Signal Mountain's Rachel Boston stars along with her parents, grandmother in new Hallmark Christmas movie

What could be more wholesome and uplifting than a new Hallmark Christmas movie starring Rachel Boston? How about a Hallmark movie called "Check Inn to Christmas" that not only stars the Signal Mountain native but her parents and 101-year-old grandmother.

That's exactly what people will see on Tuesday night at 8. Fans of the Hallmark holiday franchise know what to expect. In fact, there are even drinking games designed around the movies: "There is mistletoe - take a shot." "It snows on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning - take a shot."

It's what people expect, and it's what makes the viewing fun. Normally, a story like this would need to issue a spoiler alert and refrain from giving out too much detail, but if you don't already know what happens, you probably don't watch the movies.

"We all know that everything must end up happily ever after," Boston said in a phone interview earlier this week. "The brain likes consistency, and you know what you will be getting from these movies."

Contributed photo by Nathan Johnson / Rachel Boston returns to the Hallmark Channel on Tuesday when she stars in "Check Inn to Christmas." The film will repeat several times throughout the holiday season.

"Check Inn to Christmas" is classic Hallmark. In the new film, Boston, a veteran of eight Hallmark movies, is Julia Crawley, a New York City lawyer who returns for the holidays to her Utah hometown and the inn her family runs.

Her family has had a centuries-old feud with another family who runs an inn in town and wait for it Boston's character falls in love with Ryan Mason, played by Wes Brown, a member of the rival family.

Boston's real-life mother and father, Brenda and Terry Boston, and Brenda's mother, Elvia Billingsley, make cameos. Boston said her grandmother was on set for two days during the three-week shoot.

"She had so much fun," she said. "She loved being on set and watching me. I don't know she realized we were putting her in the film or not, but she had fun."

Boston said she doesn't get back here as much as she'd like, but was here for her grandmother's 101st birthday party.

Boston is such a part of the Hallmark franchise, she has written, produced and starred in Hallmark films. She is executive producer and creator of last year's "The Last Bridesmaid," a story she based on her real-life experience of constantly being asked how it is she is still unhitched herself.

"Just lucky, I guess" has become her go-to response for people who persist in their questioning. She has said in previous interviews that she is waiting for the perfect soul mate and believes it will happen. When it's right.

Hallmark began capitalizing on viewers' devotion to its holiday movies with a Countdown to Christmas promotion 10 years ago. According to USA Today, 232 Countdown to Christmas features have been made, including the new movies premiering this year.

Boston said the channel is looking to produce even more next year because the demand continues to grow. She said also that the viewers want to see more stories of women and "their journeys through life.

"You can be a single woman and career-minded, and that is perfectly acceptable, or you can be a happily married woman who is career-minded, and that is perfectly acceptable," she said.

"Those are the films I'm drawn to. It's important that those things be a part of the movie, and the romantic part is just another part."

She said she has developed a relationship with the network and the staff and crew and that sometimes she calls them with an idea and sometimes they call her.

"It's true of other projects as well. It depends on the relationship you have with the network.

"It's been a wonderful experience working for Hallmark."

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

Contributed photo by Nathan Johnson / Rachel Boston returns to the Hallmark Channel on Tuesday when she stars in "Check Inn to Christmas."