Prayers for Sale

From Civil War days until the 1930s, Hennie Comfort savors the joys of Colorado mountain life. As the protagonist prepares to leave her home to reside with her daughter, a young woman moves to the gold-dredging town. As Hennie shares survival secrets and long-hidden stories, she reveals surprising tales of her youth. Maggi-Meg Reed brings to mind a wise and cherished grandmother in her depiction of Hennie, complete with a timeworn raspiness. As the story moves across the years, however, there is little distinction between Hennie's youthful and mature voices. Innocence and delight in discovery spark Reed's reading of young Nit. As the women bond, the listener is treated to a beautiful portrayal of female lives in a challenging time and place. J.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

October 6, 2008
In her charming new novel, Dallas (The Persian Pickle Club
; Tallgrass
; etc.) offers up the unconventional friendship between Hennie Comfort, a natural storyteller entering the twilight of her life, and Nit Spindle, a naïve young newlywed, forged in the isolated mining town of Middle Swan, Colo., in 1936. When the two meet, Hennie recognizes her younger self in Nit, and she's immediately struck with a desire to nurture and guide Nit, who is lonely and adrift in her new hometown and her brand-new marriage. As Hennie regales Nit with stories and advice, the two become inseparable and pass several seasons huddled around their quilting with the other women of Middle Swan. Even though Hennie maintains an air of c'est la vie
as she unravels her life story, Nit and the reader soon realize there are tragedies and secrets hidden behind Hennie's tranquil demeanor. This satisfying novel will immediately draw readers into Hennie and Nit's lives, and the unexpected twists will keep them hooked through to the bittersweet denouement.