Silver Bells

Those Manning Men

by Debbie Macomber

Get into the Christmas spirit with this fan favorite classic romance novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

It isn’t easy for Phillip Lark to single-handedly raise his rambunctious teenage daughter. And now she’s hatched a plot to find her father a wife. Lovely Carrie Weston seems to fit the bill. Phillip claims he’s not interested in remarriage, but could the magic of the holiday season—and Carrie’s charms—help him change his mind?

Originally published in 1996

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

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2009

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

[Ptiteaurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

j'ai passé un très bon moment avec cette douce nouvelle de Noël car Debbie Maccomber aborde la thématique du divorce et de la reconstruction parfois difficile d'une vie. Peut on à nouveau faire confiance? Peut on encore croire à l'amour? Le miracle de Noël aura t-il lieu?

Chronique complète à venir demain

[Monica Gearhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, fast read. It is years later after the other Manning Men books.

[Hannah H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that book was terrible.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this out as a Playaway audiobook from our on-post library. I had never even heard of Playaway before, but it sure worked out great. All I had to do was check it out, plug it in, and press play.

The storyline played out quite predictably, but it served its purpose as far as entertaning me while driving in the car. Apparently the main female character in the story is the daughter of a character in an earlier series Debbie Macomber had wrote (the Manning something, I think). Since I hadn't read the series this particular character was from it didn't mean a lot to me, but perhaps it would for those who had. It certainly wasn't necessary to have read the series in order to follow along in this story though.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a cute Christmas story about a single father named Phillip Lark and his daughter Mackenizie who are staying in an apartment while awaiting their home which was being built to be completed. Mackenizie think that it is time for her father to fine a wife and if he will not take the first step she will and has decided their neighbor Carrie Weston is the one. From hearing how Carrie brought her mother and her stepfather together decided to try this out on her father and Carrie. Thinking that Mackenizie disappointment of her mother's uncaring ways has runaway father and Carrie searching for her will this push them to another level?

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this classic story, Debbie brings those Manning men and Manning sisters home for a mistletoe marriage when a single dad finally says "I do."
Such a cute Christmas story. As usual it began with one person out of a complex full that had Christmas cheer, and everyone else was going with the motions and/or 'working' through the holidays. Makes you realize how one person can change not only another person, but alot of people. 5 stars

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was probably 2.5 stars. It is a short book and is very predictable. You probably get as much from reading the synopsis of the book as you do from reading the book. I believe the book was mainly written to give an update on what happened to a couple of characters from a series. Since I have only read one book from the series it wasn't that helpful to me.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella, but I felt that there needed to be more of a connection between Carrie and Phillip. Carrie connected with his daughter, Mackenzie, in an immediate way, but I felt the courtship between the two to be stunted and sparse. The secondary characters were fun, and the story had great potential, but I needed more of a connection between the hero and heroine.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silver Bells

Silver Bells was a great short read. Loved on the characters. Debbie Macomber is a wonderful story teller. I really enjoy her books.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do hope you did not buy this book and flush your hard earned cash down the toilet because this book is a stinking pile of horse-sh*t and has almost no redeeming qualities. At the end, after about a half hour of reading I glanced down and was shocked to see I was nearly 60% of the way through it - and I only checked because I was hating it so much I was wondering how long I had to give it before I could safely put it down without regrets. As it stood, I actually finished it because it took like…an hour to read…TOTAL!

The characters are bad, the dialogue is unrealistic (it sounds like the little girl is spouting affirmations or the kind of crap a bad therapist says in self-help books), the situations and emotions are wildly off and bipolar, and if I brought home a man with a child I just met a few weeks ago and we’d only ever kissed once, my parents would stare at me in concern, not come over and encourage him to marry me straight off! Also there was no editor…or she’d probably insist there be…you know…a story.

Everything. Sucks. I recommend this book to absolutely no one. Save yourself.

[Jill Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Carrie in Bride On The Loose so I was excited to see her get her book, all grown up. Debbie Macomber is wonderful at giving voices to children and teens and making them sound real and emotional.

The biggest problem with this book is it's length. I wanted more.

I wanted to know more about Phillip and his background.
I wanted to see more of Carries relationship with Mackenzie - that would have been so interesting to explore.
And I wanted to know more about their neighbors. What a fun group. I want to hang out with them.

There was enough of a story here to support a full length novel. I only wish it had been.

[SKP · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars and if it was someone other than a favorite author of mine, I’d rate it lower. I see from other reviews that Carrie was introduced in other books. This story did not motivate me to seek them out. It was a rather boring & predictable story. I didn’t like Philip all that much. Carrie was ok, but not a stand-out among heroines. I have read and loved a number of other other Christmas stories by Debbie Macomber. This is not one of them. This was not up to her usual standard, and I am disappointed.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes Mackenzie, her father's daughter, to get him out of the post-divorce rut he's been in for three years, thanks to the additional assistance of a fortune-teller in the apartment building where they are living while waiting for their home to be finished. And Carrie, the neighbor on the 2nd floor is the perfect person not only for her father, but for Mackenzie, too, whose own mother pretty much ignores her daughter. Her loss, though Mackenzie may not yet realize that.

A cute novella perfect for the Christmas season, as befits the author's reputation for romances for every season.

[Sydney S · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. I was enjoying myself at first, thinking it felt cozy even though it was kind of predictable and cheesy. But the MMC sucked so much, and the romance sucked because of that. It made no sense. Who in their right mind would believe these two fell in love? And then that strange epilogue that jumped forward 6 months. I hated it.

I got a copy of this novella at goodwill, as part of a collection with two other authors, so I only spend $1.50 on it. It’ll be a good one for a little free library too.

[Manette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short romance novella that happens around Christmas time, it’s not a Christmas story. There was not enough relational development between Phillip and Carrie it was rushed and unrealistic. The relationship between Mackenzie (Phillip’s daughter) and Carrie felt more authentic.

This audio book was a quick easy fairytale style romance: boy meets girl, they fall in love, get married, and live happily thereafter.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Competently written tale more of romance than Christmas. Simple story with obvious conclusion. Apparently part of a larger series I'm not familiar with. Has a typical sprinkling of magic that Macomber likes to include. Characters are repeats of so many other tales of similar plotting. No surprises or depth.

Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

[leticia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short book, easy to read, but repetitive and possibly unnecessary. This is the fifth book in the series and it’s mainly about Carrie, Charlottes daughter. Her story was a basically a repetition of the third book, where she’s a teenager and tries to get Jason to date her mother. I wish the author had provided more information on the family since this takes place years later.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Contemporary romance novella. This the first story I’ve ever read by Macomber, it was in the anthology I’ll Be Home for Christmas with Brenda Novak and Sherryl Woods. It was a sweet story, with a bit of Christmas in the background.

[Cathie McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip is focused on work. His daughter, Mackenzie, wants him to find love. She is a sullen teenager until she meets Carrie.

Carrie is an upbeat person. Mackenzie sets about to get Carrie and Philip together. Of course, Philip fights it.

Sweet, quick read.

[Sue Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Christmas story.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short story.

[Court · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very heartwarming.

[Patricia Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love wins

I thought the story was nice. It. showed how love can change the situation completely around. Divorce can affect children. in different ways.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Yolanda Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet romantic short story.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

A means to an end. Wrapped up my 2019 reading challenge with 3rd festive read. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Lisa Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely!

A Sweet short story. It's the Perfect break in your day. Classic and beautifu Christmas with l Debbie Macomber as always.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute short story about a daughter worrying about her father's happiness. And history repeating itself. A fun way to spend a snowy afternoon.

[Lori Shafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cute, simple read for the holiday. It reminds me of the Hallmark Christmas movies. It was good.

[Lyn Sweetapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice story about well meaning teen's matchmaking