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C.W.Lovatt
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Dolly Pleasance (The Charlie Smithers Collection) Kindle Edition

by C W Lovatt (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.9 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
From the best-selling author of Charlie Smithers and Josiah Stubb.

Come, meet the actress, Dolly Pleasance. Born into a life of poverty and abuse in the midst of 19th Century London, Dolly’s only salvation is her passion for the theatre. Follow her career, from rags to riches, over a span of twenty years.

Rejoice as she captures the hearts of thousands, fret as she attempts to avoid the clutches of a murderous madman, and weep over the impossible love she has for one Charlie Smithers.
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  1. Print length
    447 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    September 10, 2021
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09CZCZWCW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Wolf Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 10, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 447 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1907954795
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #5,420,625 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the author

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C.W.Lovatt

C.W.Lovatt

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CW Lovatt is the award-winning author of the best-selling Charlie Smithers Collection and the critically acclaimed Josiah Stubb trilogy. He lives on the Canadian prairies and is the self-appointed Writer in Residence of Carroll, Manitoba (pop +/- 20). "Yuri & the Pig" is his latest novel.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
23 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Catwoman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating historical facts, great plot and strong character development make this book a winner
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I loved every part of this book. Dolly Pleasance had a difficult early childhood with her thespian parents in Victorian London. The death of her mother and the nearly permanent state of inebriation of her father eventually necessitated her being placed in the care of Ben Webster at the Haymarket Theatre when she was 10. The theatre then became not only her family, but her passion as well.
    I found myself mentally cheering Dolly on as she navigated the many starts and stops of her career. While Dolly had men who were interested in spending time in her company, she had little feeling for any of them. Then she met a handsome stranger, a certain Charlie Smithers, and fell head over heels in love. She knew that their stations in life made a relationship impossible but her heart longed for it anyway. In spite of that longing, Dolly managed to forge other friendships and relationships and to find affection in unexpected ways. And as if the challenges of the theater and unrequited love weren't enough, Dolly also made an enemy of a very evil man who had shown he was capable of murder and who had promised to never stop looking for her.
    This author has shown in his Charlie Smithers series, as well as his other novels and stories, that he is a master of imagery. This book was no exception. His descriptions made me feel as if I were a part of the story.
    In summary, Dolly Pleasance is like a roller coaster, the good kind, where you finish the ride and immediately get back in line to go again. It was nearly impossible to put down.
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  • GhostWriter
    5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant jaunt
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Lovatt really got in touch with his Victorian feminine side for this book! The main character seemed completely authentic. I felt as if I was reading the autobiography of an actual nineteenth-century actress, the descriptive language, at times, sounding as if it would be equally at home on a shelf with Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde.

    His development of the secondary characters was equally adept, as was his colourful and knowledgable recreation of the London stage of the 1800s. For anyone who enjoys deep character development and vivid and expressive language, this book is highly recommended.
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  • JdB
    5.0 out of 5 stars All the world's a stage, and Dolly Pleasance is here to conquer it!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2021
    Step out of the wings and strike a pose with C.W. Lovatt’s indominable Delores “Dolly” Pleasance, a 19th century actress born to take the London stage by storm. Sold to the theater by her failed-actor father when she was just a child, Dolly grows up wild backstage, just waiting to take her first steps onto the boards, and when she finally does, the entire world glows. Follow her career across the decades as Dolly (Did you know Delores is Spanish for sad?) rises, falls, and rises again from the lowliest of stage-scrubbers, to a woman of artistry, and is recognized as such.

    However, all is not spotlights and roses though, there is peril stalking Dolly in the murky London streets, and when a gypsy’s premonition comes true there’s really only question to ask: will Dolly rise above, or be dragged down by those who would destroy her?

    Written with wit and warmth, and a firm historical grasp on some of the darker aspects of being among the most vulnerable in 19th century England, Dolly Pleasance is sure to delight fans of the theater, fans of history, and fans of powerful leading ladies all at once.
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  • SFC
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read with a few issues, but overall, enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2022
    “My name is Dolly Pleasance, sir, which is short for Delores, which, in Spanish, means sorrow.”

    The main character in this novel always introduces herself this way. It was a cute character quirk that recurred over the entire book. She definitely had sorrow in her life, but she also had some wonderful times as well.

    The main character in this story was old beyond her years after a rough start to her life. Her father and mother were drunks and her mother killed herself when the protagonist was quite young. The story opens with Dolly and her father Archie leaving the workhouse (a horrible place that I’ve read about before and watched documentaries about). If the poor child living in those conditions didn’t break her spirit, I felt like this was going to be a good story about a plucky girl who refused to be defeated by the hand she was dealt by fate. The author didn’t disappoint. His Dolly was smart, clever and streetwise. She also had some flaws which made her tale even more interesting—no one likes a perfect protagonist.

    She worked her way up in the theater from scrubbing floors to appearing on stage. Along the way, she did what she needed to in order to survive. The streets of London were rough and it had to be hard for a girl on her own. She had a mentor, Ben, who her father left her with, but she had been raised pretty feral and couldn’t adapt to living in his home with his wife and children.

    Some parts of the story were gruesome and violent. The villain was a bit unbelievable—his motivation, I mean. It seemed like such a minor thing for someone to react the way he did. Mental illness could have been the root of it, I presume. It stretched credulity to me. The other thing that seemed rushed and a bit off was how quickly and deeply Dolly was affected by the young man, Charlie Smithers. A few moments of interaction with him resulted in some life decisions that just seemed precipitous and rash.

    There were a few usages of the wrong word—one was plane for plain and the other is a real pet peeve for me—taught for taut. They threw me out of the story.

    Having not read the stories by this author about Charlie Smithers, (There was an author note about Charlie at the beginning of the book, but I didn't have enough knowledge to know who he was) I had questions about him and how he was able to head off to foreign parts for months or years at a time when he is a valet. I plan to check those tales out as I enjoyed the writing in this book and think I’d like the adventures of Charlie.

    Overall, I liked this story a lot. Dolly was a strong character with some weaknesses that made her vulnerable and she was very well-rounded. The style of the author’s prose was entertaining (except the few places the story got bogged down with recitations of various plays) and I also liked that he included real people of the theater/London scene as characters in his work. It gave a touch of realism to the tale.

    This story had some flaws—in this reader’s opinion—but, for the most part, it was an enjoyable read.
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  • Joshua Grant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful struggle in a beautiful period piece!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2022
    C.W. Lovatt captures a time of great strife and change through the life of an actress in the heart-wrenching historic drama Dolly Pleasance! Despite poverty and abuse, young woman Dolly manages to climb onto the stage, becoming a lead actress in 1800s London. We follow Dolly as she loves and loses, finds fame and fortune, and even must contend with a murderer. Lovatt really manages to capture the grime and glamor of the time period, bringing it to life with some gorgeous description! Dolly was also a wonderful character to follow, and you really couldn’t help but feel for her plight. If you love a good period piece, the theatre, or emotional dramas, then step on stage with Dolly Pleasance!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Bonny_Scot
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Golly Miss Dolly!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I have read the first four books in the series. Overall they have been thoroughly enjoyable period romps with the notable exception or the Arran Adventure. That one,for me, fell considerably wide of the mark & left me somewhat trepidatious regarding Dolly Pleasance.
    Fortunately this heralded a serious return to form and added context, value and intrigue in what proved to be an extremely well constructed ripping yarn with all the key ingredients liberally applied to ensure a heady brew.
    No spoiler alerts but but praise be the author has rediscovered their mojo.
    Enjoy!
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  • Heather
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Chuck Lovett does it again. Great read and the author takes you along with the adventures
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jolly good.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Set in the mid 19th century, a young woman, who has faced plenty of hardship already, takes to the stage. It's what she is born to do, the cheering masses love her work but hardship and misfortune are never far away. The mysterious and at times sullen Charlie Smithers, provides a romantic interest but it is Mr Scrinch that will have the most profound impact. Cracking story and characters which has a feel of Dickens about it, but with an edge. Very, very, good read.

    Review by Robert Southworth author of The Ripper Legacies.
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  • Terry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner, thoroughly enjoyed this.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Having read all of C W Lovatt's book's and enjoyed everyone of them this did not disappoint. Highly recommend this.
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