🎄⛵✨ “On Christmas Tree Cove” (The Adair Family #1) (2021) ✨⛵🎄 – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

Series: The Adair Family (Book #1)

Paperback: 250 pages

Publisher: Tule Publishing (October 27, 2021)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1954894961

ISBN-13: 978-1954894969

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“This Christmas calls for a special touch of magic...

 

December was always a special time for seaplane pilot Morgan Adair, but after losing her parents six years ago, the holiday is a quiet affair. When her siblings announce plans to sell the family home, Morgan longs to experience her favorite, now-forgotten tradition one more time: a lighted tree that, for over a hundred years, has appeared floating on a boat in the harbor every Christmas Eve.

 

The Taylors were always rivals to the Adairs in the once-thriving fishing village of Christmas Tree Cove, but Jesse Taylor was much more. He wanted to be understanding when Morgan set aside their plans to escape to Chicago in order to hold her family together, but his future as a successful freelance photographer soared on without her.

 

As Morgan dives deeper into the history of the mysterious holiday appearance, she discovers that true love has always been at the heart of the annual tradition. Can the wonder of Christmas and a few surprises along the way rekindle that love for Morgan and Jesse too?”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Sarah Vance-Tompkins, for providing a complimentary review copy through Kate Rock Book Tours. A positive review was not required, and all words are my own.

I’ll admit – I LOVE Christmas stories. Then again, I LOVE the holiday. Everything about it:

 

🍬Candy

🎄 Christmas Tree

🎁 Gifts

🎃 Pumpkin Scented Everything (almost everything)

❄️ Weather

 

Anytime I can read a Christmas story – I’m in. It’s almost a yearly tradition, I can read one anytime of the year. I absolutely LOVE Christmas stories.

 

This was the first book I’ve read by the author, and apparently this is the first book in a series – The Adair Family.  

 

At less than 250 pages (from the first page of the story to the last), it is a relatively SHORT book, and the chapters aren’t too long either.

 

I absolutely LOVE and ADORE this cover! A Christmas tree in a boat! How sweet. But, what is the story with it? Turns out – it is beautiful, tragic, and romantic – all in one, much of the theme of this story.

 

This isn’t a “clean” read by any means. It isn’t filthy or smutty either. There are no “intimate” scenes at all. There isn’t a “kiss” until around the 52% mark. As far as language – there is the “s-word”, a variation of that word (bulls***), and a$$ is used as well. These are sparingly and don’t proliferate the book. I’m pretty sure there are less than five (5) occurrences. There are some readers who don’t enjoy that kind of language so this serves as a warning to those looking for a sweet, wholesome, and clean read.

 

Right off, On Christmas Tree Cove has a tragic beginning – the death of the Adair kids’ parents. That leaves Morgan, her two sisters, and her brother without their parents. The last thing Morgan remembers with her mom – the tree on the boat, an annual tradition for Christmas Tree Cove.

 

This sets the stage for the majority of the book.

 

Despite having the same tragedy shape that one Christmas, Morgan’s siblings have seemingly faired better than she has:

 

Eli – has three (3) artisanal breweries

Dacey – senior V.P at a tech focused insurance company

Kayla – married to the county sheriff (Jeff)

 

Morgan? She’s a pilot, but only a “shuttle” pilot with Skip. She’s “stuck” in Christmas Tree Cove, in the house she grew up in.

 

Another tragedy from that night six years earlier – Morgan’s relationship with Jesse. I definitely felt sorriest for Jesse who seemingly was trying to find a way to win Morgan back and move back home.

 

While I understood why Morgan shut down after her parents’ death – her siblings were there for her, had she let them “in”. Her mantra was “be brave”, or things about not showing emotion. At one point she’s thought of as an emotionless cyborg. Ouch!

 

Anyway …

 

It’s been six (6) years since the tragedy that changed her life, and Jesse’s too. They’re reunited when she is the charter pilot.

 

The Adair siblings gather together for Thanksgiving. But, it is clear – all but Morgan have gone their own ways. The mention of selling the house comes up, all but Morgan agree; then again, she’s living there. Dacey talks with her and tells her that she isn’t living her best life. And, the house has seen better days – it looks like it is being haunted – Morgan is more or less the one haunting it.

 

Morgan doesn’t want everyone to know she is barely making ends meet. The winter season means no income for Morgan. She has to supplement at the Kimoras’ flower shop. But, they’re not going to open it up. They do open their home for Christmas – but Morgan wants to be alone.

 

Jesse is a photographer, and has gone about making his career soar without Morgan in his life. He’s also considering opening a gallery in Christmas Tree Cove. He hires Morgan to help with it.

 

After talking with Jesse about her siblings and the house – he helps her put things into perspective. Morgan has one request of her siblings – one last Christmas. With no promises, they commit to “trying”.

 

Morgan comes across the photo of the first tree and learns it was a symbol of love – more specifically, a love affair. This comes in at around the 39% mark.

 

Morgan also wants to know about Grace and Jesse – as it turns out, Grace is with someone else and Jesse is still single. It is no wonder – he is still hung up on Morgan.

 

However, she wants to know – who put the tree up the night her parents died? And, I had two suspicions. I was SLIGHTLY close.

 

At around the 52% mark, Jesse and Morgan kiss which preoccupies her mind. She learns the Kimuras did the tree for several years.

 

In the house deal, five days to Christmas there is a FOR SALE sign in front of the house.

 

Despite the rivalry between the Taylors (Jesse’s family) and the Adairs (Morgan’s family) – the night the Adairs died, Jesse’s father lost the fight.

 While Jesse has moved forward, his heart hasn’t and that is something he is coming to terms with.

 

Yet, when it seems like he can finally move forward – he learns something about Morgan, and he’s livid. It is clear – he doesn’t want Morgan to move away, despite the fact she can finally realize her dreams and goals.

 

His grandfather has some advice – tell her how you feel, tell her again. And, most everyone in Christmas Tree Cove can see something special between Jesse and Morgan.

 

Morgan finally realizes what her problem is – she avoids tradition because she doesn’t want to trip over the bad memories. She is having a hard time recognizing what she is feeling as her emotions seems to be coming back to her, and she admits she is crippled by the grief. It is in talking to the Kimuras that Morgan learns she has more good memories than bad, which is definitely normal when it comes to loss. The author definitely works the grief angle where the reader can see both sides, the reality is often different for each person.

 

Jesse is about to make a decision regarding Christmas, and there is some intervention from unlikely sources. I had to laugh as I saw that coming as soon as the scene(s) began.

 

Jesse has one last chance to show Morgan how he feels – and, he gets some help. The funniest part? Even the sheriff is there to help.

 

The ending was by far the better part of the book. Often the journey between the first and last pages is the best part(s), the end just “gets there” or wraps up the story. Even the pastor mentions the tree’s absence in and on the community.  

 

Eventually, all the secrets and emotions come out. And, even a surprise with regard to the Adair home. That I saw coming, but not the person involved. I can’t wait to see how this is going to play out.

 

Honestly, I wasn’t as taken with this book as I wanted to be. Most of it seemed more of a bummer than a good read. It is poignant, emotional, thought-provoking, and at times inspiring.

 

Despite the fact of how this story began and the overall tone, it does have a beautiful ending that is worthy of a Lifetime movie event.

 

While beautifully and emotionally written, there are a few typos and mistakes – characters being mixed up, some words misspelled. The author does a great job of keeping the reader engaged and interested in the story though.

 

The best part was more or less the history of the tree’s appearance in the cove, the participants, and the reason behind it. It was sweet and beautiful.

 

Fans of the author and those who love the “Lifetime” type of romance movies, are sure to enjoy this read.

 

I’d probably continue reading the series to see what happens with the characters. I am interested in who the next book is about.

 

 

 

RATING:

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub 

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

 

Sarah Vance-Tompkins earned an MFA in Film Production from the University of Southern California before working in feature film development. Prior to film school, she began her media career as an on-air radio personality. As a lifetime reader of romance, she is excited to be writing in the genre. She and her husband live in Southern California with two unruly cats.

 

You can find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahvancetompkins/  

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahvantom/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahvtompkins

 

Website: http://www.sarahvancetompkins.com/

 

 

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