Title:  The Christmas Catch
Series:  Holiday Brides #1
Author:  Ginny Baird
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  January 1, 2012
Publisher:
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  Purchased, Owned Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

Since the death of her military husband two years ago, single mom Christine White has struggled to get by. By throwing herself into her work as a Chicago copywriter, she’s managed to keep food on the table but has gradually lost sight of what really matters, like building a bond with her four-year-old son. When Christine’s best friend insists she spend Christmas in Vermont so she can get her life in order, Christine initially resists. Little does she know she’s in for a memorable holiday that will reignite her faith and reawaken her heart.

Bachelor professor John Steadman has given up on finding the right one. Spending time with his friends while keeping up with his job seems satisfying enough. Then one day close to Christmas, a beautiful woman from Chicago nearly runs him off the road during a snowstorm. What’s more, she’s got a kid in her car. It’s only natural that John and his trusty golden retriever want to help drag them out of a ditch and steer them toward their destination. What John doesn’t expect is that soon he’ll be hoping Christine and her son will be staying in Vermont – for more than just a little while.

Read on for my thoughts on The Christmas Catch.  No true spoilers, promise.

The Christmas Catch is a sweet, lighthearted romance with all the charms of Christmas in Vermont.  Christine and her young son, Tyler are headed for an imposed Christmas vacation from the windy city of Chicago to the idealistic beauty of New England and a somewhat detached from modern day electronics type of Christmas celebration.

Christine writes beautiful prose for greeting cards at her friend, Ellen’s company.  She also illustrates and wants to start her own line of greeting cards under her signature, if not her own company… but that is a dream for “one day”.  For now she is barely keeping her head above water emotionally.  The recent death of her husband, Dan in a war far away has tilted her world.  Now she packs as much work into a day as possible in order to keep the tears at bay.  Unfortunately, her son is getting lost in that shuffle, just a bit.  As Ellen steps in and sends her on a house-sitting enforced vacation, Christine gets the chance to unwind, bring her focus back onto her son and simply relax for two weeks.  Two weeks that will change her life.

Romance, falling in love, marriage – those are all nice things but definitely not on John’s current agenda.  He is moving up the academic ladder at the university and right now a woman and her charming son just do not fit into that plan.  At all.  But just because he wants no deep future commitments doesn’t mean that he cannot enjoy a few lighthearted weeks showing Christine and Tyler the joys of a New England winter and Christmas season.  Just so long as Christine doesn’t start to get any ideas that is.

I enjoyed The Christmas Catch.  It’s a short story that is on the sweet side with a good story and interesting characters.  If I wanted to occasionally thump John on the back of the head – well, you’ll understand why as you read this story.  He needs to loosen up a bit and not be so strict about his “plan” but he is also charming when he wants to be.  Christine is finally feeling happy when she believed she never could again.  Now if John would return the same emotions they might have a chance at happiness together.

If you’re looking for a short, sweet and fun romance to while away a bit of time beside a roaring fire (or anywhere you can find time in this hectic season) The Christmas Catch is a perfect, enjoyable fast read.

Available in paperback and for the Kindle