Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas

     This is the story of two women living in 1936 Middle Swan, Colorado. Middle Swan is a small mining town in the Rockies. Young Nit Spindle and her husband are new in town where her husband has found a job at a local mine.  There is a depression going on and Nit is greatful for her husbands job and their new home, even if it is little more than a shack. Hennie Comfort is in her eighties and has been in Middle Swan since just after the Civil War. Hennie has resigned herself to the fact that her Daughter will soon be moving her from Middle Swan to live with her in a fancy big house.

     The two women meet when Nit sees the old sign ‘Prayers for Sale' outside Hennie’s house and asks to buy a prayer from her. The sign had been placed there years before by Hennie’s husband, but even though she will not accept money for prayers, Hennie sees herself in Nit and the two form a strong friendship. As the two women work at quilting, Hennie gives advice and support to Nit. Through her stories told to Nit, we learn about Hennie's life of heartbreak, hardship and joy. And there are even some unexpected twists that surprised me.

     I loved this book.