This reminded me of the Hallmark Christmas movies. It is a sweet story that focuses on the importance of spending time with people with you love. The main characters are a cab driver, a grandmother and a granddaughter. Finn, the cab driver, gets directed to pick up someone to take them to the doctor’s office. He is expecting a normal call, get there pick them up and drop them off, however when he meets Callie, the grandmother, nothing is as he expected. Finn goes above his normal duties for Callie and because of his actions it was easy to fall for him.

Callie is an elderly lady suffering with memory loss and falls asleep in an instant. The moments when she is lucid are entertaining and sweet. She is able to remember Finn’s caring behaviour from the previous day requests him as her driver again and so the adventure begins. Finn is no longer just her chauffeur but quickly forms a bond with her that has him wanting to take care of her.

Ever since Finn’s first interaction with Callie, he formed an opinion about her family members and they were not pleasant. But then he meets Sydney, the granddaughter, and gets know why she wasn’t there and his opinion begins to change. The two end up bonding while caring for Callie. I enjoyed watching the growth of this relationship and both learning to put what is important in their lives first.

This is a story that will have you feeling compassion for each character, and realizing just how valuable time spent with people is. There are moments that will sadden you, but there are also times that are filled with humor. I especially enjoyed the sarcastic comments that will have you chuckling. This was a true feel good Christmas story and would be perfect to be turned into a Hallmark movie.

This book 100% pulls at your emotions. Callie is a remarkable character who captivates you in a way you didn't expect. The way she interacts with Finn and the other characters is hilarious but adorable in that loving way. As the story unfolds, you find yourself crying several times with both sad and happy tears.

I recommend this book to everyone!

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

What has made me excited about the coming holidays? Well other than the fact that I love Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I also just read Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock. She did a wonderful job of making me feel all different kinds of emotions in this book.  I laughed and cried and wished Christmas were just a little bit closer.  Also, I absolutely loved Callie. Growing up, I knew a lot of elderly people. I loved to bake all different kinds of treats and take them to all of those elderly people. Most would invite me in to their houses and I'd would visit with them. Callie reminded me those dear people and I kept wishing I could bake her some cookies too.

If you like comedy, romance, and emotional books, then this book is the perfect book for you this Christmas, or really anytime. And also, may I recommend reading it with a cup of hot chocolate in your hands? I think that would really make it even better. 

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

This was a bittersweet story. I think most everyone will guess the basics of how it will end, but it is such a sweet story with a wonderfully endearing character in Callie.

I’m not sure how many times I cried during this story, but I truly loved it. The author created characters that as a reader I fell in love with. It is a story that reminds us about the importance of life and the people we share it with.

Definitely recommend it to those who love Hallmark movies!

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

Catching Christmas: A Modern Day Fairy Tale is bestselling author Terri Blackstock’s first Christmas novel and is a delightful short read to get you into the Christmas spirit. What I liked about this novel is that it is a “feel good” novel featuring very human characters dealing with very real life problems like old age and your first job and cancer. So it isn’t cheesy. You fall in love with the characters and want to find out what is going to happen to them. It is a novel about myriad topics from Christmas to romance to redemption to finding God to dealing with the guilt that family situations where someone is ill and you can’t wave a magic wand and make them better bring. But it is a very positive read despite all this.

Here is the publisher’s description of the book:
“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.”

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book and for allowing me to review it.

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock will have your emotions all over the place. You will be tearing up one moment and laughing out loud another. Our three main characters:
Finn: the cab driver with an interesting background and a heart of gold; even if he doesn’t want to have it.
Sydney – a new lawyer with the worst case of her life and an aging grandmother
Miss Callie – grandmother that has declining health and wants to see her granddaughter find someone to spend her life with.

The book at times is heart breaking because we have all been in Sydney’s shoes where we have to make tough decisions with our time and money. At the time we feel like we have to keep our job and it interferes with being with our loved ones. In addition, watching the decline of Miss Callie is heartbreaking.

However Terri balances this with adorable and hilarious scenes between Miss Callie and Finn. Miss Callie starts calling the cab company each day for ‘that sweet boy’. I could visualize the tree strapped to his car. The conversations between taxis and Uber were hilarious.

I recommend this book. It reminds me of a good Hallmark Christmas movie with all the feels.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Catching Christmas was my first experience with Terri Blackstock, but it certainly will not be my last. I was immediately pulled in by the emotions and poignancy of the story. Miss Callie is something to behold. Although with her dementia, she has no real idea of what she is doing, through her, God works to fulfill her final wish. Finn's frustration with the situation was comical and endearing as he simply could not say no to Miss Callie. In a way, I was reminded of Driving Miss Daisy as Miss Callie took over Finn's life with her neverending requests. It was a pleasure to watch Finn slowly shift from the surly grouch to a loving friend. Sydney and Finn's initial encounter with one another made sparks fly straight off the pages, and I could not wait to see what would happen next. I enjoyed the fact that Finn was so normal. He overreacts and sometimes doesn't know how to act, especially when Sydney becomes emotional. While I enjoy reading about "perfect men", it is also refreshing to read about characters who make mistakes and have to learn from them. Sydney made her own fair share of mistakes, too, which made her more approachable and acceptable. When Sydney and Finn pull together to give Miss Callie the perfect Christmas, I wanted to cheer for their growth as people. Seeing the world through Finn's cynical eyes, and watching that perspective change by Miss Callie's influence was like watching a flower bloom. While Miss Callie's condition saddened me, her determination and faith overpowered the sadness. She refused to give in until she accomplished her goal.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

Terri Blackstock writes a light-hearted, feel -good Christmas story that is a distinct change from her If I Run series. She does include her trademark character development, her tongue-in-cheek humor and a plot twist, too. It was a quick, enjoyable read and will delight her regular readers if they want to take a break and curl up with a cup of cocoa and this book during a hectic Christmas season. I received a free copy from the publisher for this, my honest opinion.

What a wonderful way to start my Christmas binge reading. This book will carry you through every emotion you can imagine. This book will grab you by the heart and keep you there until the very end.
The three main characters were each incredible in their own way. Miss Callie is 80 years old and suffering from ill health and early dementia. Feisty, caring, and a strong Christian, she tells it like it is. Finn Parrish is an ex-haute cuisine chef now working as a cab driver whose life becomes entwined with Miss Callie's when he is called to take her to a doctor's appointment. With a heart of gold, he never knew what hit him and didn't realize how much Miss Callie would change his life. Sydney, Callie's granddaughter, is caught up in trying to take care of her grandmother but keep her job as a first year lawyer at a large law firm as well. Torn between the two, she isn't doing a very good job of either.

Priorities, second chances, and forgiveness all serve wonderful places throughout this novel. I guarantee you won't finish it without laughing, crying, and every emotion in between. If you only read one Christmas book this year, this has to be on your TBR list.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Catching Christmas is such a good book. I loved the plot and the characters. I am a fan of Ms Blackstock and never miss any of her books. This is totally different than her suspense and I would enjoy reading more books in this line. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review review.

Catching Christmas is a lovely book. One minute you are happy and laughing the next not so much. I love a book that makes me feel every emotion possible, especially at Christmas . This book really touched me and I am so happy the publisher gifted me arc copy in ebook form. The opinions in this review are my own.

When I first learned Terri Blackstock was releasing a Christmas story (one that’s not a romantic suspense which she’s so well-known for), I was intrigued. And oh boy, are you in for a treat!
Blackstock takes readers through a gamut of emotions—from humor and laughter at Finn’s sarcastic reluctance with his newest customer to lumps in the throat when Sydney speaks to her grandmother’s doctor.

In Catching Christmas, Blackstock managed both a light-hearted story and one with depth. Finn’s reluctant acceptance of Miss Callie soon turns to concern for the older woman, mirroring his journey of apathy toward the older woman’s Jesus to reaching out to Him for help and, eventually, healing of the heart.

This is one Christmas story you don’t want to miss!

If this is what Blackstock produces in the contemporary romance genre, I want more! Although, she does need to keep writing those romantic suspense books we all know and love.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

It is Christmas time and Finn, a cab driver, finds himself driving 80 year-old Miss Callie who is suffering confusion, to her doctor's appointment. What would normally just be a normal fare becomes much more complicated and Finn becomes her chauffer of sorts, and helps her run errands. Meanwhile, Sydney, Miss Callie's granddaughter, a lawyer, is trying a case against her better judgment and fears for her job. She knows her grandmother is sick and is torn between her job and taking care of her grandmother. A wonderful, heartwarming, bittersweet Christmas tale.

Get in the Christmas spirit with Terri Blackstock's latest book, a sweet but humorous story, Catching Christmas! Finn is a cab driver and a former French chef who finds himself doing all kinds of tasks for the ancient Miss Callie since she appears to have no family! Callie's granddaughter, Sydney, is actually a busy young attorney working hard to keep her job and care for her grandmother at the same time. Finn ends up escorting Miss Callie around town while she attempts to find a husband for Sydney. You will enjoy the antics of Miss Callie and the tender ending to this story. Catching Christmas is different from Terri Blackstock's usual suspense stories. I received a complimentary e-book from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

A sweet heart-warming Christmas story that's a little different from most. Miss Callie is a dear old lady suffering from dementia and Finn, a cab driver just trying to make a living. Finn will learn much from Miss Callie as his job takes on a life of its own while driving her around running 'errands.' Love the unfiltered Miss Callie! And grumpy Finn did have some excellent points. Many readers will relate with Sydney, the stressed out granddaughter. Highly recommended!

A heartwarming story but definitely different than Terri Blackstock's regular fare. Reminds me a lot of the movie Driving Miss Daisy. This was a bit of a quick read but it certainly makes me want to hug my loved ones a bit tighter.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A modern adventure of a cabby driver who meets his match when told to go pick up Miss Callie and take her to a doctors appointment. The next few days send Finn, the cabby driver, and Miss Callie’s granddaughter, Sydney on quite the ride.

This is the second book I have read by Terri Blackstock. As with the first (“If I Run”), I was impressed both by the authors writing and by her ability to integrate Christianity into the story without beating readers over the head with it.

I say that as a Christian. Some Christian books are overly preachy and some don’t touch much on Christianity at all. There is a fine line between the two, and Ms. Blackstock has found that point of view.

In this story, we follow a taxi driver, Finn Parrish, as he drives an elderly customer around. He’s irate that no one in her family is taking care of her. In the course of trying to correct that, he gets in touch with her granddaughter, Sydney Batson.

Sydney is a lawyer working for a firm that demands more than a pound of flesh from their employees. Sydney is put on the point of choosing her job or choosing to help her grandmother.

Miss Callie is the grandmother and she’s a delightful lady. That she loves Jesus is evident in how she acts and what she says.

It was a delightful but not always happy book to read before Christmas. It seemed real and true. That is a lot to say about any book. I will miss the characters now that I have finished it.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Catching Christmas was a book that I couldn't put down, I read it in one day.
I love the cover!
Finn Parrish is a more than a cab driver, he used to own his own restaurant, until the economy took a dive. Finn is tired of the Christmas songs playing on the radio, he has no idea that life is about to show him what Christmas is really all about. When Finn gets a call, to pick up someone from a residential neighborhood, he wants to refuse the call. He knows he won't make as much as he would at the airport. Finn does expect an old lady to change his life, sometimes people you don't know, take a place in your heart. I loved Callie Beecher and her granddaughter Sydney, Callie' has no filter and is hilarious.
Thanks Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the great read.

I truly enjoy Christmas books. I begin reading them every September. I like them because they nearly always have a happy ending. Sometimes, however that happy ending can be a surprise. Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock is the latest Christmas read to fill my Kindle. It's a good one!

My Thoughts:
This was a most unlikely novel. The little old lady was just so adorable, and yet a bit headstrong. Wrap headstrong in lovely manners, and she just gets away with it!
It begins with a match of Finn the cab driver and Callie the sick little old lady who he describes as a hundred and then two hundred years old. Because of Finn's past regrets, he takes the time needed to help Callie even though he doesn't want to. All the while he's growing angrier at Sydney the granddaughter whom he's never met.
Sydney is stuck in a terrible job that she just must keep that is keeping her from fulfilling her grandmother's needs. She's supremely frustrated and stressed.
Callie is a loving grandmother who has a plan and a long to-do list that must be completed before Christmas. She relies on charm and God to get those to-dos to-done!
This is a quick little novella that can be read in an evening or two...or stretch it out to make the enjoyment last longer. The setting is described perfectly, the characters are developed well for such a short novella, and the action moves along just quick enough to keep the reader's interest.
I enjoyed it very much. It is clean and good for any age to read.
5 stars

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


Disclosure: I was sent a sample of this product for review purposes only. I was not compensated in any way. All opinions are my own based on my experience with this product. 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."

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