A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber
Product Details
Web ID: 20312156Making Great Music at Christmas
Debbie Macomber is a mainstay in the Christmas genre and reading her new story each year has become a "must do." A Christmas Duet brings a frustrated musician, Hailey Morgan, who wants nothing more than to compose music, something she has done since she was a child. Her parents - especially her mother - discouraged her dream, and encouraged her to go into teaching instead. After all, very few people earn a REAL living writing music. Hailey is the assistant band director at the local high school, and is dreading going home for Christmas break. Her mother has been pressuring her to "find a man and get married" and now, her former boyfriend is making noises about wanting her back. When she learns that her mother has invited the man to their family Christmas, she bolts to her friend's family cabin in Podunk. She has no plans of falling into her mother's scheme to get her and Zach back together. If they can't find her, they can't hijack her Christmas break! Settling into the cozy cabin sounds amazing, until she encounters the other occupant - a hissing raccoon. Rescued by the mayor's son, Jay, she learns that he is a former musician himself. Soon, they are spending time together, tweaking her songs, and inspiring her to keep composing. When her song goes viral, Hailey starts to believe she really can be a songwriter. But then, one by one, her family shows up, bringing their drama along, and her muse is stymied. Can she break free from her mother's expectations to find a love she never expected? I felt for Hailey. As a bit of an introvert myself, I could totally understand wanting some peace and quiet to create. I was glad to see her finally get a backbone where her family was concerned. I also loved how Jay stepped in as an encourager when she most needed one. Their collaboration made both of them better. Readers looking for a feel-good Christmas story need look no further than A Christmas Duet. I listened to this one through Libby, and the narrator kept things moving and did a great job voicing the characters. I definitely recommend this one!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Christmas Read
Such a heart touching story, Relating to the characters pulls you in quickly. Hailey's love for music has her wanting to reconnect with it. It seems the more she tries the harder it is to accomplish this task. As things unfold you can't turn the pages fast enough. Laugh out loud moments and unexpected turns.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A fun book to read as a gift to yourself!
A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber is the perfect book to read the week before Christmas! I was laughing so hard at times that the book put me in a better mood than I was when I started it. The holidays can be a bit overwhelming, but this book helped me put things in perspective! Hailey is a band teacher at a high school in Portland, Oregon. She and her best teacher friend are celebrating having 2 weeks off for the holidays. Her friend mentions that her grandmother's cabin is empty if Hailey would like to use it over the break. Hailey tells her she's going to her parents for Christmas and thanks her for the offer. That evening when Hailey speaks to her mom she finds out that Zach, her ex of 3 years, is coming to her parents to celebrate Christmas with them! Why? Hailey and Zach are over, way over! She wants nothing to do with Zach after he dumped her and told her that her music was a hobby for children and if she had talent she would've been signed already! Zach broke her heart and didn't look back until now. He started texting Hailey 3 years after they broke up. Her mom loves Zach and thinks he's perfect for Hailey, so she invited him for Christmas when he called her. The cabin her friend offered is looking better and better. Hailey decides to call her friend and see if the cabin is still available? It is and Hailey tells her she wants to stay there for the next 2 weeks. Hailey has never not gone home for Christmas, has never been alone for Christmas, but is looking forward to being on her own and focusing on her music. Hailey has written songs since she was a little girl and has a melody in her mind for a new song. All of a sudden Christmas break is looking promising and exciting! The cabin is in Podunk, Washington and is in a very remote area. She has to count mailboxes to know when to turn down a gravel road as there are no signs. When Hailey gets to the cabin she can't wait to go in and relax. She opens the door, but the light switch, hasn't turned the lights on like she was told it would. She uses her cellphone to find her way in when she hears hissing and sees eyes staring back at her! Animal eyes! She screams and runs for the door. Once back in her car, she drives to the general store in town. She was told this is the place for anything you might need. Hailey tells the owner, Teresa, that she was almost attacked by a raccoon in the cabin! She needs help getting it out of there! Teresa is laughing so hard she can't speak, but then tells her she'll send her son Jethro when he returns from a delivery. As Hailey waits for Jethro in her car at the cabin, she finally sees headlights about an hour later. Jethro does not look like she thought a Jethro would. He's muscular, good looking, and very nice. He tells her to never call him Jethro as he goes by Jay! Only his mom calls him that as he's named after his grandfather and great grandfather. As he goes in the house he gets the electricity to work, gets the raccoon out of the house, blocks the hole where the raccoon got in, helps Hailey start a fire, and helps her unload her car! Jay is the best thing to ever happen to Hailey and that's before she finds out he was in a major band that toured the country for years. She plays her new song for Jay when he sees her guitar and asks her to play. Jay is now a music producer and owns his own company in Seattle. Jay tells Hailey he loves her song, how talented she is, and the spark between them is undeniable! When Hailey's mom finds out she's not coming home she lays on the guilt and she lays it on heavy! Zach will now be there, but Hailey won't! Hailey's sister, Daisy, isn't going home either. Will Hailey cave and go to her parents for Christmas? Will her mom listen to her and send Zach home? Will Zach listen to her and realize she never wants to get back together? When Daisy shows up at the cabin uninvited will she ruin Hailey's peace and music paradise? Will Jay not visit as much if Daisy is there? This is a fun book and I rate it 5 stars. I really don't like Hailey's mother at all which almost made me rate it lower, but I loved everyone else in the book. Do yourself a favor and read this book as a gift to yourself this holiday season! #AChristmasDuet
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I couldn't put this book down!
Absolutely LOVED this book! FIVE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5+++++ The story had me laughing at times and crying at other times
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Heart Warming Christmas Story!
This is a heartwarming Christmas story! Hailey is a hard working school teacher who decides she just wants to get away for the Christmas vacation after her mother pulls a fast one on her by inviting Hailey’s ex-boyfriend to dinner thinking she can get them back together. A rustic cabin in the middle of nowhere should give her all the peace and quiet she wants right??? Read this story to find out how that can go so wrong and still end up being the perfect Christmas. Happy Holidays!!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Charming holiday story!
It wouldn't be the holidays without a wonderful Christmas story to read and A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber fits that bill so perfectly! This book is everything you could want in a sweet romance novel. From the very first page, we are drawn into the lives of these characters and you just don't want to stop reading until you have read every word and felt every feel! I truly enjoyed Hailey and Jay's story as well as the small town where they met. The charming town of Podunk, Oregon captures the magic of the holiday season so completely. When we dream of classic holiday traditions and the love of family, friends, and neighbors, this place is where our minds should travel. I highly recommend this title to anyone who is looking to get lost in a beautifully told story this holiday season! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this title and offer my honest opinion.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Wonderful Christmas Novel
A Christmas Duet is the newest holiday themed novel by the incredible Debbie Macomber. It revolves around Hailey Morgan, a high school band teacher whose biggest dream is to be a professional songwriter. However, she has not seriously written any music in several years. So, during her holiday break from school, one of her co-workers, Katherine, suggests Hailey spend Christmas at her family's secluded cabin in order to rekindle her passion for songwriting. Hailey accepts, and is soon on her way to Podunk, Oregon, where she meets Jay Cantor, a struggling music producer. Jay is home for Christmas at the insistence of his mother, whom he hasn't seen in several years. Both Hailey and Jay are trying to figure out the next moves in their respective careers while they bond over their mutual love of music. I loved this book! Both Hailey and Jay are good, family-oriented people whose connection felt genuine and not predictable. I loved how they inspired each other, and strived to support each other through their individual struggles. I also loved the town of Podunk, Oregon. I felt like I was in the book, it felt so real. Debbie Macomber has crafted another wonderful Christmas novel, and I am so happy I was able to read it! Thank you to #NetGalley and #BallantineBooks for the opportunity to read and review the eARC of #AChristmasDuet.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Sweet read
Sweet read with a happily ever after just as expected. The quintessential Christmas read with a little suspense and fun mixed in. Debbie Macon er never disappoints on the wholesome romance. I read an advanced copy, these thoughts are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com