The first story in the Heaven's Missing series. When Claire’s adopted daughter, Hannah, is robbed, Claire has to track down the thief, help Hannah cope with her loss of innocence, and face up to her own past. Of course she has plenty of help -- from her friend Laurence, a former slave who died long before she was born, from Hollywood legend Elizabeth, now serving the formerly homeless, from a group of dark-age Celtic monks, and from the Archangel Gabriel and the Heavenly Host. You see, Claire is in Heaven. A whimsical, celestial mystery within a coming-of-age tale.

After Claire and Laurence volunteered to raise Hannah, a cherub who died as a toddler, they thought their task was just to guide her as she matured, so that she saw the dark side of human nature and developed compassion. But when one of Hannah’s wings is stolen – a nearly unthinkable event in Heaven -- Gabriel sends Claire and Hannah on a hunt that takes them across Heaven and ultimately to the dreaded South West Gate, an evil place forbidden to angels, archangels, and certainly cupids. There Hannah must mature far more quickly than she expected, and Claire must finally come to terms with her own past sorrows in order to welcome her husband to heaven. Sometimes whimsical, always thoughtful, this is a riveting celestial mystery within a coming-of-age tale.

Nell Weaver Lyford formerly worked in public relations and as an author for the book division of Runners' World. All proceeds from this book benefit Christ Episcopal Church's Green Groceries, a locally sourced fresh food pantry for families in need.