Lots of choices from comments here. From my personal experience the Brother machines from Walmart in the $200 plus or minus range are very good, I had the CS 60001 that someone mentioned, get machine, a granddaughter has it now.
My ohter favorites are the Necchi travel Mate, which is the exact same as the Janome Gem Gold & is made by Janome. I keep the Gem Gold at a daughter's house & have the Necchi here for travel & class. Either of those machines are great for a beginner like your daughter -in-law, sturdy, strong, very easy to thread & handle, beautiful stitch quality. Another granddaughter who wanted to sew at age 9 couldn't do well with the Brother totally because she has a lead foot & is a pedal to medal sewer, but the Necchi was perfect for her, it could handle her roughness. Because the Necchi couldn't defeat her she loves to sew 5 years later & fortunately has refined her handling of machines.