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The Girl Who Wasn’t Dead – Review
The Girl Who Wasn’t Dead – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Detective Richards returns Erica to Erica’s mother, Carrie, after finding Erica in a hotel with her boyfriend, Andrew, 3 days after Erica ran away. Erica is furious. She doesn’t understand Carrie’s problem with Andrew. Cassie explains that Erica is 15 while Andrew is 21. Erica reminds Cassie she will be 16 soon. Cassie doesn’t care and asks Richards to press charges against Andrew. Erica runs to her room to sulk.
Erica meets her friend, Liam, at school. He was upset she ran away again. But she loves Andrew. She feels smothered by Cassie and the rules and thinks the age difference is unfair for true love. Liam sees Erica ditch school to see Andrew. She wants to plan more time together, but Andrew breaks up with her. Richards warned Andrew an underage crime could affect his future employment and land him in jail. Erica sobs and walks home.
Erica enters and finds her parents with Liam. Liam told them she left school early. Her father, Dan, takes her phone and berates her before she runs upstairs. Dan tells Cassie to be harder on her, but Cassie blames their divorce for Erica’s behavior. Cassie instructs Dan to leave and talks to Erica. She wants to mend her relationship and have an open dialog. Erica cries and tells Cassie they broke up. Cassie consoles her daughter.
For a month, Erica is the model daughter and student. Cassie breathes a sigh of relief until Erica doesn’t come home. Cassie talks to teachers and classmates. Liam went bowling with Erica after school but he hasn’t seen Erica since. Cassie doesn’t believe Erica ran away again because they were getting along. Also, Cassie saw reports about missing girls on the news. She worries Erica could be another victim. Cassie runs to Detective Richards and begs Richards to handle the case as a missing person. Richards goes to Andrew’s home but Erica isn’t there. After a thinly veiled threat from Cassie, Richards conducts a press conference asking for people to look for Erica. Cassie will get answers to her questions about Erica’s disappearance, but will she like them?
Well, someone should slap this spoiled brat across the face. Erica didn’t receive a harsh enough punishment for putting her family and friends through the worst possible scenario. She should lose everything, not only money. She got the life she wanted and didn’t learn anything. Erica was a spoiled brat at home and another when she was away. She pleaded to be with a grown man. Then, she whined and cried about being unable to leave. The film shows the family’s perspective after Erica’s disappearance. Then, it rewinds to display Erica’s view. She deserves nothing but a spanking. This movie was infuriating.
I give it 2 out of 5 stars
Get another boyfriend – Detective Richards
I don’t care about your divorce – Erica
My job is to protect you – Carrie
Don’t get murdered – Liam
Maybe we can just cool it for a while – Andrew
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A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Review
A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Hallmark Mystery – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Hannah prepares treats for Lonnie’s reunion party. Hannah’s mother, Delores, tries to manufacture a flirty conversation between Hannah and Prosecuting Attorney Chad. But neither give into her con. Delores gets a call that a studio is shooting a commercial in their small town, so she grabs Hannah to check out the set.
They arrive to see an actress screaming about an extra tripping her. The director, David, fails at calming the actress, and she storms off. The extra follows. David sees Delores and thinks she’s perfect for the role. He hires Delores on the spot. Hannah leaves with Chad.
At the police station, Detective Lonnie pulls Chad aside and updates Chad on an online stalker case. Darcy claims her former boss, Glen, has been harassing her over text. Lonnie got the case. However, he worries there will be a conflict of interest because he knows Darcy. Chad isn’t worried because Lake Eden is a small community. He advises Lonnie to fill out the proper forms and continue working.
Hannah bakes for the party while her sister, Michelle, and Michelle’s boyfriend, Lonnie, mingle. Lonnie introduces Michelle to his friends, B&B owners Cassie and Brian. Cassie and Brian praise Hannah’s delectable treats to Michelle while Darcy stumbles toward them. Lonnie introduces Darcy as his friend from high school. After an uncomfortable conversation with Lonnie and Michelle, Darcy teeters away with her boyfriend, Adam. As the party ends, Hannah updates Cassie and Brian on their kitchen’s state. Then, the group sees Adam and Darcy arguing. Adam breaks up with Darcy and leaves. Hannah recognized Darcy as the extra from the commercial. Hannah worries because a drunk Darcy doesn’t have a ride home. To determine who will drive Darcy home, Lonnie, Cassie, and Brian play Rock, Paper, Scissors. And Lonnie loses.
Lonnie calls Hannah in the morning to say thank you again. He took Darcy home, put her in bed, locked Darcy’s door, and threw the keys through the cat door. Hannah takes pity on Darcy because Darcy is a cat lover. Hannah makes her hangover-cure smoothies and brings them to Darcy’s home. Darcy doesn’t answer. So, Hannah wedges herself in the cat door and grabs the keys Lonnie left behind. She and Melissa enter the house and find Darcy in bed, dead. Hannah doesn’t worry until the coroner declares Darcy’s death a homicide. Lonnie was the last person to see Darcy alive. So, the police make him the number one suspect. Hannah knows Lonnie isn’t a murderer, so she vows to find the real culprit.
Based on Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke, Hannah still proves herself to Chad by finding Darcy’s killer (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Other officers ask Chad to let Hannah assist, but Chad says no. He finds it charming that Hannah solves the occasional murder, but he understands the legal implications of her assistance. Darcy was the perfect victim because she had several enemies. She was a manipulative, vengeful drama queen who drank too much. So the script did a stellar job of pulling you into the plot with an entertaining mystery, funny conversations, and a guest appearance from a Hallmark legend. While you will love the mystery, the culprit is less complicated to uncover than in earlier films. This film establishes Chad and Hannah’s budding romance, cements Lonnie and Melissa’s relationship, and grows Delores’s character. It’s an easy enigma but a pleasurable watch.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
You get the best results when you slow down – Hannah
Julie Child said ‘without dessert, a party is just a meeting’ – Lisa
I think I may have just averted a crisis – David
I can’t pull strings like that – Lonnie
But everything is perfect, even with the extra guests – Cassie
Maybe you should take it easy – Adam
What was that about – Michelle
Wow, I definitely have a new favorite baker – Brian
Nice going, Adam – Darcy
When has anyone ever died of natural causes when you’re involved – Delores
I don’t like seeing Lonnie’s face on this board – Chad
But you told me – Andrea
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The Book Club Murders – Review
The Book Club Murders – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Natalie walks around the bookstore with her daughter, Gwen. Natalie can’t find a book, but Gwen has several. The owner, Wendy, gives Natalie a flyer for the book club. Natalie isn’t sure, but Gwen encourages her mother to sign up. Natalie and Gwen can’t help but notice the missing person’s flyer on the wall. It’s for Gwen’s best friend, Lauren. It’s been almost a year since Lauren disappeared. Natalie and Gwen return home. Natalie worries because tomorrow is Gwen’s first day at school after Lauren’s disappearance. The rumor mill went into overdrive, so Gwen left. However, Gwen assures Natalie she can handle it.
Natalie cautiously walks into the book club, and Wendy greets her with open arms. Wendy quietly points out the club members, but Natalie knows some of them. Anita is the mother of Gwen’s friend, Tori, and April is the guidance counselor at Tori and Gwen’s high school. Sadie is the mother of Gwen’s boyfriend, Tony, and newcomer Meredith, but Wendy calls her Margie. Natalie introduces herself to April and Anita after they discuss the book. Natalie notices Anita holding a threatening note and a black envelope with Anita’s name in calligraphy. Anita becomes defensive, snaps at Natalie, and leaves.
Days later, Tori texts Gwen with sad information. MIT revoked Tori’s acceptance because Anita paid someone to take Tori’s exam without Tori’s knowledge. Someone told MIT and Tori’s other potential colleges. Gwen tells Natalie, and Natalie recalls the threatening note. Over time, everyone in the book club gets a black envelope except for Natalie. The book club implodes when Meredith barges into the club and slaps Wendy for having an affair with her husband. Then, the person with the poisoned pen kills April.
Sadie comes to Natalie’s home under the guise of neighborly consoling and demands Natalie turn herself over to the police. Sadie spews the rumors. Natalie and her husband knew Lauren had difficulty dealing with her ailing grandmother, Meredith. Natalie invited Lauren to live with their family. However, she became a bad influence on Gwen. So, Natalie asked Lauren to leave. The townspeople speculated that Natalie’s husband and Lauren were having an affair, so Natalie made Lauren disappear. Natalie kicks Sadie and Sadie’s lasagna out. Later, Sadie goes to the mailbox and finds a black envelope addressed to Gwen. Inside is Lauren’s missing person flyer with ‘I KNOW’ written across it. Natalie hides the threat from Gwen and runs to Wendy for assistance. But Natalie finds Wendy dead with a purple scarf tied around her neck. Natalie dashes away for help and runs into Meredith. The police hear about the slapping incident and arrest Meredith for murder. Natalie knows Meredith is innocent and vows to prove it before Gwen is the next victim. Can Natalie save her daughter?
This mystery starts slow because the first murder happens after 45 minutes. Then, the story goes into overdrive with innuendoes, threats, and shady people. While the adults bicker, Gwen navigates through the complicated world of teen gossip. Also, she survived after her dad died and her house burned down. Tony’s parents dislike Gwen because of the gossip, and Gwen stands by Tori during Tori’s downfall. Gwen hides this information from Natalie while she investigates the crimes with Tony. This plot is about Gwen and Natalie racing to the truth to save each other. The killer is compelling, and their motive is unhinged. The culprit’s monologue pulls the film’s insane plot together. This picture is the mystery LMN needed.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
You can never have too many books – Natalie
Come on, mom. You should give it a try – Gwen
It’s nothing – Anita
If it’s one thing I’ve learned; it’s that people are crazy. And it has nothing to do with me – Wendy
The next time I hit you, it will be with a baseball bat – Meredith
It seems that none of our secrets are safe – Sadie
By an alibi, you provided – Trevor
I’m with you, Gwen – Tony
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There’s a New Killer in Town – Review
There’s a New Killer in Town – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Alice greets her neighbors before going to work, and her student volunteer, Maddie, hands Alice the keys to the greenhouse. Alice left them in the door overnight. Alice allows Maddie to garden before school. Alice notices a woman, Ronnie, taking photos of her and asks why. Ronnie explains she is an author, writing about small towns, and was taking pictures of the greenery. Ronnie allows Alice to look through the images, and Alice approves.
Alice goes to the Double R Diner to talk to her friend, waitress Holly. Holly spies Ronnie staring through the window at Alice after Alice leaves for the bathroom. When Alice comes back, Ronnie enters and sits next to Alice. Holly mentions Ronnie’s creepy behavior, and Ronnie says she was looking at the menu to ensure it doesn’t have seafood. Ronnie and Alice eat lunch and talk. Ronnie offers to pay for their meal but forgets her wallet in her hotel. Alice pays instead. Alice asks where Ronnie is staying, and Ronnie states all the hotels have zero openings. Holly questions Ronnie because Ronnie said she left her debit card in the hotel earlier. Alice dismisses Holly’s question because Holly is overprotective. Alice invites Ronnie to stay with her for the evening.
Ronnie relaxes at Alice’s home. Alice reveals she had an abusive ex-husband, Kevin. She escaped and settled in town. Holly moved soon after because her sister died. Holly and Alice have a memorial for Holly’s sister every year. Alice’s boyfriend, Officer Oscar, comes by for a late-night rendezvous, but Alice cancels plans with him for Ronnie.
Alice goes to the diner for breakfast but can’t find her debit card or ID. Holly assumes Ronnie stole it but not Alice. Holly pays for Alice’s meal and brings it to Alice’s car as Alice searches for her card. Ronnie sees Alice searching and offers to buy Alice breakfast as payback for the day before. Alice accepts, but Holly doesn’t trust Ronnie. Later that evening, the bank sends Alice a withdrawal notification for $250. Alice calls the bank to dispute the charges and finds her card and ID in her purse. Now, Alice questions her friendship with Ronnie. Alice thinks Ronnie wants more than friendship; she wants Alice’s identity. How far will Ronnie go to get everything?
Lifetimers give this movie a chance. It starts slow and dimwitted, but everything comes full circle with a startling twist that fans want. Alice is a loving neighbor who opens her home to anyone. She cares for Maddie but rarely looks out for herself. Holly is in Alice’s corner. She catches Ronnie in white lies and investigates everyone in Alice’s life. Holly refuses to lose another sister. The climax is so twisted you may have to watch it twice to catch all the clues you missed. This film feels like the typical new-person-is-evil plot but has so many layers. So, give this picture a chance for a rewarding ending.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
With tropical palms comes great responsibility – Alice
My three favorite qualities – Ronnie
She scares me – Oscar
I am just caring for my friend – Holly
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The Real West – Review
The Real West – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Rebecca prepares breakfast for her sons, Ollie and Noah. Ollie teaches Rebecca about the types of ghosts before Noah comes downstairs. Noah says he is applying to other colleges to be with his girlfriend, Jasmine. Rebecca assumed Noah would apply to Boulder because it’s a good school, and she is up for tenure. She thinks Noah and Jasmine could use some distance. Noah admits he feels the same way but about her. It’s been three years since their dad died, and he thinks Rebecca should have a life outside of home. Before Rebecca responds, she sees Jasmine and her mother, Sylvia, drive to the front door. Noah confesses that he invited Jasmine to their family vacation without telling Rebecca. Rebecca wants to say no, but Sylvia has a Hawaiian shirt on. Jasmine’s parents planned a separate vacation since Jasmine will be away. Rebecca gives in.
Rebecca, Noah, Ollie, and Jasmine travel to the Mustang Point Ranch. Her sister, Cassidy, and mother, Maureen, greet them. The trip was Cassidy’s idea to celebrate Rebecca’s tenure, but Rebecca is still waiting for the call. However, Cassidy has an ulterior motive. She met a guy in New York and invited him to come. She wants him to meet her family and spend quality time with him. Rebecca stops in town to buy a hat and gets assistance from Jake. Jake circles Rebecca and picks up three hats that match her vibe. Jake wakes the owner to help. Rebecca realizes Jake doesn’t work there and can’t hide her embarrassment. She offers to buy him coffee as an apology.
Rebecca reveals her life story to Jake and gives Jake her number before he walks away. Rebecca gushes to her family about the new man she met. They want to hear more about the brooding rodeo man but stop her when Cassidy’s boyfriend arrives. Cassidy introduces everyone to her new boyfriend, Jake. Rebecca and Jake pretend not to know each other and say hello. Still, Maureen notices a glance between the two. Rebecca chooses to stay away from Jake to calm her attraction. It will become increasingly difficult when Cassidy asks Rebecca to do recon for her by spending time alone with Jake. Can Rebecca keep her feelings at bay, or will she betray her sister?
This movie sets up for drama, but Hallmark wraps it in kindness and understanding. You know how it will end, but the writers ensure viewers don’t see Rebecca and Jake as the antagonists. Everyone is pushing Rebecca to move on with her life after losing her husband three years ago. She’s put her energy into raising her boys. However, Noah wants his mom to loosen the reins. Ollie doesn’t mind because he’s young. In the conclusion, the audience will see that Rebecca hasn’t let go of her pain. She does everything for everyone but leaves nothing for herself. That lesson is the takeaway from this film.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I think that it’s nice that you have nothing better to do than hang out with us – Ollie
I was kind of thinking the same thing, but about you – Noah
Wow, pot calling the kettle – Cassidy
I’m regretting this already – Rebecca
Sound like you know a lot about ranch life – Aaron
I am going to say this as nicely as possible. Noah’s right. You need to get a life – Maureen
You sure you came to the right place – Jake
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Categories: A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Alison Sweeney, Barbara Niven, Brittany Underwood, Emma Tremblay, Eva Igo, Fall Into Love, hallmark, Hallmark Mystery, Hanneke Talbot, James Denton, Kathryn Kohut, Kimberley Sustad, Kyle Clark, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Lucas Bryant, Lydnsey Fonseca, Made for TV, movie, review, Shocktober, Signature Mystery, Sleuthers, The Book Club Murders, The Girl Who Wasn't Dead, The Real West, There's a New Killer in Town, tv review, Victor Webster
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