Hallmark Actor Spotlight - Kevin McGarry (Part 2)
A Song For Christmas (2017)
Directed by RC Newey
Written by Betsy Morris and Joie Botkin
Starring Becca Tobin, Kevin McGarry, Dendra Leigh Timmins, Paula Boudreau, David Keeley, James McGowan, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Jason P. Paul, Ted Jefferies, and Brian Roworth.
Premiered November 11, 2017 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, part of The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas.
Synopsis:
Country music’s rising star, Adelaide Kay (Becca Tobin), is as beautiful as she is talented and her hit single, “Heartbeat for You,” is climbing the charts. She’s even been romantically linked to Cole Wyatt (Ted Jefferies), country music’s hottest star, and the two are set to perform at The Palace, a dream venue for any act. But even though Adelaide should be overjoyed with her success, she’s having trouble with the sacrifices she’s made to keep her fame on the rise, like pretending the romance with Cole is real and being so busy she hasn’t seen her parents in nearly a year. Against her better judgment, she always listens to her manager Russell Holmes (James McGowan). She limits what she eats, allows the tabloids to spread rumors about her and Cole and gallivants around the country performing on talk shows. Worst of all, she’s stopped writing her own songs, singing only those Russell has others write for her, even though she feels the lyrics are commercial and lack the heart she once poured into her own music.
But Russell does have a heart, and on the way to Philadelphia for an appearance on “The Talk,” he stops the tour bus at a bed and breakfast in Virginia so Adelaide can rest. The bucolic setting is perfect for writing so later that night, she sets to work on a Christmas song by the fire. But try as she might, all Adelaide ends up with is a blank page, until she hears an inspirational tune coming from an acoustic guitar across the street. Walking toward the music, she finds a cute guy playing the song and their attraction is instant. In fact, if Russell didn’t text her asking where she is, the two would have certainly wanted to get to know each other better.
But people with a connection have a way of reconnecting and the next day, after Adelaide says she’ll be in her room on the bus, she spots people preparing for a Christmas lighting ceremony and goes to check it out. Thinking she’s on the bus, Russell tells the driver to hit the road and Adelaide (with no cell phone) is left behind. It’s a happy accident, because Baylee Lapp (Kendra Leigh Timmons), who lends Adelaide her cell, takes “Addie” to the family Christmas tree farm to wait. There, Addie meets Baylee’s brother Dillon (Kevin McGarry), who happens to be the cute guy from before! He knows Addie is Adelaide Kay but keeps her secret from his parents and sister.
Welcomed by the Lapps with open arms, Addie soon falls not only the family and the town, but also for Dillon, and he is just as smitten with her. That’s why it’s okay with everyone when the roads are snowed over and the tour bus doesn’t arrive right away. It gives Adelaide a chance to help the Lapps turn their struggling farm into a holiday destination. It also gives Dillon time to realize he wants to pursue his music full-time and, most importantly, it gives Adelaide and Dillon a chance to write a beautiful Christmas song that is sure to be a hit.
Winter Castle (2019)
Directed by Marita Grabiak
Written by Barbara Kymlicka
Starring Emilie Ullerup, Kevin McGarry, Meghan Heffern, Habree Larratt, and Melanie Mullen.
Premiered January 5, 2019 on the Hallmark Channel, part of Winterfest.
Synopsis:
Born and raised in sunny California, Jenny (Emilie Ullerup) is thrilled when her sister Meg (Melanie Mullen) decides to have a destination wedding at an ice hotel. Having never attended a frosty wedding, Jenny is excited to sign up for the full experience. Her sister is just as excited to set Jenny up with the best man, Craig (Kevin McGarry) a widowed (and apparently) single dad who she claims is “perfect” for Jenny. When Jenny arrives at the ice hotel it’s even moremagical than she had imagined. But the icy décor isn’t the only thing that catches her eye – Craig is everything Meg had said he is and Jenny finds herself instantly smitten by Craig and his sweet daughter Sara (Habree Larratt) – both of whom are just as excited as Jenny about spending a holiday surrounded by ice and snow. But Jenny’s hopes of romance are quickly dashed when she is introduced to Craig’s “plus one,” Lana (Meghan Heffern), who arrives in faux furs and slightly orange from too much self-tanner.
Meg is mortified that her matchmaking efforts have been dashed by Lana’s unexpected appearance. Disappointed, Jenny gives up on Craig but doesn’t give up on experiencing everything the hotel has to offer. Between their mutual excitement over their surroundings and their duties as bridesmaid and best man, Jenny and Craig find themselves constantly thrown together – making it hard for Jenny to ignore their obvious connection. While they both make the most of the many fun and exciting adventures like ice sculpting, dog sledding and tubing with young Sara, Lana’s aversion to the cold has her hiding out most days in the ice hotel, fending off a cold while trying to bask under a sun lamp. Luckily, a bell hop who pines for the warmth of California is there to be at Lana’s beck and call. When the ice hotel hosts a glamorous pre-wedding party, Craig and Jenny share a dance and though she tries to fight her feelings Jenny finds herself falling in love. Not one to miss a party, Lana emerges looking as frosty as the ice sculptures and, though it crushes him, Craig does the right thing and stands by his date.
With the wedding just a day away, the cold Lana has been fending off all week takes hold and though she is loath to leave Craig alone with Jenny, Lana has had enough of the “frigid virus breeding” climate and resigns herself to return to California. Before she leaves, Craig has an honest moment with her and admits he doesn’t see a future with her. Craig and Lana part ways but Lana doesn’t have much time to be upset when the sympathetic bell hop who came toher aid all week heads back to California on her flight. Unaware that Lana has left, Jenny assumes she has lost the man of her dreams. As the maid of honor, Jenny can’t believe her eyes when on Meg’s wedding day she walks down the aisle of the ice hotel chapel and sees the best man – Craig – smiling and waiting for her, making it the best and frostiest holiday she has ever had.
Winter Love Story (2019)
Directed by T.W. Peacocke
Written by MacKenzie Austin
Starring Jen Lilley, Kevin McGarry, Mary-Margaret Humes, Laura Miyata, Joanna Douglas, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Robinne Fanfair, Nneka Elliot, and Alexander Nunez.
Premiered January 19, 2019 on the Hallmark Channel, part of Winterfest.
Synopsis:
First-time author and part-time barista Cassie Winslett (Jen Lilley) has just had her first book published, a real-life account of her biggest-ever breakup called My Heartbreak Year. At her first, and very modestly attended, book-signing, she meets successful fantasy author Elliot Somersby (Kevin McGarry) whose first two books of a trilogy are big hits. His fans love him and turn out in droves for his book signings. Cassie is scared to death of reading from her book in public, doing interviews or appearances, and that is due to her fear of being compared to her mother, Princeton Literature professor and award-winning novelist Jeannine Jordan Winslett (Mary-Margaret Humes).
Cassie is paired with Elliot for a book tour by their publisher, the strategy being that his fans and brisk sales will help jumpstart sales on Cassie’s book. Elliot is a media pro who loves reading from his books at signings, making TV appearance and doing interviews. Completely unsure of her own talent, Cassie agrees to the book tour, certain it will be her one and only. From the very start, Elliot is nothing but encouraging and supportive. Soon, we learn that super-confident Elliot has his own fear that the third book of his trilogy will not live up to the first two, and it has him stuck. He can’t seem to get the book written.
Throughout the tour, Elliot is kind and gracious to Cassie, letting her have the best rooms when they stop for the night, treating her to comfort food at his favorite roadside eateries, and being an all-around perfect gentleman. Cassie is still too caught up in her own “less than” author feelings to notice the spark between them. Elliot coaches Cassie before their appearances, and she grows stronger and more confident with each one, obvious from the great audience reception she gets. The attraction between them is growing, but when Elliot makes a planned visit in Buffalo with his ex-wife, Cassie becomes convinced that he might be working on a reconciliation and tries to put the brakes on her growing feelings for him – especially when he tells her he is staying on in Buffalo for a couple weeks following the tour.
Back at home, Cassie admits to her best friend that she fell in love with Elliot on the tour. A few weeks later, Cassie travels to Buffalo to attend an event where Elliot is receiving an award. Once again, their feelings for one another are obvious, but when Elliot thanks his ex during his acceptance speech, Cassie leaves the event, crestfallen. Certain now that Elliot is working to get back together with his ex, she attempts to put him out of her mind, and even teases the first chapter of her new book online for her growing legion of fans. However, when Cassie attempts a do-over of her first book signing at her local bookstore, Elliot surprises her and reveals the truth about why he really stayed on in Buffalo, as well as his true feelings for Cassie, whose faith in the power of love is restored with one, long-awaited kiss.
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