🎄✨Your Weekend Christmas Movie Guide Takes Flight with Mistletoe, Military Tributes, and Merry Magic

Happy weekend, friends! 🎄✨

There’s an extra special feeling in the air this weekend as we cozy up for another heartwarming round of Christmas movies filled with romance, mystery, and heartfelt tributes to our military heroes!

On Saturday... UPtv brings us "A Soldier for Christmas," a touching military story, while Great American Family debuts a new cozy mystery, "A Very Curious Christmas," starring Brittany Bristow and Olivier Renaud. Over on the Hallmark Channel, Erin Krakow and Tyler Hynes lift our spirits in "Christmas Above the Clouds."

The festive fun continues Sunday with "A Royal Christmas Manor" on UPtv and another touching military story, "Christmas of Giving," airing on Great American Family. And for those of you who love Christmas classics like I do, Hallmark Mystery is giving us a special military-themed marathon of past holiday favorites!

Plus, sleuthers, watch out for season 2 of "Mistletoe Murders," as it begins Friday night!

So... keep on scrolling below for all the times, dates, and details! Let’s unwrap this weekend’s Christmas lineup together! 🎁✨


🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


Friday, November 7, 2025:

Mistletoe Murders

Season 2

Cold War - Part 1
After a year of avoidance, Emily and Sam reunite to solve the disappearance of the school chess coach, triggering echoes of Emily's past. Violet hopes to attend the winter dance with her crush.

Cold War - Part 2
Emily goes undercover at the school to solve the chess coach's murder. Tensions rise when Sam suspects Violet's date, and the winter dance turns into a game of cat and mouse with the killer.

Mistletoe Murders Season 2

Premieres Friday, November 7, 2025

at 8pm/7c on the Hallmark Channel

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


Saturday, November 8, 2025:

A Soldier for Christmas

Storyline: Hannah, a military widow and social media consultant, and her five-year-old daughter, Carmen, rediscover the joy of Christmas with Sergeant Ryan in a world forever changed, as they fight for healing and love.

A Soldier for Christmas

Premieres Saturday, November 8, 2025

at 7pm/6c on UPtv

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


Saturday, November 8, 2025:

A Very Curious Christmas

Storyline: A rising star reporter must uncover the identity of a local late-night bandit who has been stealing beautiful home Christmas displays across the city.

A Very Curious Christmas

Premieres Saturday, November 8, 2025

at 8pm/7c on Great American Family

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


Saturday, November 8, 2025:

Christmas Above The Clouds

Storyline: "When workaholic CEO Ella Neezer (Krakow) tries to skip Christmas by flying to Australia, she's in for the flight of her life. Haunted by her past, present, and future, she's forced to confront the choices that led to her success yet left her flying solo. With the help of three quirky spirits and a surprise reunion with her ex (Hynes), she might just rediscover the magic of Christmas – and the love she thought she'd lost."

Christmas Above The Clouds

Premieres Saturday, November 8, 2025

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


Sunday, November 9, 2025:

A Royal Christmas Manor

Storyline: Prince Alexander of Fredonia escapes to a cozy inn hoping to experience a traditional American Christmas. Katie, who runs the inn, falls for him, completely unaware of his true royal identity.

A Royal Christmas Manor

Premieres Sunday, November 9, 2025

at 7pm/6c on UPtv

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


Sunday, November 9, 2025:

Christmas Of Giving

Storyline: "In Christmas of Giving, when a weary non-profit director (Tsai) faces dwindling donations and perceives she may be replaced just days before Christmas, the return of an old love (Williams) and a new and unexpected ally (Reilly) teach her that letting go may be the only way to save both her mission and her heart."

Christmas Of Giving

Premieres Sunday, November 9, 2025

at 8pm/7c on Great American Family

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


Sunday, November 9, 2025:

Thank You for Your Service

Movie Marathon

Hallmark Mystery honors our military just a few days before Veterans Day with a special marathon.

Holiday for Heroes - 10am/9c
Christmas Homecoming - 12pm/11c
The Christmas Note - 2pm/1c
Once Upon a Christmas Miracle - 4pm/3c

Note: Most of these patriotic movies will also air on Hallmark Mystery on Veterans Day. Plus, other channels will also be airing miltary-themed movies on Veterans Day, as well. I'll be sharing that list on Monday... so stay tuned!


🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄


I hope you all find a special Christmas movie to relax with and enjoy this weekend!

I'm going to record all the new Christmas movies on Frndly TV, but the main one I'm going to watch first is "Christmas of Giving," since it is military-themed and Veteran's Day is in a few days. How 'bout you? Which movie will you watch first?

Please note: I haven’t pre-screened the NEW movies mentioned above, so if you watch and would like to share your thoughts, please stop back by and leave a review in the comments. I always love hearing what you think.

Special Links:

Visit the *Christmas TV Schedule* for the dates and times of NEW Christmas movies.

You can find the 2025 Christmas Movie Review post *here*.

And you'll find the Christmas Movie List by network *here*.

Wishing you all a wonderful, carefree weekend filled with joy and Christmas cheer. Happy movie-watching!

Joyous Christmas Blessings,

Net🌟

SHINING THE LIGHT

OF CHRISTMAS

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, 

but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

~Mark 10:45

"I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me."

~Philippians 4:13

🎄 Great American Family Adds Even MORE Holiday Cheer with 2 New Christmas Premieres 🎄 Get The Scoop Here!

'Tis the season for gift-giving, and Great American Family is gifting us viewers this holiday season with two more Christmas movie premieres!

Let's take a closer look at these newly added Christmas stories:

A Very Curious Christmas

Previous Title: Merry Mystery Christmas

Premiere Date: Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on Great American Family and GFAM+

Starring: Brittany Bristow and Olivier Renaud

Storyline: A rising star reporter must uncover the identity of a local late-night bandit who has been stealing beautiful home Christmas displays across the city.

Pencil Me In For Christmas

Previous Title: Creating Christmas

Premiere Date: Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on Great American Family and GFAM+

Starring: Greer Grammer and Jason Cermak

Storyline: Harper, an aspiring illustrator, is collaborating with Caleb, a demanding book author. When he insists on her working through Christmas in a quaint town, she must use the town's holiday celebrations to break him out of his writer's block.

Review:

🎄 I streamed this movie last Christmas (I think it was on Xumo), and I found it to be sweet and lighthearted. Greer Grammer is delightful as Harper, so cheerful and full of Christmas spirit! Jason Cermak plays Caleb, who starts off as a bit of a Grinch, but it’s heartwarming to watch him slowly open his heart to the joys of the season. Overall, I recall it being a nice, family-friendly film. ~Net


Here's the full Christmas Schedule via Great American Family:

Click Here to Enlarge Schedule - in Color

Click Here to Print Schedule - in Black and White

May Your Day Be

Merry & Bright!

Net

Photos: Brittany Bristow’s Instagram / Reel One Entertainment

🌟 HALLMARK MYSTERY'S 2024 Christmas Movies 🌟 SEE HERE:

'Tis the Season for Christmas movies on Hallmark Mystery!

See all of the details below...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This Time Each Year

Premieres: Thursday, October 24, 2024

Starring: Alison Sweeney and Niall Matter

Storyline: Lauren (Sweeney) and Kevin (Matter) were once deeply in love but nearly a year after their separation, they now focus on co-parenting their young son Charlie (Ezra Wilson). Despite the split, Kevin is determined to make their family whole again. Before Lauren’s mother (Laura Soltis) visits during the holidays, Lauren asks Kevin to pretend they’re still happily married and living under one roof. The act quickly feels more real, stirring up old memories and feelings. As Lauren sees the man she once fell in love with in a new light, perhaps the magic of Christmas will rekindle their romance and spark renewed hope for their future.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

My Sweet Austrian Holiday

Premieres: Thursday, October 31, 2024

Starring: Brittany Bristow and Will Kemp

Storyline: Charlotte (Bristow) is an American, who has lived in Viena since inheriting a chocolate shop from her grandparents two years ago. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to grow the business into a successful enterprise. Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year and Charlotte has been selected as one of the finalists for Vienna’s chocolatier of the year. Taking home the prize could provide some much-needed money to fend off a large developer from taking over her grandparents’ shop. Charlotte soon meets and befriends Henry (Kemp), and they bond over their shared affinity for quality chocolate. But a surprising twist of fate just might end their newfound relationship on a bittersweet note.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Five Gold Rings

Premieres: Thursday, November 7, 2024

Starring: Holland Roden and Nolan Gerard Funk

Storyline: When New York City painter Audrey Moss (Roden) returns to her small Minnesota hometown for the holidays, she’s met with an unexpected quest from her beloved late grandmother: find the owners of five mysterious gold rings and return them to their rightful homes before Christmas morning, only nine days away. In her bequeathment, Grandma also urges Audrey to team up with local private investigator and childhood friend, Finn O’Sullivan (Funk). From gingerbread house building to the annual Giving Gala, these two begin to bond over more than just their quest. As Audrey and Finn unravel the mystery of the missing rings’ owners, they discover there is more to their relationship than they ever expected to find.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

A Reason for the Season

Premieres: Thursday, November 14, 2024

Starring: Taylor Cole and Kevin McGarry

Storyline: In order to earn her trust fund, Evie (Cole) is tasked with granting Christmas wishes to the people who saved her life on the night of her birth. To aid in her cause, she employs Kyle (McGarry), a handsome local attorney, to track down those who helped and attempts to secretly learn what they might want while maintaining her anonymity. With Christmas fast approaching, the heiress and the attorney can’t resist falling for each other's charms as they ramp up their gift giving efforts. But as time ticks down, will she be able to accomplish the mission and grant all of the wishes by Christmas Eve?

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

A Novel Noel

Premieres: Thursday, November 21, 2024

Starring: Julie Gonzalo and Brendan Penny

Storyline: A successful New York City book editor (Gonzalo), who is losing touch with her passion after a few setbacks this year learns she was chosen to run a bookstore in the small town of Saint Ives for the month of December. While realizing a childhood dream, but butting heads with the handsome son (Penny) of the bookstore owners, she comes to realize that her love for bringing out the creativity of others is still her true calling, and untapped talent (and love) can be found anywhere... even in the writings of a cranky business-minded man, especially at Christmas.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Christmas Under the Lights

Premieres: Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Starring: Heather Hemmens and Marco Grazzini

Storyline: Emily (Hemmens) is always reluctant to return home to her family’s animal rescue ranch -- but when her mother passes away, her brother Nick requests her help organizing the annual Christmas Carnival. When she arrives, she discovers Nick’s friend, Luke (Grazzini), staying at the ranch -- and that Luke was once a successful artist who works with light. Though initially reluctant to collaborate, Emily and Luke work hard to pull off the best, most light-filled carnival the town has ever seen, a healing celebration of Emily’s mother’s legacy and the magic of Christmas -- and along the way feel sparks of romance as radiant as the lights themselves.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

A Dance in the Snow

Premieres: Thursday, December 5, 2024

Starring: Erica Cerra, Mark Ghanimé, Vanessa Burghardt and Dorian Giordano

Storyline: Melanie’s (Cerra) 17-year-old autistic daughter Jenny (Burghardt) is a senior in high school and looking forward to college. After a bad experience her junior year, Jenny is not interested in attending her final Christmas dance before graduating. Melanie decides to surprise Jenny by getting involved in the school’s planning committee to create a welcoming dance for all students. Meanwhile, Jenny and her friends secretly plan their own party, in part to honor Melanie. Melanie works with Jenny’s literature teacher (Ghanimé) on the dance and starts to fall for him while Jenny develops something special with a new classmate (Giordano) at school. When their secrets snowball, however, their plans begin to drive a wedge between the usually tightknit mother and daughter at the holidays.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

All I Need for Christmas

Premieres: Thursday, December 12, 2024

Starring: Mallory Jansen and Dan Jeannotte

Storyline: Maggie (Jansen) has been trying for years to break in as a singer/songwriter. Now faced with challenges of new apps and social media, Maggie fears she’s outdated and unable to compete in a tech-savvy world. While helping her parents on their farm at Christmastime, she meets Archer (Jeannotte), an entrepreneur who has come back to town to spend the holidays alone. Archer is developing large-scale apps and is a tech enthusiast. At first, Maggie blames him for all of her songwriting woes. To her surprise, he encourages her to get back in touch with music that really matters and write from the heart; tech can be used in a supportive role to help her achieve her dreams without replacing the art of songwriting. Archer is dealing with loss of family, and through her tight family bonds, Maggie helps Archer find ways of moving beyond years of family feuding. In this holiday romance, Maggie and Archer both discover there is merit in preserving the tried and true while making room for new ideas and methods to bring people together and help make dreams come true.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Trading Up Christmas

Premieres: Thursday, December 19, 2024

Starring: Italia Ricci and Michael Xavier

Storyline: Michelle (Ricci) is the dreamer of her family, always brimming with imaginative ideas to make the world a better place. This Christmas, her sister Keri desperately needs a new home, and Michelle hatches a creative plan to help. Starting with just a Christmas stocking, she sets out to trade her way up to something far greater—a house for Keri. While Keri dismisses it as a far-fetched idea, local reporter Dan (Xavier) is intrigued. Assigned to cover Michelle's story, Dan follows her closely, and as her plan gains attention, he starts to see the world through her hopeful eyes. As Michelle and Dan grow closer, so do their feelings for each other. But when it seems her plan has failed and she fears ruined her relationship with Keri, Michelle is ready to give up. It's Dan’s love and belief in her that reignites hope just when she needs it most.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Joyous Christmas Blessings,

Net🎄

Great American Family Caters to Viewers and Brings Back Movies on Weeknights! 🎬 SEE HERE:

Catering Christmas, starring Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing
Image courtesy: Great American Media

REMINDER! Starting TODAY, original films, romantic comedies, inspirational stories, and even Christmas movies will return weeknights on Great American Family, 8pm/7c—12am/11c.

I know many of us have been hoping and requesting this for the last two months, and finally, our wish is coming true!

See all of the stars you love: Danica McKellar, Jesse Metcalfe, Brittany Bristow, Dan Jeannotte, Merritt Patterson, Daniel Lissing, and MORE!!!

Great American Family's 

Movie Schedule for this week:

Monday, June 3, 2024:

From Chicago with Love - 8pm

Swing into Romance - 10pm

Tuesday, June 4, 2024:

Craft Me a Romance - 8pm

Passport to Love - 10pm

Wednesday, June 5, 2024:

Harmony from the Heart - 8pm

A Royal Seaside Romance - 10pm

Thursday, June 6, 2024:

10 Steps to Love - 8pm

Home for Harvest - 10pm

Friday, June 7, 2024:

Love Can Surprise You - 8pm

Catering Christmas - 10pm

As for new movies, Merritt Patterson just recently filmed "A Vintage Christmas" with Christopher Russell for Nicely Entertainment.

The story, according to filmink: "In the small town of Oak Creek, Noah Harrington's (Christopher Russell) unpopular construction plans take a surprising turn when he discovers a cache of old Letters to Santa from the 1990s. Seeing an opportunity for redemption, he enlists the help of town historian, Tessa Findlay (Merritt Patterson), to fulfill the long-forgotten Christmas wishes. The pair embark on a heartwarming journey, rekindling the spirit of Christmas in the community, and before too long, an undeniable spark develops. But Noah is hiding a secret: Tessa's own childhood wish is among the letters. Can Noah salvage his job and the love of his life with a Christmas wish?"

I love how this story synopsis has a "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" feel to it!

No official announcement has been made on where this will air - stay tuned!

In addition to seeing Brittany Bristow in a movie this week on Great American Family, I can also share with you that she is another actress who has been busy filming. In April, she filmed a Christmas movie with Marcus Rosner for Reel One Entertainment.

Brittany is currently filming a new movie—today, in fact, is day one! She hasn't revealed her co-star yet, but she is encouraging her followers to guess who it might be.

Here is a behind-the-scenes screengrab from her new movie-

UPDATE: Brittany Bristow has revealed her co-star in her new movie is... Will Kemp!

I hope you all enjoy the movies 

this week on Great American Family!

Happy watching, Everyone!

Net

☀️ Hallmark Announces AUGUST 2023 Movie Schedule with NEW Summer Nights Movies and More ☀️ SEE HERE:

Summer Nights continue in August on the Hallmark Channel, and see what's coming to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in the all-new press release from Hallmark Media below...


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️


PRESS RELEASE:

HALLMARK CHANNEL

AND

HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES

OFFER VIEWERS

ALL-NEW ORIGINAL MOVIE

PREMIERES IN AUGUST

Hallmark Channel offers viewers four all-new original movie premieres in August. With the continuation of the network’s Summer Nights programming event, viewers can treat themselves to feel-good summer love stories that will transport them to a seaside music festival, the African savanna for a romantic safari, a beautiful winery in Napa Valley and a 30th birthday celebration like they’ve never seen before.

Meanwhile, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries brings fans two exciting new movies with the follow-up to last year’s “Big Sky River” as well as an inspiring story of growth and self-discovery.


PREMIERING IN AUGUST ON HALLMARK CHANNEL:

‘MAKING WAVES’
Saturday, August 5 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Holland Roden, Corey Cott

Music executive Amelia (Roden) goes to a festival on the Outer Banks to beat out the competition for an elusive new band and discovers that the group is fronted by Will (Cott), her childhood summer sweetheart. Over the course of the week, as Amelia tries to convince Will that her company is the better choice for his musical vision, she realizes there might be a conflict of interest…her feeling for him.

Movie Reviews:

☀️ Making Waves. Family friendly. Cute movie. I quite liked the lead actor and actress. (Tiny point of contention: the Outer Banks of North Carolina that I know does not have mountains in the background, so, obviously it was filmed in Canada or somewhere.) ~~Jane

☀️ Making Waves is clean, enjoyable, and definitely fits the summer theme perfectly! (just ignore the spit second showing of the trans flag at the start of the movie.). -Maria

☀️ Making Waves is family friendly about a music label executive travels to a festival on Outer Banks to check out an exclusive new band is fronted by her childhood sweetheart named Will ~Anonymous

☀️ Making Waves I DVR it and stopped watching when they could not even get the location shots right. The Outer Banks is flat with NO MOUNTAINS perhaps the set designers, or someone needed to do more research before they filmed his movie. ~Anonymous

☀️ I watched Making Waves today & I really enjoyed it. I thought the leads were a cute match and I especially enjoyed the summer music festival scenery, it reminded me of my hometown’s county fair we have every year with all the rides and food. I can’t say if it’s 100% family friendly as it’s rare I can watch a movie without an interruption these days but nothing I noticed! 😊 —Paula

☀️ "Making Waves" checked all my boxes - good chemistry between the leads, interesting story, and family-friendly. The music was an added bonus. I was glad to see Holland Roden again, as I thought she was great opposite Tyler Hynes in "Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas". Terrific summertime movie! ~MPT



☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

‘WHEN CALLS THE HEART’ – Season 10, Episode 1002 – “Hope Springs Eternal”
Sunday, August 6 (9 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Chris McNally, Kevin McGarry, Andrea Brooks, Martin Cummins, Kayla Wallace, Loretta Walsh, Viv Leacock, Amanda Wong, Johannah Newmarch, Natasha Burnett, Ben Rosenbaum, Hrothgar Mathews

Everyone is buzzing with talk of the Hot Springs and how it will help the town. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Krakow) and Lucas (McNally) host Aunt Agatha and Julie on an interesting visit to Hope Valley.


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

‘A SAFARI ROMANCE’
Saturday, August 12 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Brittany Bristow, Andrew Walker

Megan (Bristow) is a research scientist living her dream in South Africa pursuing a Ph.D. in Ethology, while working as a ranger on a nature reserve. When Tim (Walker), an American theme park designer arrives to capture footage for an immersive, safari-themed attraction, Megan serves as his guide. As they spend time together exploring the savanna to observe giraffes, elephants and lions in their natural habitats, romance develops. Knowing that Tim will soon return home, Megan is afraid of giving her heart to someone who lives half a world away.

Movie Reviews:

☀️ A Safari Romance was family friendly. I can't, however, say that I especially liked it. Seeing the animals was fun, but I don't know, I was kind of bored. Can't put my finger on why. Maybe because we've had a safari themed movie already? At least it was clean, though. ~melnewlife

☀️ A Safari Romance is clean, enjoyable, beautifully scenic, and that's about all there is to say. -Maria

☀️ I was not all that thrilled with the A Safari Romance movie. It lagged a lot. ~Anonymous

☀️ A SAFARI ROMANCE (family friendly)
First of all, the backdrop of the movie was beyond beautiful (of course), and the message of conservation and all the wonderful African culture purposely showcased was great. The writing was not so great though. My first impression of the movie was a bit flat. I kept hoping it would get better. The chemistry between Andrew Walker and Brittany was just... meh. I liked them both individually, but together, I'm not sure. The conflict with Tim's friend-turned-boss showing up in the resort all of a sudden felt a bit awkward to me. She was really really annoying and obnoxious, and honestly made me want to turn off the TV altogether. I did finish it and fast-forwarded some. The romance was quite cheesy and predictable, nothing special to it. The only good thing about it to me was Andrew Walker. And the setting/backdrop with all the safari animals. ~CH Mom

☀️ I see some good and some not so good reviews of A Safari Romance. It is family friendly with beautiful scenery and love seeing all the animals but the story is a little slow. Nothing fantastic about it. The leads did their parts good with what they had to work with. It's worth watching to see the scenery and the animals at last once. ~Joyce in Carolina

☀️ Review: A Safari Romance -
Family-friendly? Yes -
Keeper? Nah -

If you want to watch a movie that has some gorgeous scenes of a safari, with close-ups of various animals and beautiful landscapes, then this one is for you. Otherwise, skip it. The plot is very cookie-cutter (one person is going back home in a little while - what will happen to their romance?) with nothing original. I have always enjoyed the two leads, but they have been in much better movies! ~Mark 25

☀️ I tried to watch "A Safari Romance" but sadly only was able to get through about fifteen minutes before I lost interest. That movie bored me to tears. ~Joan

☀️ A Safari Romance – I agree with others; this movie is kinda cute with all of the incredible animals; plus, it’s family-friendly, but the story is rather slow and there’s very little chemistry between Megan (Brittany Bristow) and Tim (Andrew Walker), who I’ve enjoyed more in previous films. In fact, I kept thinking Brittany and Andrew look more like sister and brother, so it was hard to get past that thought.

The ending is rather silly looking. I won’t spoil it with too many details, but Megan and Tim stand in a large room that has the safari projected on the walls. Something about it just looked very cheesy to me.

Anyway, A Safari Romance is wholesome and sweet, it just lacks a bit more story depth and romance, which is ironically in the title. If you love wildlife animals; however, then you’ll surely enjoy this lighthearted movie. It’s perfectly fine for all ages. There’s even a good lesson about telling the truth when you’ve done something wrong. ~Net




☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

‘WHEN CALLS THE HEART’ – Season 10, Episode 1003 – “Oh, Baby”
Sunday, August 13 (9 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Chris McNally, Kevin McGarry, Andrea Brooks, Martin Cummins, Kayla Wallace, Loretta Walsh, Viv Leacock, Amanda Wong, Johannah Newmarch, Natasha Burnett, Ben Rosenbaum, Hrothgar Mathews

Tourists start arriving, including the St. Johns, who may prove to be trouble for Bill (Wagner). Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Krakow) rallies all Rosemary’s (Hutton) friends to plan the perfect baby shower.


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

‘NEVER TOO LATE TO CELEBRATE’
Saturday, August 19 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Alexa PenaVega, Carlos PenaVega, Sherry Miller

Camila’s (Alexa PenaVega) busy schedule at the dental practice where she works has left her exhausted and with little time for a life outside of her patient load. When she meets Javi (Carlos PenaVega), a substitute teacher at the school where Camila’s mother Sherri (Miller) works, she takes him up on his offer to join the Spanish class he teaches on the side so she can finally learn the language of her late father. Sparks fly as Javi helps Camila connect with her Mexican roots and, with her 30th birthday around the corner, Javi encourages Camila to mark this milestone with a “double quinceañera” to honor her Hispanic heritage. Not one for big parties, she’s hesitant at first but ultimately decides to take the plunge and celebrate in style.

Movie Reviews:

☀️ Never too late was great! I love Alexa and Carlos together, I think it’s sweet that they are married and get to make movies together. I really felt for the mom and how much she missed her life with her husband, and I like how mother and daughter encouraged each other. I think the change up at the end was nice, as most endings have the person canceling their plans but she said she was still choosing to move to Mexico. Also had no idea Carlos was a singer, he has a very nice voice. I didn’t recall anything, so I feel it is family friendly. —Paula

☀️ Never Too Late to Celebrate is family friendly about Camila & Javi plan a quinceanera-themed birthday party to honor her Hispanic Heritage. Camila celebrates double quinceanera ~Anonymous

☀️ I watched "Never Too Late to Celebrate" which I really enjoyed. I normally don't like Alexa and Carlos, together in movies, but I did like them in that movie. I forget sometimes, how natural of an actress Alexa is. She was really good in that movie. ~Joan

☀️ I forgot to mention some other things I enjoyed about 'Never too Late to Celebrate'. I really liked her friend. She was hilarious. I also liked her mom. The songs Carlos sang were beautiful. He has nice voice. On another note: I respect Carlos and Alexa tremendously. They are conservative couple who is not afraid to share their feelings on faith and God. :-) ~Joan


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

‘WHEN CALLS THE HEART’ – Season 10, Episode 1004 – “Great Expectations”
Sunday, August 20 (9 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Chris McNally, Kevin McGarry, Andrea Brooks, Martin Cummins, Kayla Wallace, Loretta Walsh, Viv Leacock, Amanda Wong, Johannah Newmarch, Natasha Burnett, Ben Rosenbaum, Hrothgar Mathews

The Coulter baby is late, but Faith (Brooks) assures them everything is fine. By the time Rosemary (Hutton) goes into labor, the entire town is there to support her. Madeline tries to stay in Hope Valley.


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

‘NAPA EVER AFTER’
Saturday, August 26 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Denise Boutté, Colin Lawrence

After inheriting her estranged grandmother’s winery in Napa Valley, Cassandra (Boutté), a high-powered attorney, takes a sabbatical from her job to renovate the property that was the source of the fractures within her family. With the help of handsome local Alec (Lawrence), she learns more about the grandmother she hardly knew and is able to reconcile the past, while finally opening herself up to a love like she’s never known.

Movie Reviews:

☀️ Napa Ever After was a sweet, slow burn romance. ~dstoutholcomb

☀️ Napa Ever After is family friendly about an attorney named Cassandra Monroe takes sabbatical from her job to renovate a winery she inherits in Napa Valley, with help of handsome local named Alec Jackson, she learns more about Grandma she hardly knew, while opening herself up to a live like she has never known. Cassandra meets her Grandma’s best friend named Isabel Collins. Eloi Vineyard owned by Cassandra’s family in generation. Including Eloi Weddings ~Anonymous

☀️ "Napa Ever After" was so good! :-) We really liked the movie and would watch it again. :-) Joan



☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️





‘WHEN CALLS THE HEART’ – Season 10, Episode 1005 – “Life is But a Dream”
Sunday, August 27 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Chris McNally, Kevin McGarry, Andrea Brooks, Martin Cummins, Kayla Wallace, Loretta Walsh, Viv Leacock, Amanda Wong, Johannah Newmarch, Natasha Burnett, Ben Rosenbaum, Hrothgar Mathews

Rosemary (Hutton) and Lee (Smith) are still adjusting to parenthood. Lucas (McNally) reveals the surprise he’s been working on to Elizabeth (Krakow) Nathan (McGarry) has a camping trip planned for just him and Allie.


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️


PREMIERING IN AUGUST ON HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES:

‘BIG SKY RIVER: THE BRIDAL PATH’
Friday, August 11 (9 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Emmanuelle Vaugier, Kavan Smith

Tara (Vaugier), now settled in Montana and dating Cowboy Boone (Smith), works to bring their family lives together but tensions arise, as blending their families will be more of a challenge than anticipated.

Movie Reviews:

☀️ Big Sky River. Was it just me or did they slip in two men at the parent teacher conference. Other than that it was ok. ~JoCo

☀️ Big Sky River was one that I wanted to see as well. Yes, there was a same sex couple at the parent teacher meeting. It is Hallmark trying too much to dump their tried-and-true viewer and try and get an audience that is not true to them. ~Anonymous

☀️ As far as sequels go, I thought "Big Sky River: The Bridal Path" was excellent and I really enjoyed it. There were several interesting subplots to complement the emotional exchanges between the two leads trying to blend their families and plan their wedding. I did not find the 30-second scene with two men meeting with Tara (a teacher) offensive because given the context of the story and taking place in a small town in Montana, the two could just as easily have been brothers or friends, and not a same-sex couple. ~MPT

☀️ Big Sky River: The Bridal Path was fine, but why did they have to insert such an unnecessary scene where Tara talks to two men about a girl, who I presume is their daughter. The scene lasts about 30seconds to a minute, if that. Tara is talking to the men, whose faces are never really seen front on and I don’t recall either one even saying anything. Tara keeps getting text messages as they talk and she walks away looking at her phone. The men are in the background and you can see one guy put his hand on the other guys shoulder. Then, that’s it. Totally unnecessary. ~Anonymous


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

‘THE MORE LOVE GROWS’
Friday, August 18, (9 p.m. ET/PT)
Starring: Rachel Boston, Warren Christie

When Helen’s (Boston) husband unexpectedly asks for a separation just after they’ve dropped off their daughter at college, she struggles to navigate her new-found single status. Thanks to a stray dog who enters her life and the friendship of a helpful veterinarian (Christie), Helen rediscovers her strength and begins to forge a new path.

Movie Reviews:

☀️ I just finished watching The More Love Grows. As a Christian, I did not like the way marriage and divorce was portrayed. It made it seem like divorce is good and marriage holds you back. Helen also basically starts hanging out and flirting with a man while she is technically still married. The only reason I kept watching was for the cute dog and the side plot about her daughter's first semester at college. *Spoiler alert* And for those who might say, "well, sometimes men leave their wives even though the wife doesn't want a divorce," at the end of the movie, her husband changes his mind and wants to work things out, but Helen says no because she's "finding herself" and they both "deserve to be happy." So they sign the divorce papers. I totally disagree with this portrayal of God's covenant of marriage. ~melnewlife

☀️ THE MORE LOVE GROWS (clean) **some spoilers**
I have to say I didn’t like the story line about divorce and the beginning felt a bit awkward especially the way the marriage ended. I had a feeling that it was sort of “promoting” divorce. Rachel and Warren’s character’s new “friendship” did start before Rachel and her husband legally divorced. She was already served the divorce paper though, and it was just friendship at that point for Rachel (although Warren wanted more). But the whole thing still didn’t sit well with me to be honest. Both Rachel and Warren are fine as couple and had a pretty good chemistry (no kiss though I think, unless I missed it?). I guess this was just not a typical Hallmark movie overall and not my cup of tea, but I guess everyone’s walk of life is different and this could work for others. Not a keeper for me. ~CH Mom

☀️ The More Love Grow is family friendly about Just after Helen & her husband Paul return home from moving their daughter Aly into her college dorm, he breaks the unexpected news that he wants a separation. Not sure where to go from here, Helen struggles with her new-found single status. When an adorable, stray dog turns up on her doorstep, Helen reluctantly takes him in and dubs him Elmer… because he sticks to her like glue. He provides welcome company and also leads her to Ben is a veterinarian who helps her navigate first-time dog ownership. Slowly, Helen wiggles out of her comfort zone, rediscovers her inner strength & begins to rebuild her life as she starts down a new path full of promise and possibility. Aly meets Trevor while they study at the library. Aly comes home from college when she notices her parents’ checklist behind her back. Elmer runs away & he comes back home to Helen’s house. Helen & Ben bond with their dogs out for walking down the street. ~Anonymous

☀️ “The More Love Grows” is a family-friendly yet unconventional Hallmark rom-com that addresses the unexpected break-up of a 20-year marriage and how adopting a stray dog helps the woman (Rachel Boston) cope with life on her own. Without any experience as a pet owner, she seeks the help and advice of a single-dad/veterinarian, who of course takes an interest in her. I enjoyed the story and casting, but felt sad at the husband’s unreasonable determination to end the marriage as soon as their daughter left for college, and then the Boston’s unwillingness to reconcile things when her husband realized the separation was a mistake. I kept thinking this story might be a set-up for a sequel because Boston’s romance with the vet was just getting started as the movie ended. ~MPT

☀️ I also watched "The More Love Grows" which I did not enjoy that much. It was tedious and corny and I did not like the storyline with the Veterinarian since she was still legally married. ~Joan

☀️ I loved Rachel Bostons new movie, it was very sweet acting was great and I liked the whole story, will watch again! ~Susan Ann

☀️ I just wanted to say I loved When Love Grows, the acting was great and I’m sorry, her husband was a jerk and I’m glad she moved on, too bad he didn’t think of the consequences before he left. ~Susan Ann

☀️ The More Love Grows – (this review contains Spoilers) I agree with a lot of the other reviews on this movie. At first, I was totally Team Helen! I wanted Rachel Boston’s character, Helen, to move on with her life after her husband, Paul, of 20 YEARS, walked out on her and requested a separation. I also loved the story with the dogs (by the way, who doesn’t know dogs can’t eat chocolate?), and Helen’s new eccentric friend, Cindy, was such an interesting character, but I didn’t like it at all when Paul wanted to try one more time to save their marriage, and Helen said no, she knew moving away was really what he wanted, even though he was pleading to give their marriage one more try. That part of the story really disappointed me. Sure, Paul was a jerk for initially wanting a separation, but they were married 20 years and have a daughter, Aly, together, so saving their marriage should have been a priority. Helen seemed way too eager to end it and move on with her new friend, Ben.

Plus, the title of the movie is “The More Love Grows.” Helen’s mother’s advice was – “The more you tend it, the more love grows.” That is truly beautiful advice, but apparently, Helen decided not to take it. Instead of tending to her marriage and trying to hold on to it, she decided to let it go. It was truly disheartening to see this story about divorce, which made it appear to be easy. I believe "The More Love Grows" is a disillusioned view of the heartbreak separation and divorce typically brings to a husband and wife and their family. Please know, I realize divorce is not always the fault of both individuals; however, in this case, Helen is given another chance to make her marriage work and without taking time to even think about it, she declines to try.

"Heartland" fans will recognize one of the supporting characters, Alisha Newton (Georgie). Alisha portrayed the daughter’s college roommate, who is a carefree slacker who wears sleazy clothing and likes partying. She influences Aly to skip classes and take part in the party life. That sort of lifestyle was thankfully shown to be wrong, and it hurt Aly’s chances of keeping her scholarship.

Another star spotted in the movie was Andrea Brooks ("When Calls the Heart"), who, in one short scene, had a cameo role as a yoga instructor.

Overall, the acting in "The More Love Grows" is excellent, but the storyline with Helen and Paul suddenly ending their marriage so easily left me feeling very disappointed. Husbands and wives should take their marriage very seriously; it is a sacred commitment and covenant before The Lord. This movie is a Hallmark glossed-over version of divorce, and it is definitely not a keeper for me. ~Net




☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️


I hope you all find something to look forward to watching in August. I am personally most excited about When Calls the Heart, but several of these movies have piqued my interest, as well.

Please share your thoughts in comments below.

Happy movie-watching,

Net