Hallmarkies, Happy Fourth of July!
To celebrate, I’ve lowered the price on most of the books in The Candy Beach Series! Books zero through four are 99 cents for a limited time! Download today and tell all of your friends and church buddies!
The Candy Beach Series are romance novels that are PERFECT for Hallmark Movie lovers! Have an awesome weekend!
Hallmarkies, have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a published author?
Come listen to my podcast on March 31st at 7 PM! I’ll be interviewed – discussing my novel, Raspberry Kisses, as well as what it’s like to be an author.
On another note, I do plan on doing more blog posts about Hallmark movies soon! I’ve been so busy with my day job, as well as taking grad school classes, that time is limited!
Have a blessed day, and don’t forget to tune in on March 31st! Put the date on your calendar – and TELL A FRIEND!
Would you like a nice, emotional, sweet romance to enjoy this Valentine’s Day?
Hallmarkies, for Valentine’s Day, I’ve reduced the price for my romance novel, Sugar and Spice, to $1.99!
I would like to share how I happened to write this amazing love story. When my son was young, between the ages of 3-7, he suffered from stuttering. His stutter was quite strong, and we had to go to speech therapy for years. We ended up seeing three different therapists for long blocks of time.
When my son was having sessions with his last therapist, I was speaking with her. I asked her if she’d ever had any male adult patients who stuttered. She told me that she had one. She said that this man had stuttered his entire life. The only reason he was seeking help was because he had a high-level corporate job and they required that he get help for his stutter. I believe she said he had to speak to many people, and his stutter caused issues.
Of course she didn’t tell me the identity of this person. She may not have been at liberty to share the details outlined above.
After our conversation, I thought about it. I thought, how terrible for this poor man! What if he wanted to go out on a date and stuttered so badly that he couldn’t even ask a woman out?
That thought stayed planted in the background of my mind for years. Sometimes, I might get a kernel of an idea and it’s rooted into my head for a long time. I might not even realize I’m actually thinking of a story until years later.
My one conversation with my son’s speech therapist grew into Sugar and Spice. In Sugar and Spice, Mason is a stutterer. He’s also an identical twin. Here are more details about this amazing love story:
Sheila Parks is stunned when Mason Smith, the identical twin brother of her ex-boyfriend Reese, moves to Blue Spring and opens a bakery. Reese’s cruel breakup still bothers her and seeing somebody who looks just like him is a painful reminder of her predicament. Unemployed, Sheila needs financial help and it appears that Mason can assist her with her problem. Can she learn to trust a man who looks just like her ex?
Mason is stunned when Sheila storms into his bakery, mistakenly thinking that he’s Reese. Mason is used to comforting his womanizing brother’s ex-girlfriends. A stutterer, Mason has always had a hard time socializing with others. However, he finds himself smitten with beautiful Sheila. Can he control his stutter so that he can ask Sheila to be his date to his grandmother’s Christmas birthday party?
Both Sheila and Mason deal with past pains as they work together during the Christmas season.
Sugar and Spice is a sweet, emotional Christmas romance that you will always remember! Download now! This is a nice Valentine’s Day treat for you and all of your friends!
Have you ever owned a charm bracelet?
Holly, a jewelry designer, and Greg a reporter are on a race against time, trying to find the owner of a charm bracelet.
I thought this movie was whimsical and kind of cute. After Holly finds a mysterious, expensive charm bracelet in the pocket of a donated coat, she’s determined to find the owner. She figures the bracelet was left in the donated coat pocket by mistake.
Greg is a reporter and he’s struggling with his career. He made a big mistake on a news story some time ago, and he’s never forgiven himself. Now, he needs a great, breaking story to salvage his career.
He literally bumps into Holly and the twosome join forces as they search for clues – hoping to find the owner of the bracelet by December 23rd – just in time for Greg’s deadline. He wants to feature the charm bracelet story in the next edition of the newspaper.
I thought the clues were so contrived. I mean, if this were a real mystery, I find it hard to believe that Greg and Holly would’ve been able to solve it using the clues that were in the movie. Some of the clues made sense and some of them didn’t.
So, have you ever owned a charm bracelet? Was the bracelet sentimental?
Have you ever felt as if a dead relative were speaking to you from their grave?
When Darcy, a PHD candidate, writes an important paper, her mentor advises that her paper is too clinical. It needs more heart, depth, and emotion. As a result Darcy is assigned to an advisor, Nathan. Nathan must help Darcy with her writing. How can Darcy put more warmth and emotion into her paper?
A raging storm causes a tree to crash through Darcy’s window. When Darcy helps her dad to clean up after the storm, she finds some of her mom’s belongings. Her findings take her on a journey, a journey that appears to be orchestrated by her mom, from up above.
A plethora of things happening brings Darcy into contact with people who are connected with her mom. These connections are not necessarily obvious. After random encounters with strangers – she’ll later discover how these strangers – these events – are linked to her mother. Nathan is behind her, encouraging her. Darcy is more science-minded and skeptical. She wants things to make sense. But Nathan draws her in, helps her to defy logic and just let events happen without finding a rhyme or reason to it.
This was a super mystery. I loved how it ended! The romance between Nathan and Darcy wasn’t as strong as current Hallmark movies, but, it was still enjoyable!
So, have you ever felt that a dead relative was speaking to you from their grave?
What would you do if you had to find a date for Christmas – just to pacify your nosy family?
When Rob “promises” his dying grandmother that he’s engaged to a girl named Julie, she’s so ecstatic that she recuperates from her illness. Only problem is, Rob is not engaged to anybody. He only told his grandmother that “news” to make her feel better.
Meanwhile, “Julie” needs a date for the holidays to pacify her meddling mom. Rob and Julie agree to “date” during the holidays. Only problem is, their fake feelings become real, which causes a sticky situation.
I really liked this Hallmark Christmas movie. I liked it even more than the ones that Hallmark currently shows. The reason why I enjoyed this movie so much is the amount of realism in the story.
When they attend a Christmas party together, Rob gets intoxicated. Seldom do you see intoxication in a Hallmark movie.
As Rob and Julie get to know one another, Rob confides that his childhood was messed up. He tells of his mom leaving – she would disappear for days – and neither he, nor this siblings – would know where she’d go. She’d always return home, but, he was always fearful that she would leave, and not return one day. That’s tough for a kid to endure something like that, and seldom do I see such a realistic situation in a Hallmark movie.
Rob is Catholic and Julie is Jewish. This causes a lot of humorous disharmony in the movie. Hallmark has made other Jewish Christmas movies, including Love Lights and Hanukkah, Holiday Date, and Double Holiday.
I wondered how hard it is for two people from different religions to date and fall in love. I know it happens, but, for me, I tend to think that one, or both persons, must not be very religious in order for it to work.
The reason I say this is because I grew up in a home where my mom was Jehovah’s Witness and my dad was…well…he was Christian, but, not a JW! My mom became a JW after their marriage. This caused a lot of turmoil within the marriage…I mean, think about it. If one person is a devout Christian, and one is not, then, the Christian person, if they go by what most Christians believe, will be with a person who is doomed for Hell. At least, they will be if they do not accept Christ. Whenever I see people of two faiths to date and marry, I always remember my upbringing and wonder how the difference in religions work for couples whom do not share the same religions. Is it hard for them to live in harmony if their beliefs are not shared?
Hitched for the Holidays was a wonderful movie. It kept me entertained and I recommend this film as a nice holiday treat.
So, what would you do if you needed a date for Christmas? Would you go online to find a temporary holiday mate?
Happy New Year, Hallmarkies!
I’m participating in a beach-themed promo with some other authors. If you read and enjoyed Caramel Kisses and Chocolate Dreams, then consider leaving a review on Amazon and social media! Have a blessed day!
Have you ever had a broken engagement?
When Avery discovers her fiancé is no longer interested in getting married, she breaks their engagement. Now what is she going to do about her fantastical Christmas wedding? The breakup is such a huge disappointment. It’s hard for her to deal with her pain.
Before the breakup, she’d signed up for dancing lessons for her and her future spouse. Since the wedding is cancelled, she doesn’t feel it’s necessary to pursue lessons.
But Roman, the dance instructor, has a better idea. Why doesn’t Avery take the lessons anyway? Avery has always wanted to learn to dance, and this is a perfect opportunity.
What I loved most about this movie is that Avery took a negative experience and turned it into something positive. She didn’t wallow in self pity. She learned to do something that she’s always dreamed about doing – and, of course – she falls for her hunky instructor.
Such a sweet movie.
So, have you ever dealt with a broken engagement? What did you do to get over your pain?
Name your favorite Hallmark Christmas movies.
If you’d like for me to blog about a particular movie, then please let me know. I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to fulfill your request, but, I’ll try!
So, leave a comment, and share your favorites!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel FORWARD into time?
What can I say? This was an absolutely adorable Hallmark Christmas movie! It’s 1903 and shortly after Charles Whitley (played by Ryan Paevey) has a disagreement with his fiancée, his maid serves him an evening drink. He wakes more than 100 years later.
Wait a second…do you like sweet emotional romance novels? Try one of my bestselling books! You will love them! Now, back to the movie….
His house is now a museum. Actors have been hired to play the historical roles of Charles’s staff – it’s a 1903 Christmastime re-enactment. Visitors think he’s an actor, playing the role of Charles Whitley. He’s having a hard time convincing folks of his identity. He is able to convince the tour guide/actress Megan – who happens to be a descendant of Charles’s housekeeper.
Megan tells of her fascination and studies of Charles Whitley. She tells him that Charles went missing in 1903 – the exact day that Charles had his last evening drink. His disappearance is linked to an old clock. He feels the need to go back in time – back to the night he disappeared.
Since his disappearance things have happened, things that he hopes to fix, and the only way to do that would be to travel back to 1903.
I loved seeing Ryan Paevey in those historical clothes. He is too cute – very easy on the eyes.
Turns out that Charles ends up staying in 2020, deciding not to travel back in time. Of course he falls for Megan and they’ll live happily ever after.
I felt there were a few loose ends that needed to be tied up. Since Charles is staying in 2020, how will he live? He has no social security number. He has no identity. Would he have to get falsified documents since, technically, he should be dead? Would he need to obtain falsified documents in order to make a living in 2020?
A Timeless Christmas is based upon a book. I encourage you to purchase it. After you read it, let me know how the book compares to the movie.
Speaking of books, this movie reminded me of the Washington Irving story Rip Van Winkle. Do you remember reading it as a kid? Rip Van Winkle goes to sleep and wakes up 20 years later to a drastically changed world.
So, have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel over 100 years FORWARD into time? What do you think the world be like? Leave a comment!