The Sweetest Heart *New Movie Premiere*

Tagline: Maddie is doing everything she can to save her cupcake business. With the help of a handsome investment banker, Maddie’s luck begins to turn around in all aspects of her life. However, when her first love Nate unexpectedly returns home after 14 years, she will have to choose between a new romance and the man she never stopped loving.

First Impression: LOVE Julie Gonzalo! So glad to see her in a spring movie though I’ll miss her autumn entries (if she doesn’t have one this year). It’ll be cute to see her baking mojo considering she was more on the business end and had a green baking thumb in Pumpkin Pie Wars. Looking forward to it!

One of the problems with Hallmark showcasing repeated familiar faces is the comparison that comes with their new movies from their old ones. Especially if the older ones hit that sweet spot of the perfect or near perfect storm. It’s entirely not fair to the actors and actresses, the directors, writers, etc. but there it is. I came to the movie for Julie Gonzalo and she was a joy though the comparisons to her other (in my opinion better) flicks kept cropping up here and there.

I liked that this entry had another love interest even though the obvious end game choice was on the movie poster and the title (I see what you did there, Hallmark). Julie’s character, Maddie, seemed to have more chemistry with Mr. Investment Banker, Alex, and it seemed a bit weird that he completely disappeared as soon as Mr. Ex, Nate, comes back. I kept wondering how he had more time as a cardiologist to help Maddie lift her cupcake business than the banker who seemed really interested in her from the beginning. I liked that Alex wanted to be friends. I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship grow naturally that way like how the Pumpkin Pie Wars relationship grew organically. Mainly because I was curious to see what drew them together in the first place. Maybe some scenes of them reminiscing about old times and laughing together over things they have done would have shown that aspect of their interest.

In fact, if Hallmark really went out and had Nate turn out as a good, supportive friend even as Maddie gets with Alex, it would be much more believable with how the story was going. As it is, the relationship kind of grows back out of nowhere with her gravitating toward the ex for no reasons other than ‘the script calls for it’ and people keep pushing her toward him. The breakup scene with Alex was even underwhelming as it amounted to “Ah well, we don’t really have anything in common cause I’m pizza and beer and your caviar and champagne. Bummer. Well, see ya!” It would have been cute to see her ground him more by showing him her laid-back, comfy lifestyle like he showed her more of the upper crust, but that’s perhaps another movie for another time.

This entry is a reunion love story and by those expectations, I think it delivers. It probably won’t go on my faves list, but it’s a nice way to pass a relaxing afternoon or a nice date night.

Inspired by the book Hearts Desire by Catherine Lanigan

Available now in eBook & Print from Harlequin Heartwarming

Notable Tunes

(Cupcake Baking Montage) Raphael Lake - Follow Me



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Love, Once and Always *New Movie Premiere*

Tagline: When Lucy’s childhood sweetheart plans to tear down the Gilded Age estate and replace it with a golf course, Lucy fights to preserve the historic mansion at all costs. As Lucy and Duncan set out to find a compromise, they learn that embracing the past may be the key to protecting the future.

First Impression: Hmm, from the premise it kind of reminds me of All of My Heart (there’s even a Gabby-like sheep here), but I’m here for Peter Porte ever since I saw him in Love at the Shore, A Cinderella Christmas, and A Gift to Remember. It’d be cute if it were similar to AOH and set in the same ‘universe’ with a Lacey and Brennan cameo. We’ll see how it plays out.

The London backdrop in the beginning offered a bit of something new as far as setting for the movie, but I found it hard to immerse myself in the story. Much of the time I was distracted by too many similarities in the bits of story that were found in classic and better Hallmark films of olde. Peter Porte is always a gem not only to look at but also as a charming male lead. There didn’t seem to be much chemistry between him and his leading lady which made it hard to root for their eventual relationship. Much of the movie was them bickering and cutting each other down, which can work in the right circumstance. I love a good enemies to lovers story like in Pumpkin Pie Wars or Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, but the leads have to have that ‘it’ thing that really draws you into their story.

Sadly, this one didn’t quite have it which made the watch a bit of a plod to get through. I do hope Hallmark continues playing with different occupations for their characters. The history aspect and the eventual outcome of the mansion was something that came as a bit of a surprise. As always, looking forward to more Peter Porte as a leading guy.

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