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: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #516,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 650,000 books in print. She is a member of ACFW and president of the local chapter.

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 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Precarious Yates - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) (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.

1 of 1 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. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) (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.***

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Christian Historical Fiction, October 14, 2011

By 

Courtney - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) (Paperback)

What a journey the Lena Nelson Dooley takes us on when she introduces us to Maggie and her sisters!! I had never read anything by this author before and so I wasn't sure what to expect! I'm glad to report that she is an amazing author that is extremely talented at bringing a story alive and connecting the reader emotionally to her characters!

Right from the beginning I knew Maggie's Journey was going to be great. It was very emotional and at times I was shocked, and other times I wanted to cry! Maggie is one of set of triplets that gets split up at birth when they are all adopted by separate families. Maggie doesn't find out she is adopted until right before her 18th birthday and the news is shocking yet exciting at the same time. She then begins her journey of self-discovery and love!

Maggie was a great character! I really felt myself relating to her rebellious attitude towards her mother, very typical teenager! Yet when she discovers the truth she ends up maturing quickly and discovering who she is and where she wants to go in life! One of the other main characters is Charles, Maggie's lifelong friend and her father's business partner. I had a hard time liking him for most of the book but he grew on me the more we learned about him!

This is a Christian Fiction and so there was some mention of life changing moments and God relationships but it wasn't overbearing and I thought it added a great addition to the story! I found the story to be a little dull at some moments but overall I really did enjoy reading this book and I'm excited to read the rest of the series that we get to learn about the other 2 triplets!

Disclosure: A special thanks to Realms, Charisma Media for providing a copy for review through the FIRST Wild Card Tours.