Luckylyn

Thanks for the correction. So many movies, so many similar titles.

A hilarious analysis of Candy Cane Christmas is up on youtube

I’m behind on my Christmas Movie watching. I see multiple Hallmark but of Lifetime have only seen Candy Cane Lane. That movie was so frustrating. It’s basically the same misunderstanding not once, not twice, but three times keeping the characters apart. After the third misunderstanding I didn’t care anymore about them getting together since the characters aren’t capable of simple conversations to settle easily addressed issues. When she was crying in the car over misunderstanding #3 I was rolling my eyes so hard. Seriously just talk to the man instead of jumping to conclusions again.

I’m behind in my Christmas watching. Trying to keep up with Hallmark, Lifetime, Up etc... is a challenge. Every year, I end up missing some movies because it’s overwhelming. I just finished The 12 Dates of Christmas and really loved it. There was something grownup about it. I think it’s my favorite so far.

Today I’m starting Shadows in Death by JD Robb. I’m excited to delve more into Roarke’s past. I really enjoy the books in the series when things are more personal.

The only reason the birdwatcher didn’t get in trouble in my opinion is that he video taped the incident and could prove the version of events she was telling 911 was a lie. It’s a fascinating case because she was so secure in her privilege that she lied to 911 about being threatened while aware she was on camera.

I loved Sara/Christopher as well. I wouldn’t mind a sequel focusing on them. I haven’t been a fan of the idea of Hallmark sequels because I think it’s a mistake to revisit the same couples over and over again which is why I don’t mind the Evergreen sequels. With that one you get a new couple every time with an appearance of past characters letting you know how they are. Although the third one in that series bored me. I prefer that method of sequel which is how a lot of romance novel series are handled. I really love a good series like Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals or Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. There have been movies where I wouldn’t have minded a sequel where a supporting character becomes the lead. I still wish we got a sequel to Let It Snow where we finally saw the spoken about but never seen brother who lived in Australia. A Christmas in Australia movie would be a lovely change of pace but I knew it would never happen even before Covid made international travel risky. I also wanted to see more of the assistant in Royal Match Maker. I hope we see the Sara/Christopher actors again. The actress playing Sara in particular was good.

That’s interesting.The dog mentioned is a golden retriever but isn’t part of the story.

I can’t tell if you are kidding or not. I have a friend who always asks before we see a movie with action or suspense if any pets are harmed because she won’t watch in that situation. A dog is mentioned in The Silent Corner a couple of times but isn’t part of the story. The lead in The Wallflower Wager takes in animals of all kinds which is why she’s in conflict with her neighbor.

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz took time to get going for me but I was drawn in . I will definitely keep going with this series. Interestingly Eric Larson’s In The Garden of Beasts was referenced. I haven’t read it yet but it’s been in my queue for a few weeks. I might move it ahead on my list but first I am in the mood for some romance. I’m starting The Wallflower Wager today a historical romance where neighbors in conflict fall for each other.

So far I have enjoyed One Royal Holiday and Delivered by Christmas. I liked the leads in both and enjoyed the chemistry. I really appreciated the humor in One Royal Holiday. When Anna compared to Captain VonTrapp, I thought that was a wonderful reference because the Prince’s dry humor worked so well for me. I liked that he tended to be serious with surprising moments of humor here and there. Arraon Tevit is good at making his eyes smile even if his mouth isn’t and that VonTrapp “serious but with hidden charm” is a vibe I like.

I started The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz. This is the first of a series he’s been doing. I liked the Odd Thomas books, so I hope to enjoy this too.

I started The Jackal by JR Ward today. Overall I enjoy the Black Dagger Brotherhood Universe a lot. I hope I like this one too. Some books in the series are more engaging for me than others. Regarding the ending of Mexican Gothic ,

Follow the Stars Home is so good. It deals with serious issues and the cast is so good. The problems of characters in the current Hallmark movies are so repetitive and shallow. Theses movies used to have depth even if they had cliches.

Loving Leah is one of my favorites. The actors are good and the leads had great chemistry. I appreciated that the girlfriend wasn’t cartoon evil and had understandable upset reaction to the situation. This movie is a really great romance that works so well. It’s definitely one of those movies I watch whenever it’s on.

That is my thinking as well, that Leti and Tic’s son is Christina’s backup plan. Christina is a long range thinker. Christina does nothing that is not ultimately useful for her goals. Montrose’s speech about being Tic’s father because a man has sons showcased how he has linked his self image in being a father. Montrose learned through his abuse that being a man meant brutality so Montrose inflicted that same brutality on Tic. I pity what Montrose suffered at the hands of his father, but I have no sympathy for his abuse of Tic. There’s something self serving about how he uses his image as a father as some sort of coping mechanism and proof of his masculinity. I also find myself judging George not for not intervening in Montrose’s abuse because they were still kids and both fearful of their father but the way George was a bystander to Tic’s abuse. It’s worse because he could have used the leverage of being Tic’s possible father to get Tic away from Montrose. When it comes to being a father, both of them failed Tic. Also why didn’t George marry Dora and raise Tic himself? Did George support the marriage of Dora and Montrose because he thought somehow that would help his brother? Is that what Montrose meant when he said George helped him more than anyone else? Why did Dora stand up for Montrose when he was abused but not for Tic? I desperately need a flashback episode that explains the circumstances of Dora and Montrose’s wedding? I am glad that people are learning more about their history. It is sad that events like the Tulsa Massacre are not taught in schools. So much promise and loss of life because of bigotry and they got away with it. If we don’t learn our history we repeat it. It’s scary how much ugliness still exists in modern times. It is not some remnant from the past but a horror that could happen again if people do not actively resist racism.

There was an animated series that included Clara and the kids.

I don't blame her for Norman's mental illness. It is not clear whether his issues were genetic since Norma's mother was mentally ill or as a result of the trauma of being raised with an abusive father. What I blame Norma for is how she handled Norman's mental illness. By trying to conceal things, she created a situation that blocked Norman from getting help earlier before things had gone too far. She also fostered an intensely unhealthy co-dependent relationship with Norman making it extremely difficult for him to connect to anyone outside of her. Both her sons suffered trauma based on how she treated them. Norma suffered from too much attention and Dylan suffered from neglect. Vera Farmiga did amazing work as Norma because she managed to be compelling while at the same time being a mess of a terrible person.

So I agree. So far the narrator is fine with dialog but is so flat for the narration. Reading it is more engrossing than listening.

I really think the format was interesting and well edited. I will never under choosing murder instead of divorce. Shanan was not perfect but she did not deserve death. Neither of them were saints. No one is. What he did to his children was incomprehensible. There’s a You Tuber called Live Abuse Free who did several videos on the case including a 3 part video on Chris’s mother’s book. The videos go into details of the family dynamics and the bad blood between Shanan and Chris’s Family.

I’m starting Mexican Gothic today.

I just started The Bittersweet Bride by Vanessa Riley a romance about a widow looking for a marriage of convenience reunited with a former love.

Have any of you seen Space Station 76 which uses the 70s aesthetic? I thought it was just going to be a spoof of 70s sci-fi and it was promoted like a comedy. It’s more drama than comedy but I enjoyed it despite how heartbreaking some aspects were. The parts that are funny are hilarious. Any scene of Misty and the robot therapist is comedy gold.

That’s one I always enjoy when it’s on.