**Book received for consideration. Post contains affiliate links. All thoughts are 100% my own.
There's something about Christmas that sets the perfect backdrop for a feel good story, isn't there? I can think of many books and movies read and seen throughout the years that aren't overly Christmas-y in content, but something about that holiday backdrop makes the feels all that much stronger. Today, I'm sharing a brand new book that is a great example of just that:
The first Christmas story from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Terri Blackstock.
“The feel-good Christmas book of the year. Blackstock’s tale of love and redemption wrapped in a holiday bow will leave you smiling. Don’t miss Catching Christmas.” —New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck
This Year, Christmas Comes Just in Time
As a first-year law associate, Sydney Batson knows she will be updating her resume by New Year’s if she loses her current case. So when her grandmother gets inexplicably ill while she’s in court, Sydney arranges for a cab to get her to the clinic.
The last thing cab driver Finn Parrish wants is to be saddled with a wheelchair-bound old lady with dementia. But because Miss Callie reminds him of his own mother, whom he failed miserably in her last days, he can’t say no when she keeps calling him for rides. Once a successful gourmet chef, Finn’s biggest concern now is paying his rent, but half the time Callie doesn’t remember to pay him. And as she starts to feel better, she leads him on wild-goose chases to find a Christmas date for her granddaughter.
When Finn meets Sydney, he’s quite sure she’s never needed help finding a date. Does Miss Callie have an ulterior motive, or is this just a mission driven by delusions? He’s willing to do whatever he can to help fulfill Callie’s Christmas wish. He just never expected to be a vital part of it.
To be honest, while I love a good love story... I'm also REALLY picky about them. I like cheesy...but not TOO cheesy. I want something believable. I want interesting characters. I want a good story that isn't necessarily ALL about that romance aspect of it. Yes, I know... I'm asking for a lot. Perhaps this is why I don't usually go for books that are strictly in the 'romance' department. When I read the description of 'Catching Christmas', I thought this might be just up my alley...and boy was I right, I absolutely loved it.
First and foremost, it grabbed me from the very beginning. I found the characters to be very real. They weren't sugary sweet and perfect human beings, but completely flawed in every way imaginable. Finn is a grumpy cab driver--- from the start we learn that he's not exactly one to sugar coat anything at all. Likewise, Sydney is a workaholic trying her best to manage home and work... but perhaps not making the wisest (or most honorable) decisions in doing so. Their realness makes the story all that more interesting! It kept you wondering how things would play out, but also helped us to see the growth and the impact that Miss Callie made throughout the story! And Miss Callie... well now, she's what really made it. I felt like many of us know someone just like her--- blunt, lovable...and on a mission!
Now, I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that this definitely didn't read like those typical too cheesy romances. Yes, the characters come together in the end, and yes everything leads to that relationship... but it's so much more than that. It's a story of forgiveness. It's a story of finding God. It's a story that will simultaneously have you laughing and crying. It's the perfect pull at your heartstrings Christmas story--- the type that Hallmark movies are made of! I for one loved it, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great holiday read.
'Catching Christmas' is available to purchase now at your favorite Christian book stores.
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