The One and Only Dolly Jamieson
Lisa Ireland
Reviewed by Helen
What a gorgeous story this one is, a beautifully written story filled with emotion, heartache, it is heart-warming and shows the courage and strength that one woman needs to get her through a life that is filled with many ups and downs, come along and meet Dolly Jamieson, she really is the one and only.
Margie Ferguson grew up determined to be a hit star of the stage, she loved singing and dancing and put everything into her dreams, life wasn’t easy growing up in Geelong Victoria it was tough in the 1950’s and 1960’s but she never gave up and finally got her chance when there was a fundraising talent show, this took her to Melbourne and firstly the chorus line in the musical The Rose of France, in Melbourne then the lead, she becomes Dolly Jamieson and becomes a star on the West End then on Broadway, so why now is she living on the streets of London in the cold and damp, how did this happen to the famed Dolly Jamieson?
In her seventy’s now Dolly is really struggling but is determined to work things out, she spends her days in the library where it is warm and often there are author talks where she gets a cup of tea, this is where her life will change again when she meets Jane Leveson they hit is off instantly and before long Jane and Dolly are writing her memoirs, Dolly is good for Jane as well, she also is going through a tough time, together can they overcome their pasts and make life good again?
I loved this story so much, it digs deep into the life of Dolly and how things happened as they did there is much heartbreak but there is also so much joy and happiness along the way, you can feel the love that Dolly has for life and people, I felt so connected to Dolly there were many tears from me both happy and sad, a thoroughly entertaining read that was hard to put down, Lisa Ireland is a fabulous story teller and this is one that I would highly recommend, make sure you have nothing else planned when you pick it up. Thank you Lisa for another keeper, Dolly will stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to Penguin AU for my copy to read and review.
Margie Ferguson grew up determined to be a hit star of the stage, she loved singing and dancing and put everything into her dreams, life wasn’t easy growing up in Geelong Victoria it was tough in the 1950’s and 1960’s but she never gave up and finally got her chance when there was a fundraising talent show, this took her to Melbourne and firstly the chorus line in the musical The Rose of France, in Melbourne then the lead, she becomes Dolly Jamieson and becomes a star on the West End then on Broadway, so why now is she living on the streets of London in the cold and damp, how did this happen to the famed Dolly Jamieson?
In her seventy’s now Dolly is really struggling but is determined to work things out, she spends her days in the library where it is warm and often there are author talks where she gets a cup of tea, this is where her life will change again when she meets Jane Leveson they hit is off instantly and before long Jane and Dolly are writing her memoirs, Dolly is good for Jane as well, she also is going through a tough time, together can they overcome their pasts and make life good again?
I loved this story so much, it digs deep into the life of Dolly and how things happened as they did there is much heartbreak but there is also so much joy and happiness along the way, you can feel the love that Dolly has for life and people, I felt so connected to Dolly there were many tears from me both happy and sad, a thoroughly entertaining read that was hard to put down, Lisa Ireland is a fabulous story teller and this is one that I would highly recommend, make sure you have nothing else planned when you pick it up. Thank you Lisa for another keeper, Dolly will stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to Penguin AU for my copy to read and review.
5 stars
January 10, 2023 by Michael Joseph Penguin AU
