My Current Books

Maggie's Journey
By Lena Nelson Dooley
ISBN 978-1616383589
Realms/Charisma House
October 6, 2011
McKenna's Daughters Series, Book 1

Maggie's Journey grabs you on page one with characters and events that reflect real-life joys and heartaches that change the characters forever. Make room on your "keepers" shelf! —Loree Lough, best-selling author of 80 award-winning books, including From Ashes to Honor.

A girl who’s been lied to her whole life…

Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she was adopted. The daughter of wealthy merchants in Seattle, she feels betrayed both by her real parents and by the ones who raised her.

Maggie desires a place where she belongs. But her mother’s constant criticism and reminders that she doesn't fit the mold of a young woman of their social standing have already created tension in their home. With the discovery of the family secret, all sense of her identity is lost.

When Maggie asks to visit her grandmother in Arkansas, her father agrees on the condition that she take her Aunt Georgia as a chaperone and his young partner, Charles Stanton, as protection on the journey. Will she discover who she really is and, more importantly, what truly matters most in life?

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.

Maggie's Journey, received 4 stars from Romantic Times Magazine.

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

By Lena Nelson Dooley

ISBN: 978-1935416746

Summerside Press

Historical Romance

All that glitters is not gold.

It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride—despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeline Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip—and Jeremiah himself—the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden...and tarnish her reputation beyond redemption.

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, received the Will Rogers Medallion Award for excellence in western fiction.
Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, received 4 stars from Romantic Times Magazine.

Endorsements and reviews:

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel by Lena Nelson Dooley. It’s now one of my favorite Love Finds You titles. The story structure reminded me of Tracie Peterson’s style, but this author added her own personal touch to make it uniquely hers.

The writing style was smooth and intelligently put together. It was easy to read without feeling choppy. I got a bit misty-eyed a few times as well, which is not a frequent occurrence for me. That only happens when my heart is engaged, and in this case the author did a great job of making me care. The baby in the story was a big part of that bonding process. The author used that character well in connecting various situations and thus making my eyes water.

The theme of forgiveness was strong and beautifully written. I didn’t see any flaws or downsides to this novel. The spiritual thread was strong and flowed naturally, which is not often the case with historical fiction. The church setting enhanced the novel and I adored the elderly man, Phillip.

The hero, Jeremiah, was dreamy. Though he had his weaknesses, they didn’t feel contrived and just made him more intriguing and heroic to me. The heroine was strong in her own way, while remaining somewhat dependent like women tended to be in those days, especially women who had limited financial resources. Sometimes when I read a historical novel I get annoyed when the women seem atypically strong for that time period. This heroine was perfectly constructed in this case. I enjoyed spending time getting to know these characters. I highly recommend this book.
Michelle Sutton http://michellesutton.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/my-review-of-love-finds-you-in-golden-new-mexico-by-lena-nelson-dooley/


"Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico is a well-researched novel brimming with emotive conflict. Lena Nelson Dooley has crafted a historical romance that demonstrates that courage comes in many forms, but the courage to love is the most difficult of all." -- DiAnn Mills, author of Sworn to Protect and A Woman Called Sage

"Two strangers are presented with a 'golden' opportunity for love in this quintessential East meets West tale by well-loved author Lena Nelson Dooley. I found myself swept away by the beautiful writing and enmeshed in the lives of the players, who face many twists and turns in their journey toward the ultimate happily-ever-after. Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico is truly one of the loveliest historical romances I've read in ages. Highly recommended." -- Janice Hanna Thompson, author of Love Me Tender and Swinging on a Star

“I’ve plunged into the midst of your wonderful book, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. I love the book—compelling plot and intriguing characters. Who couldn’t love that sweet ol’ guy, Philip or the wonderful Sneeds, or want to snuggle little Pearl, so thanks for doing a terrific job in painting your secondary characters! I also loved that you made Maddy an intelligent young woman who is growing up through her quandaries—and understanding so much more about the world. I admired Jeremiah for his love and protection of Philip (though I did want to kick Jeremiah in the keister every once in a while so that he’d notice Maddy.) But it was those little things that kept me reading…and hoping…that the two of them would get together. And that made the romance ever more satisfying! A brilliant job, done well, Lena!” – Ramona Cramer Tucker, former editor of Today’s Christian Woman magazine, Virtue magazine, and edited books by many well-known authors including Lisa Beamer, Brock and Bodie Thoene, Sigmund Brower, and Deborah Raney

I struck it rich with this historical romance. I’d not read any of Lena Nelson Dooley’s books before, but because of her excellent reputation, I knew I’d be in for a treat, which I was. This story is well crafted from start to finish. The mining town of Golden, New Mexico is described so well, I felt I was there hearing the stamp machine, experiencing the heat of the sun-drenched summer days, and seeing the adobe homes echoing the soft colors of the desert landscape. What brings this story to life, though, are Dooley’s vibrant characters, with whom I enjoyed spending time. Strong but suspicious Jeremiah, warm and caring Maddy, and a host of secondary characters, including bighearted Philip, are likeable people. They pulled me into the story and were my fictional friends throughout. I longed to see good things come out of Maddy and Jeremiah’s struggles and found his faith journey to be a highlight. I highly recommend Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico and am grateful for my review copy. Lena Nelson Dooley is now on my favorite authors list. - Keli Gwyn, 2010 Golden Heart finalist

Lena Nelson Dooley's historical romance, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico is ALL about love. Anyone who has studied the five different types of love--attraction (epithumia), romance (eros), affection (storge), friendship (phile), and selfless giving (agape)--will recognize examples of every facet of love in the characters Dooley created for her story. Surrounded by a vivid setting in the 1890s mining town, Madeline Mercer and Jeremiah Dennison interact with kind, lovable God-fearing friends, as well as selfish, conniving criminals, before finding one another. You'll find yourself turning pages far more swiftly than you might expect while reading a book set in this time and place. If you enjoy inspirational, historical, romantic fiction, you'll want to pick this one up. - Cecelia Dowdy , multi-published author

This book is well-written with a fast paced plot. But the thing I enjoyed most about this novel were the characters. It struck me how varied they were. Many times most of the characters in a novel seem very similar. Lena’s talent shines with the varied characters in this Love Finds You novel. I felt everything right along with them. And the setting . . . Part of the novel takes place in Boston and part takes place in New Mexico. She did an awesome job showing those two settings, specifically the differences.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend you read it! - Heidi Main: http://www.heidimain.com/blog/

I’ve read two books in the Love Finds You series, and both have been a real treat. Lena Nelson Dooley’s Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico has a special meaning to me because for many years, I lived just over the mountain from this location. As I read this delightful book, the Wild West came to life for me again, along with sweet memories of the breathtaking scenery. But the best part about the book is its heartwarming story of love, redemption, and forgiveness. There is a huge surprise in this book, one that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for the “other shoe to drop.” I was not disappointed when another twist came along, making the road to Golden a pleasurable journey indeed. - Louise Gouge - http://www.louisegouge.com/