The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra – Review & Giveaway
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Description:
Dorothy “Dee” Gale is searching for a place to belong. After their globe-trotting mother’s death, Dee and her sister Toni settled with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas, where Dee attends graduate school. But when Dee’s relationship with a faculty member, a bestselling novelist, ends in heartbreak and humiliation, she’s caught in a tornado of negative publicity. Unable to face her colleagues—or her former lover—Dee applies to the writing program at Trinity College Dublin.
Dee’s journey to Ireland leads her to new companions: seemingly brainless Sam Clery—who dropped out of college and now runs a newsagent’s shop—is charming and hot, in a dissolute, Irish poet kind of way; allegedly heartless Tim Woodman—who stiffly refused to take back his ex-fiancée—seems stuck in his past; and fiercely loyal Reeti Kaur, who longs for the courage to tell her parents she wants to teach underprivileged girls rather than work in the family business.
In a year of opportunities and changes, love and loss, Dee is mentored by powerful women in the writing program, challenging her to see herself and her work with new eyes. With her friends, Dee finds the confidence to confront her biggest fears—including her intimidating graduate advisor, who may not be so wicked after all.
Faced with a choice with far-reaching consequences, Dee must apply the lessons she’s learned along the way about making a family, finding a home…and recognizing the power that’s been inside her all along.
Review:
The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra is a standalone novel based on a modern reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. We meet Dorothy (Dee) Gale, who with her sister, Toni, grew up with their Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas. While a student at Kansas University, Dee had a relationship with a professor for a couple of years, only to discover that he wrote a bestselling novel, as she ends up with heartbreak and humiliation. He used their relationship as part of the story, though he did make heinous untruths. Dee is devastated by his betrayal, and decides to make a change of venue, applying to pursue her degree at Emerald Isle’s Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland; she is accepted into a creative writing program at the school.
Upon arriving at Trinity College, she is surprised that the person who accepted her, is now deceased, and she ends up with having to deal with a leader, who is difficult to deal with. In a short time, Dee makes new friends, who are also searching for their own paths. Sam Clery, who runs a store, and has given up on his desire to learn more, as he left the university upon his father’s death. Tim Woodman, a former military man, who lost his heart to a woman who betrayed him. Reeti, who is now Dee’s roommate, is lacking courage to tell her parents that she wants to be a teacher in London. All three of her friends are very supportive of Dee. Dee’s sister leaves school in Kansas and joins her in Dublin; her sister’s name is Toni (close to Toto). ? Dee had relationships with both Sam and Tim, but she realized that Tim was her muse.
During her journey, Dee learns of opportunities, changes, friendship, love, as well as challenging herself to open her mind to new ideas in the writing program, with her advisor giving her help to build her confidence, discovering what has been always inside her.
The Fairy Tale Life of Dorothy Gale was heartwarming and charming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz, but a modern version. It was a fun, entertaining story of self-discovery, with a bit of romance. The Fairy Tale Life of Dorothy Gales was very well written by Virginia Kantra.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
BERKLEY ROMANCE is graciously offering a paper copy of THE FAIRYTALE LIFE OF DOROTHY GALE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
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