THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MISTLETOE MURDERS: THE IDES OF DECEMBER (2025) S2 E3&4

 

Recent new arrival to the small town of Forest Grove NY, Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), who owns and operates a year-round Christmas store “Under the Mistletoe”, is now approaching her second Christmas in the town.

On the surface she is a quiet store owner and cat lady, but Emily has a secret past and she moved to Forest Grove to escape that past.

Her friendship/romantic relationship with Detective Sam Wilner (Peter Mooney) is back on and his daughter Violet (Sierra Marilyn Riley) is back working as her shop assistant.

However, as they investigate the murder of Sam’s mentor Reed Donley (Tony Nappo) Emily learns from Ray (David Hewlett) that Sam is investigating her past, but she must put that aside until they find the killer, and the reason for the crime, at the local Art event.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WHEN CALLS THE HEART: THE GREATEST BLESSING (2018)

 

As Christmas approaches in Hope Valley, newly widowed Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) prepares for the birth of her baby, while Abigail Stanton (Lori Loughlin) organizes the town’s Christmas gathering which includes sisters Lillian Walsh (Morgan Kohan) and Grace Bennett (Jocelyn Hudon) and a group of orphans stranded in Hope Valley due to a broken wagon wheel, who the town warmly welcome in typical Hope Valley style.

Elizabeth, Abigail, and Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) drive to a neighbouring town on Christmas Eve to purchase some important items for Christmas but get caught in a severe snowstorm and then Elizabeth went into labour, and they had to take shelter in a nearby hunting lodge.

In the grip of the storm Elizabeth gave birth to Jack’s son, Jack Thornton Jr, fittingly joining the world as one of the greatest blessings of Christmas, as they celebrate family, community, and the joy of giving.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MISTLETOE MURDERS: COLD WAR (2025) S2 E1&2

 

Recent new arrival to the small town of Forest Grove NY, Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), owns and operates a year-round Christmas store “Under the Mistletoe”, and on the surface she is a quiet store owner and cat lady, but Emily has a secret past and she moved to Forest Grove to escape that past.

She is now approaching her second Christmas in the town and it one year since her romance with Detective Sam Wilner (Peter Mooney) crashed and burned.

Her former shop assistant, Sam’s daughter Violet (Sierra Marilyn Riley) is now working for Sue Shin (Jean Yoon) at her diner because Sam didn’t want her to work for Emily anymore.

However, Emily and Sam reunite following the “disappearance” of English teacher, Tim Henley, (Mykee Selkin) who is subsequently found dead.

As they investigate Emily's memories are stirred, while Violet dreams of going to the winter dance with her crush, but tensions arise as Sam still wants to keep distance between Emily and Violet.

Those tensions would only be exacerbated if she knew what other “case” Sam is working on.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE HEART OF HOMECOMING (2017)

 

Hope Valley begins a new holiday tradition, the Wishing Tree, where the Townspeople write their wishes on ornaments and hang them on the tree, hoping someone will take their wish and help make it come true.

Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), reflecting her longing, places her Wish on the tree for Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing), who has been away on patrol, to come home, for the holiday season and her wish comes true, but he has to leave again.

Newly adopted son of Abigail Stanton (Lori Loughlin), Cody Stanton (Carter Ryan) wishes to spend Christmas with his new mom.

Addressing the townspeople as they gathered around the Wishing tree, Abigail explained the tradition, and that if your wish disappears from the tree, it meant someone was working to make it come true.

Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) has to deal with her husband Lee Coulter (Kavan Smith) with too much time on his hands, so she ensures he is heavily involved with the towns Christmas preparations.

Hope Valley is aptly named, as the town is full of hope and community with small acts of kindness and belief, and the magic of Christmas shows how miracles can bring people together.

Christmas is also a time for forgiveness and second chances, optimised by the redemption of Henry Gowen (Martin Cummins) and Abigail’s charitable deeds.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – COLD WAR (2025) S2 E1&2 MM

 

Recent new arrival to the small town of Forest Grove NY, Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), owns and operates a year-round Christmas store “Under the Mistletoe”, and on the surface she is a quiet store owner and cat lady, but Emily has a secret past and she moved to Forest Grove to escape that past.

She is now approaching her second Christmas in the town and it one year since her romance with Detective Sam Wilner (Peter Mooney) crashed and burned.

Her former shop assistant, Sam’s daughter Violet (Sierra Marilyn Riley) is now working for Sue Shin (Jean Yoon) at her diner because Sam didn’t want her to work for Emily anymore.

However, Emily and Sam reunite following the “disappearance” of English teacher, Tim Henley, (Mykee Selkin) who is subsequently found dead.

As they investigate Emily's memories are stirred, while Violet dreams of going to the winter dance with her crush, but tensions arise as Sam still wants to keep distance between Emily and Violet.

Those tensions would only be exacerbated if she knew what other “case” Sam is working on.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE GREATEST BLESSING (2018)

 

As Christmas approaches in Hope Valley, newly widowed Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) prepares for the birth of her baby, while Abigail Stanton (Lori Loughlin) organizes the town’s Christmas gathering which includes sisters Lillian Walsh (Morgan Kohan) and Grace Bennett (Jocelyn Hudon) and a group of orphans stranded in Hope Valley due to a broken wagon wheel, who the town warmly welcome in typical Hope Valley style.

Elizabeth, Abigail, and Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) drive to a neighbouring town on Christmas Eve to purchase some important items for Christmas but get caught in a severe snowstorm and then Elizabeth went into labour, and they had to take shelter in a nearby hunting lodge.

In the grip of the storm Elizabeth gave birth to Jack’s son, Jack Thornton Jr, fittingly joining the world as one of the greatest blessings of Christmas, as they celebrate family, community, and the joy of giving.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – DEATH OF A HUMBUG (2024) S1 E5&6 MM

 

Recent new arrival to the small town of Forest Grove NY, Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), owns and operates a year-round Christmas store “Under the Mistletoe”, and on the surface she is a quiet store owner and cat lady, but Emily has a secret past and she moved to Forest Grove to escape that past.

However regardless of wanting to hide from that past, she can't help but insert herself into a murder mystery and after helping to solve a 

murder Emily wishes she could just return to her new life and all things Christmas and continue researching “Chimera” associated with her recurring nightmares about her old life.

However, when the crotchety bookstore owner Glenn Shaw (Tom Cavanagh) is found dead after the Fletcher's Grove annual retailers Christmas party at Sue's Diner, she and the retailer Noah, Fred and Morgan Johnson (Jake Epstein Benjamin Sutherland and Josette Jorge), and Sue Shin (Jean Yoon) get invited to a scavenger hunt orchestrated by Glenn.

Her shop assistant Violet Wilner (Sierra Marilyn Riley) is the daughter of Detective Sam Wilner (Peter Mooney) with whom she has begun a friendship/romantic relationship while she interferes with his investigations, but while the group are working to find and solve the clues, Emily and Sam work together to solve Glenn’s murder which is linked to the attacks on members of the group and the theft of their copies of “A Christmas Carol”.

On Christmas Eve following the conclusion of the case they share a passionate kiss in the shop, so it seems like their relationship has taken a positive step, however it was short lived as Sam discovers she is not who she claims to be.