Lindsay Mckenna Popular Books

Lindsay Mckenna Biography & Facts

Gifted is a 2017 American drama film directed by Marc Webb and written by Tom Flynn. It stars Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate and Octavia Spencer. The plot follows an intellectually gifted seven-year-old who becomes the subject of a custody battle between her maternal uncle and maternal grandmother. The film was released on April 7, 2017, by Fox Searchlight Pictures, and grossed $43 million worldwide. At the 23rd Critics' Choice Awards, Mckenna Grace was nominated for Best Young Actor/Actress. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Evans and Grace, but noted its predictability. Plot In St. Petersburg, Florida, seven-year-old Mary Adler, a mathematical genius, lives with her uncle and de facto guardian, Frank. Her best friend is her 43-year-old neighbor, Roberta Taylor. Frank, a former philosophy professor now boat mechanic, feels strongly that Mary should attend a normal elementary school so she can have a normal childhood. On her first day of first grade, she shows remarkable mathematical talent, which impresses her teacher, Bonnie Stevenson. Bonnie tries to ask Frank about it but he tries to pass it off as the Trachtenberg system until Bonnie tricks Mary into completing a college math test, and confronts Frank again. It emerges that Mary's mother, Diane, had been a promising mathematician, dedicated to the Navier–Stokes problem (one of the unsolved Millennium Prize Problems) before committing suicide when Mary was six months old. Mary has lived with Frank ever since. Despite Mary’s initial disdain for average children her own age and her boredom with their classwork, she begins to bond with them when she brings her one-eyed cat, Fred, for show-and-tell. Later, she defends a classmate from a bully on the school bus, something that Frank is not concerned about. After the incident, the principal, having discovered Mary’s maths talent, encourages Frank to send Mary to a private school for gifted children, offering the opportunity of a scholarship. However, Frank turns it down, based on his family's experiences with similar schools. The principal contacts Frank's estranged mother and Mary's maternal grandmother, Evelyn. Evelyn, a former mathematician herself, is of the opinion that people with capabilities such as Mary’s have an obligation to use their talents to further help society and therefore feels that Mary should be specially tutored in preparation for a life devoted to mathematics, much as Diane was. But Frank is adamant that his sister would want Mary to be in a normal school and have the childhood she did not have. Evelyn later sues him for full custody. While she is on the stand in court, it is revealed that Evelyn had kept Diane socially isolated, homeschooling her so she could be primarily focused on mathematics. When Diane and her teenage boyfriend tried to run away together, Evelyn filed a lawsuit and threatened to charge him with kidnapping, forcing him to cut ties with Diane. She attempted suicide for the first time shortly after, something Evelyn argues was an isolated incident. When Frank takes the stand, he admits working at a low-paying job without health insurance. His lawyer, worried that the judge will side with Evelyn due to her having a better income, health plan and home, encourages Frank to consider taking a deal orchestrated by Evelyn’s lawyer. Mary would be placed in foster care and attend the private school Evelyn wants to have her enrolled in. The foster parents live 25 minutes from Frank's home, he will be entitled to scheduled visits, and Mary will be able to decide where she wants to live after her 12th birthday. Mary is devastated at being placed in foster care and she refuses to see Frank when he tries to visit. When Bonnie sees a picture of Fred up for adoption, she alerts Frank. He retrieves the cat from the pound and learns that Fred was brought in due to allergy issues. Frank realizes that Evelyn, who is allergic to cats, is overseeing Mary's education in the guest house of Mary's foster home. Frank goes to the foster home and, after reconciling with Mary, reveals to Evelyn that Diane had indeed completed the Navier–Stokes Problem, but left instructions for Frank not to publish the equation until after Evelyn’s death, revealing Diane's resentment towards her mother. Knowing that it meant everything for her to see Diane solve the problem, Frank offers Evelyn the opportunity to publish Diane's work if she drops her custody case, to which she agrees. Mary is placed back in the custody of Frank, returning to public school and socializing with children her age while taking college-level courses. Cast Production In December 2014, Tom Flynn's screenplay was one of the 70 to make that year's Black List. In August 2015, it was announced Chris Evans had been cast in the film, with Marc Webb directing. In September 2015, Mckenna Grace, Octavia Spencer, Lindsay Duncan and Jenny Slate joined the cast, and in November 2015, Julie Ann Emery was also added.Filming began in October 2015 in Savannah, Georgia, as well as in Tybee Island, Georgia, and finished in November 2015. Specific locations included May Howard Elementary School in Wilmington Island, Georgia and Emory University in Atlanta.Although the film is set in St. Petersburg, Florida, screenwriter Tom Flynn was unable to convince the producers to film in Florida, because the state was no longer providing financial incentives to movie makers; that made Georgia a more financially viable option.Mathematician Jordan Ellenberg, who was himself a child prodigy, was a mathematics consultant for the film; Webb contacted him after reading his article in The Wall Street Journal and asked him to share his experiences. Ellenberg also cameos as a professor lecturing on the partition function and Ramanujan's congruences. Release The film was scheduled to be released on April 12, 2017, but was pushed up to April 7, 2017. Box office Gifted grossed $24.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $18.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $43 million against a production budget of $7 million.The film went wide on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, and in its opening weekend grossed $3.1 million, finishing 6th at the box office. In its second weekend of wide expansion, it added more screens, and made $4.6 million, an increase of 47.5% from the previous week. Critical response On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Gifted has an approval rating of 73% based on 173 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Gifted isn't quite as bright as its pint-sized protagonist, but a charming cast wrings respectably engaging drama out of a fairly predictable premise." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 60 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F.... Discover the Lindsay Mckenna popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Lindsay Mckenna books.

Best Seller Lindsay Mckenna Books of 2024

  • The Untamed Hunter synopsis, comments

    The Untamed Hunter

    Lindsay McKenna

    Rocksolid, hardbitten and no stranger to danger, mercenary ShepHunter was going to run his latest mission without interference fromDr. Maggie Harper, the woman who'd stubbornly wal...

  • His Duty to Protect synopsis, comments

    His Duty to Protect

    Lindsay McKenna

    "Why the hell are you here?"Captain Ty Hamilton knows the woman hates him, especially since he'd tried to sabotage her military career. All those years ago, the formidable Rachel T...

  • Wolf Haven synopsis, comments

    Wolf Haven

    Lindsay McKenna

    "Talented McKenna delivers excitement and romance in equal measure." RT Book ReviewsShe's caught in her past until he shows her a future… Some things can never be forgott...

  • The Price synopsis, comments

    The Price

    Joan Johnston

    A powerful New York Times bestseller by the queen of Texas romance, The Price is a novel of intrigue, passion, ambition, and love set amid Houston’s towering skyscrapers and the ma...

  • The Christmas Wild Bunch synopsis, comments

    The Christmas Wild Bunch

    Lindsay McKenna

    The Christmas Wild Bunch by Lindsay McKenna released on Nov 13, 2017 is available now for purchase.

  • Christmas Eve Cowboy synopsis, comments

    Christmas Eve Cowboy

    Diana Palmer, Delores Fossen & Kate Pearce

    Cowboys and Christmas are an unbeatable combination in this charming western anthology helmed by New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmerone of America’s most beloved romance...

  • Three Cowboys and a Bride synopsis, comments

    Three Cowboys and a Bride

    Kate Pearce

    New York Times bestselling author Kate Pearce is back with a delightful new romance about a gutsy cowboy who learns that he’ll gamble it all for the woman he loves . . . Cowboy Max...

  • COMMANDO synopsis, comments

    COMMANDO

    Lindsay McKenna

    HE WAS NO STRANGER TO PERILAs a mercenary, Jake Randolph had faced danger and walked away unscathed. Yet, as a man, he’d confronted loveand lost much more than his heart. But his l...

  • Wild Mustang Woman and Targeting the Deputy synopsis, comments

    Wild Mustang Woman and Targeting the Deputy

    Lindsay McKenna & Delores Fossen

    The one who got away...Wild Mustang Woman by New York Times Bestselling Author Lindsay McKenna Sam McGuire is the strong cowboy Kate Donovan had loved but could neve...

  • THE COUGAR synopsis, comments

    THE COUGAR

    Lindsay McKenna

    THE WOMAN HE'D ALWAYS LOVEDShe had a heart of goldand a beauty to match her compassionate spirit. But she was a Donovanthe daughter of his arch enemy.THE MAN SHE LONGED TO HOLDHe w...

  • SOLITAIRE synopsis, comments

    SOLITAIRE

    Lindsay McKenna

    When mining engineer Cat Kincaid was trapped in a cavein, it was gently bullying Slade Donovan who talked her through the terrifying hours until her rescue. And it was slyly master...

  • Never Surrender synopsis, comments

    Never Surrender

    Lindsay McKenna

    From Shadow Warrior…to hostage Despite her sweet nature, Navy medic Bay Thorn's will is unbreakable. It has earned her not only the respect of her team, but also the love of N...

  • The Wrangler synopsis, comments

    The Wrangler

    Lindsay McKenna

    After Wall Street collapses, investment banker Griff McPherson trades in his suits and ties for Stetsons and cowboy boots. He returns to the Wyoming ranch he coowns with his brothe...

  • The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride synopsis, comments

    The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride

    Kate Pearce

    New York Times bestselling author Kate Pearce knows how to navigate the rugged terrain of a cowboy’s heart in this witty, romantic story where everything goes spectacularly wrongfo...

  • Once There Was a Lawman synopsis, comments

    Once There Was a Lawman

    Diana Palmer

    Christmas and romance are a combination even the most jaded tough guy can’t resist in this charming contemporary western tale from the New York Times bestselling author. Perfect fo...

  • OFF LIMITS synopsis, comments

    OFF LIMITS

    Lindsay McKenna

    U.S. Marine Corporal Jim McKenzie knew a hundred ghastly ways to kill, a thousand uglytechniques to survive the perils stalking wartorn Vietnam. And these bloody talents hadplunged...

  • Deadly Silence synopsis, comments

    Deadly Silence

    Lindsay McKenna

    Lieutenant Matt Sinclaire has always loved fighting firesuntil the fateful day when the flames came for his family. Arson took his wife and has left him alone with an eightyearold ...

  • THE ROGUE synopsis, comments

    THE ROGUE

    Lindsay McKenna

    Soldier of fortune Sean Killian had faced many terrors, but nothing made him more wary than his latest assignmentprotecting Susannah Anderson. Killian's past had left him hardenedf...

  • Three Cowboys and a Puppy synopsis, comments

    Three Cowboys and a Puppy

    Kate Pearce

    Three sexy cowboys find their lives upended in surprising ways in this sweet and sexy trilogy of feelgood contemporary westerns from the New York Times bestselling author of the be...

  • Taking Fire synopsis, comments

    Taking Fire

    Lindsay McKenna

    She dances on the edge of life…and deathNot all are meant to walk in the light. Marine Corps Sergeant Khat Shinwari lives among the shadows of the rocky Afghanistan mountains, a Sh...

  • Silver Creek Bodyguard synopsis, comments

    Silver Creek Bodyguard

    Lindsay McKenna

    New York Times bestselling author Lindsay McKenna returns to Silver Creek, Wyoming, where a veteran SEALwho is now one of  a security team’s finest, is assigned to guard a bea...

  • Strength Under Fire synopsis, comments

    Strength Under Fire

    Lindsay McKenna

    New York Times bestselling author Lindsay McKenna returns to Silver Creek, Wyoming, where a Black Ops veteran  finds the strength to fight again when a dangerous terrorist gro...

  • Moonfire synopsis, comments

    Moonfire

    Linda Lael Miller

    An American beauty is stranded by a shattered promise on Australia’s vast shores from “the most outstanding writer of sensual historical romance” (RT Book Reviews) and the author o...

  • The Defender synopsis, comments

    The Defender

    Lindsay McKenna

    After escaping her troubled past, all Katie Bergstrom wants is to put down roots on her raptor rehabilitation facility outside Jackson Hole. She doesn't count on reconnecting with ...

  • Romancing the Rancher synopsis, comments

    Romancing the Rancher

    Kate Pearce

    Welcome to California’s ranch country, where the cowboys of New York Times bestselling author Kate Pearce’s sexy and heartwarming series live, learn, and find love . . .   Ran...

  • Taming the Rancher synopsis, comments

    Taming the Rancher

    Lindsay McKenna & Stella Bagwell

    The spirit of a cowboyStallion Tamer by Lindsay McKenna Dan Black is more comfortable around horses than people. A wrangler with a gift for taming even the most wild stal...

  • Running Fire synopsis, comments

    Running Fire

    Lindsay McKenna

    He was a haven in the midst of Hell… Temporarily assigned to the Shadow Squadron in a troubled region of Afghanistan, Chief Warrant Officer and pilot Leah Mackenzie is no stra...

  • Risk Taker synopsis, comments

    Risk Taker

    Lindsay McKenna

    A Navy SEAL fights the most important battle of his lifelovein New York Times bestselling author Lindsay McKenna's Shadow Warriors miniseries In the mountains of Afghanistan, ...

  • Woman of Innocence synopsis, comments

    Woman of Innocence

    Lindsay McKenna

    Jenny Wright dreamed of adventureand longed to be chosen by her boss, Morgan Trayhern, for a true mercenary mission. But no one saw Jenny as anything more than Morgan's mousy a...

  • Deadly Identity synopsis, comments

    Deadly Identity

    Lindsay McKenna

    One tragic decision dashed Rachel Carson's plans and made her scared of her own shadow. Now on the run, she must forever give up the hope of loveor a baby. But with her new identit...

  • High Country Rebel synopsis, comments

    High Country Rebel

    Lindsay McKenna

    "Talented Lindsay McKenna delivers excitement and romance in equal measure." RT Book Reviews

  • A Taste for Love synopsis, comments

    A Taste for Love

    Marita Conlon-McKenna

    Alice loves to cook. She believes the secret of good food is to cook with passion. Her love affair with cookery has taken her from her parents' seaside hotel, to Paris and then one...

  • Yankee Wife synopsis, comments

    Yankee Wife

    Linda Lael Miller

    New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller’s classic follows a Civil War nurse as she embarks on a marriage with a heardheaded man she doesn’t know.Lydia McQuire’s courage...

  • The Will to Love synopsis, comments

    The Will to Love

    Lindsay McKenna

    Hope and love spring eternal in a classic tale from New York Times bestselling author Lindsay McKennaWhen Lieutenant Quinn Grayson reaches the earthquakeravaged L.A. Basin, he disc...

  • Breaking Point synopsis, comments

    Breaking Point

    Lindsay McKenna

    In the line of fire… OPERATION SHADOW WARRIORS An ongoing U.S. military experiment to test the integration of trained female military operatives in live combat scenarios…...

  • WILD MUSTANG WOMAN synopsis, comments

    WILD MUSTANG WOMAN

    Lindsay McKenna

    THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY…She was his wild mustang woman. Sam McGuire had always admired Kate's free spiritthough it was what ultimately took her away….THE STEADY, STALWART ONE…He was t...

  • Texas Protector synopsis, comments

    Texas Protector

    Lindsay McKenna & Barb Han

    His ultimate safeguarding mission Solitaire by Lindsay McKenna When mining engineer Cat Kincaid was trapped in a cavein, it was Slade Donovan who talked her through ...

  • STALLION TAMER synopsis, comments

    STALLION TAMER

    Lindsay McKenna

    AN IRRESISTIBLE WOMAN…She was the youngest Dononvan sister. An innocent beauty whose sweet, trusting nature had once opened her heart to hurt.AN UNTAMABLE MAN…He was a loner. A man...

  • A Cowboy to Trust synopsis, comments

    A Cowboy to Trust

    Lindsay McKenna & Melissa Senate

    Can she count on her cowboy?The Cougar by Lindsay McKenna Rachel Donovan has a heart of gold and a beauty to match her compassionate spirit. But years of strife between t...

  • Shadows from the Past synopsis, comments

    Shadows from the Past

    Lindsay McKenna

    When photojournalist Kamaria Trayhern goes undercover at the Mason family ranch, she's hoping to find her real father, not romance. But keeping everyone convinced she is who she cl...

  • A Man Alone synopsis, comments

    A Man Alone

    Lindsay McKenna

    Wounded and alone, Captain Thane Hamilton came home to Arizona a decorated heroand a bitter, embattled man. The doctors claimed he would never truly heal, never return to the Marin...

  • The Last Cowboy synopsis, comments

    The Last Cowboy

    Lindsay McKenna

    City girl. It was written all over her like a sign warning him to keep off. Sure, Slade McPherson would train her horse…With his ranch one bad day away from foreclosure, he can't a...