McKenzie (Montana Skies #1) [Paperback]

Penny Zeller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

Desperate times call for desperate measures is the reasoning that prompts McKenzie Worthington, a young lady of Boston's high society, to respond to an ad for a mail-order bride for a man in the Montana Territory. McKenzie is desperate, after all, to save her beloved younger sister, Kaydie, from her evil, abusive husband, who robs banks for a living. And so, it is with reckless determination that McKenzie runs away from the comforts of home and hearth to head West and meet her new husband-whom she'll divorce, of course, after she rescues her sister.

Desperate times call for desperate measures is the reasoning that also prompts Zachary Sawyer, a rugged rancher after God's own heart, to post an ad for a mail-order bride in various newspapers across the country. Managing a ranch and caring for his adoptive son, Davey, has become more than one man can handle alone, and Zach prays for God to send him a wife with whom to build a life and share his dreams.

When McKenzie arrives at Zach's ranch, she immediately puts her plan in motion, searching for her sister and doing all she can to keep her new husband from forming an attachment. But his persistent kindness and significant self-sacrifices begin to change her heart-and ruin her plans. God has a way of working things out to the good of those who love Him, though, as McKenzie and Kaydie will soon see.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In this wonderful historical novel Zeller brings her characters alive. As the story progresses, the characters learn from their mistakes and try to make amends with people they never meant to hurt. ~ Romantic Times prestigious 4-star-review 

Readers will find McKenzie a step above the rest and will find their own faith strengthened as they reflect on the message of God's sovereign power woven throughout the novel.
--Janice Dakur, Reviewer, Christian Fiction Book Reviews

From the Inside Flap

What People Are Saying about Penny Zeller and McKenzie...

Penny Zeller writes with wit, brilliance, descriptive clarity, and gentle, inspirational prose. She provides a plentiful supply of intrigue, romance, and drama, truly enough to keep anyone reading during every spare moment. I am eager to watch the impact this book will make on Christian fiction as a whole, but especially on individual readers, as they clearly find a well-defined yet never preachy message of God's unchanging, never-failing, ever-forgiving gospel. This book is intended for your keeper library shelf, with its beautiful cover, endearing story line, and gripping characters who will stay with you. Don't delay in adding it to your to-be-read pile. Matter of fact, lay it on the top! --Sharlene MacLaren, Award-winning, best-selling author, the Little Hickman Creek and The Daughters of Jacob Kane series, Through Every Storm, and Long Journey Home

Penny Zeller's McKenzie is a moving, compelling story that's rich with panoramic beauty and characters you'll identify with. You will laugh, you will weep, you will wish you had taken speed-reading in school so you could find out even faster what happens next! I'm definitely adding this one to my keepers list! --Loree Lough, Award-winning author of seventy-five novels, including Beautiful Bandit (book one in the Lone Star Legends series)

McKenzie is a captivating tale weaved together masterfully with characters that quickly steal the reader's heart. They certainly did mine. --Shirley Kiger Connolly, Author, Flame from Within and the I See God series

McKenzie is a sweet love story that transcends the pages of time and brings a fresh, new voice to the historical genre. --Bonnie Calhoun, Publisher, Christian Fiction Online Magazine, GPCWC Writer of the Year, 2009

With a gentle touch and warm style, Zeller pens a story that looks deep into the heart of love--the kind between sisters that her heroine would do anything to honor, and the unexpected romance that springs up in its pursuit. McKenzie is a novel that will lead you on an adventure along with the title character and touch your heart as Zach touches hers. --Roseanna M. White, Author, A Stray Drop of Blood, Senior Reviewer, The Christian Review of Books

I love mail-order bride stories, and Penny Zeller brought a completely different twist from any I'd ever read. Interesting with a strong spiritual thread. --Lena Nelson Dooley, Award-winning author, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico and Cranberry Hearts

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Whitaker House (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603742166
• ISBN-13: 978-1603742160
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Fiction & Poetry > Fiction

More About the Author

Penny Zeller is the author of several books including her popular Montana Skies Historical Romance Series, which includes the books "McKenzie," "Kaydie," and "Hailee;" and her most recent nonfiction book, "77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others." She has also written numerous magazine articles for national and regional publications. In addition, Penny is the author of the humor blog "A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author," where she also includes family movie reviews each Monday.

Penny is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women's Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women's prayer group. She devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom.

The touching and heartwarming Montana Skies Series is Penny's first series with Whitaker House and includes "McKenzie," "Kaydie," and "Hailee." Penny says she hopes after reading her novels, readers will be reminded of "the power of God's love, redemption, hope, and forgiveness. I want them to catch a glimpse inside my characters' lives and see that God can and does change hearts. I hope my readers will take away from my books the importance of depending on God and putting our full faith and trust in Him. As Psalm 46:1 tells us 'God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.' What a reassuring promise!"

When she's not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, gardening, reading, and playing volleyball. Penny loves to hear from her readers through her website, www.pennyzeller.com and on her Penny A. Zeller Facebook Author Page at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God has Better Plans, September 1, 2010

By 

LibraryGeek - See all my reviews

This review is from: McKenzie (Montana Skies #1) (Paperback)

McKenzie is desperate to find and rescue her sister , Kaydie, who is living in Montana with her deceptive and abusive husband. In desperation, she chooses to travel there after answering an ad for a mail order bride. Leaving the high society life in Boston to travel to a remote ranch, McKenzie's marriage to Zach was initially only going to be the means to an end. At first she can't wait to return home but will not give in until she has finally found her sister. McKenzie's plans are waylaid, as she is welcomed with open arms into the Montana community and is overwhelmed by a genuine love for her from her new husband, Zach. McKenzie has never witnessed such love before and discovers that only an intimate relationship with God can allow her to experience it firsthand. Zach patiently shares his faith with her. The book was well written and Penny does an exceptional job developing the character of McKenzie as she experiences love, faith, grace and ultimately unconditional forgiveness. Through it all McKenzie develops into a strong woman of faith. The book kept me engaged from beginning to end, and no chores were accomplished that day. I can't wait to read the next installment of the Montana Skies Series.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, September 11, 2010

By 

Amber King "blessedmama" (North Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: McKenzie (Montana Skies #1) (Paperback)

I read this book in two nights. I started it, thinking it was going to be a quick read, but was a bit wrong. I was up, both nights, WAY to late because I could not put it down. The story is well written, and you get attached to the characters. I loved the deep love between the sisters, deep enough that McKenzie would marry a stranger to be closer to where her sister might be. All to save her sister from a bad man. McKenzie and her stranger husband grow closer as time goes on, despite her posh back ground and worldly ways and thoughts. Through the people around her, she learns to love God.

Defiantly one of the books that will get the great honor of being read over and over!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable novel that begs for a sequel, September 4, 2010

By 

Stacey (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: McKenzie (Montana Skies #1) (Paperback)

I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to Penny Zeller and her publisher for sending me a copy of "McKenzie" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.

"McKenzie" a novel by Penny Zeller is the touching romantic tale of a high society young woman from Boston who accepts a marriage proposal in order to rescue her sister, Kaydie, from her abusive husband. Being a mail-order bride was not McKenzie Worthington's dream. But when Zach Sawyer placed the advertisement in the Boston newspaper for a wife, she couldn't help but notice that Zach lived near her desperate sister. Pushing her own happiness aside - after all, she planned to have the marriage annulled after returning to Boston, McKenzie embarks on a cross-country trip to marry a man she's never met and rescue the sister her heart aches for. But McKenzie never planned to fall in love.

Penny Zeller tells a beautiful story. The characters are warm and lifelike. The situations are bold and colorful. The drama and romance keeps you turning the pages. I look forward to reading further novels in this series, particularly Kaydie's story.