#Can't wait to watch the worst hallmark Christmas movies

[bubbleteasing]

Sorry for being so absent lately (mostly on Ao3, but still), but holidays are overwhelming for me.

Been cooking a lot, spending a lot of money that I will regret later... you know how it is.

Hopefully I'll be back on track very very soon with a couple of updates on my fics.

Happy holidays, and merry Christmas if you celebrate!! ♥️

[xanadontit]

Paging @bbcwhereareyou to the courtesy phone!

I watched Christmas in Notting Hill (Hallmark movie on Netflix) last night and it wasn't the worst? Stars Sarah Ramos (Parenthood and The Bear) and some British guy. The plot is pretty ridiculous obviously but the acting is decent and there's no over the top villain. But there's weird plot points that are introduced and then dropped:

Our protagonists meet colliding at a Christmas market (obvi), where British footballer who is recovering from an injury breaks American girl's vintage ornament. A semi-big deal is made about finding this ornament, which is just like one her dead mom had but was lost in a move. But the guy breaks it and she's upset for .2 seconds and it's never mentioned again.

American girl's dad is really into Hawaiian shirts and even brings one as a gift for his daughter's soon-to-be FIL. The daughters roll their eyes about the gaudy shirts but we never learn why Dad loves them or insists on wearing them during Christmas. Kept waiting for some mention of dead mom gifting them? Something?

A Very Big Deal is made about how Footballer and American girl are the WAY older siblings of their respective families but everyone looks vaguely 27-30 and there's really no mention of actual ages. Or maybe I just can't guess ages?

SPOILER: American girl is accepted to some sort of traveling special education teacher program and decides to go for it (instead of the predictable grad school close to home route) but the flash forward shows her cheering on Footballer at a Boxing Day match. Does she travel and come back to London?! What happens there??? Don't tell me this woman gives up her dream for Temu David Beckham.

Also: Footballer's brother is kind of a Clearance Rack Nicholas Hoult. He's also an investment banker and we know this because he's always in a fucking three-piece suit. Despite this he's a decent person. This is how we know this is fake as hell: a nice British finance guy? This is making Hot Frosty look like a documentary.

There's Ted Lasso references and a Gilmore Girls shout out (when mentioning her sister's exes American girl rattles off Tristan, Jess, and Dean lol) and so many cute hats and coats. Not a bad way to spend an hour and twenty-two minutes if you don't want to think too hard.

[moohnshinescorner]

New Release

Pity Present by: Whitney Dineen

Molly I haven’t been interested in dating since my ex dumped me for a new girl at his law office. Since then, I’ve thrown myself into my work as a hotel gift shop designer. While being single isn’t what I expected, there’s truth to that old saying, “Once bitten, twice shy.” And the bite of a cheater stays with you.

Christmas can be a particularly vulnerable time, which is why I accepted a job right before the holidays. I had no idea the lodge that hired me was also hosting a singles' event. Imagine my surprise when they had a last-minute cancellation and asked me if I wanted to join them.

Blake

When I left LA for my dream job in Chicago, I never dreamed by first assignment would be spending two weeks in Elk Lake, Wisconsin, covering the Midwestern Matchmaker’s new venture to set up Chicagoland singles. I’m a sports journalist for Pete's sake, not some airheaded twit who writes about the lovelorn.

Unfortunately, the job I transferred for isn’t open yet, so here I am. In Wisconsin. Living my worst nightmare. There is no way anybody is going to find love at this thing. No way. So, imagine my surprise when the most awkward woman in the world trips over me …

Grab Your Copy! https://mybook.to/PityPresent

Meet Whitney Dineen: USA Today Bestselling author Whitney Dineen is a rock star in her own head. While delusional about her singing abilities, there’s been a plethora of validation that she’s a fairly decent author (AMAZING!!!). After winning many writing awards and selling nearly a kabillion books (math may not be her forte, either), she’s decided to let the voices in her head say whatever they want (sorry, Mom). She also won a fourth-place ribbon in a fifth-grade swim meet in backstroke. So, there’s that.

Whitney loves to hang with her kids (a.k.a. dazzle them with her amazing 80's dance moves, serenading them to Bohemian Rhapsody, and binge watch Ted Lasso ), bake stuff, eat stuff, and write books for people who "get" her. She thinks french fries are the perfect food and Mrs. Roper is her spirit animal.

To find out about Whitney Dineen’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here For more information on Whitney Dineen and her books visit: https://www.whitneydineen.com/ Connect with Whitney Dineen: https://www.whitneydineen.com/

My Review

This is going to be your top read this holiday season. It is wonderful and full of emotion. Be warned my fellow readers, it is a tear jerker. I could not control the emotions this book pulled from me. It is full of Christmas Miracles that you are not going to want to miss.

Molly and Blake are the center of this epic holiday read. Molly is a sweet and caring individual, whom at times feels suffocated by her sister. Hurt by an ex and focused on her career, Molly takes a job at Elk Lodge. The same lodge our good friends Trina and Heath own.

Now that Trina is out of the TV business, she is still meddling in all things love. So it is no surprise that she is throwing a singles event at her lodge. She just loves matching couples together and I got to say she is quiet good at it. Enter stage left Molly and Blake. The rest as they say it is history…..

This book was sweet, heartbreaking and entertaining. It has a combination of emotions that readers will experience throughout each chapter. You will experience love, anger, betrayal, hurt, sadness, loss and fun times. It is a rollercoaster ride of emotion and a book that you just can't put down. This page turner is sure to give you the feel good vibes this holiday season. This book is definitely a Hallmark Movie worthy read.

I love this series and this one is my top fav in the series. I cannot wait to read more.

[timandlucy]

hi suz! i'm sorry it's been a hot minute, it's been a little crazy on my end, and i didn't want you to think i was neglecting you! are you feeling any better? being sick is always the worst, but this time of year it definitely lingers much longer than anyone wants it to.

kdsbflkbdsglkdhas the hallmark christmas movies are basically always the same, but that's why i find them comforting. i like knowing that it's all going to turn out okay in the end lol very few stick with me, but the ones that stick definitely stick!

linstead <333333 i started watching chicago pd because i love sophia bush and totally loved linstead. i also love upsted...can you tell that i just love jay in general? lol i have...THOUGHTS about how they wrote him off but...anyway, i would definitely love to read your linstead fic 👀

pride and prejudice is just...brilliant. that feels like such a basic way to describe it, but that's what it is. jane austen was a genius. i have heard a lot about the chesapeake bay saga, and i'm glad to hear that you enjoy it! i love found family so i'll have to check it out!

i'm so excited that you'll be going to the eras tour multiple times next year! i love that journey for you! is there a certain set that you're most excited for? i can't wait to go the eras tour again next year, i'm already planning my outfit and my show is at the end of next year lol

ohhhhh romancy books! okay, uh i absolutely loved ashley poston's the dead romantics (i need to read the seven year slip). the bright falls series by ashley herring blake (deliah green doesn't care, astrid parker doesn't fail and iris kelly doesn't date) is super fun, as is the written in the stars series by alexandria bellefleur (written in the stars, hang the moon, count your lucky stars) and i always recommend emily henry for great romances. i also really like rachel lynn solomon and loved her latest, business or pleasure! i'd be happy to give more recs, just let me know what kind of books you're interested in!

awwwww i'm so glad that resonated with you 🧡 that means so much to me. oh, yes, once ss is over i'll definitely tell you what it is lol

how're things going with you? what has your week been like/what are you looking forward to? lots of love! - secret sleuth 🧡 🔎

Omg not at all! I know you have a life and all, and you're spoiling me with messages anyway, so don't worry! I am feeling better, but there's some lingering cough that I can't seem to get rid of. Soon I hope.

And yes, absolutely! You always know without fail that the main characters will end up together and there will be a happy ending. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.

Yeah that's the same reason I started watching it! And yeah I totally know what you mean, they really butchered his character. Okay, since you asked, this is the fic I'm still most proud of to this day, it's called Wish That You Were Here, and please feel no pressure to read it!

I'm so thrilled to just go, my friend and I had tickets for Lover Fest but it got cancelled because of Covid, so I am hoping nothing comes up this time! I'm super excited to scream the Cruel Summer bridge, obviously dreaming about my ideal surprise songs, but I'm really excited for the folklore and evermore sets, those are the ones we didn't really see live much and she made it so stunning. The willow in the movie is just wow (I'm speechless) and also my tears ricochet. I'm so excited to see those live. Which were your favorites the first time you went?? And don't remind me my original outfit idea fell through so now I'm not sure what I'm wearing. If push comes to shove I'll just wear my cruel summer t-shirt and jeans and do the lover heart around my eye or something haha.

Those all sound amazing and I will be checking them out! I've had emily henry on my list forever but then I saw some reviews that were like pretty negative and I have to admit in that moment that swayed me because I was pretty pressed for time at the time. But I'll have to give her a shot now that you mention it. Thank you so much for these recs!

My week was okay, I was still on sick leave till wednesday and then worked on thursday, friday and saturday. I took a nap yesterday that I only woke up from this morning. My neck hurts quite a bit, I think I strained a muscle because I'm sleeping with more pillows because of my cough. And I was working on my own ss gift, which is a little scary but mostly fun!

How about your week? Are you getting more into the festive spirit as the holidays approach?

Lots of love right back to you!

[autumnalfallingleaves]

✵ for jimven or bispearl?

Why not both?

Jimven

who spends hours putting up lights only to get tangled in them and storm off?

Steven. He tries his damndest but eventually goes pink with frustration and has to walk away before he destroys the lights skdhflkdshf

who accidentally eats a whole box of christmas chocolates in one sitting?

Steven. Jim allows himself one or two per sitting, but is too meticulous to forget himself.

who insists on watching the cheesey hallmark christmas movies?

Again, Steven. Jim thinks they're alright, but Steven is the true bleeding-heart romantic of the two of them and makes Jim watch them with him. Jim, on his part, thinks they're a bit too cheesy and cliched.

who insists on playing nothing but michael buble in the few days running up to christmas?

Jim! Steven prefers the more poppy songs, but Jim likes the Buble songs as well as more classical festive music.

who gets their presents wrapped at the mall so the other cant go snooping

Jim, because he knows that A) Steven has some sort of bullshit ability to sniff out presents, and B) Toby and Amethyst will team up to find all unwrapped presents in the house and tell everybody what they are.

who insists on making snow angels?

Steven, but Jim is all too happy to join in. That is, if Steven doesn't pull him down with him first!

who put christmas outfits on all the pets?

Steven. Santa hats on Lion, Cat Steven, and Luug. None of them can escape.

Do they go to family’s or have a quiet day in?

They'll spend Christmas Eve with one side of their ginormous family, then spend Christmas morning with the other half, and alternate between the two each year. However, they'll always have the rest of Christmas Day to themselves afterwards. This usually consists of watching Christmas movies and eating leftovers and possibly going on a walk to look at all the decorations.

who insists on wearing matching ugly christmas jumpers?

Both. One will usually find the worst sweaters in a store and immediately buy them so they can wear them to holiday parties. Jim can typically find the worst of the worst, which absolutely delights Steven.

Who waits up until midnight to give the other their present?

Steven. He's just too excited.

Who insists on hand-made presents only one year?

Steven. I can't think of what he would make for Jim, but Jim pulls out all the stops and makes a whole couple batches of Steven's favorite holiday sweets. Steven cries because he loves his boyfriend so much.

Who puts mistletoe on every door frame?

Steven. Jim is too embarrassed to do it (even though he thinks of it), but he's not complaining at all the kisses he gets.

Who gets too drunk at the work christmas party and has to be picked up at 9:15pm?

I don't think either of them? After everything they've been through with not being able to control their bodies in times of ridiculous stress (Wormy Boi/Diamond!Steven, Jim being controlled by the Arcane Order), being drunk sounds like a Bad Idea

who gets angry and almost tells kids that santa isnt real?

Neither. They're too sensitive and they both love kids.

Bispearl

who spends hours putting up lights only to get tangled in them and storm off?

Pearl. Pearl so much. Bismuth thinks it's hilarious, spends a minute laughing at Pearl, and eventually helps out.

who accidentally eats a whole box of christmas chocolates in one sitting?

Bismuth, because Pearl hates eating.

who insists on watching the cheesey hallmark christmas movies?

Bismuth will watch a couple and makes Pearl watch them with her, but neither are completely insistent on it.

who insists on playing nothing but michael buble in the few days running up to christmas?

Pearl takes it upon herself to show Bismuth all the music the humans came up with for the holiday, so neither of them? They'll listen to a bit of everything.

who gets their presents wrapped at the mall so the other cant go snooping

Pearl, because Bismuth, like Steven, has a bullshit ability to sniff out presents.

who insists on making snow angels?

Bismuth! It's a human thing she thinks is great. Humans are weird, but fun.

who put christmas outfits on all the pets?

I can't see either of them doing it? Bismuth may make special holiday collars for any pets she thinks need them, perhaps Cat Steven, but she doesn't go all out.

Do they go to family’s or have a quiet day in?

Family! The Gems are very family-oriented after everything, and spending time with everyone when they get the chance is always welcome.

who insists on wearing matching ugly christmas jumpers?

Bismuth. Pearl is embarrassed on the outside, but secretly thinks it's adorable.

Who waits up until midnight to give the other their present?

Bismuth. She doesn't really get the whole "waiting until morning" thing, and none of them really sleep, anyway (save for Amethyst, who likes sleeping, and Steven, who needs to sleep)

Who insists on hand-made presents only one year?

Pearl, because Bismuth always makes her presents, and Pearl wants to do the same, one year

Who puts mistletoe on every door frame?

Bismuth. Total romantic.

Who gets too drunk at the work christmas party and has to be picked up at 9:15pm?

If the Gems were human, Pearl.

who gets angry and almost tells kids that santa isnt real?

Pearl doesn't really understand the whole concept of Santa, so she starts to try and correct the kids, but Bismuth stops her. She doesn't understand it, either, but she does know it's a human tradition and kids love it. So don't ruin it, Pearl.

Send me a ✵ + a ship and i’ll tell you who does what at christmas!