Book Review for The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber

 The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber 

Genre:  Christmas, Clean Romance, Chick Lit

Publication: October 18th 2022 by Ballantine Books

 

Taken from Goodreads:  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, the local pastor who is dedicated to his community, spending 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 a bartender and a pastor are similar, but taking on the other's work is more difficult than either Peter or Hank expected. As the two begin to see each other 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.

My Thoughts:  The first seasonal book of 2022, Debbie Macomber is the perfect choice.  Her sweet, small-town romances are the perfect way to start off the Christmas Season.  Peter and Hank are best of friends, when they decide to change places, they both expect to have an easy time adjusting.  Instead, they find the grass is not always greener on the other side.   Both men in their new positions learn a lot about life and they also find ways to help others. 

I love the way that the author wrote this book.  It was told by a grandmother to her grandchildren.  The little girl was all about the romance while the little boy loves the action and the motorcycle guys.  I found it so easy to relate to.  I felt like I was sitting right next to the grandmother as she was telling the story. 

The Christmas Spirit is the perfect way to start my Christmas reading and I look forward to reading many more.

Thank you Random House for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet Debbie Macomber (taken from her website):  Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2022, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include The Best Is Yet to Come (July) and The Christmas Spirit (October), a new adult coloring book, Debbie Macomber’s Holly Jolly Christmas Coloring Book (October). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, two adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.