Lena, a life

by Donna Foley Mabry

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.

Genres: Nonfiction

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2024

About the author

A 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

Reviews

[Melanie M Merritt]

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.

[Suzanne]

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.

[reneeNaDaCherry]

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.

[Emily Finkner Sell]

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.

[Koren]

This book is labeled as nonfiction, but I felt it should be fiction based on a true story. The author writes about her mother-in-law's life, but had only met her once before she passed away, but writes the story in her mother-in-law's voice, based on what other family member's told her. I really loved the character of Lena. She was quite the character and did things most women didn't do in the 20's, 30's, and 40's. I wish the author would have gone more into the relationship between Lena and her son and why he had so much resentment toward her. I thought the book ended rather abruptly. I would have liked to know what happened to Lena at the end of her life and what she died from.

[Amy Plitt]

Hmmm

Lena, a Life, was a sad story about a poor girl who longed for love. Becoming a mother while she was way too young left a hole in her heart that she tried to fill for the rest of her life. I had hope for her...that her past was leading to her meeting Prince Charming, but things just seemed to get worse and more complicated. I was left with many questions. This book was well written and a quick read, just not the happy, feel-good story I guess I expected.

[Randi Vance]

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.

[Lorri]

Very interesting book

Lena lived quite a life. So interesting how women lived in the first part of the 1900s. Lena gets pregnant at 13, her parents adopt the child out. When she is 17 she runs away and joins the circus where she meets the man for her. Unfortunately he can't give up,the circus. We follow, Lena through 2 more marriages and finally a life on her own.

[art norton]

Good book

I enjoyed reading the life of Lena. She went through some terrible times in her childhood, but had a loving family. Although she made some bad decisions later in life, she did what she thought was best in order to survive. I thought this book was very will written. It kept my attention.

[Sarah]

Beautifully written

I found Lena after reading Maude. Seeing life at the turn of the century through the later 60s through the eyes of a woman was eye opening.
Her life wasn't easy, and she was a complicated person. I'm sad her son never came to forgive her but I also understand.
It was story that was hard to put down.

[Pat Murray-Hill]

My Thoughts on Lena, a Life

This book was at time heartbreaking and other times humorous. It is so believable and real. Many times I wish that Lena would just realize that she needed to see that she needed to love herself and value herself first and not look for it from a man. But myself realize many of us see that truth in our own selves. Wonderful book.

[Barbara Crawley]

A Life Well Lived

This novel is a literary master piece! The story follows real people dealing with real problems caused by poverty and ignorance. Impossible to put down yet sad to reach the end.

[Jennifer Oltersdorf]

Awesome story, easy to read and couldn’t put it down

[Vicki]

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.

[Kristin Herman]

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

[Odette Driver]

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.

[Susan Kiel]

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.

[Margaret Horton]

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.

[Abigail O'Brien]

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

[Blubonnet1]

12/09/2025

[Kathy]

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!

[Deb]

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.

[Holden Sprung]

Great book

Kept me interested from the start. Didn't want to go to bed because I wanted to keep going. What a story of someone's else's life. You just never know. Read it.

[Sheila]

a good read

Real people and real lives. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it. Feel sorry for Lena who never got to spend life with a man she loved before she died.

[LGVReader]

What a fabulous story! Lena’s life was troubled and tragic, yet she kept going searching for her true self. I highly recommend this book. It’s an easy read.

[Theresa Chapman]

excellent

This book was great! It will grab you at the very beginning and you won't put down until you're finished!

[୨ৎ Jennie ୨ৎ]

A very raw and honest take on the life of an interesting and perhaps even problematic person.

[Brittney Spurling]

Donna’s biographies are truly my favorite!