Home for the Holidays: The Forgetful Bride / When Christmas Comes

by Debbie Macomber

Everyone wants to be home for the holidays . . .

The Forgetful Bride Caitlin Marshall's trying to go home to Minnesota, but at the last minute she gives her airline ticket to a stranded soldier. So Cait spends Christmas with Joe Rockwell, who was a childhood friend -- and is still a terrible tease, claiming that Cait's his wife. Oh, sure, they were "married" in a pretend ceremony when she was eight, but now Joe wants to make their "marriage" real!

When Christmas Comes
Emily Springer trades her Leavenworth, Washington, home for Charles Brewster's Boston condo. Then Emily's friend Faith comes to visit her in Washington -- and instead finds Charles, a complete stranger and a curmudgeon, to boot. His brother, Ray, meanwhile shows up at Charlie's place, only to discover Emily living there. But through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, among the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge . . .

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

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

[Sheryl Nantus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit this was the first Macomber book I've read - and I only picked it up because it was very cheap for my Nook.

What I found was an excellent holiday read and a new author to follow! Ms Macomber writes nice, sweet romantic fiction that's sure to keep you reading and leave you with a good happy feeling. It may not be as graphic as some would want, but I'd be fine having my mother catch me with this in the house.

Both stories are great reading but the second one, When Christmas Comes, is the better of the two. A convoluted attempt to make the right decisions turns into a great holiday romp.

I haz a happy!

:)

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have decided from Thanksgiving until Christmas I am going to read only Christmas books. My mom has all of Debbie Macomber Christmas books this is the second one I've read. They are really cute fluffy Christmas love stories. This book at two stories in one book. I LOVED the first story I thought it was really cute. The leading man was sooo my type of man. I wanted him for Christmas. The second one was good but not as good as the first one, it reminded me a lot of the movie "The Holiday" which is one of my favorite movies. Definitely pick it up for a light Christmas read.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful Holiday read, loved both Christmas love stories. Debbie Macomber might just become my favorite Christmas Author.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of two Christmas stories: The Forgetful Bride and When Christmas Comes. 

The Forgetful Bride

Caitlin is in love with her boss, Paul, who does not feel the same way about her. Lindy, Caitlin's friend and co-worker, sympathizes and even encourages Cait to continue pursuing Paul. During the Christmas season a remodeling project is happening at Cait's work place and she is reunited with Joe, the general contractor and an old school friend. At this point the story becomes a bit far fetched because Paul actually likes Lindy and Joe keeps reminding Cait that they are already married (due to a childhood make believe wedding).  I would rate this one a 3.25 stars. 

When Christmas Comes 

Emily, who lives in Leavenworth, WA, has been planning for her daughter, Heather, who is a college student at Harvard, to come home for the holidays. Unfortunately, Heather tells her mother that she has too much going on and won't be able to make it. Emily tells her best friend Faith, who lives in CA, that she will be alone for Christmas and regrettably Faith isn't very sympathetic. Therefore, Emily then decides to surprise her daughter by flying out to MA for Christmas. Meanwhile, Faith feels bad about her advice to Emily and decides to surprise Emily by flying out to WA for Christmas as well. To help save on the cost of lodging Emily house swaps with Charles, a Harvard history professor. 

All of this trading places and misunderstanding causes alot of humor throughout the story. I would rate this one a 4.75 stars. 

[Boo Boo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a little bit cheesy and you pretty much know how it is going to end from page one. If you are a true fan of Debbie Macomber though then you knew that's how this book was going to be. Her Christmas books are always cheesy feel good stories. I believe that is part of the reason why we love them so much. Her books are full of likable characters that are easy to root for, and this book is no exception to that. Despite the fact that the character Charles started out as a bad guy that no one wanted to like, in the end he won the hearts of everyone. Another success for Macomber.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The first one, The Forgetful Bride was too predictable for me. Plus I did not like how Cait was presuing her boss.
My favorite was Home for the Holidays. I realized when I first started this book that I had actually seen the movie version a few weeks ago. (Called Trading Christmas) I enjoyed that those who made the movie stayed true to the story line, with only a few minor differences. The book is always better though because it was more indepth.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two books in one. Both cute love stories.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of Debbie's Christmas stories in one book. Perfect, feel good stories for the season that will entertain you, put a smile on your face and get you ready for the holiday season.

[Freda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has two different books, books in The Forgetful Bride and When Comes Home. The first book is about childhood friends about a girl and two boys. As children they perform a wedding where one of the boys is the minister and the other boy and girl are the bride and groom. After many years they come together again at Christmas . The groom loves to tease the girl that she is his wife. The other boy who was the minister actually becomes a minister. While visiting for the holidays, renewed feelings start reappearing as in the past. The second book is about a mother who is wanting her daughter to come home from college to spend the holidays at home and do all the traditions. But her daughter has other plans and isn’t coming home. The mother decides to surprise her by going to Boston to spend Christmas with her. But the daughter is not there as she has gone to Florida so she will be alone. In order to go to where her daughter she switches homes with a professor where daughter lives. They evidentially all become involved with family and friends if each family.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable cheesy Christmas read. This book contains two stories. The first story the"The Forgetful Bride"was my favorite of the two. The second story "When Christmas Comes" reminded me a bit of the movie The Holiday- two people switch houses for Christmas.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home for the Holidays is an omnibus of two Debbie Macomber novels.
The Forgetful Bride was first published in 1991 and tells the story of stockbroker, Cait Marshall, in love with her boss, Paul Jamison, since she started working for his investment firm. Paul seems not to notice her at all. When building contractor, Joe Rockwell, turns up to oversee the refurbishment of the offices, he looks a little familiar to Cait. Soon enough, Cait discovers who he is, and he manages to embarrass her in front of her colleagues by recalling that they were once married, omitting to add that this was when Cait was only eight, and in exchange for a kiss that Joe wanted to experience. Joe is an inveterate teaser, and keeps referring to their marriage, even as he courts her, until Cait finally realises what her heart is telling her. This is a fun romance, with plenty of laughs, some sad moments, a Christmas connection and a heart-warming ending. Debbie Macomber always manages to leave the reader feeling good.
When Christmas Comes was first published in 2004 and tells a story of trading homes at Christmas time. When Emily Springer learns her daughter Heather is not coming home from college in Boston to Leavenworth, Washington for Christmas, she pours out her tale of woe to her friend, Faith Kerrigan in California. Eventually, Emily decides to go to Boston to see Heather, and does a house-swap with Harvard academic and curmudgeon, Professor Charles Brewster. Meanwhile, Faith decides to surprise Emily by coming to Leavenworth to cheer her up. When Heather learns Emily is in Boston, she is not at all pleased, having planned to ride to Florida for the holiday on the back of her new friend, Elijah’s Harley, leaving Emily on her own. When Emily answers the phone at Charles’s condo in Boston, his mom, Bernice, sends Charles’s brother, Ray, from New York to investigate. There’s enough humour here for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments: it would make a great Christmas TV special! There are some loveable characters and a fun plot, and of course Macomber does what she always does best: feel good romance, with a Christmas theme.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh! Remind me not to read anything by this author again. She's stuck in a previous generation or two, where women are supposed to be at home baking cookies for men. Her idea of the way to a man's heart is through food, and sex is unheard of in her books--only kissing!
I completed the first of the two stories in this book. I only finished about half-way through on the second story because I was so disgusted with Charles' attitude. The woman in the first story was very adolescent, and that drove me nuts. She kept talking about her crush on her boss Paul while she was in the midst of dating Joe. It made her sound like she was about 14.
In the second story we have two women who go to the trouble of spending hundreds of dollars on airline tickets to fly across country to "surprise" people and neither trip goes as expected. Now, who in their right mind, in this day and age flies across the country to be with friends and family for the holidays without confirming that they're going to be there in the first place?
Ms Macomber is definitely stuck in the old world, where the female characters are flaky enough to flaunt their crushes in front of their boyfriends or to book travel arrangements without confirming that it's a good idea. And that they have to bake cookies to get a guy's attention, and there's no such thing as sex.

[Tasha enderby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to kick off my holiday story marathon, it has a bit of mystery and two wonderfully put love stories. I didn't know this book was two short stories and not one large novel so when I got half way through the book and realized they gave up the ending too soon on the first story to continue to the end I skipped through and found to short stories. We all need a bit of romance and this has it mixed in with good will and holiday cheer.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

First story " The forgotton Bride " is good.. I was not crazy about this character Joe...actually it is good story but next story " When Christmas comes " Is very good.. I like this main character " Emily"

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories in one book.Both very Christmassy and very sweet. Couldn't read many though.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an excellent book and I realized the second story was a Hallmark movie

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love a nice Christmas story to get me in the holiday spirit. Debbie Macomber never lets me down.

[Gail (myJunegirls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one. I love cheesy Holiday romances. Enjoyed Joe's character a lot. But Cait drove me batsh!t.
No one is that oblivious. Ruined the story. Ugh

[Maxine Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing better than romance and the holidays

[Nora Durfee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

Living close to Leavenworth, I understand how it can put anyone in the Christmas spirit. These books are a perfect Christmas read

[Meaghan Richerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Debbie Macomber book. I loved this type of heart felt Christmas stories.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Tis the season so I thought I would read a Holiday book. However, there wasn’t much about the holidays in the first story. Caitlin gives up her plane ticket to go home, to a soldier who wants to see his family but this is only a very small part of the story. Most of the story is about Caitlin and Joe. As 8 and 10-year-old kids, they got married by Caitlin’s older brother, who was 10. Years later, Joe shows up working on a construction project at Caitlin’s job and introduces himself as her husband. Caitlin thinks she loves her boss Paul until Joe swipes her off her feet. It is a romantic, feel-good book, but a bit silly for my tastes.

Now the second story is a holiday story. Emily is a widow with one child, a daughter in college. Heather decides she is not going to come home for the holidays but instead is going on an adventure with a boyfriend on a motorcycle to Key West. Emily thinks she can still see her daughter by going to Boston as a surprise. But the surprise is on her when her daughter decided to leave right away and go on the trip. Left alone in Boston, she is even more devastated. Because she could not really afford to stay at a hotel, she did an exchange residence program and now lives in a professor’s home for the holidays. He now is staying at her house. The exchange agreed upon was for two weeks. In the meantime, Faith, her friend, hearing that Emily was going to be alone for the holidays makes a surprise visit to Emily’s home in Leavenworth and runs into the professor staying at Emily’s house. The professor had agreed to the exchange so he could get away from Christmas but instead finds himself in a little town with horse-drawn sleigh carolers, three tree lighting ceremonies, and kids that want to play in the snow building snowmen and forts. Faith and the professor get to know each other and Faith turns the professor’s holiday into one he could never have imagined.

In the meantime, Emily is still alone in Boston However, the professor’s mother sends her other son to see why there is a woman staying in her son’s home. He is also single and another relationship starts. Both couples meet and hit it off during this exchange. The second story is rather cute.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, fun holiday reading for those who like reading romance where passionate kissing never leads to anything else before marriage. In other word, suspension of disbelief is required, as with most Christmas novels. Home for the Holidays contains two stories. “The Forgetful Bride” was just okay, with the frightful message that it’s okay for a man to tease and belittle a woman in public as long as he really loves her, because after all, it’s all in good fun. Also, it’s fine for female employees to get romantically involved with their male bosses. Just…no.

I liked “When Christmas Comes,” better. I’m a fan of the familiar theme where two misfits switch homes to avoid Christmas, only to find romance in the most unlikely manner. Macomber does a good job of developing the four personalities and their backstories distinctly. The subplot about a daughter’s romance is a bit of a black-and-white cautionary tale, but luckily it doesn’t intrude too much on the mother and her friend’s fun. I would have enjoyed it more if Macomber didn’t struggle to make the point that each individual emerged from a different room in the morning despite a romantic evening the night before. It would have been so easy, and less forced, to leave it ambiguous, allowing readers to fill in the romantic details in their own ways.

Overall, a good short Christmasy read. Pick it up if you’re in the holiday mood and like Debbie Macomber and/or light romances.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Debbie Macomber's stories. This book is a compilation of two of her short novels. Both gave me the warm, welcoming, joyous feeling of Christmas and small town romance. I loved the first story, The Forgetful Bride. The second story When Christmas Comes was made into a movie called Trading Places . The story provided more detail about the main characters than the movie.

[Ashley Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the very beginning. Joe and his scandalous jokes in the work place makes me laugh. How could Caitlin not fall in love with him? Emily and Faith deserve every minute of happiness. And the daughter, oooh she made me angry, so selfish, but her actions helped turn her mothers world into something wonderful.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two short novels in this book and both provide good entertainment and escape. They are quick, safe reads that are enjoyable. I liked the hero Joe in the first novel because he was a lively character who enjoyed life. The second novel involved a series of errors that solved themselves in the end. Both were fun reads.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A two story collection of holiday themed romances. The first was not good, with weird writing and bunches of characters behaving in ways that regular people never behave. The second was much better and is worth a read. A bunch of cross country mix ups lead to true love.

[Emma Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than other Macomber books, particularly the first story in the book, but overall it didn’t pull me in and seemed to drag more than anything. Her characters played off of stereotypes and lacked any real depth.

[Tommi Welling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both book were okay. Of the two The Forgetful Bride was the better. I really enjoyed reading it and liked the characters.

The second was quite uneventful but cute nevertheless. Okay to pass the time

[Emma Inman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two kids get married as a childhood joke and Cait's dolls are in attendance for their wedding. The friends grew apart, but many years later their paths crossed again. Cait is in love with her boss and Joe happens to be doing construction in their office.