Toni Shiloh is a great author whose books I’ve enjoyed for quite a while now. We blogged together at Inspy Romance (now shuttered) for several years, and I’m happy to call her a friend!
That means I’ve read most? all? of her indie books as well as her more recent traditionally published books. And somehow I’d missed the fact that her new publisher had picked up some of her previous stories, had them re-edited and re-covered, then re-released them with a new title.
As I began to read The Christmas Catch, I thought… this sounds familiar. And it was, because I’d read it before. I wish that had been clear in the book description. Still a great story, and I can’t tell you how many changes there had been, since it’s been a while since I first read it, and my memory is a sieve.
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.
I don’t tend to seek out sports romances. I don’t follow any sports in Real Life, either, so reading about training and games and fans and championships doesn’t hold a lot of appeal to me.
This story follows Jahleel after a career-ending injury, so while sports is very important to the story, it’s mostly in the background.
One of the things that fascinated me most was Jahleel’s tenuous relationship with his preacher father. His father had been extremely against his football career, and they’ve been estranged ever since. Through the course of the story they begin to understand each other, and their relationship begins to mend.
Bebe is a fascinating character, too. I enjoyed her and her daughter. I loved the way she and Jahleel were pushed together for the church’s Christmas festivities (that his father has a hard time relinquishing his grip on).
If you’re looking for just a splash of sports and a whole lot of Christmas cheer, check out The Christmas Catch (formerly A Sidelined Christmas, 2018)! It released a couple of days ago, so you can get started immediately!
