Take 3: Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker Review

On January 22, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Great American Family’s Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series has become a pleasant surprise for 18 Cinema Lane. My review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker became one of my most popular movie reviews of all time, garnering over seven thousand views in almost two years. The positive reception of this review led me to cover the sequel, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker. That review has also been well received, obtaining over two hundred views so far. When I discovered Great American Family was not only releasing a third chapter, they were also premiering the third chapter in January 2026, I knew that’d be one of the first movies to be written about in the New Year! Though there’s only been two movies in the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series, so far, the series as a whole has been quite enjoyable. What has worked in the series’ favor is improving upon the flaws of the previous chapter and providing consistent strengths. Will the third chapter, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, continue this pattern? Let’s find out in this review!

*Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker* poster created by Candy Rock Entertainment, Happy Accidents, Syrup Studios, and Great American Family

Things I liked about the film:

Subtle hints of Texas: When I reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, I criticized the film for its constant reminders of the story’s Texas setting. To me, these reminders tried to make the movie’s setting a little too obvious for the audience. This flaw was remedied in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker! References to the series’ Sweet River, Texas setting were represented through some of the women’s wardrobe. One of the Book Club members, Maria, sometimes dons turquoise jewelry. Another Book Club member, Lily, wears a sweatshirt featuring a cowboy/cowgirl hat and cowboy/cowgirl boots. Even Ainsley herself can be seen wearing a blouse similar to those worn by country music stars. Besides the wardrobe, there were other subtle hints of Texas found in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker. A great example is when one of the Book Club members uses a pen shaped like a cactus.

Selecting a cold case: While seeking another mystery to solve, the Book Club decides on a cold case. As they mentioned in the movie, the cold case provided a nice change of pace for them. Not only did this decision benefit the Book Club, it also benefitted Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker! By having a cold case as the movie’s main mystery, it prevents the series from becoming repetitive, as the previous two chapters revolved around murder mysteries that happened in the present. This creative choice shows other ways mysteries can become solved as well. In the case of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, most of the clues were found within the dialogue. Selecting a cold case for the characters to solve was definitely an interesting decision for the third film in the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series!

Rance Moseby: A new character that was introduced in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker was Rance Moseby, the proprietor of a local pawn shop. At first, Ainsley and Jake believe Rance may be up to no good. But as the story progresses, Rance proves that looks can be deceiving. While I was watching Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, I grew to like Rance as a character. David Milchard, the actor who portrayed Rance, had great on-screen chemistry with the movie’s cast. The strength of David’s acting talents helped make Rance seem like he was always meant to exist in the world of the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series. Rance’s drier sense of humor nicely provided the film’s comic relief as well. If there are more Ainsley McGregor Mysteries movies in the works, I really hope Rance Moseby becomes a part of the series’ regular cast!

Pocket watch with confetti image created by Freepik at freepik.com. Christmas clock photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com

What I didn’t like about the film:

An unnecessary subplot: Throughout Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, a subplot revolved around Jake’s past romantic relationship with the mayor of Sweet River, Jane Reval. Even though it was interesting to see how this new character connected to an established character like Jake, I found this subplot unnecessary. Because Jake and Ainsley are currently dating, Jake has no interest in reuniting with Jane. This fact prevents the subplot from going anywhere. It also doesn’t help that the subplot has a loose connection to the main mystery. In my opinion, the least interesting part of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker was the subplot between Jane and Jake.

Inconsistent humor: In my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, I praised the movie’s inclusion of humor. It was not only sprinkled throughout the story, it was also woven into the dialogue. While there was humor in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, it wasn’t consistently featured in the story. In fact, most of the movie’s humor was found in the second half of the film, when Rance becomes more involved in the mystery. This flaw kind of makes me wish Rance debuted in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker sooner.

Limited screen-time for George: One of the aspects I liked in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker was Ainsley’s dog, George. Moments where Ainsley talks to George gave viewers a break from the heaviness of the story’s murder mystery. Plus, his larger role in the first chapter gave the film a more unique identity. But in the second movie, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, George’s screen-time was reduced. I was hoping this flaw would be corrected in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker. But, unfortunately, George received even less screen-time, only appearing in two scenes. The reduction of George’s screen-time as the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series continues disappoints me, especially since George is one of my favorite parts of this series.

Magnifying glass image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/magnifying-glass-with-fingerprint-in-flat-style_2034684.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/flat”>Flat vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

When I talked about Mystery by the Book in my list of The Best and Worst Movies I Saw in 2025, I brought up how Great American Family’s Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series is growing stronger in quality. The third chapter, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, proves my statement correct, as I found it the best movie in the series so far! Selecting a cold case as the movie’s main mystery prevented the overarching story of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries from becoming repetitive. The creative team behind the 2026 film improved upon flaws from the previous titles, such as making subtle references to the series’ Texas setting. Even though the acting was, once again, one of the strengths of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, David Milchard’s portrayal of Rance Moseby stole the show. In fact, I’d say Rance was the MVP of this movie! Despite the film having its flaws, the film itself shows the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series is moving in the right direction. I do hope this series continues, as I believe there are many more stories to tell!

Overall score: 7.5-7.6 out of 10

Have you seen Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker? What would you like to see happen if the series continues? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Creating a Routine

On January 19, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Before school begins in Hope Valley, Elizabeth states how she wants to create a routine for the students of Benson Hills so they can have a sense of normalcy in their lives. When I first heard what Elizabeth said, I remembered how When Calls the Heart has created their own routine. For Hearties, it’s the fact the show itself premieres each episode at a consistent time on a consistent day of the week. Behind the scenes, this routine looks like a block of days or months set aside for filming, screenwriting, and editing. These routines created by the show give the cast, crew, and Hearties expectations, a sense of predictability, but most importantly, something to look forward to. Even when this routine has become interrupted, the creative team behind When Calls the Heart has adapted to the best of their abilities so the routine carries on as smoothly as possible. Few television shows have survived past ten seasons like When Calls the Heart. What seems to have worked in When Calls the Heart’s favor is building a strong and stable routine.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

*When Calls the Heart* season thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

Season: 13

Episode: 3

Name: Back to School

Major stories:

The children of Hope Valley and Benson Hills are going back to school. But for the students of Benson Hills, they are having a difficult time adjusting to their new educational surroundings. One young girl tells Elizabeth how she’s tired of receiving people’s sad faces. Gwendolyn, who likes to be called Gwen, is carving into one of the desks with a fork belonging to Rosemary. Elizabeth encourages Hope Valley’s students to sit with the students from Benson Hills in an effort to integrate Benson Hills’ children into her class. But Elizabeth feels there is more she can do to make all her students feel like they are part of a community. Later in the episode, Elizabeth, Nathan, and Jack Jr. organize a field day. Everyone participates in the activities except for Cooper and Toby. They turn to Elizabeth toward the end of the episode to reveal they made a small cooking fire during their hike in the national park. However, Toby and Cooper reassure Elizabeth they put the fire out. As they reflect on what happened, they second guess if their fire was what caused the national park, Rosemary’s Playhouse, and Benson Hills to burn.

Lee is convinced someone intentionally started the fire in Goldie National Park. One day, at the saloon, Mollie confesses to Lee how, on the day of the fire, she saw an older gentleman entering the park carrying what looked like a kerosine can. Even though Bill and Nathan are currently conducting an investigation, Lee wants McGinty to be held accountable, as he believes McGinty is responsible for the fire. But when Lee confronts McGinty about the fire at the saloon, McGinty is appalled by Lee’s accusations. Nathan arrests Lee after Lee punched McGinty. When Rosemary picks up Lee from the jail, Lee shares how all he wants is for the guilty party to be held responsible for what they did. Rosemary reminds her husband how they don’t know all the answers yet.

Chalkboard image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/mathematical-operation-written-on-blackboard_1357576.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

The residents of Benson Hills are literally and figuratively picking up the pieces of their lives after the fire. Some of Hope Valley’s residents, including Mei, volunteer to take Benson Hills’ residents back to Benson Hills to reclaim their lost possessions. Maisie, Benson Hills’ mayor and Mike’s sister, is trying to acquire relief funds to rebuild Benson Hills. When Mei offers Maisie a place to stay at her and Mike’s apartment, Maisie turns down the offer at first because she doesn’t want Benson Hills’ residents to believe she gave up on them. But after Mei finds a baby portrait of Mike from what was Maisie’s house, Maisie realizes her family is just trying to support her. Meanwhile, Lucas agrees to appear at a meeting about insurance claims, organized by Edie and Maisie. But due to a scheduled dinner that runs longer than planned, Lucas ends up missing the meeting.

Breaking heart image created by Kjpargeter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/broken-heart-valentine-background_1041991.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Kjpargeter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

Like I mentioned in this re-cap post, Gwen carves into one of the desks with a fork belonging to Rosemary. Later in the episode, at the Coulter family’s house (where Gwen is currently residing), Gwen tries her hand at woodcarving under Lee’s guiding eye. The two instances I brought up make me wonder if Gwen will eventually take up woodcarving as a hobby? Maybe this new hobby will help Gwen pass the time and make new friends until she can be reunited with her father?
Rupert is one of Elizabeth’s newest students from Benson Hills. During class, he brings up his past studies about ancient Rome. Rupert even talks about a class project he made that became lost in the fire. In my list of the Thirteen Questions for When Calls the Heart’s 13^th Season, I wondered if another student would receive the Hope Valley Scholarship. With Rupert’s expressed desire for learning, could Rupert be the next Hope Valley Scholarship recipient? Though he is one of Benson Hills’ students, perhaps he could the exception to the rule.
In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth brings up the idea of a poetry club, in order to encourage Oliver to read William Shakespeare’s work. Reflecting on Elizabeth’s idea, it would be great if Hope Valley had a book club! The library would be the club’s official meeting spot. Different stories and genres could be explored within the club. Maybe they could even solve mysteries like in the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series! Since Hearties know a fourteenth season is on the horizon, perhaps Hope Valley could see its first book club come to fruition.

Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? What lessons do you hope Elizabeth’s students learn in their upcoming school year? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: From Hope Valley to Hope Sanctuary

On January 13, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I’ve heard Hope Valley referred as a “sanctuary” in this episode of When Calls the Heart. While this was a reference to Benson Hills’ evacuees coming to Hope Valley, I’ve thought about the town as a “sanctuary” for other characters on the show. When Mei was introduced back in season nine, Hope Valley became her “sanctuary” as she was escaping from a bad relationship. Hope Valley was also a “sanctuary” for both Jesse and Clara, as they found a second chance and love in this very town. And, recently, Hope Valley has turned into a “sanctuary” for Jack Jr. and Elizabeth, providing Jack Jr. with a healthy place to live and Elizabeth peace of mind. Hope Valley has been plentiful for its residents, giving them what truly needed. Whether it was forgiveness, extra help on math homework, or an opportunity to give back, everyone in Hope Valley has been provided for.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

Season: 13

Episode: 2

Name: Up in Smoke

Major stories:

Allie, Cooper, Toby, and Opal are lost within a fiery Goldie National Park. Attempting to find their way out of the park, Opal and Allie travel in one direction while Toby and Cooper go in another direction. Fortunately, all four children are rescued by Nathan, Bill, Oliver, and Joseph. Meanwhile, Lucas leads some of Hope Valley’s residents to create a fire trap in order to stop the fire. With the fire potentially spreading to Hope Valley, evacuation plans are made. Edie even rescues her animals from her cabin. But because winds eventually move easterly, Hope Valley is out of the fire’s path. However, the changing winds make Benson Hills the fire’s next target. Rosemary warns the town through a radio broadcast, giving residents enough time to flee. Though the fire burns past the fire trap and destroys Benson Hills’ main street, as well as half the town’s houses, there are no casualties. But Benson Hills is not the only location to be affected by the fire. Goldie National Park is destroyed and Rosemary’s Playhouse went up in smoke.

Hope Valley literally and figuratively opens its doors to the evacuated residents of Benson Hills. One of those residents is a young girl named Gwendolyn. During the evacuation, Gwendolyn and her father became separated. Until her father comes to Hope Valley to reunite with his daughter, Gwendolyn vows to stay at the saloon. As the day carries on, however, Gwendolyn’s father doesn’t show up in Hope Valley. But Gwendolyn agrees to stay with the Coulters and be Goldie’s babysitter. The next day, Gwendolyn learns from Nathan her father is staying at a hospital in Buxton. At the moment, though, Gwendolyn is advised not to visit her father yet, as doctors don’t want his injuries to become infected.

Everyone in Hope Valley lends a helping hand during the fire at Goldie National Park. Besides the rescue and fire trap efforts, Lee and Mike also attempt to put out the fire with the town’s fire truck. As the fire spreads to Benson Hills, donations for the evacuees are given and organized. Even Minnie cooks hot meals for them. With the day turning into night, other residents of Hope Valley make big impacts through small acts. Rosemary and Lucas host a magic show to entertain the children. When the power goes out, Faith makes sure the Infirmary’s refrigerator is properly working with the help of a back-up generator. This way, Jack Jr. can always have Insulin available. Even though the power returns the following day and everyone is accounted for, the timing of everything doesn’t feel like a coincidence to Lee. He brings up the idea of an investigation to Bill and Nathan, believing McGinty is responsible for starting the fire.

Image of magic show essentials created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/card”>Card vector created by macrovector – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

There were no minor stories in this episode because all the stories revolved around the fire at Goldie National Park.

Campfire with marshmellows and shooting stars image created by macrovector at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

As I said in this re-cap post, Rosemary’s Playhouse went up in smoke. When Lee told Rosemary what happened, I became incredibly disappointed, especially after expressing excitement in the last re-cap post over finally seeing Rosemary’s theater come to life. What’s also disappointing is how the theater itself wasn’t shown on screen yet. I’d like to think Rosemary’s Playhouse could get rebuilt by the end of the season. But When Calls the Heart does not have a strong track record when it comes to keeping promises. One such example is when the show promised to give Jesse and Clara an outdoor wedding despite the show’s creative team knowing the weather would prevent them from filming any outdoor events. At this point, I’m cautiously optimistic.
On social media, I’ve read some comments from Lucas’ fans expressing their disinterest in seeing Lucas and Edie falling in love. They believe Miranda MacDougall and Chris McNally, the actress and actor who portray Edie and Lucas, lack on-screen chemistry. While I wouldn’t mind seeing Lucas and Edie become a couple, they haven’t shared enough screentime together for me to determine if Chris and Miranda truly share on-screen chemistry that is strong. Even though this is only the second episode, I hope Edie and Lucas get to spend more time together this season.
Despite only being season thirteen’s second episode, the episode itself was very strong! Higher stakes were consistently incorporated into the story. The characters well-being was in danger without the screenwriters believing they had to kill characters off the show. Plus, the outcome of the fire leaves a lot of questions for the rest of the season. It’ll be interesting to see where the story goes from here.

What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think the fire at Goldie National Park was intentionally started? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Sharing Your Heart with Everyone

On January 7, 2026January 6, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart, Rosemary and Lee have a conversation about Rosemary’s new Playhouse. She’s discouraged by a news article from the Benson Hills Beatle calling the Playhouse a “vanity project”. Lee reassures his wife by reminding Rosemary how opening the Playhouse is her way of sharing her heart with everyone. As I’ve mentioned in past Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts, my introductions are inspired either by what a character says, something that happens in an episode, or an observation I’ve made while watching the show. When Lee’s conversation with Rosemary made her theater finally seem like a reality, I knew I had to bring it up in my re-cap’s introduction! As a Heartie who’s been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one, I have been waiting for Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater to come true for over ten years. I’ve even brought it up in some of my re-cap posts as well as articles related to the show. Though few details were revealed about the Playhouse, I’m excited to see Rosemary’s dream come to life in Hope Valley! Having a long-awaited wish granted is definitely a good way to start the New Year!

Just a reminder: If you did not see the season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

Season: 13

Episode: 1

Name: Up In the Air

Major stories:

Over the summer, Elizabeth, Jack Jr., Nathan, and Allie have been living at Charlotte’s boarding house in Cape Fullerton while Jack Jr. has received Diabetic treatment. This living situation was meant to be temporary, however, because the Infirmary in Hope Valley was being prepared to become a certified Diabetic center. But this plan is literally and figuratively derailed, as the country’s only medical inspector, Marvin, is unable to travel due to a railroad strike. So, the trip to Hope Valley for Allie, Nathan, Jack Jr., and Elizabeth is planned as a weekend excursion. Assuming she won’t come back to Hope Valley in time for the start of the school year, Elizabeth prepares to give Minnie her lesson plans. But during a conversation with Rosemary, Nathan comes up with an idea to keep his and Elizabeth’s family permanently in Hope Valley. Remembering what a boarder named Skeet Rivington said about his nephew, Nathan recruits Skeet’s nephew to fly Marvin to Hope Valley’s Infirmary. His plan is successful, as not only is the trip safely executed, the Infirmary officially becomes a certified Diabetic center. This allows Jack Jr., Elizabeth, Allie, and Nathan to stay in Hope Valley for good.

The grand opening of Goldie National Park is just around the corner. Hope Valley has been preparing for this day, from Rosemary and Lee posing for press photos to the town being decorated for the occasion. Even the younger residents of Hope Valley are looking forward to Goldie National Park’s grand opening. Oliver sketches a map of the park to include in the children’s park guidebook. Even Jack Jr. draws pictures for the guidebook covers. But when Toby, Cooper, Opal, and Allie go for a hike in the park, the residents of Hope Valley notice smoke coming from the park’s direction. Concerned over the well-being of Cooper, Allie, Toby, and Opal, the Mounties of Hope Valley (Bill, Nathan, and Oliver) ride toward the park to figure out what is going on.

Theater seats image created by weatherbox at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/weatherbox.”

Minor stories:

Henry’s son, Christopher, returns to Hope Valley. This time, he is installing the town’s first traffic light. Christopher likes working at the electric company that helped install the traffic light in Hope Valley. While the money is good, he enjoys being able to help others. During a conversation over lunch at the saloon, Christopher tells Henry about a job offer he’s interested in. Henry reminds his son how he’s more than just his job.

Summer was a busy season for Lucas and Edie. While Lucas prepared for his re-election campaign, Edie dealt with land related legal disputes. Edie utilized Lucas’ office at the saloon whenever he worked on governor duties. However, the idea of Edie and Lucas sharing an office was brought up. During a conversation between Lucas and Lee, as well as during a conversation among Edie, Mollie, and Florence, Lucas and Edie discuss how despite both of them being busy, they miss each other’s company. Though the true nature of Edie and Lucas’ relationship is still up in the air.

Small, western town image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

As I mentioned in the introduction of this re-cap post, Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater will finally come true. This could not have come at a better time for me. Lately, I’ve been heart-broken and frustrated about Eddie Munson being denied a second chance at receiving his full potential in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. So, seeing Rosemary’s theater come to fruition has not only given me some much needed joy, it has also given me something to look forward to for the rest of season thirteen!
McGinty, the disgruntled land-owner from season twelve, has returned to Hope Valley in the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart. His conversation with Bill suggests he’s still bitter about how much prime farmland the national park is taking up. Based on the synopsis for upcoming episodes, the wildfire at the national park will be investigated. If the fire was intentionally started, I hope McGinty isn’t the guilty party because that would make the mystery’s outcome predictable. Personally, I’d like to see an interactive and engaging mystery, so the audience can try to solve the mystery alongside the show’s characters.
Like I said in this re-cap post’s introduction, I’ve been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one. Looking back on how past seasons have begun, season thirteen has one of the better season premieres! This season’s first chapter does a nice job reintroducing Hearties to the world of Hope Valley without feeling overwhelming. Resolutions to conflicts also feel earned instead of being created for the sake of plot convenience. With a cliff-hanger conclusion and some pleasant surprises, season thirteen’s premiere provides enough story points to give the rest of the season intrigue!
Last July, I created a list of thirteen questions for When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season. One of those questions was whether Edie would actually start her law firm in Hope Valley. Based on how Edie’s story has turned out, so far, in the season thirteen premiere, that law firm hasn’t become a reality yet. But since the season has just started, only time will tell where Edie’s story will go.

What are your thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season premiere? What are you looking forward to this season? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

18 Cinema Lane Embarks on 2026!

On January 5, 2026January 4, 2026 By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! Since a new year has begun, it’s time for my annual beginning of the year blog update! When a new year begins, I create a post like this one to inform my readers what they can expect for the rest of that year. In these posts, major announcements about new projects and changes to the blog have been made. Unlike last year, I have three major announcements. But before I make those announcements, here are my blog stats from 2025!

Royal 2026 image created by starline at freepik.com

2025

Total Blog Posts: 88

Total followers: 12

Total Comments: 310

Total Likes: 298

Awards: 1

Participated Blogathons: 28

Total Movie Reviews: 439

Total Word on the Street stories: 10

Retiring from the Eurovisionathon readathon

For three years, I have participated in the Eurovisionathon readathon. This event has given me the opportunity to expand my literary horizons by introducing me to new stories and authors. But what my readers may not know is how much preparation and time go into taking part in Eurovisionathon. From researching and acquiring books that fit the event’s criteria to keeping track of which books are eligible to receive points, there are several moving parts involved. Due to this commitment, I haven’t allowed myself to check out other books that weren’t related to the readathon. For this reason, I’ve decided to retire from participating in Eurovisionathon.

My Year-Long Bingo

For 2026, I decided to create a new year-long project. This project is a personalized Bingo card filled with blog post, article, and movie review ideas that I’d to fulfill in this new year. Throughout 2026, I’ll try to complete as many of the squares to create a ‘Bingo’. At the end of the year, it will be interesting to see how many ‘Bingo’s’ I receive!

This is what my new year-long Bingo card looks like! Sally Bingo card created by me, Sally Silverscreen

My Annual Blogathon

When I wrapped up my blogathon last October, I announced I was hosting a new blogathon in 2026. I also said the event’s details wouldn’t be revealed until sometime the following February. Now that 2026 is here, I’d like to remind my readers that I will soon announce the details for my annual blogathon! The only hint I’m providing is how the event will revolve around a character I’ve talked about on 18 Cinema Lane before.

Sparkly 2026 image created by Creative_hat at freepik.com

Have fun in 2026!

Sally Silverscreen