McKENZIE by Penny Zeller

The author states in the back of her book that, "Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom".   I feel she did that well in this story.  This story takes place in the late 1800's and begins in Boston, but quickly travels to Pine Haven, in the Montana Territory.  I call this a "cozy book", because you just want to cozy up on a comfortable sofa and enjoy reading through this story until you reach the end.  Then you sigh with a feeling of contentment.

Zach Sawyer is a man any woman would be pleased to find and he is looking for a wife and someone to help him raise his 5 year old adopted son.  He is a "25 year old rancher in Montana Territory looking for possible matrimony.  Man of integrity with dark brown hair, blue eyes, and shy demeanor seeks a kind, educated, hardworking, Christian woman with good disposition with whom to share his life." (That is what his ad in the Boston papers said.)

McKenzie finds this listing in the paper and found it was just what she needed for her "rescue mission: money for the trip and a place to stay, as well as the help of a man in finding Kaydie."  (Kaydie is her sister who ran off and got married and found she had married a cruel man who was in trouble with the law.)

So McKenzie sets out to Montana and finds out how different it is from her opulent lifestyle in Boston.  She starts out as a little bit of a snob, but she will begin to change and adapt to the Montana ranch and the people who live there.  Zach if a very patient man, who has fallen in love with his mail-order bride and is just waiting for her to feel the same.  But McKenzie fights her feelings because she knows as soon as she finds her sister she is leaving.  But what McKenzie couldn't get away from was her attraction to Zach, his godly character, his wisdom and his compassion and love for her.

I enjoyed watching these two people get to know one another and fall in love.  It is a story that shows how a person can change and how God can make a difference when we wait upon Him and give Him time to work it all out for good.  This is the first book in the Montana Skies series and I look forward to reading book two next, "Kaydie".  I confess I have already started the story and it picks up right where "McKenzie" leaves off.  Sit back, get comfortable and enjoy Montana and the people of Pine Haven.