Five Tree Christmas

In this episode I chat with Maddie Rudawski about her life as a public librarian for a mid-size public library system. Maddie shares all sorts of insights about library life, including the different kinds of librarians that exist, the diversity of work that librarians do, the institutional dynamics that affect libraries, and all sorts of other interesting tidbits. And of course we also talk stories and Christmas! In fact, Maddie runs a silly, very snarky blog where she reviews made-for-TV Christmas movies: thehallmarkproject.weebly.com, and you can find her on Twitter at @hey_librarygirl. 

Reviews of Meet Me At Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) & A Timeless Christmas (Hallmark Channel). 

Synopses:

Meet Me At Christmas: When her son's wedding planner quits, Joan must coordinate his Christmas Eve wedding with the help of Beau, the bride's uncle. They realize their fates and pasts are intertwined. Stars Catherine Bell and Mark Deklin.

A Timeless Christmas: Charles Whitley travels from 1903 to 2020 where he meets Megan Turner and experiences a 21st Century Christmas. Starring Erin Cahill and Ryan Paevey.

Reviews of The Christmas Doctor (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) and The Christmas Edition (Lifetime).

Synopses:

The Christmas Doctor: Zoey is a traveling doctor who prefers short assignments to staying put, so when she is assigned to a small town clinic for the holidays, she is surprised when she starts to feel at home.

The Christmas Edition:It’s Christmas time and Jackie, an up-and- coming journalist, finds that her life is at a crossroads until she finds an unexpected opportunity – to run a small-town newspaper in Alaska. Jackie decides to give it a try and relocates to the small picture-perfect small town. Using a series of Christmas articles, she’s able to quickly return the newspaper to profitability, and soon falls in love… both with her new home and the handsome son of the paper’s former owner. However, when her old boss announces plans to take over the paper for herself, Jackie will need a Christmas miracle to save it.

Reviews of Christmas on the Vine (Lifetime), Christmas in Vienna (Hallmark Channel), and Christmas Wheels (Lifetime).

Synopses: 

Christmas on the Vine: Brooke (Julianna Guill), a young marketing executive, goes back to her hometown excited to relive her Christmas memories, while helping a struggling family-owned winery. Her marketing assignment involves an unlikely partnership with Tyler (Jon Corr), the charismatic, yet stubborn owner of the winery. Brooke quickly learns that the town’s Christmas spirit has disappeared due to a wine conglomerate buying out all of the local wineries. Determined to bring Christmas back to the town, Brooke and Tyler work together and discover they share more than a love for wine.

Christmas in Vienna: Jess, a concert violinist whose heart just isn’t in it anymore, goes to Vienna for a performance. While there, she finds the inspiration she has been missing, and a new love. Starring Sarah Drew and Brennan Elliott.

Christmas Wheels: Blaire Fowler, who has recently lost some of her Christmas spirit, travels back to her hometown for the holidays at the request of her uncle who every season delivers toys in his vintage Cadillac to all the local shelters and foster homes in town. Not only is Blaire reunited with her uncle but also Hunter, her former high school flame now a lawyer and a town hero in his own right, who decides to help Blaire bring gifts to all the children and also help remind her of the joys of the holiday season in their town. (Stars Tiya Sircar & Michael Xavier)

Review of Jingle Jangle (Netflix).

Synopsis: In the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton, legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle's (Forest Whitaker) fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when his trusted apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key) steals his most prized creation, it's up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter (Madalen Mills) - and a long-forgotten invention - to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within.

In this episode, I discuss accessories  and style with Kathleen & Kristin of Wish Upon a Shop (wishuponashop.co). We talk about items like mask chains & headbands, what it's like to work with a friend, running multiple small businesses, and iconic style on TV and in the movies. 

Reviews of Christmas with the Darlings (Hallmark Channel), A Very Charming Christmas Town (Lifetime), & The Christmas Bow (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)

Synopses: 

Christmas with the Darlings: When an assistant gives her final notice, she is drawn into helping the charming, younger brother of her wealthy boss as he looks after his orphaned nieces and nephew through Christmas. Stars Katrina Law, Carlo Marks and Steve Bacic.

A Very Charming Christmas Town: City girl and travel and lifestyle blogger, Aubrey Lang, goes to the little town of Solvang for her next holiday vlog piece after it’s voted Most Christmassy Town in the USA. She soon meets Sawyer Larsen, a local community coordinator and chocolate shop owner assigned to show her around the small town. At first, the unlikely pairing is at odds but soon start to fall for each other amidst the twinkling lights of the romantic little Danish village. Natalie Hall, Jon Prescott, Kelley Jakle, Jo Marie Payton, Tracey E. Bregman star. (2020)

The Christmas Bow: Kate is a promising musician whose lifelong dream of playing in the Rocky Mountain Philharmonic is put on hold by an accident. Reconnecting with Patrick, an old family friend, and his young cousin Gavin (Kenneth Cummins, “The Road Home for Christmas”), while recovering at home during the Christmas holiday, she finds love in someone who believes in her. Starring Lucia Micarelli and Michael Rady.

Reviews of "A Welcome Home Christmas" (Lifetime) and "The Christmas Ring" (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries).

Synopses: 

The Christmas Ring: A reporter searches for the love story behind an antique engagement ring. With the help of the ring's owner's grandson, they learn the legacy his grandparent's left behind. 

 A Welcome Home Christmas: Chloe has always supported various military organizations, including the town’s Army toy drive for Christmas. This year, she is paired up with Michael, a vet who recently returned home, and together they recruit other veterans and active military personnel to help in the cause. As the community gears up for the Officer’s Christmas Ball, where all the kids will meet Santa Claus and receive their gifts, Michael and Chloe begin to realize the greatest gift this season has been each other’s company. 

Reviews of Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (Hallmark Channel), Operation Christmas Drop (Netflix), and Christmas Yule Blog (Lifetime) 

Synopses: 

Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater: Social media travel writer Caroline Williams is sent to Carte De Amor, New Mexico on an assignment where she meets high school teacher Oscar Ortiz, who introduces her to another side of Christmas.

Operation Christmas Drop: Congressional aide Erica forgoes family Christmas to travel at her boss's behest. At a beachside Air Force base, she clashes with Capt. Andrew Jantz, who knows her assignment is finding reasons to defund the facility.

Christmas Yule Blog: Social media travel writer Caroline Williams is sent to Carte De Amor, New Mexico on an assignment where she meets high school teacher Oscar Ortiz, who introduces her to another side of Christmas.

Review of The Christmas Aunt (Lifetime). 

Synopsis: Two weeks before Christmas, Rebecca Miller returns home to Tennessee to take care of her niece and nephew and ends up reconnecting with her childhood best friend.