For me a Christmas movie or book has to have certain qualities. I started to watch one on the 14th and could not stand its premise, which was of a heroine who was an habitual liar, using her lies to avoid problems and get ahead. A wish made it impossible for to tell a lie and led to complications. Frankly, I couldn't stand her. I left the story before it got to where she was forced to stop telling the lies. I know this premise for a film had been used before. I didn't care for it then either.
On the other hand, I liked the one on the 15th-- Christmas Incorporated. It had a charming heroine and hero, just enough plot, and lots of Christmas. Did I mention the hero was hot? I can see that actor, Steve Lund, having a bigger career as some other stars from Hallmark have.
I've had the holidays in a few of my books, but never at the center of their plots. I did that with the novella, A Montana Christmas, which takes forward a few years the ranch family in From Here to There. Rather than a romance as such, this is more a slice of life story. It has all the characters from FHtoT as well as some additions. (Writing it also suggested a future story for the family, involving an older couple, which I have yet to write because this was the year of historic romances but next year, it's in the plan.)
Snippet from A Montana Christmas:
~~~
When
Helene heard the truck outside, she went to the door to open it for her smiling
uncle and Curly as they stamped the snow from their boots.
“How’d
it go?” she asked at the two, who were grinning as though they had been up to
something.
“What
part?” Curly asked winking at Rafe.
“The
doctor part, of course.”
“Oh
that,” her uncle said pouring himself a cup of coffee and ignoring her frown.
“Doc let me go. Looks like I’ll live to be eighty after all—if I don’t ride
with Curly driving again that is.”
“Dangnabit,
I did not take the corner that fast,” Curly grouched as he took a big sip of
the coffee with a satisfied smirk.
“What
else were you up to in town then?” she asked not ignoring the original grins
she had seen.
“Little
shopping is all and don’t ask for what,” Uncle Amos said. “Tis the season and
all that.”
“Speaking
of seasons,” she said, “with Christmas just three weeks off, I was thinking we
should make some plans.”
“More
than the usual with Nancy, Emile and the boys?” her uncle asked.
“I
was thinking yes… Phillip will be here, I hope. I’d like to have the dinner up
at our house. How would that be?”
Amos
shrugged. “Never no mind to me if it don’t matter to Emile and them.”
“I
invited too?” Curly asked.
“Of
course, and a girlfriend if you wish.”
Curly
snorted as he leaned back against the counter, crossing one boot over the
other. “Women are too danged much trouble. Not gonna mess with one again. I’m
too old anyway.”
Now
it was Helene’s turn to snort. “You are still a handsome man, Curly, and you know
it. What happened with Sherri?”
Amos
was the one to laugh that time. “She found out about Jan and that was pretty
much it for both of them.”
“Good
riddance to both. Women just wanta own a man.”
“Maybe
you haven’t found the right one yet,” Helene suggested.
“He’s
been married three times. Maybe he’s right to give it a rest.”
Obviously
to divert that direction for the conversation, Curly asked, “What you going to
cook, Helene, not that I’d be picky or anything.”
“Just
traditional fare.”
“So
long as that means turkey, dressing, cranberries, mashed potatoes and lots of
gravy,” her uncle said with a grin. “I got no complaints. But what’s this
planning business about. Throw a spread, open some presents, isn’t that about
it? What’s to plan for?”
“There
are the numbers. I’ll call Nancy
to be sure they can come.” She glanced at Rafe who had said nothing. “You will
come also, won’t you?”
“Where
else would I go?” he said with a grimace as he shifted positions and manned up
to another sip of the potent coffee.
“If
no one minds, I’d like to include a few others. One or two that might have to
sleep down here.”
Uncle
Amos frowned. “My sister coming?”
“Heavens
no.” She laughed. “Mother is in Palm
Springs with her bridge buddies, and Dad is off with
Sharron to wherever it is she convinced him to take her this year. No, not
them. I’d like to ask Phillip’s mother, sisters and brother.”
Curly
choked on a swallow of coffee. When he got his voice back, he asked, “Phil okay
that?” His look said he doubted it.
Available at various sell sites: A Montana Christmas links
Available at various sell sites: A Montana Christmas links
