Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

As a first-year law associate, Sydney Batson knows she will be updating her resume by New Year's if she loses her current court 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 making 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 that 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.

My Review:

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I avoid Christmas books like the plague, and I have yet to read an actual "Christmas story" of any kind. Terri Blackstock's first book in the Newpointe 911 series was my first novel at nine years old, secretly read because my mother didn't think I was old enough. So out of curiosity and respect for the author, I gave this book a chance.

It is very hard to write a review for this book because I want to just sum up everything that happened. I want to tell you what happens to Sydney and her horrible job. I want to say why Finn is doing what he's doing for Miss Callie, even though it's hard for him to lose money on her fares. I want to shout from the rooftops about the twist at the end that took me by surprise, but really, I should have seen coming because Callie is a character to behold.

One of my favorite things about Callie's personality is her lack of filter. She is not vulgar in any way, but she is an opinionated woman with enough life to make any young person feel like they need to step up their game. At almost 30 years old myself, I want to be just like Callie when I grow up.

I would love to see this book be turned into a Hallmark movie. It would be a movie I would watch on Christmas Day as a tradition, and a teaching tool for my sons to show them that making time for others is always the right thing to do. Family is important, and no one knows that as much as Finn...

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin

The mother of ten, Mary Katherine, is an empty-nester who lost her husband four years earlier. She misses him so much, she still talks to him. When a mysterious English stranger breaks into her house looking for food, it heralds the beginning of a new chapter in the widow's life. Mary Katherine turns to her good friend, Ezekiel, who needs a cook at the restaurant he started after his wife died earlier. When they both set out to separately make sure their new friend isn't caught up in an investigation, their paths keep crossing. Will Mary Katherine learn to love again, without the fear of diminishing the strong love she had for her first husband?

My Review

Widow Mary Kay's children have finally left the nest, and she is free to live her life to the fullest. But her controlling sons and bishop are not supporters of her dreams, and a chance to be happy again could be just what she needs. Her biggest supporter is her late husband, Moses, whom she has wonderful conversations with. She knows it's her writer's imagination at work, but it brings her comfort despite his loss. 

Another member of the community, Ezekiel Miller, has also suffered the loss of a spouse. His wife Lucy was taken suddenly, and like Mary Kay, it has changed everything for him. 

I really love how the writer gets you, as the reader, emotionally invested in these characters. Anyone can write a story, but the only way to sell books is to breathe life through the pen and bring the people they write about to life. There were characters from the previous books in the series, so anyone who likes to read in order should do so. It really adds to the sense of community and familiarity to the story, and of course, this being the third book in the series, the writer's style should be comforting as well. 

I wanted Ezekiel and Mary Kay to get together so bad, and things just kept happening! I wanted to jump in my car and find whatever Amish community that the author was writing about, find them and help them along! 

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.