I like Debbie Macomber’s books. This one goes back and forth between 1975 and present day. A grandma is telling her grandchildren, a boy and a girl, a story about two friends, a pastor and a bar owner, who decide to switch places to see who has the toughest job. Each of the men develop a new understanding of what the others job entails. There is also romance for each of the men. I recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Macomber and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of The Christmas Spirit. This is my personal review.
Peter and Hank have been friends for years. Peter is a pastor and Hank is a bar owner. Two friends with such different lives and they each think the other leads an easy life, so they decide to switch places for a few days.
This sets up for a book that was heart touching and story. The story is told is a unique way. Nana is babysitting her grandchildren and tells them a fairy tale that is so much more.
It is a Christmas story you will read, and it will leave you feeling wonderful.
Thank you Debbie Macomber for giving us a beautiful story to fill our hearts with joy.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber is a story within a story. Nana tells her grandchildren a story that isn't a fairy tale but a real life story. This novel takes place during the Great War and reflects the lives of Peter and Hank. It shows how people feel that others lives are easier than theirs. They find out that isn't always so.
Read this book to solve the mystery. Thank Netgalley and the publisher for the early edition of this book,
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I loved this story! I read this book in just a few hours. I couldn't put it down.
Two lifelong friends decide to trade places for a week to see how the other lives. One owns a bar and the other a pastor. They come too see challenges the other faces and helps to ease burdens. They both see a lot of growth and of course romance as Debbie's books always do. While this tale takes place at Christmas time it's not necessarily a Christmas story.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun easy read. Someone looking for a fun clean romance.

I am a big fan of Debbie Macomber's books, especially her Christmas stories! They are always short and easy reads that leave you feeling great - this one is just like that! I loved that it started out as a grandmother telling her grandkids a love story.

The characters were likable and it was fun to watch them switch places and deal with things out of their elements. The love that grew between the characters over the course of a week was great and had me smiling at the interactions between them.

This was a great Christmasy read that will be perfect for the holidays. It had a lot of lessons that a lot of people could use and teaches us to not judge a book by it's cover.

Easily a 5-star read for me and I will be recommending it as a holiday read this year!

Big thanks to Debbie Macomber, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

It’s my yearly tradition to read the new Debbie Macomber Christmas book. I look forward to it every year. This one was a little different. A grandmother tells her grandchildren a retelling of a Christmas past. Two best friends, a bar keep and a pastor, swap jobs for five days. It was eye opening for both men. I enjoyed this story so much. It was a heartwarming holiday tale. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This is a wonderful Christmas story.
It's a feel-good & touching book.
Will make you laugh & cry.
Nana, was spending the evening with her grandkids, Lance & Lily.
She told them a special story
about two best friends at Christmas time.
Pete & Hank, each had very different jobs. They questioned who's life was harder.
So they decided to find out.
Great characters, storyline
& small town charm.
I loved it from the first to last page!!

Love a good holiday read and especially fun with a holiday theme.
This was neat because this time we had two male protagonists
switching places as opposed to the female perspective.
Perfect for fans of The Holiday.

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.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends, but their lives couldn’t be more different. Peter is a local pastor who is dedicated to his community. He spends his time visiting the flock, attending meetings, and, with the holiday season approaching, preparing for the Christmas service and live nativity. As a bartender, Hank serves a much different customer base at his family-owned tavern, including a handful of lonely regulars and the local biker gang.

When Peter scoffs that Hank has it easy compared to him, the two decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. To their surprise, the responsibilities of both bartender and pastor are similar, but much more difficult than either of them expected. As Peter and Hank begin to see each other’s lives in a new light, and each discovers a new love to cherish, their lives are forever changed.

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

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
BY: DEBBIE MACOMBER

I can always count on Debbie Macomber for a heartfelt story having to do with family. This one was okay, but I had to suspend belief that a grandmother would really tell this story to her two grandchildren under ten years old who she was watching for her daughter. I usually love anything by Debbie Macomber, and her novels are most always five star reads.

I didn't really like some of the characters in this one at first, but by the end of the book I had changed my mind and they redeemed themselves. Grace Ann was one such character that was initially very holier-than-though and hard to like, but she did see the error of her ways, but right after her epiphany in which she admitted to being a hypocrite--there wasn't any further development of her character. I would have liked to have heard more dialogue from her instead of a description of what she did to help.

I was won over by the end of the book and felt like the characters all were likable, henceforth my solid four star rating. This is the first time I have rated less than five stars for Debbie Macomber. I was a little underwhelmed with the story and the characters weren't what I was typically expecting. It was a fast read, which took me only a few hours. I couldn't believe it was so short. I still will read her previous novels and anything that she writes in the future.

Publication Date: October 18, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Debbie Macomber and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Ballantine Books for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheChristmasSpirit #DebbieMacomber #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBallantineBooks #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book. Peter and Hank have been best friends for years. Hank owns a bar and Peter has become a priest. They decide to switch jobs and their lives are never the same. They both find love where they least expect it. This was a wonderful book that you will enjoy for a long time. Think I may reread it during the holidays with a book club.

Nothing can bring out the holidays than a Debbie Macomber romance - however - this one comes with a twist. Hank and Peter, best of friends, swap places right before the holiday. While this could possibly lead to mishap and mayhem, it also leads to unlikely love and everlasting friendships. It's a tale of two lives forever changed and the family and friends who made it all possible.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book Peter and Hank have been best friends for years. Hank owns a bar and Peter has become a priest. They decide to switch jobs and their lives are never the same. They both find love where they least expect it. This was a delightful book that you will enjoy for many years.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber . Just read my new favorite Debbie Macomber Christmas story. Heartwarming, humorous, filled with love, and memorable characters. Can see the movie version in my mind's eye with Kirk Russell as Snake minus the eye patch.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

A sweet holiday tale. Debbie Macomber’s latest novella, The Christmas Spirit, is a cozy confectionary story of two male friends - one a pastor and the other a tavern owner - who swap homes and jobs for a few days during the week prior to Christmas. As the daughter of a preacher myself, I appreciated Macomber highlighting the myriad of tasks that render such a job a 24x7 commitment. And though portions of the plot are entirely preposterous - even assuming a heavy dose of Christmas spirit(s) of every sort - I nonetheless found the story cheery and heartwarming. Recommended for those for whom a Macomber story is a holiday tradition and any others seeking a quick, light read to spark a festive mood. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the complimentary e-ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

This was such a cute book! I absolutely love Debbie's Christmas novels and this one did not disappoint! Hank is a bar owner/tender and Pete is a pastor who decide to switch lives until Christmas Eve. Hilarity ensues. And, of course, there's romance! I didn't like that Hank called Grace Ann, Gracie since she said she didn't like it. That just rubbed me the wrong way. But everything else was great. The Christmas Eve service was especially funny. Overall, just a cute, fun book. Highly recommend.

This is a tale of a Christmas of long ago being told by a grandma to her grandkids. Back in the day, Hank (tavern owner) and Pete (pastor) decide to trade jobs during the week before Christmas. Each thinks the other has the easier job. Of course they find that their preconceptions are false and that both professions “minister” to people. Hijinks ensue so that when the Christmas Eve service arrives people from both lives, the tavern and the church, end up celebrating together.

The book is very Christian focused and has no swearing or sex. Along with the focus on the transformative spirit of Christmas on both communities, they each find love while in their new role. It is told both in the past and present- during the time of the action and in present as the grandma tells the story to the grandkids. Fans of Debbie Macomber will not be disappointed.

I received this ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

It began with a dare of sorts. Each man believing his own job tougher than the other and in many ways they were. Their jobs were certainly different. Pete was a pastor of a small-town church. His sister Grace his assistant, basically organizes his demanding schedule. Hank owned and operated a tavern in a neighboring town. Sole proprietor Hank ran his tavern without any outside help. Pete and Hank were best friends since grade school. Quite different career paths. Both single, with no prospect in sight.
So at lunch they were having a one off on whose life was more difficult. And they decided to switch places for a week. Each one pretty sure they had the more demanding schedule. Which was of course the reason for their continued single status. As Pete deftly explains, both he and Hank dealt in spirits.

Pure Debbie Macomber. You can spot the humor a mile away. Of course it is kind, caring and friendly. But the premise is ripe for some out loud chuckles. THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT is a gift from one of my favorite authors. Debbie Macomber is one of my go to writers when I want to sit back and enjoy a tale that just makes you feel good.

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT is framed as a story being told by Nana to her two adorable grandchildren. They adore their Nana who loves reading them books. But this evening she is delighting them with an off the cuff tale. Nana is an amazing storyteller, perhaps fashioned after Debbie Macomber herself.

The book goes back and forth from the story to the present time. And Nana introducing some of the best characters to the grandkids. Dialog is crisp and compelling. Characters will steal your heart and the entire theme is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

Characters like Mrs. Millstone, Hanks fifth grade teacher made me laugh out loud and stroke memories of my second-grade teacher, Mrs. D - not her real name. My Mrs. D had a unique talent of hitting the side of her desk with a ruler which proceeded to snap off a piece, which flew through the air and amazingly landed on the offending student’s desk.

So enjoy this seasonal tale by the master Debbie Macomber. If you aren’t already a fan, the Christmas spirit will do the trick. Scenes including members of a motorcycle bike group recalled a Facebook item I had once seen where this big burly biker reminds us that he is a son, husband, and father and how it hurts to see people gather their children in warning when in his presence. Teaches us a little about judging a book by it’s cover and still another warm wonderful Debbie Macomber moment.

Debbie Macomber brings us a story of two friends who switch places with each other to see how the other one lives. Pastor Peter Armstrong and bar owner Hank Colfax are best friends. One night, they decide to switch places thinking the other has it easier. Hank gets to contend with Peter's sister and the parish with all of their problems and help get ready for the Christmas service while Peter deals with the daily running of the bar and the cast of characters who show up each day. As Peter and Hank experience each other's life, they learn more about not just their friend but themselves. There are also some surprises thrown at them that has the potential to change their lives.

Debbie Macomber brings us a sweet story of friendship and love and how they have the power to change lives. See what life throws at Peter and Hank and how it can transform not only them but those around them. I enjoyed reading about these two friends and how they improvised when thrown into unfamiliar circumstances while still trying to make things better for each other.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for this privilege.

I wasn't really sure what to expect here, but the author definitely uses a play on word with the Christmas 'spirit.' This ended up being a fantastic premise about two friends who switch places and find that their professions aren't really so different after all...they have been called to help others in different ways. As an added bonus, fans of The Princess Bride will love the narration and flow of the story, as it follows that same structure.

The Christmas Spirit was a quick/easy read like all books from this author. I enjoyed the friendship theme throughout this book but I didn’t care for the religion aspect so I probably wouldn’t read this again. Overall though, I think most people would enjoy this as a holiday read.