MatchMaker Mysteries: A Fatal Romance

Our matchmaker gets asked to attend a romance convention, where an author ends up being poisoned to death. This brings Detective Kyle Carter and Miss Dove back together again. Miss Dove (Angie) also runs in to her ex-boyfriend who has come back to take over the family's publishing company post his father's passing.

The sister, her estranged husband, and a heckling fan all become suspects in the author's murder. When her ex is brought in for questioning, Angie calls her father, former detective played by Bruce Boxleitner, and tries to get information out of Detective Kyle. Angie proceeds to start looking in to the killer, if only to help her former ex...this starts with looking for the mysterious enraged fan. "Angie, I don't think you should be meddling in an active police investigation."

"Expectations can be like a blindfold. We can get so caught up in what we think we should have in a partner, that we close ourselves off to opportunities."

"My mother always said she had a way with words, too bad you couldn't repeat most of them."

"Romance can happen at any time."

I like both of our main actors...but I am waiting to warm to their chemistry.

6/10 - okay mystery set at a book festival's best moment is its tap back to Knives Out

The second Matchmaker Mystery is much better than the first. However, the publishing guy has got to go. Mommy this and Mommy that. Sickening.

Matchmaker Angie Dove (Danica McKellar) is on a panel at a romance convention. A romance writer on the panel is apparently poisoned. Angie starts investigating the murder with or without help from police detective Kyle Cooper (Victor Webster).

This is the second Matchmaker Mysteries on the Hallmark Channel. Danica McKellar is adorable and a great lead for this type of light murder mystery series. I would want someone for her partner in crime solving. Quite frankly, they should use more Bruce Boxleitner. He may be past his prime but he still has his leading man looks. He's better than the detective and it would make sense for her father to be protective. It's fine for her to investigate alone but it could be better father-daughter fun. Like she says, she needs a Watson and Boxleitner is right there. Hallmark needs to get off the romance formula and look at what they have with clearer eyes.

It was entertaining enough and of course the suspect with no obvious motive is the killer. I like the actors but not here. Zero chemistry maybe because it is only the second movie and they are supposed to be building up. The Mystery 101 series is much better written, suspenseful and portrayed. And Hallmark props... shame on you for the huge fake flower bushes from Michaels in the final scene.