What do you think?
Rate this book
Jazz Age #3
A Place Called Rainwater
The oilmen of Rainwater call Jill Jones a little wildcat.
She doesn't take guff, and she'll use a broomstick on any roustabout who dares to spit on the porch of her Aunt Justine's hotel. The youngest of the Jones clan of Fertile, Missouri, Jill may find that her bravado is not enough to handle what lies ahead: a fight for the hotel, a killer stalking local women, and the arrival of good-looking, take-charge Thad Taylor, who arouses both her temper and desires. Danger is about to turn Jill's world upside down, calling into question everything she believes about her aunt, her own strength of will...and the needs of her heart.
She doesn't take guff, and she'll use a broomstick on any roustabout who dares to spit on the porch of her Aunt Justine's hotel. The youngest of the Jones clan of Fertile, Missouri, Jill may find that her bravado is not enough to handle what lies ahead: a fight for the hotel, a killer stalking local women, and the arrival of good-looking, take-charge Thad Taylor, who arouses both her temper and desires. Danger is about to turn Jill's world upside down, calling into question everything she believes about her aunt, her own strength of will...and the needs of her heart.
444 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
47 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Garlock
86 books382 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 Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 9, 2017
A great mystery and romance book. My first Dorothy Garlock book but definitely won't be my last. Based in an oil boom town in Oklahoma in the 1920's. The younger of the Joneses, Jill, has come to town to run her ailing aunts hotel. Is it safe for a young beautiful girl in a rough town that's lacking of enough woman? It won't take long for her brother and his friends to show up in Rainwater to protect Jill and Justine. What secrets is their Aunt Justine keeping? Several very sweet romances bloom while everyone is trying to figure out who can be trusted and who can't be. Then there is murder and who could have committed such a terrible crime.
September 14, 2021
I have always loved Dorothy Garlock.
This book is now one of my favorites.
Set in the 1920’s, in Oklahoma, this book is full of history, mystery, and suspense.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
It covers so many different genres.
This book is now one of my favorites.
Set in the 1920’s, in Oklahoma, this book is full of history, mystery, and suspense.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
It covers so many different genres.
January 26, 2011
This book was almost another disappointment for me. In it, we are reintroduced to old characters, Jill, Joe, and Thad from the first book (they, with the exception of Thad are siblings of the main character) and are introduced to several new characters.
Jill has traveled to Rainwater, an oil town, to take over the running of a Motel while her namesake Aunt is sick. Not shortly after she arrives, Thad comes along to look after her until her brother Joe gets there.
Unfortunately, while she and Thad are out on a walk, they find the headless body of a woman. All signs point to the rich oil baron of the town, at least the signs pointed out by Lloyd Madison, a lawyer with a strange red devil mark on his face.
Madison doesn't just cause trouble for the oil baron though, he also seems to like to antagonize Jill's aunt for a reason unknown to all but the aunt. He also likes to stir others into a frenzy when it suits him.
The story revolves around finding the killer and the budding romance between Thad and Jill. There's a lot of drama and mystery with just a touch of a love story thrown in.
Like the other two novels I've read by her, this one shares a common theme. In each of the three books thus far in the Missouri series, at least one girl is a victim of a rape. There is also a great deal of mentioning breasts. While I can understand these as use for plot motives, does it have to be in every single book? Some variety would be nice. In addition, this one's language and the character's actions still don't fit with the time period.
Garlock's writing is nice but I wonder if she wouldn't be better suited to write about a different time period. Her language and the character's actions would much fit better for around the fifties or sixties. She does tend to be pretty crude at times and has no problems with profanity or sexual descriptions in her books.
I'm not sure if I'll be reading any more books by Garlock. It might be tempting just to see if she adds the same elements to every other book she writes. But anymore they are just different variations on the same theme.
A Place Called Rainwater
Copyright 2003
404 pages plus notes
Jill has traveled to Rainwater, an oil town, to take over the running of a Motel while her namesake Aunt is sick. Not shortly after she arrives, Thad comes along to look after her until her brother Joe gets there.
Unfortunately, while she and Thad are out on a walk, they find the headless body of a woman. All signs point to the rich oil baron of the town, at least the signs pointed out by Lloyd Madison, a lawyer with a strange red devil mark on his face.
Madison doesn't just cause trouble for the oil baron though, he also seems to like to antagonize Jill's aunt for a reason unknown to all but the aunt. He also likes to stir others into a frenzy when it suits him.
The story revolves around finding the killer and the budding romance between Thad and Jill. There's a lot of drama and mystery with just a touch of a love story thrown in.
Like the other two novels I've read by her, this one shares a common theme. In each of the three books thus far in the Missouri series, at least one girl is a victim of a rape. There is also a great deal of mentioning breasts. While I can understand these as use for plot motives, does it have to be in every single book? Some variety would be nice. In addition, this one's language and the character's actions still don't fit with the time period.
Garlock's writing is nice but I wonder if she wouldn't be better suited to write about a different time period. Her language and the character's actions would much fit better for around the fifties or sixties. She does tend to be pretty crude at times and has no problems with profanity or sexual descriptions in her books.
I'm not sure if I'll be reading any more books by Garlock. It might be tempting just to see if she adds the same elements to every other book she writes. But anymore they are just different variations on the same theme.
A Place Called Rainwater
Copyright 2003
404 pages plus notes
February 26, 2008
Every book of Dorothy Garlock's I have read have been fantastic. She can tell a story to where you can see the events happening in your mind as you read along.
The rough-and-tumble oilmen of Rainwater, Oklahoma, call Jill Jones a little wildcat. She doesn't take guff, and she will use a broomstick on any roustabout who dares spit on the porch of her Aunt Justine's Hotel.
Feisty as she is, Jill has her hands full in an oil town where men outnumber women 4 to 1. But her bravado may not be enough to handle what lies ahead: a fight for the hotel, a killer stalking local women. and the arrival of handdsome Thad Taylor, a neighbor fromback in Fertile, Missouri. Disapproving of Jill's independence, Thaad appoints himself her protector. He is unwelcome, bossy and the last man Jill wants butting into her life. He is attracting every female in town but arousing feelings that Jill can't handle.
Just a very touching love story set in the Oil boom times of Oklahoma
The rough-and-tumble oilmen of Rainwater, Oklahoma, call Jill Jones a little wildcat. She doesn't take guff, and she will use a broomstick on any roustabout who dares spit on the porch of her Aunt Justine's Hotel.
Feisty as she is, Jill has her hands full in an oil town where men outnumber women 4 to 1. But her bravado may not be enough to handle what lies ahead: a fight for the hotel, a killer stalking local women. and the arrival of handdsome Thad Taylor, a neighbor fromback in Fertile, Missouri. Disapproving of Jill's independence, Thaad appoints himself her protector. He is unwelcome, bossy and the last man Jill wants butting into her life. He is attracting every female in town but arousing feelings that Jill can't handle.
Just a very touching love story set in the Oil boom times of Oklahoma
November 14, 2018
Ugh, I don’t even know where to start with this. First of all, I hated the main love story of this. Thad was an asshat and he was pushy and overbearing and abusive to Jill but it was all supposed to just be okay because he was just trying to prove to her that she really liked him. He actually forced himself on her (not complete rape but kissing and groping) twice and then was flabbergasted that she was crying and seemed mad at him. And no one else seemed to think anything of the unhealthy relationship brewing between them! The only reason I kept reading this book was Hunter and Laura. I could have read about book about just them. Plus I really wanted to see Lloyd Madison get what was coming to him because he was a creep.
May 4, 2020
Really enjoyed it. I liked Thad despite our introduction to him (and his unfortunate name). His interactions with Jill on at least one occasion could be interpreted as dub con, however (re: kiss/grope). Thought initial sl*t comment was a bit too harsh (even tramp would’ve been better) since what the character really meant IMO was common. I like a bit of suspense so it was nice to have that along with romance...hated Lloyd and was waiting for him to get caught the whole time because he’s the worst. There were two other comments in the book I felt could’ve been left out (one re: fat, one re: ugly) but other than that, very sweet. It has frenemies (he riles her up) to lovers and an interesting time period I’ve not read much of in fiction.
April 29, 2024
I loved the plot. Girl sent from a farm to help her sick aunt run her hotel in an oil town. Serial killer in the loose. I disliked the characters. The constant bickering between Jill and Thad, his heavy handed ness with her, the names he called her and his failure to listen to no… the characters wrecked a great plot!
August 4, 2017
Okay
I have always enjoyed Ms Garlocks books, but was a bit disappointed in this one. The "h" was too silly.
I have always enjoyed Ms Garlocks books, but was a bit disappointed in this one. The "h" was too silly.
April 4, 2018
very good
December 29, 2018
Excellent book
An exciting read that keeps you reading, this is the 5th book by this author that I have read, I plan on reading more.
An exciting read that keeps you reading, this is the 5th book by this author that I have read, I plan on reading more.
January 31, 2019
Very dated. Very knight in shining armor, so not really my thing. Characters were very shallow and I really didn't care about any of them.
May 1, 2019
Semi-interesting story line, but the dialogue just irritated the snot out of me.
December 1, 2019
a really good book
January 7, 2020
Nice read, with a pretty neat inclusion of Jelly.
July 27, 2020
So far out of the five books in this series this is my least favorite one with the second one being my favorite so far.
August 7, 2021
Sadie gives it a full 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars.
And I agree with her, the whole series kept us both interested. I look forward to seeing more of her books, along with Mercedes.
And I agree with her, the whole series kept us both interested. I look forward to seeing more of her books, along with Mercedes.
Read
September 6, 2021Read Sept 2021
June 12, 2023
Problematic
July 5, 2024
Not really my cup of tea. :)
July 7, 2024
Very good book. Hard to put down. Well developed story and characters. I didn’t realize I was starting on book 3 of a series but the back story was easy to understand.
August 1, 2024
started out wondering if I wanted to keep reading and then couldn't stop!
March 18, 2025
Yes! This one is worth the wait for sure! I wanted this couple to make it so bad! Must read!
May 20, 2025
Interesting novel of Oklahoma oil boom time. Romance, family saga, murder mystery…
November 22, 2025
Very good 3 book series!
January 5, 2010
3.5 stars.
I really love this Jazz Age series, and I love the Jones family. This book's setting moved from Missouri to Oklahoma. I loved that of course, since I'm an Okie. It was also cool that she stuck in a real character from history - Jelly, the famous sharpshooter.
Two things are downgrading this from the 4 stars I gave the first two books of the series:
1. Even in the first two books, I noticed that the dialogue was sometimes choppy/disjointed, it just wasn't enough to bother me. In this book, the majority of the dialogue was choppy. It ruined the great chemistry the book would have otherwise had.
3. Excessive use of ellipses. Again, I noticed that she overused them in the first two books. But this took it to a whole new level. I am pretty sure that not more than a paragraph or two went by without the use of at least one...and most of the conversations in the books had them practically every single sentence. Highly annoying. I was gritting my teeth by the end.
Too bad that the writing mechanics ruined what would have otherwise been a wonderful continuation of the chronicles of the Jones family.
I really love this Jazz Age series, and I love the Jones family. This book's setting moved from Missouri to Oklahoma. I loved that of course, since I'm an Okie. It was also cool that she stuck in a real character from history - Jelly, the famous sharpshooter.
Two things are downgrading this from the 4 stars I gave the first two books of the series:
1. Even in the first two books, I noticed that the dialogue was sometimes choppy/disjointed, it just wasn't enough to bother me. In this book, the majority of the dialogue was choppy. It ruined the great chemistry the book would have otherwise had.
3. Excessive use of ellipses. Again, I noticed that she overused them in the first two books. But this took it to a whole new level. I am pretty sure that not more than a paragraph or two went by without the use of at least one...and most of the conversations in the books had them practically every single sentence. Highly annoying. I was gritting my teeth by the end.
Too bad that the writing mechanics ruined what would have otherwise been a wonderful continuation of the chronicles of the Jones family.
December 15, 2015
Sometimes this author really nails it with a story, and sometimes she falls a bit short. Elements and characters I loved were Blue & Radna, Hunter & Laura, Justine, and the setting in a small town undergoing great change due to oil fields nearby. Her villains are beyond creepy, and the one in this book takes the Christmas pudding. But Thad & Jill, who were the focus of the story, just didn't really have the synergy and chemistry of the main characters in some of her books. I like them well enough, but their difficulties seemed to be contrived. Maybe I've just read too many in this series.
Would really like to have seen a bit more of Laura's backstory as well as Radna's. Garlock's secondary characters in this book really carry the story, and are the main reason I gave the book three stars instead of just two.
Would really like to have seen a bit more of Laura's backstory as well as Radna's. Garlock's secondary characters in this book really carry the story, and are the main reason I gave the book three stars instead of just two.
Read
January 24, 2015Another almost five star book even though the ending wasn't all I'd hoped. As I've seen said about Garlock's books, I loved ALL the characters in this book. It was Radna and Blue that were most captivating to me. Gosh, I'd have never been able to keep old Randy (Randolf) Bluefeather waiting so long. Their relationship progressed at a pace that kept me wanting more, more, more for them and the story ended without the satisfaction of them culminating their relationship but left a hope and a promise of more to come. They were only secondary characters in the story, which was almost as good as The Edge of Town. Now I'll go back to read the second book in the Missouri series, High on a Hill.
July 3, 2016
Jill Jones has journeyed out to Rainwater, Oklahoma to help care for her dying Aunt Justine. While the town has had a boom from local oil wells, it still has a feel of the old Wild West. Jill is helping with the running of her aunt's hotel.
Thad Taylor is a long time family friend of Jill's from back home in Fertile, Missouri. And he is more than willing to keep an eye Jill. Of course, a very close eye is needed when murder strikes close to home. And trying to win the heart of the feisty woman will take some doing.
A nice story.
Thad Taylor is a long time family friend of Jill's from back home in Fertile, Missouri. And he is more than willing to keep an eye Jill. Of course, a very close eye is needed when murder strikes close to home. And trying to win the heart of the feisty woman will take some doing.
A nice story.
February 16, 2011
The setting is Rainwater, Oklahoma, a dangerous oil boom town. A young girl moves to Rainwater to care for an ailing aunt & is followed by an old friend and her brother & another friend. The group works to keep the aunt & her hotel safe, while a sociopath terrorizes the town.
The book moved a little slowly, but the story was interesting enough to keep me hanging in for the finish. I enjoyed it.
The book moved a little slowly, but the story was interesting enough to keep me hanging in for the finish. I enjoyed it.
June 3, 2008
okay this is my first review on this thing. sorry! I picked this book up by accident becuase it was right next to another author. It turned out to be great. It's about the strength of women back in the old west-but it also has a murder mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews