Prayers for Sale

by: Sandra Dallas

Published by: St. Martin's Press

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

Sandra Dallas is the popular author of eight other historical novels.

Prayers for Sale is the story of two women, Hennie Comfort, who is eighty-six, and Nit Spindle, seventeen and a new bride.

Hennie Comfort is being pressured by her daughter to leave her home of seventy years in Middle Swan in the Colorado mountains. She doesn’t want to leave, but sees her options diminishing.

While Hennie is looking outside her home one day she sees Nit looking at the sign on the house that says Prayers for Sale. Nit is new in town and Hennie goes outside to talk with her. Nit offers Hennie five cents for a prayer for Baby Effie. Even though Hennie laughs and explains that prayers aren’t for sale, Nit leaves the money.

Nit reminds Hennie of herself at that age and seeks out Nit and befriends her. Nit and her husband, Dick have moved from Kentucky in search of employment. The young couple have suffered much loss in their short time together and while jobs are scarce, Dick had connections and found work on a dredge boat searching for gold.

The two women bond over quilting and a friendship forms. Over their visits and quilting their lives slowly unfold. Both lost children, one lost a husband and gained another, and an abandoned child found a home. Their lives have been difficult and each gains much from the friendship of the other.

I love Prayers for Sale. The relationship between two women of different ages and financial means is beautiful. The understanding and love each bring the other is what life is all about. Hennie’s new life opportunity is joyful and the surprise of her past took away my breath.

The twists and turns, the highs and lows of Prayers for Sale is a celebration of life and the determination of humanity to survive the best way possible.

Armchair Interviews says: A must read!