The One about Day 43 of my Holiday Film Marathon for 2023: A Bramble House Christmas (2018)

No mistake about it, “A Bramble House Christmas” is one of the better holiday telefilms you’ll ever watch.  Recommended!

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TITLE: A Bramble House Christmas

FILM YEAR: 2018

DURATION: 85 Minutes

CHANNEL: Hallmark


Based on the novel by C.J. Carmichael

Directed by Steven R. Monroe

Written by Jamie Pachino

Producer: Jamie Goehring, Trevor McWhinney

Executive Producers:  Kim Arnott, Suzanne Arnott, Shelley Hack, Ivan Hayden, Pierre-Andrew Rochat, Harry Winer

Creative Producer: Bart Fisher

Music:  James Jandrisch

Cinematography: Ron Stannett

Edited by Fabiola Caraza

Casting by Jackie Lind

Production Design by Nick Richardson

Art Direction by Fraser Hagen

Set Decoration by Gail Luining

Costume Design by Tanya Lipke


Starring:

Autumn Reeser as Willa

David Haydn-Jones as Finn

Liam Hughes as Scout

Teryl Rothery as Mable

Hilary Jardine as Sage

Julia Benson as Molly

Andrew Airlie as Ken


While settling his father s estate, Finn Conrad becomes suspicious as to why his dad left $50,000 to a nurse he knew for less than two months before he passed away. Just before Christmas, Finn wants to reclaim what he considers his family s money, going undercover to investigate the bed and breakfast the nurse has recently taken over. When Finn meets Willa, he discovers she s not a conniving gold digger at all, but a woman in need who put the money to good use. When she discovers his true identity, will Willa ever be able to trust him again?


For day 43, today’s film is a Hallmark holiday film titled “A Bramble House Christmas” from 2008.

Based on the novel by C.J. Carmichael, the film is directed by Steven R. Monroe (“The Exorcism of Molly Hartley”, “I Spit on Your Grave” films) and written by Jamie Pachino (producer of “Chicago P.D.”, “Sneaky Pete”) and starring Autumn Reeser (*The O.C.”, “Entourage”), who is part of the Hallmark trinity of popular actresses alongside Lacey Chabert and Alison Sweeney (the three star together in “The Wedding Veil” Hallmark films).

Starring alongside Reeser is David Haydn-Jones (“Supernatural”), Liam Hughes (“Star Trek: Discovery”, “Peacemaker”), Teryl Rothery (“Stargate SG-1”, “Arrow”), Julia Benson (“Stargate Universe”) and Andrew Airlie (“Defying Gravity”, “The Romeo Section”).

The film revolves around a nurse/caretaker named Willa (portrayed by Autumn Reeser), a single mother raising her son Scout (portrayed by Liam Hughes).

It’s been a rough few years as Willa has taken care of her son who nearly died of cancer but while as a caretaker, she took care of Greg Conrad before his passing and Greg Conrad left her with $100,000.

As Willa and Scout see it as a surprising gesture (also a holiday stay at the Bramble House for their holiday vacation), the news of Willa being given the money as part of Greg Conrad’s will is not taken well by his estranged children, Gregory Finnegan Conrad, Jr. aka “Finn” (portrayed by David Haydn-Jones) and his sister Molly (portrayed by Julia Benson).

They strongly believe that this nurse must have done something fraudulent to get that $100,000 and will contest the will and fight her on it. Finn and Molly are still in pain that their father just up and left his family many years ago and now that he is past, they feel they deserve the money for the pain their father had caused them.

Knowing that she is going to the Bramble House, Finn immediately heads there to confront Willa.

Willa is kind, warm-hearted and a loving person and while staying at the Bramble House, she is often wanting to help business owner Mable (portrayed by Teryl Rothery) and when Finn arrives, he goes by his pen name Finn Knightley and happens to be a famous children’s book author (Willa’s son Scout loves Finn Knightley’s books).

And while his original intention was to prove that Willa is a fraud, he discovers how she is an amazing person, an amazing mother and being with her thaws his cold heart and he starts to fall for her.

But what will happen when Willa learns the truth of who Finn really is?

“A Bramble House Christmas” is no doubt one of the better holiday films that I have watched this year.  Not surprising, considering Autumn Reeser is part of that Hallmark trinity.  Production design is very well-done, the musical choices are top notch compared to most holiday films and the acting is magnificent.

This is a true holiday romance film done very well!

No mistake about it, “A Bramble House Christmas” is one of the better holiday telefilms you’ll ever watch.  Recommended!


Watch or Purchase this film on Amazon