Showing posts with label Janette Oke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Janette Oke. Show all posts

Monday, December 12, 2016

When Calls the Heart: Complete Season 3

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the box set of dvd's via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About When Calls the Heart-

When Calls the Heart is a television show on the Hallmark Channel based on the writings of Janette Oke that debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3 million viewers, making it the #2 show for the night on all of cable for the primary telecast at 9 p.m and #3 overall in households. The show is about Elizabeth Thatcher, a young high society woman who is now working as a teacher on the western frontier.

My thoughts-

Season 3 has been a great season for When Calls the Heart. The show is all so full of drama, romance, and laughs. I love watching it with my family! It is a rare show on tv these days that is completely appropriate for children that you don't have to watch on edge and worry about needing to turn the channel for any reason. I love that it shows romance in a sweet way. I think that is an important part of the show. When Calls the Heart: Complete Season 3 has all 10 full length episodes full of all but the real reason to get this dvd set is for the special features. There are 3 discs just devoted to special features, including a fun trivia game for Hearties, a slide show and "Hearties Family Reunion". Season 3 brought us two of my favorite moments, Lee and Rosemary's nupitals and Elizabeth meeting Jack's mom! You can purchase your copy on Amazon.com and catch up in time to see the When Calls the Heart Christmas Special, airing Christmas Day, only Hallmark Channel. 


Wednesday, October 5, 2016

When Calls the Heart: Hearts in Question

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the show-

From the celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Lori Loughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls the Heart, a beautiful story filled with "nostalgic... escapist fun" (Filminutuition.com)!

About the episode-

An air of discord settles over Hope Valley when Jack's spirited mother, Charlotte (special guest star Brooke Shields), pays an unexpected visit...and stays with Elizabeth. While Charlotte "helpfully" critiques Elizabeth's skills as a housekeeper, pie-maker and teacher, Rosemary has become a bit of a taskmaster herself for those helping with her imminent wedding to Lee. Meanwhile, Gowen comes under suspicion for "irregularities" in the bank's bookkeeping, and as he and Nora prepare to leave town, Bill and Jack must contend with a violent storm, rising flood waters and the collapse of the Silverton mine!

My thoughts-

As usual, there is no shortage of drama or heart in this installment of When Calls the Heart. For a little bit of excitement, Jack's mom is in town. She stays with Elizabeth and her expectations are difficult to live up to, or so it seems. Rosemary is almost always one of my favorite parts of any episode, usually for her well meaning antics, but in this episode they really shine a light on the fact that she is a good person with a good heart as well. The end of the episode will have you on the edge of your seat as there is a huge storm and one of our favorite people gets caught out in it and washed away in the river! It was a nail biting scene. I always enjoy watching this show. It's good clean fun for the whole family and it gives the opportunity to talk about history and other places which my kids always find interesting. This is one of the best family friendly shows on tv!







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Monday, August 29, 2016

When Calls the Heart: Forever In My Heart (TV Show Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the show-

From the celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Lori Loughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls the Heart, a beautiful story filled with "nostalgic... escapist fun" (Filminutuition.com)!

About the episode-

While Jack attempts to help a young settler couple reconcile their differences, Elizabeth tries to inspire her students, particularly Cody's sister, Becky, who has returned to Hope Valley in a wheelchair. Everyone is surprised when Carolyn Connors, Cody and Becky's long-lost, wealthy aunt, arrives to whisk them out of Abigail's care and raise them on her own. Meanwhile, Henry is arrested for sabotaging Lee's sawmill, and Lee's romantic intentions for Rosemary may also be sabotaged when a producer casts Rosemary in his upcoming film!

My thoughts-

I love it when I am emotionally invested in a television series and it just keeps getting better. Some shows have a good first season or only have a few outstanding episodes and then there are shows like When Calls the Heart that produce good episode after good episode and keep  growing and getting better.  I love that there is a good  mix of sweetness an drama,  of romance and comedy. Some of my favorite scenes in this episode were of Rosemary and Lee. There is just something  so sweet about their relationship and I love the good comedy relief they provide in a show that can get pretty serious at times. Most of the drama this time was with Abigail dealing with Cody and Becky's estranged aunt showing up out of nowhere just as she decides she wants to officially  adopt the kids. Talk about heartbreaking! Meanwhile, there is a ton going on with Jack and Elizabeth, who are always doing their best to take care of others. One of my favorite things about  Forever in My Heart is the banter that goes on between Jack and Elizabeth as she is writing her book, which, of course, contains a handsome Mountie!

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Sunday, July 3, 2016

When Calls the Heart: Heart of a Hero Review

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the show-

From celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wild frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing, (Eye Candy), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Lori Loughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls The Heart, "a beautiful story with roots in relationships, self-empowerment,and the enduring power of love" (Common Sense Media). New arrivals bring excitement, love and danger to Hope Valley. Pastor Frank has been reinstated following the revelation of his criminal past, but the arrival of his old cohorts, the Garrison Gang, are making life- and his relationship with Abigail- very tense. Bill Avery has his own debt to settle with Jake Garrison, and Jack intends to stay Bill's  hand from killing the man. Meanwhile, Lee's foot injury brings a pretty nurse, Faith Carter from Hamilton...and soon after, her possessive fiance. And Jack rises to the defense of new settlers on Gowen's land when Gowen abruptly raises their rent.

My thoughts-

Something I really love about When Calls the Heart is that there is a big ensemble cast and while the show centers on Elizabeth and Jack, there are always several other story lines going to keep things interesting. In this episode, a familiar face from Hamilton shows up in Hope Valley. I thought it was interesting to see Faith again and in a different setting. Poor Abigail's love life is always so stressful, but I love seeing her navigate her life. One of my favorite stories in this episode was about a little girl in Elizabeth's class that has just moved in from elsewhere and is not having an easy time adjusting. There isn't too much going on with Jack and Elizabeth's relationship in this episode, which is a good thing, it just means that things are going well which I am always happy about. I hope those two get it together and get married at some point! I have said this before but I love watching this show and I love that I can watch it without worry in front of my children. It is a great show for them to watch that shows drama, comedy, romance and how life was different during this time period. It is a great show for the whole family.

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Thursday, May 12, 2016

When Calls the Heart: Troubled Hearts

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the show-

When Calls the Heart the television series is inspired by Janette Oke's best selling book series about the Canadian West. The show is about Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) a young teacher born into high society and used to many creature comforts being thrust into her first teaching assignment in Coal Valley, a very small and simple coal mining town. Coal Valley has experienced a huge tragedy at the mines recently, leaving most of the town's women widoows. Lori Laughlin plays Abigail Stanton, one of the widows and Daniel Lissing plays Jack Thornton, the Constable who sees Elizabeth to town. Living in a turn of the century coal town, Elizabeth must learn to adjust to living in the rural west all on her own.

About the episodes- Elizabeth surprises Jack with a home of her own; Abigail learns of Gowen's latest greedy scheme; Frank's past catches up to him

My thoughts-

I am so glad Elizabeth and Jack are back to their lovey dovey selves after the tension in season 2! There is plenty of drama to go around in Hope Valley even when they are as happy as can be. Abigail has some trouble with Cody finishing his homework assignment at school and being rambunctious in general until Jack discovers the root of the problem. Meanwhile, Pastor Frank's past comes back to haunt him in the form of an old "friend" who happens to be in town. As always, there are laugh out loud moments when Lee and Rosemary
have scenes, which is a nice change of pace during all of the other drama that happens during the show. By the end of the dvd all of the big dramatic situations have been resolved, so it was nice not to be left hanging. 

When Calls the Heart: Troubled Hearts also included a couple of bonus features. One is a look at Jack's journey from the beginning when he came to Hope Valley all the way through the present and a great feature on the "Hearties" When Calls the Hearts devoted fan base. As a big fan of the show, it was nice to see an entire feature about what the fans bring to the show!




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When Calls the Heart is inspired by a series of novels by Janette Oke. You can find these novels on Amazon.com.



Wednesday, October 21, 2015

When Calls the Heart: Follow Your Heart

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.


About When Calls the Heart-

From celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Lori Laughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls the Heart, "a beautiful story with roots in relationships, self-empowerment, and the enduring power of love" (Common Sense Media).

While Jack and Elizabeth's relationship has cooled following their arguments in Hamilton, Jack is hot on the trail of a counterfeiter right in Hope Valley! When he finds the culprit, a two-fisted brawl ensues as Jack apprehends the man. Seeing Jack in danger prompts Elizabeth to confront her feelings and seek him out...but she inadvertently sets Rip, Jack's dog, loose at the same time. As a violent storm bears down on Hope Valley, Jack and Elizabeth search for Rip and take shelter in an old mineshaft together. But the storm won't be escaped so easily, and the unstable shaft begins to collapse...

My thoughts-

These last two episodes were so full of drama and intense story lines. Of course, the main focus is on Jack and Elizabeth. They have definitely had their ups and downs this season and I was unsure of how the season was going to end...without giving anything away, I will definitely say there are some things hanging up in the air! I couldn't believe the shock of the last scene and I will be looking forward to season 3 to see what happens! I think my favorite story from these last couple of episodes of season two is the budding romance between Rosemary and Lee. I loved watching the scenes play out. It was super cute! Sorry to be vague, but I don't want to ruin the fun! If you haven't watched When Calls the Heart yet and you are a fan of historical fiction, you are missing out. Tune in to Hallmark Channel or purchase these dvds and settle in for a bing watching session. This is the perfect show for it!

When Calls the Heart is inspired by a series of novels by Janette Oke. You can find these novels on Amazon.com.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

When Calls the Heart: Heart & Home

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the show-

When Calls the Heart is a television show on the Hallmark Channel based on the writings of Janette Oke that debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3 million viewers, making it the #2 show for the night on all of cable for the primary telecast at 9 p.m and #3 overall in households. The show is about Elizabeth Thatcher, a young high society woman who is now working as a teacher on the western frontier.

About the episode-

Jack and Elizabeth leave Hope Valley and rush back to the city of Hamilton when they learn that Jack's brother, Tom, was involved in an automobile accident...with Elizabeth's sister, Julie But Tom and Julie are hiding something about the incident, a deceit that puts Jack and Elizabeth at odds with their families...and with each other. Their trip is further complicated when Tom and Julie endeavor to run off together- via train this time- and Elizabeth's father offers Jack a job- an offer that puts Jack and Elizabeth's fledgling romance in peril yet again.

My thoughts-

This season has been full of so much drama! I am loving the addition of Tom and Julie to the story lines. They definitely add a new flare to the show. What I don't love are the things getting in the way for Jack and Elizabeth. There have been some intense moments and misunderstandings in Heart & Home and it makes me want to yell at my tv. I really feel bad for Jack, I feel like I relate more to his side of things, but  feel bad for Elizabeth too because she doesn't mean any harm and doesn't realize how her reactions to certain things make Jack feel. I love the sweet and very romantic relationship of Jack and Elizabeth and I absolutely hate seeing it strained. I have loved seeing Elizabeth interact with her family and in the complete opposite environment of what we are used to seeing of her usually being in Hope Valley. There are no shortage of interesting characters this season. I can't wait to see what happens with all of the residents of Hope Valley next!

When Calls the Heart is inspired by a series of novels by Janette Oke. You can find these novels on Amazon.com.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

When Calls the Heart: Heart of the Family

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About When Calls the Heart- 

From celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy) and Lori Laughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls the Heart, "a beautiful story with roots in relationships, self-empowerment, and the enduring power of love" (Common Sense Media).

Elizabeth returns to Hope Valley and immediately volunteers to look after a neighbor's rural homestead....and his two children, an undertaking which proves to be a bigger chore than she'd imagined. But when Jack lends a hand, and they wind up chatting by the fire,. all seems right in Hope Valley and the world. Meanwhile, in Hamilton, Bill Avery sets about busting a counterfeiting ring wide open, an endeavor which surprisingly leads him back to Hope Valley,  where he mysteriously declines Jack's help. But Bill isn't the only big-town visitor: Elizabeth is even more surprised to see her former suitor Charles Kensington, standing right in the middle of her schoolhouse!

My thoughts-

Just looking at the adorable cover of the dvd you can tell that Jack and Elizabeth have a pretty cute relationship. What I love most about this show is that are some incredibly romantic moments, but romantic moments that are also innocent and can be watched by younger eyes. I love watching When Calls the Heart with my 7 year old daughter, Jack is the perfect example of the type of man she should be seeking for her life when she's older!

Elizabeth is back in Hope Valley after being gone for a while to tend to her sick mother. She is welcomed back with a party in town that pretty much everyone comes out to! Watching historical fiction always makes me wish I lived in a time when people still were all about community and come together for something like the homecoming of one of their own. There was a lot of Jack in this span of episodes which I am always happy about, but the most fun thing that I got a kick out of was Elizabeth volunteering herself to run a homestead and take care of two children. I knew she would have no trouble with the children, but taking care of a homestead? Watching her milk a cow was hilarious! There is also some drama with Nora showing up in town AND with Charles showing up in town as well! I will never grow tired of this show. It is great for the whole family and always packed with lots of drama, humor and romance. It may be sappy at times but there is nothing wrong with a little old fashioned sap! I will be hoping for (and tunning in to) many seasons to come!



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Sunday, August 9, 2015

When Calls the Heart: Heart and Soul

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

About the dvd-

From celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wild frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy), and Lori Laughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls the Heart, "a beautiful story with roots in relationships, self-empowerment, and the enduring power of love" (Common Sense Media).

Further complicating their new romance, Jack and Elizabeth must party company so that Jack can return to Hope Valley and his duties as a Mountie. Elizabeth, however, remains in Hamilton, where she finds herself tending to her family and spending time with handsome Charles Kensington. Back in Hope Valley, Rosemary has been offered a role in a play in San Francisco and makes preparations to leave with two producers. When Jack learns that the "producers" have taken Rosemary in the opposite direction- for New  York- he races after them to rescue her....a gamble that ends up being the talk of the town when he and Rosemary spend a night together.

My thoughts-

I absolutely never get tired of this show! I love historical fiction and seeing it come to life on the big screen is always cool, but seeing it play out as a tv series is like every book nerd's dream (or at least this book nerd's). What I have loved about the second season of When Calls the Heart is seeing Elizabeth in an entirely different element. It is fun seeing her back and home and trying to remain the person she has become but absolutely falling into a comfort zone being back in the life she is used to. Plus the costuming department is probably having a ball dressing Elizabeth when she is home in Hamilton, there are such pretty clothes! There is also another handsome gentleman in the mix, Charles Kensington. He is a nice, and handsome man but he is no Jack! It is fun, but also has me on edge sometimes, watching how this love triangle might unfold. Meanwhile Jack has complications of his own with his former flame Rosemary. There is a lot of drama packed in to this 88 minute dvd! If you enjoy watching period pieces, you definitely need to be watching When Calls the Heart!

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Thursday, April 23, 2015

When Calls the Heart Season 2 Premiere + Win a Season 1 Box Set!

*Disclsoure of material connection- I was provided earlier access to watch the When Calls the Heart Season 2 premiere from Word TV via Flyby Promotions. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the show-

When Calls the Heart the television series is inspired by Janette Oke's best selling book series about the Canadian West. The show is about Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) a young teacher born into high society and used to many creature comforts being thrust into her first teaching assignment in Coal Valley, a very small and simple coal mining town. Coal Valley has experienced a huge tragedy at the mines recently, leaving most of the town's women widoows. Lori Laughlin plays Abigail Stanton, one of the widows and Daniel Lissing plays Jack Thornton, the Constable who sees Elizabeth to town. Living in a turn of the century coal town, Elizabeth must learn to adjust to living in the rural west all on her own.

My thoughts-

I have been watching When Calls the Heart since it first premiered on the Hallmark Channel. It has has been difficult to wait for season two to premiere, but the time has finally arrived!  One of the reasons I am a huge fan is because this is a family friendly show. I can watch When Calls the Heart with my 7 year old around and know that she will be viewing a wholesome show with no inappropriate surprises. I also love this series because I am a big fan of period dramas and this one is different than anything else on tv right now. There are definitely not any other shows set in the Canadian West in a small coal mining town! I always find it interesting to learn about other time periods and watching this show is like hoping in a time machine and joining Elizabeth during the turn of the century as she figures out life in Coal Valley. I love that the premiere is two hours long! It is like catching up with an old friend and really sets the mood for the rest of the season. I don't know why it was more noticeable to me in the premiere than in season one, but the scenery on this set is majestic. I love seeing the beautiful mountains in the background!

The season 2 premiere is full of drama, romance and intrigue as we pick back up where season 1 left off. It looks like there may be some twists and turns this season! It also seems like we may see more of Elizabeth's family life and changes in Coal Valley as well. I can not wait to see what the rest of season 2 has in store for not only Elizabeth, but handsome Canadian Mountie Jack, Elizabeth's friend and confidante Abigail Stanton, and the other interesting people of Coal Valley!

When Calls the Heart Season 2's two hour premiere will air at 8/7c Saturday April 25! Be sure to tune in!

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I am so excited to be able to giveaway the When Calls the Heart season 1 box set to one lucky ready! Enter via the rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart Review

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from the publisher via Edify Media. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

See my reviews of the previous episodes before reading this one if you don't want to read spoilers of the series.

When Calls the Heart: a film by Michael Landon, Jr.
When Calls the Heart  "Lost and Found"
 When Calls the Heart "A Telling Silence"

When Calls the Heart "The Dance"

When Calls the Heart "Second Chances"


About the episode-

Jack finally gets Elizabeth to agree to join him for a dinner date just as Elizabeth's young sister, Julie Thatcher, arrives in Coal valley, surprising Elizabeth. Julie is accompanied by Mountie Patrick O'Reilly, the man who has been sent to inform Jack of his new posting and become the new Constable of Coal Valley. Jack had already forgotten that he sent in a request to transfer the week he arrived in Coal Valley, and the news takes him by surprise.


My thoughts-

I always get so excited when I get the opportunity to review episodes of When Calls the Heart. I think it is just the cutest show and I can never wait to see the relationship continue to develop between Elizabeth and Jack so this was a really exciting episode for me! He FINALLY asks her out on a real date and makes it clear that he is into her! It was done in a really cute way too. It definitely made me smile. Of course, there always has to be a conflict of some sort and of course right as Jack realizes he wants to pursue Elizabeth another Mountie shows up telling him his request to change posts has been granted. Elizabeth's sister Julie comes with Mountie Patrick to surprise her sister and gets into some interesting situations of her own. Julie has a very romantic outlook on life so it is interesting to see that play out for her in this new place among new people and to see Elizabeth try to warn her about it. My favorite parts of the episode (as always) are the scenes between Elizabeth and Jack, but there are also some very dramatic moments with Abigail as she tries to figure out what happened in the mine and, The whole overall episode was wonderful. I can not wait to see what happens on the next one!

When Calls the Heart :Change of Heart" will be available for purchase on December 30. You can pre-order it on Amazon.com.


Monday, July 14, 2014

When Calls the Heart "The Dance" Review

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of When Calls the Heart "The Dance" from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About When Calls the Heart-

When Calls the Heart is a television show on the Hallmark Channel based on the writings of Janette Oke that debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3 million viewers, making it the #2 show for the night on all of cable for the primary telecast at 9 p.m and #3 overall in households. The show is about Elizabeth Thatcher, a young high society woman who is now working as a teacher on the western frontier. "The Dance" is a feature length film that can be purchased on Amazon.com or the entire series can be watched on the Hallmark Channel or Amazon Instant Video. To see my reviews for previous feature length films in this series see in this order-
When Calls the Heart: a film by Michael Landon, Jr.
When Calls the Heart  "Lost and Found"
 When Calls the Heart "A Telling Silence"

"The Dance" is about new minors coming into town and they all happen to be bachelors. Elizabeth meets Billy who seems to be smitten with her. Jack seems weary of Billy, but is that because he is jealous or because he really has a bad feeling about the newcomer? The other women in town also become interested in the new men around and there is a dance to welcome them to town at the end.

My thoughts- 

I always love watching new episodes of When Calls the Heart. I love reading historical fiction and it seems the same is true about watching it. I like that we get to take a peek into another time period and how things might have been at that time. I also love that their is a sweet love story brewing without being over the top about it. The further I get into the series the more hooked I am and the more I want to find out what happens next. This is especially true of "The Dance". I enjoyed the element of suspense with the Billy/Jack story line. I really didn't know whether Billy was a good guy or a bad guy, but I was kind of rooting for him to be a bad guy because I love Jack and although I knew some of him being weary of Billy was jealousy of the relationship he was forming with Elizabeth, I also know he has her best interest at heart. I also enjoyed the new minors being in town and the introduction of a few new characters and possible romances brewing. I look forward to continuing the series and I can't wait to see what is going to happen next, both between Elizabeth and Jack and with the rebuilding of the town.

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Watch the trailer for When Calls the Heart "The Dance" below.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

When Calls the Heart: Lost and Found (DVD Review)

Disclosure- I received a copy of the DVD via Edify Media for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the DVD-

When Calls the Heart: Lost and Found tells the captivating story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young teach accustomed to her high society life, who receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coalmining town where life is simple, but often fraught with challenges. Lori Loughlin plays Abigail Stanton, a wife and mother whose husband, the foreman of the mine. along with a dozen other miners, has just been killed in an explosion. The newly widowed women find their faith is tested when they must go to work in the mines to keep a roof over their heads. Elizabeth charms most everyone in Coal Valley, except Constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing) who believes Thatcher's wealthy father has doomed the lawman's career by insisting he be assigned in town to protect the shipping magnate's daughter. Set against the wild canvas of 19th century coal town, Elizabeth will have to learn the ways of the frontier if she wishes to thrive in the rural west on her own.

My thoughts-

This is the second installment in the When Calls the Heart series on the Hallmark Channel. You can check out my review of the pilot here. Even if you haven't seen the pilot, this movie can stand alone. When it begins Elizabeth is on the last leg of her tumultuous trip to get to Coal Valley to accept the teaching job that was offered to her. When she gets there she is surprised to find that things are not at all well. She is determined to prove that she can handle life on the frontier and be a good teacher to the children of coal valley. I enjoyed watching Elizabeth get her footing with the kids and learning how to teach them in a way they could understand. She also had her work cut out for her with the mother's in town, none of them seem to have much faith that she can handle the job she has come to do and it is nice to see her eventually win them over Perhaps the most interesting relationship Elizabeth has is with Jack Thornton, the new town Constable who it turns out her dad sent to babysit her basically. They do not start off on a good note at all, but you can tell they are intrigued by each other. I love that this is a tv show so I can continue to watch their relationship grow and as a hopeless romantic, I am of course hoping that sparks do eventually fly. I love the time period in which this show is set, the early 20's and that although Elizabeth is well to do, it focuses on people with more meager means. I love watching shows like Downton Abbey that show the ins and outs of high society, but it is a nice change of pace to have a nice period drama on television about the working class as well. Anyone who is a fan of the Love Come Softly movies will probably really enjoy When Calls the Heart. I would also recommend this series to anyone interested in history, period dramas, and uplifting shows that can be watched with the whole family. In fact, my 6 year old daughter set down and watched this with me and told me she really loved the scenes when Elizabeth was teaching the kids. I like having a show we can enjoy together! It can be difficult to find these days! When Calls the Heart airs on The Hallmark Channel on Saturdays at 9/8c.

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When Calls the Heart: Lost and Found is now available on DVD. You can also purchase the digital copy on Amazon.com. You can also watch several episodes of the show for free on Hallmark.com.
About the Director: 
 
Michael Landon Jr. has been in the film business for over two decades. He has been a part of two of the highest rated films in the history of the Hallmark channel and has several top ten releases targeted to the Christian market. He has also developed or worked on projects in some capacity for Fox, CBS, NBC, Disney, Sony, Lifetime and others.
  
About the Writer/Producer :
 
Brian Bird is co-founder with partner Michael Landon, Jr., of Believe Pictures, a film and television production company.  He was co-executive producer and writer on the successful television series, Touched by an Angel. Bird has also written and produced episodes of Step by Step by Step, Evening Shade and The Family Man. He also wrote and produced Gametime for NBC and The Shunning, inspired by the novel by best-selling author Beverly Lewis for the Hallmark Channel, among others.
 
About Word Entertainment: 
 
 A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, Point Of Grace and Sidewalk Prophets and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

When Calls the Heart: A Film by Michael Landon, Jr.

Disclosure- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.
About the Movie:

"When Calls the Heart" is the story of Elizabeth Thatcher, a cultured young school teacher in 1910 who, through the discovery of her aunt's secret diary, finds the courage to leave her big city home to accept a teaching position in a frontier coal mining town. And in the process, she also finds the potential for love with a handsome Royal Canadian Mountie.

My thoughts:

I am always excited to have the opportunity to review any film by Michael Landon Jr. "When Calls the Heart" is an adaptation from best-selling author Janette Oke, one of the most well-known (and most read) Christian authors on the planet. If you haven't heard of her Canadian West Saga, you have probably heard of her Loves Comes Softly series, several of which were also turned into movies, so you know Oke can craft some amazing love stories. I was interested in "When Calls the Heart" from the opening scene. I love movies about high society in the early 1900's and this one was especially interesting because it was about Elizabeth Thatcher finding her place in this world. She is offered a job at a school in a small town out west, very far away from her family and the life she knows. Her parents are pretty weary of her going, as is her sister. Elizabeth begins reading the diary of her namesake, her aunt, who also took a teaching post. The two Elizabeth's stories parallel each other, so it is a fun movie to watch, since it is set in two different time periods. I really enjoyed the flashbacks of the elder Elizabeth's adventures in teaching and with her own Mountie. The present day Elizabeth struggles with whether or not she can handle being on her own, but she really wants to try. I thought this was a great story to bring to life on the screen and I enjoyed all of the actor's portrayals of their respective characters. I especially enjoyed seeing Maggie Grace play the role of the elder Elizabeth Thatcher. There is a great behind the scenes look at the movie on the dvd that I loved. It is always so interesting to get insight into how a movie is made, what the actors think about the characters and where the movie is filmed.  I was excited to hear in the special features that the Where Comes the Hearth will become a television series on Hallmark and that this movie is to be considered a 2 hour pilot. It left on a pretty big cliffhanger, so I look forward to seeing Elizabeth Thatcher's story unfold completely. The series is set to continue January 2014.

"When Calls the Heart" debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3.2 million viewers, making it the No. 1 movie of the week on ad-supported cable. It will be available to purchase on DVD at Christian Retailers November 19, 2013.


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Watch the movie trailer below: