I wish to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a fan of Debbie Macomb and this is one of my most favorite stories that she has written. It is just in time for the holidays and is the story of a grandmother telling bedtime stories to her adorable grandchildren. I love the premise of two male best friends swapping jobs for a week. They have to deal with the problems of someone else instead of their own. One is a pastor and the other owns a bar. Each thinks the other has a cushy job and they learn as they walk in the other shoes that each has a unique set of problems. I love the way Debbie develops each of the many characters and even the animals are characters on their own. If this does not help you have a great sense off the holiday spirit I will be amazed. I highly recommend this book for any age group. Grab a cup of tea, cocoa or coffee and settle in to a great read.

I absolutely loved this book! It's probably one of Debbie Macomber's best Christmas books since Mrs Miracle.. The main two characters are men and this was refreshing. In many ways The Christmas Spirit has all the charm of Macomber's holiday books. Wonderful characters, situations that are funny and tender at the same time but this time Macomber throws in a twist. How can a bartender run a church at Christmas? Probably as smoothly as a pastor can run a bar!
I voluntary received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

The Christmas Spirit is a sweet, wonderful little story about two best friends trading jobs for a few days before Christmas. One is a bartender, the other a pastor. It is an eye-opener for each of them as they learn how difficult each job is. There is some romance involved, of course, and many lessons about acceptance of everyone. It was a quick read, and I loved every minute of it!

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

It is never too early for a Christmas book! And I am always up for a good SWAP book! Peter, a small town pastor, and Hank, a bartender, decide to switch jobs during the Christmas season. They are surprised to find there are quite a few things their jobs have in common!

I enjoyed this book from the beginning. I love anything that gives the Hallmark vibe and I think this book does. I don't often read book with 2 male main characters but this one worked for me. It was a sweet escape - just as i suspected it would be.

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. So much so that I also like to do a little celebrating for Christmas in July! Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group gave me the gift of allowing me to read an ARC of Debbie Macomber's new Christmas story "The Christmas Spirit", due to be released October 18, 2022. This beautiful and wholesome story left me feeling all fuzzy inside and joyously awaiting the holidays.

Hank and Peter have been best friends since high school, when they were both on the track team. Their lives have gone in separate directions since then, but they still meet up regularly to fill each other in on their lives. Hank is overly worked and constantly stressed, running the bar he inherited from his father. Peter is equally stressed out as pastor of a local church, focused on the upcoming Christmas service and live nativity, and a roof that is in badly need of repairs but with no funds to fix it. Each thinks the other has much easier job, that is until they decide to swap for a week. Hank and Pete soon discover that their jobs aren't as different as they initially thought. Over the course of the week, both make new friends, find a new appreciation for the other's difficult job, and even discover love along the way.

This was such a sweet story that reminds you that everyone has their own struggles and that you should never judge people without getting to know them. It is the perfect christmas story to get you in the mood for giving and helping others.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.

Two friends, whose lives could not be more different, decide to trade places the week before Christmas. Hank, a bartender, becomes a pastor for a week while his best friend Peter takes charge of the bar. They both discover how hard each other's lives are, while learning about the meaning of Christmas and spreading Christmas cheer. There's also some newfound love in there.

The Christmas Spirit was short and cute. It's an easy Christmas read to get you in the spirit. The overall message was pretty simple. It was just okay for me. If you're a fan of Debbie Macomber you'll enjoy it.

Hank, a local bar owner, and his friend Pete the local pastor decide to switch occupations for one week prior to Christmas.. Pete is able to minister the crowd at the bar without them knowing his true occupation. Hank, who has always been in love with Pete’s sister, Grace Ann, is able to warm her broken heart. Together the two men are able to change the perspective of those who they normally would not come in contact with and show them the meaning of Christmas. This story is truly a Hallmark movie to be made.

A truly remarkable and heartfelt Christmas story! I adore Debbie Macomber's books, and this one may be my new favorite. Christmas is a hard thing to write about since book themes tend to be all the same but with different character names. I want to enjoy a real Christmas story, and this one certainly hits the mark.

I found the premise hilarious and original. Who would ever want to trade places between a pastor and a bar owner? Just reading about it made me laugh.

The characters are fully fleshed out and authentic; you can imagine the places in your head and see everything making the story complete. I enjoyed the story, making my heart ready for Christmas.

Debbie Macomber is the Queen of Christmas books, and I hope that never changes. I love all of her books and definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers, and to Debbie Macomber for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I read this as a part of my themed “Christmas in July” & it did not disappoint! I absolutely love past & present timelines, and I loved the wholesome family aspect of this book. It was such a quick read for me as I could hardly put it down. I could have kept reading about the family for another 200 pages! Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.🎄 Would definitely recommend for anyone needing to get into the Christmas Spirit!

Goodreads - July 30, 2022

All the feels with this sweet Christmas book. It just isn’t Christmas until you read the new Debbie Macomber book and this one didn’t disappoint. It was different than others but only in the best ways! Pre order this one and get in the Christmas spirit!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is such a great fast read that is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit! Debbie Macomber is one of the best authors for Christmas fiction and this book is no exception. Highly recommend!

A truly wonderful and heartfelt Christmas story! I absolutely adore any of Debbie Macomber's books, but I must say, this one might be my very favorite. In my opinion, Christmas is a hard thing to write about anyone because it's either been overly commercialized or it's of the same sickly sweet story quality that a lot of writers use. Not to say that there is anything wrong with that. If you're into that. However, sometimes I just want a Christmas story that reads and feels real. And this one certainly hits the mark.

I found the premise hilarious and original. I mean who would ever want to trade places between a pastor and a barkeep? Just reading about it made me laugh. Then you get into the story and realize how similar both professions are in the scheme of things and so it's really not that far-fetched at all. Both serve people and cater to their needs. And as Debbie points out in her book, 'both deal with spirits.' That is an absolutely wonderful quote.

The characters as always are fully fleshed out and real, you can imagine the places in your head and see everything clearly, and the story is fully formed. What a charming book. I enjoyed this so very much. It made me laugh out loud and my heart got so full that at one point I wanted to cry some happy tears. Yes, I am reading this in July but right now my heart is ready for the Christmas spirit.

Debbie Macomber is the absolute Queen of Christmas stories and I hope that never changes. I absolutely love all of her books and you just cannot go wrong with any of her amazing stories. Yes, I absolutely recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Debbie Macomber for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are honest and are completely my own.

The Christmas Spirit, Debbie Macomber’s latest Christmas themed book is exactly what one would expect from a Debbie Macomber Christmas novel: a clean, heartwarming story that has lessons to teach the reader in a gentle fashion. Hank Colfax, a hardworking tavern owner, and Pete Armstrong, an equally hardworking pastor, frequently meet for lunch. Each is stressed and believes the other has an easier life with the end result being that they decide to trade lives for the few days leading up to Christmas. Neither is prepared for what those few days will bring, but each gains a new perspective and new friends by the end of the week. Hank immediately locks horns with Grace Ann Armstrong, Pete’s sister, who serves as his secretary and works several jobs with the church. Pete has a rough encounter with a group of Hell’s Outlaws, which leaves him shaken but undeterred. He is rescued by Millie, a young woman working two jobs: one has a waitress and the other as a bartender in a strip club. She is struggling but Pete only sees her for the good young woman she truly is and wants to help her. Grace is brittle and judgmental. She has disliked Hank since high school and is horrified at the prospect of him filling any of Peter’s jobs, sure he will destroy Pete’s career. From here there are ups and downs as Hank doles out home truths to not only Grace but the embittered old woman that has promised Pete a new roof for the church. I will avoid giving out more details for fear of saying too much, but suffice it to say that the story progresses in a predictable but entertaining fashion. That is not a bad thing as the reader of this book will be looking for just this sort of warm story. It is a perfect Christmas season read. Four Stars.

You might think that a bartender and a pastor would have little in common, but these lifelong best friends have a lot to learn from each other! Hank and Peter have known one another forever, and each thinks the other has an easier job. So, they decide to switch places for a week just before Christmas. That's when the hilarity sets in!

By the end of the story, Hank and Peter's lives will never be the same, but they've also gained a whole new appreciation for each other, their own lives, and the communities they live in.

I truly enjoyed this story. However, there was a wrapper to this story because the tale of Hank and Peter was being told by a grandmother to her two young grandchildren. There was some great dialogue in this part, and I enjoyed the children's personalities. But while I liked the concept, since Hank and Peter's stories deal with strippers, bikers, drugs and alcohol and the kids are portrayed as being very young, I did cringe quite a few times at what was being shared with them. Based on the dialogue, my guess is that the grandkids were maybe four and seven or so, and that's a bit too young, in my opinion, to get into the reasons why strippers become strippers and what being a stripper really is all about.

Otherwise, a truly enjoyable story with a nice little twist at the end!

Lovely Christmas story, that I just couldn't put down! The characters were well written and believable. I loved how the story was told to the children and what the story represented. 5 stars!!

The Christmas Spirit is laugh out loud funny. The cast of characters are absolutely hilarious and kept me in stitches from beginning to end. What an ingenious way to send an important message!

I read an early copy of "The Christmas Spirit" by Debbie Macomber on NetGalley. I have been a fan of Debbie Macomber's books since discovering her Blossom Street books. Once again, this one was a delight to read. I love Christmas books. And reading it in July gives the promise of all the wonderful Christmas things to come. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance story.

Thank you netGalley for this advanced copy. As always, Debbie has written a winner Christmas story. I didn't know if I wanted to read this right away because I don't want to wish away summer! This story is about two friends that switch places for a few days. While I think the relationships that were created were predictable, it was a cute love story. Easy read. If she is not on your Christmas book list, she needs to be!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book before it releases!

Let me start off by saying I LOVE Debbie Macomber. I have read so many of her Christmas novels and have loved every single one of them. When I seen this book on NetGalley; I just had to request to read it and I was not disappointed. Peter and Millie…LOVE, Gracie and Hank DOUBLE LOVE. This book really teaches you a lot about not judging others/ thinking you are better than others and also about Christmas love and spirit.

The only complaint I have is that it isn’t longer. I want more info on them and Hell’s Outlaws. I will definitely be buying an actual copy of this book for my Debbie Macomber Christmas collection!

5 flippin stars!!!!