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.

Thanks for reading my blog!