Happily married Haylie Duff (as Sarah Brown) suffers an unexpected tragedy. Her husband, successful San Bernardino, CA salesman David O'Donnell (as Jason Goodman), has gone missing. The bills on their luxurious Big Bear estate are piling up. Even worse, sickly preteen son Judah Nelson (as Brandon) has a rare disease and may need a transplant from dad. The lad's deceased grandfather's old business partner Parker Stevenson (as Daniel Sharpson) is now a detective, but he sees mother Duff as a suspect. It's up to Duff to solve her mounting problems, which puts her life in danger...
This is you average "Lifetime" TV movie. Much of it seems jarring and there are ragged edges in the construction. Still, it's a good effort by writer-director Michael Feifer, who gets the project completed adequately. More production time would have made the drama more satisfying...
Thought Duff may be pregnant with a second child, which would have added heartbreak and possibly given her some more interesting acting opportunities. There is no love interest between her and Det. Stevenson. However, he is noticeably older and, perhaps, no longer seen as a romantic actor. A murdered woman enters the story too abruptly, and model-pretty Jennifer Aspen (as Emily) never says Mr. O'Donnell paid her any attention. While some of the casting seems off, Jennifer Aspen (as Emily) does a fine job as the naive first wife and O'Donnell is fun as Duff's wayward husband.
**** His Secret Family (2015-08-01) Michael Feifer ~ Haylie Duff, David O'Donnell, Parker Stevenson, Jennifer Aspen
