Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) [Paperback]

Lena Nelson Dooley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2011 | Series: McKenna's Daughters (Book 1)

Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she's adopted. The spoiled daughter of wealthy merchants in Seattle, she feels betrayed by her real parents and by the ones who raised her. But mystery surrounds her new discovery, and when Maggie uncovers another family secret, she loses all sense of identity. Leaving her home in Seattle, Washington, Maggie strikes out to find her destiny. Will Charles Stanton, who's been in love with her for years, be able to help her discover who she really is?

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The McKenna's Daughters series had been in my heart for several years. I'm glad the books are being published by Charisma House. The romance novels contain a lot of family secrets that have to see the light of day before the heroine can move on with her life.

I hope you love the journey of discovery Maggie's takes.

About the Author

Lena Nelson Dooley is an award-winning author with more than 650,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers—where she received the Mentor of the Year award in 2006—DFW Ready Writers, and Christian Authors Network. She lives in Hurst, Texas, with her husband of over 45 years.  

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616383585
• ISBN-13: 978-1616383589
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,441,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 700,000 books in print. She is a member of ACFW and co-founder of the local chapter - DFW Ready Writers. Lena has spoken at retreats and writers meetings in several states and internationally.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not at the same time. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat. And the high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially her fans. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

Her book LOVE FINDS YOU IN GOLDEN, NEW MEXICO, won the 2011 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction. MAGGIE'S JOURNEY won the 2012 Selah Award for Historical Novel.

You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Shelfari, and Shoutlife where authors and readers connect. She's also one of the authors on the Just The Write Charisma blog.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Maggie's Journey July 4, 2012

By Joseh N. Costello

Format:Paperback

Maggie's Journey isn't your typical romance. The title does the book justice. This is about the journey Maggie takes and what she learns as she travels it. It's a sweet story of misunderstandings, pride and forgiveness. This was extra fun for me because I have family who live in the Seattle area on the Puget Sound and have visited them. I loved reading about the area. Ms. Dooley does a beautiful job in digging deep into her characters to bring them alive. She not only fleshes out the hero and heroine, but also the secondary characters. I feel in love with the heroine's father. If you're looking for a book with strong spiritual threads without preachy words this book is for you. Lena Nelson Dooley has mastered the art of getting the truths of the bible out without making you feel you just sat through the longest sermon of your life.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Reading and one you would reach for again and again October 16, 2011

By S.F.

Format:Paperback

Reading, "Maggie's Journey", I could not put the book down and found myself disappointed toward the end, that there was an end to the book; I wanted it to continue because I was so curious about the main character, Margaret Lenora Caine, and rather or not, she would find answers to her questions.

At 283 pages, readers will discover, not a historical romance, but a wonderful, historical fiction, based in a time when trains have become a method of travel in the States and more homes were beginning to use a telephone, while telegrams were a form of finding out information of what was happening across the world, but for Margaret Lenora, none of these will answer the questions she had about herself, her family, and even her faith, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, when she discovers, the secret she was adopted.

Lena Nelson Dooley, weaves a wonderful tale of family and love and self-identity, set against the background of a still young country, and filled with historical based tidbits, that will delight readers of historical fiction.

Margaret Lenora Caine, is a strong and lovable character, and even with the mini-backstories that happen in the backgrounds, the reader will not find themselves distracted from the overall reading, as they follow Margaret Lenora Caine as she travels to Arkansas to learn more about who she is and her place in the whole scheme of things....

Personally, I was ecstatic to know that there is a second book coming in May 2012, for the series, though right now May seems too far away and I want to know more about what happens to Margaret and answers to some of the questions that the reader are left alluded to, but this is what makes this book a great read, for those who are looking for a historical fiction that will sweep the reader away.

The story has strong characters, a firm story that doesn't run into rabbit trails, characters that will sweep the reader away, and if you are like me, you'll find yourself unable to put the book down and wishing instead, that the author, would have just continue writing more about Margaret, instead of leaving you hanging for more.

This both creates a book, that will have you waiting, impatiently for the next book in the series, having to re-read the book just to get your fill again of Margaret Lenora Caine and hoping for more glimpses of this delightful read,be it vacation, you're on a holiday, or need a book that will warm your heart and leave you still wanting more.

So if you are looking for a book that will sweep you off your feet and finding yourself reaching the shelf to re-read again, I strongly suggest you try out,"Maggie's Journey" by Lena Nelson Dooley.

****Thank you to First Wild Card Tour and Special thanks to Kim Jones Publicity Coordinator, Charisma House Charisma Media for sending me a review copy.*** Read more ›

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Historical Romance February 17, 2012

By Precarious Yates

Format:Paperback

This book was not only about Maggie's journey, but about her whole family's journey from secrecy and lies to truth and forgiveness. Beautifully told with all the colors, sights, tastes and feels of late 19th century America, Maggie's Journey held the interest of even me (I'm generally not a fan of romance).

As a adoptive mother, I appreciated the real and raw reactions each character expressed around this subject. There were times I saw the emotions reflected in my own heart. Lena Nelson Dooley did a wonderful job sharing each character's journey through the gamut of emotions surrounding adoption.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivated from beginning to end! December 26, 2011

By Anne Payne

Format:Paperback

I read this book in 2 ˝ hours. That's a record for me. I literally did not put it down. Not for a moment. From the prologue to the last page, I was captivated. There was joy, suffering, excitement, confusion, and romance portrayed through vivid images of life, love and loss.

There are many emotions dealt with in the book but the one that spoke most to me was fear. From Florence and Joshua's marriage to Maggie's discovery about her adoption, the author shows us what fear can do to a relationship. The lies it can foster, misconceptions that it can bring, the mistrust that evolves ultimately leading to discord. But then we see the beautiful and loving hand of the Father and how he gently but firmly breaks that bondage of fear and brings about restoration in those same relationships. It was by no means overly obvious, either, making this a great book to suggest to friends who may not normally read Christian Fiction.

Every character in this story captured my heart. Each one is intricately explored and exposed in such a delicate and profound manner. I could go on and on about the book. But I won't. I dislike spoilers so I will only say that I hope you fall in love with Maggie's Journey as much as I did!

This was my first book by this author that I have read. I can't say enough about her writing style. Impeccable! Book 2 can't come soon enough for me

Special thanks to FIRST Wild Card Tours and Kim Jones Publicity Coordinator, Charisma House Charisma Media for sending me a review copy. I was not required to write a positive review, just my opinion.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Rich Historical Filled with Romance and Conflict June 3, 2012

By Cara Putman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

With Maggie's Journey, Lena Nelson Dooley has crafted an engaging first book in a story of triplets separated at birth. Maggie Caine is approaching her 18th birthday, living under the stress of a mother who can't seem to accept her. Then as she explores the attic she stumbles upon a possible reason for the desire to change her. Her world shifts with all she knows or thought she knows about herself changed in a moment. Then her parents let her go on a long desired trip to visit her grandmother in Little Rock -- a woman who shares her love of designing dresses.

This book is well-crafted. The longer I read the more I cared about Maggie, her mother, and the other characters. The angst between Maggie and her mom was so strong at the beginning I had to read past it. Once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The love triangle has an interesting angle that adds to the fun in the middle of the book.

At the end, this is a charming story about coming home and the journey to know who we really are. Thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to reading the other books in this series.