I admit it – I am in love with Hallmark movies, and I can watch them all year long. Winterfest. Spring Fling. Love Ever After. Summer Nights. June Weddings. Fall Harvest. And the best of all – COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS! Are they predictable? Of course! Do you know what will happen by the end? Absolutely! But that is not why I love them.

Hallmark movies always have that special element to them, whether it be Christmas magic, spending time with your family you haven’t seen in a while, beauty of places I have never been, or just the wacky hi-jinks that can only happen in the movies. There can be a small town you wish you could raise your children in. A new career you wish you had the courage to try. A dog. And best of all, the happy ever after.

I was so excited when I was approved to read an ARC of Christmas Charms by Hallmark Publishing in advance of the 10/06/2020 publication date. It did not disappoint!

Ashley’s Christmas Plans

Ashley Jones never imagined she would see her high school sweetheart again, having moved from the small town of Owl Lake to Manhattan. She was working towards a promotion in a jewelry store, and rumor had it – her boyfriend was about to propose! Until he didn’t propose, and her Christmas plans were changed when she broke up with him. Rather than going to Paris, Ashley finds herself back to Owl Lake.

Cue the high school sweetheart, Aidan, running into her! Cue the small town Christmas traditions that make me so very jealous. Only this time, also cue a charm bracelet that was given to Ashley by a stranger on the train back to Owl Lake.

This is not your everyday charm bracelet though – this is a vintage silver charm bracelet that predicts what will happen to Ashley this Christmas. And trust me when I say, these events are the quintessential Hallmark winter moments. Snowmen. Ice Skating. Tree Lighting (doesn’t it always begin with the tree lighting?) It’s everything you could want…and more.

Hallmark Christmas Magic

There is something about Ashley and Aidan that is electric. I could feel their chemistry jumping off the pages of my book. I could feel every emotion Ashley was going through, whether it was the frustration of trying to get back to Manhattan to try and apply for a promotion, the love of being with her family or the confusion over what the charm bracelet was trying to tell her.

The Christmas scenes had me longing for Halloween and Thanksgiving to fly by (our traditions are for our immediate family, so not much will change outside of not seeing Santa this year). I could not turn the pages fast enough and when I got to the ending, I did not want it to be over. The epilogue had me getting a little bit teary and I gave the happy and contented sigh that can only come with the best happily ever after feeling.

The Movie

Dear Hallmark – please oh please oh please make this a movie! Here are my picks of who should play Ashley and Aidan:

I mean…sure…they have already done a movie together, but look at their chemistry!

If that doesn’t scream Owl Lake Christmas, I don’t know what will!

Christmas Charms will be released on October 6th – set your calendar!