The Christmas Spirit

Informationen zum Autor Debbie Macomber is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Fifteen of her novels have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller lists, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, including Mrs. Miracle and Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel also produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, based on Macomber’s Cedar Cove books. She is as well the author of the cookbook Debbie Macomber’s Table . There are more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. Klappentext Local pastor Peter Armstrong and bartender Hank Colfax are best friends, but their lives couldn't be more different. When Peter scoffs that Hank has it easy compared to him, the two decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve, but taking on the other's work is more difficult than either Peter or Hank expected. Leseprobe Chapter One 1977 “Hey, man, sorry I’m late,” Hank said, as he slid into the red upholstered booth at Mom’s Place across from his best friend. He was running on less than five hours’ sleep, and his day was only getting started. “Did I keep you waiting long?” “No, I was late myself.” Pete had always been the responsible, prompt one. It surprised Hank to learn his pastor friend could be late for anything. The waitress came with a coffeepot, and both men turned over the beige mugs to be filled. Pete smiled at her as she handed them menus and then swiftly left. Hank noticed how Pete’s gaze lingered over the waitress as she returned to the counter and refilled another customer’s cup. “I’m telling you, these long hours are killing me,” Hank said, as he wiped a hand down his face. His eyes burned, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a decent meal. As different as they were, they had continued a friendship after Pete had graduated from seminary and returned to Bridgeport. Pete looked every bit the pastor with his clean-cut looks, while Hank was often mistaken for a hippie, with his long hair and the casual way he dressed. Scruffy jeans and a T-shirt were his standard uniform, whereas he suspected his friend hadn’t worn blue jeans since his college days. Hank was the owner, manager, bartender, and chief bottle washer for the tavern The Last Call. Mom’s Place, where they routinely met for lunch every month or so, was halfway between their two towns, Pete in Bridgeport and Hank in Kettle Springs. “I didn’t get away from the tavern until after two this morning. Some days I swear I get less than three or four hours’ sleep a night. This job’s a killer.” Pete glanced up from the menu. “I thought you loved the tavern.” “I do. I always knew I’d be taking Dad’s place one day. I looked forward to it. The regulars are great and keep me in the black, but I have no life. I haven’t been on a date in six months.” “I’d think you’d meet women left and right,” Pete said, before taking a sip of his coffee. “I do. Lots of great women. I thought I’d be married and have a couple kids by the time I hit thirty.” “Why aren’t you?” Pete asked. Clearly, Hank’s lifelong friend had no understanding of what managing a tavern entailed. “There’s a big difference between meeting lots of women and having time to actually date. I work fourteen hours a day and sometimes longer.” Pete frowned. “Hire someone.” Hank snorted. Pete made it sound easy. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to find good help these days? I tried taking on a part-time bartender, and he drank all my profits. It’s a slim enough profit margin as it is. At the rate he was drinking, I was about to go out of business. The thing is, if I need to be there to keep an eye on the staff, I might as well do without.” After a brief hesitation, Pete acknowledged Hank’s dilemma: “Gotcha.” “Having my own business takes every spare minute I have. If I’m n...

Product details

• Authors: Debbie Macomber
• Publisher: Ballantine
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 01.09.2023
• EAN: 9780593500125
• ISBN: 978-0-593-50012-5
• No. of pages: 246
• Dimensions: 105 mm x 175 mm x 17 mm
• Subject: Fiction > Narrative literature