1225 Christmas Tree Lane (Cedar Cove Book 12)

It is Christmas time in Cedar Cove and Beth Morehouse is determined to make this a great Christmas. Divorced three years ago, she has rebuilt her life, running a Christmas tree farm and entering into a tentative relationship with veterinarian Ted Reynolds. The last thing she needs is complications but there are plenty of those starting with the ten puppies someone left on her doorstep. As she scrambles to find homes for the puppies she has a bigger problem to deal with - her ex-husband will be spending Christmas with Beth and their two daughters. The girls want Kent and Beth back together but are worried about his "friend" Danielle. Christmas is a time for miracles - will the magic work for Beth and Kent?"1225 Christmas Tree Lane" is the twelfth and last book in Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series and it brings the series to a happy and satisfactory conclusion. Unlike previous books in the series which focused on several characters, there is only one real plot line in this book - Beth and Kent's relationship. It is a cute if predictable storyline, but the Christmas setting is perfect and the story makes this a nice cozy read that will help readers escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I do think that Danielle could have been developed more - she was a clichéd character and the last minute twist in her story didn't really work for me. Finally, the plot line of Beth having to give away ten puppies is solved a little too easily.Besides the Kent/Beth storyline, Macomber spends the rest of the book bringing readers up to date on various characters in the series, using a mixture of summary of past books plus a bit of a current update. Ordinarily, books relying on plot summaries annoy me, but Macomber does it skillfully and after twelve books I had forgotten some events and it was nice to be reminded. It was also nice to see some old favorites like Cecilia and Ian and Justine and Seth and find out what was going on in their lives. After twelve books these characters feel like friends and family and readers will enjoy one last visit with them. I do wish Macomber had expanded the Will Jefferson/Miranda Sullivan story line just a bit more. However, in the end, Macomber makes sure everyone has a happy ending.I'll miss the Cedar Cover series but "1225 Christmas Tree Lane" is a delightful way to wrap it up.

As someone who has been following this series beginning back in 2001, it was with mixed feelings that I picked up this last book. I wanted to read the book but felt saddened that the series was coming to an end. I think Ms. Macomber made a wise decision to bring it to closure since a couple of the more recent books haven't been the same quality of the earlier ones, but it still brought up feelings of melancholy since I have spent many hours enjoying her books, particularly this series. I found it fitting that the last book is a Christmas book since I believe that is an area where this author shines. It just isn't the holiday season without a heartwarming Christmas tale (particularly "Mrs. Miracle" - if you haven't read it, you really should).Beth Morehouse is the character around which this novel is built, and we get to know her a bit better as she faces a hectic holiday season at her Christmas tree farm. As always, there are lots of things going on in her life, not just the busy business. Her college-age daughters are scheming to reunite her and her ex-husband by inviting him to Cedar Cove for Christmas, a pile of puppies has also been deposited with her that require time and effort at finding them all homes, and she is wondering if her relationship with the local vet has romantic promise.This final novel has a slightly different feel since not only are we following Beth's story, Ms. Macomber is trying to bring many of the stories from many years to closure. There may be characters I missed, but it seems to me that every main character we have been introduced to over the past ten years is at least mentioned or has their storyline referenced. As a result, there is a lot of "stuff" going on and, at times, the narrative seems rushed but I still have to say she did a great job in writing this final book. I don't believe the intended audience is a new reader to the series, but rather a long-time fan who wants resolution. There are an even larger number of tidy endings this time out, but I think that is totally appropriate. Who wants to be left hanging after following the series for years? I think long-time fans will be pleased, but I would definitely not recommend this book as a stand-alone Christmas novel - the reader has to have the history of the characters to appreciate this final narrative.Bottom line: Debbie Macomber ended an entertaining series in the most satisfactory way possible and with her usual grace. As a reader, I would like to say "Thank You" to her for providing hours of enjoyment to me and other readers. It has been a pleasure!

Debbie Macomber is a fantastic story-teller. I've read all 11 books in the Cedar Cove series and her characters have been heart-warming, people who you'd love to be friends with in a setting that sounds like a great place to live. I have adored all the books apart from the last one. I understand a story has to have an ending and I can understand the idea of tying up lose ends and bringing back a lot of the characters into the last book, but I found it to be more of a repeat of the stories in the other books and as if Debbie's heart really wasn't in it. Perhaps she was as sad as me at the ending of her Cedar Cove series. I enjoy reading her books and she is one of my favorite authors but on this occasion I think she failed to deliver and the ending did not justify the great writing and stories in her previous books.

I enjoyed reading this book. This is the last book in the Cedar Cove series. I am glad that all the 10 black Lab-puppies went to good adopted homes. It is not just about the puppies, it is about how Beth's two daughters Bailey and Sophie are scheming to get their parents back together again. Beth divorced her husband and both their daughters thinks that their divorce was a big mistake. I have collected all the Cedar Cove series books. I also have the first Cedar Cove Cook book. I am planning to get the second Cedar Cove cook book some time after Christmas if it is still available.

I had read previous reviews about this last book but wanted to judge for myself after having purchased and read all the other 11 books in the cedar cove series....Yes it did tie up loose ends but spent more time going over each of characters lives which would only be needed if someone who hadnt read any of the other books had bought it. If like me you had read all series it felt like a waste of time and a bit of a cop out to be honest. having said that it wont stop me reading books by same author as i like her easy style of writing.

have read most of her books and have enjoyed them

There is a lot to learn about relationships but sometimes want to bump heads together when people do not see the obvious. Fun to read though.