A sweet, satisfying Christmas story from Debbie Macomber. This is the kind of book that it's nice to curl up with on a rainy day with a nice cup of tea.

The characters were very likeable and I enjoyed the back and forth story between the present and the past.

Many thanks to Netgalley, and Ballantine for an E-ARC of THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Debbie Macomber. This book is scheduled to be published on October 18th, 2022. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Christmas Spirit was a quick and unrealistic book, just like a Hallmark movie.

The book is about two lifelong friends, Hank and Pete. Hank owns a tavern and works as the bartender. Pete is a pastor at a local church, Both men feel overwhelmed by their jobs, especially during the December holiday season. They decide that their counterpart has the "easier" job. To prove it, they switch places the week before Christmas. Hank's eyes are opened to all that it entails to run a church while Pete witnesses all of the help the tavern clientele need. The job switch also introduces both men to new romantic partners (can it be a Christmas story without love?!), questions of faith and the idea of community.

This story was a really fast read and I recommend it to reads who love Hallmark movies or Macomber's other holiday books. However, to me, the romance was SO far fetched. The enemies to lovers trope was completely unbelievable. Some of the stereotypes in this book (such as the strippers and bikers who frequent Hank's tavern) were cringe worthy at best and harmful at worst.

Overall, I settled on three stars for this book.

Every year, I can't wait to read Debbie Macomber's new holiday book. This one was fantastic! Be prepared to have a hard time putting it down. I highly recommend this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Debbie Macomber can tell a Christmas story like no one else! This is a story of two best friends switching places for a week thinking the other has it easy. Of course they find out differently, but they are also able to give some fresh perspective to each other. They both get some Christmas memories that they will never forget!

This is such a sweet, holiday story about rediscovering who you truly are and what you believe in.
I love the way Debbie Macomber told the story. It begins and ends with a grandma telling a "When it all started" story to her two grandchildren. She recounts the story of her falling in love with their grandfather and the events that led to them being together. The perfect feel good Christmas story!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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

I love reading books in July especially when the weather is way to hot!!

Debbie Macomber writes the best Christmas books I have loved every Christmas book by this author another winner for me 5 stars
The Christmas Spirit




Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review

Happy Reading Lisa 📚

I just love how cozy and sweet DM's books always are. Just when you expect story lines to get stale, she comes up with a fresh new approach. A sweet sweet book, worth picking up.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4840591796

Pete and Hank have been friends since their school days, despite taking different paths. Pete attended seminary and became a pastor, and Hank took over the family's bar. The week before Christmas, they decided to switch jobs, each thinking he is getting the easier option. A biker gang and an escaped mule are only part of their surprises.Pete's self-righteous sister Grace is the church secretary who disapproves of just about everything. Ironically, she was the one who seemed most like the kind of person who fills many churches. Debbie's one of my favorite authors for her romances with a touch of humor, but this book seemed almost like a fantasy world, where the Ladies Missionary Society reaches out to strippers, and a friendly, down to earth man is attracted to a woman whose holier than thou attitude was almost unbearable.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What a terrific story! I enjoyed every bit of this look at the lives of two very different men as they switch jobs (pastor and bartender!) for a few days. The author handled some not-so-loving Christians with grace, pointing out the flaws without being demeaning. She also showed those who society typically looks down on as real people.

The story is told by Nana to her grandkids so everything here is family friendly.

A wonderful read for Christmas or any time of the year. Highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley, the author Debbie Macomber and the publisher for the ARC of The Christmas Spirit. This is a feel-good, cozy, sweet Christmas novel. It is a really heartwarming story about friendship and the art of acceptance. This story has lots of small town charm and a great cast of characters. A bit predictable, but I liked the the message of the true spirit of Christmas. Overall, this is a touching story. Read it at Christmas time to really feel the magic!

I just reviewed The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber. #TheChristmasSpirit #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published October 18, 2022.

It’s Christmas in July for me! This was my first book by this very popular author and it was a quick and enjoyable read.

Two best friends, a bartender and a pastor, are complaining to one another how hard their job is when they decide to trade jobs for a week the week before Christmas. Hilarity follows when the motorcycle gang and waitresses from the strip club show up to Christmas Eve service.

Debbie Macomber is always great for spinning a heartwarming Christmas tale and here is another. Some may say a bit saccharin, it really is truly a sweet retelling by a nana how she and her husband fell in love one Christmas. When best-friends, Hank, a tavern owner, and Pete, a local pastor decide to switch places the week before Christmas, they soon find an appreciation for each other’s jobs and life. But what is really special is that it gives them a new perspective on life on what each of them is missing and it helps to enrich their life and as a result, those around them as well. Hank falls in love with Gracie, Pete’s sister and helps her discover joy again in her life as Pete falls for Millie helping her to find hope for her future. I like the story telling component that Macomber used and how she had redeeming characters who are more than they appear. A quick read, this will be a delight for you to read this holiday season and remind you about the true Christmas spirit.
Many thanks to #netgalley #thechristmasspirit #debbiemacomber for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Loved this book by Debbie Macomber. Just a great Christmas story that will have you believing in the magic of the season. I will have to read it again as it gets closer to Christmas. Pick up this book and slide into the magic of the story.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I love how this story was written of a Grandma telling her grandchildren her own love story. I loved every detail and the lesson behind not being judgmental in all things.

Great story and one I would definitely recommend. Not only romance but life’s lessons intertwined throughout.

The Christmas Spirit
by Debbie Macomber
Pub Date: October 18, 2022
Ballantine Books
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a great read! I was so pleased to get the ARC of this book that I read it as soon as possible. I love how this story progresses, a grandma telling her sweet grandkids a story.
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, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.
I won't give away the plot, but this is truly a life-changing novel. I just kept reading and reading until it was done.
It's been a while since I have liked a book this much!! I will be recommending to everyone! I've already preordered it for our library.
5 stars

What a great book! I enjoyed how the characters were developed and how Hank and Pete were friends enough to step into one anothers shoes for a week. I liked seeing the "cracking" of the characters go on. They really melted when true love was shown. What a great story! Thank you for the opportunity to review.

Best friends Pete and Hank decided to switch jobs. Just to see how the different each other’s jobs were. Now mind you there jobs are very different! Pete is a pastor and Hank is a tavern owner.

This is another Debbie Macomber must read!
She wrote it like she was telling a story to her grandchildren.
Very well written as always. Full of fun, laugh’s and love.
Release date is October 18, 2022
You can preorder now.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

A sweet and enjoyable Christmas story. Could definitely see this one being turned into a Hallmark Christmas movie.

A grandmother is telling her two grandchildren a story about a bartender and a pastor, who have been best friends for many years. The two individuals switch jobs for several days, each believing the other has a very cushy job with no stress and little work involved. They soon learn otherwise, and a few problems develop.

This is a heartwarming story about friendship, change of heart, forgiveness, new beginnings, new friendships, and a HEA. The children are surprised when they find out who the story is really about.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Ballantine. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a classic Christmas story. Two friends Peter and Hank get together about once a month for lunch. Peter is a minister at a local church, Hank is the owner of a local bar that caters to a local biker gang. Each thinks the other has the easier job. So the week of Christmas they decide to swap jobs. Peter failed to tell his sister, who is also his church secretary, of his plan. Oh and she hates Hank and thinks he is a bad influence on Peter. Well as I am sure you can imagine they discover that the grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. They both though bring a lot to their new "jobs" and change lives along the way. And who knew that the nativity animals could be so much trouble.
This is a fun and happy Christmas story that we have come to expect from Debbie Macomber.