'The Christmas Secret' Premieres Tonight on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Stars Bethany Joy Lenz and John Reardon

Photo: Bethany Joy Lenz Credit: Copyright 2014 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Katie Yu

With her life falling apart at Christmastime, a struggling single mom finds a magical family heirloom that leads her to love and good fortune in The Christmas Secret, a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original World Premiere Sunday, December 7, 9 p.m. ET/PT. The film stars Bethany Joy Lenz (One Tree Hill, Guiding Light) and John Reardon (Arctic Air). The cast includes Susan Hogan (Life Unexpected), Michael Hogan (Teen Wolf), Nicola Cavendish (The L Word), Jaeda Lily Miller (Tomorrowland) and William Ainscough (Seed) in this heartwarming dramedy. The film The Christmas Secret is based on Donna VanLiere's bestselling novel of the same and is part of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' "Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas," featuring traditional and classic Christmas films suitable for family audiences.

"Films based on bestselling novels entertain and resonate with our viewers and we're very fortunate to bring to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries The Christmas Secret, based on the beloved book by Donna VanLiere," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President of Programming, Crown Media Family Networks. "Building upon the success of last year's highly popular, 'Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas' campaign, The Christmas Secret is a special addition to our expanding library of classic holiday films."

With Christmas approaching in the charming, small town of Wilsonville, struggling waitress Christine Eisley's (Lenz) life is coming undone. She's been fired from her job, evicted from her home and her ex-husband is taking her to court for custody of their children (Miller and Ainscough). To make matters worse, she's misplaced a very special family heirloom, a star-shaped locket handed down from her father, who disappeared from her life when she was a young girl.

But things seem to be looking a little brighter for Christine when she lands a new job working with a gregarious bakery owner (Cavendish) and a holiday romance begins to blossom with Jason (Reardon), the handsome grandson of a sweet couple (Hogan and Hogan) who own a popular local store. As she uncovers a long-standing family secret, Christine's luck might be starting to turn, bringing her good fortune and true love just in time for Christmas.



The Christmas Secret is a Craig Anderson Productions, Beth Grossbard Productions, and Lighthouse Pictures, Inc. Production. Shawn Williamson, Craig Anderson and Beth Grossbard are the executive producers. Jonathan Shore, Kevin Leslie and Kevin Leeson are associate producers. Jamie Goehring is the producer. Norma Bailey directed from a script by Judd Parkin and Wesley Bishop. Based on the bestselling novel The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLierre.