Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Review

Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

District Attorney Chad visits Hannah’s shop, The Cookie Jar Bakery, but he can’t stay long. His co-worker, Lucas, gave his cases to Chad and disappeared. This occurrence isn’t unusual because Lucas often needs space to regroup. However, things got dicey when Lucas’s wife, Danielle, called the office looking for him. Now, Chad is on the ‘Rocket Docket’ with more cases than normal. He warns Hannah that he may not have time for her until Lucas comes home. Hannah understands, but the missing lawyer gnaws at her. So she visits Danielle with blueberry lavender panna cotta. They sit and discuss what happened before Lucas left. He’s done this previously, but Danielle fears something is different this time. When he leaves, he goes fishing. But he left his equipment and phone behind. Danielle pleads with Hannah to find Lucas. She agrees to help and takes pictures of the home.

Chad handles Lucas’s biggest case against forgers. Spouses, Mitzy and Paul Jacobson, sold gold Civil War coins. However, a client hired Hannah’s mother, Delores, to investigate their shop for selling fakes. Delores went undercover, caused a distraction, and took pictures while Mitzy was outside. She captured the forging plate and gave the evidence to the police. Now, Delores is Chad’s star witness. Mitzy’s trial is first, and she maintains her innocence. During Chad’s trial, Hannah will uncover that the cases are related. But what will she do when someone threatens her life, someone is lying, and someone turns up dead?

Based on Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murders by Joanna Fluke, this mystery has two crimes for Hannah to solve (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The writer carefully wove a tapestry of clues while continuing the overarching story of Chad and Hannah’s romance. The mystery provides different theories and suspects, allowing Hallmarkies to create a murder board in their minds. The jokes are heartfelt, timeless, and hilarious. The cast shines, bringing the script to life. And the motive will show you how cold a killer can be. So have your lemon whippersnappers, morning glory muffins, and butterscotch marshmallow cookies ready because you don’t want to miss this movie.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

It looks simple, until it isn’t – Hannah

I never get mad. It gives one the elevens – Delores

Everything you make is delicious – Chad

It’s my job to make sure we cover all the bases – Ron

Not actual tea, Hannah, never mind – Michelle

That is a huge leap – Lisa

Honestly, it’s been hard – Danielle

I haven’t really been in the mood since my husband passed away – Misty

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Death at the Dinner Party – Review

Death at the Dinner Party – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Andrea visits her son, Ethan, at the home he shares with his roommate, Emma. Ethan carries a torch for Emma but doesn’t express his feelings because of his stutter. Andrea tells him to go for it, because the worst she can say is no. As Andrea and Ethan prepare dinner, Emma enters the kitchen with exciting news. Their favorite professor, Alan Jackson, invited her to a party and allowed her to bring a guest. She invites Ethan. Ethan knows Alan is extremely selective, but he doesn’t want to leave his mother during her visit. Seeing the pain in Ethan’s eyes, she tells him to go. Emma asks Andrea to come with her. She’s sure she can get another invitation.

They arrive at the dinner party and mingle with the guests. Professor Jackson rubs Andrea the wrong way because he blames Ethan’s stutter on her parenting. She corrects his short-minded viewpoint and excuses herself to the dinner table. She sits next to Jackson’s teaching assistant, Kate. They make snide comments about Alan before she exits. Alan’s wife, Nora, sitting across from Andrea, makes her presence known. Andrea excuses herself from the table and talks to other guests. Soon, she hears Emma screaming at the top of the stairs before she falls. Emma dies with papers scattered around her, but the top of the stairs is empty. After the police interview everyone, they label Emma’s death an accident, but Andrea doesn’t believe it. She will stop at nothing to uncover who killed Emma, but will her relentless investigation cost her Ethan?

This film is a mystery that taps into issues facing young men today. Ethan wants to feel strong and be accepted. He will do anything for Alan’s approval. He turns on his mother, rages against bystanders, and rejects his moral compass. Andrea had no idea how to fight this new force in her son’s life. She tries being supportive, assertive, and compassionate. Nothing works. This dynamic will infuriate Lifetimers. Your anger proves how well the writers crafted the story. Ethan doesn’t see his new friends as the problem, but the support system around him. Now, the culprit is predictable to experienced Lifetimers, but not the motive. And the final moments leave you with a shock. This film is entertaining, as it can be triggering.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

Love can be gentle and firm – Emma

These people can’t function outside their ivory towers – Kate

Without his tower, my husband would be no one – Nora

There’s no bigger disgrace than your mind giving up when your body is still willing – Ethan

I’m sorry – Prof. Alan

You think you’re so freaking smart – Andrea

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My Granddaughter Has Your Son’s Face – Review

My Granddaughter Has Your Son’s Face – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Carly sneers at her parents, Don and Suzanne, for portraying a perfect image for Don’s mayoral campaign. They want to control what she says, what she wears, and where she goes. Carly’s friend, Ali, notices that Carly is becoming forgetful and feels ill, but Carly believes it’s her nerves. Carly walks home and takes a shortcut down an alley. Her ex-boyfriend, Marcus, gives her a jump scare. He wants to see her again, but she refuses. Pastor David interjects, forcing Marcus to leave. He warns Carly about the dangers lurking in dark alleys. He wishes more boys were upstanding like his son, Brayton. He smiles and says goodbye until their families have dinner. Suzanne invited David, David’s wife, Isabella, and Brayton over to win David’s endorsement. Carly continues home, feeling awkward about the encounter.

When Carly gets home, she faints. Her parents rush her to the hospital. Surprisingly, Carly gives birth to a daughter, Luna. This child out of wedlock would ruin Don’s chances to gain David’s endorsement. His vote could single-handedly win the campaign for Don. They suggest Carly quietly give the baby up for adoption, but she says no. She proposes they lie and say her parents adopted a baby and kept it quiet because they weren’t sure of the outcome. They agree and question if Carly will tell her ex-boyfriend, Marcus. She says no, because they broke up 10 months ago, which is making him volatile. Carly hopes the lie will fly under the radar, but someone notices the baby’s uncanny resemblance to their son. And they will do anything to protect their family, even kidnap a baby.

This film is off the hinges in a good way. It covers morality, religion, and toxic relationships. There are no protagonists in this movie. Just manipulating people, justifying their actions. That’s why you can’t stop watching. You have to uncover who will be on top, but the kidnapper is an easy pick. Based on their actions and reasoning, you will understand who did it and why. However, watching Carly and her family unwrap the mystery while pretending to take the moral high ground is entertaining. This film loses points due to a predictable villain, but it has compelling, complex characters.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

You owe me that much – Marcus

Go home – David

I thought we did everything right – Suzanne

We always said you can come to us with anything – Don

I feel so stupid – Carly

I don’t know why I am telling you all of this – Isabella

You have her up in the first place – Braden

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All’s Fair in Love and Mahjong – Review

All’s Fair in Love and Mahjong – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Ronni meets with her best friends, Shelley, Melissa, and Carly, to play American-style mahjong. They met at a spirited PTA meeting and stayed friends ever since. They are there to support Ronni because her daughter, Savannah, is moving to college tomorrow. They think Ronni should consider online dating to fill the void. Ronni rejects that idea.

Ronni is a nurse at an elementary school. Principal Gloria pulls Ronni aside and asks her to take over for the fundraiser. They planned on teacher poker, but the instructor dropped out at the last minute. She wants Ronni to teach mahjong. Ronni agrees with delight. Ronni and her ex-husband, Mike, help Savannah pack her car for college. After she drives away, Mike brings up the house. In their divorce decree, Ronni agreed to sell the house when Savannah went to college. Ronni thought she would have more time because the house means something to her. However, Mike wants to sell it soon so he can buy a home with his new wife. He gives Ronni a month to prepare the house and sell it.

Before the fundraiser class, contractor Ben enters with his mother, Birdie. He introduces them, and she invites them to play. Ben joins after Birdie pressures him, and Ronni challenges him. They have a blast learning mahjong (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Ben suggests Ronni teach at Birdie’s retirement community. His mother has been lonely, and it could help her and other residents connect. Ronni agrees before Gloria asks to talk. Unfortunately, Gloria has to reduce Ronni’s hours to part-time. She won’t have the money to pay someone to prepare her home for sale. She will give Ronni the break to accept the new offer.

Ronni teaches at Birdie’s retirement community, and they love her. She mentions the repairs on her home, and Ben offers to do them for free if she keeps teaching. She agrees. During his first visit, Ben impresses Ronni’s friends. They think she should ask him out, but she says no. Ronni goes on her first interview, but it doesn’t go well. The interviewer, Barbara, sees her tile keychain and asks her about the game (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Later, she calls Ronni and asks her to teach her book club for payment. Ben encourages her to start a business. She can use the money to buy Mike out of the house. Can Ronni start a business and keep her home without damaging her new spark with Ben?

This film carefully discusses the history, cultural significance, and versions of the game. It doesn’t ignore where the game started, and its importance to their culture. The script ensures the viewers know it’s not the matching game you play on your computer. Also, Ronni is teaching the American style of the game, acknowledging that there are several. The characters discuss being the ‘default child’ and ‘default parent.’ They explain these buzzwords, where they derive from, and how to overcome them. Also, Ben and Ronni take accountability for their part in becoming those stereotypes. While the movie is endearing, it won’t captivate you.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Your house is my favorite restaurant – Melissa

I see my future in you – Carly

You did a great job – Shelly

I think you’re going to live – Ronni

I still think I should have stuck with those pairs – Ben

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