Terri Blackstock has long been one of my favorite authors with her stay-up-all-night suspense. I was quite intrigued when I saw that she had jumped genres and written a much lighter Christmas romance in Catching Christmas. But I was delighted with what I found in her newest book!

Catching Christmas is fun and it is bittersweet. Finn, Miss Callie, and Sydney are brought together through some pretty unexpected circumstances, with the results being just what each of them needs. Getting to know the characters is a joy and leads the readers through a near Hallmark Christmas movie kind of story. But there is also a deeper level to the story, an important one about finding out who and what are really important at Christmas and every day.

Don't wait until next Christmas to read this entertaining story. Grab a copy and extend your holiday a little longer! And you may find the author's note in the back of the book interesting as she explains the inspiration for the story.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of the book. I am happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

Catching Christmas was just the right little Christmas story to read at this time of year when trying to manage the busyness of the season and to still feel the holiday cheer. Author Blackstock takes a situation that is sad and can ultimately be depressing and turns it around to a story filled with hope, love, and a reason to live. This was also a story of second chances, but not quite in the way you might think.

Filled with subtle humor, bittersweet moments, and the frenzied rush of life and just trying to make a living we get the two alternate viewpoints of Finn the cab driver and Sydney the granddaughter of a woman wheel chair bound and suffering dementia by the name of Miss Callie.

Finn unsuspectingly gets drawn in to Miss Callie's strange requests as he drives her around town to her Dr.'s appointments, social calls that includes matchmaking for her granddaughter, and her Christmas shopping. Finn, so many times wants to walk away from her seemingly craziness but he is in Callie's words, "a sweet boy" and finds himself unable to leave her on her own.

Sydney, a lawyer trying to keep her job, her bosses happy, and to win a case that is so ridiculous that even she herself is against her defendant, is really juggling too much, especially when her grandmother needs her care so much more now.

I really enjoyed this little witty Christmas story of life and love and joy and look forward to a reading it again and again.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

If you want a book to make you laugh, cry, shake your head and more, then "Catching Christmas" is the book for you. With an 80-year old feisty grandmother, a first-year law associate and a cab driver, this book offers something for everyone. It focuses on Jesus and the reason for Christmas without becoming preachy. I also love how the characters come alive through the pages of the book.

Having a grandfather who died from asbestos exposure, this book spoke to a lot of what our family went through during his last days. Moreover, with two parents who were both only children, I could relate to Sydney and all that she went through during her grandmother's last days.

Growing up, my father was consumed with his work so I could see how Sydney became so focused on doing the right thing for her job, even if it was at the detriment of her relationship with her grandmother.

Finn, a cab driver who becomes tasked with driving Sydney's grandmother everywhere she wants to go, fights tooth and nail against driving Callie Beecher where she wants to go. He refuses to just abandon her even though many cab drivers would have. The mention of Uber and an Uber driver having to rescue Sydney and Finn after his cab gets a flat tire and the spare is flat, provides a level of amusement to the story.

The amazing force Callie is reminded me of other elderly women I have known. Her ability to just say what she wants to without any filter also reminds me of some of these individuals.

Rather than spoil any part of the book for you, I will just conclude by saying this book is one not to be missed. Truly, it conveys the heart and spirit of Christmas and having a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

Catching Christmas, by Terri Blackstock, is a truly memorable holiday tale with endearing characters, relevant themes, and a sprinkling of humor and romance. It is an engaging story of faith, love, choices, and second chances. Touching and well-written, this story is entertaining from the first sentence to the last.

Writing in the first person point of view, Ms. Blackstock ensures that that the reader experiences the story through the perspectives of the characters themselves. This narrative style makes the story relatable and engaging. The characters are believable, they are likable, and they make the story shine. Their struggles, insecurities, fears, and beliefs are authentic and moving. Even though they endure real struggles that test their assumptions and their faith, the light of God's love breaks through with the restorative power of grace and second chances. With warmth and heart, this book also places a significant emphasis on family and friends, and the ways in which they support, encourage, and provide for one another.

Our lives can certainly be full of interruptions, and these interruptions are almost always inconvenient. However, interruptions can be viewed as obstacles or they can be valued as opportunities. Catching Christmas explores the reality that inconvenient interruptions are often opportunities to help others, to practice compassion, and to extend grace in difficult circumstances.

Catching Christmas is a meaningful work of fiction that explores the importance of priorities and purpose during the bustle of the holiday season. It is a story that entertains, uplifts, and inspires. I could easily enjoy re-reading this book in the future and sharing it with my friends too. I sincerely recommend it to all readers.

*I received a copy of this novel through the author and Celebrate Lit. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

This will now be one of my favorite Christmas stories ever. Callie had me laughing and crying throughout. It was nice to see how Callie helped to get Finn and Sydney together once she met Finn. I did not want to put this book down until I was finished. I understand what it is like to learn that your family member doesn't have long to live. You want to lash out like Callie does. This book really hits home. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.