There is a lot of the usual formula stuff in this movie. Woman goes home to help family with dad's injury, sister's imminent childbirth and broke family cafe. Meanwhile she considers a job promotion in far away London. Of course she meets a guy and has to work closely with him for a Founder's Day event. The misunderstanding that creates friction at the climax is slightly unusual but only in the details. Put it all together and the story has no great highs or lows or surprises.
I like Brittany Bristow. She is good with the role of winsome young woman. Amber has limited talents especially in traditional female roles, but her personality is appealing. I thought Bristow and Corey Sevier connected with quiet chemistry supported by a good amount of screen time. So I was content to enjoy their relationship despite a lackluster story.
Several reviewers (dis)credit Hallmark but Reel One Entertainment supports Lifetime and Hallmark. I saw this on UpTV and I think I would have noticed if it was aired on Hallmark.
Plot summary
Amber Verdon loves the global travel aspect of her job as Project Manager with Chicago-based Marsh Technologies, her work which has led to her putting her first love, painting, on the back-burner, perhaps permanently. Her original career thought was to do that travel while she led the bohemian life of the painter. While mulling over a very attractive offer for a promotion which would give her a more settled life in London, Amber is called back to her small hometown of Whitbrooke Harbor, Illinois by her mother, Barbara Verdon, as her father, Rick Verdon, is currently laid up, and she requires some help for a few days at the family café, despite the culinary arts not being among Amber's skill set. It is an especially busy time in Whitbrooke Harbor with planning for the imminent Founder Days celebrations, this the one-hundredth anniversary, Amber who plans to stay until Founder's Day. While back in Whitbrooke Harbor, Amber learns that the family is facing financial hardship with their rent for the café recently being raised by the new property owner, they unable to make any of their operational payments in the process. Amber also gets involved in the Founder's Day celebration organization herself, she working closely with Jason Taylor, a carpenter by trade, he and his younger sister, Molly Taylor, who works in the café, the last two descendants of the town founders. Jason, who had wanted too to lead the life of the world traveler, long ago returned to Whitbrooke Harbor upon his parents' passing to look after Molly. As Amber and Jason spend more time together, they start to fall for each other. With everything else happening in her life, will Jason be a factor in what Amber decides to do about the London job?
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Movie Reviews
Not great, not terrible
Unnatural dialogue
The script and acting were not good. Everything from the word choice to the fake delivery to the lack of conversation flow felt completely unnatural. Even something as silly as every character referring to their own sister as "Sis" just felt off.
And the nephew -- I just can't with the nephew! "My aunt Amber's pretty, ISN'T SHE??????" Please, all future Hallmark movie writers, just stop it with the awkward kid moments. No one is watching these movies for them.
And for good measure, Hallmark included their usual whimsical music to drive every viewer crazy within the first 20 minutes. If you can watch this entire movie then you're a true diehard!
Boring and unrelatable
This movie was just so fake. The story was totally boring. The characters had no chemistry. There was no real emotion. I wish I had changed the channel instead of sitting through it hoping it would get better. It didn't.
Did anyone notice how sad the event was? There was like 10 people attending. Did you notice every time the female lead turned around there was the male lead. Like there is no one else in the town. Borderline stalking