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Lena, a life
The stories shared with me about Lena, my husband’s mother, were extraordinary. I heard many of them over the years, tales told to me by her son and his father, accounts that were often shocking, sometimes heart-wrenching, and always fascinating.
However, I only met my mother-in-law Lena one time. She was visiting Detroit and wanted to know her only granddaughter, who was almost three at the time.
I invited her over. When my husband was told his mother was coming to visit, he arranged to be elsewhere.
She'd been described to me as beautiful in her youth, but she looked like any ordinary grandmother. I took that as a testament to the wild life she'd led.
She brought a quilt she’d made for my daughter–every stitch by hand. Melanie still has it, and since Lena's death, there’s a ghost story attached.
Lena burned her candle at both ends, lived her life the way she chose, and left it all too soon.
Her second son did not attend the funeral.
However, I only met my mother-in-law Lena one time. She was visiting Detroit and wanted to know her only granddaughter, who was almost three at the time.
I invited her over. When my husband was told his mother was coming to visit, he arranged to be elsewhere.
She'd been described to me as beautiful in her youth, but she looked like any ordinary grandmother. I took that as a testament to the wild life she'd led.
She brought a quilt she’d made for my daughter–every stitch by hand. Melanie still has it, and since Lena's death, there’s a ghost story attached.
Lena burned her candle at both ends, lived her life the way she chose, and left it all too soon.
Her second son did not attend the funeral.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2024
298 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Donna Foley Mabry
45 books211 followersA Michigan native who studied writing in school, Donna first came to Vegas to make costumes and soon was weaving the stories she heard in the back of the girls' dressing room into her first novel. Now she is the author of The Alexandra Merritt Mysteries, which include 'The Last Two Aces in Las Vegas', 'The Las Vegas Desert Flower', 'The Las Vegas Special', 'Rough Ride in Vegas', 'M.I.A. Las Vegas' and 'The Las Vegas Sophisticate'. Her latest novel, 'The Vegas Tycoon' is also set in Las Vegas
Donna has written several other stand-alone novels, recent releases 'Kaleigh McKenna' and 'The Russell House', as well as 'Desperate Ambition', 'The Right Society', 'The Other Hand', 'Conversations with Skip', and an anthology, 'Killer Coffee and a Batch of Cookies'.
In addition to those stand-alones and others, Donna has a popular series of historical romances, 'The Manhattan Stories', and a series of female detective stories 'The Case Files of Molly Evers".
Her most popular novel, 'Maude', the story of her Grandmother, is a #1 best-seller on Amazon and spent 16 weeks on the Wall Street Journal's Top-10 list. 'Maude' is available as an audiobook, and is published in Italian, Russian and German. Donna is actively working on the screenplay for 'Maude'.
She has also written three screenplays, a stage play, poetry, short stories, and a children's story.
Donna lives in Henderson, Nevada, sharing her home with two cats and her dog, Abigale, all three shelter rescues. She has two children, a daughter in Las Vegas and a son in New York and a grandson who is the light of her life!
Donna still takes occasional classes at UNLV and at writer's conferences and is an active member of the Anthem Author's in Henderson, NV.
donnafoleymabry.com
facebook.com/donnafoleymabry
twitter.com/donnama12
Donna has written several other stand-alone novels, recent releases 'Kaleigh McKenna' and 'The Russell House', as well as 'Desperate Ambition', 'The Right Society', 'The Other Hand', 'Conversations with Skip', and an anthology, 'Killer Coffee and a Batch of Cookies'.
In addition to those stand-alones and others, Donna has a popular series of historical romances, 'The Manhattan Stories', and a series of female detective stories 'The Case Files of Molly Evers".
Her most popular novel, 'Maude', the story of her Grandmother, is a #1 best-seller on Amazon and spent 16 weeks on the Wall Street Journal's Top-10 list. 'Maude' is available as an audiobook, and is published in Italian, Russian and German. Donna is actively working on the screenplay for 'Maude'.
She has also written three screenplays, a stage play, poetry, short stories, and a children's story.
Donna lives in Henderson, Nevada, sharing her home with two cats and her dog, Abigale, all three shelter rescues. She has two children, a daughter in Las Vegas and a son in New York and a grandson who is the light of her life!
Donna still takes occasional classes at UNLV and at writer's conferences and is an active member of the Anthem Author's in Henderson, NV.
donnafoleymabry.com
facebook.com/donnafoleymabry
twitter.com/donnama12
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 8, 2024
FULL DISCLOSURE: I dearly love several things, including the following:
~researching the branches of family trees (mine or most anyone else's)~
~biographies about folks who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries~
~family stories that have been passed down through the generations~
~family secrets, which, incidentally, aren't usually secrets, but rather information that everybody knows, but nobody knows that everybody else knows~ (got that?)
~staring at photographs taken of people a hundred years ago and wondering what they were thinking at that moment~
~Donna Foley Mabry's writing, ever since 2015, when I read "Maude" for the first time. I love her more every time I read the book (or listen to the audio), and I have lost count of that actual number~
~Reese's Cups, but that's beside the point~
That said, it was pretty much a given that I would be very engrossed in Lena's story, but I wondered if her life would affect me as much as Maude's had. That question was resolved for me when I found myself searching Google, Ancestry, Find-A-Grave, and various newspaper archives before I finished the third chapter. Though the details of Lena's life were very clear and thorough, the book ended way too soon for me. As with Maude's story, I regret inhaling it rather than allowing myself to absorb each tidbit as it was revealed, and I need more! (The book was released today, and I have already finished it!)
I love the way this book flows due to being written in first person. There are no boring pages, no paragraphs with awkward sentence structure, no ambiguous dialogue, and (for me), no walking away from this book until every word was read or, at times, heard. (I used my Kindle's text-to-speech feature when I had to do my real-life tasks such as feeding my cats and walking my dog. I can't wait for the audio version to be released!)
I have never read any of Mrs. Mabry's fiction works, but I am about to delve into those while I (im)patiently wait for her to dig through her family's records and work her magic with the next ancestor she chooses.
~researching the branches of family trees (mine or most anyone else's)~
~biographies about folks who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries~
~family stories that have been passed down through the generations~
~family secrets, which, incidentally, aren't usually secrets, but rather information that everybody knows, but nobody knows that everybody else knows~ (got that?)
~staring at photographs taken of people a hundred years ago and wondering what they were thinking at that moment~
~Donna Foley Mabry's writing, ever since 2015, when I read "Maude" for the first time. I love her more every time I read the book (or listen to the audio), and I have lost count of that actual number~
~Reese's Cups, but that's beside the point~
That said, it was pretty much a given that I would be very engrossed in Lena's story, but I wondered if her life would affect me as much as Maude's had. That question was resolved for me when I found myself searching Google, Ancestry, Find-A-Grave, and various newspaper archives before I finished the third chapter. Though the details of Lena's life were very clear and thorough, the book ended way too soon for me. As with Maude's story, I regret inhaling it rather than allowing myself to absorb each tidbit as it was revealed, and I need more! (The book was released today, and I have already finished it!)
I love the way this book flows due to being written in first person. There are no boring pages, no paragraphs with awkward sentence structure, no ambiguous dialogue, and (for me), no walking away from this book until every word was read or, at times, heard. (I used my Kindle's text-to-speech feature when I had to do my real-life tasks such as feeding my cats and walking my dog. I can't wait for the audio version to be released!)
I have never read any of Mrs. Mabry's fiction works, but I am about to delve into those while I (im)patiently wait for her to dig through her family's records and work her magic with the next ancestor she chooses.
September 30, 2024
An interesting book. Basically a true story about the author’s mother-in-law. Lena, wasn’t exactly wild but she did live her life for herself. That said, she also loved her family and took care of them . The story gives you a good look at what options women had in the 1930’s through the 1950’s.
August 10, 2025
This story about Donna Foley Mabry's mother-in-law's life was intriguing to me. Especially the experiences of Lena growing up during the 1930s. She was a woman aware of her position in life during those times. Becoming a freely independent woman after several setbacks in life seemed to be one of her main goals. Naturally, love also seemed to help her push forward time after time. I understood the dilemma of having to choose what would work best for her young children after having divorced twice.
As expected, I can always look forward to this writer's style and enjoy reading about such relatable subjects. Kudos to people handling whatever life brings their way... 💐. That is why I continue to one-click a Donna Foley Mabry novel.
As expected, I can always look forward to this writer's style and enjoy reading about such relatable subjects. Kudos to people handling whatever life brings their way... 💐. That is why I continue to one-click a Donna Foley Mabry novel.
October 16, 2024
Another Great Donna Foley Mabry Book
After reading Maude, I knew I had to read Lena. I loved both books. I hope the author writes more non-fiction books.
After reading Maude, I knew I had to read Lena. I loved both books. I hope the author writes more non-fiction books.
September 24, 2025
Great read
This was a very fulfilling read. Not suspenseful, not difficult to put down, not awe-inspiring or even fascinating. But it was interesting and well written. Lena was a strong willed woman ahead of her time with a life full of beauty and tragedy. I'm glad I gave this a read.
This was a very fulfilling read. Not suspenseful, not difficult to put down, not awe-inspiring or even fascinating. But it was interesting and well written. Lena was a strong willed woman ahead of her time with a life full of beauty and tragedy. I'm glad I gave this a read.
January 1, 2025
Awesome story, easy to read and couldn’t put it down
February 25, 2025
In one way this was a sad story, but still a great read. Her life gave me insight to places and an era I knew little of. Lena will stick with me for quite a while.
June 4, 2025
Loved it
A fast but intriguing read! Couldn't put it down! I chose to read this because I also enjoyed Donna Mabrys Maude,and I was not disappointed
A fast but intriguing read! Couldn't put it down! I chose to read this because I also enjoyed Donna Mabrys Maude,and I was not disappointed
October 20, 2025
I love this book!
This was a really good book. It was really a real book about a real person. It could be anyone of us that this Story was told. I recommend it highly.
This was a really good book. It was really a real book about a real person. It could be anyone of us that this Story was told. I recommend it highly.
November 3, 2025
A remarkable read
This story easily captured my attention through its honesty and graphic history of a life so unlike my own. Want to read more by this author.
This story easily captured my attention through its honesty and graphic history of a life so unlike my own. Want to read more by this author.
November 24, 2025
Great story
I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting and written well. You will not be missed. I’m excited to read some of her other books.
I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting and written well. You will not be missed. I’m excited to read some of her other books.
November 30, 2025
1920s golden years to the end of ww2
Historical fiction - lifestyle of the circus era
Tragedy and humor and love and loss
Captivating story -Lena was a Starlet in her own right
Historical fiction - lifestyle of the circus era
Tragedy and humor and love and loss
Captivating story -Lena was a Starlet in her own right
December 9, 2025
12/09/2025
December 23, 2025
Great read!
Fascinating story of what it would be like to be part of a circus and grow up with that experience. I loved this book!
Fascinating story of what it would be like to be part of a circus and grow up with that experience. I loved this book!
January 4, 2026
Lena, a lifd
Great story. Didn't realize it was a true story but know that the way of life was true to the times.
Great story. Didn't realize it was a true story but know that the way of life was true to the times.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews