The Christmas Locker

By Jennifer Shortridge

When Sergeant Sam Whitaker returns home from deployment, life feels unfamiliar, shattered by the invisible wounds of war. But everything changes the day he unlocks his late father's old military foot locker-a rusted chest filled with memories, secrets, and a diary that reveals the truth behind the man his father once was.

As Sam inherits the long-abandoned family farm, he discovers a weathered barn overflowing with handmade toys-his father's hidden passion and a legacy Sam never understood. Searching for healing, Sam begins reading the diary page by page, uncovering the pain, trauma, and love that shaped his father's life...and his own.

Determined to honor that legacy, Sam takes up the same craft, carving toys and delivering them to children at the local hospital. In this journey of mending hearts, he meets Katie-a compassionate woman grieving the loss of her mother, who struggled with the same emotional storms Sam has faced. Their shared understanding forms a tender bond, weaving hope into their broken places.

As Christmas approaches, Sam and Katie discover that forgiveness can be the greatest gift of all, and that sometimes healing comes from opening the locker we're most afraid to face.

The Christmas Locker is a heartwarming holiday story of love, redemption, and the power of generational healing-perfect for readers who enjoy emotional journeys, small-town charm, and Christmas miracles.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G56ZXB79
• ISBN13: 9798277079737
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 190 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"