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TWITTER: @HallmarkMovie, #ChristmasSecret, @BethanyJoyLenz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Sheri Helmers (818) 755-2490 September 17, 2014 [email protected]

GOOD FORTUNE SMILES ON A STRUGGLING SINGLE MOM WHEN A FAMILY HEIRLOOM MAGICALLY MENDS HER UNRAVELED LIFE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, BETHANY JOY LENZ AND JOHN REARDON STAR IN ‘THE CHRISTMAS SECRET,’ A HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES ORIGINAL WORLD PREMIERE DECEMBER 7

Part Of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ MOST WONDERFUL MOVIES OF CHRISTMAS, With Traditional And Classic Christmas Films For All Families; Based On Donna VanLiere’s Bestselling Novel The Christmas Secret; Susan Hogan, Michael Hogan, Jaeda Lily Miller And William Ainscough Co-Star

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, 9p.m. ET/PT, 8C. Bethany Joy Lenz (“One Tree Hill”) and John Reardon (“Arctic Air”) star with Susan Hogan (“Life Unexpected”), Michael Hogan (“Teen Wolf”), Nicola Cavendish (“The L Word”), Jaeda Lily Miller (“The Christmas Secret”) 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.

(more) HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES / ‘THE CHRISTMAS SECRET’ – Lead Release – Page 2

“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. Recently rebranded from Hallmark Movie Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is a 24- hour digital cable network featuring a unique mix of content, including all new original movies that are dramatic, cinematic and thought-provoking; new original mystery movies that focus on the lighter side of the suspense genre, as well as classic acquired series such as Murder She Wrote, Matlock, and Perry Mason. The network is also home to annual holiday programming franchise, the Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas, as well as presentations from the award- winning Hallmark Hall of Fame library. One of television’s leading destinations for compelling family-friendly entertainment, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries can be seen in 55.4 million homes in SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition) and remains one of the fastest-growing networks in cable. Along with sister network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is the second linear channel from Crown Media Holdings, Inc.

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