Debbie is the queen of Christmas stories. Every year I look forward to reading her newest creations and this one did not disappoint.
This story was fantastic. The characters were believable and entertaining. The storyline flowed nicely and kept my attention. It had plenty of laugh out loud moments and even a few tears.
Excellent read for the holiday season.

Sometimes other people's lives seem like they are easier or better than our own but that's not always the case...

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are lifelong friends who chose very different paths in life. Peter is a local pastor who is overworked and underpaid and never seems to be able to get everything accomplished to help his church run smoothly. Hank is a local bar owner running his family-owned tavern by himself, which is a completely different kind of work but no less stressful.

Peter and Hank argue that the other has it easy compared to the other, so they decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. They quickly realize that the other's work is more difficult than they originally thought but they also find new friends, love and understanding by taking on the switch.

This was a fun, light, easy read which is just what the doctor ordered at times. They characters were all great.

I received this title in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

A great Christmas story, Lovely.

This story will be sure to delight the author’s many fans. Debbie Macomber can be relied upon to tell a story that is light, nice and absorbing, thereby offering a break from the anxieties of the world.

This Christmas themed novel has two men swap places. It is a tried and true theme but nonetheless an enjoyable one in the author’s hands. One character is a minister while the other owns a bar. Will they want their own lives back? Where will each find love? Read this one to find out.

I did not review this before Christmas but…with this book, you can enjoy the holiday season all over again!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This was such a delightful and entertaining read It is sure to bring you the spirit of Christmas.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

For years, Debbie Macomber has been one of my favorite authors to read. Her holiday romances never disappoint and I always add a few to my December reading list. The Christmas Spirit was the perfect addition to this year's list. I enjoyed this love story being told by a Grandmother to her grandchildren. It was a neat perspective that made the story extra sweet. I enjoyed the interesting cast of characters and seeing their personal transformation throughout the story. I highly recommend this clean, feel-good romance.

What a perfectly wonderful Christmas story by one of my favorite authors. Pete and Hank, friends since high school decide to switch jobs for a week. Both think their jobs are harder and the other's is easy. Peter, the local pastor is getting his church and community ready for the Christmas season and Hank, a local tavern owner is busy with the sports season and parties. 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. The story is narrated by a grandmother telling her grandchildren a Christmas story while she is babysitting. I loved this story and the characters.

When I think of holiday reasons, there is one author that always comes to my mind and that is Debbie Macomber. She is known for her sweet Christmas stories and her 2022 release The Christmas Spirit continues this tradition. In this story, the premise is set up by a grandmother who is telling a story to her grandchildren. There seems to be something special about this story though.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends with completely different lifestyles. Hank is a bar owner by trade while Peter is a local pastor. Each thinks that the other has an easier job than him and so they agree to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. Both characters are in for a surprise when they realize the responsibilities of each respective job are not as easy as they appear. There are also some similarities between them as well.

Of course there is also a touch of romance as both Peter and Hank find love while working in their new positions. One of the grandchildren is not necessarily happy about this part of his grandmothers story. This experience of trading positions opened both of their eyes in various ways. I enjoyed the connections that were made between the characters and how they each brought comfort to their respective new and old positions.

The Christmas Spirit is an easy quick read. There is nothing too strenuous about it and it is easy to get lost in. There is a strong sense of community. The characters are enjoyable and the holiday spirit is strong. It is a good way to enjoy a light hearted Christmas story.

While watching her grandchildren one evening they ask her about baking cookies and after volunteering all that day she is wiped out. They agree to have her tell them a story instead and while drinking hot cocoa and cuddling on the couch she starts, it's a true story about two men, friends since childhood. One is a pastor, one a bartender, two quite different
professions. Each thinks the other's job is easy peasy, nothing to it and they agree to trade jobs for a bit and prove how easy each other's job is. With funny and disastrous results, it's quite the eye-opening experience for them both as they meet new people and come to have a new appreciation for each other. A heartwarming and emotional story. I really enjoy this author's books and always read her new ones when they release.

18 Oct 2022 publish date.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely love Debbie Macomber's Christmas books!! This one had all the things I love...cozy, Christmas spirit, great location, and characters. The premise was really unique and fun!
I did think it was too short to really sell the story.
I would happily recommend this book looking for a sweet Christmas read!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Debbie Macomber, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

The Christmas Spirit is your quintessential hallmark Christmas read and is very much consistent with Debbie Macomber’s writing style.

I usually love Debbie Macomber's books. This was not one of my favorites. It was told as a grandmother telling a story to her two grandchildren. The story itself was good, but I don't think some of the content of the story would actually be suitable for children of that age. A bar, strippers, bikers, etc. I think it would have been better without that aspect of it. Also, there was just too much going on. First the grandmother with her grandchildren, then Hank and Gracie's story, and Pete and Millie's story. Two couples fell in love in a week? Also Debbie's books are getting way too religious for my taste. I like clean stories but I don't like all the religion thrown in.

I really enjoyed this tale of two friends trading places. If shows and lets you experience what it is like to be in someone's shoes. I thought the storyline was good and it had a good pace to it.

Quick Holiday read. A good reminder at the holidays about perspective and leaving judgement behind. This book embraced the true meaning of Christmas

I feel like Debbie Macomber is the queen of Christmas and romance and has been around forever!

I liked this Christmas novel, but at times I felt the plot like dragging along a little bit. Maybe it was the timing of reading the novel for me, as I was reading in October and there were plenty of other holidays during that time period.

I will certainly recommend it to others and put it in my cozy Christmas folder on Goodreads for sure! She deserves a spot there! Can't wait to read next year's novel, I bet I will be in a different headspace for that one!

I absolutely love Debbie Macomber. This book was the cutest Christmas story!!! It was an easy read and loved all the characters!

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber definitely hit it out of the park for me. I look forward to DM Christmas books each year and this one did not disappoint. The characters are a bit "rougher" than usual from the previous books I've read by her, but they were perfect for the premise and ultimately for the way it ended. It begins with a grandmother telling her two grandchildren a bedtime story of a pastor and barkeeper that trade places for a few days prior to Christmas, both thinking the other has it easier. What they actually find out is that both professions are incredibly challenging, while at the same time deeply rewarding. This book is full of acceptance, love, and forgiveness and I would highly recommend it, even out of the Christmas season it would have an impact.

What is your favorite Christmas or holiday cookie or treat?

It’s not Christmas without a Debbie Macomber book. This book was my December read for the Brenda Novak Book Group. I still need to watch the meeting! They are posted each month on Brenda Novak’s Facebook page and are delightful.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends in the 1970’s. Both lead very different lives. Peter is the pastor at a local church, while Hank runs a local tavern. Both believe the other has an easier time at their job so they decide to switch jobs for a week before Christmas. Both discover that the other has a much harder job than they thought. They also find that they can make a difference at their new jobs and perhaps find love along the way.

I loved this story. I thought it was very heartwarming and really looked at the true meaning of Christmas. I find it interesting that many books labeled “Christian” really are just stories that are a clean read, but have nothing about faith. This book is not labeled as a Christian read, but it was a great one. It had many thoughtful points such as are the church ladies judging rather than helping people in town? Who should they be helping? Do you know what anyone is going through if you haven’t walked in their shoes. Everyone kept being surprised that Hank the bartender knew scripture and applied it in his life. There are strippers and a biker gang in this book, which are not traditionally in a Christmas story.

The story is framed with a grandmother telling this story to her grandkids. I kept wondering who she was going to end of being and it had a satisfying conclusion.

Review Copy from NetGalley. Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another heartwarming Christmas story for Macomber fans. The job switching of the two characters was well done and you learn a lot about not judging people in this story. A quick holiday read and a good book club discussion title.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax have been best friends for many years. Peter is a pastor and Hand own and runs a tavern. Both friends get together one fine day to catch up and they get into a discussion about their respective occupations and how they each believe the other may have it easier in their profession. This discussion leads both friends to agree to switch places and Hank would work at Peter's church and Peter would work at Hank's tavern until Christmas Eve. So starts the friends on an adventure. Along the way, Peter has an interesting run-in with a biker gang and Hank is reintroduced to Peter's sister, Grace Ann.

This story moves at a good pace and is an enjoyable and light-hearted read. Throughout the challenges they face, the importance of faith and community can be seen. If you're a fan of Debbie Macomber, you will enjoy this book. If you have never read a book by this author, you will enjoy this story and it cast of delightful characters.