Prayers to Nourish a Woman's Heart

Howe, a freelance writer and PW contributor, provides 52 brief fictionalized vignettes about women, each followed by a heartfelt prayer and an inspirational quote. The book (a hardcover despite the low price) intends to help sustain and encourage women, who are often depleted by their role as primary caretakers. Howe includes pieces about women caring for children, but there are also depictions of women in other protective roles. Examples include a woman who chauffeurs and supports an ailing sister; a widow who assists the elderly residents in her housing complex; a trauma nurse who is overwhelmed with E.R. patients; and a hairdresser who is counselor and therapist to her clients. Howe deals admirably with themes of women's anxiety and exhaustion, acknowledging the difficulties of caregiving while offering hope for Christian renewal.