My Secret Valentine (2018 Hallmark Channel)

My Secret Valentine

Synopsis (via Hallmark)

Chloe is upset her dad might sell their winery and “stress snacks” with a cute guy who turns out to be Seth, the wine rep. They spar until she goes to the cabin, rundown since her mom died. There she finds a note offering help from Handyman and she thanks him, signing In Need of Repairs. Meanwhile, Seth tries to win her over, but it’s Handyman she’s crushing on, so she asks that they meet. Walking into the Tavern together, Seth and Chloe have no clue they’re meeting each other until he figures it out, keeping her entertained when Handyman fails to show. The day of the festival, Chloe and Seth win a contest and seal their victory with a kiss. But their joy is short-lived when her dad admits he’s decided to sell. Racing to the cabin to talk to Handyman, Chloe sees the torn contract and realizes Seth was her secret crush all along.

Thoughts

Lacey Chabert (Chloe, but really it’s just Lacey at Valentine’s Day.) gets a mysterious phone call from her dad, he wants her come home. Lacey (Chloe) doesn’t seem too concerned. She get offered a job to manage a new restaurant that her POC boss is starting. She has to think about it, because she wants to start her own restaurant and can’t be a restaurant manager forever.

Next we meet Seth (Andrew Walker) who works for a wine company. His POC boss is trying to a upgrade their image to be more respectable beverage company and want Grange Family Wine to be that for them. Seth volunteers to be the sales rep for the company and go out to the winery, if he nails the deal he could be up for a promotion to VP!

At the winery, we realize that Lacey’s (Chloe) family owns Grange Family Winery and is back in town for the Valentine’s Day Winefest! Her redheaded Canadian best friend fills Lacey (Chloe) in on the things happening in the town and reveals that she has taken over managing the winery. We learn that Lacey’s (Chloe) mom died and her favorite cabin is available for rent as a perk of the winery. Before she leaves, Lacey (Chloe) writes a message on a chalkboard, welcoming the guest and apologizing for the repairs that still need to be done.

In honor of Lacey’s (Chloe) homecoming, her dad hosts a dinner and promptly announces that he will be retiring from the winery business and he has taken a meeting with Stratosphere (the big company). Lacey won’t have it, and insists on being at the meetings.

At the store, Lacey (Chloe) meets a handsome stranger. (He helps her get something off the top shelf, because he is so dreamy and tall.) They both love snacking! She stress snacks and he hungry snacks. The store rudely closes, by turning off the lights on them while they are in the store. Later, at the meeting Lacey (Chloe) realizes that “snack guy” is the sales rep from Stratosphere, Seth. She tells him what is what and is pretty sassy about not wanting to sell the winery. Angry and upset, Lacey (Chloe) goes to the cabin and sees that the current guest has left her a note on the chalkboard. Out of boredom, he fixed the repairs and signed the chalkboard, “Handyman :)” Lacey (Chloe) gets him some tools and leave him another note. (In pretty cursive!) “You’re my hero handyman.” Turns out Seth is handyman and he is staying at the cabin.

Seth makes his sale pitch to Lacey (Chloe) and her Redheaded Canadian friend. Lacey (Chloe) isn’t having it. Then Seth gets a call from his POC boss, who is on her work elliptical, who is angry that he hasn’t closed the deal yet… it’s been less than 24 hours. In an effort to win over Lacey (Chloe), Seth starts to learn about the business from the ground up. He works in the vineyard picking grapes (they are sour and he eats them, Lacey is amused), he stacks boxes, and even drives a tractor with Lacey’s (Chloe) dad. It has the opposite effect and Lacey (Chloe) is more annoyed than ever!

There is a leak in the cabin, so Lacey (Chloe) goes to let the repair man in. Another note is on the chalkboard.

“There is something comforting about a creaky house, it’s like you’re never alone.” Lacey is thrilled and exclaims. “It’s like you’re in my head!” Before she leaves she writes another message…

“Any chance you know how to make a sentimental coo coo clock, coo coo again.” (Very Random, but okay.)

The next day, Seth and Lacey (Chloe) go on deliveries together. (In a weird looking truck.) Seth pretends to be french and then later country to charm the customers. It works and Seth’s southern charm sell TWO CASES for the winery with a upscale restaurant in town. None of this whole section really makes any sense. It is just an opportunity to see Andrew Walker be adorable. To celebrate they go to the waterfront (?) and eat cheese and hate on boxed wine (I will fight you, Hallmark. Back off trash talking boxed wine.) We also learn that Seth’s Dad died when he was 15 and he became a “city boy” after that. As the sun sets, they talk about what fulfillment is to each of them.

Next we get a little montage of Chalkboard writing.

Him: “Your bill is racking up.”

Her: “Does your handyman experience cover advice for dealing with a jerk at work?”

Him: “ I find the best Jerk repellent is doing the unexpected instead of fighting back smile 🙂 A jerk is only a jerk if you let them get to you!

Her “ I smiled until my cheeks hurt”

Lacey (Chloe) admits to her redheaded Canadian friend that she has a crush on her Handyman and asks if she knows the name. (She doesn’t.) Then they start sleuthing! Looking at the online booking site for the cabin, they don’t find out much. Lacey (Chloe) is no Nancy Drew and invites her handyman to meet IRL. When Seth and Lacey (Chloe) both arrive at the same restaurant they are confused. Seth figure it out before Lacey does and he sits with her and messes with her. He is her wingman and makes her feel better about “being stood up” by her handyman. It is a pretty cute scene, but how will Seth make things right once she finds out he was lying.

Seth gets another call from his POC boss. (She is off the elliptical now.) She is angry because it has been two days and he hasn’t closed the deal. Lacey (Chloe) also gets a call from her boss, she has reconsidered her offer and wants to promote her to restaurant partner instead of manager.

Finally, it is the Valentine’s Day Winefest! (With sooooo many heart decorations.) There is a wine tasting competition, and of course Lacey (Chloe) and Seth enter. They feed each other blindfolded and drink wine. (Sounds kind of sexy, but it wasn’t depicted that way at all.) They, of course, win. Lacey (Chloe) goes to tell her dad that she wants to run the winery. She is too late though, her dad signed the contracts. Seth landed the deal and Lacey (Chloe) is so upset that she cries and runs off.

Instead of Seth comforting her or chasing after her, Lacey (Chloe) is comforted by her dad. He tells her that finding what makes you happy isn’t always easy.” She goes to the cabin to recollect herself and accidentally spills wine on the TORN CONTRACT! She realizes that Handyman is Seth and chases after him. He tells her that she should run the winery because it knows it better than anyone else. She tells him that she was secretly hoping it was him all along. They kiss, while the redheaded Canadian friend looks on awkwardly in the background.

Side Note

If this town was only an afternoon drive away, WHY DID SHE NOT VISIT SOONER?!?

Andrew Walker is soooo dreamy. His is my ideal man.

For a movie about wine, they sure didn’t drink enough of it.

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Overall rating

❤️ ❤️ ❤️ (3 Hearts)

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷(5 glasses of wine required)