A Novel Noel

7.7 stars.

Not only was this a great romance, but I learned a great lesson from this Christmas bingo challenge that the woman does. It's really inspiring, because making a chart or list of dares and challenges for yourself is one of the most effective motivational tools ever invented.

I suggest that if you have any struggles in your life regarding motivation and procrastination, take a lesson from this Christmas bingo chart.

The lead actors have a lot of chemistry and the film is quite entertaining. Something about it flows and they are a good pair. Mr. Penny has a Hallmark Midas touch. I've yet to see him disappoint. He's been in some real sluggish movies, but he always seems to shine through. The lead female, although, seemingly an endangered female species of the Hallmark variety (a rare appearance) never fails to entertain. She's got great screen presence and like Penny, rarely disappoints. The two of them together is a match made for a great film, and I was actually inspired by this story.

A successful NYC editor wins an opportunity to spend weeks working at an independent bookstore and--get this, so exciting--live in the apartment over the bookstore. Gee!

The male lead runs the bookstore for his owner parents and has evidently turned the corner on profitability. From the small number of customers never buying anything, I'm not sure how. Plus, the two mains seem okay with locking the place up during business hours to go to Christmas Fairs and do holiday games?

Then it turns out that bookstore guy wrote a novel ... really good, of course.

The editor seems unaware of writing groups, so she's proud that she came up with the idea and started one in the store.

A side plot about Christmas Bingo adds nothing.

Then when she tells him she's a big-time editor, he gets miffed she didn't tell him earlier? This is no writer's reaction, EVER, to finding out a editor likes their work.

An author myself (36 books written), I look forward to some of these stories about writers ... when they get it right. This movie doesn't come close.

Hold on to your seats, it starts out with a Hallmark familiar plot, a NYC worker, this time its a Book Editor, Harper, (Julie Gonzalo) who is burned out and needs a break from her job. She takes a break by working in a small town bookstore incognito for a month. There's a clashing of personalities between Harper and the owner's son, Sawyer, (Brendon Penny), as they each have very different ideas on how to make the bookstore more successful. The plot is well written and there are several surprises in the script. There's some entertaining moments as Harper gets involved in the town activities (reindeer games, singing carols at the pub) and as she makes friends with the locals. The Christmas Bingo Game is a fun element. Julie Gonzalo is Hallmark's best female actress, she puts a spark in the characters she plays in all of her movies, and also makes them authentic and relatable. At first Brendon Penny annoyed me but that had more to do with the way the script was written and how Sawyer's character evolves as he opens up to Harper, and he becomes more likeable. There's good chemistry and we experience the romantic feelings grow between the two leads. I love the couple of surprise twists in the story line. An enjoyable and entertaining movie.

Well obviously some of the reviews on here must have an ulterior motive or we didn't watch the same movie. There's no way this movie should get 1/10 or 3/10. That's just spiteful for some reason. Julie Gonzalo is absolutely gorgeous in this movie and she always gives a great performance. I watched it again this morning just to admire her beautiful wardrobe. Brendan Penny is always solid in every movie he is in. I'm so happy Julie has two new Christmas movies this year. She deserves it. I love this movie long with Chris's new movie Holiday Crashers. They sure are a talented and stunning couple.

Whilst there are - as some previous reviewers have correctly pointed out - some oft-used tropes in "A Novel Noel", the pairing of Hallmark veteran Brendan Penney (of "Chesapeake Shores" and the "Vineyard" movies fame) and the Julie Gonzalo saves the movie from being another run of the mill production.

Once they get past the initial bickering phase (if you watch enough of these movies, you know what I'm talking about!) their characters mesh together perfectly.

There's also a great and eclectic cast of secondary characters, some really nice, festive scenes (including a singalong at a pub and a scene with a Santa Claus) and Hallmark's impeccably-decorated sets.

Not a movie I'll probably watch again, but not one I hated, either.