@ClareLydon
The Christmas Catch by Clare Lydon is a sweet romantic trip down the length of Britain through many humorous obstacles.
Morgan Scott solves problems as a business mediation specialist and is a total clutz. She gets bickering co-workers to cooperate but can’t stop breaking her phones. This Christmas she is putting everything on hold to fly from Scotland to southern England and spend the holidays with her family. On the plane she finds herself travelling with Ali Bradford, the annoying twelve year old who used to follow her everywhere.
Except Ali isn’t twelve anymore, and she still feels the immense crush she had on Morgan so long ago. The hospitality apps she writes are all about solving problems, too, and they’ll need all their skills to finagle a way south in a blowing snowstorm at the height of travel season.
Grounded flights, overbooked trains, and conked out cars are no match for Ali’s resilience and Morgan’s endless supply of chocolate bribery. The real torture is having to hide an abiding crush while sharing adventures and what seems like a serious shortage of available beds.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Morgan and Ali have known each other for many years, but they don’t really know each other at all. That didn’t stop Ali crushing on Morgan when she barely knew what it meant, and now she has to hide the fact that she’s still very much into Ms. Scott. Anyone who has had to hide their feelings for someone will relate to Ali’s dilemma. It’s so much more fun to watch from the outside.
Just as good is Morgan’s problem with discovering the awkward tweener who seemed to follow her everywhere has suddenly reappeared as a beautiful, grown up, obviously queer woman. I liked her problem better, because her internal debates about giving in to an attraction for a woman who is no longer twelve becomes humorously convoluted.
The relentless hurdles thrown in their way on their trip south are inventive and funny. The methods these characters use to overcome the hurdles are clever and funny. I want to hang out with Morgan, as she seems to have a bag of holding full of chocolate.
Ali and Morgan have great chemistry, and it’s a happy trip watching the two get over themselves. Supporting characters are a lot of fun, even Mrs. Claus (sorta). There’s a hidden Christmas wonderland I want to visit, and I want a screenshot of Ali’s jingly holiday sweater with the strategically placed bells.
Cons And Heads Up
None.
The Conclusion
In the tradition of holiday hijinks and travel adventures, riding along with Morgan and Ali is sweet and funny. I was impressed with the many and varied obstacles and even more impressed with how cleverly the two dealt with them.
All the feelings Morgan and Ali beat themselves up with are relatable but their relentless quashing of emotions became a funny leitmotif. After a while their internal refrain of “I like her, but” was the backbeat for a lot of eye rolling and groaning over their silliness.
Their never ending good cheer in the face of repeated roadblocks and internal strife made me like the women very much.
Excerpt from The Christmas Catch by Clare Lydon
Ali leaned over. “Can I help? You might be good at solving relationship issues, but I’m very good at solving stuff like that.” She pointed at Morgan’s headphones.
Morgan hesitated, unplugged them and handed them over. “That would be great, thank you. I’m not sure how I tangled them so soon. It’s a special talent.”
Ali said nothing as Morgan passed them over.
When their fingers touched, her breath caught.
Twelve-year-old Ali stood on a chair and punched the air. “I’m touching Morgan Scott!” she screamed.
Thirty-five-year-old Ali pursed her lips, ignored the wave of heat that rumbled through her, then carefully and quickly untangled Morgan’s headphones and handed them back.
“Thank you.” Morgan’s gaze flicked up and down.
What did she see? Ali had no idea. She curled her toes in her shoes and prayed she wasn’t the colour purple. Fifty-fifty chance. She was so glad this plane ride was short. She couldn’t be in Morgan’s space too long without saying or doing something really stupid, she was pretty sure.
The tannoy crackled, then a voice filled the plane. The captain.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid I have bad news. The aircraft isn’t fit to fly.”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-1-912019-07-6
Publisher: Custard Books
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