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Holiday Brides #1

The Christmas Catch

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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.

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

415 people are currently reading
1474 people want to read

About the author

Ginny Baird

64 books889 followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird writes heartwarming contemporary stories filled with love, laughter, and happily ever afters. Visit her website to learn more about Ginny and her books. www.ginnybairdromance.com

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5 stars
344 (22%)
4 stars
493 (32%)
3 stars
474 (30%)
2 stars
181 (11%)
1 star
43 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
Profile Image for Fanny.
2,396 reviews50 followers
December 9, 2016



The Christmas Catch es mi primera lectura de Ginny Baird y tiene como protagonistas a Christine y Josh.
Siempre que se acercan estas fechas me dan ganas de leer alguna novela de Navidad y aunque aun es un poco pronto cuando lei la sinopsis de este libro no me lo pense demasiado antes de comenzarlo.
The Christmas Catch es una historia corta y linda, perfecta para estas fechas, no es la mas original o novedosa pero la verdad es que yo tampoco lo buscaba.

2 Estrellas!
Profile Image for Stacie.
2,555 reviews274 followers
October 31, 2017
I think this was supposed to be sweet, but John was a jerk and I don't forgive him. I'm going to try book two. See how it goes. Happy reading.

*Disclaimer- I've been in a very bad book slump lately. This very well may be sweet and it's just me.
Profile Image for Kate McMurry.
Author 1 book124 followers
April 16, 2018
This is a refreshingly PG-rated contemporary romance. Set in the winter wonderland of Vermont at Christmas time, it's also a fun holiday read.
Profile Image for Loverlypurple.
212 reviews
October 31, 2012
After finishing and enjoying The Holiday Bride (which I liked more than this ebook) I started The Christmas Catch. It was another sweet romantic story with likable characters.

My biggest complaint is, I didn't like that the ebook opens up at what you think is the beginning of the story but is just part of the middle of the story before getting to chapter one. I think this kind of spoiled the story for me a little bit as I would have liked to let the story unfold with out knowing this information before hand.
Profile Image for Eileen.
808 reviews24 followers
December 10, 2014
Cute christmas story about a single mother finding love again after her husband's death in Afghanistan.
Profile Image for Arlena.
3,480 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2014

Title: The Christmas Catch Author: Ginny Baird Series: Holiday Brides # 1
Publisher: Winter Wedding Press Reviewed By: Arlena Dean Rating: 4
Review:

"The Christmas Catch" by Ginny Baird

Book Description....

A new Christmas novella by bestselling author Ginny Baird...
Book #1 in Ginny's Holiday Brides novella series.

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.

What I enjoyed about this read...

This was one good short novella that was full of all of it...humor, holiday spirit, romance, a mother's love, even sex to getting the love you want. This author really works her magic with this well written story line and oh my god... what a cast of characters. that gives the reader such a good detailed story for the readers. This was truly John and Christine's wonderful sweet romance story that once you start reading this novel one will find it hard to put down until the end as it will leave you with a warmed heart having read such a holiday Christmas story.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
2,097 reviews22 followers
October 27, 2018
It is time for the holidays and what better than to listen to some holiday audios that will put you in the holiday mood. This is a set of stories that are touching, fun filled with romance and laughter with a little pain until they work it all out.

It is time for the holidays and what better than to listen to some holiday audios that will put you in the holiday mood. This is a set of stories that are touching, fun filled with romance and laughter with a little pain until they work it all out.
The Christmas Catch
Is a story of a woman who lost her husband before her baby was born. For many years she did it alone not looking for love which may bring more pain. She spent all her time with her son giving him all the love she had that is until her friend sent her on a holiday to house set there she meets a man who is hard to forget.

I really enjoyed the characters the little boy is a delight and brings so many smiles and laughs. Christine is a hard working mother but needs to give her son more attention. Once they hit the road on their first vacation in a long time Christine runs a man off the road, such a wonderful sweet man she can’t forget. John has the same issues with those amazing eyes one look just isn’t enough.

The narrator did a wonderful job pulling the listener in putting so much emotion into the stories from laughter to fun that you can hear the emotions. I really enjoyed her child voice as well as he male and female ones. She truly brought the story to life. There are no background noises, no repeating of wording, no volume changes. Her performance was outstanding and given with power, confidence. A true pleasure to listen to her work and easy to believe what you are hearing. I had no trouble picturing the scenes and loving the story being pulled in from the start.

This is a wonderful holiday story filled with love, laughs and fun that I totally enjoyed. The plot is great as well as the characters. It was truly a delightful romance giving me many hours of enjoyment. I can’t wait to listen to the next one in this series.
Profile Image for Char (1RadReader59).
3,206 reviews20 followers
December 30, 2013
Christine is a young widowed mother with a preschooler, named Tyler. She lost her husband, Dan, two years ago in Afghanistan. Now she is working for Ellen at her greeting card business in Chicago. Ellen is not just her boss but her best friend too.
That is why she is sending her and Tyler to Vermont. Normally, Ellen house sat there during the holidays but this year she has plans with her boy toy. Plus, she feels Christine has been pushing herself too hard since Dan’s death and needs a rest. She’s not happy but agrees to go for the two weeks.
She gets a rental car, not knowing it, on the first day she meets THE man, John. John Steadman is a college professor at the local college, who she all most kills when she almost runs him off the road. He helps her out of the ditch she ends up in when she can’t handle the wheel and over compensates for the snow. She sees him again at the local store again not an hour later when she goes for supplies.
When Ellen calls she mentions him and Ellen Googles him. Then, Christine gets her nerve up to send him a quick note through his college email saying thanks for the save today on the road. Guess what? He responds and asks her and Tyler out for coffee and hot chocolate. So, it begins. Will Christine make it just friends? Is she ready to move on? All good questions to ask when you read this book. I really enjoyed this fast read. What I especially like is the twist that made me go, “Say What? That Just Can’t Be! He Did Not Just Say And Do Just That!” Yup, this has a twist I was not expecting and it would make you so not happy but in the end it all works out. Loved it.
Profile Image for Emma.
272 reviews
July 3, 2013
Christine White has been trying to stay above water since her husband passed away two years ago. Working full time and taking care of her son has been difficult for her. She wants him to give him everything she can including love instead of taking her frustrations out at him. In the encouragement of her friend and boss, she goes to Vermont for the holiday, she never expected to bond more than just her son.

John Steadman is a professor in Vermont. He is through looking for love, spending all his time trying to move ahead in his career. One day, he almost gets run off the road by a beautiful woman, who has none other than a son with her. He is his dog help her get out of the ditch she is stuck on and after she's gone, he can't help but keep thinking about her.

Circumstances keep bringing Christine and John together. He can't help but like Christine and her son. Her son can't help but fall in love with his dog. Christine is having feeling for John, which she hasn't felt in a long time. Afraid to get hurt or have her son get hurt, she returns to her job in Chicago. Can she and John forget each other or will they be willing to risk themselves for love?

A beautiful story told by Ginny Baird, it brings us warmth and smiles on the coldest day.
Profile Image for Crystal.
500 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2013
Christine White has such a full plate. Since she lost her husband, she has been a single mother, raising an adorable, intelligent four year old son. She is in desperate need of some time to recharge and spend some quality time with her son. Her best friend, whom is also her boss sends her to Vermont to house sit. I found it so sweet that Christine's friend seen how much Christine needed this get away.

Little does Christine know she is about to meet handsome, wonderful, and helpful John Steadman. John seems to pop up in all the the right places to run into Christine and her son until they finally make plans to meet again. These two become instant friends and John shows Christine and Tyler all the fun things to do in Vermont. I really liked that John included Tyler in all the outings with Christine and found things that Tyler would enjoy doing as well.

I really enjoyed reading John and Christine's story. The Christmas Catch is a wonderful sweet romance story.

I was given the opportunity to read this book to share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts on this great book.
Profile Image for Laurel.
Author 1 book38 followers
June 16, 2013
Busy single mom Christine takes her young son Tyler on a vacation to Vermont for Christmas - at the insistence of her boss, Ellen. Christine's been short-changing Tyler, so this holiday is the perfect opportunity for them to reconnect.

Enter John, a college professor who they almost collide with on a snowy highway. It's Christmas, right? Miracles happen, right? And no less here - this isn't the only chance meeting they have, but one of the last. The rest are all well arranged. Well, mostly.

I loved this story. It was all snowy, fiery and cuddly, with a good dose of Christmas cheer and misunderstandings. John and Christine were well-drawn as characters, and they both developed during the course of the story. The secondary characters, not forgetting the inimitable Mason, John's golden retriever, were a fabulous support cast. This was the ideal Christmas snuggle-up and read story, and I'd happily pick up more of Baird's work. Very well written.
Profile Image for Cindy Caron.
1,384 reviews4 followers
August 2, 2017
A beautiful tear-jerker, this short Christmas love story will melt even the coldest of hearts. Needing to restore her relationship with her young son, and replenish her own heart with the love of life, Christine is sent on a holiday that is about to change her life, by her boss and best friend, Ellen. Never could she have imagined just how much her heart needed this trip. When he was practically run off the road, John never realized to what extent Fate would go to bring the love of a family to his doorstep. But just one look into the beautiful eyes of the woman driving the SUV, and her cute as a button son in the back seat, was enough to start the ball rolling on what might prove to be the biggest roller coaster ride of his life.
Beautifully written, and easy to follow, this short will have you in tears at some point or another. Well done!
Profile Image for Vicki.
1,206 reviews176 followers
February 8, 2016
What a great uplifting Christmas book. The characters were wonderful. I especially liked John and thought he seemed to be their guardian angle. He was caught up in his academic career and was comfortable with that lifestyle. To have Christine and her son show up in Vermont and catch his eye was perhaps a Christmas present.

John did not want any commitments or entanglements, Christine didn't think she wanted any either. She was content if just a bit grumpy. Tyler was a doll. He was a cute addition to this story. Mason was another great character. He was a very smart dog.

I enjoyed Ellen and her over fifty self. She has quite a personality. I really enjoyed this book and am going to be looking for more books from Ginny Baird.
Profile Image for Emma.
40 reviews34 followers
January 5, 2013
I wish I had managed to read this sooner, such a nice heart-warming story. Only 100 pages long but very well written. I particularly enjoyed the interaction between characters, favourites being Carlos and Ellen :) Also thought Mason the dog was a very cute addition to the story. I think the only thing missing was a bit more description about Christine's deceased husband, as I feel there could have been a stronger bond portrayed in the writing than there actually was, but overall, a brilliant read! Very sweet! Has left me eager to read more of Ginny Bairds writing! :)

(won book in a Goodreads 'first reads giveaway')
Profile Image for Jennifer Gallagher.
301 reviews14 followers
April 2, 2014
This is the first book I have read by Ginny Baird... it had everything I want in a sweet romance book..the characters Christine a young widow with a son and hunky John Steadman a professor.. throw in the beautiful Vermont ..snow and Christmas into the melting pot and you have a wonderful setting for romance or do you !!.. Christinr and John become friends... is that how it will remain or is this an opportunity for love?? this book is one to warm your heart and scream out loud for the Characters...It made me forget my pain.. and live in the book.. I recommend this book 100% I look forward to reading more by Ginny Baird
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1,021 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2017
John and Christine. Why was there a preview of part of the novella at the beginning of the book in italics? Made me think that it was something that happened in the past, then just a few minutes later, I was reading exactly the same thing. It made no sense. She has shown NO interest in even looking at a man since her husband's death two years ago, yet she's willing to consider getting involved with someone when she's on vacation? Plus, the kid asking if John was going to be spending the night and that it would be okay - that just creeped me out. He's a very young child, why does he know so much about man/woman relationships when there haven't been any other men around?
Profile Image for Shemeka Mitchell.
Author 11 books43 followers
September 9, 2013
I adored this book! It was a sweet romance. I read through the comments and wondered if some of the people read the same book as me. If it is meant to be; then it is going to happen regardless of the time. It is meant to be a romantic Christmas story for true romantics. Why would anyone want to add any negative or something dirty to it? She's a single mom on a vacation that was out of the norm for her. John did something that others had failed to do...and that was to make her happy again.
277 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2012
This was a cute novella. It was free, and nice to read a Christmas story in the off-season. But, I didn't really "buy" the premise. I don't think a woman with a child is going to take a vacation romance seriously. The heat level in this was just right for a single mom and a guy that has commitment issues that are never fully explained. But, I like my romances a little steamier. It was a free novella, so I don't feel cheated out of this one, and it was an entertaining read.
Profile Image for Deborah Alexander.
21 reviews
December 19, 2014
What a Wonderful Holiday Story!

I read this book in one day! I could easily image it being made into a movie. The characters were so lovable. The humor was funny in a clean, wholesome way. It had a fairy tale quality that was fresh. I had never heard of the author, and my expectations were wary. Now I am a true fan! I just purchased book 2 and 3 in the series. I just finished the second one, and am eager to read the third! Very nice job, Ginny Baird!
Profile Image for Sarah.
93 reviews3 followers
August 19, 2012


Another free kindle book disappointment. Mindless read was mildly entertaining yet poorly written, predictable, with an awful ending. (who proposes after two weeks?) Although I have other free kindle books on my to read list. My expectations have been significantly lowered. This also took two hours to finish. 100 pages? Seemed like an episode of a poorly written lifetime tv show.
Profile Image for Ali Williams.
Author 27 books59 followers
December 9, 2013
Sweet doesn't even begin to cover how utterly adorable the first book of Ginny Baird's Holiday Brides series is.

Christine's tired, overworked and lonely, so her boss tells her to take her four-year-old for a holiday in Vermont. So far, so good.

For the full review, please visit: http://exploitsofachicklitaficionado....
Profile Image for Cynthia.
3,201 reviews101 followers
November 30, 2016
New Beginnings

She is a widow raising her son and is going to housesit for a friends relative for Christmas vacation. He is working on becoming an Associate Professor. They literally run into other on an icy road. He helps her and they both aren't looking for love but they seem to find it.
Profile Image for Grace Augustine.
Author 38 books188 followers
November 5, 2017
Sweet holiday read

In true Ginny Baird style, she continues to dazzle her readers with sweet holiday romances. The Christmas Catch...book 1 in the Holiday Brides series...is a well written short romance that leaves your heart warm and filled with love. If you are looking for holiday reads...look no further. This whole set will not disappoint.
76 reviews
December 10, 2017
I ,,Would give this book four and 1/2 stars

It was lovely Christmas story but it needed a little more depth , I like that he eventually came to Chicago but did they move back to Vermont together, if they did there would be a lot of adjustment to be made . Anyway , love takes you anyplace. I like the characters.
Profile Image for Norma.
858 reviews14 followers
December 24, 2013
Excellent

What an awesome story. I loved every minute of it. I loved the secondary storyline of Ellen & Carlos as well. I especially loved that it was clean (no sex scenes). I look forward to checking out more of the books in this series.
Profile Image for Teresa Williams.
556 reviews7 followers
April 5, 2018
This was a wonderful book. I really felt and understood each of the characters and their actions, and could feel the love growing between them. There is a spot of heartache, but what life doesn't have that?
Profile Image for 〰️Beth〰️.
815 reviews62 followers
December 6, 2018
Sweet Read

A nice way to start the holiday season. Short novella about a single mom trying to get her self together, her son, her adventurous boss, two professors and a dog. Happy Holidays to all.
Profile Image for Poonam.
311 reviews3 followers
November 24, 2012
Wow,really love this little romance story. Ooooh love the cool sexy handsome professor John Steadman. Love the intense romantic scenes.
Profile Image for Valerie Steimle.
Author 8 books12 followers
January 19, 2013
A light and realistic romance with a few twists and turns. A good book to read in one day curled up on the couch. Clean and no swearing. Likeable characters too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews

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