As I finished each book in Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series, I had great anticipation for the new people I would meet in the next book. I looked forward to the updates on the old characters I had grown to love. It is with tears in my eyes that I finish this last book in the series. The characters have come to be more than just names on a page. They have grown to be old friends.

Beth Morehouse lives at 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. She owns a Christmas Tree Farm and also trains therapy dogs. It's her busiest time of year with Christmas just a few days away. As if she doesn't have enough stress, her ex-husband is coming to spend Christmas with Beth and their daughters, who are home from college for the holidays. Beth hasn't seen Kent in three years, not since their divorce. To add to the tension, someone left 10 black Lab puppies in a basket on Beth's doorstep. She needs to find homes for them before Christmas. Will that be possible?

Beth thinks it is odd that Kent asked to come spend Christmas with the family. At least that's what Bailey and Sophie told Beth when she learned he was coming. Kent hasn't contacted Beth since their divorce, except to talk about the girls' college expenses. As she ponders this thought, she begins to wonder what really went wrong in their marriage. Little does Beth know that her daughters have a conspiracy going to get her and Kent back together again.

That conspiracy blows up in their faces when Kent shows up with Danielle, a "friend" from work. She's tall, blonde and drop-dead gorgeous, but as nasty as can be to Beth. Beth tries her best to be cordial, while Bailey and Sophie devise another plan to get rid of Danielle and get their parents reunited. Will they come up with a plan in time? Can Beth and Kent recover what they once had?

Visit with old friends throughout this story, and catch up on what is happening in their lives. Macomber incorporates most of her characters from the previous books in this series as they visit and interact with each other during this holiday season. Special Christmas foods and traditions are a theme of this story as the characters reminisce about Christmases past. It made me think of my traditions and how I have passed them down to my own daughters. I hope you enjoy 1225 CHRISTMAS TREE LANE as much as I did.