Hope at Christmas

Posted December 13, 2018 by karenbaron in #HolidayMovie, Hallmark T.V. Movie, Movie Review / 1 Comment

HOPE AT CHRISTMAS

Network: Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Stars: Ryan Paevey and Scottie Thompson

Sydney Ragsdale (Thompson), recently divorced, decides to spend Christmas in a house she inherited with her young daughter. As Sydney begins to spend more time at the local bookstore, she meets a teacher, Mac (Paevey), who also fills in for the town Santa.

Mac tries to make Christmas wishes come true, and this year Sydney is at the top of his ‘nice’ list. As a new opportunity with the bookstore unfolds, Mac helps Sydney open herself up to life, love, and believing in the spirit of Christmas again.

Loosely based on the book Hope at Christmas by Nancy Niagle

My Rating:

My Thoughts:

I thought that Hope at Christmas was lovely. The actors were genuine, and the sets were lovely. What a fabulous bookstore with the book Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle scattered everywhere.

Sydney is lost after her divorce and plans to sell her Grandmother’s house. She and her daughter, Rayanna are going to spend one more Christmas there before putting it on the market. However, after being in this lovely small town where she spent her childhood summers, Sydney begins to find herself again. She is helped by the town, of course.

Mac is a fourth-grade teacher, who lost his wife a few years ago from cancer. He was an author, but since his wife’s death, he has been teaching.

Rayanna is Sydney’s daughter. She is worried about her mom being so unhappy. Rayanna is supposed to spend Christmas with her dad in Hawaii, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t want to do all the Christmas things. Rayanna is making lots of friends, and she even joined the kid’s book club at the Book Bea.

The town folks:

Diane and her husband live next door to Sydney, and they have a daughter close to Rayanna’s age. They are such a thoughtful and friendly family.
Bea, who owns the Book Bea that Sydney remembers so well. Bea has this uncanny knack for finding the perfect book for her customers.
Then there is the mayor who likes Bea. Those second chance romances are always so adorable.
Who could forget Mac’s friend and co-worker Kenny? Kenny is a funny guy, and he plays the local Santa Claus. However, Kenny hurts his ankle when he is heading to the Christmas throne by walking up the candy cane stairs, slipping on a gingerbread man, and falling into the back of Santa’s workshop.

When Mac is playing Santa, Rayanna talks to him about her mom and how unhappy Sydney is. Rayanna even gives Santa a guilt trip about helping her out.

The Santa Inspired Dates

Getting a Christmas tree and helping Sydney and Rayanna decorate it.
Dinner in Paris. Ok, at a French restaurant. But trust me it was sweet.
Gingerbread Contest (which Mac missed)
A church sing-a-long

Kisses:

Hope at Christmas Pics — Photo Credit: Crown Media

Other Christmas Movies

There are so many new Christmas Movies out on the small screen, so whether you are streaming on Netflix or watching on one of the networks like Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas, Lifetime’s It’s a Wonderful Lifetime, and ION Televisions’ Holiday Movies there should be something for you.

If you want to see other Christmas Movies I am reviewing: My Christmas Movie Review List

To see a list of Christmas Movies playing on your television or another device:

Premiering in Nov Premiering in Dec