The Christmas Secret: Our Hallmark Movie Review
The Christmas Secret came to us straight from the Girls Gone Hallmark Facebook group, and it holds a special place in Hallmark history as the movie that launched Bethany Joy Lenz’s long and beloved run on the network. Can a single mom catch a break during the holiday season? Megan and Wendy find out.
Listen to Girls Gone Hallmark Review “The Christmas Secret”
What Is The Christmas Secret About?
Christine Eisley is a single mom working two jobs to keep her family afloat during the holidays. She takes a job at a Christmas tree farm, where she crosses paths with Jason, the farm’s kind and patient owner. As she gets to know him and his family, she starts to piece together a connection to her own past that she never expected. The movie is based on the novel by Donna VanLiere. It shares a premiere date with Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas on November 23, 2014.
About The Christmas Secret
- Directed by Norma Bailey. Norma has a long list of directing credits across film and television, including two episodes of The Way Home from Season 1. She has also worked on several notable series including Spinning Out and Anne with an E, both for Netflix.
- Written by Wesley Bishop and Judd Parkin. Wesley has a solid list of Hallmark credits including Christmas Town and The Christmas Shoes. Judd Parkin’s other Hallmark credit is Rome in Love (2019).
- Based on the novel by Donna VanLiere. (You can buy it here on Amazon.)
- Bethany Joy Lenz plays Christine Eisley. This was Bethany’s very first movie for Hallmark, and what a beginning it was. She went on to star in An Unexpected Christmas, A Biltmore Christmas, Savoring Paris, and is currently starring as Rebecca Clarke in Hope Valley: 1874 on Hallmark+, which was renewed for a second season in 2026. She also published her memoir Dinner for Vampires in 2024, which got significant attention and is worth a read even if you only know her from Hallmark.
- John Reardon plays Jason. John is best known for playing Detective Charlie Hudson on the Canadian procedural Hudson and Rex, a role he originated in 2019. The show became a beloved hit both in Canada and internationally. In 2024 John was diagnosed with tonsil cancer and stepped away from filming during Season 7 for treatment. He was later given a clean bill of health and fully expected to return to the show, but in September 2025 he revealed publicly that producers had replaced him and chosen to go in a different direction without him. The announcement sparked significant backlash from fans, with some even purchasing a full-page ad in the Toronto Star demanding answers. In a very satisfying turn of events, John announced in May 2026 that he is returning to the show as Charlie Hudson for Season 9, which begins filming in June 2026. He is also an executive producer on the series and is married to actress Meghan Ory of Sullivan’s Crossing.
- Susan Hogan plays Judy. Susan has a very deep Hallmark resume including a movie we recently reviewed, A Very Merry Mix-Up. She has also appeared in two Wedding March movies, Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas, Christmas Joy, Frozen in Love, and most recently Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder.
- Michael Hogan plays Marshall. Yes, Susan Hogan and Michael Hogan are married in real life. Michael has an extensive list of credits including an episode of the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. His most celebrated role is Colonel Saul Tigh across 70 episodes of Battlestar Galactica.
- Greyston Holt plays mean ex-husband Brad. Greyston has accumulated over 65 acting credits and has become one of the busier Canadian character actors working today. He had a significant role as Paulo in Netflix’s The Night Agent (2023), which became the platform’s most-watched English-language series of the year. He has also appeared in Chesapeake Shores for Hallmark, Riverdale, Bitten, and Once Upon a Time.
- Karin Konoval plays Mrs. Meredith. Karin has a long list of credits including playing Maurice the orangutan across all three films in the Planet of the Apes trilogy: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War for the Planet of the Apes. She also played Morbidda Destiny on the gone-too-soon Babysitters Club series on Netflix.
- Jaeda Lily Miller plays Hayley. Jaeda appeared in a number of Hallmark productions including A Cookie Cutter Christmas, Christmas in Evergreen, and Christmas in Evergreen: Bells are Ringing. She also played Allie on 52 episodes of When Calls the Heart.
Watch the Trailer for “The Christmas Secret”
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