The Cedar Chest (The Cedar Chest series #1)

Carrie Hughes is a mother of two and wife of a troubled firefighter. One day, she receives the worst news imaginable. Her husband, Tim, suffered fatal injuries on duty. Widowed at a young age, insecure, and coping with single motherhood, Carrie struggles with her Christian faith. Her thirteen-year-old daughter, Nora, is strong-willed and rebellious, while her seven-year-old son, Gabriel, copes with the loss of his father- his hero.

Carrie reaches out to meet new friends, including an older widow, Judy, who becomes a mentor and mother figure. While visiting Judy in her town, Carrie shops for a special keepsake for Tim- a cedar memory chest. There, she meets David Hensel, a widowed furniture salesman and father. The two begin to share a long-distance correspondence between their small Midwestern towns.

A story of loss, love, and forgiveness, 'The Cedar Chest' is a modern-day romance with realistic characters who hold to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while dealing with common issues in today's society.