Toto's Tale (Book) - 5/19/2022 6:13:05 PM
What a great idea. Toto's version of Dorothy's Adventures in Oz. I'm a huge fan of the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" but I never even considered Toto's point of view. This is such a creative concept and so full of comical scenes of people barking indecipherable sentences and throwing balls and sticks for no apparent reason. What a wonderful way to re-tell a timeless tale. And of course, it was Toto who first noticed they were not in Kansas anymore!
Change of Address (Book) - 1/23/2022 12:57:44 PM
Thanks for posting, Kate Dolan. I loved the except.
The Appearance of Impropriety (Book) - 9/23/2019 3:07:13 PM
An adorable, quant novel with many twist & turns. Quite comical and a very easy read.
Sophie feels guilty for costing Heyward a position as her fathers steward and feels she must make amends. Thus she begins plotting ways to apologize to him, however every plan seems to cause more harm than good. Poor Heyward suffers more and more atv each turn, to the point where he begs Sophie to attempt to help him no more. When he is arrested for a crime he did not commit, Sophie forgets her promise to stop helping him and sets out to prove his innocence and set him free.
'The Appearance of Impropriety' is a romantic comedy with a funny story line and enough differing plots to keep the readers attention glued to each page. Very humorous! Very enjoyable! I enjoy the writing style of Kate Dolan and loved this sequel. I look forward to reading the next two stories of the series. I highly recommend this novel. Definitely a thumbs-up!!!
A Certain Want of Reason (Book) - 12/16/2018 4:27:43 PM
Lucia Wright has been given an invitation from her long ago school chum to come visit London for a season for a well-deserved break from the constant care of her mentally handicapped brother and sister, twins. However, when it becomes evident that Lucia is preparing to cut her break short to return to care for the twins, her friend arranges to have the twins brought to London. This causes an entirely different set of problems.
In the meantime, Lucia has gone to a party and accidently ripped her dress by backing into a suit of armour. While waiting in a parlor room for the return of her friend, she is interrupted by a gentleman, as such...Lord Edmund Rutherford.
Edmund has his own set of problems he is dealing with. Edmund has been betrothed to Jeanne Newman since the age of seven and to his dismay has learned he absolutely detest his fiancee. Attempting to push Jeanne to break off the family arranged marriage, Edmund decides to pretend he has gone insane, hoping that during a three month confinement will result in Jeanne calling off the marriage and pursuing other suitors. At which time, Edmund will be considered sane and return to his life without Jeanne. Needless to say, things do not turn out as he had planned.
In the meantime, an admiration turns into something more between Edmund and Lucia...
What an excellent and fun read. From the very first pages, Kate Dolan captures the readers interest and it continues until the very end. 'A Certain Want of Reason' is a wonderful romance novel sprinkled with humor throughout!
I most definitely recommend this book. Very interesting, uplifting, fun story line. A great afternoon read! Check it out.
George Washington Stepped Here (Book) - 12/11/2018 1:05:13 PM
What a wonderful, easy-flowing, afternoon read!
Karen Maxwell has finally been given her first case to investigate from her brother/boss and she is very happy. Even though very soon after starting the case, she learns her client is a very eccentric, she still can't wait to prove herself to her brother and be given other cases.
The case evolves around a missing piece of leather that reportedly was written on by George Washington. Her suspects are all the volunteers at the old house where the notes were written called the "1776 House."
The case becomes even more interesting when Karen and her two pre-teens decide to volunteer to get her closer to the case. It's at this time that she meets the very handsome blacksmith, Kevin Kieffer. Being a recent divorcee, she has to work up the courage to ask him out on a date, but she does...and, the book adds another twist to the story line as she must keep the fact that Kevin is also still a suspect, in her mind.
Her two kids go to the 1776 House the first time, kicking and complaining all the way. Eventually, when Karen decides to keep returning until the case is solved, the kids come around, not knowing their mom is "working a case" and decide they like going.
'George Washington Stepped Here' is a fun, comical mystery that I read in one afternoon! I love the easy-flowing writing style of K. D. Hays. The characters are described vividly and with great detail giving the reader a wonderful mental image of each.
'George Washington Stepped Here' is a definite "thumbs up." I highly recommend you check this one out. Very enjoyable!
An Excuse for Poor Conduct (Book) - 12/9/2017 8:00:20 PM
An Excuse for Poor Conduct by Kate Dolan
4 Stars
good story, skilled writing
I would like to thank Kate Dolan and Author’s Den for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a nice short story. Dolan’s writing, mechanically, is more skillful than I expected. Quite professional, actually. The setting of the almshouse and the indigent circumstances of the characters were interesting, a welcome change from the privileged doves and roosters usually depicted in historical romances. I appreciated the subtle humor that was included here and there, like when Will visited the reverend and they got drunk together, or when Will admitted that he tried to hit Matty back but missed. Matty and Will were likable characters, and both had arcs. Will decided to get his act together, and Matty…well, on second thought, maybe things didn’t change for her all that much. Or I just didn’t pick up on it.
But I was left wanting. So much was left undone or unexplained. It was clear Will’s turning point was the priority, and that’s fine, but I wanted more. This was like a sketch of a story, before the artist refines it with detail and color.
How did the cessation of drinking and gambling go for Will? Surely he struggled to stay on the responsible, useful path. A lifestyle change isn’t simple. Did he take over the job of farming the land for the almshouse, as was implied? What issues went along with that? Did he ever redeem himself with his uncle? And I’m not sure I understand how he was brought up. His mother died birthing him, and he speaks of his father in the past tense, so he must be dead, too, but I don’t remember mention of how or when. It must have been early, because Will says he was raised by his uncle.
Did they get enough donations? Did the Reverend Blakethorn’s dementia get worse? What exactly happened between him and the squire, and did the squire ever forgive him? Why was Matty considered a criminal, too? Did she help her father steal, or was she simply guilty by association, being a dependent and all? Will never asked for an explanation, so the reader never got one, which is an oversight. And is there any significance to the fact that his mother’s name was Margaret, and the parish was called St. Margaret’s? Probably just a coincidence.
I could go on, but my point is that I’d have liked to delve deeper and see everything resolved.
Lastly, for a romance, there wasn’t much romance. He noticed—after a time—that she was pretty, and she appreciated it. That was it. They became friends more than anything, so the kiss at the end seemed a tad…misplaced? Unearned? Forced?
Overall, this was a cute little story (*wince* I don’t mean that as patronizing as it might sound), but I believe it didn’t realize Dolan’s potential.
noapologybookreviews.com
Why are Carols Only for Christmas? (Article) - 12/30/2023 10:49:57 AM
Well presented. I appreciate the research you put into this. For me, it's the kind of article you cannot just dismiss because you don't necessarily agree with the premise. Briefly, as I recall from my past studies, early Christianity turned the pagan solstice tradition into a celebration for Christmas (the birth of Jesus Christ) which gave people Christian songs to sing and worship with. Thank you. Well done. Enjoyed the detour. HNY.
When Were Teenagers Invented? (Article) - 10/4/2023 9:23:31 AM
You have covered the teen scene quite well. Some great observations from the past and why teenagers behave the way they do.
Most of the past writing was about the sons of great leaders, and not about the ordinary people. For example, Alexander the Great and the boy king, Tutankumen. For most of history and for most of those coming-of-age it was a necessity for children to "grow up" in order to do the hard work required to sustain the elderly who no longer could work, hunt or gather. The rituals were very important to indoctrinate the children, as you indicated so well, into becoming responsible.
For some reason, I became responsible for my actions when I was around 10. But experimented a lot during my teenage years, with restraint, and participated in all the high school rituals like sports, drama and even proms when dad gave me his nearly new car and $20 for gasoline and food.
But during that period I was small, skinny and pimply faced… Considered to be a "brain" even when I was athletic, wiry and tough as a wrestler. I felt left out of the dating scene. All of the girls were maturing faster and it took me into my 20s before I accepted that I would never be a muscular, he-man image, ever. Even though my father was, as a truck driver who spent a lot of time loading and unloading.
Since it is only during the teenage years when people have money that's not dedicated to required future payments, and young people tend to have rather fickle tastes, merchandisers jump on the opportunity. Much of what is considered economic spending comes from the teenage sector.
Ron
Tweetsie Railroad and Cloudland Hotel: Tourism in the Good Old Days (Article) - 7/2/2023 11:06:24 AM
Thank you for the great history and description of the Cloudland Hotel and Tweetsie Railroad. Too bad so much of it is gone.
I had the good fortune of living in West Virginia for seven years and Atlanta for three more. Unfortunately while I passed through, I never visited the Smokey Mountains. But I explored West Virginia extensively and had the good fortune of taking a ride on a narrow gauge steam powered cog railway to the top of a mountain where there had been a village of about 5000 people cutting the spruce from that mountaintop.
That village was long gone, but the railroad probably remains as a great day trip for those lucky enough to find it.
Ron
The Strange Connection Between the Heart and Love (Article) - 2/13/2022 11:03:08 AM
What a wonderful article seeking why the heart is associated with love. Actual hearts, when removed from bodies by hunters like me, have shaped similar to the one associated with hearts stamped on that coin and ubiquitous today.
Another place I have seen that shape is with the bush and flower, bleeding hearts. They have that perfect shape, with a split at the bottom and what appears to be a white droplet, unfortunately, not blood.
So many believe that the heart is the source of the soul. Probably also dating back to the early notion that you referred to the heart being considered the source of all reason. While the poor brain was ignored. ;-)
Love the reference to the IRS. Struggling with my very complicated taxes right now.
Ron
Why My Romantic Heroes Fall Short: The influence of Erma Bombeck and other (Article) - 5/1/2019 1:52:23 PM
Lol! I subscribe to the Erma Bombeck newsletter, but have no fear, I won't be entering it. Doubt I'm humorous enough. I loved her and cried when I learned she'd died. I found some of her reflections on motherhood so true when I finally had 3 of my own and a stepson.
I've never read Don't Eat the Daisies, but I have seen the Doris Day movie based on it. I'll have to read the book to find out how close it came to Jean's experiences.
I'm sure my romantic heroes fall short as well. I never did like to write to a formula! I would say I'm a little influenced by Georgette Heyer, although I don't, or haven't yet, written a historical romance. Someday. But I liked her style of writing and how she portrayed her heroes and heroines.
Loved your article! Be reading more!
Neenah
King James and the Zombies (Article) - 10/11/2016 6:20:25 AM
From your entertaining article, King James apparently was a earlier version of a religious freak. It is interesting how he felt that the common Englishman couldn't read the Bible in its Latin and Greek passages so he decided to get it translated into English with him being editor-in-chief. So, I'm really wondering how politically correct he made his Bible that people today think is gospel according to whichever disciple they are reading at the time. When actually, the original version may say something entirely different.
As for his classifications of the devil's disciples, it seems like today's fear of the antichrist, pending apocalypse, and conspiracy theories, was alive and well in King James's time as well. If you can't figure out what is going on, blame the devil.
Ron
Mr. Darcy is Dartmouth: Modern Mothers are not as Enlightened as We Think (Article) - 3/24/2016 12:19:03 PM
Things have changed a bit since I went to college. But I never was a girl looking for a suitable match. ;-) Having just read numerous applications for scholarship to my alma mater, I have noticed that students today present themselves very well, in spite of what you think about students in general. These students are very directed and accomplished.
Good advice for those who have young men and ladies soon going off to college.
Ron
