In the small town of Chestnut, there has been the annual tradition of a Christmas cookie contest. The competition was run by the local baker known as Auntie Linda, who had raised the little orphan Amy Stone as if she were her own daughter. Little Jack was a good helper in the kitchen, who bonded with Amy. Then, they separated in early adulthood when Amy went to New York and became a successful ad executive. Now, she fatefully returns to Chestnut after the death of Auntie Linda.
In Linda's last will and testament, she left her bakery to Amy and Jack with the expectation that they would hold the 50th Annual Christmas Cookie Contest. Now, the bakery will be called Cocalata Cakes. One of Linda's specialty treats was the cookie she called "Santa's Sparks." But in addition to the cookie, the sparks begin to fly between Amy and Jack when their romance is rekindled.
A shortcoming of this heartwarming film was the surprising absence of chemistry between Amy and Jack. It was almost as if they were brother and sister, as opposed to lovers. Yikes!!!
The lawyer Dylan Carruthers is the adult version of the little bully that used to disrupt the bake-offs, upending a tray of cookies or pushing little Jack to the ground. Now, behind the scenes, the underhanded attorney is attempting to ruin the plan to revive the bakery. Whereas Auntie Linda insisted on retaining the local feeling of the bakery, Dylan wants to sell it to a chain of coffee franchises. Of course, Amy and Jack will be standing in his unsavory way.
Amy's savvy New York boss, Mr. Dupree, recognizes Amy's strength when he says succinctly that "it's all about passion." It is the passion of remaining true to her Auntie Linda's vision that will guide Amy to the discovery of the good things in life that are often nothing more than simple pleasures, such as the making of the perfect cookie in Frank O'Brien's Unbeatable Meltdown Snowman. But it would have been nice to have as well some literal passion apparent in the key relationship of Amy and Jack.
In Linda's last will and testament, she left her bakery to Amy and Jack with the expectation that they would hold the 50th Annual Christmas Cookie Contest. Now, the bakery will be called Cocalata Cakes. One of Linda's specialty treats was the cookie she called "Santa's Sparks." But in addition to the cookie, the sparks begin to fly between Amy and Jack when their romance is rekindled.
A shortcoming of this heartwarming film was the surprising absence of chemistry between Amy and Jack. It was almost as if they were brother and sister, as opposed to lovers. Yikes!!!
The lawyer Dylan Carruthers is the adult version of the little bully that used to disrupt the bake-offs, upending a tray of cookies or pushing little Jack to the ground. Now, behind the scenes, the underhanded attorney is attempting to ruin the plan to revive the bakery. Whereas Auntie Linda insisted on retaining the local feeling of the bakery, Dylan wants to sell it to a chain of coffee franchises. Of course, Amy and Jack will be standing in his unsavory way.
Amy's savvy New York boss, Mr. Dupree, recognizes Amy's strength when he says succinctly that "it's all about passion." It is the passion of remaining true to her Auntie Linda's vision that will guide Amy to the discovery of the good things in life that are often nothing more than simple pleasures, such as the making of the perfect cookie in Frank O'Brien's Unbeatable Meltdown Snowman. But it would have been nice to have as well some literal passion apparent in the key relationship of Amy and Jack.