Tamara Tilley

McKenzie by Penny Zeller

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


MCKENZIE by Penny Zeller was a good read. At times it was a little slow, but overall, an enjoyable story.

McKenzie Worthington, a woman of Boston’s high society, is on a mission fueled by desperation. Finding out her sister is in an abusive marriage in the Montana territory, McKenzie decides to leave her affluent life behind to become a mail-order bride so she can get to Montana and search for her sister.

Zach Sawyer, a rancher in the Montana territory, has decided that his adopted son Davey needs a mom, and he desires to have a wife to share his life with. Reluctantly, he decides to place an ad for a bride in several newspapers across the country. When McKenzie Worthington answers his ad and corresponds with him, he feels he’s found the woman God has intended for him. He proposes and waits patiently for her arrival.

I was first drawn to McKenzie’s self-sacrificing desire to rescue her sister. Willingly, she leaves behind her lavish life in Boston to travel to a world unknown – Montana. But once she gets there, her attitude quickly becomes more self-centered. Even though her wish is to save her sister, she thinks nothing of lying and deceiving Zach, knowing in the end his heart along with that of young Davy will be crushed. So, for a short period, I found myself not liking McKenzie very much. Ultimately, her feelings turn around and so does the story. Zach is a gentleman personified and someone that you don’t want to see hurt, but you know it’s going to happen.

The secondary characters fill in the blanks well. Lucille is a kick, and Asa and Rosemary are charming. You can’t wait to learn more about Jonah, which will happen in KAYDIE, book two in this series by Penny Zeller. Overall, I would recommend this book to those of you who like anything set in the west.




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