Toni is definitely one of my fave Black Christian Romance authors. The Christmas Catch was so cute and sweet. I am so glad there was no third act breakup or a miscommunication.

Hope was so mature for her age, but I loved how easygoing she was. Will didn’t deserve her. Jay stepping in is what I pray for for my son.

May is that friend I wish we all had. I personally do not have any friends that I grew up with due to moving a lot, but I loved that for Bebe. And not May and Ryan, Jay’s physical therapist falling in love.

The relationship with Jay and his dad was making me so mad, more at Jay’s dad. He hasn’t visited in eight years because his dad kicked him out, and then his dad refused to tell him when his mom fell ill with pneumonia. Jay had every right to feel how he felt. I’m glad they patched things up thought.

Besides the happy ending, what really hit home for me is the prayers prayed were prayers I’ve prayed, and some made me realize a few things in my personal life.

All in all, highly recommend.

A super cute holiday read with a touch of football and a whole lot of heart!

Easy to recommend to anyone who likes a Hallmark Christmas movie and sweet, second chance romances!

My rating: 4*

Thanks to the publisher for a gifted physical copy - I purchased the audio myself. All opinions are my own.

Thanksgiving, football, Christmas, and romance. This short novella isn't just a perfect choice when reading time is limited, it is also a terrific way to prepare your heart and mind for the holidays! Author Toni Shiloh shares the touching story of a young, divorced woman who wants to be the best mother that she can be but still yearns for love and romance. Could the return of a former flame be the answer to the longing of her heart? Or a painful reminder that he chose a football career over a future with her?

I guarantee that this captivating story will remain with you long after you finish it! The Christmas Catch has family, faith, and second chances, along with a reminder that life isn't always fair, and hurts are often afflicted by those we love the most. Well-developed characters, valuable life lessons, and swoony romance make this a book to enjoy and savor, and I recommend it to all who enjoy romantic Christian fiction with holiday themes.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

"Stay with me for a bit. Let's catch up?"
On what? The fact that her heart pounded like she'd just completed a record-breaking forty-yard dash? It drummed in her ears as his thumb ran up and down against hers. Memories resurfaced. Kisses under oak trees. Then a goodbye she hadn't seen coming. Lord, please keep me from repeating my mistakes. I don't want to get hurt again."

Bebe never thought she would be raising her daughter on her own. Or living in the small town where she grew up. Yet she has settled into this life and is often happy. That is until Jay returns.

Jay has pursued his football career, but an injury is causing his to rethink his choices. Should he have left Bebe behind? Can he find a way to convince her to give him another try?

This is a sweet second chance story about finding love and finding faith again. I really enjoyed the characters including Bebe's spunky daughter. The great Christmas catch is getting to enjoy the gift of this book!

A novella that is more than a sweet story. It covers topics of rejection by loved ones, single motherhood, and living for today despite an unknown future. The love relationship seems to start quickly, but BeBe and Jahleel already had a foundation of being childhood best friends and a high school couple. I wish there had been more communication concerning life-changing decisions between the main characters before certain decisions were made, but all ended well.


I listened to the audiobook on Libby for this review
Thanks to Bethany and NetGalley for the e-galley. .

My ratings and reviews are my own.

Super cute contemporary Christmas sports romance!
This one a quick and easy read and reads like a wonderful Hallmark movie.
Read this one if you like all the Christmas feels and second chance romance.

I think I would have loved this book as a full length novel, but the pacing felt like a Nancy Drew novel, a lot of great build off and then wrapped up in 5 pages at break neck speed. I always love a single parent trope where the love interest bonds with the kiddo and desires to make them one big happy family, and that works perfectly here. And the faith elements are well done. It’s just that abrupt ending that let me down.

Thanks to Bethany House for the gifted title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Toni Shiloh for the ARC.

A sweet cosy romance.

The intermittent prayers felt distracting, and took awhile to get used to. And the pacing of the first 60% of the book felt slow for my liking, and then somehow I was shocked at how fast the HEA came in the last 40% 😅.

Still, the small town Christmas warmed my heart. I forgot how much I love cosy books.

2 ⭐ for the first half, 3 ⭐ for the last half.

A second chance romance. Will Jaheel get a chance with Bebe now he is back in town? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

An enjoyable story to read around the holidays, this romance wasn’t completely lighthearted but it captured the magic of the season even in the midst of difficulty. The characters, setting and storyline were all a cut above the norm for the genre. Definitely recommendedc for anyone who likes a quality read.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I was hoping for a light fluffy Christmas read and this was...not it. I had to scrap it after Chapter 5. I found both main characters insufferable and felt like I didn't have any more understanding of who they were after five chapters of constantly talking about how they were high school sweethearts and she gave her whole heart to him and he broke her heart and how can she ever love again and he loves football and played for the NFL. This book is Christian fiction, which I am normally ok with, but the description did not indicate that anywhere and it was way over the top with the God talk. Overall it was a disappointment and I had to call it quits. It was not for me.

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

Sweet Christmas romance with a hint of football

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet Christian Christmas second-chance novella. Toni Shiloh knows how to weave faith into a novel beautifully and authentically. I enjoyed Hope and the backdrop of Peachwood Bay, especially the great supporting cast of characters.
I really appreciate how both Jay and Bebe, along with their friends, listened and watched for God's voice in their lives, then acted on it. This was a sweet romance, I'd rate it G for kissing, familial tensions, and details surrounding Hope's dad and his choices.

4.5 stars

It’s no secret that Toni Shiloh is one of my fave authors, and one of the things I love most about her books is how she works in faith so naturally. From her full-length novels to her novellas, her characters make everyday and not-so-everyday decisions a matter of prayer and strive to follow Jesus with authenticity, flaws and all. It never feels cheesy or forced, and I always take something away from reading a Shiloh story, beyond just the great characters and sweet romance. The Christmas Catch is no exception.

Jahleel Walker & Bebe Gordon were high school sweethearts who haven’t seen each other since Jahleel ended their relationship to pursue his dreams of college & professional football. Now those dreams are in shambles, thanks to a career-ending injury that sends him home to Peachwood Bay, Georgia, to recover. In the process, he also has to navigate a strained relationship (to put it mildly) with his father and face the ‘one that got away’… namely, his parents’ next door neighbor, Bebe (who is now a divorced single mom with an adorable daughter and a jerk of an ex). The chemistry between them sure hasn’t lessened any over the years, and I adored watching them get to know one another – and their feelings – as adults with a few years under their belts, respectively. I always love the sass that Shiloh gives at least one of her characters – because I wear sassy pants on the regular – and the secondary relationships (friends, family, etc.) that she incorporates into her stories. The Christmas Catch has both, plus a dose of festive cheer and sweetly-swoony romance. And it’s set in Georgia! What more could I ask for?

Back to Jahleel and Bebe for a moment… This may be a novella but the shorter page count doesn’t mean shallower layers to the characters or their story. On the contrary, Shiloh fleshes out these two characters with depth, grace, and lots of heart. The emotions at the root of their struggles are ones that nearly all readers can relate to, even if we haven’t experienced the specific struggles themselves. And oh how I loved the tender theme of God being a Father to the fatherless and how Shiloh ties it in to Bebe’s daughter (with an absentee father) as well as Jahleel (with a difficult father). It’s so beautifully done, without platitudes or insincerity. And isn’t that the message of Christmas? That, because of Jesus’ birth (and subsequent death and resurrection), we can be adopted into God’s family too and have a Father who is always there for us, even if our earthly fathers are not.

Bottom Line: The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh is a fun, festive, sweet, swoony, and meaningful story about a second chance… in more ways than one. A second chance at romance. A second chance at having a present and loving father (for more than one character, accomplished in two entirely different ways). A second chance at deciding what defines you. All wrapped up in the spirit of the Christmas season, with a focus on the Reason we celebrate and His care over our lives. Shiloh’s engaging writing voice has you immediately invested in the characters and unable to put down the story until you’re finished, and her personal relationship with Jesus shines brightly on every page. Come for the romance and holiday cheer; stay for the way this story speaks to your heart. Football fan or not, you’ll love this quick read!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Yet again, Toni Shiloh has produced a near-perfect Christian romance with The Christmas Catch.

Teacher Lucille “Bebe” Gordon is the solo mom of seven-year-old Hope. She’s happy with her life, and her main regret is that her ex-husband refuses to have anything to do with their daughter.

Her peaceful world is rocked when wide receiver Jahleel Walker, the boy next door who was her childhood best friend and high school boyfriend, returns home to recover from a football injury. They haven’t seen each other in twelve years, but sparks soon fly.

The Christmas Catch was originally published in 2017 as A Sidelined Christmas. The author’s note at the end makes it clear there have been some changes–I get the impression this version has more of a Christmas flavour.

The writing was excellent. There were some great lines, and I loved the voice. If I “hear” the character’s voices when I read, I usually hear them in a Kiwi accent. Yes, even when I know the book is set in the USA. But something about Toni Shiloh’s writing ha me hearing the characters in a Southern accent that sounded a lot like Georgia.

But the best part was this was a Christian romance with the emphasis on Christian. Bebe is making every effort to live out her Christian faith, particularly when it comes to her daughter. Jay has a few challenges, not least his father (the pastor of the only Protestant church in their small town), and there’s no question his faith is important to him.

Overall, The Christmas Catch is yet another fun Christian romance from Toni Shiloh. Recommended for fans of small-town Christian romance and sports romance.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh was a perfect novella to read on Thanksgiving weekend, a time with lots of football and the gateway to the Christmas season. I adore the cover and really appreciated the characters. As in most romance novellas, attractions develop quickly, but it felt somewhat believable in this second chance romance with forced proximity.

Nextdoor neighbors Bebe and Jahleel went from best friends to dating in high school, but he abruptly ended the relationship when he went away to college, the first step in pursuing his NFL dreams. Heartbroken, Bebe moved on with her life, eventually marrying, having a daughter, and becoming a teacher. When her marriage ended in divorce, Bebe moved back to her childhood home in Georgia. Three years later, Jahleel is severely injured in a game played near that town, and he stays with his parents to recuperate. Living next door again after eight years, can they renew their friendship, or will it develop into more?

For me, this is “romance plus” since it’s about more than the attraction between the main characters. The hero and heroine each struggle with big challenges in key personal relationships. One finds healing and growth while the other doesn’t, so representative of real life. Bebe’s daughter Hope was adorable and an important part of the story.

In this Christian fiction story, the characters’ faith lives are important to the plot in organic ways. I swooned over the two grand gestures involving a sleigh, and I appreciated that while the ending is happy, not every single detail was wrapped up in a big red bow.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy of this festive story.

This is a great second chance romance for your Christmas season! Bebe is divorced with a seven year old daughter, Hope. Her ex husband is a jerk. Jahleel is a football player who got injured and is back in his hometown. He left both his parents and Bebe behind years ago but now has to face them again. But Christmas is a good time to mend relationships and have a second chance at love. I thought this story was really cute! I loved how sweet Jahleel was with Hope especially since her own father didn’t want anything to do with her. I also loved watching Jahleel and Bebe reconnect and find love. And I loved how great a mom Bebe was and her willingness to try again with Jahleel. There is also a lot of good Christian content throughout. Overall a cute Christmas story and I recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This second chance romance was oh so sweet!! I really enjoyed all of the family and faith aspects throughout the story - lots of reconnecting and did I mention, tons of sweet fun with Bebe’s adorable daughter! This is truly a cozy Christmas novel that I enjoyed overall.

The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh is a delightful, and heartwarming Christmas novella full of fun football references, sweet second chances for a single mom Bebe Gordon with her darling daughter Hope, and Bebe's high school sweetheart NFL football player Jahleel Walker. This story had a beautiful walk in faith for Bebe and Jahleel, as well as other repaired relationships. If you're looking for a wonderful Christmas romance with lots of Christmas cheer, I highly recommend The Christmas Catch!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an ecopy. All opinions are my own.
If you love Hallmark Christmas movies, you will love this sweet inspirational novella!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This book is my first Christmas read to kick off the h0liday season. A football player? Second chance romance? small town? Sign me up. This book had strong themes of faith at the center of love, decision, making and forgiveness. A quick and cute read.