Holiday Fare

This book is a collection of three Christmas romance novellas from popular authors. Political rivals fall in love during a plane crash, a divorced dad's teenage daughter plays matchmaker, and a woman's aunt does so from the grave (so to speak). 

Each speeds things along, two especially, the desire. People want to get married after a few days or something. It's a bit ridiculous at times. I might not like one or more of these as full-length books. But, for a hundred pages or less, things go along pleasantly enough. 

Christmas on Cherry Lane is the newest Hallmark Channel film. 

There is a ridiculous number of holiday films (there is a Hanukkah film tonight) on multiple channels now. I found out I have three Hallmark Channels though one often has dramas or mysteries instead of films. I found out I have the Great American Family Network. Lifetime has some Christmas films. As do others. There were at least four options at the same time last night. 

This film does stand out. It comes out that the film actually takes place over three time periods with somewhat (at least one is a bit of a surprise) interrelated families. Thus, a woman has a child in 1973, who takes in for Christmas in 1999 a young foster boy, who grows up to be the husband of a guy and they are getting their own foster daughter. A policeman helps deliver that baby. His two children are part of the family involved in the main 1999 story.  The daughter does become a singer, who becomes friends with that couple. And so on.  I might have missed something!

The film has a large cast (three storylines & that 1973 family has to deal with a bunch of family members coming in). Overall, the three storylines work out well and do not seem too thin or something. There are a few familiar faces, including Catherine Bell (Good Witch, etc.) 

With so many films, it is good that they try to mix it up some. Hallmark may try to have more people of color as main characters! Also, there are so many films (on different channels) with royalty. Not only do they have mostly males as the royal love interest, but the characters tend to be from some imaginary European nation. Why not toss in some from other areas? Oceania is filled with possibilities alone!  

Oh well. I DVR'ed two more films. Will see how they go. One doesn't appear to be a Christmas film!  And, darn, Grammarly makes me feel like an incompetent writer with so many suggestions! 

ETA: The Amish Bakery movie on Up TV was a Christmas film. 

I liked it -- it was the less polished, somewhat more natural, and roughly acted film that is often found on that channel. It gently taught its morals, including noting that Amish life is a matter of choice. Perhaps, other religions should have a formal process for young adults to take to determine if they want to continue some of the aspects of the faith.

The Hanukkah film where a woman gets caught in a time loop tied to both her self-confidence and romance was overall pleasant. It had some good supporting characters. It tied together, pacing-wise, generally well. A dreidel plays an important role as does fried jelly donuts. 

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The big baseball news is that the two-way phenom signed for the Dodgers (10 years/700M). I find that ridiculous. I assume that baseball being a business and all (often with teams, including the Mets, with extremely rich ownership), they are not just throwing money away. 

There was a rumor (it would have been nice) that he was going to Toronto, owned by some deep pockets. The idea there was he would be an "event."  I do not know how much that translates into. Does it translate into THAT much revenue? Anyway, it turned out to be a bad tip, and he went to a much more expected team.  I figured he would stay on the West Coast.

It somewhat depresses me that the Dodgers just have one more reason to shine. It does make it somewhat easier for the Mets to sign the big Japanese pitcher on the market.  Still, Ohtani is not due to pitch in 2024 with his injury. How long could he pitch when he does?  And, who wants just to see a very good outfielder? I know. He's extremely good.  70M good? 

And, what if he gets hurt, as players do? I know the deal. But, do wish they share a microscopic fraction of the wealth with me somehow!