Miss Humbug by Stephanie J. Scott

A Christmas tree farmer meets his match when his holiday-despising childhood crush returns to town with a favor to ask…

Marlowe Holly:
Me and Christmas aren’t on the best of terms. I’ve only ever wanted to make a name for myself apart from my family, but my holiday-loving town can’t see past the traumatic event that rocked the Holly clan all those years ago.
When a summons from my strong-willed grandmother has me hightailing it from California back to my Midwest blip-on-the-map hometown, wow is there news.
The beloved Holly family home is up for grabs, with a wild contest to compete for inheritance. The criteria? Participating in the month-long holiday festivities in town, with points tallied by my grandmother’s hand-plucked judges.

Ethan Sawyer:
I can hardly believe my eyes when she walks into the local watering hole the night before Thanksgiving. Marlowe Holly. The girl I grew up with. The girl I grew to love, but never made a move on to preserve our friendship.
Now she needs my help to invoke holiday cheer, which I’m never short on working at a Christmas tree farm. And I need something from her: land acreage tied to the Holly estate. If she wins the house, our family business can pull off the farm expansion we desperately need.

Now if I can only manage not to fall for her all over again…