This is a very different Terri Blackstock novel if you’re only familiar with her romantic suspense novels. Yet it’s equally mesmerizing on a completely different level. The author brings together an older fragile woman, her ambitious lawyer grand-daughter, and a grumpy, guilty, fatigued cab driver who used to be a chef in this Christmas story of love, family, dreams, regrets, and the grace of God.

Sydney is the grand-daughter trying to juggle a demanding job, a ridiculous court case on which her job security rides, and an ailing grandmother with no other family members nearby. She’s totally burnt out and out of luck but tries so hard to scrape by. Finn is the cab driver, trying to get through the Uber craze and the Christmas season without letting his bitterness and feelings of guilt break him apart. They are drawn together by Sydney’s grandmother Callie who keeps calling Finn to help her get to places; Finn, despite his gruffness, resigns himself to taking care of Miss Callie and his tender protective side emerges. As Sydney and Finn grapple with what life throws at them, they also start to understand Callie’s faith and on Whom they can lean. It’s a powerful story of redemption, forgiveness, and letting joy and peace rule even in the midst of darkness. It’s not a light and fluffy Christmas feel-good story. But it is a beautiful Christmas story that will challenge you and have you pondering many hours after you’ve finished the book.

I was given a copy of the book by Thomas Nelson Publishers via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Finn Parrish prefers making runs in his cab between the airport and hotels, so he is less than thrilled when he has to take an old lady who seems to have dementia and is wheelchair-bound to a doctor's appointment. Still, she reminds him of his mom before she died, and he feels duty bound to help Callie since her own family obviously didn't care enough to take Callie to the appointment themselves. Sydney Batson is a first-year law associate. She was supposed to take her grandmother to the doctor, but when her law firm schedules a meeting to announce layoffs at the same time as Callie's doctor appointment, she sees no choice but to arrange a cab to take Callie to her appointment.

This was a short book, and I think the characters suffered for it. The only characters who weren't one dimensional were Finn and Sydney. It was different seeing a Christian story where the unbelievers sort of accidentally fall into having a relationship with God, rather than making a conscious decision to do so. I wonder how often it happens that way in real life. Overall, this book just felt like it was lacking for me. The plot could have some potential but just wasn't executed well.

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon - a cup of coffee, the Christmas tree lights and a wonderful story. The author has done a masterful job of keeping us in the dark as to the wishes of Miss Callie. The hustle and bustle of the busyness of life, obligations and Christmas just don't seem to mix for those close to her. Can she possibly stop her granddaughter long enough so she can catch the Christmas spirit and once again realize what is important?
I received and ARC of this fabulous book from NetGalley and CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.

My book club always picks a Christmas-y book for our December discussion. And since Terri Blackstock is one of our go-to authors, we knew we had to read Catching Christmas. And while this novella is not her typical romantic suspense, Blackstock fans will not be disappointed by the sweet story of second chances. Recommended!

Sydney is an overworked first year attorney facing an impossible case. Finn is a former chef turned cab driver who lives with lots of regrets. The two are brought together by Sydney’s adorable grandmother, Callie Beecher. Callie may be ill and not always in the present, but she does know a lot about love and faith. As Sydney and Finn wrestle over Callie’s care, they learn just what is important in life.

I really liked Catching Christmas. Filled with laugh out loud scenes and poignant moments, this story is true to life — there are plenty of people in this world struggling to make sense of missed opportunities, life-changing mistakes, and the need to connect with others. Callie is the best of characters. She epitomizes the impact a person of faith can have on those around her. The action takes place in the days leading up to Christmas, and the reader can feel Callie’s urgency to beat the deadline for bringing happiness into her granddaughter’s life. Finn and Sydney are very relatable in their disconnected lives. Catching Christmas is a great reminder of what is really important. A fast-paced read, you’ll finish this book in no time, but be prepared for a bit of sorrow in leaving this wonderful story.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

I’ve read most, if not all of Terri Blackstock’s Christian fiction, but I’ve never read Terri Blackstock like this. Catching Christmas is short, sweet, seasonal, and just plain hilarious. I think I laughed out loud every other page, at least.
Callie is an elderly wheel-chair- bound lady whom Finn, a down-on-his-luck cab driver, is called to drive to the dr. The story takes off from there and is so very captivating I almost finished it in one sitting.
I loved reluctant but good-hearted Finn, inhibition-less Carrie and conflicted Sydney.
What a feel-good Christmas book!
Blackstock details a very merry return to faith, roots, and sensibility, with romance mixed in for good measure.
Highly recommended for this season of joy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and CelebrateLit. I was not required to leave a review and all opinions are solely my own.

I absolutely love the cover!
It caught me from the first and having read the story,
it's definitely a cue to the quirky fun of taxi driver Finn!
Capably captivating writing of a pro, my laughter rang loud
and my tears flowed generously.
A do.not.miss for this season's reading!

Thank you!
to the talented, Terri Blackstock! You didn't miss a beat !

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock is flat out delightful. Having read & enjoyed this author's work before I was eager to read this and am so glad I did. Such a touching and yet often hilarious story. I loved the dry-humored sarcasm of Finn and the subsequent softening of his heart as he escorts the Callie around town for her various errands and becomes entangled in her life. The depth of the characters and their emotions resonates with the reader--sorrow, regret, stress, compassion, fear. Along with the sweet hint of a romance in this charming Christmas story, the author has woven a subtle thread of faith that is comforting and inspiring. One of the characters says "I feel like I'm getting to know Callie's Jesus a little better, even though I'm doing all the talking. But he speaks volumes in the way he listens." I love that...what a message to people at Christmas, a time that can be lonely and sad for many folks, that there is a God who cares and listens. Loved this story and will be recommending it to reader friends and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

This was such a great story that really warmed my heart. And though there were some tear-worthy moments, overall a great message of how you can have a do-over in life. It was a quick read for me because it had all the great elements I enjoy. A deep, caring story full of humor, hope and inspiration.
I’ve read many of Terri Blackstock’s books and enjoyed each and everyone. This one was different from any other of hers I’ve read. Usually drawn into romantic suspense and mystery, this was a Christmas story of love, both God’s and Callie’s.
Finn, a cab driver and ex-chef and restaurant owner, is pulled into the life of Callie, an octogenarian, by necessity because she needs a ride to see her doctor. Finn was easy to love. He really cared and went beyond his job requirements to take care of an eighty year old feisty, outspoken lady. I laughed every time Finn exaggerated Callie’s age and recalled her loud and mostly embarrassing comments. I felt for Sydney, the granddaughter, who was pulled both from her job and all its strenuous requirements and from her responsibilities and love toward her aging grandmother.
Some things in life are more important than others as they both find out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit and Netgalley but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

Blackstock's novel is not a lighthearted, sweet Christmas romance. There are some heavy aspects to it. For example, there is the meaning of success and the price one is willing to pay for it. Another one is burnout in an occupation. There are several serious issues regarding family relationships too. The relationship between Sydney and Finn, the main characters, gets off to a rough start. Readers are aware of their feelings as the point of view alternates between them. Their interactions are mostly stressed and that a romantic relationship would quickly develop between seemed a little unrealistic. Both characters are plagued with guilt over neglecting loved ones and surprisingly, that obstacle was not really overcome before romance blossomed.

This Christmas novel is for readers who like one with serious issues woven into it and who are not frustrated when some of the issues have not been resolved at the end. The novel does contain a message about priorities. Having a good relationship with God is touched upon but not to the extent that a salvation message is included.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

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

First Thoughts: Aaaack this book could not have been any sweeter! Seriously, I made my way through the book with a huge smile on my face. It warmed my heart and sent sweet tears to my eyes. Terri Blackstock has done it again! I also have to comment this is probably the first book of hers I’ve read where there is no murder mystery. It was light humored, with important themes, and full fantastic, relatable characters that drove the story. I loved every word.

Loves:

Okay, Finn was fantastic. I absolutely loved his character. He was hilarious, but also incredibly real. I was rooting for him the entire time; every time he tried to convince himself not to be kind, I had to smile at the inevitable inability to follow through. His interactions with the other characters were so well done.

Sydney was just as amazingly well-rounded, but significantly different. It was easy to see her point of view even when it wasn’t one we as the reader agreed with; it was easy to empathize with her situation. I especially loved getting to see both her and Finn’s perspectives on the situations, and how they intertwined and how they conflicted.

And of course, Callie. She was the best!

I loved the gentle themes surrounding the story without overpowering it; I loved the bittersweet ending; I loved the messages and the setting and the characters and pretty much absolutely everything!

Dislikes:

There’s honestly nothing I really disliked.

Analyzation:

The story moved at a good pace—something was always happening and character development never stopped progressing. Every new scene provided new ways to get to know and love characters while still without much fluff. It allowed time for the reader to reach conclusions on their own before a message was actually spelled out, which, in my opinion, is always more powerful.

I absolutely loved the thematics surrounding Sydney. The idea that you don’t have to stay at a job just for the money, that you shouldn’t compromise your beliefs for your job, that family is always more important—I loved it, and delivered via Sydney, the sweet, but determined, character, made it all the more powerful.

Themes: Doing the right thing; kindness; not judging a book by its cover; standing up for yourself and things you believe in; not being afraid of the world; strength and courage in the face of evil; faith and trust in God.

Overall:

Catching Christmas held my attention from page one, presented some valuable themes through the eyes of very much imperfect but also incredibly lovable characters, and provided good laughs while gently tugging on the readers’ heartstrings. All while against a backdrop of Christmastime! I loved it so, so much.

5.0 / 5.0

Catching Christmas
By Terri Blackstock
Finn wants to give the impression of being hard as he is called from his normal taxi route to pick up a client in a residential area. However, when no one answers the door he lets himself in and finds a sleeping old lady. As innocent as this looks, Miss Callie is not so innocent. She muddles Finn's schedule by trying to chase down men to date her granddaughter. All the while she creeps her way into his heart. In the meantime, Sydney, Callies granddaughter is barely keeping her life together. Her high-stress job is downsizing and she is hanging on by a thread as she worries about caring for her grandmother at home. Callie is a spite fire and keeps both Finn and Sydney on their toes until they come head to head and meet.
I enjoyed the first-person dialog of this book and felt connected to the story right away because of it. I think the story was fun and I sympathized for Sydney. She is stuck between a rock and a hard place throughout out the book. I think her stress in being caught up in what others are asking of her and feeling like she has no options is something we have all struggled with at some point. I really liked how Finn brought some perspective to Sydney and supported her with positive encouragement.

First Book I’ve read from author Terri Black, I absolutely loved it! Sweet, uplifting, a quick read.. Miss Callie has so much Faith, which leads to Finn, ( I’m only the cab driver lady) and Sidney (overworked, underpaid lawyer) needing each other to find their way back to what really matters.

An emotional, sentimental Christmas story which could have been extremely sad became story of Hope and Faith.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This was a sweet story of a couple of people trapped in their worlds that are drawn together, okay, ambushed in the middle their obligations by a not-so-quiet little old lady who somehow quietly pulls their strings just so! She was a sweet, feisty but decrepit old woman who was on her way out but who wanted to keep her treasured granddaughter from being all alone, so she goes about searching out the right companion, dragging an unwilling cab driver along for the ride...you know where this is going! Sweet, but a bit predictable Christian Christmas book.

#CatchingChristmas #NetGalley

Oh my! I love the way that Finn was so reluctant to help Miss Callie, and yet was compelled to do so because of the kindness in his heart. He was so much fun and I loved the gruff exterior that hid his very tender heart. As much as he felt that he needed to be finding fares who weren't ancient women so he could pay his rent, he was willing to turn off his meter and get out of his cab to take her to the doctor, to the mall, and even to bring her to lunch - which he paid for. He exemplified agape love towards her even though she was a stranger. In fact, I even love the way he called her granddaughter up and read her the riot act for not taking better care of her.

One thing I noticed that totally cracked me up was the way he kept exaggerating Callie's probable age, almost like a fisherman telling the size of the fish he caught. First she was in her eighties, then three hundred. and I think at one point her referred to her as being one thousand years old!

Sydney, said granddaughter, was in such a terrible place. She had insane pressure at her job and yet her heart was wanting to care for her grandmother. I felt so terrible for her as she was trying so hard to please everyone. And that just simply can't be done!

Catching Christmas is the story of the struggles of a has-been chef and restaurateur who now spends his time driving a cab and arguing with fares about the superiority of Uber. The story of a frail old lady who wants nothing more for Christmas than to give her granddaughter the best gift of all. The story of a new attorney given the choice of taking on the most ridiculous case or losing her job. Of caring for her grandmother or losing her job. Of losing her self-respect or losing her job.

This story had me laughing out loud (yes honey, this is the one I was reading that night in the car) and holding back tears. It was so touching and tender while not being overly heavy. The spiritual aspects of the story were perfect. I was reminded of the books I've read by Angela Ruth Strong in the way that they are over-the-top funny yet in a good way and they are also tender with a powerful spiritual message.

I know I've heard the author's name for years and am wondering why in the world this is the first of her books that I've read. It will not be the last!

This is not your typical Christmas story, but so very heart-touching. Callie is a wonderful eighty year old lady who dearly loves her granddaughter, Sydney, and deeply wants her happiness. Finn is a cab driver who drives Callie to her doctor’s appointments. As Callie makes plans for a very special Christmas Day, she draws both Finn and Sydney into the details of the day. As they decide to give Callie a Christmas Day to remember, their lives are changed in an unexpected way as they watch Callie live out her faith in Jesus.

I loved Callie’s story and the message she has for all of us. Grab the box of tissues as you read this one. A perfect story for Christmas.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book was a delightful surprise of a Christmas book. Not your typical Christmas book, but such a great, heartfelt read. Absolutely loved this story!

Cab driver Finn Parrish picks up his fare, elderly Miss Callie. Miss Callie is wheelchair bound and on her way to the doctor’s office for her confusion. Enter Finn who goes out of his normal responsibilities and spends the day helping her from home to doctor to home. Frustrated by the lack of work for the day, due to all the time with Miss Callie, Finn groans the next day when he is again called to her home.

Sydney Batson, lawyer and granddaughter of Miss Callie, is doing her best to balance an exceedingly demanding job and a failing grandmother. Sydney is burning herself out, trying to keep her job and her grandmother’s issues all balanced. Unfortunately, she’s in over her head with all the responsibilities.

Miss Callie, who knows she’s not well, is determined to match make for Sydney. The health crisis is way less important to her than her granddaughter’s future.

What starts as a hard-to-believe story about an seemingly abandoned, elderly person, turns into a sweet story about new friends and new beginnings.

This is an interesting story; told from the 2 main character’s perspectives. It was a nice change of pace to read a story with a predominantly male lead. Finn is a taxi driver summoned to a house in the suburbs. He already seems to be in a foul mood, because he wasn’t dispatched to the airport; where the fares are frequent and pay well. He needs this job to keep a roof over his head and the basic necessities. When no one responds to the honking of the horn he grudgingly decides to knock on the door. This is how he comes to meet Callie Becher, an elderly woman in a wheel chair. Callie needs to go to the doctor’s office; but, is having trouble trying to remember where it is. Of course, this just makes Finn all the more irritable….
This is a story of our current time as it deals with the issues of elder care and older adults that are living alone and/or the lack of immediate family to care for them. So many people do not have the means/wherewithal, to be able to care for older family members. Those that have elders to care for also have to worry about their jobs too. I believe this is a very timely story and not the usual “Christmas fluff” stories; but, has a message to impart.

I really enjoyed this book! It was so unexpected and held my interest during the entire book! I found it to be an excellent and heartwarming read! The characters were the magic in this story. They were genuine and were each dealing with hard things, but in dramatically different ways. I loved Callie! She truly had the heart of Christmas and I loved how she influenced these characters in this story. I may have ugly cried during certain parts of this book, however I attribute that to the fact that these characters truly came to life in this story and it was so moving. Perfect Christmas read for someone who loves emotional, funny, and heartwarming Christmas stories.