A snowed in winter evening with a small town Christmas romance novel

Some evenings in the cold months call for a story that asks little and gives warmth back: a lit lamp, something hot in a mug, a book that keeps its promises. This is a Christmas romance novel set on a tree farm in a small harbor town, written for a reader who likes things calm, cozy and carefully made.

The Christmas Tree Farm is the third book in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore, in a 368 page paperback from HarperCollins, published October 22, 2024. The publisher states that every book in the series can be read as a standalone, so a reader can begin here without having met the earlier ones.

The setup is simple and stated up front. Kira North dislikes Christmas, which is awkward, because she has just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that is almost too charming. Bennett Ellis is visiting Dream Harbor on vacation, hoping to rest from his life and from his constant urge to fix things. Snow traps him at Kira’s farm, and the two of them are thrown together among the trees, the fairy lights and the offer of hot chocolate. That is as far as this note goes, because how the story unfolds is better left to the book itself.

The themes follow the tropes the publisher lists: grumpy and sunshine opposites, a small town with quirky residents, forced proximity and a shared bed. Two people who are each a little lost, each in a different way, are placed in a setting built for comfort. The publisher also calls it a spicy romance with a happy ending guaranteed, and the description mentions a mystery thread. Readers who prefer closed door love stories should know the heat is part of the design here.

It suits someone who wants an easy, seasonal read and does not need surprise from it. People who keep a tidy kitchen, tend a garden and like their evenings unhurried may find the tree farm setting pleasant company. It tends to matter in the weeks before the holidays, when time to read is short and the wish for something gentle is strong. At 368 pages in a single paperback volume, it is a manageable length for a few quiet evenings or a long weekend.

The tone, going by the editorial praise, is light. Publishers Weekly called it a “charming break from reality,” and People likened the series to a Hallmark movie with some added spice. Whether that appeals is a matter of taste rather than measurement. If you want realism or complication, this is not that book. If you want snow, warm drinks and two stubborn people slowly softening, it offers exactly that, and it will keep you company until the tree is up.