#BOOK REVIEW BY @COLLEENCHESEBRO OF “The Dolan Girls,” BY AUTHOR @SarahMallery1

• Title:  The Dolan Girls
• Author: S. R. Mallery
• File Size: 1022 KB
• Print Length: 212 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN:
•  Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication Date: December 3, 2015
• Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
•  Language: English
• ASIN: B018Y063XA
• ISBN-10: 1519695241
• ISBN-13:  978-1519695246
• Formats: Paperback and Kindle
• Goodreads
• Genres: Women’s Fiction, Romance, Western,

*The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which follows*

In the Author’s Words:

“The Dolan Girls by S. R. Mallery has it all. Set in Nebraska during the 1800s, whorehouse madams, ladies of the night, a schoolmarm, a Pinkerton detective, a Shakespeare-quoting old coot, brutal outlaws, and a horse-wrangler fill out the cast of characters. Added to the mix are colorful descriptions of an 1856 land rush, Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show, Annie Oakley, bank/train robberies, small town local politics, and of course, romance. Two, in fact!”

My Recommendation:

Close your eyes for a minute. Let’s slip back into time. Just breathe…

It’s the late 1880’s, and we’ve stepped into the wild, wild, West in the American Southwest. Listen… You can hear the wind blow and taste the dust on your tongue. Under the hot shimmering sun, you meet the Dolan girls. Cora and Minnie Dolan are two young women, who along with their parents, have traveled from Ireland to settle in the rugged Nebraska Territories, with the hope of winning land in the famous land lottery.

When tragedy strikes, the two women, struggling to survive, take up residence at Madam Ana’s brothel. In no time, Madam Ana adopts the girls as her daughters, all the while protecting them from the men who frequent her business. Eventually, when illness strikes, she leaves her flourishing business to the sisters. When Cora falls in love with the handsome Thomas Garrett, her life changes forever.

Then, brutally raped by a worthless cowboy looking for a good time, Cora is forced to grapple with an interesting situation. The fact that she is Irish, and now an unwed mother who along with her sister owns a brothel; she finds herself shunned by the good folk of the town. Her pregnancy results in a daughter, Ellie, who once she is old enough, is quickly sent away to be educated back East. Cora always worries about appearances. Her goal is to be recognized for the successful businesswoman she has become.

It is when Ellie returns to her mother and aunt as a school teacher for the local school that fate intervenes to change the direction of Cora, Minnie’s and Ellie’s lives forever. Throw in some excitement with Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, and a Pinkerton investigator, and you have the makings for an exciting read.

I LOVE westerns and always have. Maybe it is the magic and allure of the old West; but for me, these historical romance adventures always ensnare me. Just like the rest of her books, Sarah Mallery skillfully weaves a tale that is believable and historically accurate by using authentic language and vivid descriptions of a time now lost to history. Most importantly, this book is entertaining and a joy to read. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down!

What really caught my attention was how Sarah set up her Pinterest account full of fascinating history, vintage clothing, and old flicks; all from the old west. If you love westerns check out her Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sarahmallery1/.

AND, The Dolan Girls are featured on Amazon & Bookbub on July 8th through July 12th as a FREE book!

So… What are you waiting for? Have a read! I only hope there is another mysterious adventure for this strong bunch of women to solve!

My Rating:

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars

 

 

About Sarah Mallery:

S.R. Mallery has been labeled nothing short of ‘eclectic’. She has been a singer, a calligrapher, a quilt designer, and an ESL teacher.
As a writer, History is her focus and is woven into her stories with a delicate thread. When people talk about the news of the day or listen to music, Sarah’s imagination likens the story to a similar kind of news in the past and is conjuring up scenes between characters she has yet to meet.

Sarah loves to hear from fans and readers. Click the links below and stop in for a chat!

Find Sarah on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1abYVyP, and don’t forget to visit her on www.srmallery.com
Follow Sarah and other award-winning authors on http://enovelauthorsatwork.com

You can also find Sarah on Twitter: @SarahMallery1

Book Review by @ColleenChesebro of silverthreading.com