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.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber is a Christmas story reminding us that everyone can enjoy the season with a little help from friends. The story starts out and ends with the grandmother telling a true story to her two grandchildren.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends, even though life has taken them on very different paths. One is a pastor and one is a bar owner. Once a month they get together at a midpoint and talk. This year, they decide that each other has the easier job - so they switch. You can imagine what a learning curve that is for both of them. Neither of them really understand what the other one does or goes through. However, as the days pass, both learn lessons about their preconceived notions and begin to look toward helping each other. The result is less predictable than you think.

As always Debbie Macomber’s books are guaranteed to pull at your heart strings and remind you of what can be good in the world. Her skills in writing always make me fall into a story with such anticipation! The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber is a good read.

The Christmas Spirit is classic Debbie Macomber-full of festive fun and faith during the holidays. Two friends, one a pastor and the other an owner of a local bar, decide to switch jobs the week before Christmas-each convinced the other has it easier. They soon discover that there are similarities between their jobs in unexpected ways-along with difficulties. This Christmas week will change both their lives forever and celebrate the true meaning of the holiday. Told from the perspective of a grandmother telling her grandchildren a unique Christmas story that took place many years ago readers will begin to wonder about her identity and just how she fits in this puzzle. This is a lovely holiday read that fans of Macomber will enjoy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book was short and sweet. If you are looking for a quick Christmas read this is it. Debbie never disappoints!

I love Debbie Macomber's writing, but I love her Christmas stories the most. She manages to bring us into the settings, as silent visitors with front row seats, able to watch beautiful love stories unfold right before us: a balm for our souls.

Peter, a local pastor and best friend Hank, a bar owner, decide to trade jobs the week before Christmas. Each thinks their friends' jobs are easy and much to their surprise discover how demanding both jobs can be. The pastor's customers seem very different from the bartender’s clientele of bikers and regulars.

Macomber’s newest holiday title is a delightful read that is sure to lift your spirits. Her characters are believable and the local town flavor makes the setting another character in the books. A story that celebrates the meaning of the holidays and how we are all connected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this title.

This one was such a good one! My absolute favorite Christmas book of 2022! This author always writes heart warming books that bring a smile to my face! When two best friends switch places, one a pastor and one a bar owner - they think they are both in for a relaxing slow Christmas week. Both of them don’t believe one or the others job is really that hard, they soon find out both jobs have so much involved! Since swapping places, each character has so much to deal with! From the people, to love, to keeping the meaning of Christmas! This heart warming story really was a chefs kiss! I loved it and it was just the Christmas book I needed to make me feel the true meaning of Christmas!

Peter and Hank have been best friends since grad school, but the two could not be more different. Peter has been working his whole life to become a Pastor, devoting much of his time to his beliefs and congregation. Hank has a different kind of congregation - he is owner and bartender of The Last Call. Over lunch one day, the two argue over who has it easier, each believing the other one has it made. Hank and Peter agree to trade places for five days to prove that life is easier on the other side. What neither expects is for the switch to provide life-changing answers.
Personally, I'm not religious, so I wouldn't normally pick up this book. I've been known to go for cheesier and steamier Christmas reads. However, I am a HUGE Debbie Macomber fan, so I knew I just had to read the newest addition to her collection. Despite the deeply religious and traditional Christmas vibes of this story, I have no regrets about picking it up! I devoured this quick read in one day. The characters were loveable and genuine. They had flaws and they had eye-rolling moments, but it was all natural.
One thing I really loved about Peter is he exhibits the values that I think followers should have. I don't want to get too political in this review, but I was raised Catholic and there were many disagreements I had with the teachings. Peter made me want to go back to church. He is a great example of what I think a true follower is.
Hank, on the other hand, made me want to go to my local bar and have a pint of beer. I loved the setting of The Last Call, and I ✨ adored✨ his personality. The brutal word vomit of this bartender was to be admired. He told it like it was without any regrets.
Overall, I highly recommend this cute Christmas read, whether or not you are a follower. I think anyone will find their own comfort in this story.

Another Christmas home run! I think I have read a Debbie Macomber Christmas novel every year and they are always wonderful. The is romance, real life, and ALWAYS a way that brings into focus the true meaning of Christmas.

In The Christmas Spirit, a grandmother tells her grandchildren (and us) the story of Pete and Hank.- two longtime friends who are now the local pastor and the local tavern owner. Throw in a biker gang, some veterans, and a few others that have never had a real Christmas; add a holier-than-thou church secretary; then sprinkle in the animals for the live nativity and you have the recipe for a delightful and heartwarming Christmas story that will have you wondering if it is true right up until the end.

I enthusiastically recommend!

A cute Christmas read. I would give this one about 3 and 1/2 stars, but rounding up. As a Christmas story goes, it's classic in the sense of you know what you expect from a Hallmark type Christmas story in general. This story starts with a Grandma telling the story to her grandkids. The end general idea of the story is a positive one to tell your grandkids. However, throwing in certain things like strippers or bikers in part of the story that you're telling to your grandchildren, who seemed younger seemed a little bit out of place. If the kids were a little older, late tweens to teens, it wouldn't feel so off I think. Overall though, Debbie Macomber delivers as she always does with her Christmas stories.

The Christmas Spirit, by Debbie Macomber, is a fun Christmas romance. When a priest takes over a bar and a bar owner takes the priest's place in a church, unexpected things happen., some of which will have you laughing out loud. The culminating church Christmas pageant is reminiscent of a more grown-up version of a middle school novel, The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. Macomber's novel, A Christmas Spirit, is such a fun book, filled with great characters and laughable events. It can easily be read in an afternoon. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.