Christmas Joy (Hallmark 3 Nov 2018, Danielle Panabaker, Matt Long)

In Hallmark TV Movie Christmas Joy, Joy Holbrook (Panabaker) is a keenly intelligent market researcher with an eye on her company’s top account and garnering a sweet promotion just in time for the holidays. Just as Joy is capturing the attention of the account’s CEO, she receives a call from her Aunt Ruby’s best friend back home in Crystal Falls, NC. Ruby has broken her ankle and needs surgery.

Though the timing couldn’t be worse, Joy immediately comes to her Aunt’s bedside only to be reunited with former crush, now hospital administrator, Ben Andrews (Long), son of Ruby’s best friend Shirley. Joy also must navigate Ruby’s stubborn determination to be in control of everything, including the town’s legendary annual Cookie Crawl, a walking home tour where owners display holiday decorations and treat each other to Christmas cookies all while vying to win the prized Golden Wreath Award.

To keep Ruby focused on healing, Joy volunteers to take her aunt’s place as chair of the Cookie Crawl much to the amusement of Ben who knows Joy has no idea of the Herculean task before her. Though Joy initially refuses Ben’s attempts to co-captain, she begins to soften and let him in, all the while remembering that there truly is no place like home for the holidays.

production details
USA | Hallmark – Silver Bells Productions | 1×90 minutes | Broadcast Saturday 3 November 2018 at 8.00pm

Greg Malcolm as Producer
Jennifer Maisel as Writer
Monika Mitchell as Director
Nancy Naigle as Original Author
Tracy Andreen as Writer
Vicki Sotheran as Producer

cast
Danielle Panabaker as Joy Holbrook
Matt Long as Ben Andrews
Lucia Walters as Margie Carter
Taylor Hastings as Ashley Jules

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• A Handful of Thieves (BBC One 1969, Helen Worth, Martin Ratcliffe)

• Hands Across the Sea (BBC, 1938, Nadine March, Nicholas Phipps)

• My Son Reuben (Thames 1975, Bernard Spear, Lila Kaye,)

• The Franchise Affair (BBC 1962, Rosalie Crutchley, Michael Aldridge)

• The Galactic Garden

• The Sentimental Agent (ATV 1963)