A Christmas Message: Christmas Letters / Call Me Mrs. Miracle

by Debbie Macomber

Get cozy with this heartwarming holiday story! 

This season, discover the magic of two classic heartwarming stories and the message of love and giving at Christmas!

Christmas Letters

Katherine O’Connor spends her days at a cozy café writing Christmas letters for other people. She’s good at making their everyday lives sound more interesting. But for renowned child psychologist Dr. Wynn Jeffries, who also frequents the café, Christmas means deception. Katherine argues with Wynn about his theories while he argues that her letters are nothing but lies. They disagree about practically everything—but as the days move closer to Christmas, Katherine and Wynn may find that love means accepting your differences while discovering what you share.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

For Jake Finley, owner of Finley’s Department Store in New York City, Christmas means only one thing to profit. The holiday was destroyed for him by a tragedy years before. But now he needs a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat. Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. Her nephew’s father won’t be home for Christmas, but at least she can get him the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to pay for it… Fortunately, it’s Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes a bit of matchmaking!

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Book Club

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 27, 2020

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

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

This is just the kind of book Santa ordered during the hustle and bustle of December: it's full of love, family, friends and of course, some Christmas magic!

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Letters
2.5 stars

I did like the overall plot and the romance being a hate-to-love between a reader and an author in which the reader dislikes the author's writing (quite enthusiastically and passionately too). However, that's where my interest in the story kind of fell apart. I didn't really warm up to Wynn's character throughout the length of the short story and although I can get behind an unrealistic ending, this one didn't fit or suit the story.

Luckily, it was a quick novella to read because I would have been more disappointed if it was a full length novel.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle
3 stars

I liked this novella much more than the first one in this collection. This story was cute, entertaining, and gave you all of the warm feelings that coincide with Christmas. It read like the perfect Christmas romance movie (which I believe it has been adapted to).

This was a quick, heartwarming read that hits home and reinforces what's truly important about Christmas.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is two stories in one book. The first is the story of Katherine who writes Christmas letters for people who need their life stories made pretty. She is also the aunt of twin 5 year old nieces whose mother has started following the book of a man who believe in no limits. of course Katherine meets the author and falls in love. The second story is about Jake for whom christmas only means profit. He needs a miracle and Mrs Miracle is ready to provide one.

[Andrea Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 feel good Christmas stories in one book. The first one was funny and sappy, the second one was heartwarming and sappy. I enjoyed them both.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars overall ⭐ This edition contained two stories, Christmas Letters and Call Me Mrs.Miracle.

Christmas letters I give 3 stars. I really liked it and the characters, but there wasn't anything to special about it. It was fast paced and easy to read, but nothing memorable.

Call Me. Mrs.Miralce 5 stars. I loved loved this; it felt like a Hallmark movie in a book. This one had me continually wanting to pick up the book and read. I like that with both of these stories they were super simple and not hard to get into.

💌🏙️🤶🏻

[Stephenee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Christmas book junkie - I read them all - good, bad, short, long it doesn't matter! I enjoyed this one even though it was technically an older set of stories in a new look. I usually don't like to read the older ones, but the two in here were actually fun to read and the older story didn't annoy me much.

[Alli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story, Christmas Letters, was a struggle to get through. I couldn’t get into because it just wasn’t believable. 1 star for that one. The second story, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, was wonderful; 5 stars for that one.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a light holiday read and this fit the bill. It was a little bit dated, but still enjoyable.

[Harisa- EsquiredToRead · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just not for me. A bit too cheesy.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this to read and found only one of the stories was new to me so a little disappointing that way.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was looking for a light Christmas listen on my commute. This fit the bill.

[Summer Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1

[Notserp2002 · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed both stories in this book i had read the first one before but i enjoyed reading it again.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet fluff!

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Enjoyed! Easy read.

[Shahna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Letters - Do people really send out letters like this every year? Is that a thing? It’s weird.

I like books that have authors in them. Authorception.

This one was also funny. I would be this women. Fight you on every aspect of your shitty book. Haha

Also, I want to be the crazy neighbour with all the cats. I can be psychic too.



Call Me Mrs. Miracle - This was cute. The kid was pretty funny. I like that the male lead wasn’t a creep who only thought about sleeping with her. That’s nice.

What is this magic robot? I want one. Also, very sweet with that train set. Adorable.

Not a big fan of angels, but I’m okay with it here.

[Julie Lence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 1st time I've read Debbie Macomber and I have to say I loved this book with 2 short Christmas stories. Both were heartwarming and read like a Hallmark Christmas movie, and put me in a festive, Christmas mood, Highly recommended.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Romance Collections & Anthologies

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas Message by Debbie Macomber is a collection of two novellas featuring a Christmas themed tale. I absolutely loved reading this first story called Christmas Letters. In this first tale, I met four amazing characters. The lead female character was Katherine, aka K.O., who writes funny yet charming Christmas letters for others as a side hustle business. Her letters are funny, sweet, and heartfelt. Everyone likes them. Her sister read this book by a writer. A writer who suggested to bury Christmas. Well, her sister believes every word of this writer. It is driving Katherine nuts. Her nieces who were once nice are not out of control twins. But then again, it may not be entirely due to that book her sister has read. Fate brings trouble to Katherine's life. The writer who she hates is living in her condo complex. They both have a mutal friend who is Katherine's neighbor. An older woman living with 3 male cats. Katherine loves the woman and her cats. But lately her neighbor is predicting Katherine will find love soon...Then, the male writer and his dad are both in Katherine's and her neighbor lady's lives. From there, all four of them will be tangled up in each other and have to figure out what they want. I found it hilarious, sexy, and sweet.

Next, is the second tale called Call Me Mrs. Miracle from Debbie Macomber as well. This was an incredible journey. I felt all the heartfelt moments as if I were experiencing them versus through the characters. The cast of characters were amazing. There is this young woman taking care of her nephew because her brother was sent to Afghanistan. It takes a while for the aunt and nephew to bond but once they did-it was beautiful. The woman can't work like she used to due to care over her nephew. This places her on her boss's bad side for a while. She is really counting on the Christmas bonus to buy the one toy her nephew wants. Then, there is the young hero, Jake, who listens to this incredible grandmotherly woman, named Mrs. Miracle. She is indeed a miracle like her name suggests. There's more to her than the others know or guess. But as the reader, we get to know more than they do on that one note. The elderly woman helps put Jake and Holly together. She even helps with the nephew. Jake and his father have lost two important people his mother and little sister. They died on Christmas Eve and ever since then Christmas was never the same. But they never stopped Jake from liking it they way his mother and sister would have if they were still around with them. All these characters needed a miracle and a push to get to the ending. Very beautiful and engaging from the start! I also loved the letter Gabe writes to his dad about his aunt, his aunt's crush-Mr. Jake, and about Miracle. Humor, heart, and soul were poured into this sweet story.

I bough this book from a used book store. This is my voluntary review.

[Shirley Kingery · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant read! I won this book in an Instagram Giveaway just in time for the Holidays and finished it on Christmas day. It was a particularly cozy, warm, satisfying book to read during the week before Christmas and it also happened to be the first Macomber book I have had the pleasure of reading.

This book is comprised of two of Macomber's wonderful, heartwarming Christmas romances. They are both equally good. The first story, Christmas Letters, involves a young woman living in a Seattle highrise, currently single and unemployed but earning some money writing people's Christmas letters for them (a talent of hers appreciated by many). She is stunned to find out that the author of a best-selling book on child rearing; who she absolutely deplores and trash talks whenever she gets the chance lives in the same building! An unlikely romance is bound to follow. We are treated to a vivid portrayal of the magic of Christmastime in Seattle as well.

The second story is entitled Call Me Mrs. Miracle. The Finleys, Jake and his father J.R. are at the helm of the family business, Finley's Department Store--the last family-owned Department Store in Manhattan. While Christmastime is very important to the store and crucial to its profitability, it is also a time of year that Jake and J.R. try to blot out of their minds by flying to the Caribbean, where they just continue to work rather than have fun. The reason they don't celebrate Christmas is because twenty-one years ago Mrs. Finley and Jake's sister were called in an automobile accident. This Christmas, an older woman has mysteriously turned up as a seasonal employee in the toy department of the store, which Jake manages. Her name is Mrs. Miracle, a mistake she says HR made on her badge as her name is Merkle. There are many shades of Clarence, the angel, from It's a Wonderful Life in Mrs. Miracle. No one knows anything about her, but she somehow knows everything about them. Unbeknownst to Holly, a hard-working single woman in Manhattan trying her best to make ends meet and care for her nephew while his dad (her brother) is in Afghanistan; is on a collision course with fate, Jake Finley and Mrs. Miracle. It's woven into a classic, heartwarming tale that brings back all the magic of Christmas and the specialness of that holiday in Manhattan, in particular. Truly a fairy tale of a romance!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am perhaps judging this book too harshly, given that it’s not my favorite genre. It was a good enough weekend read over the holidays, I suppose, so let’s just call it sugar cookies for the mind.
However...
Story 1: Christmas Letters. The main couple was cute, whatever, but the book as a whole strained the imagination. The cat scene was just bizarre. Max has some legitimate mental health issues that need a counselor, and you’d think Wynn would’ve noticed given that he’s a THERAPIST (albeit a pediatric one) instead of just passing it off as “Oh, my dad’s an ex-hippie.” And don’t even get me started on K.O.’s undiagnosed eating disorder. Also, hamsters don’t have tails.
Story 2: Call Me Mrs. Miracle.
So I realize that the Hallmark Movie literary genre is predictable, cozy, and always ends happily, so there is no real suspense for the reader, but I still cannot forgive Mrs. Miracle for letting Holly and Jake think the robot toy had been lost or stolen and not letting them in on the secret (or at least reassuring them it was not lost). While Mrs. Miracle is planning her big hush-hush surprise, Holly, who was skipping meals in order to afford the $250 toy, thinks the toy has been lost, and Jake, who was the one responsible for delivering they toy, thinks it’s been stolen. They are both heartsick. Mrs. Miracle, who is the last person to have seen the toy, mysteriously vanishes, without a way to contact her, then reappears, but doesn’t bother to set the record straight about the toy’s whereabouts. Instead she leaves with a generic “Don’t worry this will be a great Christmas.” Literally, how hard is it to pull someone aside and say “The toy hasn’t been misplaced, it’s coming tomorrow,”??? Presumably this is to build suspense. It just seems so out of character for a Christmas angel (or whatever she is) to leave people genuinely distraught and stressed just to make the surprise more dramatic. It’s a d*ck move.

[Marc Bougharios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debbie Macomber was the first adult fiction author I read, so going back to her books feels very nostalgic for me.

The Christmas Letters:

Katherine O'Connor makes a living out of writing Christmas letters in a cozy café. But then she finds out that psychologist Dr. Wynn Jeffries, not only goes there as well, but lives in the same building as her. She doesn't agree with his theories, and he tells her that her letters are all lies. And so begins the story.

I really enjoyed this story! It's your typical enemies to lovers trope, which is superior over any other one. It is a novella, so things move pretty quick in the novel. I like how it's not only a romance novel, but Macomber also delves into the family life of each of the characters. Overall, this was a wonderful Christmas romance novel with an amazing Christmas atmosphere!

Call Me Mrs. Miracle:

Jake Finley, owner of a large department store in New York needs to make money this Christmas to keep his business afloat. He needs a miracle. After a tragic accident in the past, he doesn't really care for the holidays. But Holly Larson also needs a miracle herself. She works and take cares of her nephew, whose father is away in the military. All her nephew wants is the newest toy, which also happens to be the most expensive one. Enter Mrs. Miracle herself...

I loved this one a lot more than Christmas Letters! As a lover of New York, this hit all the checkmarks for me. Christmas in New York, a romance, and an amazing story that is sure to warm your heart. This novella deals with topics of grief and loss, but how there is hope at the end of the dark tunnel. I also really loved how Macomber incorporated Christian themes into this novel as well. This one is sure to pull at your heartstrings in the best way. Yes, I did tear up at the very end!

Overall, both novellas were amazing, and together, A Christmas Message gets 4 stars from me! I can't wait to read more of Debbie Macomber this holiday season!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother passed away in February of this year. Debbie Macomber was her favorite author. I was telling my sister I wasn't sure that I could read Christmas books for the lead up this year because it is our first without Mom. As I was saying this I was scrolling an email and there was this book offered for free on Kindle. A Christmas Message by Debbie Macomber. I don't know if you believe in signs but man that one seemed to be in neon.

Christmas Letters

Katherine, K.O. to those who love her is having a Christmas dilemma. Her sister read some parenting book, and now her children are feral brats, and on top of that the self help book says to bury Santa.

When she sees Dr Wynn Jeffries in public she gives him a severe tongue lashing. Imagine her surprise when he is in the living room of her neighbor Lavonne. It was actually a set up because Wynn had seen her in the hall and asked Lavonne about her.

Being together, K.O. sees another side of Wynn and they like each other a lot. Still that book stands in their way.

I'm not sure I like the way that all got sorted out but this is an old book, so I'll forgive it.


Call Me Mrs Miracle

Holly has her nephew Gabe because her brother Mickey is stationed in Afganistan.
She meets Jake when he pays for her coffee.

Jake is the head of the toy department in his father's department store. Jake ordered 500 intellytron robots when the ordering manager wanted to order 50. Jake knows these robots will be big sellers.

see where this is going?

With the help of Mrs Miracle who somehow has a job in the toy department they all end up exactly where they should be for Gabe's best christmas ever .

It's a really emotional story full of healing, surprises, and new love. If you LOVE Christmas stories this one will be an all time favorite.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun heart warming Christmas stories: Christmas letters & call me Mrs. Miracle
Quotes: mrs. miracle 193 need a new life? God takes trade-ins.
204 if god is your copilot, trade places.
216 Exercise daily Dash-walk with the Lord.
238 people are like teabags – do you have to drop them in hot water before you know how strong they are.
248 forbidden fruit creates mini jams.
257 coincidences are when God chooses to remain anonymous.
266 aspire to inspire before you expire.
276 it’s hard to stumble when you’re down on your knees. Shirley, goodness and mercy, friends with Mrs. miracle
287 May you live all the days of your life.
298 people are funny. They want the front of the bus, the middle of the road in the back of the church.
306 be you fishers of men. You catch him and God I’ll clean them.
316 cars are not the only thing recalled by their maker.
325 when you flee temptation, don’t leave a forwarding address. Shirley, goodness and mercy, friends of Mrs. miracle
334 The best vitamin for a Christian is B1.
341 happiest are the people who give the most happiness to others.
352 we don’t change God’s message. His message changes us.
362 God isn’t politically correct. He’s just correct.
373 searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted!
226 Lead me not into temptation. I can find the way myself. JR Finley

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two novellas were quite well-balanced. "Christmas Letters" was a nice blend of opposites attract and someone being proved wrong. I appreciated Katherine's reluctance to start a relationship with Wynn when their child-rearing views were so different. My biggest problem was how fast the pacing was at the end (Wynn admitted defeat far too easily).
"Call Me Mrs. Miracle" was possibly better than the Hallmark movie that introduced me to the story -- and the plotline made more logical sense. Jake's prescient ordering of the season's hottest toy made for an interesting father-son conflict and resolution that the movie lacked. I was glad that Holly's boss lost her rough edges a bit in the novel -- and I wonder if there are more Mrs. Miracle books -- especially since she referenced correct Catholic theology on angels.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reads. Its like my bible-beating, Catholic grandmother wrote a romance novel. I can’t wrap my head around love & marriage after a few weeks of casual dating. I probably would have liked both without the implication that they were getting married before they spent the night together. It’s a very Duggar-ish type of romance novel- not the sex offender one- but the weird ones. I probably won’t read her books again.

Again- my grandma- when he looks her up in a phone book. I expected the book to have been published in 1990, not 2010. A girl working in NYC for a fashion designer on a budget with a landline? It’s sloppy to not update the basics.

[Sandra Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading Debbie Macomber’s Christmas books and this one was just want I needed this holiday season! This one has two stories and they were both fun, inspiring and heart-warming.... just what everyone needs during the holiday season. The first one “Christmas Letters” has inspired me to start writing our own letter each year as that is something I have never done but have always been meaning to do. The second one “Call Me Mrs. Miracle” was a lovely story about family, loss and the best Christmas gift ever for one little boy (and some pretty good recipes I can’t wait it try!).

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two Christmas stories in this book. The first one I did not like. The entire romance between Wynn and Katherine felt rather contrived. I did not care for for Wynn, he was a stuffy know-it-all. How can you be an expert on something you have zero experience in.

The second story of Jake and Holly was just plain adorable! And her little Nephew Gabe, was an absolute hoot! The ending nearly had me in tears.

I rated the book three stars. Had the entire book been only about the second story, I would've given it five stars.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delicious little Yule book contains two stories. The first is about a woman who writes Christmas letters for other people and makes their lives sound much better than they are but her life is pretty lonely. The second one is a Mrs. Miracle assignment. A father and grown son have not celebrated Christmas for 21 years, even though they own and run a big department store that depends Christmas shoppers to stay solvent. A young woman is taking care of her motherless nephew because his father was called up to Afghanistan. And, of course, Mrs. Miracle works her magic.