When I see a book by Debbie Macomber I always click on it. She writes beautiful stories, especially Christmas books. I've been reading her for many years and the only thing I have to watch is many of her releases are reprints from older books. But they are worth reading twice. Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of composing her own songs, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland, Oregon. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of Christmas with her meddling family, where she’ll have to play nice while dodging their traditional expectations.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in small-town Podunk, Washington, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin is occupied by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the mayor’s son—who happens to be an incredibly charming former musician—is more than willing to help.
Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s encouragement and feedback inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, threatening her newfound peace and confidence, while she realizes Jay might be more than he presents himself to be. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.

Do you enjoy Christmas music? Do you have any favorite songs? I love Christmas music and especially older songs. My daughter gets annoyed about not updating the Christmas music list, so I’ve been adding in newer albums as time goes on.

Hailey Morgan decides to accept her friends offer to stay at a family cabin over Christmas break to have time to focus on her music. She also doesn’t want to return home as her mother has invited her ex-boyfriend for Christmas in an attempt to get them back together. While in the small town of Podunk, Washington, she asks for help removing the wild animals in resident. The mayor/general store owner sends her son Jethro (Jay). As Hailey and Jay get to know each other, will Haily be able to have her Christmas dreams of love and music come true?

My thoughts on this novel:
• I always enjoy reading Debbie Macomber’s Christmas novels and novellas every year at Christmas time. They really put me in the Christmas mood.

• This novel was the December pick for the 2024 Brenda Novak Reading Challenge.

• This was a nice, short cozy read for the holiday season.

• I enjoyed that Hailey was able to take control of her life and do what she wanted to do.

• I loved the romance between Hailey and Jay as they both seemed to really understand one another.

• I also enjoyed the secondary characters such as Hailey’s sister Daisy and Jay’s Mom. Hailey’s mom drove me crazy.

• This was a clean read.

Overall, A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber was a sweet, cozy Christmas novella that will get you into the Christmas spirit.

Book Source: E-book review copy from NetGalley. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It was just alright. It felt a little rushed and a little cliche. It's an okay Christmas novel if you want something short and sweet and predictable.

I've been reading Debbie Macomber books for several years now, she always writes such heartwarming and sweet stories, and she has done it again! This story took us on a delightful journey, a story about love, commitment and listening to your heart, a perfect book to cozy up to during the holiday season. The characters are relatable and feel real, there were unpredictable twists, and a happy ending, A satisfying read full of Christmas joy. A must read.

A light Christmas themed read. Cute and predictable but a cute holiday hallmark type book. I am used to this author having more interesting plots so I feel it didn’t live up to Macomber standards. The mom character was not likable either which I think added to the lack of interest I had while reading this.

This reads just like a hallmark Christmas movie and I'm here for it. Was very sweet and PG. I mentioned the author to my MIL and she mentioned reading some of her books so it checks out. I enjoyed reading this over the holidays.

To say Hailey Morgan loves music would be an understatement. She lives and breathes music. Hailey is happy being the assistant band teacher in the high school in Portland, Oregon. Her true dream, once upon a time, was to be a professional songwriter. But, she is truly happy and content with her life. Except...Christmas is coming up, and she dreads dodging her mom's questions regarding her nonexistent love life.
So, it seems like the Great Escape she is offered free use of a cabin during the holiday season. Hailey decides to go for it. Do what makes her happy and spend the holidays basking in front of a nice fireplace working on music. All alone. Nothing could sound more appealing to her. She lets her mom know she won't be coming home for the holidays, and doesn't tell her where she will be spending the holidays. I thought she was being selfish and inconsiderate of her parents, personally, but hey, it's a story.
When she arrives at the cabin, it is not quite what she had envisioned. Some critters had taken up residence inside. Haley went into town to ask for help and was told Jethro would be out to help her. Just imagine what she envisioned someone named Jethro would look like. Goodness, was she surprised! Jethro aka Jay was quite hunky and very helpful to her. They found they had a love for music in common. A Christmas romance developed between the two of them. Quiet a surprise to both of them.
The unexpected happens when an ex-boyfriend shows up with Hailey's parents, in addition to her sister who had previously arrived. Things with Hailey's sister were not as the rest of the family thought at all.
Overall, a clean and sweet Christmas story of romance, hope, new beginnings.
I was given an advanced ecopy from the publisher, Ballantine Books through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Debbie Macomber has done it again. The cozy Christmas novels are just what I need to get into the holiday spirit. Something about reading this by a Christmas tree with an impending winter storm has me feeling very nostalgic, and I am a sucker for her romantic writing. Will always pick her books up when I need a heartwarming story.

I have read many Debbie Macomber books over the years so it was such a treat to get this ARC from Netgalley and add it to my holiday reads!

Hailey’s relationship with her sister Daisy is a highlight for me, as well as a cute budding relationship with Jay. Her relationship with her mother and her ex, however, was what dropped my stars due to intolerable amounts of toxicity- wanting to yell the word “boundaries” at Hailey was not something I found enjoyable haha. All in all a cute holiday read!

A Christmas Duet

by Debbie Macomber

If you are looking for an easy and fast read with a Christmas setting, I can recommend Macomber’s Christmas romance A Christmas Duet.

Hailey is a high school music teacher. She has been composing music since she was a child, but she lost her motivation when her expected fiancé popped her bubble saying she needed to abandon her dream because she was not good enough to make it in the music industry. Three years and one destroyed relationship later she decides not to go home for Christmas. A friend offers a family cabin where she can seclude herself and compose to her heart’s content in little Podunk, Oregon.

When Jethro (aka Jay) is sent to rescue her from a “rabid raccoon” in the cabin, there is immediate attraction which only intensifies when they discover their shared interest in music. He used to be in a band and now is establishing his own production company.

What starts out as a quiet, inspirational time deteriorates rapidly when Hilary’s sister Daisy, who is obviously having an issue, surprises her as do a succession of others who don’t seem to understand the concept of being alone.

I don’t want to disclose any more of the plot, but it is fun and Hilary and Jay are both great people. My one small problem with the book is that Hilary’s mother is overkill in the “you need to get married and have grandchildren for me” department. Her actions certainly add tension to the plot, but I hope no one really is as pushy with their daughters as this mother is. Jay’s mother is much more reasonable and for me believable as a character. This is a feel good Christmas romance that I very much enjoyed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Fiction, Romance, Women’s Fiction

Publication: October 15, 2024—Random House (Ballentine)

Memorable Lines:

Not until his vehicle was out of sight did Hailey panic. She didn’t cook. What was she thinking? The poor man didn’t have any idea of what he was getting himself in for.

Since she’d taken a job at the high school, she’d become staid, caught up in routine and rarely venturing beyond what was comfortable. Being with Jay felt like she’d walked from winter into spring, where everything felt fresh and new.

This secluded cabin had more traffic than a Macy’s department store during the holidays.

This was a comforting if predictable holiday read. Hailey is a music teacher who has dabbled in songwriting and had some small successes. Her teacher friend offers the use of her family cabin for the holidays in small Podunk, OR, when Hailey realizes going home for the holiday is out, since her mom seems to think she is getting back together with a man she broke up with three years ago. Podunk is small, eventually welcoming, and even has a resident who is a former band member in the process of turning music producer, Kismet!

Hailey who loves music doesn’t want her family’s traditional values to bring down her Christmas so she decides to go to a friends cabin instead. She meets and falls for Jay who understands her. Will she finally stand up to her family or continue to be who they want? A story of finding and being your true self.

A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber is a holiday novella that her readers will enjoy but a few things fell a little flat. While I love the Mrs. Miracle series and many of Macomber's holiday novels, this story featured a meddling mother who is so annoying and over the top it made it tough to be a little believable. We aren't supposed to like her-that is clear-until towards the end-but she is maddening. Hailey and Jay have a meet cute and cute holiday romance that is enough to spark interest and continue reading and the festive Hallmark=like setting will keep readers interested and charmed but I hope for a return to Macomber's previous holiday storytelling.

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

Debbie Macomber is a favorite author of mine. This one had so much promise, but it fell flat for me, unfortunately.

Another great book by my favorite author Debbie Macomber. It is the perfect book to read before Christmas. Hailey is looking forward to a solo Christmas break away from her family and busy job as a high school band teacher. She heads for her friend’s empty mountain cabin where she meets Jay, a former professional musician. Hailey and Jay find romance but real life intrudes with both personal and family issues. This story is well written and flows smoothly. Loved it!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

An adorable Christmas love story. What I always appreciate about Macomber's books is how she can make any location seem like the best place in the world to be. This cozy Oregon place seemed like the perfect place to spend a Christmas. A very cute, fast paced, Christmas read!

A cute Christmas novella. I love that neither Hailey or Jay are looking for love this Christmas. Hailey just want's to be alone and Jay is trying to be a good son. I love that even though Macomber writes a Christmas novella every year but each it's a whole story. She always finds away to write something unique and magical each year.

Cute, short Christmas romance! I love Debbie Macomber’s stories and her Christmas books are no exception. However this isn’t my favorite of hers! Would recommend if you need a quick read to hit your reading goal. It is a sweet story but the main character’s mother is CRAZY. The last line of the book….like what the heck?!?! 🤣🤣🤣

If you are looking for a lighthearted cozy holiday story, this is your book. Hailey is a burnt out assistant band director that has dreams of being a songwriter. When her mom invites her ex to Christmas. Hailey takes a friend’s offer to stay in a cabin for the holidays. I’ve read several books by Debbie Macomber and this one didn’t disappoint.

Debbie Macomber consistently delivers what her book jackets promise: cozy reads with relatable characters. “A Christmas Duet” is a great example of her capability to turn her Pacific Northwest-tuned heart and skill to the holidays.

When Hailey’s meddling mom pushes Hailey away right before Christmas, the frustrated musician gets thrown a Hail Mary by a friend who offers a cabin in the woods where Hailey can bunk down through the holidays and focus on her creative pursuits. With a plot worthy of a Hallmark movie — but possibly unable to be one, because there already exists a Hallmark holiday film of the same title, made in 2019 — Hailey meets and falls for Jay, the son of the man who owns the local country store.

Of course there are twists and complications, and Macomber writes these with ease. Hailey is faced with difficult decisions. The sweetness in this story is that she truly learns to love herself and her music, after years of doubting both.