The Gift of Christmas / In the Spirit of...Christmas

by Debbie Macomber, Linda Goodnight

PEACE ON EARTH…

And good will to men. Especially one man—Cooper Masters. But Ashley Robbins would like to be the recipient of more than good will from him….

This year Ashley has finished her education, launched her career and affirmed her faith. And she's now in a position to pay Cooper back the money he lent her for college. She's achieved all her goals—except one, and it has to do with Cooper, the man she fell in love with years ago. The man whose love she craves.

Cooper gave her the gift of her education and Ashley would like to return the favor—and offer him her love. But the greatest gift she can give him this Christmas is her own knowledge of God's love….

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Christi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was just awful.
The author admits she wrote it in 1984 and "updated it" for 2013. I guess that means she changed any phone conversation to take place on a cell phone. The main character is still sporting a "casual perm" and a rhinestone encrusted sweatshirt for a date. The author also changed that aerobics videotape to a DVD but she kept the main character in (and I can't make this up!) purple satin shorts and pink legwarmers. Yup. Anyone out there doing a workout DVD in leg warmers in this century?

[Christina Sinisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, I should get credit for two books!

Oh, well, God knows the truth. :)

For the first book, this is an older Debbie Macomber and I am finding I don't like heroines in these older books. I know I would have read these when I was younger, but the emotional turmoil and the over-reactions drive me crazy now. I will say all of that is worth it with the way the hero proposed--so sweet and so putting Jesus first in the relationship. I loved that!

For the second book, I liked the heroine a lot. I didn't fall in love with the hero, but once again, his faith in the end won out. Or rather, God won.

He does that in all the good books, doesn't He?

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashley finished her education, started her career, affirmed her faith and is able to pay back Cooper for paying for her college. Ashley has been in love with Cooper for years and she hopes they will get together but first she has to give Cooper her knowledge of God’s love.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of the stories included in this book are fantastic! Debbie Macomber is a master ... her romances are passionate without being steamy, and I really appreciate that. She also shares the message of God's love without being preachy, and I like that. This is a good story, a romance that encounters some of the usual problems, and a few surprises.

Linda Goodnight also is a wonderful romance author. Her setting is so lovely ... a Christmas tree farm ... it just put me right in the spirit of Christmas. And she introduces a conflict very early that makes for a great read, hoping it will all work out in the end.

[Tara Kolbe · Rating 1 out of 5]

So normally I love Debbie Macomber. The people are so relatable and I can't wait for the characters to be together in the end. I found this one borderline offensive. Cooper was verging on abusive and I wanted Ashley to run in the other direction! My least favorite book of Macomber

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really don't care for romances where there is a such a wide gap in age and experience. These characters had nothing in common and no chemistry. It was awful.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful read. I loved this story. Ashley just got out of school and is a school teacher, and she is in love with her best friend, Claudia's uncle, Cooper. I really loved Ashley because she was sweet and adorable. Cooper was interesting to read about, he is much older than Ashley. I felt like he was a bit awkward at times, but then I realized that he has not experienced that much in life because he is more focused on work. However, whenever he and Ashley were together, their connection was genuine and relatable. I thought their romance was sweet. Also, I got to say that Claudia, Seth, Johnny and Scotty were great additional characters. They made the story more interesting. I can't wait to finish The Matchmakers next. Overall, an amazing read.

[Susan Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both books were good. the 2nd book "In the Spirit of... Christmas" by Linda Goodnight, was entertaining as well.

[Kelly (dearbooks.iloveyou) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with others that this book was awful. I wanted to give it one star, but figured since I finished it I would at least give it 2 stars. If I were to deduct a star for every time I rolled my eyes the book would have received negative stars. The book definitely read as a bad 1980's Harlequin romance subtract the removal of clothing, add plenty of references to religion. It was bizarre. I like this author. I have read her before and will read her again but don't waste your time on this one, unless your eyes need some exercise.

Now onto the 2nd story in this book...

Which I found to be much more tolerable, yet extremely repetitive. Again, not a book I would recommend to those I like but I did not roll my eyes so I will call that a success.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite Christmas read this season! Great job to Debbie Macomber and Linda Goodnight for writing lighthearted stories that still portray the true message of Christmas(the first six letters) at the same time. I liked Linda Goodnight's story best. In the spirit of Christmas portrays Lindsey, a woman who owns a Christmas tree farm. She is once bitten-twice shy when it comes to love and doesn't find it easy to trust others.
Enter jesse Slater, a man widowed by a tragic accident and his young daughter jade. He is a man on a mission. to claim the farm that by all rights belongs to him. but sweet loving Lindsey and her strong faith keep getting in the way of his plans. Good reads!!!

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for the Debbie Macomber story since she is a well known author and her series has been made into a tv show on the Hallmark Channel. Her story was just ok. Would have been better if the two main characters hadn't been so whiny. And I had a hard time believing their love story.

The second story was a little better, especially the main characters.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite for me, as they are quite repetitive, which annoys me, but the basic story content was good. Enjoyed the faith perspective in the second one very much.

[Laura-Jane Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Christmas Chicklit. Loved it!

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cooper and Ashley share a god-child. Cooper had paid for Ashley’s schooling and she is ready to pay him back while also exploring her feelings for him.

My frustrations:
As a reader I didn’t see the romantic relationship grow or have an emotional foundation. It seemed like Ashley and Cooper would have a misunderstanding, then kiss, then have a misunderstanding and some distance, and then kiss, etc over and over.

The biggest part of their relationship was that he had money and she did not, and this difference kept resurfacing.

Also there were some details I couldn’t get past:
Cooper was 40 years old but had never ordered a pizza?!
The book was copyrighted in 1984 but at one point Ashley was doing an exercise DVD (?!) and wearing leg warmers. 80s-type clothing was mentioned at other times as well.
At another point it talked about her cell phone (?!) ringing. Perhaps there was an attempt to contemporary the book, but if so it was not consistently done.
Pick a time frame and stick with it.

I was still entertained by this easy Christmas book but but it just wasn’t great.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains two previously published books.

In The Gift of Christmas, Ashley finds love with her former crush, Cooper. There's an age difference between them that is harped on a bit too much for my taste. It also bothered me that the two didn't talk much--didn't communicate to find out if what the other thought was true or to find out why the other one did or didn't do something.

In In The Spirit of Christmas--I honestly felt like I'd read this story before even though I couldn't find anything that said I had. Jesse, a widower father, gets a job at a place he considers his--though it takes the author a long time to reveal why he thinks it's his and how he plans to get the place from its current owner, Lindsey. I admire that Jesse is trying to be a good father to Jade and that he wants to give her a home and stability, but I don't like his deceit. I pretty much figured out the ending which reminded me a bit of O Henry's The Gift of the Magi.

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda Goodnight's story though. Debbie oh Debbie.. where were you here... sure it was alright, but I was a little worried about how this was going to go, turns out I was sort of right. Although please don't hesitate to note her the true meaning of Christmas. Okay, but then there is also Miracle on 34th Street and the Drummer Boy, who bring us full circle to that meaning. But cheesy love novel that if you have nothing to read this holiday season, and you liked Linda's story, read it. Macomber has good books, and this one was not as memorable as her others, but still one I would consider reading anyways. Say you read one, so you have A) something to talk about B) something to complain about or C) because you have nothing better to do. Sorry, not sorry, don't lie, just don't expect amazing, or you wind up disappointed. Plot line... is there one?

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read a romantic book in a while and found this one at one of those take one leave one sections at a Starbucks. I didn't read the description. I just picked it up. I also hadn't read a Christmas book of any sort in a while.

It had its cheesy sorts and parts where I felt the leading male was a bit of a pain. It ended as most romance books do. Not bad. I guess for me I'm a skeptic and find some scenarios more like "but he was a butt head" and yet the girl goes for it anyway. I'd still recommend it to a person who like romance novels. Nothing too steamy. Pretty light on that part. Though the whole God part caught me off guard. I haven't read many books that have a religious aspect.

[Krystyl Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sweet and irritatingly loving at the same time. All the times the characters get close you hope one thing will happe, but another does so. It was nice how the plot took place and to see Cooper Masters character development. I will say, however, that it was sad to make it seem like the woman had become weak and had unresolved insecurities. For someone to believe in God as much as she did, to let someone take her faith in herself away was q little upsetting. But the development of the story was well thought out and a delight to see.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely a challenge to finish. I seldom "dump" a book, but this one came very close. I have happily read many Macomber books, so I was hoping it would get better as I read further. It didn't.

I think both lead characters were a bit unrelatable. Also, for
two people who were respectful and friendly for a long time, they sure became painfully unkind and annoying to each other (and truthfully to me as well.)

Finally, although I am a Christian, I feel this book also pushed that aspect too hard as well.

[Kate Vale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashley pays back Cooper the last of the money he gave her in order to finish her education, only to realize that he never expected her to do so and thus begins a love-hate relationship that seems to emphasize how different they are. But Ashley's best friend sees through that and insists on telling her that she needs to tell Cooper how she really feels about him.

What's he going to do with that revelation, especially when she does so in public? ... Well, it's a Christmas romance, so what do you think will happen?

[Kshydog · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story by Macomber was less than her best. Ashley acts like a teenager who is love sick for an older man. Although they are now 26 and 40 they both seemed like they had not dated, known each other for years and now notice each other and think they look amazing. Both very Christian stories. Story by Goodnight was much better. Jesse was so believable. He tried to just be a nice person but was so open to new ways of thinking. Learning that people can be nice cause they want to be rather than his get even attitude. Lindsey, owner of a tree farm, went overboard on wanting to be alone but used religion as a way to care about others. She was too willing to be a mother.

[Kaitie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Y’all, I love me a good Christmas Debbie Macomber book, even though it’s only May. This one was okay, but the characters really irked me at times. They were both so fickle and temperamental, and I felt like I was getting whiplash from their mood changes every 10 pages.

Overall though, it was a cute story, and I enjoyed the ending. I can’t wait to slowly make my way down her list of books!

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was not impressed with this book at all. And honestly it took me forever to read even know it was less than 200 pages. The relationship didnt feel at all loving to me. It was hard to get thru since I didn't feel the connection with the two characters. The first book I read by Debbie Macomber, I really hope the other ones I picked out are better than this one.

[Chloe (Always Booked)]

I DNF"ed this book at 50 pages because it just was not grabbing me and felt very unrealistic. We're following a girl who has always had a crush on her best friend's uncle who is uber wealthy and powerful. Without really any explanation or chemistry, they start to get together and I just didn't get it. I could see it was going nowhere fast so I DNF'ed.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains two novels, however I only read The Gift of Christmas by Debbie Macomber. I enjoyed it! I was pleasantly surprised that it read like a Christian fiction novel. It's a nice Christmas read.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this novel, but I thought the sequence of events could have come to a happy ending much sooner than they did. It was written in 1984 and republished in 2013 in a special "Best Selling Author" collection.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quintessential Christmas read! 😍
The characters are believable and there were so many twists in the form of cringe-worthy misunderstandings! It was great!
As always everything came right in the end, which is exactly what you want to happen! A perfect, lite, Christmas read. 😍

[Gail Gallant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gift of Christmas was okay. It's not really my genre but I'll pay it forward to other fans I know. I much more enjoyed In the Spirit of Christmas and its story. I don't believe I've read Linda Goodnight before. She's a very good writer and tells a story you'll enjoy.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't review this book, because I'm have been reading too many Christmas books, and I would confuse this one with other books. I should have written a review as soon as I finished this book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 books in one. I liked them both. I have never read a Debbie Macomber book with such a spiritual theme before. I love all Christmas books and these were good ones.