Yes, the titles are a twist, but adds to the intrigue! I love both of these Hallmark movies. I missed seeing "Finding Father Christmas", last season, as my dau and grand-dau were visiting from Rio. But WHAT A DOUBLE TREAT this season!! I loved both! And especially Niall Matter as Ian! Yes the story is a bit bizarre, but the acting was superb for me! I liked the array of a strong cast. I hope to see them again next season, having seen them each twice already this year! All Hallmark movies are predictable, but this had a few curves to navigate. They just gave me so much enjoyment and lifted me into the holiday season. Going to get to baking today!! Hope the authors, Gunn & Golden are busy writing next years part 3!

The usual cast of characters, eh?: Hallmark Heroine™ (HH): Miranda, played by Hallmark regular Erin Krakow. More (or less) on her later.Hallmark Good Boyfriend (HGBF): Ian, who is also the Guy Perpetually in Need of a Shave (GPNS). Hallmark Bad Boyfriend (HBBF): Josh, Miranda's ex.Erin Krakow is well cast, she's an attractive woman that regular Hallmark viewers see in her series When Calls the Heart. For some reason, for this installment she has cut off most of her hair and what remains is straight and flat. I may need a new character acronym for when this happens- Hallmark Bad Hair Heroine (HBHH)? Maybe 4H: Hallmark Heinous Hair Heroine (HHHH).This is a predictable sequel to last year's Finding Father Christmas. A plot gap here is why would they wait for a whole year?The HH runs into the HBBF at the airport and feels compelled to tell him she's the daughter of a famous actor. Why? You haven't seen him in like 2 years. No surprise, he turns up in the small Vermont town where she is visiting the HGBF. A misunderstanding ensues when the HGBF/GPNS sees her hug the HBBF. This misunderstanding is resolved early on.As the title would imply, much of the sub-plot involves her father the famous actor. A reporter is in town doing a story aboot her dad and the 30th anniversary of a theater.A couple of funny scenes involved the HGBF/GPNS trying to propose/proposing to the HH. His dad asked the question I'm sure many viewers were wondering- What took you so long? Another funny thing at the engagement announcement was everyone else in winter clothing and the HH wearing a summer dress.The HH is getting mystery texts aboot her father. She laments to the HGBF/GPNS aboot telling the HBBF aboot her dad. She's then grilled aboot her dad's family by the reporter.A Mystery Dude (MD) turns up and feels compelled to stop his car and look at the sign for the town in Vermont. He must be a slow reader since most people can read it while driving by. He of course turns up at the local inn. It turns out he is a writer doing a story on the dad and had overheard her spill to the HBBF at the airport. The HH has a heart to heart with MD to talk him out of doing the story but doesn't change his mind.The HH then decides to bail and the HGBF/GPNS can't convince her to stay. She has a pep talk with her dad's widow and things are set straight. MD is sent packing. A Hallmark Happy Ending is had when the HH and HGBF/GPNS end up together (again) and will stay in town in the house the HGBF/GPNS had been repairing, but they decide to wait another year to get married?

I looked forward to this movie with great anticipation, but it was a complete disappointment for a Hallmark movie. The only redeeming quality it had was Erin Krakow. The plot was awful, the romance had no spark, the good feeling you are left with after a Hallmark Christmas movie was missing.

When I first saw "Finding Father Christmas," I was immediately hooked. It differed from other Hallmark Xmas movies in that there was a bit of a mystery to it. As in; who was Miranda Chester's biological father? Well, of course, that question was ultimately answered not only to my satisfaction. But, also to millions of other viewers!Here it is, a year later, and Miranda is now heading back to Carlton Heath with a lot more Xmas spirit than when she first arrived there. Especially after love-struck Ian pops The Question in the most melodramatic fashion in Carlton Heath's history!!But, all that hard-won joy is almost canceled out by the caller-ID- blocked cellphone calls that Miranda starts to get harassed with...concerning the truth of her paternal heritage.Who is the self-styled Ghost of Xmas Past? Is it her old flame, Josh, whom she met at Boston's Logan International Airport (and to whom she revealed that secret in strictest confidence)? Or has one of the Whitcombs been paranoid enough to hire some private eye to keep an eye on Miranda (only to now be double-crossed)?I watched the premiere, last night, so--naturally--I already know the answers. The rest of you will just have to tune in one of the re- runs to find out for yourselves!OK! I'll be serious, now. This sequel does admittedly spend half its time recapping-in-summary the plot of the first movie. But, that's a necessary evil of _any_ sequel! And, I will also admit that Peter and Margaret's reticence, about James being Miranda's father (at least, while in public with unknowing third parties), does become a little annoying after a while. Making me think, once or twice: "Why are they acting like selfish snobs? How much more does she have to do to prove herself to them?"But, in the end, love and good sense prevailed. As it should in _any_ Hallmark Xmas movie.