Mahaney was raised in rural Sarasota, Florida. After graduating from high school, Carolyn began a job as a secretary within a Christian organization. It was in this organization that she met her future husband, C. J. Mahaney. Shortly after getting married, the couple moved back to Washington, D.C. to begin building C.J.’s ministry. Carolyn and C.J. are now the parents of three daughters and one son. They also have many grandchildren.

Currently, Carolyn is leading the Titus 2 Women’s Ministry at Covenant Life Church, and also speaks at various conferences and churches.throughout the year. Carolyn Mahaney Carolyn has spoken at events such as the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

Carolyn has been the author and coauthor of multiple books aimed at encouraging women to pursue their faith more deeply. Her books have previously focused on modesty, biblical womanhood, marriage, time management, and mother-daughter relationships.

Joshua Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and his wife, Shannon Harris, show great enthusiasm for Carolyn's most popular book Feminine Appeal. According to Harris, the book is a blessing to both wives and their husbands. Feminine Appeal provides a clear vision of biblical femininity while also showing men how to encourage their wives.

Carolyn has recently begun a daily blog site with her three daughters, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, and Janelle Bradshaw. This blog site focuses on a variety of topics that affect the everyday woman. This site also provides updates of the authors’ lives, motherhood advice, sermons, and links to sermons, information on upcoming speakers, and many other topics of advice.