Review: "Catching Christmas" by Terri Blackstock

This one's for all the Hallmark Christmas movie lovers! Terri Blackstock's novella Catching Christmas feels like it could be a Hallmark movie (of the Movies & Mysteries variety).

---

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 court 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 making 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 that 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.

Genre: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christmas
Release Date: October 9, 2018

---

This book is a total Hallmark movie: gruff cab driver (think Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls—he even looks like him!), overworked young lawyer, matchmaking grandmother. For me, the best part was watching cab driver Finn interact with grandma Callie. Their relationship ended up being so sweet! Callie was so spunky and fun, and I'm glad that the majority  of the story was about Finn driving her around.

For me, the romance between Finn and Sydney was just so-so; nothing wrong with it, but it moved a little quickly for my taste, and I didn't really sense the chemistry between them. (However, this did add to the Hallmark-like feel of the story; those romances are almost always rushed.)

Sydney's job at the law firm was a little difficult for me; her job was terrible, and the client she was defending seemed too awful to be believable.

Blackstock is a great writer, so even though I had some issues with certain things in the book, I enjoyed reading it. It's a great way to spend a few hours right before Christmas. 3-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.
Read an excerpt.
Read my reviews of Blackstock's If I Run (4-1/2 stars), If I'm Found (5 stars), Distortion (5 stars), and Twisted Innocence (4-1/2 stars).
Follow the tour:
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 15
Daysong Reflections, December 15
Genesis 5020, December 15
Back Porch Reads, December 15
The Power of Words, December 16
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 16
Quiet Quilter, December 16
Among the Reads, December 17
Kathleen Denly, December 17
By The Book, December 17
Lighthouse Academy, December 17
Cultivating Us, December 18
Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
Remembrancy, December 18
Caffeinated Christian Raves – N – Reviews, December 19
Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide, December 19
Christian Author, J.E. Grace, December 19
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 20
amandainpa, December 20
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, December 20
Multifarious, December 21
Cathe Swanson, December 21
Stories By Gina, December 21
Connect in Fiction, December 22
Have A Wonderful Day, December 22
Splashes of Joy, December 22
Bibliophile Reviews, December 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23
Lis Loves Reading, December 23
Mary Hake, December 23
Bigreadersite, December 23
Book by Book, December 24
Pause for Tales, December 24
To Everything A Season, December 24
Southern Gal Loves to Read, December 25
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 25
Vicky Sluiter, December 25
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 26
Inklings and notions, December 26
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 26
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 27
Captive Dreams Window, December 27
Texas Book-aholic, December 27
A Baker’s Perspective, December 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 28
Older & Smarter?, December 28
Janices book reviews, December 28
Carpe Diem, December 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terri is giving away a grand prize of a finished copy of Catching Christmas and a Christmas Tree Ornament!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d776/catching-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway

---

Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. Catching Christmas is her first Christmas romance. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com Facebook: tblackstock Twitter: @terriblackstock

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."