Category Archives: Hallmark Movie Reviews

Timeless Love

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Have you ever had a feeling of déjà vu?

From Psychology Today: “Déjà Vu” is a common intuitive experience that has happened to many of us. The expression is derived from the French, meaning “already seen.” When it occurs, it seems to spark our memory of a place we have already been, a person we have already seen, or an act we have already done.

Megan is happily married to Thomas. They have two adorable children. Life is wonderful. Then, suddenly, her kids play an impromptu game of Hide and Seek. Megan searches for them, frantically…where are they? She calls out to them, tells them to come out, this game is no longer funny. But, then, suddenly Megan awakens from a coma, in a hospital. Confused, she tells her parents and her best friend that she’s married with children.

Needless to say, they think she’s bonkers. How can she be married with children? The coma must have messed up her brain, right? But, when she gets a job at Thomas’s photography studio, she KNOWS this was the man to which she was married when she was in a coma.

But, he doesn’t know her. As they work together, chemistry builds between them. He’s amazed that she seems to know him so well. He feels so comfortable with Megan. Thomas feels more comfortable with Megan than with his girlfriend (who happens to be a professor at a university.).

This is one of the best Hallmark Movies and Mysteries movies that I’ve ever seen. My heart really tugged for Megan. I kept waiting for Thomas to somehow “remember” her. She knows all about him, right? After all, she’d been “married’ to him in an alternate universe while in a coma. She knows his hopes and dreams. She knows all about his parents. She knows his likes and dislikes.

The reason why my heart tugged fro Megan is because, she kept believing and searching for the truth. She didn’t let go of her “dream” of loving Thomas and having his kids. And she just KNEW so much about him.

If I had to change one thing in this movie it would be providing an answer – an answer as to WHAT exactly happened while she was in a coma. Like, was Jesus talking to her, via her dreams, letting her know about her future happily ever after? Did the Lord want Megan to be there for Thomas during a difficult time – when the death of a family member made him sad? Did God allow her dream about the future – then wake her up in the past – because she was needed to be at Thomas’s side during his time of grief?

Such a heart-warming, touching winter movie that is enjoyable for all! Highly recommended.

So, have you ever had a feeling of déjà vu?

Loving Luke

Matching Hearts

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Have you ever used a matchmaker?

Isn’t Daniel the cutest? I really enjoyed this Hallmark Movie! Daniel is determined to stay single. After all, he says this often: “I don’t need a matchmaker.”

Julia feels otherwise. When she miraculously lands Daniel as her next client, she realizes she has her work cut out for her. Julia works for a matchmaking company. While her boss is away, she plays. Meaning, she takes liberties with her job, and changes the procedures to find dates for her clients.

Hold on a second…do you enjoy chaste, refreshing Hallmark-style romance? Try Chocolate Dreams on Kindle and KU! It’s a delicious, emotional sweet romance novel! Download a copy now and spread the word by sharing this link with your friends! Now, back to Matching Hearts….

Daniel was matched up with a few women – but, of course they didn’t measure up to Julia! I loved the pet adoption angle, too. There’s just something cute and sweet when you pair up cute little puppies with romance!

I thought it was so unrealistic and Hallmarkish the way Julia and Daniel kept coincidentally running into one another! Loved that chocolate tasting! There’s just something appealing about chocolate and romance, don’t you think?

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED that song they were playing at the end of the movie! That Valentine’s Day party looked so fun! Fun, music and dancing! Love it!

So – two questions. What was your favorite part of the movie? Have you ever been paired up by a matchmaker?

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Hallmarkies – Do You Want To Publish Your Romance Novel?

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How to Publish Your Romance Novel

Hallmarkies, since you watch Hallmark Channel movies, have you ever thought about writing a romance novel? Are you interested in getting your romance novel published? If so, I’m here to help. I now offer writing and publishing advice for those who may need it. I’ve been writing romance novels for over a quarter of a decade and I have lots of knowledge to share! I look forward to hearing from you! Have a blessed day!

Bittersweet Dreams – a Short Excerpt

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Bittersweet Dreams

Bittersweet Dreams – a delicious, sweet romance novel! Perfect for Hallmark Channel fans!

Silently they continued to eat. He finished his coffee and poured another cup. “Would you like some dessert?”

“Dessert after breakfast?” She’d never heard of such a thing. Who ate dessert after breakfast?

He opened the refrigerator and removed a glass bowl covered with Saran Wrap. The bowl contained…well, it looked like perfectly round balls of milk chocolate. He tore the Saran Wrap off the bowl and the amazing lemony chocolate smell practically shouted from the bowl. “These are chocolate lemon buttercreams. I got up extra early and made a batch this morning. I make them quite often.” His deep voice filled with pride as he stared at the bowl of candy.

“You can eat this whole bowl of candy yourself?”

He shrugged. “It stays fresh in the fridge. Sometimes, I take a batch to church to share at meetings. Like yesterday, I made a batch and shared it at a youth group meeting.” Well, that explained why he’d smelled of lemons and chocolate the previous day. She glanced at his shirt and noticed that it was stained with chocolate and yellow. She figured he was messy and spilled chocolate and lemon filling on his shirt when he made the candy. That’s why he smelled so amazing. He pushed the bowl closer to her. “Have some.”

He didn’t have to ask her twice. Curiosity and…something else seemed to erupt within her as she selected one of the balls of candy. She’d never met a man who cooked like Keith Baxter and made his own candy. She bit into the chocolate.

Oh. My. Goodness.

The fresh lemon cream center coated with milky chocolate exploded in her mouth like a cloud of perfect sweetness. She moaned and finished the piece of candy in two bites. Chocolate had melted on her fingers, and heaven help her, she just couldn’t resist.

She licked her fingers.

Keith’s laughter filled the kitchen. His eyes twinkled and his dimples winked as he looked directly at her. She eyed the bowl. In spite of her full stomach, she wanted to select another piece of candy. But, she couldn’t sample another piece. It just wouldn’t be right, especially since she’d been so enamored with the candy that she’d lost her mind and had licked her fingers.

Still chuckling, Keith removed a box of aluminum foil from the cupboard. He tore off a piece of foil and, as if he were reading her mind, he placed half a dozen pieces of candy into the foil and wrapped it up. He then presented it to her. Their fingers touched when she accepted his offering. Warm sparks of delight shot up her palm. Her hand felt so warm that she hoped the candy wouldn’t melt before she got home. Finally, she remembered her manners. “Thank you.” His eyes twinkled as he quickly winked at her. “You’re welcome.”

Bittersweet Dreams



A Time To Dance

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This is a book review for the novel from which the Hallmark Movie, A Time To Dance, was based. The book and movie are very similar. Have you read A Time To Dance? If so, let me know how it compares to the Hallmark Movie!

A Time To Dance by Karen Kingsbury
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 11, 2008) – (I believe this is the re-released version)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595546200
ISBN-13: 978-1595546203

From Amazon.com:
Product Description

They celebrated their love with a dance. But will it end in divorce?

John and Abby Reynolds were the perfect couple, sharing a love born of childhood friendship and deep family ties. They are envied by their friends, cherished by their children, admired by their peers. But John and Abbey are about to lose it all. On the verge of having an affair, John is no more the man Abby married than she is the long-ago girl of his dreams. They are strangers whose days of dancing seem gone forever.

They gather their three children to announce their plans, but before they can speak, their daughter makes an announcement of her own; she’s getting married in the summer.

Abby and John determine not to ruin their daughter’s season of happiness, but as the wedding nears they are haunted by questions. Is the decision they’ve made irreversible? Are there times when marriage–even the marriage between two people of faith–is truly beyond repair? And is it possible, alone in the moonlight on an old wooden pier, to once more find…a time to dance?

Discover the resiliency of boundless love, the power of commitment, and the amazing faithfulness of God in A Time to Dance.
==
Although I enjoyed this book, I liked Kingsbury’s A Moment Of Weakness and When Joy Came To Stay better.
John and Abby Reynolds have a perfect, storybook marriage. They have three kids and both of them are believers in Christ. However, when life gets in the way, and they start spending time apart, too weary to make time for each other, they start having marital problems. John’s coworker, Charlene, is anxious to start a relationship with him. John tries his best to resist, but when Abby spends more time holed up in her office writing, corresponding with her editor online, he feels that their relationship has taken a turn for the worse. John pacifies Charlene, stating that he and Abby will be getting a divorce, making the announcement after their daughter’s marriage. Charlene’s behavior was very irritating throughout the story, and I felt John should have made more of an effort to resist Charlene, especially when she’s bold enough to call his house!
Abby also makes matters worse when she entertains the idea of starting a relationship with her editor. She feels threatened by John’s feelings for Charlene, however, she is guilty of accusing John of things he’s never done.
The story gives lots of flashbacks with backstory as to how John and Charlene met, and when they fell in love. A Moment Of Weakness is a great example of how a couple can overcome problems as long as they trust in the Lord and honor Him.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

Have you read A Time To Dance? If so, let me know how it compares to the Hallmark Movie!

A Teacher’s Heart – Book Giveaway!

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I’m giving away 2 copies of A Teacher’s Heart. YOU MUST FOLLOW THIS LINK AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN ORDER TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAWING!

Hallmarkies, if you’re a When Calls The Heart fan then you should check out A Teacher’s Heart. It’s a historical romance novella collection that I’m sure you will enjoy.

I hope and pray all of you are staying safe during the Coronavirus Covid 19 outbreak. Never, in my entire life, have I ever seen anything like this. I heard on the news that the entire country of Italy is quarantined and all stores, with the exception of food, and other necessary stores, are closed down. Nobody is allowed out of their house without a good reason (like going to store). So many people have died in China and over Europe.

The same is also happening in the state of California and in New York. My son’s school is closed and my the place where I work is closed. However, we are allowed to work from home.

If a year ago, somebody predicted that this would happen, I would never have believed it, not in this day and age. I’m still trying to wrap my head around all that’s been going on in the world.

Please keep all affected in your thoughts and prayers. We need healing and miracles in the world right now! Jesus, please help us!

The Beach House

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Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)? What did you do about it?

This is a review of the book, The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe. The Hallmark Channel Movies and Mysteries Channel (Hall of Fame) featured The Beach House as a movie which was based on the book. I’ve seen the movie, but, it was a long time ago. I recently read the book, and loved it! So, when I can, I will compare the book to the movie based on memory.

Disclaimer – SPOILER ALERT! If you’re a book reader then just letting you know I’m going to give spoilers in my review. This book review is in the same format as my Hallmark Movie reviews. I’m talking freely about the book as if folks have already read it and have seen the HM Movie!

When Caretta/Cara gets fired from her job, she returns to the beach house where her mom currently lives. She’s estranged from her mother and since she’s upset about being unemployed, she decides to seek rest and relaxation at the beach house. The beach house is where Caretta fondly spent many of her childhood summers.

Cara’s mom, Olivia (Lovie) is dying from cancer. Looks like she only has one more summer to live. She has a companion, Toy, a pregnant, homeless teenaged girl. Toy is wrestling with emotional drama of her own – she’s still in love with her baby’s father – a loser named Darryl.

Cara and her mom work through their issues during this bittersweet summer. Cara learns about herself. She becomes acquainted with Brett, a boy from high school, who has always been fancied with her. Brett is too good to be true as he cares for Caretta and her mom. He’s a wildlife expert who runs a tour boat on the beach.

Brett knows SO MUCH about wildlife and he can cook, too! He catches fresh seafood from the ocean and grills it over an open fire. Delicious. The attraction between Cara and Brett is strong. Cara doesn’t know what to do with such strong emotions . Cara wants to be in control of everything – she’s out of her element here at the beach house since she’s no longer part of corporate America.

This was such a strong, emotional story. It’s a book about fixing family relationships – relationships that have been broken for a long time. Not only is Cara estranged from her mom, she’s also estranged from her brother and her deceased father.

Lovie had deep faith in God. She goes to church regularly and reads her Bible. This was a gentle book and although it is secular, I could see this book easily being re-written as an inspirational. I say this because I write inspirationals and I’ve read countless inspirational novels. Lovie even recites the following scripture not long before her death:

This family had so many things wrong, so many problems. Lovie finds solace living her beach house – which she refuses to leave now that she’s ill. She wants to spend her last days at the beach house and she wants to nurture her turtles.

I loved the turtles! I learned so much about loggerheads and about how they lay eggs on the beach. Lovie is mesmerized by these creatures and she even moves turtle nests when they are in danger. She’s part of a group of ladies called The Turtle Team. The Turtle Team scour the beach each morning for nests. The nests are tracked and monitored. I loved reading about the turtles hatching from their eggs.

I recommend The Beach House to all who enjoy strong emotional stories. Show Mary Alice Monroe some love and purchase this wonderful story! I guarantee you will love it! You should also watch the Hallmark Movie, too! Most of the elements that I’ve mentioned in this blog post were covered in the Hallmark Movie. I recall that this movie was more serious than most Hallmark Movies.

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So have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)? If so, what did you do to rectify it?

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