Christmas at Spruce Hill Farm by Kathryn Springer
Published by: Harlequin
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Genres: Holiday / Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
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It’s three weeks until Christmas, and Lucy Gable is not in the holiday spirit. She’s the assistant to bestselling romance author Brynn Dixon, who’s been suffering from major burnout. Hoping to reduce Brynn’s stress, Lucy’s organized an intimate book tour—one that includes a charming little Christmas tree farm. And they’re still hoping that no one discovers that Lucy was the one who finished writing Brynn’s last book…

But Lucy’s carefully planned book tour is going completely awry. The Christmas tree farm owner is a reluctant host, the fans are going wild for the changes Lucy’s made to the book and Brynn’s adult son—who no one else knows about—is an unexpected (if handsome) distraction. And, as if those challenges aren’t enough, a winter storm at the farm is ensuring that hiding the truth is all but impossible.

Yet somewhere between snowy sleigh rides, a cozy bonfire, caroling and the promise of new love, Lucy is experiencing her first winter wonderland. And Brynn is discovering that it might not be too late to find her own happy ending. With a little courage and a sense of adventure, it might just be the start of whole new chapters for both of them—and an accidentally perfect white Christmas.

My Review and Reflections

Christmas at Spruce Hill Farm is a beautiful story about friendship, love, and second chances. Brynn Dixon is a fifty-something author experiencing extreme fatigue. She writes about love but doesn’t really experience it. Her assistant, Lucy Gable, devotes all her time and attention to everyone and everything around her, neglecting her own needs and dreams. This book just might be my favorite Christmas romance. From the opening sentence, you not only feel yourself being pulled into the book, but into a vivid holiday movie playing in your mind. The story is light and cozy with reminders of God’s power in our lives. “Shutting yourself off from possibilities…from hope…in order to avoid disappointment doesn’t leave a lot of room for joy, either.” (p. 240)

“Lucy Gable woke up to five inches of snow, a text message from the airline letting her know that her afternoon flight was delayed and a best-selling author who was MIA.” p. 7

Both Lucy and Brynn feel pressure from Brynn’s publicist, Ainsley Adams, to ensure the book tour goes well. But with Brynn needing rest and the challenges of Wisconsin winters, Lucy finds the situation slipping beyond her control. To top it off, Brynn’s son shows up unannounced, much to Lucy’s surprise. Despite her close relationship with Brynn, she had no idea a son existed—and he’s a handsome stunner at that.

There’s a little bit of both Lucy and Brynn that I can relate to. Lucy is an introvert who more easily handles tasks and to-dos than relationships, while Brynn carries the pain of past choices yet longs to move forward and embrace the present. Both Lucy and Brynn experience personal growth that requires them to deal with their pasts in ways that are relatable and heartwarming. The trope of finding love later in life enhances this sweet, clean read even more. While the snowy, small town Wisconsin backdrop around Spruce Hill Farm invites you in and adds to the charm of the secondary characters. All the personalities weave together wonderfully, with each new introduction flowing seamlessly into the next, without distracting from Lucy and Brynn’s journey. The fact that this book offers two very different love stories gives it all the feels, making it appealing to readers of any age. You may even feel your eyes well up at the end.

Christmas at Spruce Hill Farm sweeps you away into a Christmas haven, complete with stories of pain, loss, hope, and redemption. Grab a hot cocoa and a warm blanket, settle into your coziest spot, and whisk yourself away to a tiny town in Wisconsin, where all your Christmas romance dreams come true.

Have you read any of Kathryn Springers books? What is your favorite thing about holiday romances?

Thank you to Harlequin for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.