About the Book

Book: Catching Christmas

Author: Terri Blackstock

Genre: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christmas

Release Date: October 9, 2018

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.

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My Review

When picking up a Terri Blackstock novel, a reader would naturally assume the genre is a mystery—because that’s the genre for which she is known. Imagine my surprise when I realized almost immediately that Catching Christmas is not a mystery at all, but a sweet story of family, faith, and priorities.

I fell in love with Finn Patrick from the get go. It didn’t hurt that he was compared to Luke from the television show Gilmore Girls. And I could see that Terri Blackstock might have actually used that character as a guideline when creating Finn Patrick. They shared the same scruffy appearance and gruff exterior which hid a sweet heart of a compassionate man. Finn found himself in what he considered an impossible situation—possibly consequences for his past shortcomings. But as Romans 8:28 reminds us “And we know all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Finn just didn’t know he was part of God’s greater plan.

Callie, a sweet, dementia-challenged grandma, steals the story with her faith in Jesus and love for her granddaughter, Sydney. She manipulates those around her with a trap spun of sugar and truth, as she tirelessly works her agenda on all those she encounters. What’s not to love?

And Sydney—an overworked, first-year law associate who struggles with a choice between career and family. She’s in a challenging situation, until she realized (almost too late) what’s important.

The story was a quick read, but not of the quality I expected of a well-known author of Terri Blackstock’s reputation. Although I connected with the characters, I felt as if they were not as developed as I would have liked. There didn’t seem to be a real connection between Finn and Sydney, so the quick romance didn’t ring true in the end.

I also felt the storyline was rushed. There was little description, and what there was didn’t strike me as realistic. St. Louis at Christmas time—the weather should have been some kind of challenge. Instead, doors were left open for convenience-sake and Sydney sits on a pollen-dusted Adirondack chair? The dialogue dragged in places and seemed like it was used as filler rather than to carry the story along.

But if you want a sweet Christmas story and don’t expect too much, you’ll enjoy Catching Christmas.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

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