PRESS RELEASE VIA HALLMARK CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS --
HALLMARK CHANNEL AND HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES
CELEBRATE THEIR BIGGEST
HOLIDAY SEASONS YET
DURING POPULAR ‘COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS’ AND
‘THE MOST WONDERFUL MOVIES OF CHRISTMAS’
ANNUAL PROGRAMMING EVENTS
Round-the-Clock Schedule Boasts a Record 33 New, Original World Premiere Movies
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – July 27, 2017 – Further solidifying its position as the ultimate destination for holiday entertainment, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will light up audiences’ homes with a record number of 33 new, original holiday world premiere movies in 2017. Hallmark Channel’s annual, top-rated holiday event “Countdown to Christmas” and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ beloved “The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas” will gift viewers with more Christmas content than any other network. Along with 33 new, original movies across the two networks, holiday specials will also be part of the programing extravaganza including the “National Christmas Tree Lighting,” “Holiday Homecoming with Jewel” and “A Very Happy Yule Log” featuring Happy the Cat and Dog. The annual round-the-clock holiday programming tradition begins Friday, October 27, 2017 and continues throughout the season until Monday, January 1, 2018. The announcement was made today as part of Crown Media Family Networks’ bi-annual TV Critics Association Press Tour.
“Each year, more and more viewers tune in to Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries to get into the spirit with exceptional, original holiday programming,” said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming and Network Publicity, Crown Media Family Networks. “We are thrilled to continue this tradition in 2017 with more new, holiday movies than ever before, brought to life by a lineup of top-notch talent that includes fan favorites like Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert, Danica McKellar and Alison Sweeney.”
Both networks will wet viewers’ appetites for their highly anticipated, holiday extravaganzas with one-hour preview specials. The “Countdown to Christmas” preview special will be hosted by Candace Cameron Bure (“Fuller House”), while the sneak peek for “The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas” will be hosted by international, folk superstar Jewel (“Fixer Upper Mysteries”). Scheduled to debut in the fall, both programs will feature each host having holiday fun with stars of upcoming original premieres and showcase clips from the movies.
During Thanksgiving week, Hallmark Channel will help viewers indulge their Christmas cravings once again. From Wednesday, November 22 – Sunday, November 25, the network will offer five consecutive nights of new, original world premiere movies including “The Christmas Train,” the latest Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation based on David Baldacci’s No. 1 New York Times bestselling book.
Viewership for Hallmark holiday programming continues to grow each year. In 2016, Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” surpassed a record-breaking 2015, with ratings up +21% in HH, +29% in W18-49, +17% in W25-54, +35% in A18-49, +25% in A25-54 and +22% in Total Viewers. Hallmark Channel’s five-night, Thanksgiving event delivered the network’s highest week ever, while holiday programming yielded the highest New Year’s Day ever.
For the entirety of “Countdown to Christmas,” Hallmark Channel reached an impressive 70.2 million viewers.*
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries also enjoyed record ratings during “The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas” with significant, double-digit growth year over year: up +60% in HH, +70% in W1849, +57% in W25-54, +78% in A18-49 and +60% in Total Viewers. The network was in the Top 10 on weekends (Sat-Sun, 6a-6a) among HH rating and reached a total of 41.2 million viewers through the conclusion of the programming event on January 1, 2017.**
Returning to star in new, original Christmas movie premieres in 2017 are Hallmark Channel’s “Queens of Christmas,” Candace Cameron Bure and Lacey Chabert (“Mean Girls”), who have each previously appeared in five original, world premiere Christmas movies for the network. The star-studded lineup leading the new, original movies continues with Catherine Bell (“Army Wives,” “JAG”), Lori Loughlin (“Fuller House,” “90210”), Alison Sweeney (“Days of Our Lives”), Danica McKellar (“The Wonder Years”), Alexa PenaVega ( Spy Kids franchise), Carlos PenaVega (“The Loud House”), Jodie Sweetin (“Fuller House”), Jack Wagner (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Wendie Malick (“Hot in Cleveland”), Eric Close (“Nashville”), Autumn Reeser (“Hawaii Five-0”) and Taylor Cole (“The Originals”). Additional talent will be announced.
The following is a listing of original movies currently scheduled during Hallmark Channel’s 2017 “Countdown to Christmas” and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries “The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas.”
HALLMARK CHANNEL’S ‘COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS’
‘A KISS FOR THE NEW YEAR’
That first kiss of the New Year is magical: It’s supposed to signify that special person with whom we’ll spend the next year, and possibly, forever, so it’s wise not to squander those affections. When everyone else just puckers up to the nearest set of lips, Robin has always kept her wits — and her mouth — to herself. An established photographer at a lifestyle website, she’s assigned to work on a New Year’s Eve story with a new hire, Todd. When she confides in Todd that she has never kissed anyone as the clock strikes midnight, he sets about to correct this by finding someone for Robin to kiss at the magic hour. His theory is a kiss is just a kiss, and she should enjoy the moment. Ultimately, they are both right – Todd finds a man for her to smooch and Robin does find the right man. And guess who fits the bill?
‘ANGEL FALLS’ Stars: Rachel Boston (“A Rose for Christmas,” “In Plain Sight”)
Fallen angel Gabby must redeem herself. To do so, she’s dispatched to where else but the town of Angel Falls. It’s not a job for any one being, even one endowed with her special powers. Luckily, Gabby has her own guardian angels, Anna and Michael. All of them work to help the citizens of Angel Falls, and along the way, wings and love blossom.
‘CHRISTMAS CASTLE’
Beloved, fastidious, high school teacher Lucy Farebrother inherits a castle in the Scottish Highlands at Christmas. Lucy surprises her boyfriend Alex with a Christmas dream vacation to Scotland to celebrate the couple’s seventh anniversary. Over the long flight, the couple dreams of the life they will make together in the most enchanted place. Imagine their surprise when they discover before Lucy can move into the home that is her birthright, she must first come up with a plan to convince moody, artistic novelist Duncan MacBain – a squatter in the castle – to leave. Let the holiday tugof-war begin!
‘CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF ICE’ Stars: Taylor Cole (“The Originals”), Damon Runyan (“Sound of Christmas”)
Those years of law school pay off for Emma but not in ways one would expect. When she finds out that her beloved ice-sculpting contest, part of her hometown’s Christmas festival, has been canceled, she springs into action. Determined to keep it going, she enlists sponsors and artists. Nick, the town’s ace artisan, isn’t interested in competing this year, but Emma wants him as her teammate. Considering what she’s managed to accomplish, Nick is impressed and signs on. As Emma and Nick work together, she realizes there’s more to life than legal briefs. Transformed by Emma’s can-do spirit, Nick is invigorated, too. They just might have a shot at winning this very special Christmas contest — and a lot more.
‘CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN’
Snow globes can have a magical, mesmerizing sway over those who concentrate on them. No one knows that better than residents of Evergreen, Vermont. In this bucolic burg, where families have lived for generations and take care of each other, there’s a belief that if you wish upon the snow globe in the local café, that wish will come true. The only catch is the wish must be completely sincere. When the town veterinarian wishes that this will be her most romantic Christmas ever, she figures that will happen with her longtime beau. Stranded in an airport, she befriends a businessman and his daughter, who had made her own wish on the snow globe. The magical Christmas they share turns out to be more than anyone wished for.
‘CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR’ Stars: Catherine Bell (“Army Wives,” “JAG”), Eric Close (“Nashville”)
Lydia (Bell), a successful professional organizer, is constantly trying to grow her business, but even her ambition takes a back seat to love when she meets Robert (Close), a frazzled widower with two young children. A toy inventor, Robert is asked to present his new Christmas toy line to a superstore. His challenge is he only has 12 days to get his life and his business in order. Talk about a Christmas rush! Lydia shows Robert that this task goes way deeper than messy junk drawers and encompasses every aspect of his life. While she’s intent on helping him straighten out details he had long ignored, Robert teaches the buttoned-up Lydia that messiness can be a delightful part of life.
‘CHRISTMAS MUSIC STORE’
Meg Thomas has been working in her family’s record store since college. The block of mom & pop stores including hers, are being bought out for development. Meg has secretly always longed to be a musician but fear has kept her from pursuing it. She takes one last stab at a performance inside the record store when Nate walks in. He is looking for a rare vintage album and they talk about a shared passion for music. She learns how much Nate loves Christmas, whereas Meg is more cynical. They begin to date and create a Christmas song, with Meg on the piano and Nate on the guitar. In the moment, Nate confesses that his father is buying up the property. Despite knowing that his father is putting her out of business they continue to date and begin to conceive a plan to keep the businesses alive.
‘CHRISTMAS SHUTTLE’
It’s not easy being Henry, the only child of divorced parents. Every Christmas, he’s flown crosscountry to be with his dad. Because he’s eight, a flight attendant looks after him from gate-to-gate. Henry instantly takes to the engaging Megan, who wears a Santa hat while helping him write a letter to the jolly guy. Megan promises to mail it to the North Pole but slips the note to Henry’s dad instead. Henry has already decided Megan and his dad would be a great couple. And with all of the sophistication of a little boy, he tries setting them up. When it turns out that Megan has no plans for Christmas dinner, Henry invites her over, giving the adults a chance to see that they are perfect for each other.
‘CHRISTMAS SISTER SWAP’ Stars: Candace Cameron Bure (“Fuller House”)
Just because they are identical does not mean these twins even like each other. Estranged twin sisters get together for an obligatory pre-Christmas lunch a year after their mother died. Both women are unhappy and frustrated with their own lives. Though not close, each is envious of the other’s life. What’s a twin to do but take advantage of this and who would be the wiser? They do what any identical twins in need of new outlooks would do —swap lives until Christmas Day. And by doing so, each woman discovers the true meaning of her life and gains a deeper perspective and appreciation for what she already had.
‘COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Danica McKellar (“The Wonder Years”), Neal Bledsoe (“The Mysteries of Laura”)
Allie Richfield (McKellar) is at a crossroads when she lands a job as house manager for the exquisite Ashford Estate in the Virginia countryside. While preparing the place for sale, Allie plans one final Christmas Eve gala for the Marley family, though they seem to be a family in name only. There’s Kip Marley, who never met a party he didn’t like; Robert, the handsome but all-business executor of the estate; Sloane, who arrives with her two young children, sans husband, and the 90-year-old matriarch, Pippa, a spitfire who doesn’t want to put the house up for sale at all. As Allie is inserted into the home and the lives of the Marley family, she finds herself drawn to Robert — even as Kip pursues her. Can she navigate her suddenly complicated love life while helping mend family feuds and maybe teaching all the true spirit of Christmas?
‘ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Alexa PenaVega ( Spy Kids franchise), Carlos PenaVega (“The Loud House”)
Weeks before Christmas, interior designer Laura (Alexa PenaVega) is sent to her hometown to remodel a landmark hotel. As Laura is kept busy with the renovations, her eight-year-old daughter Nicole is introduced to the art of dancing at a local dance studio. Laura is surprised to find that the studio’s owner is Ricardo (Carlos PenaVega), her old high school sweetheart and former dance partner. When Laura and Ricardo reconnect, sparks fly on and off the dance floor. Christmas traditions become the backdrop for spirited dancing and unexpected romance.
‘EVERGREEN INN’ Stars: Alison Sweeney (“Days of Our Lives”)
Sophie Bennett (Sweeney) begins a new holiday tradition of spending every holiday at the Evergreen Inn and Ski Lodge, which she inherited from her parents. Evergreen Inn is a special place filled with people who cannot make it home for the holidays or who have had such wonderful experiences that it has become their home-away-from-holiday-home. This Christmas, Sophie will meet an unforgettable family, and her own life will be forever changed.
‘FATHER CHRISTMAS’
Work-obsessed Eric Randall, chief technology officer of a major tech company, is laid off two weeks before Christmas. Divorced and the father of three, this will be Eric’s first Christmas alone with the kids. His ex-wife, Marie, encourages Eric to postpone a job search and instead make Christmas a true family holiday. Unfortunately, he’s better with computers than children. With baby Max strapped into a backpack, Eric is determined to build a sled with son Liam. Eric also gets roped into volunteering at daughter Chelsea’s junior cotillion class. At least her teacher, Kate Moore, is lovely. Kate teaches Eric some dance moves, and Eric realizes he’s avoided relationships by burying himself in work. Though enthralled with all old-fashioned romance, Kate finds a lot to like in this digital-age dad while Eric learns that family time does not need to be restricted to Christmas.
‘FINDING SANTA’
Jessica was delighted to start running her New England town’s Christmas events after her mom died. The main event is the parade on Christmas Day when the jolly man in red greets the crowd. For the last 30 years, Henry, owner of a famous Santa School, played St. Nick. When Henry falls ill, and everyone else he has trained is already booked, Jessica’s in a predicament. The only possible replacement is Henry’s son, Ben, a driver who never wanted to follow in his father’s shoes. Desperate, Jessica sets off 200 miles north to find Ben and lures him to town by hiring him to drive her back. The trek is daunting; the real Kris Kringle makes it around the world easier than Ben and Jessica on their return. Still, once Ben dons the red suit, he feels the spirit of Christmas — and soon begins to realize he may have found the new, real-life Mrs. Claus.
‘GOOD SAM’
As a Los Angeles news reporter, Kate has spent years covering people’s worst actions. She’s finally assigned to a story focusing on a wonderful act of generosity. An anonymous good Samaritan, dubbed Good Sam, has left $100,000 in cash on the front porches of 10 people. Kate tracks down Good Sam and her exclusive interview with him thrusts her into the national spotlight.
‘MARRY ME AT CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Rachel Skarsten (“Reign”), Trevor Donovan (“90210”)
Organizing a Christmas wedding is a true treat for bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug (Skarsten). She loves the challenge of finding the perfect dress for the bride and orchestrating an exquisite event. What Madeline didn’t expect was to be swept off her feet by the bride’s gorgeous brother, movie star Johnny Blake (Donovan). Johnny came to the quirky town to support his sister — not to fall in love. Yet Madeline is the most extraordinary woman he’s ever met. Planning the perfect wedding leads to candlelit dinners and strolls through snow-covered streets. Madeline finds the real Johnny even more captivating than her celebrity crush. Will the action star be brave enough to take on the role of a lifetime?
‘MISS CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Brooke D’Orsay (“Royal Pains,” “Two and a Half Men”), Marc Blucas (“Underground”)
Holly Kuhn (D’Orsay) is on her annual mission of finding a majestic specimen for The National Tree. While searching for the perfect Christmas fir for the Washington, D.C. Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony, Holly receives a letter from a boy detailing why his town boasts the most beautiful evergreen. Holly travels to the boy’s quaint New England town, where she meets his handsome uncle, Sam McCary (Blucas). Sam owns the land from which it grows and is a protective steward. It holds such deep meaning for Sam that he’s not about to let it be chopped down even for such an honor. Still, Holly finds herself falling for Sam, and they discover the magic that this perfect tree can bring, just in time for the holidays.
‘SECRET SANTA’
Just how secret does an office secret Santa have to be? In Melanie’s case, she finds it’s just a little too covert. The assignments were distributed for Secret Santa, and Melanie is a little worried but very excited that she was given her crush, Donovan. She comes up with thoughtful gifts and spoton notes. Donovan is so taken by his Secret Santa, he starts to fall in love — only someone else is stealing her credit, pretending to be his Secret Santa. Now Melanie must work to prove to Donovan that she is the right one as far as Santas and girlfriends go.
‘THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN’ – HALLMARK HALL OF FAME
David Baldacci’s No. 1 New York Times bestseller comes to Hallmark Hall of Fame: A journalist embarks on a cross-country train ride at Christmas having no idea this journey will take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart as he rediscovers people’s goodness, holiday magic, and a love he thought he’d lost.
‘THE SWEETEST CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Lacey Chabert (“Party of Five,” “Mean Girls”), Lea Coco (“Millennial Parents”), Jonathan Adams (“Last Man Standing”)
When struggling pastry chef Kylie Watson (Chabert) learns she’s made it to the finals of the American Gingerbread Competition, she thinks her competitive spirit has finally paid off and hopes the publicity will help her jumpstart her new café. There’s just one problem — the oven she’s supposed to use breaks down right before the contest. Determined to enter, she reaches out to Nick Mazannti (Coco), her old boyfriend from culinary school who gave up his dream of being a pastry chef to take over his family’s pizzeria. Nick allows her to use his industrial pizza oven at night to craft her ambitious gingerbread confections. As the two reminisce about the dreams of their youth, their romance is rekindled. But just as Kylie is on the cusp of taking the grand prize — and embracing true love — things get complicated when her ex-boyfriend takes drastic steps to win her back. Kylie realizes she must embrace the Christmas Spirit or risk losing both the contest and her new love.
‘WHEN CALLS THE HEART CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Erin Krakow (“Army Wives”), Daniel Lissing (“The Last Resort”), Lori Loughlin (“Fuller House,” “90210”), Jack Wagner (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Martin Cummins (“Riverdale”) Pascale Hutton (“Sanctuary”), Kavan Smith (“Supernatural”)
A loved one returns, Christmas spirit is renewed, and children’s wishes are granted in this heartwarming Christmas movie featuring the series’ beloved characters. Elizabeth’s (Krakow) fiancé, Jack (Lissing), surprises her, coming home on leave and bringing a young Mountie desperately searching for Christmas inspiration. The community of Hope Valley works together to aid this young man with the help of an enchanted Wishing Tree. And as mayor, Abigail (Loughlin) is pretty busy. Recognizing this, her newly adopted son, Cody (Carter Ryan Evancic), engages classmates in creating the town’s annual Christmas Celebration. While Sheriff Bill Avery (Wagner) forges a relationship with the disgraced former mayor, Henry Gowen (Martin Cummins), Rosemary (Hutton) and Lee (Smith) are reminded that family is the true meaning of Christmas.
HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES
‘THE MOST WONDERFUL MOVIES OF CHRISTMAS’
‘A BRAMBLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Autumn Reeser (“Hawaii Five-0”), David Haydn-Jones (“Supernatural”)
While settling his father’s estate, Finn Conrad (Haydn-Jones) becomes suspicious as to why he left a nurse $50,000. His dad knew her for less than two months before he died. Just before Christmas, Finn wants to reclaim what he considers his family’s money, so he goes undercover to investigate the bed-and-breakfast the nurse has recently taken over. When Finn meets Willa (Reeser), he discovers she wasn’t stealing his father’s money, she’s the single mother of a sick boy who needed an operation. Finn’s dad paid for the operation and financed Willa’s dream of running the Bramble House B&B. Though Willa and Finn are protective of their hearts for different reasons, they fall in love — until she discovers his true identity and the reason for him being there. Now Finn must gain Willa’s trust to make this a Christmas to remember.
‘A GIFT TO REMEMBER’
Darcy’s lifelong love of reading has led her to the perfect job, working in a small Manhattan bookstore. A real romantic, Darcy won’t settle for some man simply because of his job title or bank account. No, she insists on being swept off her feet. One day, while bicycling to work, Darcy crashes into Adrian, a sharply dressed gentleman walking his dog. Knocked unconscious, he’s rushed to the hospital where he falls into a coma.
Deeply shaken, the guilt-ridden Darcy takes the dog home, waiting to reunite him with his owner. As she learns more about Aidan — a world-traveler, a devoted man of letters — Darcy realizes he could be the one she has been waiting for. That is, until he comes to and Darcy discovers she has created a fictional world for a very real man. Will she still fall in love?
‘A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Kevin McGarry (“Heartland”), Becca Tobin (“Glee”)
Pop superstar Adelaide Kay (Tobin) is so fed up with her controlling manager that she sneaks off the tour bus after their latest squabble. Though exhilarated to be free, she finds herself stranded in the freezing cold of a Pennsylvania winter, with no money and no plan. A local family, the Lapps, take her in. They know the true meaning of the season, even if they’re close to losing their dairy farm. No one in the family recognizes Adelaide except Dillon (McGarry), the oldest son. He figures she’s the ticket to fast cash and plots to snap photos of Adelaide around the farm and sell them to tabloids. What he doesn’t plan, however, is their mutual attraction. As they get to know each other, Dillon has two realizations: Profiteering from invading Adelaide’s privacy is wrong and his uptight girlfriend is not the one for him. When Adelaide performs a song, which Dillon’s kid sister wrote, a lot of money is earned which aids the Lapps and other strapped farmers.
‘CHRISTMAS FOR JOY’
Joy may be down-on-her-luck, but her humanity is intact. She jumps to the aid of a stranger, rescuing the woman from a terrible accident. The woman who nearly died is quite successful and learns a great lesson from her accident: Helping others is the key to true success and could be the path to finding true love as well.
‘ENGAGING FATHER CHRISTMAS’ Stars: Erin Krakow (“Army Wives”), Niall Matter (“Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”), Wendie Malick (“Hot in Cleveland”)
It’s Christmas and Miranda (Krakow) leaves Seattle with a suitcase full of presents to join her longlost family in Carlton Heath, where she will experience the joyful traditions she missed as a child. Last Christmas, Miranda fell in love with Ian (Matter), a local man who helped her as she searched for her father, James Whitcomb, a famous theatre actor she believed had a connection to the town. At his widow Margaret’s (Malick) request, Miranda agrees to keep it a secret to protect the family from scandal. This Christmas, she fears the warm welcome she received from the Whitcomb family will soon turn cold when Miranda receives an anonymous text from someone who threatens to expose her identity.
‘KAREN KINGSBURY’S MAGGIE’S MIRACLE’
Megan spent one unforgettable summer with a boy when they were teens, and she’s never forgotten his magical definition of love. Now a high-powered attorney in New York and the single mother, her young son unexpectedly connects them again, but it’s not until Christmas when Maggie finally gets the miracle — the love — she’s longed for.
‘MAGICAL CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS’
A book editor, Marie had always adored Christmas but that love faded when her marriage ended on Christmas Eve four years ago. To rekindle Marie’s love of the season, her mom sends a family Christmas ornament every day. Marie decorates her tree and feels her spirits lift with each ornament. Though she’s still limiting her seasonal festivities, Marie reads to children at a hospital, where she meets an attractive nurse, Nate. Marie is delighted when she gets to work with her favorite author on his new children’s book. She also happily organizes a book drive with Nate. Maybe mom’s ornaments are magical after all. But Marie jeopardizes her job when she refuses to edit her exhusband’s book and starts to feel rather negative again — until her mom reminds her that the magic isn’t inside the ornaments but inside her.
‘NEVER TOO LATE FOR CHRISTMAS’
Rebecca, a businesswoman who has let go of her joy of Christmas, is trying to secure her next big deal and promotion to executive vice president before the end of the year. When she’s sent on assignment to a remote town, she meets the handsome widower John, owner of the Holly & Ivy Inn, which is named after his two daughters. It’s not long before Rebecca’s all-business exterior begins to thaw and she finds her Christmas spirit returning just in time.
‘THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE’
Still only in her mid-20s, Lacey Quinn has already given up on love. Her heart’s been broken too many times, and now she concentrates on her career as an interior designer. When BFF Ava Callahan asks Lacey to be her maid of honor, she must take on a few responsibilities, including making sure the Callahan family cottage is perfect for the honeymoon. Legend has it that if newlyweds spend their first night there, everlasting love and happiness follow. Lacey isn’t sure she buys into that notion. Still, when she finds herself snowed in there with Charlie, Ava’s brother, Lacey has to reconsider if the little house may hold some romantic magic after all — especially at Christmas.
‘UNBRIDLED LOVE’
Evil stepmothers don’t only lurk in castles, tormenting helpless children. Sometimes, they’re on ranches, tormenting adults. A year after her father died in a fire at their Oregon ranch — a fire accidentally caused by her stepmother, Mae — Sarah has finally found her footing, turning the family homestead into a successful dude ranch. Still, Mae is pushing to take it over, seeing it as a potential goldmine. Meanwhile, Graham, a Hollywood superstar, wants to use the ranch as the location of his next movie. Sarah isn’t inclined to allow it. During a long horseback ride through the moonlit mountains, Graham explains why this project is so dear to him. That and a soulful kiss make Sarah relent. But all does not run smoothly once the movie starts. Graham and his costar, Simone, had been involved; Sarah has fallen hard for the handsome star. Still, she won’t allow jealousy to cloud her professionalism. When Simone’s horse runs wild, Sarah saves her. And when Sarah’s evil stepmother, Mae, also runs wild — suing Sarah — Simone, in turn, saves Sarah.
‘WELCOME HOME WARRIOR’ Stars: Julie Benz (“Dexter,” “Training Day”)
A military widow (Benz), whose faith in Christmas has lapsed, rents an apartment to a handsome Army Captain, recovering from an injury in battle, and whose faith in Christmas is inspirational. As they team up to save the town’s military museum with a Christmas fundraising event, these two ‘wounded birds’ find themselves falling in love — and being healed by the magic of Christmas.
‘WHEN GOD WINKS’ From Executive Producers Kathie Lee Gifford and SQuire Rushnell Based on the book by SQuire Rushnell
This is about true stories demonstrating that God communicates with us, making incredible things happen in our lives every single day. As you read the riveting accounts of everyday and famous people, you will begin to recognize that God winks in your own life, both past and present. Through these tangible signposts from God, we receive personalized messages that reassure us, stop us from worrying, chart our path in life, and help us keep the faith.
# # #
* Source: The Nielsen Company: H oliday 2016 (10/29/16 – 1/1/17)
** Source: The Nielsen Company: H oliday 2016 (10/29/16 – 1/1/17)
via: Pam Slay, George Zaralidis -- CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS --
-- end of Hallmark Press Release --
