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!
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The Dolan Girls is a wickedly entertaining tale of the Wild West, including mayhem, murder, and land grabbing during the Civil War era. Foreigners from across the pond (like the Dolan family from Ireland), are seeking freedom to start anew, braving outlaws, gunmen, gaming houses filled with debauchery and so on. The Dolan family’s intention is to homestead near Nebraska, where pandemonium breaks out often.
Ms. Mallory’s expertise with prose always makes readers feel like they’re right in the thick of the action. The dialect of the current times (pertaining to the dialogue) is precisely how I’d imagine the language – some uneducated, some holier-than-thou, and also throw in a Shakespeare-quoting older gent who sometimes imbibes more than he should and you have a winner of a set up. It’s clear Ms. Mallory has done her research.
After a horrific crime is committed against the innocent sixteen-year old Cora Dolan, her life is changed forever. Her young suitor Thomas is wrongly informed she doesn’t want to see him, and he leaves town to join the cavalry and fight in the Civil War.
Cora’s already had to endure much, including the loss of both parents. She and her sister Minnie are left in the care of Mrs. Ana, the madam of a house of ‘Doves’, yet both girls are well taken care of, or anyone else who happens along – and yes, if I elaborated further it would be a spoiler.
Moving forward, where else would you also be entertained by the shenanigans of Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley and Annie’s husband Frank Butler, besides a Sarah Mallory western?
Then, there’s that nasty villain – the worst of the worst. Gave me the freaking creeps, he did!
As fate would have it after many years, Thomas Garrett, now a Pinkerton agent, and his lost love Cora are reacquainted due to safety concerns at the house of Mrs. Ana, but will they reunite as a couple? Will Ellie keep her first love, or will he ride away into the sunset with the Wild West Show? What about Minnie?
Better yet, will the evil villain be caught and brought to justice?
As always, I applaud the way Ms. Mallory tidies up her novels, leaving the reader well satisfied and grateful for the time spent enjoying her work.. Five gold stars awarded – highly recommended.
Loved this book… historical romance!
“The Dolan Girls” is an enticing and gripping historical fiction set in the Wild West in the 1860s, which I simply couldn’t put down once I started. I love learning new things from the books I read, and this obviously thoroughly researched novel put me right in the middle of a typical little western town, where through the eyes of the characters I learned about their lives, traditions, and struggles of people of that time.
I also very much appreciated how the story followed the path of three generations of the Dolan family, from settling in a new land and how it influenced their lives, to the horrific incident with the younger sister Cora that would reshape her views of life and trust forever, and to the young Ellie, Cora’s daughter, who, despite the dark secret of her origin, grew to be a highly intelligent, head-strong and independent woman.
The story is full of unexpected twists and turns, and even though I’m usually very good at predicting what would happen next, “The Dolan Girls” kept me guessing up to the very last page. A brilliant work, which I highly recommend to everyone!
With THE DOLAN GIRLS, S.R. Mallery brings us into the old west, using a unique perspective: that of young women with a secret to keep. Coming from a potato farm in famine-stricken Ireland, Cora (who refuses to talk about what happened six years ago) and her sister Minnie (who has been with her there the whole time) and Ellie (an endearingly lovely ten-years-old girl) must find ways to survive in a harsh new world where “no Irish need apply.”
Set in Nebraska, this is their story. The Dolan girls must make a Red-curtained Madam Ana brothel—“a place for pleasuring most any man”—their new home. Defending themselves against unruly customers would not come easy and it would take quick wit and quick action. “He took one hand off her neck to stroke her virgin cheek, and she seized the moment. Reaching to the right, she grabbed a large knife, the one she had used just the other day to help Mrs. Ana chop up some turnips.” And when the Madam falls ill, she tells Cora, “If I don’t make it, I give you my business, free and clear.”
It is in the parlor that we see their resilience playing out, while they (and we, through their eyes) get to meet iconic characters such as Annie Oakly. “Next, she positioned the mirror in front of her with one hand, and with the other, adjusted the rifle backwards on her shoulder… Crack-crack-crack-crack! went the rifle, shattering each target into bits and pieces.” The language is authentic, and the details capture the historical setting with not only precision but picturesque fun as well. “Ruffled shirts, petticoats more colorful than a rainbow, and boots covered in tassels were as common as toys on a Christmas morn.”
Five stars.
The Dolan Girls, my fourth read from author S.R. Mallery in the last month, each very different than the others (Sewing Can Be Dangerous, Other Small Threads & Tea, Anyone? (A Brooke & Abby Cozy Mystery Book 1) and The Map Room: A Short Story. All have one thing in common, no matter the genre you can count on a well-written, entertaining read. As good as all were this one, the longest so far, is the best of the bunch. I was given a Kindle copy of Ellie & The War On Powder Creek (The Dolan Girls Book 2) and wanted to read this book first so I went out & got it & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
The book opens with a land rush and recent immigrants from Ireland are eager to get fertile farmland to start their American Dream. The dream shatters and their lives take a completely different turn.
Cora, in particular, has had a very rough time. But she bounces back to live her life to the the fullest she can, given the cards she has been dealt. She becomes a very successful business woman with her sister.
This book spans many years and although there are some spots in the book that are violent, the violence is not particularly graphic – nothing you don’t see regularly on TV.
This is a well told story and includes an interesting period in the American wild west.
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator is excellent. She has voices and accents for each character and her performance is top notch.
Fantastic Story & Narration Captivating & Heartfelt!
The Dolan Girls
By: S. R. Mallery
Narrated by: Nancy Peterson
This is a fantastic historical fiction set in Nebraska in the 1800’s, the book grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it straight to the end. S.R. Mallery is a gifted author, I enjoyed her writing style and the storylines and characters she created. She did an awesome job capturing the hardships and challenges of the times, her descriptive details brought you right along side the characters allowing you to see what they seeing, feeling and going through. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with. We are first introduced to the Dolan sisters, Cora and Minnie when they were in their teen years and living with Madam Ana. Cora was in love with Thomas but after a terrible incident their lives were forever changed. I liked how the author takes you back in time for a chapter and shows how Cora and Minnie wound up with Madam Ana and who Pete was to them. After that the book picks back to current time, 1861, and continues after Cora’s life changing incident. There is never a dull moment in this book, the story is cleverly plotted with plenty of drama, heartfelt and emotional moments, and a wonderful romance. S.R Mallery, thank you for this fantastic story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
I listened to the Audible edition, Nancy Peterson is talented narrator and voice artist. She brings these characters to life, giving each their own unique voice making it easy to follow along and who is who. She is awesome at portraying all the characters, grasping each of their personas and playing their role with perfection, sounding just as I am picturing them to sound. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the fantastic listen
A good look at life in the old West and the sacrifices made by many, especially women. Believable characters and scenery of the era. Good beach, fireside or quarantine read.