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Kaleigh McKenna
Gramma was a showgirl, and under her direction, child prodigy Kaleigh McKenna hones her many talents. She sings! She dances! She plays a half-dozen instruments! As a teenager, Gramma takes her to Hollywood. With the aid of Gramma’s old friends in the business, Kaleigh lands a contract at Warner Brothers Studios where she works with stars like Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, and Olivia de Havilland. Everything changes on December 7, 1941. Instead of making movies, Kaleigh gives her heart to the United Service Organization … and to the mysterious man who organizes the camp shows. She’s soon doing her act for American soldiers and sailors on dangerous fronts from North Africa to the South Pacific. It proves to be a wild ride, with bombings, blood, and heartbreak. When she left sunny California, Kaleigh hoped to hold the troops’ affections. On her tours, she sometimes finds herself holding their very lives in her hands.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2017
40 people are currently reading
19 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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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 3, 2017
Totally Entertaining
In the 30's, Kaleigh sings at church and finds she can "play by ear." She can play several instruments and her grandma becomes her mentor. Gramma also has a big secret! Kaleigh goes to Hollywood in her teens, and becomes a contract player, and many stars and entertainers enter the scene with Gramma as chaperone. Stories of the USO and Kaleigh's adventures during World War II are exciting and rewarding.
In the 30's, Kaleigh sings at church and finds she can "play by ear." She can play several instruments and her grandma becomes her mentor. Gramma also has a big secret! Kaleigh goes to Hollywood in her teens, and becomes a contract player, and many stars and entertainers enter the scene with Gramma as chaperone. Stories of the USO and Kaleigh's adventures during World War II are exciting and rewarding.
November 9, 2017
A wonderful read!!
Just finished reading the latest book by Donna Mabry. I loved it!
It's about a talented singer and dancer who grew in the 1930's and performed for the USO during World War II. Her travels took her all over the world. Her experiences were exciting and sometimes dangerous. I highly recommend this book!!
Just finished reading the latest book by Donna Mabry. I loved it!
It's about a talented singer and dancer who grew in the 1930's and performed for the USO during World War II. Her travels took her all over the world. Her experiences were exciting and sometimes dangerous. I highly recommend this book!!
December 27, 2017
So wonderful!
Such a great read! Loved all the characters and especially watching and sharing in Kaleigh's life experiences. DONA MABRY is an EXCEPTIONAL story teller --so gifted . The way she really focuses in on the characterization of the main person in each of her books is amazing to me. LOVE her style .
Such a great read! Loved all the characters and especially watching and sharing in Kaleigh's life experiences. DONA MABRY is an EXCEPTIONAL story teller --so gifted . The way she really focuses in on the characterization of the main person in each of her books is amazing to me. LOVE her style .
May 2, 2018
Extremely Entertaining
Donna Mabry can certainly tell a story and this one was packed with emotion. A rollercoaster ride filled with laughter and tears. A great read!
Donna Mabry can certainly tell a story and this one was packed with emotion. A rollercoaster ride filled with laughter and tears. A great read!
October 4, 2018
Beautifully written!
Another wonderful story! Her words bring it to life!!! Such a great story about a horrible time in our history.
Another wonderful story! Her words bring it to life!!! Such a great story about a horrible time in our history.
January 20, 2019
:)
The first quarter of the book is sooo boring. I ended up skipping pages and pages. Once she finally goes on tour it’s a great book.
The first quarter of the book is sooo boring. I ended up skipping pages and pages. Once she finally goes on tour it’s a great book.
March 3, 2021
Good read. Love Donna Foley Mabry
May 26, 2018
Not Donna’s best work
The use of 1st person greatly weakened the novel. This read as a story- line with mostly facts and dry conversation. Even though the subject matter was interesting and compelling, it was hard to bond emotionally with any of the characters.
The use of 1st person greatly weakened the novel. This read as a story- line with mostly facts and dry conversation. Even though the subject matter was interesting and compelling, it was hard to bond emotionally with any of the characters.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews