A Pursuit of a Calling The year is 1904, and Maggie Rose, the spunky, friendly, twenty–year–old middle daughter of Michigan resident Jacob Kane, feels compelled to leave her beloved hometown of Sandy Shores to pursue what she feels in her heart are God's plans for her life–in New York City.
A Heart for the Homeless Maggie Rose adjusts to her new life at Sheltering Arms Refuge, an orphanage that also transports homeless children to towns across the United States to match them with compatible families. Most of the children have painful pasts that make Maggie aghast, but she marvels at their resiliency. As she gets to know each child, her heart blossoms with new depths of love and compassion.
An Unexpected Attraction When a newspaper reporter comes to stay at the orphanage in order to gather research for an article, Maggie is struck by his handsome face–and concerned by his lack of faith. She can't deny their mutual affections, though. Will she win the struggle to maintain her focus on God and remain attuned to His guidance?
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Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. She traveled married one of her childhood friends and together they raised two lovely daughters. Now happily retired after teaching elementary school for 31 years, "Shar" enjoys reading, writing, singing in the church choir and worship teams, traveling, and spending time with her husband, children, and precious grandson. Shar is a regular speaker for her local MOPS organization, is involved in KIDS' HOPE USA, a mentoring program for at–risk children, counsels young women in the Apples of Gold program, and is active in two weekly Bible studies. She and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan with their lovable collie, Dakota, and Mocha, their lazy fat cat.
After 31 years of teaching second and fourth grades, Shar decided to say, "Bye-bye, Students!" and "Hello, Writing World!" and it's been an interesting, exciting, challenging, and inspiring adventure. One thing she knows for certain--God dropped a seed of passion for writing in her heart back in the summer of 2000, and He's been growing it ever since. (Who else in her right mind would jump out of bed in the middle of the night just to run to the computer and finish a scene that all of a sudden comes together in her head?)
Shar started her publishing career with Whitaker House in December of 2006 when she launched the release of "Through Every Storm", a general fiction title that finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year in 2007. On the wings of that, came her first three-book historical set called "The Little Hickman Creek Series" with an 1895-96 Kentucky setting. As a result of that series, Shar won the "Road to Romance" Reviewers' Choice Award in 2007 and 2008. and also picked up a third place award in the "Inspirational Readers' Choice Contest" in both 2008 and 2009.
In the fall of 2008, Whitaker House released a stand-alone contemporary titled "Long Journey Home", and in January of '09 launched her 3-book historical series, "The Daughters of Jacob Kane". Especially exciting to Shar about this series is its 1904-1908 West Michigan setting. Watch for titles: "Hannah Grace", "Maggie Rose", and "Abbie Ann", all available at Amazon.com or in most Christian bookstores near you! In the years 2008, 2009, and 2010 Shar was awarded second and third place standings in the "Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest".
Also made available in 2009 are the SPANISH Editions of "Long Journey Home" ("Un Largo Camino a Casa") and "Through Every Storm" ("En Medio De La Tormenta"). Please check these out through Amazon. You'll discover them when you locate all Shar's other titles. Beginning in September 2010, "Tender Vow" hit shelves, and in 2011, the three-book series, River of Hope, launched with its first title, "Livvie's Song".
Shar has had numerous speaking engagements, countrywide book-signings, television and radio appearances, and countless interviews. She has been married to the love of her life since December 1975 and together they enjoy their two daughters, sons-in-law, and beautiful grandchildren.
Besides her involvement at Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, Shar has been a speaker for the local MOPS organization, has enjoyed involvement in KIDS' HOPE, USA, a mentoring program for at-risk children, counsels young women in the APPLES OF GOLD program, and attends two bi-weekly Bible studies.
She and her darling husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan with Peyton, their lovable, sometimes naughty, collie, and Mocha, their lazy cat.
This review is from: Maggie Rose (Daughters of Jacob Kane, Book 2) (Paperback)
Another fantastic book from one of my favorite authors.
Maggie Rose, the second daughter of Jacob Kane, shows a real compassionate and adventure-loving spirit when she leaves small town, Sandy Shores, to travel to New York to work for Sheltering Arms Refuge, a home for abandoned and orphaned children.
MacLaren has me crying along with Maggie Rose as she was exposed to the cruel and poverty stricken lives of the children. This inspiring book opened my eyes to the other side of our world; a world filled with hopelessness and immorality, and left me yearning to reach out to these children of misfortune.
Luke Madison, a hardened and world weary reporter, finds himself doing a human interest story on Sheltering Arms Refuge. Luke had buried himself in a world of bitterness and pain when he lost his fiancée in a tragic accident. When he comes to live at the Refuge his heart was touched by the plights of the children and be Maggie Rose. Struck by her innocence and liveliness, he felt she wouldn't last in the callous and carnal city of New York. Luke was quickly filled with empathy and outrage when he learns of how one child was abandoned and how another escaped from a brothel. He and Maggie Rose help the girl's friend also escape from the brothel and the book quickly turns into an exciting and suspense-filled story of two young people working together to help the orphans find a good Christian home and staying ahead of a mysterious and threatening pursuer.
Laugh and cry along with Luke and Maggie Rose as they learn about the horrifying circumstances of each child at the refuge and how despite what they've been through, they are so full of innocence and hope.
A perfect sequel to Hannah Grace. Packed full of adventure, suspense, and romance. A heart wrenching story of new beginnings and healing hearts.
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This review is from: Maggie Rose (Daughters of Jacob Kane, Book 2) (Paperback)
Sharlene has the nack for writing a GREAT story! And Maggie Rose is no different. Maggie's story will intrigue you from page one all the way to the end. You'll laugh at her refusal to recognize she can't sing. You'll cry with her as she hears the stories of the little orphans in her care. And you'll cheer her on as she falls in love. This book is a must read. Pick it up. You'll be glad you did! :)
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This review is from: Maggie Rose (Daughters of Jacob Kane, Book 2) (Paperback)
REVIEWED BY SHIRLEY CRANSTONE (CHARLESTON, WV), JULY 16, 2009 (I HAVE POSTED THIS REVIEW ON BEHALF OF SHIRLEY CRANSTONE.)
In 1904, mission-minded Maggie Rose leaves the comforts of her West Michigan home and family to take a job at a New York City orphanage, Sheltering Arms Refuge. Here, she gets a dose of "real life" with the influx of homeless urchins into the orphanage, some abused and neglected by alcoholic parents, some orphaned, others simply put out on the streets by penniless, often disease-ridden parents, immigrants who find themselves forced into dirty streets, too impoverished to tend to their families. Not only will Maggie assist in the "placing out" process, finding homes for these children via the "Orphan Trains" that operated from the mid-1800s through 1929, she will also discover unexpected love in a hardnosed newspaper reporter, a man carrying a load of bitterness over the loss of his beloved fiancee to a true life, disastrous paddle-boat fire in the East River. This is a story rife with heartrending emotion, drama, character conflict, hope and healing. As in all of MacLaren's page-turning novels, readers will discover God's love and power amidst heartache and learn that through trusting Christ, JOY truly can abound. ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE READ!
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