☔ April Showers Viewers ☔ with NEW MOVIES & SERIES 🌷 SEE HERE:

Happy first weekend of April, everyone! When April arrives, I truly feel like the promise of Spring is here, or at least near! Since we had a little snow recently here in the Midwest, one never knows when the Winter-like weather will end, and Spring weather will truly begin in all its splendid glory.

As we welcome in April, we will be showered this weekend with all sorts of wonderful movies and TV series options... with the premiere of a new mystery and romantic-comedy, plus the 11th season of When Calls the Heart and the series premiere of Blue Ridge and more!

See all of the details below...


******************


Friday, April 5, 2024

One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

Storyline: Hannah Swensen (Alison Sweeney) has been asked to teach a baking class at the college in town, but her equipment is tampered with causing an explosion that the fire department rules an accident. Soon, a colleague ends up dead and Hannah begins to put together the puzzle of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murder while being on the list of suspects herself. Hannah leans on her friends and family to collect the breadcrumbs of foul play and put them together, and meets a different side of law and order when she crosses paths with Lake Eden’s by-the book prosecuting attorney Chad Norton (Victor Webster).

One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

Premieres Friday, April 5, 2024

at 9pm/8c. on Hallmark Mystery

******************


Saturday, April 6, 2024:

Blind Date Book Club

Storyline: A bookstore owner finds love and direction in life after agreeing to review a famous author’s new novel in her blind-date-with-a-book club.

Blind Date Book Club

Premieres Saturday, April 6, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

******************


Sunday, April 7, 2024:

Into the Wild Frontier 

Episode 3

Episode 3, “Bill Hamilton: The Last Mountain Man,” details via INSP:

Coming of age on the frontier, young Bill Hamilton joins Old Bill Williams on an epic adventure during the final days of the fur trade. The last true mountain man, Hamilton's courage is tested when he faces an epic showdown with Bannock warriors.

Into the Wild Frontier Episode 3

premieres Sunday, April 7, 2024

at 6PM ET. on INSP

******************


Sunday, April 7, 2024:

Blue Ridge: The Series

Season 1

Episode 1 - Pilot:
Sheriff Justin Wise's peaceful routine of serving and protecting the town of Blue Ridge while co-parenting his teenage daughter goes up in flames when the town's police station is burned to the ground under mysterious and very deadly circumstances.

Blue Ridge: The Series Season 1

Premieres Sunday, April 7, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on the Cowboy Way Channel

This is a weekly TV series that is streaming for free!

The Blue Ridge movie is also airing prior to the series premiere at 6pm/5c on the Cowboy Way Channel.

My Review of Blue Ridge: The Series –

If you enjoyed the action-packed adventures and mystery of the movie Blue Ridge, then you are going to love the same action, danger, and excitement in the first episode of Blue Ridge: The Series! I had the honor of pre-screening the first episode, and I can assure you that it has all the same thrilling dynamics and energy as the original film.

In the series, Johnathon Schaech returns as Sheriff Justin Wise, whose mission is to keep law & order in their remote country town. Sarah Lancaster portrays Justin’s now ex-wife, Elli, but it’s obvious the two still have a spark between them as they navigate raising their teenage daughter, Maddie, portrayed by Taegen Burns.

When Justin makes a routine traffic stop and rescues a woman who has been kidnapped, he and Maxine (A.K.A. 'Maxx,' his new female rookie deputy) discover there’s much more to this crime.

I won’t give away the mystery portion, but this intense storyline is truly captivating- involving a witness in hiding, a fatal fire, and a pursuit through the backwoods on four-wheelers.

Due to some violence, this series is probably best suited for mature, pre-teen age and up. Otherwise, this episode is family-friendly.

I enjoyed this first episode, and I’m looking forward to watching the rest of this series! ~Net


Where to Watch The Cowboy Way Channel:
*FREE via:
Philo, Xumo, Plex, DistroTV, and Redbox.

*Stream through these apps with a subscription:
Frndly TV, Sling FreeStream, and FreeCast.

*Watch on these TV's:
Samsung, Vizio Watch Free, and Roku.

If you need more info, visit https://cowboywaychannel.com/where-to-watch/.



******************


Sunday, April 7, 2024:

When Calls the Heart

Season 11

Episode 1 - “When Stars Align” :

Storyline: Elizabeth turns over a new leaf. Nathan returns home from an investigation, and Bill questions its outcome. Rosemary chases a scoop. Lucas makes a surprise announcement.

Click here to see more images for this episode.

When Calls the Heart Season 11

Premieres Sunday, April 7, 2024

at 9pm/8c. on the Hallmark Channel

******************


Programming Notes & News:

*I've decided to change up this section of the weekend post, where I typically share a sprinkling of classic movies airing over the weekend. With Spring here and Summer on the way, I figure most of us will be a bit busier, likely outdoors more often, and have less time for older movies, so I won't be sharing this section as much in the coming weeks/months.

Once again, the weekend posts will mainly focus on the NEW Movies & Series premiering over the weekend. If there is something special airing, however, I may cover it every now and then.

For instance...

Have YOU heard about the NEW TV Channel, Merit Street? Dr. Phil McGraw (a well-known television host) has spearheaded this new network in partnership with TBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Merit Street is a channel where you can find news and entertainment programs. The network officially launched on April 2, 2024 and promises to offer enlightenment and inspiration.

Included in Merit Street's schedule lineup for this weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday nights from 6pm-10pm, are family-friendly films that previously aired on Great American Family. This weekend, you can see Love in Aruba and Harmony from the Heart on Saturday and My Boss' Wedding and Passport to Love on Sunday.

For those of you who may have missed the initial airings of Just in Time, starring Laura Osnes, on Great American Family, you will have the opportunity to catch the encore airing on Merit Street on Saturday, April 13th at 7pm EST. (Please note: the movies will air from 7pm to 11pm - beginning on April 13th!)

If you're wondering where you can find Merit Street, it's available on DirecTV Channel 306, Dish Channel 247, or you can get the app through Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, etc... and watch free! Click here to visit Merit Street's Channel Finder Page for more details.




Also, I have more special programming details - UPtv has a marathon of the best of Amy and Ty Heartland episodes beginning Sunday at 1pm/12c. And don't forget, if you're a fan of the Heartland series, to check out the upcoming Virtual Fan Event on April 15th. Reserve your spot for the event at HeartlandFanFest.com.

I also want to congratulate UPtv for their spectacular ratings over Easter weekend! This is the scoop via Nielsen's ratings:

"UPtv’s Easter celebration reached 3.8 million viewers from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The highest rated telecast of the stunt was Friday’s 10p airing of Passion of the Christ which ranked #36 in HH and Women & Persons 25-54."

[ Source: Nielsen L7 Most Current P2+ reach on 30 Easter Week telecasts 3/34/24-3/31/24. Passion of the Christ 3/29/24 8p-10p Ad Supported Cable Rank for HH, W25-54, P25-54 AA(000). ]

Christmas Movie News...

Guess what? Christmas movies are coming back on Hallmark Mystery in May! FOUR Christmas movies will air on Thursday, May 16th, all starring either Amanda Schull or Brendan Penny, who will be starring together in a new mystery, Family Practice Mysteries: Coming Home, on Friday, May 17th.

More Christmas movies are currently scheduled around Memorial Day weekend/week. Please note: some changes/additions may occur. See the current Christmas TV Schedule for details, and be sure to check back for any updates.



******************


I hope you all have a truly beautiful weekend! I'm personally looking forward, most of all, to the new season of When Calls the Heart on Sunday night. I've noticed as I've been watching some of the earlier episodes during the Hallmark Family marathon this week how the show focused so beautifully on faith and remained a little more true to the time period, and I'm just hoping, as we enter the 11th season, that the show doesn't stray too far away from the feel and ideals of those earlier days.

Also, be sure to check out Blue Ridge: The Series on Sunday night! (If you didn't catch it, you can read my review above.) The first episode of Blue Ridge: The Series airs during the hour before WCTH at 8pm/7c, so you can easily watch both! And... if you haven't seen the mystery movie that started it all, Blue Ridge, will also air Sunday night at 6pm/5c. on the Cowboy Way Channel, just prior to the first episode!

Please note: I haven't pre-screened the new movies listed above. If you'd like to post a review on whether these films are family-friendly, please share in the comments below.

Blessings on your Weekend,

Net

*********************

☀️ SHINING HIS LIGHT: ☀️

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

and he shall direct thy paths."

~Proverbs 3:5-6

🌼 Hallmark Channel's *Spring Into Love* April Movies + "When Calls the Heart" Season 11 and Hallmark Mystery 🌼 SEE HERE:

Hallmark Channel's new *Spring Into Love* movies are coming to the channel this April, along with the 11th season of When Calls the Heart!

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼



Hallmark Channel:

Blind Date Book Club

Premiere Date: April 6, 2024

Starring: Erin Krakow and Robert Buckley

Storyline via Hallmark: A bookstore owner finds love and direction in life after agreeing to review a famous author’s new novel in her blind-date-with-a-book club.

Movie Reviews:

🌼 "Blind Date Book Club" -- this was an enjoyable family-friendly watch. :-) ~Alicia

🌼 Blind Date Book Club was family-friendly as well, thankfully. It was a cute movie. ~laura

🌼 We did watch "Blind Date Book Club" and I have to say my husband and I absolutely loved it! It was cute, fun, sweet and uplifting. It was refreshing to see a movie that was not overly contrived and introduced some elements that weren't predictable. Erin and Robert had nice chemistry. Nothing felt forced. I liked how the secrets were unveiled early as well as them sharing a sweet kiss half-way through the movie. I liked everything about this lovely and endearing movie. :-) I am still smiling..... ~Joan

🌼 Blind Date Book Club - This is an enjoyable family-friendly rom-com. Meg (Erin Krakow) and Graham (Robert Buckley) have a cute romantic spark from the very start. At times, Robert Buckley reminded me of his carefree "Chesapeake Shores" character, especially since they were surrounded by the same beautiful scenery of boats and water in this idyllic coastal community. This is nice, lighthearted watch. ~Net

🌼 Blind Date Book Club May Contain spoilers

I've a bit of catching up to do with Hallmark movies and hopefully they'll all be up to the standard of this one. Erin Krakow is very much hit and miss for me and while I really like Robert Buckley his recent films have had a considerable dose of woke content. They combined well together in this family friendly outing. The chemistry was excellent and subtle , the plot was novel and intriguing and while a bit odd it was believable. In a way it was two different stories highlighting each's conflict but meshing well together. Meg struggling as to whether she could continue to run the book store after her aunt/ partner decides to pull out while Graham a best selling author tries to go incognito with a differently styled novel.

Now if you're a regular Hallmark watcher you have a good idea how things will turn out but we were nicely blindsided. This was easy going, romantic and maturealthough I might have preferred a bit more tension. I still really don't know why Meg decided ti include Graham's book in her club though.

Thoroughly enjoyable. Florence's rating – 8




🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼




When Calls the Heart - Season 11

See more images and episode details for When Calls the Heart - *HERE*!

Premiere Date: April 7, 2024

Storyline: In season 11 of “When Calls the Heart,” schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton embarks on a fresh start – with new romance, new challenges, and new style. She and Mountie Nathan Grant navigate their growing romantic feelings while also leaning on each other for support as they face new parenting obstacles. Newly elected Governor Lucas Bouchard must confront his past in order to embrace his strengths and lead Hope Valley into the future. Retired Mountie Bill Avery and newspaper reporter Rosemary Coulter team up to unravel a mystery putting their entire community at risk. This season explores renewal, redemption, and of course romance as Hope Valley enters the 1920’s.


🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

Legend of the Lost Locket

Previous Title: The Hunt for Love

Premiere Date: April 13, 2024

Starring: Natasha Burnett and Viv Leacock

Storyline: When an antiques expert takes on a quest to find a long-lost locket that promises to bring the wearer true love, she finds herself in conflict with, but also attracted to, the town sheriff.

Movie Reviews:

🌼 I watched the new film on Hallmark Movies Now titled "Legend of the Lost Locket" featuring some cast from WCTH and other familiar faces. It was such a nostalgic watch, very much reminded me of Hallmark the way it was many years ago. Family friendly and the best Hallmark film I have seen in a long time. ~Laura

🌼 We really enjoyed "Legend of the Lost Locket". It was a very nice movie. Great cast. Intriguing storyline although I figured out quickly who was lurking in the shadows. I did enjoy the surprises that were revealed along the way. Natasha and Viv were good together. You can tell they have worked together, for awhile, because they had natural believable chemistry. I also like the B & B owner. It was fun seeing all of the WCTH people! And of course, it was also fun seeing one of our Signed, Sealed and Delivered folks as well as Kevin O'Grady! All in all a very nice movie :-) ~Joan

🌼 Legend of The Lost Locket was good. Family friendly and just enough suspense to keep the story going...plus a little romance too! ~Joyce in Carolina

🌼 Legend of the Lost Locket is family friendly about an antique expert named Amelia searches for a long-lost locket that promises to bring the wearer true love & finds herself in conflict with, but also attract to, the town sheriff named Marcus. Mayor called it Town of True Love. Amelia mentions James Robert Dudley & Queen Elizabeth ~Anonymous

🌼 We watched The Legend of the Lost Locket last night and really enjoyed it! If there was a way to contact Hallmark, I would suggest that it could be the first in a series. Every "cozy mystery" doesn't have to involve a murder, tracking down the story behind antiques could make for an interesting series too! ~Anonymous

🌼 Legend of the Lost Locket – I just fell in love with this cozy little mystery starring Natasha Burnett and Viv Leacock (of When Calls the Heart) and the legend and mystery of the missing locket. The entire cast in this small community includes such fascinating characters and the romance between the leads was sweet and intriguing. I agree with others, this would make a fantastic on-going mystery series! Wholesome and family-friendly! ~Net

🌼 I really enjoyed The Legend of the Missing Locket with Natasha Burnett, Viv Leacock. They are so good together. ~Namegirl



🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

Falling in Love in Niagara

Premiere Date: April 20, 2024

Starring: Jocelyn Hudon and Dan Jeannotte

Storyline: After her fiancé leaves her before their wedding, MADELINE goes to Niagara Falls to honeymoon without him. There, she reconnects with her adventurous side, learns to let go, and finds new love.

Movie Reviews:

🌼 I got to watch Falling in Love With Niagara early, and I LOVED it!! –Maria

🌼 Aw! "Falling in Love in Niagara' was super cute. I liked Jocelyn and Dan together. Amazing chemistry! I also enjoyed the sister and the co-worker. Of course, there were some contrived moments but over-all my husband and I enjoyed the movie. ~Joan

🌼 Falling in Love in Niagara is family friendly about when her fiancé named Jason leaves her right before the wedding, Madeline goes to Niagara Falls to honeymoon without him. She soon finds new love named Mike while reconnecting with her adventurous side ~Anonymous

🌼 Falling in Love in Niagara - I wanted to like this one but couldn't. Acting was very cringy, at least in the first 20 minutes I've seen. And the fact that it immediately reminded me of another 3 similiar Hallmark movies didn't help either. Dan is one of my favorite Hallmark actors and i was looking forward to this movie but sadly, i didn't like it. ~Anonymous



🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

Branching Out

Premiere Date: April 27, 2024

Starring: Sarah Drew & Juan Pablo Di Pace

Storyline: To help build a family tree, single mom Amelia tracks down her daughter's IVF donor. It becomes a journey of trust, love, and discovering the meaning of family.

Movie Review:

🌼 And, to top of a wonderful weekend, my husband and I watched 'Branching Out' which was also an excellent movie. I forget sometimes how wonderful of an actress Sarah is. She brought her A-game for sure and her daughter was precocious. She is going to have a long career. Sarah's best friend brought brutal honesty and had great chemistry with Sarah. Sarah also had amazing chemistry with Juan. I adored his large and loud family. Plus, the scenery was an added bonus. I wish every weekend of movies could be this stellar. ~Joan




🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎


Hallmark Mystery:

One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

Premiere Date: April 5, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Starring: Alison Sweeney and Victor Webster

Storyline: Hannah Swensen has been asked to teach a baking class at the college in town, but her equipment is tampered with causing an explosion that the fire department rules an accident. Soon, a colleague ends up dead and Hannah begins to put together the puzzle of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murder. Hannah leans on her friends and family to collect the breadcrumbs of foul play and put them together, and meets a different side of law and order when Lake Eden's prosecuting attorney Chad Norton (Webster) enters her life.

Movie Reviews:

🔎🍎 The new Hannah Swensen is family-friendly and enjoyable. Victor Webster did a good job, though it is sad that Mike was gone. Both her sister and Norman were present as well. ~laura

🔎🍎 One Bad Apple; Hannah Swenson Mystery Review

This one was alright. It was family friendly and clean. Mystery ok, not the best. I don't know why Victor Webster was on the cover though, he was kinda dull and was more in the background. I would hope to see her with Norman on the cover one day. He's always there for her. Her mother being a PI was corny, but at least it brought the Swenson women together. ~Abigail

🔎🍎 My husband and I just finished watching the new Hannah Swensen movie. We thought it was just okay. Her mother was completely over the top. I did not feel Victor or Alison had any chemistry. I like them both separately but honestly not together. It may be just me but I even felt their chemistry wasn't good in the Wedding Veil series either. Also, I thought the mystery was weak. We figured it out really early on. This movie left me feeling cold. I miss Cameron! ~Joan

🔎🍎 One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery -
Okay, this movie is the first episode in the series without Detective Mike Kingston. Did I miss Cameron Mathison? Absolutely, YES!!! However, for the first time, I was beginning to see a deeper connection between Hannah (Alison Sweeney) and Norman (Gabe Hogan), who has always been her faithful wingman, copilot, bestie, etc… You get the picture. But now they’ve also introduced a new character- prosecuting attorney Chad Norton (Victor Webster). It seems they are setting us up for another love triangle here. Ugh!!!!

The mystery portion was easy to solve and somewhat lackluster, however, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the interaction between Hannah, her mother, and sisters! Family-friendly for ages 12 and up, since it’s a murder-mystery. ~Net



🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎

Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans

Premiere Date: April 26, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Starring: Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker

Storyline: Goldy Berry's Medieval feast at Hyde Castle gets interrupted by a murder. She teams up with Detective Shultz to solve the mystery before the murderer strikes again.

Movie Reviews:

🔎❤ Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans Review... I could not wait to review it. My time is 12:25 am! I promise to go to bed right after!! Haha ;) I absolutely LOVED this one!!! I don't want to give to much away, because it was really good. I liked how there was no "don't interfere in the investigation" speech. All the cops respected my, appreciated and wanted Goldie's help. And that was a nice change.

The young cop was cute, very young ;) and I loved the scene when Tom takes away Goldie's scone and eats it himself.

I think this was my favorite mystery for this year. The mystery plot was great as well, it was a trickier than normal. And family friendly! This is one to buy. I hope they make more.

(When Tom was reading a poem written on his hand, it reminded me of his character Billy on WCTH in Season 1) ~Abigail

🔎❤ I just got to watch Curious Caterer Foiled Plans. That movie kept me on the edge of my seat & what a powerful ending. Love Nikki DeLoach & Andrew Walker together. I hope there are many more of these to come. Well done! ~Nancy

🔎❤ Hi Abigail! Your review of 'The Curious Caterer Mysteries' was spot-on! Oh my gosh it was seriously excellent in every way. My husband and I were on the edge of our seats basking in the awesomeness of what was unfolding on our tv screen. Kudos to everyone involved in putting together such an intriguing and engaging story. And high-fives to the cast who brought the storyline and characters to life. :-) :-) I have to say this was also my favorite mystery of 2024 too. ~Joan

🔎❤ I finally watched the new Curious Caterer & I agree with the reviews above, it was great! It actually threw me for a loop and I didn’t figure it out until the very end. It was full of little clues & twists & turns, not obvious at all! Crossing our fingers they make more! Loved seeing a cameo from Morning Show Mysteries. ~Paula

🔎❤ Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans- Trust me to be the odd one out. This has gone down a storm with most people but I somehow didn't enjoy it as much as previous instalments. I think it was the fact that it took place in an enclosed space. and it felt somewhat claustrophobic and too slow moving for my liking.

I never worked out the mystery but I did guess the murderer although that was a complete stab in the dark!

I felt too that Mason was getting far too big for his boots. What I did like was the small subtle ways they moved Goldy and Tom's relationship forward and of course, I loved the ending! Florence's rating 5.5

🔎❤ Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans – For me, this movie had the vibe of a 'Clue' mystery (the movie and board game), with all the guests of Sir Alastair suspects in his murder while stranded in a medieval castle during a snowstorm with a murderer on the loose. (I almost expected Miss Scarlet or Professor Plum to appear in the library with a candlestick!)

Seriously, though, all of the medieval costumes are elaborate and eye-catching on screen; I really liked both Goldy (Nikki DeLoach) and Tom’s (Andrew Walker) best, along with Goldy’s friend, Marla.

The mystery, itself, was fairly easy to solve, but I enjoyed all of the various unique characters, suspect possibilities, and how they brought back a mystery from the past.

The interaction/chemistry between Goldy and Tom is excellent throughout. Their medieval dance was also captivating, if only it could have been a little longer. I also enjoyed seeing Goldy’s daughter in this movie more, along with Goldy’s ex, Richard, who in spite of investigating a murder, was rather humorous, at times.

The movie has an excellent pace, keeping viewers captivated through every scene. The castle is grand and elegant, with incredible artwork, weaponry displayed, and secret passageways.

Overall, this was an entertaining mystery I enjoyed watching with my family. ~Net



🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎



I hope you see a movie above that you'll enjoy in April!

You can also *click here* to see the *Spring Into Love* movies premiering in March.

Blessings to you all this Spring!

Net💐

images via: Hallmark Media