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.

I loved this book!
A great Christmas story.
A man gets a second chance to believe in himself, in people and in God. And finds a girlfriend too.

I'm always on the lookout for a good Christmas story that is not overly sappy. I found it here with Catching Christmas!! This was a touching story that shares the message of Christmas with a gentle hand. Watching Finn and Miss Callie's relationship grow kept me reading and I was inspired watching the battle between Finn's heart and brain throughout the book and was so pleased to see him consistently following his heart. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something to warm your heart this holiday season.

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

BOOK REVIEW: Catching Christmas
By: Terri Blackstock
What a great holiday read!
Sydney is a first year associate lawyer who works hard for her firm. When cutbacks happen in her firm, Sydney has to step up her game or risk losing her job. Given the most ridiculous case in the history of lawsuits, Sydney knows her career is on the line, no matter that her grandmother is ill. Feeling the pressures of corporate law yet concerned for her grandmother’s well-being, Sydney hires a cab to take her grammy to her doctor’s appointments.
Finn Parrish is a former executive chef-turned taxi driver, just trying to get by. His reputation for having a soft spot lands him the task of taking Sydney’s exceptional, and a bit eccentric, though absolutely adorable, grandmother to various appointments.
Callie (Sydney’s grammy) fluctuates between good days and bad days, and ends up hiring Finn on more than one occasion to drive her around. Her greatest wish is to have a perfect Christmas and to see her granddaughter happy.
What ensues is a hilarious pursuit of one woman’s final wishes.
Kind of reminds me of Driving Miss Daisy…
It’s a story of forgiveness, redemption, family, love, and finding faith. It’s a story of the true meaning of Christmas.
I enjoyed every page of this novel. I laughed, smiled, and cried. I cheered for Miss Callie’s efforts, and cried at the losses experienced. I empathized with Finn’s situation and appreciated the change of heart at the end of the story. And Sydney, she really had no choice in her situation and did the best that she could with the hand that was dealt her.
Catching Christmas is definitely a Christmas novel to be read over and over again.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am a huge fan of Terri Blackstock’s suspense novels. Her most recent series, If I Run, now has a permanent spot on my favorites list. But her new Christmas book is a complete departure from the suspense genre—and it’s a true success!

Catching Christmas is the story of an unlikely hero. Finn Parrish is just trying to survive the holidays—and pay his rent by driving a cab. Just before Christmas he gets a call to for a pickup. Things start to go wrong when he finds a little old lady waiting for him. Miss Callie is a bit eccentric, and maybe not in her right mind. She soon has Finn driving her all over town, to doctor’s appointments and Christmas shopping. It doesn’t take him long to figure out that she’s trying to find a Christmas date for her granddaughter. This annoys Finn, especially because he can’t understand why this mysterious granddaughter isn’t doing more to care for her ailing grandmother.

Sydney Batson is in the fight of her life. After the prestigious law firm she works for announces layoffs, she knows that if the loses the current case she’s working on, she’ll be out of a job for good. She spends every waking moment trying to salvage her career, while caring for a grandmother she’s only come to know in the last few years. It seems as though she’ll have to make the ultimate decision—family or work.

Miss Callie may not have it all together, but she has a plan to bring Finn and Callie together for one magical Christmas. But it might not happen exactly like you think. When you read a book like this, you pretty much know that the characters will get together in the end. But there were still some surprises along the way.

This book isn’t very long, and the cover is so cute! But the story inside is powerful in its own way. Sometimes we get a second chance at life. Even when we make mistakes, God has a way of working things out for our good. It’s a great lesson to remember year-round, but it’s nice when it’s wrapped up in a sweet Christmas package! This is a perfect book to read snuggled by the fireplace (or heater) or even to read on your Christmas travels. It’ll leave you with a sweet smile and a warm, happy feeling inside!

What a delightful romantic tale that will charm your socks off! Blackstock has created lovable, quirky characters that you will fall in love with. Cab driver, Finn meets a delightful old lady with dementia. As he drives her all over town, helping her in and out of her wheelchair, his life becomes intertwined with Miss Callie and her granddaughter, Sydney. Catching Christmas will leave you filled with warm fuzzies as you prepare for the joy of the Christmas season.

Cab driver Finn's personality really shines in this story as he comes to care for a sick, elderly lady he totes to and from her medical appointments. Both his character and the lady's granddaughter, Sydney, are well-developed and entertaining.

Catching Christmas hits all the right notes with the perfect amount of Christmas levity, genuine emotion born of love and loss, and the gentle spirit of Christmas inviting us to approach the babe in the manger.

One of my favorite Christmas reads!

The idea was just so ludicrous, it made the sweet story of an unlikely friendship and unusual romance a little bit silly. Finn was incredibly long-suffering, his boss was unusually patient, and Sydney's work situation was beyond frustrating.

I love Terri Blackstock's novels, and this is a departure from her normal suspense driven novels. Catching Christmas is a heart-warming story filled with humor and hope. This book had me in laughter and tears. Told in first person from two different perspectives, the characters come to life as cab driver Finn Parrish picks up a fare that changes his life forever. Catching Christmas is a sweet, emotional story for the holidays, and reminds us of what’s important in life. This should be made into a Hallmark Christmas movie!

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is perfection from the cover to every word inside! I love a good holiday book but I’m always worried i won’t loce them and it’s just about the holiday hype. Nope! This book has it all. Pick this up, grab a cup of hot chocolate and sit by the Christmas tree to dive in this amazing book!!

Laugh out loud funny, this tender romance has some very quirky characters and delivers a delightful Christmas romance. A taxi-driver, a lawyer and a sweet little old lady with dementia remind us of what is truly important in this life.

Cute Christmas story with a great message. There were times in this book where I laughed so hard! There were other times I found myself saying “aww!” And there were other times where I found myself on the verge of tears. All range of emotions through this book. Great quick Christmas read. I enjoyed it.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley. This has in no way influenced my review. I was under no compulsion to write a review. All thoughts are my own.

This was a surprisingly good book. I am used to Holiday books being a little sappy and too predictable, but this one had a decent plot and characters that drew you into the story. I was eager to keep reading and find out how it ended. Wonderful!

Title: Catching Christmas

Author: Terri Blackstock

Chapters: 32

Pages: 304

Genre: Christmas

Rating: 3.5


As Far as I know Catching Christmas is Terri Blackstock’s First Christmas book. Sydney Batson is a first year Law associate who isn't really doing a good job of balancing her career as a lawyer and taking care of her grandmother. Finn Parrish is a cab driver who finds himself becoming a personal cab driver to Miss Callie a wheelchair-bound elderly lady with Dementia who happens to be Sydney's grandmother. Because Sydney keeps calling cabs to take her grandmother to the doctor.
However, there’s more to the story Callie is determined to play match maker. Rather it's with Sydney and Finn or Sydney and some other guy. Miss Callie doesn't want Sydney to be alone. Miss Callie was a sweet elderly lady who reminded me of my own grandmother. Maybe a little too much. I could relate to some of the story Sydney was going through not the whole first year associate stuff but the stuff that happened towards the end as some of that happened to me around Christmas one year when I was 16 and the other stuff happened to me back in May.
Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock for the most part is a sweet Christmas story, but for me it hit to close to home. But I do feel like others who enjoy this read. But have tissues handy.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

4.5 stars

I just adored this Christmas novella! I’ve read books by Blackstock in the past, but this one is a bit different, and it’s perfect for the holiday season.

Sydney is a busy lawyer on the verge of losing her job. She has little time to care for her ailing grandma, Callie. Callie meets Finn when she takes a cab to a doctor appointment, and she soon calls on him to take her to appointments all over town. She is determined to find a date for Sydney for Christmas. Finn thinks the plan is crazy, but he continues to help the nice old lady, as Sydney's presence seems virtually non-existent. Will Callie succeed in creating a Christmas Sydney will never forget?

This is a hugely emotional read (running the gamut from laughter to tears). Callie was, by far, my favorite character, but Finn was a close second. Callie’s faith is inspirational. It’s also easy to feel a bit frustrated with Sydney, who seems to place her job above everything else. This is a relatively quick read with good character development. The message is one pertaining to family at the holiday season, so if you’re looking for a sweet holiday read, this is one book to check out.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

I received this book "Catching Christmas" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. Definitely a fun Holiday read. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Great story from beginning to end. Loved Miss Callie! She is a sweetheart! Just an all around wonderful story.

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock is a Christmas short story. Sydney Batson is a first-year law associate with a pressing court case. So, when her grandmother needs to go to the doctor, she arranges for a cab to take her, since she can’t leave court. Flynn Parrish responds to a call never expecting to pick up a sick, little old lady with dementia. As Flynn drives Carrie around on her errands he begins to care about her. Carrie’s greatest Christmas wish is for her granddaughter to be happy. This was such a sweet story. The only draw back was that it was written in first person; and skipped back and forth between Sydney and Flynn too often. The story-line caught your attention and held it throughout. Never forget the people in your life. Take care of them, spend time with them. Just be there for them. One day you may find that they are no longer here on earth and you don’t want to have any regrets. Make each day count.



I received this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

CATCHING CHRISTMAS is a different sort of Christmas story and a different sort of book by Ms. Blackstock. Nothing suspenseful about this at all, its a very sweet Christmas story about an older woman who needs help and is very forgetful, her overworked and stressed out granddaughter and the cab driver who is stuck in the middle.



Finn is a sweetheart, though he does have the typical male rough edges. Sydney is between a rock and a hard place and I hurt for her, though wow I can't believe the impossible situation her bosses put her in. And Callie - who wouldn't love her?



The book ends sort of sad and left me down, not a feel good ending--even though it ends with Ms. Callie being in a good place. Not a typical romance, happy-ever-after ending, it feels rather unfinished. I'd love to know what happens with Sydney and Finn. I'm going to classify it as more women's fiction than romance as it seems to fit more in that genre to me.



If you are looking for a different sort of Christmas book, I do recommend CATCHING CHRISTMAS. It is very different. Outside the box.



I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

This was a lovely Christmas story filled with love, laughter, and even some sad moments. It reminded me somewhat of the Hallmark Christmas movies I watch every year. In my opinion, this was the best Christmas book I have read this year so far! If you are someone who loves anything Christmas, then this book is for you!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel by Thomas Nelson. Opinions and views of this novel are completely my own.