A Family Christmas Gift

7/10 - I love some Holly Robinson Peete and Patti Labelle, so enjoying this one was no surprise!

Watched this because of patti labelled but I love the story. Good job hallmark

Amber (Holly Robinson Peete) is a New York publishing executive who gets passed over for promotion.

To get over it she returns to her hometown in Colorado to spend Christmas at her Aunt Dora's (Patti Labelle) inn. She is a is a legendary soul singer who retired to run the inn.

Before long Amber uses her skills to take part in a much needed school fundraiser as the music program is being cut.

Amber gets close to single parent Alan who she initially mistook as an airport pick up driver. Only later being told that Aunt Dora had sent him.

Both fall for each other but Amber gets another chance of getting that promotion back in New York.

Too formulaic but at least this has Patti Labelle singing. I felt that even the director gave up on this one as it abruptly finishes.

You really enjoyed it ,chemistry and story line really good .

Last year, Patti LaBelle appeared in the last half hour of the Hallmark Christmas movie, "Christmas Everlasting," and really hammed it up in her couple of scenes. She didn't sing. Well, this year Hallmark gave her more to do as Aunt Dora in this movie - the worst that Hallmark has to offer. The script appears to have been written by a child and the acting all around is stilted and unconvincing. Totally amateurish in every respect - with LaBelle allowed to sing in the end to, I guess, provide a big pay off for sitting through this turkey - or should I say, ham. LaBelles's singing voice is still impressive and strong, but the acting (by her and everyone else involved) is just one big ham - with all the trimmings. A shame really - maybe all these actors (Robinson and LaBelle included) just needed a better script to work with.