To the author: What a terrific story! In my mind, this is a Hallmark kind of movie. It features the importance of family, some romance, moving on from the past and embracing change for a happy future. I thought the characters of Hope, Gus, Kate, Aaron, Emily, and all of them really, were nicely developed. And though Blaine turns out to be a bit of a heel, he is not a totally bad guy. I also really like the line, “Home isn’t a mortgage or a zip code. It’s warmth and light.”
The content is family-oriented. We are awarding the film our Dove Seal for ages 12-plus, although some parents would be fine with their kids under 12 watching it. The story of Cranbury and the nostalgia for the little white house on Christmas lane will stir up memories of other small-town reared men and women. If the content stays the same for the film, it would also receive our Dove Seal and we would love to review it if it is indeed made into a movie. With the importance of family, the realities of death and job loss, and the hope that the story offers, this is a winner! Oh, and it features some humorous scenes that work well too, not to mention the Christmas holiday season. This manuscript has earned five Doves, our best rating.