The story in a nutshell [spoiler!]: The Virgin Mary from Christian mythology comes to the American southwest in 1887 under the name of Hannah Morgan. She wakes the storyteller, Tucker Gibbens, from the dead (he has just been shot) and saves other people, especially children, from death or a cruel fate until she is shot dead. Gibbens takes in the children and raises them, dies in 1928 and leaves an account of Hannah to a priest who eventually commits suicide in 1997. Another priest reads the notes and visits the house where Gibbens once lived, has a religious experience when confronting a painting of Hannah and (as is implied) has his faith restored.
Well, what can you say? Eidson, as always, writes exceedingly well, so his talents seem a bit wasted on supernatural subjects. I guess if you are a theist and a Christian you may find something worthwhile in his books like bolstering your faith or at least a fantastic religious tale. The non-theist reader doesn't miss anything by not reading 'Hannah's Gift'. ( )