'Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove'

Hallmark Channel original prime-time series

[July 20, 2013]  HALLMARK CHANNEL -- "A House Divided,” Saturday, July 27, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Judge Olivia Lockhart finds herself in a house divided after her seaside town goes up in arms when arrogant and wealthy developer Warren Saget threatens to tear down Cedar Cove's historic lighthouse. Local Thyme and Tide innkeepers Bob and Peggy Beldon lead the townspeople in protest, including Olivia's mom, Charlotte, leaving Olivia caught in the middle when the case ends up in her courtroom and she must put her emotions aside to abide by the law. Then, Olivia's new romance with newspaper reporter Jack Griffith is threatened when he paints Olivia in an unfavorable light in his story about the case. While the town begins to turn their backs on their respected judge, Olivia's daughter Justine, recently single after ending her engagement to Warren, sees a spark reignite with old high school sweetheart Seth Gunderson, and Olivia's best friend Grace Sherman, home from a post-divorce vacation, begins readjusting to single life.

“Reunion,” Saturday, Aug. 3, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 CT

When Jack's estranged son Eric shows up in Cedar Cove completely unannounced, their uncomfortable reunion is long overdue. As Jack starts to get to know his son amid Eric's constant hurtful reminders of Jack's alcoholic past and poor parenting, Olivia and Grace learn a secret that makes them question Eric's intentions. Charlotte wants to fulfill the dying wish of a stroke victim she met while volunteering at the local hospital by tracking down his family and asks Olivia for help. But when Charlotte also recruits Olivia's friendly ex-husband, Stan, to do some digging, Olivia is faced with her own uneasy reunion.

“Suspicious Minds,” Saturday, Aug. 10, at 8p.m. ET/PT, 7 CT

A bloodied and quiet man arrives to the Thyme and Tide in the middle of the night asking for a room, inexplicably missing all of his belongings. Sensing trouble, Bob and Peggy reluctantly let him stay, promising to work out the details later. But when he is found mysteriously dead in his room the next morning, the Beldons are stunned and upset and the Cedar Cove gossip mill begins buzzing with the news. As Sheriff Troy Davis leads the investigation, Jack is quick to begin covering the story for the Chronicle -- even in the midst of rising tensions between him and Olivia about Eric's bad attitude. Meanwhile, at Cedar Cove's annual Art Walk, Justine is on the verge of a new career when she receives a prominent booth to display her work and is stunned when her dad, Stan,  shows up to support her, invoking unresolved feelings.

“For the Sake of the Children,” Saturday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 CT

In court, Olivia hears both sides of Rosie and Zach Westen's heated, he-said, she-said divorce case, struggling to decide what's best, for the sake of the children, Allison and Eddie. While the case stirs up painful memories of Olivia's own divorce, Jack is also reminded of his past when he notices Eric is stalling to find a job and starting to take advantage of Jack's guilt. Then, after budget cuts leave the mayor no choice but to close the town's beloved library, Grace resolves to raise the money to keep it open herself, hosting a fundraiser where she meets a charming man new to Cedar Cove, Cliff Harting.

“Free Spirits,” Saturday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 CT

Justine is excited to welcome Seth back from his job at sea, but when he doesn't show up for several days, she fears the worst and decides to go on a dangerous solo trip to a remote Alaskan town to find him. Olivia is concerned, especially as she remembers the pain of losing her son several years ago in an accident. Worried she'll lose Justine too, Olivia's sleepless nights start taking a toll and is hesitant to leave town when Jack asks her to go to Seattle for the weekend on their first trip as a couple. As both Justine and Olivia face stepping out of their comfort zones, they ultimately realize the adventure might be worth the risk.

“Help Wanted,” Saturday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 CT

The Westens' messy divorce starts taking a toll on daughter Allison, who is quick to lean on her friend Anson for support and put in extra hours at the Thyme and Tide Inn just to escape. But when her mom, Rosie, gets a permanent room at the Inn, Allison is on the verge of a breakdown. Then, before a trip to Seattle with Jack, Olivia gets a surprising visit from Lenny, a reformed criminal she helped put in jail years ago, who has returned to Cedar Cove wanting a fresh start. Seeing a change in him, Olivia promises to help Lenny find a job, but feels defeated when everyone in Cedar Cove is too quick to judge the ex-convict and turns him away. Then, when the harbor's beautiful pergola goes up in flames at the hands of an apparent arsonist, even Olivia is suspicious of Lenny, but everyone is shocked by the conclusion in court.

[By STEPHANIE SHERMAN, Crown Media]