Jennifer Graham--mother, student, and embalmer's apprentice--could use a friend. She finds one in McLane Larson, a newcomer to Mt. Dora, and is delighted to learn that the young woman is expecting a baby. While McLane's soldier-husband serves overseas, Jen promises to support McLane and then learns that her tie to this woman goes far deeper than friendship. When a difference of opinion threatens their relationship, Jennifer discovers weaknesses in...

"Based on the biblical account of Esther, this story imagines the life and passion of this beautiful woman whose courage and influence impacted history and the fate of her people"--

A young mother unknowingly gives away her own child after serving as a surrogate for a childless couple

"After her father and sister are killed, Salome and her mother move to Jerusalem. When a relative betroths Salome to a pagan prince half her age, she questions God's plan. When she finds herself crowned queen of Judea, she learns that a woman committed to God can change the world"--

Two best-selling novelists combine their creativity and skill for two stories threaded together by the concept of a story jar-a place for memories and mementos that honor and encourage mothers. In Bedford's The Hair Ribbons, a mother's love and strength are passed down to a daughter facing the same disease that took her mother-breast cancer. In Hatcher's Heart Rings, a mother and daughter learn to reach across the generation gap and ultimately accept...