The Dolan Girls

By: S. R. Mallery

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

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!

©2015 Sarah Mallery (P)2017 Sarah Mallery

The old west comes alive 🌵

This is one of those books that didn't grab me from the start. It took a while for the story and characters to develop for me. But, I continued on and before I knew it I was hooked! It tugged my emotions and breathes life into the saying...Love comes to those who wait.💟

I enjoyed that the characters were quirky yet very normal. They each have their flaws and circumstances they need to overcome. And the old west theme that runs throughout the story kept it authentic. Very well written and enjoyable adventure.

I love Nancy Peterson's narration. She gives each character a unique voice which allows the listener the feeling of transporting into the story. She's rare gem in a sea of rocks. 💎

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review. My thanks to the author for this opportunity 😉

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A Tear Jerker, But FABULOUS

The narrator was fabulous At first, I didn't like the jumps in time, but midway through, I believed having the jumps made the story even better. I fell in love with so many of the characters. and I cried on several occasions.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love In The Wild Wild West

There's nothing like a good romantic love story from back in the days of gunslingers and their exciting women. This story has all the characters needed to keep the listener totally enthralled until the end! Cora and Thomas are young sweethearts whose lives are torn apart by his evil half brother, Wes.
The years pass and finally they see each other again but Cora believes Thomas had abandoned her and lost all trust in him. As the story evolves the listener is totally involved and eagerly anticipates what the ending will be. The narrator is magnificent and relates the story with a calmness but also with passion enough to curl the listener's toes. Don't miss this one please!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Three women in the Old Wild West make their way

Wild West story about three ladies who learned to overcome bad situations, make the best of things and finally find happiness after heartache.

For those that had a hard time getting into the story, I think it is helpful to know a bit of the timeline of the book. The story starts when Cora and Minnie are young and are participating with their immigrant parents in a land grab event in Nebraska. The story quickly jumps ahead to Cora and Minnie as young women who are facing more devastating circumstances. With those two background pieces in place, the majority of the story takes place when Cora and Minnie are in their late 30's and Cora's daughter Ellie is a young adult.

The relationships of the three women are tested, an old flame returns, bad guys come to town, a cowboy catches Ellie's eye but has plans to leave, the past comes back to test Cora again and much more.

Enjoyable book, well written and researched. The narrator was easy to listen to, well paced, and did believable character voices. Looking forward to more audio books from this author!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent historical

Loved listening to this! Excellent story and characters, I loved Ellie and Brett. There’s action, romance, and learning to cope with life’s events. This story does deal with some tough subjects, but they shape who the characters are. The narrator’s performance was excellent, each character had a unique voice. I received a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed it

Took me a bit to get into this one but I'm glad I stuck with it. It ended up being a really good book and quite entertaining. Lovable characters and good wild west flavor.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story within a story

I got this ARC via audiobook boom and this is my voluntary review. This was a story about three women. Two sisters and a daughter. It was told filled with tidbits of information that actually happened during the settling of the west.I liked how their story was woven into the fabric of the American West.The narrator was a vital part of my enjoyment of the story. The inner conflicts and story weaving were done well. Worth a credit to me.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Dolan Girls

Some very heartbreaking moments in this book, and it really takes a women with certain strength to ensure and move on. They don’t make women like the Dolan girls anymore.
Enjoyed the narrative very much, great variety of voices by this very talented narrator.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Almost didn’t know I loved it!

I had a hard time getting into this book and almost gave up on it; fortunately, I stuck with it because I ended up loving it! Although it started slow, it ended up being a great story full of action and drama. It’s one you don’t want to miss! Nancy Peterson did a fabulous job with the narration. I received a review copy at my request and voluntarily reviewed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Swept back in time to the old West

In 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.”

The narrator, Nancy Peterson, has a warm, intimate voice that goes straight to the heart. Immersing herself—and you—in the story, she varies her rhythm and expression, mining each word for its fullest impact. She’s great with accents and can change her age effortlessly, which gives presence to the characters and a great contrast between them.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful