BLURB:
HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE DOLAN GIRLS:
 “At times rollicking, at times poignant, always authentic; a well-researched and beautifully told story.”

 “A compelling read, perfect amount of romance, with a wonderful ending. You’ll be immersed in cast, time, and place.”

 “S.R. Mallery’s words thunder off the page like a cattle stampede with sharply written characters demonstrate that it was WOMEN who tamed the American West.”

 “It's a rip-roaring, nail-biting, heart-throbbing ride...my Stetson is off to S.R. Mallery!”

“What a marvellous story! Historically well researched, entertaining, & very warmly written. Highly recommended.”

 “Mallery has done it again. THE DOLAN GIRLS leads you on a trip that is sometimes painful, sometimes loving. From innocence to womanhood. From love to heartbreak. Definitely 5*!”

“The Dolan Girls is simply a wonderful book. It brings the West alive in a way that is not only historically interesting, but one can’t help but become fascinated with how the story is going to play out.”

EXCERPT:
 
CHAPTER ONE
1861: Young Kisses
 
Cora Dolan refused to talk about what had happened six years earlier, ten miles above town. Sealed up as tight as a snail in the cold she was, even to her sister Minnie, who was there with her the whole time; even with Thomas, who held her heart.

Yet one star-flushed night, as the wind’s edges were chilling and the shortening days were trumpeting the around-the-corner autumn, the two sweethearts pressed against a neighbor’s barn door, and Cora opened her mouth to share her past, then paused.

“What is it, Cora?” Thomas whispered, his steady arm around her sixteen-year-old waist, his mouth brushed against her ear. “Tell me what gets you sad sometimes. Let me help you.”

She forced a smile. “I’m all right, truly I am,” she said, placing her right hand gently over her heart for a couple of seconds. With her arms then draped over his broad shoulders, she uplifted her face for a kiss.

“Oh, Cora,” he said softly, his lips heading toward hers, “I love it when you put your hand over your heart. It’s so sweet. So trusting.”

Suddenly, a horse’s sudden clop-clop broke their embrace, sending them scurrying off to Cora’s residence. Several blocks away, still running, laughing, holding hands, they slowed their pace down to a stroll as they passed the livery stable, the local blacksmith, the church shut tight for the night, the brand new post office, and the local saloon with its strong bouquet of whiskey and beer wafting into the air. Finally they stopped in front of the red-curtained Madam Ana’s, South Benton’s second watering hole, the place for pleasuring most any man.And home to the Dolan girls.

“I guess it’s good-night, then,” her young suitor murmured, angling for another kiss.

A male snicker rang out. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

Out from behind the southeast porch post stepped a slightly older young man, his black hat cocked forty-five degrees, his leather jacket opened, his six-shooter holstered just below his waist. He moved in close.

“Cora, sweet thing, why in the world do you waste your time with such a greenhorn, huh?” he sneered. “Be like the gals you live with and try a real man for once!”

Thomas stepped in front of Cora. “Wes, that’s no way to treat a lady. Let her be!”

The stepbrothers faced each other. “Don’t you threaten me!” Wes spat back, splaying his tall, wiry legs and fingering his new grown mustache, as if to further prove his manhood.

“That’s rich––me threatening you. Now, leave us alone!”

As Wes half walked, half hitched away, chortling, Cora clutched her protector. “He’s always so scary,” she whispered…
 
“… I think you’re beautiful, Cora. In fact, you’re perfect.”

Concentrating on his piercing blue eyes, she leaned in for a kiss. All of a sudden, they heard Madam Ana inside, laughing with one of her customers while an out-of-tune piano clunked loudly in the parlor. Although the kiss ended up much shorter than he would have liked, he said nothing when Cora turned and swung the front door open to head toward the back of the house where she shared a bedroom with her sister Minnie.

Just inside, Cora walked into the parlor, with its red velvet wallpaper and red carpeting, stretching out onto the large, winding staircase that led upstairs. She continued on, past the central eye-catchers of the room:  a large maroon settee, piled high with plump, satin pillows, and a glittering chandelier hovering overhead that word had it, cost a small fortune. Nothing was too good for the ambitious Madam Ana Prozinski from Russia, she was always being told.

“Cora!” called out Becky, a voluptuous blonde squeezed into a purple, gusset-enhanced corset, high-heeled boots, and her famous black velvet choker. “While we’ve been workin’ here a month of Sundays, you get to make a night of it! For two cents, I’d love to know what you’ve been doin’!”

“Yup, I reckon she just got a lick and a promise!” added a red-petticoated Julie to a chorus of shrieks and laughter.

Amy, in a rose colored shimmy and fishnet stockings, chimed in. “Look at her red face! Did you ever see anything so perty? It’s just like…”

“She’s always pretty!” Julie interrupted. “Talks fine, too. Must be all those speakin’ lessons from Pete she’s always taking.”
“Yeah,” Becky said, chuckling. “She talks like one of them refined ladies, but she’s also so pretty she could be one of us. I’ll bet she could bring in those cowboys by the wagonloads! She’s…”

​Madam Ana strode into the room “Girls, enough!” You know I take no stock in dis kinda talk. Leave Cora be. Now go back to verk!” She looked around at her employees and clapped twice. “Now!” she barked.
 

Do you like westerns? Romances? Then The Dolan Girls is your book. It features the tale of two Dolan girls abandoned in the Nebraska land rush and left to the loving graces of the local madam. The story opens with a tale of young love, a twisted cowboy, and an alcoholic thespian who quotes Shakespeare.

Ms. Mallery doesn’t shy away from exposing the underside of everyday life and the personal grit each person had to possess to survive the hostile land. Still, in the rough and tumble atmosphere, there were moments of joy, discovery, and a little celebrity worship with the appearance of Annie Oakley and the Buffalo Bill show.

The Dolan Girls should satisfy historical romance and western fans alike. 

S. R. Mallery BIO:
 S.R. Mallery has been labeled nothing short of 'eclectic'. She has been a singer, a composer, a calligrapher, a production artist, a quilt designer, and an ESL/Reading 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.
 
 




​
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Mina smiled at her husband over the soft-top car roof as she opened the passenger door. Raising her voice a little, she said, “A ride along the coast sounds great.” It did, especially since it had been a while since she and Lucian had done anything together. Her images of married life were worlds away from the reality.

Instead of preparing meals together and snuggling on the couch watching television, Lucian worked. She worked too, as a school office manager. It allowed her plenty of time to get home to fix Lucian an excellent supper he seldom ate because he usually ate at work or even dined with clients. His actions hurt her, but she pretended they didn’t. After all, Lucian never had a wife before. How would he know what he was supposed to do? Maybe it was her. Could she be doing something wrong?

They were going for a ride today, which showed that being a compliant wife paid off. Following her church teachings of being a submissive wife was not only the right thing to do but was its own reward.

Lucian backed the car out of the garage slowly, driving a few miles before pulling over long enough to lower the convertible top. She glanced at his hands because she’s always admired his long fingers and maicured nails he kept meticulously clean. Her deceased father had run an airline, but he often worked on the planes himself, which left him with stained, rough skin.

Today Lucian’s immaculate hands were glove encased. “Honey, why are you wearing those gloves, especially on a warm day like this?”

He fixed his warm chocolate eyes on her and smiled. “Can’t risk a blister. I’ve got a big case this week. A lawyer with a blister on his hand draws attention at the wrong time. I can’t have some nearsighted juror trying to decide if it’s a wart, a blemish, or a blister while ignoring my opening argument.”

“You’re right,” she readily agreed.

Lucian was an excellent criminal defense lawyer. How could a jury convict when he turned those eyes on them and launched an argument that demolished his opponent’s case. She’d met him through her old boyfriend, who was also a lawyer. There was a time she thought she could be a lawyer, too. The thought made her grimace. That was back when she was an independent woman, thinking she could do anything. Thank goodness, she found Lucian and the church to help her put things in their proper place. Although, sometimes, she wondered what would have happened if she’d finished her degree and passed the bar.

The morning sun rose in the sky like a play backdrop. The blue skies above her, the sheer walls of rock on one side, and the ocean tossing far below made for excellent scenery, a setting for a perfect day. Lucian mentioned they might stop for lunch at a little bistro up the road featured on The Food Channel. The life she wanted was coming together, the one she dreamed of while she persevered to be the ideal wife. She never raised her voice and never argued with her man. He stopped the car at a lookout point, a sharp jog of a cliff that jutted out over the roaring water attached only on its side to the mountain wall. Lucian left the car to stand at the safety railing, gazing out to sea. A mini mall sat across the road with the majority of its storefronts empty

 “Sweetheart, you got to see this. Only on the West Coast can you feast your eyes on this type of savage beauty.”

A feeling of trepidation suddenly grabbed her, stalling her exit from the convertible. Why should she be afraid of Lucian, especially when he was so sweet to her? His masculine silhouette highlighted by the morning sun emphasized his wide shoulders and powerful physique, not exactly typical for an attorney. Her husband trained for the triathlons that were so popular in their area with the same passion he displayed in court. She noticed his gloved hand clutching the railing. Was he afraid of being up so high? If so, he’d never mention it.

Forcing her feet forward, she preferred not to be so close to the edge. Did Lucian know she had a fear of heights? Ironic when her family’s money came from flying. Did she ever mention it? Maybe, it was hard to remember. Theirs was a short courtship brought about by the betrayal of her former boyfriend, James. Jumping in bed with Lucian, when he told her about James’ cheating ways, hadn’t been her intention, but still it happened. Hard to believe she was ever that girl. Once she joined his church and started participating in the Ladies’ Bible study, he found her acceptable as wife material. His exact words involved something about acknowledging his spiritual headship. She didn’t question the meaning, only nodded, overwhelmed to have the love of the handsome up and coming lawyer.

Finally, at the railing beside her husband, she wrapped her fingers around the cold metal for assurance and support. The sun glistened on the waves, making them iridescent, changing color with each ripple. It was beautiful. She smiled up at her husband, wanting to share the moment, only to see herself reflected back in his sunglasses. Was he as happy as she was? His unsmiling lips didn’t indicate any joy. Still, how could he not be when everything was so perfect?

“Honey, are you happy right now?”

He wrapped one arm around her and squeezed her shoulders, turning her into his embrace, forcing her to let go of the rail. “I’m going to be much happier in a few seconds.” He grinned, allowing his face to come closer to hers.

Their differing heights sometimes made a simple kiss a challenge. Pressing up on her toes, she did her best to meet him halfway. Her eyelids fluttered shut, as his face loomed large in front of hers, making a kiss so much more romantic.

No lips landed on hers. Instead, Lucian scooped her up in his arms, cradling her high against his chest. Her eyes opened at his unexpected action. While romantic, it made no sense. There was no grassy picnic area to carry her to, just rugged, rocky outcroppings with gravel dusting the ground. “What are you doing?”

She hadn’t meant to ask, but the words popped out. One of the primary rules for being a good wife was to never question your husband. She couldn’t see his eyes, but his biceps bunched as he lifted her higher. “Getting rid of a boring mouse of a wife.”

Her mind took a painstakingly long time to work through the words. They were so wrong. What could it possibly mean? What this some type of role-play game? He had wanted her to dress up like a schoolgirl while he pretended to be the teacher, but she’d hesitated, wondering if it was a church-approved activity. Her realization that he meant what he said came too late as she plunged downward to the angry waves.

Her hands reached for the twisted shrubs growing out of the rocky cliff. The first one grazed her hand with its sharp needles. The second one jutted out more. Closer, she could get this one. For a brief heartbeat, there was a break in her fall as something caught on the tree, then broke. The sun glinted on something metallic as her body wind-milled through the air rather like a rag doll.

More about the book.

It's book two in The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries series.

Donna's brother, Daniel, has talked her into running a class reunion special for her own high school reunion. Little did she know everyone she hadn't wanted to see will book her inn. 
 
From her unwanted admirer who rhymed hot mama with Donna causing it to be her default name the rest of high school. Unfortunately, everyone snickered when they said it.

Then there was her assigned locker partner, Terri, who not only stole her homework, but thought it'd be funny to tell everyone she had a STD.

Ah, high school, what a nightmare. If that wasn't enough, Wyn, the one male she'd crushed on hard in her junior year has booked a room too. well, make that him and his wife.