"THE SILENT GIFT," by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley, Bethany House, 236 pages, $13.99

It is said that a mother's love knows no bounds.

It's the theme of countless movies, songs and poems. And it is the overarching theme of "The Silent Gift," by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley.

Set in the late 1930s, "Silent Gift" is an endearing look at love, faith and sacrifice.

When Mary learns her husband plans to leave her, she takes matters into her own hands and leaves him first, taking their young disabled son, Jack, with her.

It's the Great Depression, and jobs are scarce. Mary gets some leads, but Jack was born both deaf and mute, and Mary can't leave him alone. No one wants to hire a woman with a kid in tow.

Desperation sets in as Mary and Jack are forced to depend on the kindness of strangers. But then something miraculous happens, a gift beyond anything Mary could ever imagined.

As Mary further explores this sudden gift, new and sometimes dangerous challenges appear, pushing Mary's willpower to the limit. Through it all, Mary knows things will be fine — as long as she has Jack.

"The Silent Gift" has an understated quality that's as welcoming as warm apple pie. Landon and Kelley don't use any glitz to punch up their story. That's good, because it doesn't need it.

That's not to say that "Silent Gift" is simple — it delves into deep spiritual questions. Rather, the authors let the story stand on its own. There are lots of twists and turns and an end that most won't see coming, making "Silent Gift" an engaging and entertaining read.

e-mail: jharrison@desnews.com