259 ratings | 5 reviews | avg rating:4.09

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Maria McKenzie

Goodreads Author

Born

in Cincinnati, The United States

Website

http://www.mariamckenziewrites.com

Twitter

maria_mckenzie

Genre

Historical Fiction, Romance, Suspense

Member Since

March 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomuser_mariamckenzie

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I was a librarian for several years, and librarian, of course, equals book lover! I enjoy curling up with a good book when not writing, or daydreaming about a new novel to write. I'm a sucker for a good love story, and live on a steady reading diet of romantic suspense, thrillers, historical fiction and non-fiction, and biographies.

I've always been a daydreamer, but didn't enjoy reading until I discovered Nancy Drew at age 10. As for writing, I never thought I'd actually pen a novel. I'm not a talker, so how could I ever fill up a book? As a quiet person, I internalize a lot. And later in life I discovered that internalizing can create some wonderful stories!

Being in an interracial marriage (I'm black and my husband's white), I enjoy explo I was a librarian for several years, and librarian, of course, equals book lover! I enjoy curling up with a good book when not writing, or daydreaming about a new novel to write. I'm a sucker for a good love story, and live on a steady reading diet of romantic suspense, thrillers, historical fiction and non-fiction, and biographies.

I've always been a daydreamer, but didn't enjoy reading until I discovered Nancy Drew at age 10. As for writing, I never thought I'd actually pen a novel. I'm not a talker, so how could I ever fill up a book? As a quiet person, I internalize a lot. And later in life I discovered that internalizing can create some wonderful stories!

Being in an interracial marriage (I'm black and my husband's white), I enjoy exploring the topic of interracial/multicultural romance in our nation's past and writing tales of forbidden love.

Mixed race romance from decades gone by is emotionally explosive, providing heart-wrenching conflict, as well as incredible pain. Those elements combined create amazing stories. Love transcends all boundaries. If two hearts are meant to be together, they'll find a way, regardless of circumstance.

I graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in English, then received a master's in Library Science from Atlanta University. While working as a librarian in North Carolina, I met my husband. Our marriage inspired my novel Unchained. One day I thought how sad it would have been if we'd fallen in love 150 years earlier and couldn't have married (as mentioned earlier, he's white, I'm black). I kept thinking "what if, what if," and eventually Unchained came into being, but I turned it into a trilogy because the story kept going on and on!

Essie Mae Washington Williams's memoir Dear Senator provided the idea for The Governor's Sons. Ms. Williams is the African American love child of South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond. After reading her story, I wondered what would have happened if a southern governor fathered a son by a black woman, and that son grew up to become a civil rights leader.

I live in Cincinnati with my husband and our two sons. I'm a foodie, love old movies, history, museums and antiquing. I'm also into fitness and enjoy running. During my morning runs I can come up with some great story ideas, if I'm not listening to a book! Book junkie that I am, audio books are an addiction!

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Combine Editions
Maria McKenzie’s books

Average rating: 4.17 · 988 ratings · 95 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Escape (Unchained, #1) 4.12 avg rating — 281 ratings — published 2012 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Governor's Sons 4.07 avg rating — 270 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Revelation (Unchained, #3) 4.33 avg rating — 201 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Masquerade (Unchained #2) 4.25 avg rating — 200 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Deseré: A Love Story of the American South 4.05 avg rating — 19 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	One Family Now 3.78 avg rating — 9 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	From Cad to Cadaver: A Black Ops Detective Agency Mystery 3.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Revelation Lib/E: Book Three of the Unchained Trilogy (Unchained Series Lib/E) by Maria McKenzie (Goodreads Author), Madison Vaughn (Reader) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Plus Size Mother of the Bride & Groom Style Guide: Fashion advice for plus size mothers of the bride and groom in the UK 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Masquerade Lib/E: Book Two of the Unchained Trilogy (Unchained Series Lib/E) by Maria McKenzie (Goodreads Author), Madison Vaughn (Reader) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Maria McKenzie's Blog

Twist Endings: Can You Figure Them Out?

Do you enjoy suspense, mysteries and thrillers? If so, please check out my two newest releases, Cad to Cadaver and Growler to Grave. Now, on to today's subject matter. Do you enjoy twist endings? I love them because they always come as a complete surprise to me!

I'm hopeless when it comes to figuring out the twist ending of a movie, but my husband can tell me what it is less than halfway throug Read more of this blog post »

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Published on October 24, 2024 14:29

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Series by Maria McKenzie

Unchained (3 books)
by

Maria McKenzie (Goodreads Author)

4.22 avg rating — 682 ratings

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James

by Percival Everett

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Dying to Meet Jesus: How Encountering Heaven Changed My Life

by Randy Kay (Goodreads Author)

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Out of Nowhere

by Sandra Brown (Goodreads Author)

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Maria McKenzie wrote a new blog post Twist Endings: Can You Figure Them Out? Do you enjoy suspense, mysteries and thrillers? If so, please check out my two newest releases, Cad to Cadaver and Growler to Grave. Now, on to today' Read more of this blog post »
Oct 25, 2024 12:50AM · like
Maria McKenzie is currently reading James by Percival Everett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 15, 2024 06:54PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of James by Percival Everett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — James by Percival Everett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Maria McKenzie is currently reading Dying to Meet Jesus: How Encountering Heaven Changed My Life by Randy Kay (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 15, 2024 06:53PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dying to Meet Jesus by Randy Kay. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dying to Meet Jesus by Randy Kay <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Maria McKenzie rated a book it was amazing Buried Evidence (Lily Forrester, #2) by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Quotes by Maria McKenzie (?)

“A plantation, Daniel imagined, was like a fetid French whore. Pleasing to the eye, but hiding the stench of disease beneath fine silk skirts.”
― Maria McKenzie, Escape

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“When she’d first arrived, Kitty heard an older nurse grumble that she was sick of seeing so many unmarried girls do all their thinking between their legs.”
― Maria McKenzie, The Governor's Sons

1 likes