Review of Maggie Rose by Sharlene MacLaren

Seems like much of the time when I see a book I like and decide to buy it, turns out I’ve purchased book 2 of a series. This has happened to me twice in the past couple of months. No matter, though. I enjoyed the books. Both were “stand alone” stories that did not rely heavily on the book that came before.

Today, I will review “Maggie Rose”, the second book in Sharlene MacLaren’s “Daughters of Jacob Kane” series.

Maggie Rose, a delightful twenty-year old, leaves her home in Michigan to work at Sheltering Arms Refuge, an orphanage in early 1900’s New York City. Maggie’s is appalled as she learns about each child’s past history of abuse and neglect. Just as perplexing is the young man who arrives at Sheltering Arms with a marked lack of faith.

Luke Madison is a handsome newspaper reporter who carries resentment and bitterness in his heart. Forced to abandon his research of a steamboat fire that took the lives of his fiancé and the aunt who raised him, he is assigned a human interest piece about homeless children on the city streets. As he pursues the assignment, Luke becomes embroiled in the daily routine of the orphanage.

Miss MacLaren weaves a tale that addresses many social issues that face America today and brings home the truth that these problems have been in existence for decades. Homeless and abused children, child prostitution, and political corruption all play a major part in this story. Maggie Rose and Luke experience a growing attraction for each other as they strive to make a difference in the lives of the orphaned children while strengthening their faith in the God whose will they learn to seek.

I look forward to reading more of this series.

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Grand Canyon

Our day at the Grand Canyon was great! Patches of snow remained, but we were comfortably warm. Joelene and Madi were surprised at the size of the canyon. I think they expected something much smaller.



One time, we were inside one of the observation buildings where they had binoculars available. It took a couple of minutes, but we spotted the river and were able to see some rafters down there! We also saw a bridge, but I don't believe I got a picture of it.We had planned to go to the Skyway, but found out it is much farther away from the canyon than what we thought. Apparently, the Skyway juts out over the canyon and has a glass bottom. Imagine standing out there and looking straight down thousands of feet. My kind of adventure. Ah, well, maybe next time.


Madison really enjoyed our visit inside the Watchtower. She said it was like being inside a castle. As you can tell from the picture, it is still under construction. We trekked up the circular stone steps from one floor to the next, each taking us higher and higher above the canyon.

I posted some pictures of our trip on Facebook, so I invite you to go on over there and check them out.

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I'm Still Here

No, I have not dropped off the face of the earth, although I did feel like it for a few days. I’ve been down with a nasty upper respiratory infection. Finally got started on some medication and am feeling much better now.

There is a bright side to everything, and for me, my illness gave me plenty of time to read! I had the opportunity to finish a couple of good books I will be reviewing over the next few days.

In the meantime, I’m in Arizona! My daughter and granddaughter invited me along on a “spring break” trip. We traveled all day yesterday, about a ten + hour trip. We had brought sandwiches and snacks with us, so didn't need to stop for food, although we did take breaks and stop for some pictures. We got settled at a motel in Flagstaff around 7 PM and were delighted to discover that in Arizona, it was an hour earlier!

After a quick supper at Taco Bell, we went back to the motel where Madi really enjoyed swimming in the pool. Jo and I each relaxed after our long day of driving with a good book. We all slept like babies last night!

Today, we are excited to do some sightseeing at the Grand Canyon. I was there a few years ago with friends, but it was a quick stop on our way home from somewhere else. Joelene and Madison have never seen it, so this will be a first for them.

Okay, time to head out for some breakfast.

I’ll be back with book reviews and pictures of our tirp in a couple of days.

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Refledction on World Day of Prayer

Ever since I attended activities at our community prayer event a couple of weeks ago, my thoughts have gravitated to this form of communication with the Father. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in another group prayer experience.

The World Day of Prayer is held the first Friday of March every year. Women of many faiths from around the world observe a common day of prayer. Each year, the World Day of Prayer worship service is written by a different country. This year, Cameroon served as the host writer, using the theme Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God.

Geography, especially world-wide geography, is not my strong point, so I had never heard of the country of Cameroon. I have since discovered that it is an African country located in the central and western region of the continent. It occupies an area of 183 thousand + square miles and boasts a population of over 19.5 million people. Cameroon is one of the more highly developed countries in Africa socially and politically and benefits from the petroleum and timber industries as well as agriculture and modern modes of transportation. Still, most Cameroonian citizens survive as subsistence farmers and live in poverty.

Many musical instruments steeped in generations of tradition are used in Cameroon to praise God. Yesterday’s worship service reflected the Cameroonian love of music to express thankfulness to Our Almighty Father. As we in our community gathered together, we followed the outline of the Order of Worship prepared by the women of Cameroon. We praised God through prayer, song, scripture reading, and responsive readings.

It struck me during the service how much we can learn from women who live some six thousand miles away, despite our economic, social, and historical differences. Like us, they ask forgiveness for their contribution to the toxins that pollute our communities in the form of abuse, hatred, corruption, greed, and violence. They confess the times they have turned their backs on those less fortunate than they.

The Cameroonian women pray for the safety of their children and grieve when they are wronged or injured, abused or neglected. They especially beseech God’s help with the girl child, who has little value in their country within the family unit. She is perceived as beneficial only to a future husband. She is often denied an education and is expected to perform household chores and sell goods to help provide financial support for the family.

This small glimpse into the life of the Cameroonian woman gave me a much deeper appreciation of these Christian sisters who share a common Savior with me in Jesus Christ. Despite their downtrodden, impoverished life, they praise God with joyful hearts. They sing praises to Him during the long hours of toil. They thank Him for every entity that exudes life. They express their gratitude for each aspect of their land, from the fertility of the fields to the beauty of the landscape, from the changing of the seasons to the production of crops, from the sweet song of the birds to the slap of fish fins on the surface of the water.

I Thessalonians 5:17 gives clear instruction to “pray continually”. The World Day of Prayer event taught me ways to do just that by participating in a service that originated on the other side of the world - a world linked together by the common bond of our Savior who deserves unceasing praise from each of us.

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