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Lee (2222 KP) created a poll

Dec 2, 2019  
Poll
Smashbomb Greatest Christmas Movie 2019 - Group B: Round 3
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE. Poll will close later this week and overall progress will be updated for you to view here - http://cinechat.co.uk/smashbomb-xmas.jpg


Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
The Holiday (2006)
The Santa Clause (1994)
The Snowman and The Snowdog (2012)
Vote
     
Noelle (2019)
Noelle (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
This is a surprisingly cute and fun holiday film -- and it encourages the belief that a woman can be Santa. Is the plot deep? No. Do we need our Christmas plots to be deep? No! There's whimsy, a lot of humor, and it works for both kids (mine loved it at age 8) and adults. Count me in.
  
CH
Caillou: Happy Holidays!
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another contribution from this bright, familiar series. this book can quickly become a favourite and whilst this one is particular to the holiday season, Caillou has several different adventures for your child to pick up. The idea of being able to support a little one in the exciting build up to Christmas alongside introducing them to the wider world and traditions of other cultures is a wonderful idea and one to be applauded. Who knows, reading this book may add to your own christmas traditions.
  
The Holiday Calendar  (2018)
The Holiday Calendar (2018)
2018 | Drama, Family, Romance
The Calendar (0 more)
Likeability of main character (0 more)
Solid feel good Christmas film
I enjoyed this Christmas film. It had magic, romance and drama. The acting was good and the storyline was a nice Christmas story line.
The main character will be familiar as Bonnie from The Vampire Diaries and as good an actor as she is, she is more annoying than likeable. That is the case in this film too. It's a shame, but the mistake she makes that causes the drama, seems like something a spoilt pentulant toddler would do. You take an instant dislike to her, not that you loved her from the off though.
Overall, I liked the idea and did enjoy the movie. Everyone needs a little magic at Christmas and The Holiday Calendar provides it.
  
Wreath Between the Lines
Wreath Between the Lines
Daryl Wood Gerber | 2018 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Killer at Christmas
The town of Chrystal Cove, California is getting into the Christmas spirit, and Jenna Hart is busy with a bunch of Christmas themed events at the Cookbook Nook. Her life is more complicated by the fact that her sister and her family are visiting, and Jenna gets pulled into their drama. But things take a huge turn when her neighbor, Jake, comes over in a panic one night to report that a friend who had been staying with him has been murdered, trussed up with Christmas light and stabbed by a Christmas star. Who would want to kill a visitor to town? Or was Jake the intended target?

If you are looking for a cozy filled with Christmas spirit, you've come to the right place. This book is filled with Christmas. The mystery is a little weak since a couple of sub-plots crowd it out, but we do still get some twists before reaching a creative and fun climax. The series regulars are all here, and it is wonderful to catch up with them again. Once you've finished the book, you can keep the Christmas spirit with the many recipes for holiday goodies at the end.
  
Are you looking for a book that may bring the meaning of Christmas home to children through the eyes of a Christmas Tree? Bruce the Spruce: A New York City Fairytale About the True Meaning of Christmas Trees is excellent. Children will learn about the true meaning of Christmas Trees.

We meet Bruce the Spruce, and he wants to be the attention of the crowds. Will he learn a lesson and what he did for this job to learn his lesson in gratitude? We follow him on his journey from when he was taken and put on to the street to where he ends up.

Children will learn about being grateful and what you cherish. Will Bruce understand what it means to be a Christmas Tree? I enjoyed how this book ended; Children and parents will love this book. The author did a fantastic job with the plot of this story. The pictures are well done. I just loved how Bruce reacted and showed his emotions.

This book is excellent to have on your bookshelves for the holiday season. This book should be read close to Christmas or leading up to Christmas. I show the meaning of Christmas to children and adults as well.
  
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
2017 | Comedy
Christmas is the happiest time of the year. At least it’s supposed to be, Moms are expected to work tirelessly throughout the Christmas season to ensure that the holiday is absolute perfection for their families. The gifts are to be wrapped with precision, decorations hanging from every available bough, food that could be lifted from the pages of Bon Appétit magazine, all done without breaking a sweat. Tis the season for family and frolic, yet our Bad Moms are stressed beyond their imagination this holiday season. Why? Because their mothers have arrived.

This Christmas, Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) are enter the holiday season feeling the pressure of Christmas present. With all that need to be done, they agree that this is the Christmas where they make the rules. Amy decides that they are going to have a low key holiday. However, that goes against the everything Ruth (Christine Baranski), Amy’s mom believes and expects as she arrives in a tornado of holiday perfection, trailed by her blissfully oblivious husband Hank (Peter Gallagher). Ruth is a perfectionist, a task master extraordinaire who expects no less from her child. Amy, tired of trying to get her mother’s approval, decides to change the traditions.

 Kiki’s Mom Sandy (Cheryl Hines) is the clinging, overbearing type who’s behavior could be classified as stalker; if she were not Kiki’s mom. Sandy’s need to be close to her daughter crosses the comfort zone in so many ways. Kiki decides to see Dr. Karl (Wanda Sykes), the family therapist, who explains the maternal process of insanity in hilariously truthful detail.

Isis (Susan Sarandon) shows up at Carla’s house unexpectedly. She seems to only show up at Carla’s door when she has run out of money. She is on the other side of the maternal spectrum, the hands off type. Carla has had to fend for herself for years and expects her mother to take off without a moment’s notice.

I enjoyed the first Bad Moms, but I was hesitant to watch the sequel because there was a chance that it would not be as good as the first. I quite surprised by how much I enjoyed the movie. It made me snort laugh more than once. This is the perfect movie for a Girls Night Out. Grab your BFFs and head to the theater to take a break this holiday season!
  
The Grinch (2018)
The Grinch (2018)
2018 | Animation, Family, Sci-Fi
This iteration of the Dr. Seuss holiday classic is from Universal Studios and Illumination (the creators that brought you “Despicable Me” and “Minions”). You may recognize the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch (The Grinch), Rashida Jones (Donna Who, Cindy-Lou Who’s mother), Kenan Thompson (Mr. Bricklebaum The Grinch’s closest, by distance, neighbor), Pharrell Williams (The Narrator) and Angela Landsbury (The Mayor).

The storyline follows the original story loosely, focusing on The Grinch and Cindy-Lou Who. We are given a look at how The Grinch came to hate Christmas. The back story credibly explains why he despises the holiday and all that goes with it. We do get to see his relationship with his loyal dog Max. The Grinch is portrayed as a grump, but he is endearing to his dog.

Cindy-Lou Who has a plan to execute in order to accomplish her Christmas wish. We learn that her wish is for her mom and she feels it important to get her message to Santa in time for Christmas day. With her best friend Axl and the rest of her gang, they hatch a plan for Cindy to catch Santa and give him the message. Meanwhile, The Grinch has his own Christmas plans to put together.

The movie has the basic framework of the Seuss holiday tale, the animated feature gives the characters more of a personality than the original. We are endeared to Cindy-Lou Who and her friends that support her dreams as well as seeing The Grinch showing that he loves his dog, the loyal companion and helper. He is not all bad and is redeemable.

“The Grinch” is a cute, charming family film that brings the audience into the Holiday Season. It is a movie that the little ones can appreciate and the adults can enjoy as well. This is a good, kid friendly, animated feature.
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Nov 23, 2020  
Stop by my blog, and sneak a peek at the Western historical romance novel THE COWBOY WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS by Jodi Thomas, Sharla Lovelace, and Scarlett Dunn. Enter the GIVEAWAY to win a print copy signed by Jodi Thomas!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/11/book-blitz-and-giveaway-cowboy-who.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
The Lone Star State doesn't have to be lonely during Christmas time!

Legendary author Jodi Thomas headlines a new holiday-themed Western historical romance collection featuring three Texas-set stories of romance and adventure.

The Civil War is over, Christmas is coming—and it's time for three rugged cowboys to hang-up their spurs and settle down. These authors combine their talents and excel at creating atmosphere and complex characters which infuse these stories with Texas history and evoke the grandeur of a bygone era and the indomitable pioneer spirit of the region.

Prepare to be swept off your feet by these heroic cowboys who will stop at nothing to make sure this Christmas is one to remember. Ideal for gift giving, The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas will be the fan-favorite collection of romance for the 2020 Christmas season!
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#LSBBT #LoneStarLit
     
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Oct 29, 2021  
Sneak a peek at the Christian historical romance UNDER THE TEXAS MISTLETOE: A TRIO OF CHRISTMAS HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELLAS by Karen Witemeyer on my blog. Be sure to enter the giveaway to win a Christmas sign and/or a signed copy of the book - four winners total!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/10/book-blitz-and-giveaway-under-texas.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
This historical romance novella collection presents "A Texas Christmas Carol," where a town's wealthy, Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors.
 
It also includes "An Archer Family Christmas." When the Archer clan gathers for the holiday, they encounter an unexpected request for help that will require all their effort and a Christmas miracle to see them through.
  
In previously published "Gift of the Heart," a widow uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local resort owner. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love this Christmas.
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Bethany House Fiction #LSBBT #LoneStarLit