I love this! This is a delightful story for the holiday season. Pete and Hank, best friends from their school days forward, decide to prove to one another that the jobs they hold are hard. That's when the church minister Peter traded places with Hank the tavern owner- bartender. Pete filled his trade-off hours working in an environment that was frequented by sinners similar to those that Jesus spent time with. Hank walked in Pete's shoes trying to keep the church membership happy in the last few days approaching Christmas. They both have a lot to see and learn.
Grace Ann, Peter's sister and church secretary is not happy at all with the arrangement. She just knows Pete's reputation is about to be destroyed. She is the perfect church member. Hank has been a thorn in her side for years. Now she has to work with him.
This story is a great reminder for anyone that Christ expects us to love and accept our neighbors. Judge not lest you be judged certainly comes to mind. A bartender can be a person to give a message from God and a preacher can show Christ's love to a motorcycle gang member or a stripper. It's all in Gods' plan.
Many, many years ago I read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Johnson with my parents and siblings. I laughed so hard the tears were running down my cheeks. This sweet story makes me think of that book and I feel like it could be an adult side version to that.
I received this advanced reader's copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley. I want to thank them for it. Debbie Macomber has given us a Christmas gift with great humor and her thought provoking characters. This is my own personal opinion.

Excellent book again by Debbie Macomber. This novel entails two friends who are changing places around the holidays. Pete, a pastor and Hank, the owner of a bar decide to change places for a week. The characters are well developed including Pete, Hank and Hank's sister Grace. This novel is heart warming and the characters are completely relatable. It is interesting in this novel that Debbie Macomber essentially utilizes a narrator, a Nana who is telling this story to her grandchildren. This story was not only a romance, but a story of acceptance. Another wonderful work by Debbie Macomber. I highly recommend.

Sweet, sweet story! It brought smiles to my face and hope in my heart that mankind will find it’s way to a more kind world. As usual, Debbie Macomber tells a good story.

Debbie Macomber does it again! She delivers another great, heart warming Christmas story that has the reader feeling all this warm and tingly Christmas feels! I’m always excited when I see another Debbie Macomber Christmas book is coming out and that was no different this time around. The Christmas Spirit definitely did not disappoint, it even exceeded my expectations. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the story and the layout. This was the perfect Christmas book and I really loved how it was set up as a grandma telling her grandkids her Christmas story.

I would definitely recommend this book to Christmas story fans! You won’t regret it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

This book captures all my favorite attributes of a holiday romance. As a reader, I recommend grabbing a hot chocolate, a blanket and snuggling up by a cozy fireplace to enjoy this read. I was so engaged with the characters; I didn’t want to put the book down! Despite their flaws, they had good-hearted intentions and that resonated throughout the story. Debbie Macomber has a way with words that brings light and love to the most unique stories. A must-read to put you in the holiday mood this season.

Every time I read a Debbie Macomber book I always say this is her best one yet. This one, I have to admit is an awesome read. I just could not put it down. If you don't get a chance to read any other Christmas book this year make sure that you do read this one. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed it.

I love how it started out as her telling her grandchildren a story, she does tell them that it is a real life story. Lily and Lance are excited to hear it because they love Nana's stories. Lance lets it be known that he doesn't like kissing and mushy parts but Nana tells him she will let him know when those parts are close so he can cover his ears.

I don't want to give any of the story away so just take time this holiday season to check out this awesome book by Debbie Macomber you will be glad you did.

I can always count on a great Christmas read from Debbie Macomber. I enjoy her books so much and look forward to them. All the characters that are in Debbie Macombers books always give you a good feel and leave you feeling like you have made new friends.

Hank and Pete have been friends since high school and even before. Pete went to seminary school after graduating and is the pastor of a local church now. Hank took a different path and inherited the family bar. When the two guys get together to catch up, they decide that they are going to switch places for a week and see who can do the other's job better. Of course they both think they have the harder of the two jobs and will come out the victor in the exchange.

Hank has the pleasure of working with his sister Grace at the church. She is the church secretary and tries to keep everyone and everything in order for the church to prosper as much as possible. When Pete comes in to take over for Hank, Grace is not so sure that the church will get the funding that it needs from some of their donors if it is left up to Pete. Pete doesn't have the same compassion that Hank does.

Hank is not so hot at getting drinks for people either, who would have thought a pastor would be working in a bar anyway? When a local motorcycle group comes in, they start questioning Hank and are very leery of him. Hank has no idea how he is going to be able to handle the bar and the rough crowd. Hopefully he can make friends with them.

You will enjoy this sweet story of how two guys trading places for a week help to bring realizations to a small town as well as bringing two opposite ends of people together. Such a good read and a very good Christmas time read for sure! I could read stories like this one all day long.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own, Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I highly recommend this read!

Debbie Macomber has done it again...another amazing Christmas story featuring Pete, Hank, Millie and Gracie, who are such lovable characters. I LOVEEEE that it's told by a Nana to her 2 grandchildren. There's bikers, strippers, a pastor (Pete) and a tavern owner (Hank) that make up the most wonderful Christmas story filled with life lessons and the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas.
It's heartfelt and at times made me laugh out loud.

I highly recommend you get cozy and enjoy this wonderfully written story.


A Big Thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, Debbie Macomber and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

Pete is a pastor and Hank is a bartender. They decide to switch places which creates some interesting experiences for both of them. This is a light hearted romance with some humor. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Debbie Macomber never disappoints. This is her annual Christmas story which starts with a Nana telling a “for real” story to her grandchildren. The story Nana tells them is about two unlikely friends, a pastor and a bar owner who each believe the other’s life is a piece of cake. The friends decide to switch places the week before Christmas. They each quickly learn that the other’s job is much more than they thought. It was a pleasure reading about Hank and Pete and the cast of characters each encounters at the church and bar as they learn how to manage the other’s livelihood and discover things about the other and themselves. I loved how the occasionally story returned to Nana and her grandchildren and their commentary as Nana told the story. As always Ms. Macomber creates such endearing characters, some life lessons, and an interesting twist at the end. A perfect Christmas story that I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release Date scheduled for October 18, 2022

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A typical Debbie Macomber short Christmas title. It will be well loved by those who love her books. She has become too predictable for me these days.

A story within a story. Grandma is telling grandkids a story of a Christmas many years ago. 2 best friends trade jobs for a week, the week before Christmas, a pastor and a bar owner. This book was just okay but I think perhaps not my style. It was cute overall but felt draggy at times.

Hank and Pete have been friends since grade school. Hank runs a bar and Pete is pastor of a church. They have no idea what their jobs entail until they agree to switch places for a week. Hank is shocked by the things Pete is expected to do as a pastor, and Pete is amazed at the work that goes into running a bar. Even pouring beer is beyond him at first. Gracie is Pete’s sister and church secretary. Hank has always had a crush on her and is determined to find out why she is so unhappy. Pete does not have time for women but when he is desperate for help in the bar, Millie needs work and really helps him out. There is much love and humor in this book. I could picture Hank and his friends playing poker in church, and the Outlaw Biker guys giving Pete a hard time in the bar. The true Christmas spirit comes out when Pete and Hank throw a Christmas party in the bar for all. The only negative for me was the preachy parts. The reader can see how wrong Gracie is to judge the girls from the strip club and the biker boys. This is a heartwarming Christmas book!

I just reviewed The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber. #TheChristmasSpirit #NetGalley
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What a sweet story. When Pete and Jack switch places for a few days, it helps them to. Remember that there are people outside of their usual circles that are good and kind. It's a nice quick Uplifting story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own. What a fun read! Book starts off with Grandma telling her Grandchildren a story about two high school friends set in the late 70's switch places for a week. One owns a bar and the other is a Pastor! This book was so much fun, to see the other perspective and the opportunity for each man to find love. Really enjoyed this book, I turned the page (on my kindle) and was so disappointed I was at the end!

This is a Christmas story to remember and share with others because it is filled with life lessons, love and laughter. Pete Armstrong and Hank Colfax have been best friends for years and decide just before Christmas to switch places at their jobs. Pete is a pastor of a small local church while Hank owns a bar called The Last Call. The predicaments that these two get into are just too funny for words! Pete has to deal with bikers and young women who work at the local strip club while poor Hank has to deal with a stingy old woman who refuses to help the church pay for a new roof. The friendships formed are ones for the record books as they are totally unexpected. The life lessons include not judging others and forgiving others as well as the importance of family values. I enjoyed the quick pace and the credible characters, but mostly I enjoyed the story within the story as Nana told the tale of Pete and Hank to her beloved grandchildren. The tale is well-written with a wonderful happy-ever-after conclusion and all of the loose ends tied up in a bow. A perfect book for the holiday season!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Is it the Christmas season without Debbie Macomber's newest Christmas book? I do not think it is and this years is another heartwarming story. If you love Christmas and loved older movies such as The Parent Trap or Freaky Friday get ready as you will LOVE The Christmas Spirit.

Hank and Pete have been friends since childhood and catch up with each other monthly at a diner called Mom's Place. It is the week before Christmas and Hank and Pere are comparing how busy each of them are. One thing leads to another and they decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. And that's all I am going to divulge.

I related to and/or have "known" every character in this book and the author handles each with such heart. I had a few feel good tears as the book ended. I really " felt" this story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ball engine and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. It publishes on 10/18/22

Refreshing and heartwarming!
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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!

Well this book was a breathe of fresh air. I loved how it was told as a story back in time from the grandmother’s perspective. And I love the message that I got from the book. It was such a heartwarming and fun Christmas read. I am so thankful to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Christmas Spirit is a heartwarming Christmas story of two best friends who realize they never knew how stressful the others' life was until they switch for a week. Peter is a pastor who is feeling overwhelmed with church problems and responsibilities although Hank thinks he only has one real work day a week. Hank runs a tavern but can attest that it's not the carefree, fun job but seems to think. So they switch and set in motion events that will change both their lives.
Told as a story Nana is telling her grandchildren about a Christmas long ago, The Christmas Spirit will tug at your heart, make you laugh and cry and truly give you the Christmas spirit whenever you read it.
I look forward to Debbie Macomber's Christmas book every year and The Christmas Spirit does not disappoint.