The Good Widow

Elementary school teacher Jacqueline Jacks Morales's marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable. Familiar. Or at least she thought it was, until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn't alone.

What do we do when life ends? How do we honor the past while moving into an unimaginable, uncertain future? This tender, bracingly honest memoir explores how Jenny, a young widow, navigates the sudden loss of Tris, her beloved spouse of eighteen years. With Tris gone, Jenny suddenly finds herself a single mom to a teen daughter and adult stepson. The newly splintered family finds ways to celebrate “milestone firsts” —including birthdays and other holidays that, without Tris, now feel hollow and bittersweet. Jenny finds herself drawn to new people, including other widows and psychic mediums, and becoming open to different kinds of connections based on sharing and spirituality. She also embarks on a halting quest for new romantic love. Initially, as she endures awkward first dates and unpleasant interactions with self-proclaimed “nice guys,” she resists her new reality —but over time, she finds someone unexpectedly comforting, blending the pain of loss with the pleasure of closeness. For readers who have also lost a loved one, The Good Widow offers both a comforting guide to grief and a form of companionship; for everyone, it’s a beautiful example of how even after death, love endures.

There are people who are rememberers, and A Widow’s Tale shows Linda Burhenne is one of them. A lifelong Christian, she shares her experiences as a wife, a homeschooling mother of six, and a twenty-four-year public official with five successful election campaigns under her belt. She and her husband, Jack, were part of the charismatic renewal in the seventies, the abortion rescue movement, and spent five years as the only White family in an African-American church in the nineties. A Widow’s Tale recounts their journey through ingreasingly tumultuous times as seen through the eyes of faith. It is told with painful honesty, liberal humor, and reasonable kindness. Readers wishing to contact Linda may do so at [email protected].

In Gods Word to a Widows Heart, author Ronda Little Martin provides daily inspiration from Gods Word for those recovering from personal loss. A widow herself, Martin is the cofounder of PHOEBE Connections, which connects widows for fellowship and service. This collection gathers the daily devotionals that she writes each day to the widows of PHOEBE Connections based upon her own devotion time with God. They are designed to inspire, strengthen, comfort, and encourage widows in their journey to overcome grief and to gain new identity and purpose in Jesus Christ. Martin spends the early part of each morning reading and personally applying Gods Word. She then shares whatever message of inspiration He gives her with the ladies of PHOEBE Connections via e-mail, social media, and the PHOEBE website. Therein, she seeks to fulfill Pauls command in 2 Corinthians 1:4 to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. From Determine to Sing a New Song to Just Keep Asking, Gods Word to a Widows Heart can strike a chord with anyone who is dealing with profound, personal loss.

The "superb" New York Times bestselling author delivers a sweeping epic set during the early days of the Civil War. In 1853, Carolyn Vinton is left alone and pregnant after her fiancé, abolitionist doctor William Saylor, disappears. After his stepbrother convinces her that William is dead, Carolyn accepts his offer of marriage, not realizing that she is being drawn into an elaborate ruse by her new husband and his father, a pro-slavery senator--and that William is still alive. Their passionate reunion takes place in the midst of the violent Civil War, as abolitionists and pro-slavers battle over the Kansas Territory. Now only their willingness to sacrifice their lives for their beliefs--and for each other--can save them.

"A very valuable and practical guide for any woman who has lost her husband due to an untimely death. Kristin Meekhof's journey is both inspiring and courageous and something we can all learn from." —Dr. Deepak Chopra An inspiring, accessible, and empowering guide for how to navigate the unique stresses and challenges of widowhood and create a hopeful future. When Kristin Meekhof lost her husband to cancer, she discovered what all widows learn: the moment you lose your partner, you must make crucial decisions that will impact the rest of your life. But where do you begin? This inspiring book shows grieving widows what to expect and how to deal with the challenges of losing a life partner. From immediate issues like finances, estates and medical bills to long-term hurdles such as single parenthood, being a widow in the workplace and navigating social situations by yourself, this book guides widows through the tumultuous and painful first five years to a more hopeful future.

West Chester, in Southwest Ohio, was a small rural community in 1922, when Olive Naomi Jackson and Joseph Franklin Bolser married. He was the youngest of six sons, and she was reared as an only child after the death of hersister in infancy. Both grew up on farms, and when they married, it was natural they would work together to establish a dairy herd and build a farming operation of their own. Their family grew as goals were accomplished, but life took some unexpected twists and turns. Perseverance, endurance, and faith played major roles in the survival of their family. In 1928, Olive, now a young mother of three, faces challenges when Joe dies unexpectedly. Keeping the family together in the face of tragedy is made more difficult by limited job opportunities for women. A Widows Might, by author Kathryn Bolser Banks, narrates the life experiences of her paternal grandmother who had a gift for remembering details about everyday life and including them in her recollections of days gone by. Memories, notes, and diaries all contributed to the story of how one woman overcame the odds to save herself and preserve her family. This memoir shares the joys and challenges of life in a bygone era while illuminating timeless lessons about family ties. It highlights how devotion and determination translate into actions that bind people together through difficult situations.