Christmas Comes to Cedar Cove

by Debbie Macomber

Together for the first time in one volume, two stories to celebrate the season with the good people of Cedar Cove

A Cedar Cove Christmas

Mary Jo Wyse finds herself in Cedar Cove on Christmas Eve stranded, pregnant and alone. And there’s no room at the local inn… So Grace Harding brings Mary Jo home to her ranch, where they’ve got a spare room over the stable. And luckily a paramedic named Mack McAfee is there to help when Mary Jo goes into labor.

1225 Christmas Tree Lane

Beth Morehouse expects this Christmas to be one of her best. But someone leaves a basket of puppies on her doorstep, and now she’s determined to find them all good homes. Also complicating things is the invitation her daughters extended to their dad…whom Beth divorced a long time ago.

As always in life, there are surprises. More than one family’s going to have a puppy under the tree. More than one scheme will go awry. And more than one romance will have a happy ending!

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

384 pages, Paperback

Published September 25, 2018

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

[Mary B · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 books in one by prolific writer Macomer and a satisfying Christmas season read. These books are writers' versions of the Hallmark movies so there's nothing too deep, and most often end happily. No surprises here.
Easy to read; characters are nice but sometimes hard to keep track of.
I'll read others but only when I need a break or a pick-me-up. She's very good at that.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Restful and funny

[Bookworman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read "A Cedar Cove Christmas" and really enjoyed it.

[Dawn Richards · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s the Christmas season. I thought I’d read one of this author’s books since she is very popular for Christmas stories. It’s an anthology and I finished the first book, but that was enough for me. It was predictable and actually quite corny — an unwed mother about to give birth has nowhere to stay on Christmas Eve. She stays in a barn with an array of farm animals while her 3 Wyse brothers (last name) search for her and are guided by fireworks in the night sky. (Insert eye roll).

[Marilyn Fontane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Comes to Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber is another collection of two previous Christmas stories in her Cedar Cove series: A Cedar Cove Christmas and 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. A Cedar Cove Christmas is a clever story in which Mary Jo Wyse, a single pregnant woman is placed in a position to re-live the original Christmas story. She goes to Cedar Cove, not to find the father of her child, but to warn the parents of the father that her three brothers, the three Wyse men, are looking for him "to make him do the right thing." But by this time, she realizes marrying him is definitely not the "right thing." All the "inns" are full, but Grace Harding, a librarian who met Mary Jo when she was looking up the location of David Rhodes (father of her unborn child)'s parents, offers to let her use an apartment in her barn where a lot of animals are staying in preparation for the live Christmas Eve crèche. The baby comes early and fortunately a paramedic, Mack McAfee, is able to deliver the child--and more importantly to fall in love with Mary Jo. It is a little syrupy, but the idea is a clever one, and the story is nicely told.
A slightly more interesting story is 1225 Christmas Tree Lane where Beth Morehouse, who owns and runs a Christmas tree farm, is forced to endure a visit by her former husband which has been set up by their two daughters who want their parents to get back together. Unfortunately, the ex-husband, Kent Morehouse doesn't know the plot his daughters have set up and comes with a friend, Danielle. In addition to making Christmas for her two college student daughters--and ex-husband--Beth is selling trees and trying to find homes for 10 puppies a friend left with her. To do the latter, her own friend, a Vet named Ted, is helping. All the girls' plans seem worthless. However it is Christmas. Ten dogs find good homes, and several romances bloom. A note at the beginning of the story by Debbie Macomber says this will be her last Cedar Cove book. Thus in the course of the story, apparently all the cast members of the 15-or-so-book series (These two Christmas stories are the first ones I have read), appear and say their last good byes. It is a nice warm Christmas story which would undoubtedly appeal to those people who have read some of the series. I too found it pleasant. Very sugary and Christmassy.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Comes to Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber

I was on a Christmas reading roll and decided to read another Debbie Macomber Christmas novel. This book included two Christmas stories set in Cedar Cove. One was a slight nod to the original Christmas story complete with an unwed mother called Mary (Jo) giving birth on Christmas eve to a baby boy in a barn. Her three brothers are the “Wyse” brothers. The story is actually very sweet and definitely Christmassy!
The 2nd story is about a husband and wife who grew apart as their daughters grew up. They divorced without really trying to see if their relationship was salvageable. Beth had moved away to Cedar Cove and bought and ran a Christmas tree farm. Her girls were coming home from school for Christmas. They had conspired to invite their dad who was lonely - of course they told their dad the same about their mom. There are some interesting scenarios as the two figure out that they both still have strong feelings for each other and it's a very happy Christmas.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always fun to come back to Cedar Cove especially when there are 10 puppies that need a new home in the next few weeks. This was actually two stories was about a girl who is very pregnant when she arrives trying to find her babies daddy. But she soon learns that he is no good, no one knows where he is, and she has nowhere to stay for the night. Of course, Cedar Cove is there to help. In the second story it is about a husband and wife who divorced and their daughters are trying to get them back together.

[BookWormYami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both stories. They were cute Christmas stories. The one thing that I liked about how the author wrote this book is that even though I never read any of the Cedar Cove books, she gave you some background to the characters and I felt like I wasn't missing anything. But I knew they are story to these characters and it made me want to go back and find these Cedar Cove books and read more about these characters.

[Stella Stenroos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultimate comfort reading. Debbie Macomber is like the American (and, modern) version of Maeve Binchy.

I appreciated the list of characters, on the first pages! I'm useless at remembering names, so it helped a lot to have a quick look, especially after having to take a break from reading.

I also enjoy books set in real places, or heavily resembling real places, which is the case with Cedar Cove / Port Orchard. It's fun to visit virtually while reading!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, light read, two stories in one. May have been better if I had read the series, but can be read on their own, but there were alot of characters and back stories, espeically in the second book as it is the last apparently in the series, so there was a lot of 'catching' up of characters. Still, although highly predictable, a couple of nice romantic stories for Christmas.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing like a Debbie Macomber Cedar Cove story to ease your mind & heart. When I was a kid/teen, I would draw stories in notebooks - like little soap operas. It was two families & they had drama & went on vacations & got into trouble; I wish I had SAVED at least one of those notebooks. Debbie’s books are just like my notebooks- just TONS better! Lol

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn. Somebody gave me this book to read. it was worse than a Hallmark movie. The first story was okay, but the second story mentioned so many characters, there was no hope of keeping them straight. Obviously, this is a book for people familiar with the previous books. I will not be reading any more books by this author. As I said before, yawn

[Cheryl Barclay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice lite read. Debbie Macomber does a great job of providing some history on the characters so if you haven’t read previous books in the series you are left wondering. Found the title in the book jumped around a bit but eventually everything gets tied together.

[Kristine Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for pure holiday entertainment and can overlook glaringly obvious coincidences and outcomes that are a bit too convenient, you will enjoy this light collection of stories of the residents of Cedar Cove at Christmastime. Just don't expect any Pulitzer-worthy plots.

[Sharon Pauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Macomber always delivers a wonderful story. Loved this book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it before this, didn't finish this time.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything by Macomber

[Diane Funk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Christmas read. Two separate, but related stories.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 good christmas stories.

[Robin Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another heartwarming Cedar Cove tale about understanding and forgiveness. Great book to enhance the holiday season.

[Susan Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her books!

[Peggy Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize it was the last book in a series. I still found it a good read...got to know all the characters especially in the book "1225 Christmas Tree Lane "

[Mildred Rupert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two stories in one book. A Cedar Cove Christmas and 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. Loved the stories.

[Sue Gabianelli-danneker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick christmas read- two stories. First is very good, second is eh.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 great Christmas stories, Debbie Macomber is a wonderful writer about family and love. These 2 stories are a must read during the holiday season.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always nice to venture back into Cedar Cove to see how everyone is doing.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome to read at the beach or pool not have to read it during the holidays…. Will read it again in the furture!!😇😎😏😉

[Nancy Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty obvious what was going to happen but enjoyable read. Would be nice if people in story were real and as nice as they are in the book.

[Julie Purcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted
cleaners from the other books I was reading. And this did it.
I really disliked the way 1st book (2 books in 1)ended! Otherwise, a good,wholesome book

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything Cedar Cove. It’s so homey and loving. Debbie Macomber is such a great writer. This book really uplifted my spirits, and loving family!!!