A Country Christmas

by Debbie Macomber

A country Christmas might be the best Christmas of all…

Return to Promise

Rancher Cal Patterson and his wife, Jane—known as Dr. Texas—have recently separated, with Jane going back to her childhood home in California with their children. Now Cal, alone on his ranch, is forced to confront what he really wants in his life, what he needs . Jane is confronting the same questions. How seriously does Cal take his marriage vows? And how important is Promise, Texas, to Jane? Is there hope for a reconciliation—in time for Christmas?

Buffalo Valley

The town of Buffalo Valley, North Dakota—a community in farm country—is undergoing a revival. Vaughn Kyle, who’s just out of the army, is looking for a place to live, a life to live. While he’s waiting for his ambitious fiancée to make up her mind, he visits Buffalo Valley one snowy day and meets a young woman named Carrie Hendrickson. As they grow close, Vaughn has to question his feelings for the woman he thought he loved. He knows then that he wants to stay in Buffalo Valley, where life is about family and friends—not money and social standing. And not just at Christmas, but every day of the year…

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

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

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

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A country Christmas is two stories by Debbie Macomber. Buffalo Valley, which takes place in a small town in N Dakota,and return to Promise, which t makes place in Texas. Both bring back memories of wheneve r to be knew their neighbors and helped them out if they were in need. Debbie stories are not just love stories, They are about friends, family, and people caring about other people. I guess that is why I like them.

[Mandie Lowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mediocre stories with lazy writing. Was the new supermarket really called "Value-X"?! That sounds like a placeholder for a real supermarket name that never got changed. Avoid these; the Christmas theme is tacked on, these are stories that happen to take place in December. I think in the first story, there is a sleigh ride and they all sing Jingle Bells. That's as close to Christmas as it got.

[Robin Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two wonderful short stories of trials and togetherness of family and community during the holiday season.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Ms. Macomber's books. They're just feel good stories with sweet romance. The Christmas books are wonderful. Every time I see a new one on the bookstore shelves, I grab it. There are two stories in this one that will get you in the holiday spirit, even if it is summer.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! You can never go wrong with a Debbie Macomber book!

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book includes two stories set in different small American towns. Both were enjoyable easy reads with endearing love stories.

[Craig Rowland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Country Christmas is the name of a collection of two novels by Debbie Macomber, Buffalo Valley and Return to Promise. Unlike the last collection I read by her, the deceptively-named Holiday Lights, the first story in this compilation had a prominent Christmas theme, yet in the second story it wasn’t mentioned until chapter eight of nine.

Buffalo Valley was originally published in 2001 and is centred on a small town in North Dakota where a giant Walmartian retailer, Value-X, is threatening to set up shop. Vaughn Kyle is sent to Buffalo Valley to scope out the place and to assess public reaction to the company. While there he finally meets a woman who has served as a mother figure throughout his life, Hassie Knight. Vaughn in fact was named after Hassie’s son, who was killed in Vietnam. When visiting Hassie’s pharmacy he meets Carrie Hendrickson, for whom he develops an immediate attraction. Vaughn is suddenly torn between her and Natalie Nichols, a colleague from back home who had gotten it into her head that she and Vaughn were engaged. That is not the only crisis that plagues Vaughn, for he has to reveal to Carrie that he is working for the enemy Value-X, whose establishment in town will surely drive the pharmacy out of business.

I enjoyed this novel and raced through it, mainly because its setting was at Christmas. No Macomber Christmas romance ends with a disappointment, so it should not serve as a spoiler to reveal that a local group buys the land from under Value-X to ensure the giant retailer can never move in. The land will be used for local entrepreneurs, including Vaughn himself. After he breaks off his “engagement” to Natalie, he quits work at Value-X and moves to Buffalo Valley where decides to set up a feed store. At the end of the novel he marries Carrie just two weeks before Christmas.

The second story, Return to Promise, was originally published in 2000. I did not enjoy this story as much since its Christmas content was minimal. Cal Patterson and his wife Jane are having problems, no doubt exacerbated by the trollish Nicole Nelson (another femme fatale with the initials N. N.) who has no compunctions about telling people–including Jane–that she has every intention of stealing away Cal. With their marriage crumbling, Jane returns to California with their two young children while Cal is left alone at the ranch in Promise, Texas, trying to repel Nicole’s moves.

A Macomber novel is predictable, so it was no surprise that Cal and Jane reconciled just in time for Christmas. What I found so unbelievable was the way they ended up doing it. Both of them decided to fly to see the other. In spite of each of them leaving phone messages on answering machines (remember, this was written in 2000, still before the pernicious invasion of widespread cellular telephony) neither waited to hear back from the other before buying his or her own plane ticket. If this were a sitcom then we would have comedic races to the airports and a sudden decision or discovery that one of them should stay put. Yet credulity was stretched when, even when Jane finally was able to listen to Cal’s message, she still headed to the airport hoping that he would have received her own message:

“She hated the thought of getting home and learning he was on his way to California. If that did happen, he’d find an empty house, because her mother would be in Mexico.”

Weren’t departure and arrival times transmitted in those phone messages? No one would ever do this because a couple even in the thralls of passionate reconciliation would have the sense to communicate with the other that one of them would fly out. This lacuna in communication was all the more incredible since Macomber portrayed Promise as a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. A chance meeting between Cal and Nicole in a restaurant–as innocent as it was–and suddenly the entire town knew about it. So if neither Cal nor Jane could communicate with the other about his or her travel plans, then he or she should just tell anybody else, as word would travel fast.

Unfortunately suspense was absent as I never felt that Cal and Jane’s planes would pass each other in midflight. That couldn’t have happened with so few pages left and a happy Christmas reunion just waiting to happen.

[Filipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

This is a collection of two stories that seem to be part of other series the author wrote, although I'm not completely sure. The way she wrote about other characters in both these stories made me think that there's already a familiarity in the way she describes them. I'll have to further investigate to get to the bottom of this.

Buffalo Valey - 3,5 stars

I enjoyed the story and the characters and the feel of this small town. I can't say I'm surprised with the structure of the story, it wasn't really that surprising but it was still a very sweet and endearing Christmas romance.

Return to Promise - 3,5 stars

I have to say that I don't consider this story a Christmas romance because almost the entire story took place at another time other than Christmas. Only the last two chapters mentioned Christmas and honestly, that was a bit disappointing for me because I was hoping to find a holiday romance. Other than that, I enjoyed the story and the characters and I really felt the despair of the couple like it was my own, seeing the relationship crumble because of a despicable woman.

[Jessica Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contained two short stories- if it was just the first one, Return to Promise, it'd receive only 2 stars. It's not what I'd consider a Christmas story because it ends right before Christmas. The rest was about the troubles a married couple was going through- more sad than anything although a happy ending. I also didn't really connect to the characters, they lacked depth to connect to.
Now if you are looking for a true feel-good Christmas love story- Buffalo Valley was amazing, I'd give it 5 stars alone! Right from the start I loved the characters, the small town & all the Christmastime happenings. I didn't want to stop reading & was cheering for Vaughn & Carrie the entire time!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Debbie Macomber book. Not miles of depth, but cheerful, intelligent and carefree. My mother loves to read Debbie and I was on the hunt for a Christmas book. I really enjoyed the storyline and the fight for small town living. Keeping small business going was the backbone of the book and changing one heart through the lives of town folk. It blessed me.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

And these two stories it is great to see how friends and neighbors can still help each other no matter what is going on. It is really a great thing to see.

[Alicia Woods · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's always a chance of failure, when you put two books under one cover. The first one set in North Dakota was light and fluffy and a nice bit of holiday fun. It was a solid 4 stars for me, exactly the kind of story I'd expect for the genre.
And then the second book happened. Good ever-loving grief, what a disaster. The main male character, Cal, is so unlikeable, I had a hard time believing one woman could love him, much less 3. I started to understand why the supposed "villain" Jen ran away just days before marrying him. Ugh The things he said to his wife because it "offended" him that she asked about the rumors she'd heard when she returned to town... I would've divorced him right then! Ugly and cruel and completely out of nowhere! Had he simply been open with her from the start and not had a disgusting messy house for her to come home to, after caring for her ailing father and worried mother... Bleh Could not stand him. Awful character and no amount of last-minute redemption was going to save him in my eyes. I was so irritated that I was wasting time reading it. Zero stars for the 2nd book, which drags the final talley down to 2 stars. If you read this, stop after the first. Trust me. Eeesh.

[Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buffalo Valley

The town of Buffalo Valley, North Dakota—a community in farm country—is undergoing a revival. Vaughn Kyle, who's just out of the army, is looking for a place to live, a life to live. While he's waiting for his ambitious fiancée to make up her mind, he visits Buffalo Valley one snowy day and meets a young woman named Carrie Hendrickson. As they grow close, Vaughn has to question his feelings for the woman he thought he loved. He knows then that he wants to stay in Buffalo Valley, where life is about family and friends—not money and social standing. And not just at Christmas, but every day of the year…

Return to Promise

Rancher Cal Patterson and his wife, Jane—known as Dr. Texas—have recently separated, with Jane going back to her childhood home in California with their children. Now Cal, alone on his ranch, is forced to confront what he really wants in his life, what he needs. Jane is confronting the same questions. How seriously does Cal take his marriage vows? And how important is Promise to Jane? Is there hope for a reconciliation—in time for Christmas? (from Goodreads)

[Lynn Weigand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallmark Channel stuff ... not that there's anything wrong with that. The two stories were fairly predictable but sometimes it's nice to take a break and read something simple. The writing is not bad but it's also nothing special. The characters are, for the most part, exactly what you'd expect in a Hallmark movie: good, moral, upstanding, but not perfect. You immediately know who the "bad guys" are and who the "good guys" are ... I wouldn't go out of my way to buy this sort of book but I got a mild sense of enjoyment reading it. I really enjoyed that both stories were less than 200 pages long ... zoomed through the book in less than two days ...

[Della Tingle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those Christmas books that really doesn’t have much to do with Christmas at all. One book containing two separate stories, the first is set in Buffalo Valley, North Dakota, and the second is set in Promise, Texas. I have read Promise, Texas, which is only one of several books set there and centering on the characters who live there. There are a lot of characters, too! I think having the background knowledge I did made me enjoy reading Return to Promise all the more. However, this is not a book worth keeping and rereading. I will be passing this one along to the next reader.

[Shauna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of the two stories, Buffalo Valley was the best. I did not like the overall vibe of Return to Promise. Two people this opposed to compromise would not have lasted 5 years in their relationship without some form of major conflict. There were just too many things in this story that hit triggers with me. I’ve been curious to read Macomber’s books for a while. I’m glad that curiosity has been fulfilled. I can now add her to my DNR list alongside Mr. Sparks.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I knew it contained two unique holiday stories. What I didn't realize is that the two stories were actually novellas from two different series written by Macomber. While these are nice, light, stories, they probably would have been better enjoyed if read as a part of their original series. If you are looking for a true Christmas romance, be aware that the Christmas themes are not very strong in these stories.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quaint light romance and heartwarming family story of a couple who meet when Vaughn Kyle comes to the country town of Buffalo Valley to finally meet the mother of his namesake, in the process he meets Cassie and falls in love, not only with her but the town and all who live and struggle in the plains town.

[Vicki Chicago-Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an okay holiday read. It took me quite a while to read it, which is highly unusual for me, especially with a paperback book containing two stories. I found it somewhat boring, with nothing exciting happening, just mostly page filler. I have definitely read much better books by this author; I am a bit disappointed in this one.

[Dorry Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy Debbie Macomber's books. The 1st story is about a guy coming to this little town looking for land his company can buy to build a big development. It would totally change this little country town. Of course he meets someone there also.

The 2nd story is about a married couple that are having problems. Can they work these problems out is the question.

[Kim L Charbonneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy read for winter.


Having read other books by Debbie Macomber before, I knew I could count on a good romance with a solid happy ending!
What I love re the unpredictable plot twists, as the more than one dimensional characters.
A great way to hibernate!

[Laura and Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
Both stories are super cute, but super predictable. Even with the obvious outcomes, they are a cute read for the holidays and leave you with that warm, fuzzy feeling that a lot of us love.

[Samantha A · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was fine, I didn't realize it was actually 2 stories in one but I felt they both ended very suddenly, like the author knew how she wanted to end the stories and just went there, no conflict or road to the ending, which there could have been for both

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Buffalo valley and while I didn’t love Return to promise, it was alright and worked out nicely in the end. A classic Debbie Macomber tale!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Another Wonderful Book By Debbie. Page Turner All The Way. Love Her Books. Highly Recommend This Book. 🐩

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Contemporary Women's Fiction, Romance Collections & Anthologies, Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance

Miniseries
Heart Of Texas

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ 🌟 I enjoyed these two stories.

[Janet Friesner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a combination of two of Debbie Macomber's older Christmas books. I had not read the first one but had read the second. Always a comfortable feel good read.

[Kathleen Powers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not bother with this. It’s a downer from the beginning. Predictable. Not something Debbie usually writes. Skip this one. Reread one of her others.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good!