The Christmas Catch By Toni Shiloh

The Christmas Catch

by Toni Shiloh

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764244698

'Tis the season... or almost! Toni writes such fun, poignant Christmas novellas. I HAD to sign up to be on her launch team for her newest release (Sept 24, 2024). She sent me her book for my review.

Summary:

When two high school sweethearts reunite, will they take another chance at love or let life sideline them at Christmas?

Benched with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, during the holidays to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into Lucille "Bebe" Gordon.

Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter. When Jahleel returns--for the first time in eight years--all the memories of the past come rushing back. The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe won't risk him leaving her again. As their hometown's Christmas festivities bring them together, Jahleel must decide if he's only home for the holidays or if the Christmas spirit that brought them together will last all through the year.

My Review:

Kudos to the author for getting me into the Christmas spirit when it's only September with The Christmas Catch. While I like Christmas stories, it's not very often I feel like decorating and listening to Christmas music in Sept. In fact, I typically refuse to acknowledge it... but Toni!

She's so great at full length novels as well as novellas! They can pack a punch in a short amount of time.

We start off meeting Jahleel when he gets injured during an NFL game. He ends up back at his parents home to recuperate, but it's the last place he wants to be. Let me tell you, his dad will have you wanting to try some illegal tackles!

Then we meet his high school girlfriend, Bebe. Just so happens to be neighbors with his parents. Bebe is just living life with her sweet daughter, Hope. Then Jahleel shows up. Unfortunately, her history with Jay causes her heart to betray her while her head tries to keep her in check.

I really enjoyed how they struggled with their pasts while trying to find footing as friends. Their past helps them to have the strong base of already knowing each other, while trying to learn who they are now as adults. There are so many facets to the story. Some that warmed my cookie loving heart and others that made me want to reach into the story and wring some necks!

I appreciated how the author wove the thread of faith into the story (the good and the hard). She gave us hope, forgiveness, reconciliation, and trust. It was all such an integral part of the story.

Now, we also meet May and Ryan, and y'all, we need to bombard Toni with wanting their story! Read this book and tell me you don't agree! hahaha

About the Author:

Toni Shiloh is a wife, a mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. Her novel In Search of a Prince won the first ever Christy Amplify Award. It has also been praised by Oprah Daily, POPSUGAR, Library Journal, and Booklist, and is a Parable bestseller. A Run at Love was included in Booklist's Top 10 Romance Fiction of 2024. Her books have won the Selah Award and have been finalists for the Carol Award and the HOLT Medallion. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Toni loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. Learn more at ToniShiloh.com.