"A New Life" is the first Christmas episode of the Hallmark Channel drama Cedar Cove, produced and aired as the twelfth episode of the show's first season. It is the first half of the show's Christmas arc that is based on the book "Cedar Cove Christmas" by Debbie Macomber.
Synopsis[]
Christmas is approaching. A young, seven months pregnant woman named Shelly arrives in Cedar Cove and doesn't tell anyone why she chose it as her getaway. Moon offers her Justine's old job - which she accepts - and she ends up staying at the Thyme & Tide, where Bob is feverishly working away to win the town's annual Christmas Decorating Award (judged on Christmas Eve), much to Peg's chagrin as she sees to him that means the more ostentatious the better. Shelly, alone in the world, admits to Peg that she is planning on giving her baby up for adoption. Peg points her in Olivia's direction for legal help in the matter. Peg eventually finds out more about Shelly, and that her choice of Cedar Cove was not by accident. Seth returns to Cedar Cove, but Justine, angry that he would leave without telling her, is not willing to take him back, that is until he tells her what he has been working on for their future, which again is ultimately affected by Warren, and this time also by association the mysterious man in the figurative "blue suit". John has left Cedar Cove, and Maryellen has no idea where he is. On a business trip into Seattle, she inadvertently finds some clues as to his whereabouts. Olivia has no idea if Jack is gone for good. Indeed, he has taken the job in Philadelphia following his and Olivia's fallout because of Stan. Olivia now sees Stan's ultimate goal in a clearer light, which in part makes she decide to take decisive action to get Jack back by flying to Philadelphia, unaware that she may miss him as he comes back to Cedar Cove to collect the remainder of his possessions. And Grace also decides to take decisive action in starting things with Cliff, despite him having recently declined her every advance.