This is a sweet, sweet story. It's amazing that the children can't connect the dots about their relatives. But when they realize who Nana was talking about, it is truly sweet. If you need a good, clean book to cleanse your brain from the more serious books, this is one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for honest review.

When I think of Debbie Macomber, I think Christmas! I really adored her new Christmas novel- it is a super quick read, one that you will not be able to put down. I love the premise of the book and how kind/loving all of the characters were. (I also loved the ending- it is my favorite when authors let us know how everything ends up). I highly recommend!

This book is aptly named because it made my spirit soar too! I just love the way the author crafted this story. It is a unique and delightful blend of Christian romance and women’s fiction. A feel-good Christmas story that makes us a bit humble and lets us have a few laughs too.

I don’t know how many Macomber stories I have read, but so many of them have struck a chord with me. She knows how to get to the heart of the story and strike a cord right in your soul. This one is the perfect example.

Fun and heartwarming, The Christmas Spirit is a wonderful way to kick off your holiday romance reads this year!

Macomber is quickly becoming one of my most favorite Romance | Women's Fiction Authors!

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber is yet another heartfelt, remarkable Christmas read from the queen of Christmas stories.

Peter and Hank have Ben friends forever. Living completely different lives.
Peter, who is a local pastor and dedicated to his community, and with the holiday season quickly approaching he is preparing for the Christmas service and live nativity.
Hank who serves as a bartender at his family-owned tavern serves a much different crowd.
Peter and Hank decide to trade places the week before Christmas and end up finding love along the way and discovering each other in a whole new light in this surprising novel from a favorite of mine!

Debbie Macomber weaves a sweet tale of love and the true meaning of Christmas.
I love reading Debbie's books, they always leave me feeling warm and fuzzy.
This is a wonderful tale about two friends helping each other, kindness, love and the true meaning of friendship.
The way this story is told to us is brilliant, yet remarkable! I couldn't get enough of it.
I loved the charming characters, the life lessons that were learned and the sense of community.
She gives us memorable characters.
Her stories are heartfelt yet realistic.
The settings are so descriptive they make you feel as though you are there.
A perfect Christmas story that I highly recommend.

I can't wait to read more books from this one of a kind writer. Her stories are tender, genuine, and uplifting.

In The Christmas Spirit, Debbie Macomber celebrates the true meaning of the holidays and the inclusive community spirit that binds us all.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Random House & Ballantine,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Once again, Debbie Macomber has given us a heartwarming book for Christmas. It’s truly a story that shares with the reader what Christmas is all about and that it’s for everyone. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this early copy to enjoy in exchange for my honest review.

There’s just something about a Debbie Macomber Christmas story. They are generally short, easy reads that leaves you feeling wonderful. I adored that the story is told by a Grandmother telling her grandchildren the story. I loved the varied characters. The true meaning of Christmas comes across in the story. The Christmas Spirit is a wonderful way to kick off your holiday romance reads this year! Highly recommend.
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (October 3, 2022)
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley AND purchase copy via the Brenda Novak Monthly Book Club Box (December)

#TheChristmasSpirit #HolidayRomanceBook #DebbieMacomber @debbiemacomber #BallantineBooks #BrendaNovakBookBoxes #BookClubMonthlyRead #BrendaNovakBookClub #BookReview #ComfyChairBooks #womensfiction

Thank you to @randomhouse (Ballantine) and #netgalley for an early release copy of The Christmas Spirit.

What is the Christmas Spirit? 🎄🎅🎁🙏

Peter is a penny-pinching pastor, who sees the good in everyone and has a good head on his shoulders. Hank, his best friend, owns a tavern and although they seem polar opposites, they keep their friendship up by eating lunch at a diner at least once a month. Grace Ann, Peter's sister, is a perfectionist who has come to believe that she's only worthy of love if she's perfect. Throw in some humorous, sweet, and romantic scenes and this is the recipe for the Christmas book. Each of them finds the Christmas Spirit by reaching out of their comfort zones.

The plot is very predictable when Macomber sets up the switch between these two friends; however, the growth of the characters is the best part of Macomber's writing. 💯

The story line is set in the '70s and present day. It's easy to follow along even though there are more than a few characters we meet during the story. The message is pure and exactly what we need to read right now. 🌟♥️🎶
4 stars for a Christmas novel to kick off the season with!

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends with totally different lives. Peter is a pastor and Hank a bartender. They decide to switch lives for the week before Christmas and are surprised how similar their jobs yet more difficult than they imagined. A beautiful story about finding love and how the magic of Christmas can unite people of all walks of life together.



Thanks to Debbie Macomber and Ballantine Books for the book!

I absolutely loved this book. 10 stars. Have you ever wanted to slow a book down so it will last longer. That was this book for me. This book is about a story that is told to 2 grandchildren from the grandmother. The grandson wants nothing to do with the kissing parts. He wants to hear more about the motorcycle gang. The granddaughter loves the romantic and kissing parts. (So do I). This is a story that truly happened one chrismas about how the romance began for the grandparents., but the children do not realize it until the very end. I loved every minute I read. I think my favorite book this year.

A wonderful way of telling a story of learning and sharing the Christmas spirit. Love how Nana is telling her grandkids a story of two best friends that are really the opposite of one another. Pete is a pastor and Hank is a bartender. So the week before Christmas they decided to trade places to discover who has the harder life. They both have eye opening experiences, finding love and realizing that life is not what one always believes in. There is a wonderful sense of humor throughout that had me laughing out loud. Well done! Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheChristmasSpirit

This is a sweet, wholesome story about the true meaning of Christmas and what it means to live in community with one another. It's written as a story within a story, flip-flopping between the narrator telling her grandchildren a story and then the reader experiencing the events she's describing depicted on the page. The transitions are seamless and quite clever.
The Christmas Spirit will appeal to readers who enjoy Macomber's straightforward writing style, books featuring a close-knit community with flawed yet loveable characters, and an uplifting story that revolves around the traditional themes of Christmas. I appreciated that the author used this hope-filled story to remind us all that we are called to love and care for one another, even if we don't all look a certain way or share the exact same worldview. Macomber has a gentle and kind author voice, but didn't shy away from depicting the negative impact of legalism in our church families.
I thought this was a lovely book and a great way to kick off the holiday reading season.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

Two lifelong friends decide to trade places the week before Christmas and end up finding love along the way in this delightful novel from the queen of holiday stories.
This is a sweet romance story full of mistakes and guilty feelings.
Although I have heard of her I have seldom read books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

The Christmas Spirit
Debbie Macomber
October 18, 2022

This holiday treat from Ms Macomber is a true delight. She begins her tale with a visit from her grandchildren Lance and Lily. They’ve come to spend the day with Nana. Lance hopes to bake cookies with her while Lily would prefer to sit down and listen to another one of her stories. In this instance Nana sides with Lily as she is tired from morning activities. She makes hot chocolate and snuggles down with the children on the couch to begin the tale.
Readers begin this book thinking that it will be another of her famous books that take us on a celestial romp with family and friends. It is of sorts but as I refuse to open up Pandora’s box I will only say it is not a book to be missed. I realize Macomber’s fans will not pass it up. If you are wavering on the selection, pick this one up, such an enjoyable read!
The Christmas Spirit will be published by Ballantine Books of New York on October 18, 2022. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review Debbie Macomber’s latest publication via NetGalley. Her books are always a pleasure. The Christmas Spirit was a surprise. It was unexpectedly funny although it gives the reader thoughts to view people from a new perspective of the life they seem to lead. Please read this one and relish its holiday charm.

Oh how I love Debbie Macomber's Christmas books. They always fill me with such warmth and happy feelings.
I love how deep the characters are. They feel so real and they are the kind of people I wish I knew in real life.
The story is so well written and the perfect addition to a cup of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own *

This was my very first Debbie Macomber read and I have to say I’ll be coming back for more, this was a beautiful holiday romance, Debbie’s words captured my heart as I read them, it was adorable! I also really liked the page details on each chapter.

What a sweet and inpriring Christmas story that only Debie Macomber can do. Hank and Pete switch places for a few days as they both think the other has a cushy job. Pete is the local pastor and Hank has a bar. They are so surprised by what is expected of them. It was eye opening. Grace Ann was Pete's sister and had become somewhat hardened to life. I felt sorry for her when her eyes started to be opened, but Hank was there to comfort her. Pete had a few tough moments in the bar, but in the end it changed quite a few people's lives. A wonderful story

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review
'

"The Christmas Spirit" by Debbie Macomber
Ballantine Books


Eight-year-old Lance and his six-year-old sister Lily are visiting their nana, who treasures their company. When she asks if they want to make cookies, they tell her they want her to tell them a tale, one Lance states without kissing, though Lily says she likes romance.

When Lily asks if she can start by saying “Once upon a time . . .” Lance says he wants a real story. So, they want to use, “In the beginning . . .”

As their nana starts, “‘In the beginning there were two rough-and-tough friends named—’”

The children choose the names of the characters: Peter and Hank. And so, the tale begins . . .

It is funny how a lot of people think the grass is always greener on the other side. Such is the case with Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax. Though best friends, the two couldn't be any different. Peter is the pastor of a growing church and spends the majority of his time preaching, meeting with parishioners or board members, and engaging in other pertinent duties. Hank owns a very popular tavern named The Last Call and does not have any time for himself. He's either waiting on customers, ordering supplies, or cleaning his business—all of which is tiring.

When the two single men meet at a local eatery for lunch, Hank mentions how he assumes Peter has it easy—he believes he only has to prepare a sermon and work one day. Wait till he realizes a minister's job can be exhausting, yet Peter thinks running a bar can't be too difficult either. So, what happens? They decide to switch jobs for a week, so they can see exactly how hard the other one works.

Peter chuckles at the thought of telling his sister Grace Ann of their plot for he knows the staid and stodgy woman and Hank are like oil and vinegar. Ever since the man Grace Ann believed she would marry wed someone else, she has withdrawn and become a curmudgeon. Peter surmises it will be hilarious when she finds out Hank will be working with her for the week. He can just picture the sparks flying.

"Grace Ann Armstrong glanced up from the typewriter when her brother returned from his lunch with Hank Colfax. Personally, she couldn't understand what it was about the tavern owner that appealed to Peter. Hank was the one who first shortened her brother's name to Pete, and soon all his friends followed, much to her consternation. As far as she could tell, the two men had nothing in common, nothing that should bond their friendship, other than the fact that years ago they'd once played on the same football team and ran cross-country together.

"Bottom line—Grace Ann didn't trust Hank."

As the two take on the other's jobs, they realize each position has its own responsibilities, heartaches, and frustrations. At first, Peter feels like a fish out of water, especially when one of the regulars harasses him about not knowing how to pour beer.

“‘Tilt the glass,’ the grisly, bearded man sitting on the other side of the bar snapped at Pete. ‘Look at all the foam that's collecting. Do you even know what you're doing?’”

Then six motorcyclists, a group who goes by the name Hell's Outlaws come into the tavern and badger him more. When he mentions Hank and he are swapping jobs for a week, they tease him, but when Pete discloses his real profession, they drop their nasty demeanor and show him some respect.

Hank happily settles down ready to watch a football game, when Grace Ann comes pounding on his door. She is there to remind him he needs to pick up a trailer to cart a mule they will be using for the live Christmas nativity scene at the church. So much for a relaxing night in front of the TV with a beer.

Grace Ann also does not like Hank for he always calls her Gracie, but she soon starts to notice the man she dislikes in a new light. He proves to be more than helpful, though she still is wary of his flirting ways, not knowing he is determined to break the wall she has built around herself.

Christmas is approaching, and plans are made to have a party at The Last Call where everyone is invited—even those Grace Ann considers unacceptable. She and the members of the Ladies' Missionary Society from the church prepare the food, and Grace Ann wonders how will they all mix together. Will this be a successful event? In addition, Peter invites the regulars at Hank's establishment to the holiday service. Can those considered outcasts or overly pious manage to put aside their differences and enjoy each other's company?

For those who like to reminisce about being snuggled up next to Nana on a cold winter's day while she relates tales from the past, this novel will take one back to those times. Nanas can tell the best stories ever. With almost all of Debbie Macomber's novels, the reader is not only given a captivating story, but also a lesson in life.

Finding the true meaning of Christmas brings a community together.

A grandmother tells the story of Peter and Hank, best friends who trade places for the holidays to see who's life is easier and discover each has a unique impact on their communities.

Peter, an overworked pastor, would love to find someone to share his life, but tending to his congregation leaves little time. He makes time to visit his friend Hank for lunch and they concoct a plan to switch jobs till Christmas Eve.

Peter learns that the people in Hank's bar aren't the type one would expect in his church, and they're not happy about the new guy taking over. While not lying, no one is aware that Peter is a pastor. Seeing that Hank obviously needs help at the bar, Peter hires a waitress to help out, and they spend time together.

Hank thought Peter's job was easy compared to his, until he discovers everything Peter does to keep everyone happy, deals with Peter's sister/church office manager, and finds a way to get things done, a little out of the box.

Both Peter and Hank bring fresh ideas to each other's jobs, and they find ways to help manage the respective jobs in a new light and perspective. Combining their talents, and that of the congregation and the regulars of the bar, they find a way to bring a refreshed Christmas to the community, complete with inclusivity, and each finds love, too.

A sweet tale of Christmas, community, and the heart of the holiday season.

A lovely and warm Christmas read! Romance was a bit quick, I thought, but I enjoyed the feelings this story gave me!

*I received this ebook arc through Netgalley from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I must confess I always look forward to Debbie Macomber's Christmas themed book each year. It's become a comforting ritual each year to curl up with them over the years. I've especially enjoyed the books that have been made into Hallmark movies movies as the Mrs. Miracle series. Nothing puts me more in the holiday spirit than Debbie's books, and her new book, The Christmas Spirit, is no exception. The books is about a preacher named Pete and tavern owner named Hank. The story starts out with a grandmother babysitting her two grandchildren Lily and Lance. They settle in with hot chocolate, and Nana tells them a story from the past. As the story weaves between past and present, the story turns out to be about Lance and Lily's Nana and how she met and fell in love with their grandfather. In 1977, two friends, Pete a preacher and Hank, a tavern owner decide to switch places the week before Christmas. Hank is the sole owner and operator of a tavern and doesn't think Pete works as hard as he does. They also each don't have time for romance because of their busy lives. They switch places, and the hilarity that ensues during that week makes them each realize that neither of them has it so easy. I enjoyed the fact that Pete wasn't judgy to the people at the bar like the bikers and tougher kind of crowd. He talked to them and welcomed them to the church for Christmas Eve services and was patient when they asked questions and talked out loud. Hilarity ensued when the bikers and women all came walking in, shocking regular church members and the live nativity didn't go quite as planned. The Christmas Spirt really weaved a story of what Christmas is all about and how loving everyone without judgment and showing kindness is a lesson we could all use no matter what time of year it is. Plus, the romance is the much added bonus of the story; especially when the grandkids find out that their Nana is talking about her and her grandfather and members of their family from long ago. You don't want to miss this one!