Sure, it would have been more realistic if Erin Krakow looked like she got up at the crack of dawn, with little to no make up, and got sweaty and dirty as she really worked that ranch. And she probably would still have looked quite attractive. Either way, pretty actresses are one of the reasons I like Hallmark movies and I'm OK with a luminous looking Erin Krakow. Plus, once a handsome stranger showed up and was invited to stay, is it so hard to believe she might take a few extra minutes in the morning to feel good about how she looked? Most people have some level of vanity.

But if viewers want to discuss how realistic this movie was, that discussion should probably focus more on an assessment of what, exactly, the ranch did to be financially viable. There was no evidence of any apparent income streams. We were left to assume that, perhaps, horse owners paid to have their horses boarded there, but there was no indication that they ran riding lessons, held camps, functioned as a B&B, or ran any kind of income producing ranch operation. And milking a cow into a pail suggested this was no dairy farm.

Also, much was made of the fact that the ranch had been in the family for generations. And yet there was a mortgage? If the father had run low on operating capital, and needed a mortgage, one would think there would have been some sort of business plan before Erin Krakow took over and, apparently for the first time, started thinking about coming up with one.

And the hotshot Harvard grad, who made a presentation about acquiring the ranch to a large meeting with the board/officers/management of his father's apparently very successful business, somehow learned about the ranch's private financial affairs and that they were 3 months behind on the mortgage? That information doesn't just get posted online. It only becomes public when a lender records a notice of default and starts taking steps to foreclose on the property, and that process (which did not appear to have started) can take at least 5 months or more. And yet, in Hallmark World, everyone knows everyone else's finances and family businesses and homes often suddenly face foreclosure in a matter of hours or days after being given wildly insufficient notice. THAT'S unrealistic, annoying, and just a lazy writer's way to create conflict. As was the unannounced visit by two subordinates.

And a big NY company's merger and the success of its business somehow rested on the acquisition of a little ranch in the middle of nowhere with lousy cell service? Really? Talk about unrealistic.

And "camping" next to a small fire, without a tent, blankets, or sleeping bags, after hearing what they heard, during a cold Montana night? Really?

And I get frustrated with Hallmark's compressed timelines where people meet, fall in love, and make life changing plans because of that love, all in a matter of days. Would it be so hard to write a more believable story line? With maybe a few return visits? Stretched out over weeks and months instead of a few days? I've seen it done. In better Hallmark movies.

Still, despite all this lack of realism, the movie was a nice celebration of nature and small town kindness mixed in with a pleasant romance between 2 attractive and pleasant characters. For us Hallmark movie addicts, who like romantic movies with happy endings, much can be forgiven. But this was a 2nd tier offering.

I'm a hardcore fan of Where the Heart Is. I like when Erin is more spunky, more of a spitfire. Her personality has changed on Where the Heart Is. She started out spunky but has become demure and passive as the show has gone on. In this movie she's gotten her spunk back which is nice. Everyone calling her arrogant makes me wonder what they'd do if they saw REAL arrogance.

The romance was all cliche. Felt fake. Or forced. JR's personality seemed off. He started out the movie confident and assertive as the 'city slicker'. Suddenly on the ranch he's insecure, constantly seeking Sam's assurance, a bit needy, and totally clueless. I don't care how much of a city boy he may have been, he would have known more than the way they portrayed him. Seen lightening bugs, seen the stars, know you need kindling for a fire. It was very uncomfortable to see him so goofy and quirky, needy, and seeking her approval. Sucked really. But maybe I just prefer a more confident male hero...

And I agree with the other reviewer who pointed out the overtime and message to the movie felt anti-city and the only true happiness can be had in a small town...

The music was better than in a lot of Hallmark movies. Most Hallmark stuff has CONSTANT annoying music in the background in EVERY scene. This felt more like a real soundtrack. Not my favorite. But better than usual.

Scenery was GREAT. Beautiful. And

I know why most people felt these characters had no chemistry. The entire movie was spent with the main female lead making fun of the "city slicker". She continually assigns him chores without helping him or explaining what to do to watch him fail. Amazingly he figures out how to muck stalls and milk cows with little to no instruction. The only person who helped him or was nice to him for the first half of the movie was the little girl. He must be a glutton for punishment, as he apparently falls for a girl who makes fun of him, belittles his upbringing because he's a "city boy", and patronizes him at every turn because he's new to being out in the country. That is why the romance is unbelievable. At 1:27 into the movie, she is STILL laughing at his awe of nature - and laughs at him for saying his embarrassing moment was having a client pay the lunch bill. She doesn't validate any of his feelings about his "city" experiences. Hard to buy into a love story when there's no sign of any "love". She is barely nice to him, and he falls in love with her?!? I don't thing so. This was very out of character for Hallmark. They need to fire the writers - this was an unbelievable story or at least very poorly edited. The actors seem to have no connection, but it's impossible to see any romance when she is busy smirking at his awkward attempts at ranch work and his enjoyment of country life. Once he makes his declaration of love of the ranch life and wanting to invest in her and her idea - that is the only time she seems to care about anything he does or says. The dance scene at the end of the movie is the only part that seems remotely romantic, and leaves the viewer feeling cheated out of a romance and disappointed. The story had a lot of potential, just really bad writing.