Publication Jan. 2, 2024
When I last visited Dot in Texas, she was just beginning her life as an adult. She wasn't having an easy time of it, either, not quite feeling like she was ready to take on the world but yearning to do so. Dot has grown up a bit since then. While she's still the uncertain, cautious person she was, she has both a boyfriend and a job. Even better, at a time when the Beatles were bursting on the scene and changing the music world, she's working at a radio station. Now, true, she's the receptionist and has little say over anything, let alone the music choices of the station. Station manager Holden Ramsey clings to the past, playing Perry Como and Sinatra type music, the type his mother likes. Not that it isn't good music. It just wasn't what a young audience was yearning to hear. Dot takes song requests over the phone and tries to get "modern" music played but, well, her uncertainty and caution, not to mention fear of losing her job, still guide her when it comes to making waves. Let's just say, the station isn't budging.
On the romance level, while Dot enjoys having a boyfriend, she's also cautious and reluctant to rock the status quo. As a result, she pretty much has come to just expect boyfriend Ben to be there, nice and safe, no changes in their relationship. Then, things happen. A grisly murder connected to the Holden allows fledgling crime reporter Ben to write a story for the local paper that gains the attention of a big Dallas paper. Will Dot's bad fortune, the potential closing of the radio station and loss of her job, lead to a major break in Ben's career? It looks like things may be over between Dot and Ben when he's offered a job at the better known paper. How will Dot, who remains naive about, uh, let's call it romance in general, deal with this upheaval.
Equally stressful, will Dot be able to sort out who murdered the Holden's ex-girlfriend? She'd been creating scenes everywhere, accusing him of murdering a former girlfriend. People dining heard the commotion, so it's inevitable he'd be the focus of investigation. Much to Dot's amazement, she finds herself being attracted to the man, even knowing he's engaged. Oh, the roller-coaster emotions of attraction. In the meantime, she's dealing with being a substitute maid-of-honor for the Holden's bride-to-be, talk about awkward, being stunned to discover her mother's ambitious, rather startling project, and even filling in without notice as radio DJ. Oh, and meeting Ray Charles. That's a whole other story within the book.
Bottom line, lots going on here, from name dropping of musical artists, viewing the Beatles on the Sullivan Show, doing her mostly mindless job, to suddenly finding herself behind the microphone. All this while, amazingly enough, coping with the upheaval of her romantic life and the discovery of another side of her mother. Oh, boy, yeah. The '60s were definitely an era of change and upheaval for many, including Dot. I liked her, of course, even while rolling my eyes at her, wondering if I was ever that naive. Nah, surely not. Well, maybe. Big changes coming her way. Dot makes me want to hug her and tell her everything will be okay, quickly reminding her only if she manages to steer clear of murderous souls from now on. Is that likely? Nah, unlikely. She may be naive but she's curious and smart, not one to pretend something isn't happening. Thanks #NetGalley and #IBPA - #IndependentBookPublishersAssociation for inviting me back to Texas for a sneak peek at what's going on in Dot's world. Sorta like taking a time machine back to the 1960's, albeit a murderous one. Great music, though!
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