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Dolan Brothers #1
Ribbon in the Sky
Ribbon in the Sky tells of a love that time could not diminish...
Spritely, auburn-haired Letty Pringle had been forbidden by her hell-and-brimstone preacher pa to see Mike Dolan, but the young sweethearts had whispered their vow to someday be man and wife. Then a cruel betrayal tore them apart and left Letty on a windswept Midwestern farm to raise their son alone. Struggling to build a future over the years, she learned to harden her heart to desire...until big, dark-haired Mike marched into town, looking for his woman and his dream—and ready to fight the world to have her in his arms again.
Spritely, auburn-haired Letty Pringle had been forbidden by her hell-and-brimstone preacher pa to see Mike Dolan, but the young sweethearts had whispered their vow to someday be man and wife. Then a cruel betrayal tore them apart and left Letty on a windswept Midwestern farm to raise their son alone. Struggling to build a future over the years, she learned to harden her heart to desire...until big, dark-haired Mike marched into town, looking for his woman and his dream—and ready to fight the world to have her in his arms again.
338 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1991
64 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Garlock
87 books379 followersDorothy Garlock was a best-selling American author of over 60 historical romance novels, most of them set in the American West. More than 20 million copies of her books are in print, in 18 languages. Her books have been on the New York Times best seller list seven times. She was named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction four years in a row, from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Garlock is also a member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 18, 2025
2.5 This was a reread of a book I enjoyed many years ago but which didn’t hold up with the passage of time. I enjoyed the historical aspect as it took place just before and just after the First World War. It showed how rural areas were slowly being changed as automobiles, prohibition and evangelical revivals were becoming the norm. It touched upon the war and the flu which I did find interesting. As for angst, it doesn’t get better than a man thinking his sweetheart dead and finding her very much alive and as it switched back and forth in his and her povs, which was engaging. But the dialogue, the sappiness and the repetitive nature of the sappiness was a grind and had me skimming quite a bit. I’m thinking young me enjoyed the novelty of reading from the male character’s pov, something that wasn’t done a lot and I’ve always been a history nerd. Not my favourite reread but it’s interesting to reread books I had enjoyed and see where it lands for me now and why.
January 11, 2011
I couldn't quite give this one star, though it may have deserved it, because it was going ok until I hit a put-down moment, and I just couldn't keep reading. Maybe I'm being hard on it, especially since the moment came pretty early in the book, but sheesh...
So, the daughter of a fire and brimestone preacher gets pregnant (by a Catholic -- gasp!) and he tosses her out of the house. She leaves, sends exactly one letter to his mom to try to get in touch with him, goes off to live with her grandparents, and has a baby. Five years later, he returns, having been told by dear daddy that the girl died. He actually goes to the town to finally visit her grave and say his last good-byes before moving on with his life. Instead, he finds her alive, and she throws an absolute fit, refusing to believe him.
It didn't work for me even a little bit. There was no reason in the world to think he was a liar. It's not like she bothered to send more than the one letter, and in it, she didn't even mention the kid. And as her self-righteous temper tantrum is the only thing getting in the way of these two having a happily ever after, I'm afraid I'm not even slightly interseted.
So, the daughter of a fire and brimestone preacher gets pregnant (by a Catholic -- gasp!) and he tosses her out of the house. She leaves, sends exactly one letter to his mom to try to get in touch with him, goes off to live with her grandparents, and has a baby. Five years later, he returns, having been told by dear daddy that the girl died. He actually goes to the town to finally visit her grave and say his last good-byes before moving on with his life. Instead, he finds her alive, and she throws an absolute fit, refusing to believe him.
It didn't work for me even a little bit. There was no reason in the world to think he was a liar. It's not like she bothered to send more than the one letter, and in it, she didn't even mention the kid. And as her self-righteous temper tantrum is the only thing getting in the way of these two having a happily ever after, I'm afraid I'm not even slightly interseted.
April 29, 2009
A little too sappy and not much of a conflict for the protagonists to overcome in order to be together. Maybe I'm too jaded for books like this anymore.
October 24, 2022
I actually give this story a 2.5. Although I enjoyed the plot for the most part, I found the dialogue between our H and h nauseatingly lovey-dovey a lot of the time.
Letty and Mike were young lovers. Mike went off to make money not knowing Letty, at 15, was pregnant. Her fanatically religious family threw her out of the house. She made her way to her grandparents where she was loved and accepted.
When Mike comes back, her family, who hate Catholics, tells Mike and the rest of the town that Letty is dead (it was really Letty's grandmother that died). Distraught, Mike enlists in the army. When he comes back he decides to find Letty's grave to get closure. Instead he finds Letty and a 5 yr old son.
Letty thought Mike abandoned her. She won't believe that he thought her dead, which becomes a bit ridiculous since it's quite obvious and Mike is every woman's dream. Eventually she comes around.
Throw in a foster child who was sexually abused, her horrid father, a wonderful grandfather, an evil deputy, and another unpleasant resident who eventually turns himself around and you've got a plot that could have been 5 stars.
Letty and Mike were young lovers. Mike went off to make money not knowing Letty, at 15, was pregnant. Her fanatically religious family threw her out of the house. She made her way to her grandparents where she was loved and accepted.
When Mike comes back, her family, who hate Catholics, tells Mike and the rest of the town that Letty is dead (it was really Letty's grandmother that died). Distraught, Mike enlists in the army. When he comes back he decides to find Letty's grave to get closure. Instead he finds Letty and a 5 yr old son.
Letty thought Mike abandoned her. She won't believe that he thought her dead, which becomes a bit ridiculous since it's quite obvious and Mike is every woman's dream. Eventually she comes around.
Throw in a foster child who was sexually abused, her horrid father, a wonderful grandfather, an evil deputy, and another unpleasant resident who eventually turns himself around and you've got a plot that could have been 5 stars.
August 4, 2024
Letty was raised by horrible religious zealot swindling parents and an evil sister. She and Mike are in love- he leaves to work so they can get married. She learns she is pregnant and her parents kick her out. At 15 she travels to another town and goes to live with her welcoming and loving grandparents.when Mike comes home her parents tell him she is dead. He goes to war and returns to visit her grave - only to find her alive with a 6 year old son. She is angry that he abandoned her…. As they make their way back to each other and abused little girl comes to live with them, bootleggers and the crooked sheriff bother them, and her crazy swindling sister comes to town. Great story! Garlock at her finest!
April 29, 2020
I've had 3 books from this series on my to-be-read shelf for a couple of years now. With the quarantine I'm trying to clear some off. I found the first one, Ribbon in the Sky, through my library e-books app. The 3rd one I've had to order off of ebay, I hope it shows up! :)
This was a good, quick, fun read. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series, but I think they are about other characters not the ones in this book, which I am a little disappointed. I was hoping to see what happened to Helen and Patrick. Maybe they will be mentioned in the other books!
This was a good, quick, fun read. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series, but I think they are about other characters not the ones in this book, which I am a little disappointed. I was hoping to see what happened to Helen and Patrick. Maybe they will be mentioned in the other books!
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August 16, 2021Read 2021
March 25, 2023
Excellent!
June 7, 2019
Most of this powerful story takes place after World War I on the Plains of Nebraska. It's a story about families and family relationships. Letty Pringle comes from a family of evangelical zealots who preach forgiveness but don't use it themselves.
Letty is 15 and Mike is 17; they promise their wedding vows and swear they will always love each other. Because times are hard and money is scarce, Mike leaves Letty to earn money so they can marry. Unfortunately, Letty finds she is pregnant soon after Mike leaves.
Cora, her sister, seems to hate Letty and tells their parents about Letty's condition. The family immediately rants that she has ruined them and her father tells her to leave - she is dead to them. Because Preacher Pringle is so vindictive (he would discourage people from doing business with Mike's family, who have many mouths to feed), Letty cannot go to Mike's family for help.
With few options, she decides to go to her maternal grandparents' home and beg them to accept her. Letty learns about love within the family from her grandparents. Although their lives are simple and plain, Letty realizes this is the life she wants to lead.
Mostly, the 'bad guys' have no redeeming values. However, we do see that one of the secondary villains experiences a change of heart. Expect murder and plenty of sadness in this tale; 4 stars.
Dolan Brothers
1. Ribbon in the Sky (1991)
2. With Hope (1998)
3. With Song (1999)
4. With Heart (1999)
5. After the Parade (2000)
Letty is 15 and Mike is 17; they promise their wedding vows and swear they will always love each other. Because times are hard and money is scarce, Mike leaves Letty to earn money so they can marry. Unfortunately, Letty finds she is pregnant soon after Mike leaves.
Cora, her sister, seems to hate Letty and tells their parents about Letty's condition. The family immediately rants that she has ruined them and her father tells her to leave - she is dead to them. Because Preacher Pringle is so vindictive (he would discourage people from doing business with Mike's family, who have many mouths to feed), Letty cannot go to Mike's family for help.
With few options, she decides to go to her maternal grandparents' home and beg them to accept her. Letty learns about love within the family from her grandparents. Although their lives are simple and plain, Letty realizes this is the life she wants to lead.
Mostly, the 'bad guys' have no redeeming values. However, we do see that one of the secondary villains experiences a change of heart. Expect murder and plenty of sadness in this tale; 4 stars.
Dolan Brothers
1. Ribbon in the Sky (1991)
2. With Hope (1998)
3. With Song (1999)
4. With Heart (1999)
5. After the Parade (2000)
October 4, 2023
Forced out of her parents home at 15 because she was pregnant and not married, Letty Pringle found a home with her grandma and grandpa Fletcher while waiting for her beloved Mike to return to her from working at the camp to save enough money to provide for a future for Letty and him. Fast forward to five years later and Letty is raising her son as a single mom with the help of her grandfather. Believed to have been abandoned by Mike, Letty refuses to open herself to love again. Until one day out of the blue Mike Dolan shows up at her door only he isn't looking for Letty, he's looking for Lexi's grave!!
Mike having come home five years ago from working and saving money is told that his beloved Letty has died. When Mike sees Letty it's as if the heavens answered his pleas but Letty thinking that Mike abandon her just wants Mike to leave and never come back. Mike makes it his mission to reunite with Letty and to get to know his son, A son he never knew about. Then the real story begins.
I love Mike and Letty's story. Dorothy Garlock had the right balance of angst, love, mystery, and comedy. I fell in love with little Patrick and Grandpa Fletcher the most. Ribbon in the sky is a must read if you are a Dorothy Garlock fan.
Mike having come home five years ago from working and saving money is told that his beloved Letty has died. When Mike sees Letty it's as if the heavens answered his pleas but Letty thinking that Mike abandon her just wants Mike to leave and never come back. Mike makes it his mission to reunite with Letty and to get to know his son, A son he never knew about. Then the real story begins.
I love Mike and Letty's story. Dorothy Garlock had the right balance of angst, love, mystery, and comedy. I fell in love with little Patrick and Grandpa Fletcher the most. Ribbon in the sky is a must read if you are a Dorothy Garlock fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2020
WWI-A daughter of shyster preacher for hire gets kicked out when she's pregnant &the family tells everyone including baby's father she died. She finds her true family.
September 17, 2012
I usually love Garlock's western oldies, but this one was too sickly sweet. Too much oooing and aaahing and being upstanding, all very irritating. Too much drama over the bastardy - there were many ways out of that one. The overall story is OK, and the preacher angle is a good one. Really liked the grandfather character, the bootleg drama and the scene when Mike finds her again is especially strong, though her reaction is a bit extreme.
September 1, 2010
Sweet, Hallmark channel romance.
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May 8, 2012Very Good !!!!
December 25, 2013
Enjoyed her writing. Won't mind reading more of her books
November 19, 2014
Really good read. Haven't read her writing before but will continue now.
December 3, 2016
3.5 out of 5 stars
July 19, 2011
Love her books. Great romance, easy reading. I like her characters
June 14, 2012
good trashy romance if you are interested in that
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews