Directed by Michael Landon, Jr., Love Comes Softly is based on the best-selling series of novels from Janette Oke, which has sold over 30 million copies. Love Comes Softly has aired on the Hallmark Channel, garnering record setting ratings.
Amazon.com:
Writer/director Michael Landon Jr. continues in his famous father's footsteps by creating moral family entertainment set in the early days of the American prairie. Stubborn Marty Claridge (Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy) travels west with her new husband--but after they find a beautiful patch of land, her husband dies in an accident before they've even started building. A man named Clark (Dale Midkiff, Air Bud: World Pup) makes a proposal: If Marty will enter into a platonic marriage with him, he'll pay for her passage back east in the spring. What Clark needs is a mother, however temporary, for his willful tomboy daughter Missie (Skye McCole Bartusiak, Beyond the Prairie, Part 2). Missie fights Marty's presence fiercely while Clark, though supportive, speaks few words, and Marty suspects she's made a terrible mistake--but time reveals otherwise. Love Comes Softly, based on the popular Christian novel by Janette Oke, is a romance, but Landon carefully avoids any bodice-ripping histrionics. Problems get solved perhaps a little too easily, but the movie is cleanly written, pleasantly understated, and respectful to its characters. For many viewers, Love Comes Softly will be a welcome change from overheated secular love stories. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.5

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-12-26
Content: One of the best Christian family movies that I have seen in a really long time. I highly recommend this movie showing hurt and true love that will last a lifetime.

Marty and Aaron Claridge (Katherine Heigl and Oliver Macready) travel west in search of new opportunity in the 1800's. But when tragedy strikes and Marty is suddenly widowed, the young woman must face the rugged terrain, bleak weather, and life among strangers-alone. That is until a handsome widower named Clark Davis ( Dale Midkiff) suggests a platonic "marriage of convenience" until Marty can return home. As the months pass, through, Marty and Clark discover an unexpected new love where there was once only loss.
Summary: Love Comes Softly

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-12-15
Content: This show begins with a touch of tragedy. After finding a new homestead, a young husband is killed, leaving behind a wife from back east to fend for herself. A mysterious stranger offers her a home for the winter, with a promise to send her east again in the spring, if that's what she wants. They marry - to the horror of the man's 9 year old daughter. Eventually, this educated woman is able to break down the walls around this little girl, and at the same time find herself in love with the girl's father. It isn't the 'lightning' love that some expect; it comes softly. Predictably, they have to nearly lose each other before either will admit to their love. Underlying in this story is a great lesson in having faith in God, and in believing that all things happen for a reason. An excellent family show, as well as an introspective look on our own beliefs as to why things happen the way they do. Definitely a must watch!
Summary: Predictable, but worth watching!

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-23
Content: I first saw this movie on the Hallmark channel. I can't believe it took me so long to buy it. Too bad the movies with the same characters in the series weren't as good as this one.
This is my to-go movie when the world seems overwhelming..... Great movie.....

Summary: Always Love A Happy Ending...

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-10-15
Content: Happened upon this movie on the Hallmark Channel on weekend. After watching this movie, I just had to see the rest of the series. It was just great! If you are a fan of westerns, this is a wonderful series to watch and to own.
Summary: This Series was Wonderful

Rating - 2 Date: 2008-06-29
Content: Unfortunately, I found this movie predictable and trite. My 14-year-old walked out in the middle because it was boring, we knew what the ending would be and the acting and script were not compelling.
The movie was also anachronistic (ie historically inaccurate). If you know anything about the pioneer period of American history you will find this low-budget film grating. The producers/directors did not bother to get anything correct- costumes, cabin props, barn construction, language and role of women/children in the period. Again, it was so blatant that my 14-year-old also found the historical inaccuracies so intolerable that we spent more time noting these than watching the story line. One minor example of the history issues- the main character is wearing a modern bra with a shoulder clip clearly visible when her blouse (also not historical costume) gets wet.
I am all for the idea of family-friendly stories and I love the stories of pioneer America. But this knowledge and love for true pioneer stories is why I could not appreciate this movie-- I know too much about the period to have this phony imitation of a pioneer situation ring true.
Summary: Disappointing. Phony. Trite. Historically inaccurate.