As Jack contemplates taking his dream job far away from Cedar Cove, Stan separates from his wife and returns to town hoping to win Olivia back. Meanwhile, Maryellen does some sleuthing to find out what is in John's past and Grace finally decides to come clean to Olivia about the kiss she shared with Will.
Judge Olivia Lockhart, whose Cedar Cove Municipal Court is the professional milieu and social microcosm of issues the judge will face in her own day-to-day life with family and friends. Veteran actor Dylan Neal plays Jack Griffith, the new editor of the Cedar Cove Chronicle, and budding love interest for Judge Lockhart.