner monologue. Yes, yes. I'm sorry your ex sucked but please.....talk to a therapist or something. Jeanie OBVIOUSLY is 1000000% better and ADORES YOU! *shakes fist* Once he got out of his own way I found him tolerable. 

Hazel and Annie were very endearing. Loved them. 

The mystery felt lacking to me. I wish they would've beefed that up a bit. Jeanie didn't seem as concerned as she should've been LOL. I know I would've been on a warpath!!!

The love was sweet and when we FINALLY got to the spicy bits it got really good. It took eons (I blame Logan). 

All-in-all, this was an adorable book for the fall. Very sweet love, a cute town, and entertaining banter. This would make a good Hallmark movie. I do wish the mystery bits were beefed up a bit though. I do want to read book 2 someday! I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Sweet