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Prodigal Daughter
Seven years ago, Maggie Malone left Ruby Falls, Texas, in disgrace. The wild child went on to become a million-dollar face…a supermodel who still hides her father's rejection behind an outrageous, glamorous lifestyle. Now, Maggie Malone has come home.
Her father is dying and so is their proud family business. Her mother insists Maggie is the family's last chance. Once, Maggie had a dream of running the empire. Then she lost everything one hellish night when her world came crashing down. But old dreams die hard. To claim them, she'll have to confront the father who denies her, the family who resents her, the secrets that surround her, the man who wants her…and the treachery closing in on them all.
Her father is dying and so is their proud family business. Her mother insists Maggie is the family's last chance. Once, Maggie had a dream of running the empire. Then she lost everything one hellish night when her world came crashing down. But old dreams die hard. To claim them, she'll have to confront the father who denies her, the family who resents her, the secrets that surround her, the man who wants her…and the treachery closing in on them all.
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
31 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Ginna Gray
89 books46 followersGinna sold her first novel in 1983, after winning the Golden Heart Award, given by Romance Writers of America for the best unpublished novel in a category. She has been working as a full-time writer ever since. When she finishes her current contracts, Ginna will have written 33 books. She has also given many lectures and writing workshops, and judged in writing contests.
A native Texan, Ginna lived in Houston all her life — until 1993, when she and her husband Brad built their "dream home" and moved to the mountains of Colorado. Ginna also enjoys other creative activities such as oil painting, sewing, sketching, knitting, and needlepoint. "But my first love will always be writing. It is simply part of who I am."
A native Texan, Ginna lived in Houston all her life — until 1993, when she and her husband Brad built their "dream home" and moved to the mountains of Colorado. Ginna also enjoys other creative activities such as oil painting, sewing, sketching, knitting, and needlepoint. "But my first love will always be writing. It is simply part of who I am."
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 2, 2019
Angst fest with a lot of drama, but I felt like I had read it before. The opening was exactly like LaVyrle Spencer’s Small Town Girl. Complete with saucy heroine returning to her small town in a flashy sports car much to everyone’s disapproval.
Heroine’s family owns and operates a fruit orchard and cannery in Texas. The father and his sister are the majority stockholders and they make all the decisions. The company is the major employer in town.
Heroine is a bit of a Mary Sue. While her father was openly affectionate to her two younger sisters, he was critical and disapproving of her. She graduated from high school at 16 and earned a Master’s Degree in Business from Harvard at age 20.
When she returned home from college, in hopes her father would finally approve of her, she finds her sister is marrying the banker’s son who is a bully and a creep. She tries to talk her sister out of it, but she wouldn’t listen. Then the banker’s son violently attacks the h and tries to rape her. Her father broke it up and is convinced the heroine was trying to seduce her sister’s fiancé out of jealousy. He kicks her out and tells her never to return.
Heroine moves to New York to live with her father’s sister. From there she becomes a super model. (As you do)
The story opens seven years later. Her mother has called heroine while she is on a photo shoot in Greece. Her father is dying of lung cancer and wants a reconciliation.
Heroine rushes to get there but it takes three days. Upon her arrival she is sneered at by the hero who is her father’s general manager. She then races to her father’s hospital bed only to be rejected yet again. Yes, mommy lied. Daddy never wanted to make up.
Heroine’s sisters are also hostile. Bully brother-in-law now has a cushy job at the cannery. Behind his ill father-in-law’s back, he has fired loyal employees and has brought in people to cook the books. He wants to sell to a big corporation after his father-in-law dies. There is also a lot of sabotage going on with the equipment, etc. . .
Heroine knows right away brother in law is behind this and he’s beating his wife. But it’s been his words against hers for seven years and she knows her father will never listen.
So, heroine stays for lots of abuse – but slowly turns people to her side. Her younger sister, the hero, her mother (who is useless), etc . .
Her father remains stubbornly against heroine, which is a mystery to the reader until his sister finally gets the truth out of him The reader knows this before the heroine, but it didn’t change my opinion of the father’s horrible parenting or her mother’s enabling of it.
And on it goes – the romance was an afterthought to all of the family drama. Hero really didn’t do much but let the heroine cry on his shoulders and have sex. He wasn’t in a position to stick up for her or to protect her, really.
I won’t go into all the details, but just know that the bad guys are brought to justice, the sisters are reconciled, the cannery is saved, daddy begs for forgiveness on his deathbed for an HEA. Heroine will run the cannery with the hero and will super-model part-time.
It’s a very interesting story and I enjoyed reading. It’s not a nuanced story by any means. The villains are very obvious. The domestic abuse is as well. (Might be triggering – so use caution)
Since everyone was so mean to the heroine, I was glad she could eat high calorie meals with second helpings and not gain a pound. Honestly, if anyone needed to comfort eat it was that poor girl.
Heroine’s family owns and operates a fruit orchard and cannery in Texas. The father and his sister are the majority stockholders and they make all the decisions. The company is the major employer in town.
Heroine is a bit of a Mary Sue. While her father was openly affectionate to her two younger sisters, he was critical and disapproving of her. She graduated from high school at 16 and earned a Master’s Degree in Business from Harvard at age 20.
When she returned home from college, in hopes her father would finally approve of her, she finds her sister is marrying the banker’s son who is a bully and a creep. She tries to talk her sister out of it, but she wouldn’t listen. Then the banker’s son violently attacks the h and tries to rape her. Her father broke it up and is convinced the heroine was trying to seduce her sister’s fiancé out of jealousy. He kicks her out and tells her never to return.
Heroine moves to New York to live with her father’s sister. From there she becomes a super model. (As you do)
The story opens seven years later. Her mother has called heroine while she is on a photo shoot in Greece. Her father is dying of lung cancer and wants a reconciliation.
Heroine rushes to get there but it takes three days. Upon her arrival she is sneered at by the hero who is her father’s general manager. She then races to her father’s hospital bed only to be rejected yet again. Yes, mommy lied. Daddy never wanted to make up.
Heroine’s sisters are also hostile. Bully brother-in-law now has a cushy job at the cannery. Behind his ill father-in-law’s back, he has fired loyal employees and has brought in people to cook the books. He wants to sell to a big corporation after his father-in-law dies. There is also a lot of sabotage going on with the equipment, etc. . .
Heroine knows right away brother in law is behind this and he’s beating his wife. But it’s been his words against hers for seven years and she knows her father will never listen.
So, heroine stays for lots of abuse – but slowly turns people to her side. Her younger sister, the hero, her mother (who is useless), etc . .
Her father remains stubbornly against heroine, which is a mystery to the reader until his sister finally gets the truth out of him The reader knows this before the heroine, but it didn’t change my opinion of the father’s horrible parenting or her mother’s enabling of it.
And on it goes – the romance was an afterthought to all of the family drama. Hero really didn’t do much but let the heroine cry on his shoulders and have sex. He wasn’t in a position to stick up for her or to protect her, really.
I won’t go into all the details, but just know that the bad guys are brought to justice, the sisters are reconciled, the cannery is saved, daddy begs for forgiveness on his deathbed for an HEA. Heroine will run the cannery with the hero and will super-model part-time.
It’s a very interesting story and I enjoyed reading. It’s not a nuanced story by any means. The villains are very obvious. The domestic abuse is as well. (Might be triggering – so use caution)
Since everyone was so mean to the heroine, I was glad she could eat high calorie meals with second helpings and not gain a pound. Honestly, if anyone needed to comfort eat it was that poor girl.
November 27, 2021
The 1980s misogyny is strong with this 2000 publication.
Cruel and stupid father
Loving but very weak mother that allows her child to be emotionally abused and displaced for decades.
Cruel sister because she is weak and abused even though it's 2000. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for her to stay with her abuser and doesn't file charges when it gets really bad.
Cruel, bitchy little sister because she's stupid.
Mary Sue martyr heroine that doesn't complain about attacks like a rat left in her bed. Rat left in MY bed? You and the cosmos would be hearing about that.
Bland hero who, luckily, is over six feet tall and then some.
Cruel and stupid father
Loving but very weak mother that allows her child to be emotionally abused and displaced for decades.
Cruel sister because she is weak and abused even though it's 2000. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for her to stay with her abuser and doesn't file charges when it gets really bad.
Cruel, bitchy little sister because she's stupid.
Mary Sue martyr heroine that doesn't complain about attacks like a rat left in her bed. Rat left in MY bed? You and the cosmos would be hearing about that.
Bland hero who, luckily, is over six feet tall and then some.
May 21, 2016
This novel was one of the most heart wrenching books I've read lately. I can say that I was greatly impressed with the writing and how the story went. I even shed quite a share of tears, enough to fill a glass I'd say. The book emotionally pulls you into so many emotions and then gives you just the right tailspin to have your heart in your throat. It is sad, full of loss and fear but it is also uplifting, loving and at the end family oriented. It was a delight and absolutely joy to read and I'll be on the look out for all Ginna Gray books in the future!
February 9, 2015
Guilty pleasure
I like this book, but it is out of touch with reality. Her sister cannot legally drink at 18 in the US (she says her age numerous times in front of the bar owner), the villain is too blatantly villainous, the heroine too perfect... Dan, the hero, is forgettable and really not important to the story. But how would the heroine get not only a bachelor's degree from Harvard, but a master's in 3 years??!! There's prodigal, but the collegiate credit system does not work that way. Still, it's like watching a soap or fox news (joking here); there is no real content, but the mess is fun to watch. The book is a bit frustrating, and there are so many cliches...for crying out loud, the evil guy monologues at the end.
I like this book, but it is out of touch with reality. Her sister cannot legally drink at 18 in the US (she says her age numerous times in front of the bar owner), the villain is too blatantly villainous, the heroine too perfect... Dan, the hero, is forgettable and really not important to the story. But how would the heroine get not only a bachelor's degree from Harvard, but a master's in 3 years??!! There's prodigal, but the collegiate credit system does not work that way. Still, it's like watching a soap or fox news (joking here); there is no real content, but the mess is fun to watch. The book is a bit frustrating, and there are so many cliches...for crying out loud, the evil guy monologues at the end.
February 7, 2021
After being disowned by her father and kicked out of her family home seven years ago, Maggie Malone found work with a modeling agency and became a supermodel. When her mother tells Maggie that her father is dying and he wants to make up with her, she hurries back to Texas only to learn that her mother lied and her father is still furious with her. Maggie promises her mother she will stick around and help run the failing family business. When she learns that someone is actually sabotaging the business, Maggie turns to her father's right-hand man, Dan Garrett, to help her discover who is behind the damage.
This is an older book published in 2000, so the story is a bit dated. It was strange to read a story where people do not carry cellphones. Some of the characters were very cardboard.
I felt like I was reading an old Sandra Brown book where the men (except the hero) are misogynists, and the women (except the heroine) kowtow to their every word. Other than the bone-headed reason Maggie's father doesn't like her, the story was very readable. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
This is an older book published in 2000, so the story is a bit dated. It was strange to read a story where people do not carry cellphones. Some of the characters were very cardboard.
I felt like I was reading an old Sandra Brown book where the men (except the hero) are misogynists, and the women (except the heroine) kowtow to their every word. Other than the bone-headed reason Maggie's father doesn't like her, the story was very readable. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
July 24, 2021
A supermodel who's had to learn to make a life for herself because she was disowned by her father for something she didn't do. The father gets sick and she comes home and struggles with many hardships. Does she end up getting accepted in the end. Does she save the cannery from being sold out from under the family. This book takes a lot of interesting twists but is fun to read and could not put down.
February 8, 2017
With my To Do List getting out of control, I haven't been able to read and focus on my books like I want to so I went for a comfort/keeper read last night. I adore this book. Maggie made my heart hurt so many times and her relationship with her father made me cry for her. Dan was her perfect match. I loved every word of this and wish Harlequin would rerelease it in digital format because my print copy is about to fall apart.
Reread April 29, 2016 on Kindle. :)
Reread April 29, 2016 on Kindle. :)
March 14, 2018
I have read this book so many years ago and still it holds certain appeal to me. Its a story about a very successful woman who is successfully weathering all the bad things in life. At the same time she is dreaming about one very simple thing - the love of her father. It is the story of Maggies homecoming and the stubbornness that takes the most precious moments of our lives and turns them into regrets. The love story between Dan and Maggie given it even a nicer end. .. there is always a hope! This is why I like this book so much. It is a simple love story but it always charges me with very positive feelings.
February 7, 2023
The Prodigal Daughter by by Ginna Gray
Great read about a woman, who's an model world wide and returns home from a call from her mother that her father's treatment was no longer working and he was dying.
She arrives home from a Greee shoot and has not been told the truth. He is dying but he didn't wnat the daughter to return home.
Magge finds out a lot of things have changed in the family business and with her degrees she hopes to change things do the company stays open.
Love learning of the peach industry and everything that is involved.
She remembers why she had left in the first place and that still leaves a hole in her heart. Her also sees her sisters body and harm that her spouse has inflicted on her.
She's dismayed by the upheaval of people that no longer work at the company.
Jacob her father tries to fight with her but she keeps her head....
His sister Nan is there to help him see their side of what really happened and had gotten her into modeling.
Nan has also helped Maggie with business information as well over the years.
Love how she investigates what's happening to the company and who she goes to, to justify it all.
Someone is sabotaging the company and things come to a head Thanksgiving day when she's told a great secret.
awesome read, never saw this ending as it did.
I receSived this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Great read about a woman, who's an model world wide and returns home from a call from her mother that her father's treatment was no longer working and he was dying.
She arrives home from a Greee shoot and has not been told the truth. He is dying but he didn't wnat the daughter to return home.
Magge finds out a lot of things have changed in the family business and with her degrees she hopes to change things do the company stays open.
Love learning of the peach industry and everything that is involved.
She remembers why she had left in the first place and that still leaves a hole in her heart. Her also sees her sisters body and harm that her spouse has inflicted on her.
She's dismayed by the upheaval of people that no longer work at the company.
Jacob her father tries to fight with her but she keeps her head....
His sister Nan is there to help him see their side of what really happened and had gotten her into modeling.
Nan has also helped Maggie with business information as well over the years.
Love how she investigates what's happening to the company and who she goes to, to justify it all.
Someone is sabotaging the company and things come to a head Thanksgiving day when she's told a great secret.
awesome read, never saw this ending as it did.
I receSived this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
March 9, 2020
Ce roman a 20 ans. Ce n'est pas un roman extraordinaire en soi, et il n'est pas écrit avec les codes actuels, pourtant j'ai été totalement captivée par l'histoire. Vraiment.
C'est une histoire de rancœur familiale, de secret, de besoin de reconnaissance. C'est une histoire de famille, d'amour, avec une dose de suspens même s'il ne faut pas vraiment chercher loin pour deviner comment se déroule l'histoire. C'est l'histoire d'une femme, de ses blessures et ses espoirs. Et pourtant, il m'a été impossible de lâcher mon livre. Au fur et à mesure de la lecture, il fallait que je sache ce qu'il se passait ensuite. J'ai beaucoup aimé l'histoire de Maggie, confrontée depuis toujours au désamour de son père, sans qu'elle sache pourquoi, et tout le chemin qu'elle a dû parcourir pour tenter de s'en sortir. Mais sous son apparence frivole, les blessures sont bien là. Quant au héros, il est à la fois discret et protecteur.
Ce livre est vraiment une belle surprise. Pas un coup de cœur absolu, mais j'ai passé vraiment un excellent moment sur cette lecture.
C'est une histoire de rancœur familiale, de secret, de besoin de reconnaissance. C'est une histoire de famille, d'amour, avec une dose de suspens même s'il ne faut pas vraiment chercher loin pour deviner comment se déroule l'histoire. C'est l'histoire d'une femme, de ses blessures et ses espoirs. Et pourtant, il m'a été impossible de lâcher mon livre. Au fur et à mesure de la lecture, il fallait que je sache ce qu'il se passait ensuite. J'ai beaucoup aimé l'histoire de Maggie, confrontée depuis toujours au désamour de son père, sans qu'elle sache pourquoi, et tout le chemin qu'elle a dû parcourir pour tenter de s'en sortir. Mais sous son apparence frivole, les blessures sont bien là. Quant au héros, il est à la fois discret et protecteur.
Ce livre est vraiment une belle surprise. Pas un coup de cœur absolu, mais j'ai passé vraiment un excellent moment sur cette lecture.
April 18, 2020
This book has been on my TBR shelf for a while. However, it was really a fun fast read. Strong and sassy super model Maggie Malone comes home during the last few months of her father's life. She wants to heal the rift that has stood between them and caused her to stay away for seven years. Maggie has a reputation as the local wild-child of her small town, and no one but her mother seems happy to see her. She discovers her family's business is strangely loosing money and decides to step in and see if she can figure out who is taking advantage of her father's illness. (besides being a gorgeous supermodel, she is also a Harvard Business School graduate).She also falls in love with the good guy. Probably, many readers of suspense/romance novels will recognize the formulaic storyline - but there a few twists along the way, which makes it enjoyable.
June 11, 2024
What a crap for all the shit the h had to face since her childhood.
Her father should be castrated, everyone is stupid and selfish in this story barring the aunt.
The mom i could never understand letting her husband treat the daughter in such a way
The sisters i could not get, the one getting abused but never telling anyone about it.
H was beta and ok, nothing great.
No chemistry between H and h.
Her father should be castrated, everyone is stupid and selfish in this story barring the aunt.
The mom i could never understand letting her husband treat the daughter in such a way
The sisters i could not get, the one getting abused but never telling anyone about it.
H was beta and ok, nothing great.
No chemistry between H and h.
October 2, 2017
The Prodigal Daughter
A girl growing up without the love of her father, kicked out and disowned. Maggie comes back home when her mother calls calls and let's her know he's dying. A lot of animosity is finally resolved before he dies and she has saved the family company and she is a loved daughter on his death. Very good book from one of my favorite authors.
A girl growing up without the love of her father, kicked out and disowned. Maggie comes back home when her mother calls calls and let's her know he's dying. A lot of animosity is finally resolved before he dies and she has saved the family company and she is a loved daughter on his death. Very good book from one of my favorite authors.
April 18, 2020
A story of loss, forgiveness and redemption
I loved this story. A young girl sees the difference in her father who lavishes love on her sisters yet withholds it from her. Sent away, she becomes self sufficient and her capacity to love and forgive provides the nexus of this story with a lesson for us all. A great read!
I loved this story. A young girl sees the difference in her father who lavishes love on her sisters yet withholds it from her. Sent away, she becomes self sufficient and her capacity to love and forgive provides the nexus of this story with a lesson for us all. A great read!
June 7, 2025
This story focuses more on the heroine with the romance being secondary to the story. What she goes through with her family, especially her father is heartbreaking. It tries to have a happy ending but it’s really bittersweet and will never erase the damage done to her.
This book is more of a serious subject for Ginna Gray. It’s a tear-jerker!
This book is more of a serious subject for Ginna Gray. It’s a tear-jerker!
August 19, 2018
Loved it!
August 28, 2021
Knocked down a star because the ending was pretty melodramatic and unsatisfying.
September 25, 2019
Well...
I read this book several times and I still don't know how to put my thoughts into words without giving too much away . First , I LOVED it ! Second , I don't think I could have forgiven Jacob or her Mom . Third , I wanted to read that !! Forth , I don't forgive any of the men . Otherwise , I LOVED it !
I read this book several times and I still don't know how to put my thoughts into words without giving too much away . First , I LOVED it ! Second , I don't think I could have forgiven Jacob or her Mom . Third , I wanted to read that !! Forth , I don't forgive any of the men . Otherwise , I LOVED it !
April 8, 2015
Pretty dreadful.
November 29, 2015
Maggie, high fashion model. Fruit orchard, cannery. Ruby Falls,TX:3,418. Business degree, Harvard. Angsty. Kickass heroine.
Suspense. Romance. 3.5 bump up for TX setting :).
Suspense. Romance. 3.5 bump up for TX setting :).
October 8, 2016
I loved this book! I didnt think I would at first!
Wow! Lots of action & mysytery! A lit of suffering too!!! It moved fast at the end & I was biti g my nails!!!! Yay!!!!!!!
Wow! Lots of action & mysytery! A lit of suffering too!!! It moved fast at the end & I was biti g my nails!!!! Yay!!!!!!!
Read
January 2, 2014Amazing.
Read
August 6, 2017Note to self.
Dnf.
A bunch of doormat characters.
Dnf.
A bunch of doormat characters.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews