(Photo: Jeff Weddell/Hallmark Media)

When Calls the Heart will help kick off the New Year for Hallmark, and the cable network has released a new teaser for season 12 of the romantic period drama series.

Erin Krakow, Martin Cummins, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Andrea Brooks, Chris McNally, Kevin McGarry, and Viv Leacock star in the series, which follows the residents of Hope Valley.

Inspired by the Janette Oke novels, the When Calls the Heart series focuses on teacher Elizabeth Thatcher (Krakow) and her life since moving to the small town. In season 11, Elizabeth and Nathan (McGarry) begin a relationship, but the season ends with a cliffhanger. Superintendent Hargraves interrupts a romantic moment to tell Elizabeth that he has news about her “late husband,” Jack.

Krakow teased the following about season 12, per Entertainment Now:

“We get to see a few different chapters for Elizabeth and Nathan. We get to see them lean into this blended family. We get to see them really lean on each other through some really difficult, emotional stories.

As they’re navigating single parenthood, it’s nice to see them have each other’s backs. I know that for Elizabeth, when times get tough this season and they do, Nathan really is a rock for her.”

The teaser for season 12 of When Calls the Heart is below. New episodes begin airing on January 5th.

What do you think? Have you kept up with this Hallmark series? Are you excited for its return?