Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet?

Dearest Dorothy #1

by Charlene Ann Baumbich

“In a sea of CBA heroines who are unfailingly young and beautiful, readers identify with Dorothy, the plucky 80-something grandma who’s a demon at the wheel. Baby, you can drive our car.” —Publishers Weekly

In celebration of life's simple pleasures, Charlene Ann Baumbich introduces readers to the pastoral Illinois town of Partonville, as well as the farm on its outskirts where eighty-seven-year-old Dorothy Wetstra resides, driving around in her '76 Lincoln Continental—affectionately dubbed "The Tank"—playing bunco with her pals, and grabbing a stool at Harry's counter, where she can stay on top of the town's latest shenanigans, most of which she is responsible for.

But when a visitor comes to town with a proposition, Dorothy finds herself faced with a decision that could change her beloved town, and her life. Before long, her gift for shaking things up may come in handy.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Humor, Christian, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Audiobook

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Author, Speaker, Humorist. Seventeen books under her belt (including the Dearest Dorothy series and the Snowglobe Connections series), Charlene is still going strong, finding writing (including grocery lists and brainstorming sessions and eCards to her grandgirlies) more enjoyable than ever. Visit her website at www.charleneannbaumbich.com for more information."

It's awesome when my fictional characters bless me. Like Evelyn in FINDING OUR WAY HOME is fond of saying, "Grace, Amen."

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF, could not get into this book at all.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Apparently I forgot to ever review this...my church library has the whole series, and I really need to go back and finish them all.
Dorothy and The Tank (her big car) are hilarious and memorable characters in a small town. The fate of Dorothy's farm is up for discussion, and there are newcomers to town...Dorothy and her sweet, gossipy friends are sure to be on top of everything in this town. I particularly enjoyed how Dorothy is in her eighties and still going strong!

This will be an enjoyable read for lovers of the Mitford series.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short and very sweet book, I enjoyed the entire cast of characters, including Sheba, Queen of the mutts; look forward to reading the second in the series.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie’s mother had died in the past and now her only aunt had died leaving her in charge of cleaning out the house and settling the estate. Katie has just lost her job but is set for life and not happy about having to go back to Pardonville but she and her son go. They find the house is totally full of stuff and it takes days to clean it out. The town works it’s magic on Katie leading her to a closer relationship with her son. The town has several characters that really add to the story and make you laugh.

[Ronna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today I found the first book in an older series that entertained me immensely. 87 year old Dorothy Jean has lived on her 180 acre farm in Partonville (Pardon me ville), Illinois, for her whole life. Her husband and daughter are dead, and her two boys and grandchildren visit infrequently, but Dorothy lives a brilliant life amongst all of the folks in her small town. An old friends's daughter and grandson are coming to town from New York, to close out her aunt's home. And she hopes to get in and out of town as quickly as possible. But she finds her heart strangely opened by Dorothy and her friends.

Baumbich is a Christian humorist and she does a bang up job with Dorothy Dearest, who is always talking to " The Big Guy" with a conclusion of "Dear Lord--Do SOMETHING". The situations are realistic but are handled with a prayerful touch, mixed with a large dash of fun!! Filled will a full cast of strangely lovable people, the is the beginning of more hopefully great reads for me. I listened to this on audio and highly recommend it to everyone .

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the small town of Partonville, Dorothy, an eighty-seven year old woman, is spunky and lively in her interactions with the community. Her big decision is whether to sell her large farm property and move to a smaller home. She relies on her faith and townspeople to help her make the decision. Along the way, the other characters are unique and funky. A quick read -- lots of dialogue and humor. This is the first book in the series of two.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s “down home in the country” setting brought peace to me while reading and the way God showed up in the character’s lives was great!!

[Jennifer Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light fun read full of lovable characters

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice story that I'm looking forward to continuing in book number 2 of the series.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not great literature but it is a good story, a sweet story, a story with characters who make me want to be a better person in a small town setting that is so familiar to me, it did feel like coming home. As I read this one I was reminded that some books are to be savored and some to simply be devoured. This is a book to be devoured for the story. No powerful passages to ponder, just good people taking good care of each other through many difficult times. The main character was someone I especially appreciate. The main theme of her life (and of the book) is, “To each his own, and we’re each owned by the same loving Father.” And one of the main descriptors of her is, “Next to the Lord, music would always be her passion.” What's not to love! I am looking forward to reading further volumes in the series.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Welcome to Partonville, a circle-the-square town in the northern part of southern Illinois, where families and friends find that sharing the highs and lows of life's wild rides with one another makes the highs more exhilarating and the lows more bearable. Some, like Maggie Malone, owner of La Feminique Hair Salon & Day Spa, can't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces when she displays what she's been up to at the latest hair conference in Chicago. Others, like the town's Dearest Dorothy, an eighty-year-old former bandleader who marches her way right into the hearts of all Partonvillers (aside from Gladys), silently face difficult decisions -- decisions that will change their lives and perhaps even change the town forever. But shaking things up is what Dorothy does best, so pull up a chair and get ready for fireworks, laughter, and we'll-get-through-it-all-with-faith friendships.
~~back cover

A disappointing book, imho. Characterization and plot were both insipid and predictable. A saccharine, fluffy imitation of the Mitford series.

[Megan Hamsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Yes,” said Dorothy, “I imagine Joshmeister and Outtamyway
could cause a mountain of mayhem without even trying!”

Sounds like trouble, huh?
How much trouble can a 15-year-old & an 87-year-old and cause?
Well, if you come visit Partonville, Indiana ... ya might just find out!

When Katie Durbin learns that her aunt has passed away, she and her son travel to the little town - a place that 15-year-old Josh has never been to and Katie doesn't even remember the last time she was there. Little did she know what feelings would be stirred up.

87-year-old Dorothy is everywhere in town, and always praying.

What will happen when Katie, Josh, and Dorothy meet?
Come find out!

Sadness, humor, family and community, and prayer all mixed together in this light Christian fiction book.
Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet?:
Welcome to Partonville: Book One
by Charlene Ann Baumbich (Author)

If you're looking for a quirky town to visit, put Partonville on your wishlist ...
I look forward to reading the next book!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters are real and believable. This is the story of a small town octogenarian, Dorothy, a woman of deep and abiding faith, and her "goings on." In this first in a series, we meet Dorothy and the "cast of characters" that inhabit the small town of Partonville where everyone knows each other and each others business. Dorothy is not your run of the mill "little old lady". Dorothy lives on the outskirt of town on a farm where she was born, spent her married life and now as a widow. Her farm is quite large and she receives an offer of purchase from a big time developer. She is torn as to what to do. She struggles with the idea of leaving the farm and what major development would do to her small town. With the help of God and the arrival of a former resident, she finds the answers to her questions. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Rrshively · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jan Karon has an Episcopal priest, Ann B. Ross has a prim Presbyterian lady, and Charlene Ann Baumbich has a United Methodist old lady all living in small towns. Dorothy is well into her 80's and has had an offer on her family farm owned for several generations. What should she do? The quiet countryside is lovely, but her town needs jobs for young people. Katie comes to town with her son to settle up her aunt's home and see to it this aunt has a funeral. Will Dorothy and Kate's meeting be a part of God's plan? Katie's son, Josh, is a most delightful character as he comes under Dorothy's friendly spell. Full of small town characters and a light smattering of Christianity, this book is pleasant to read. The only fault I found with it is that the United Methodist pastor had been there for quite a long time, and that isn't really true of most United Methodist pastors.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story! This is just my kind of book with lots of fun, quirky, and endearing characters to get to know. I'm really looking forward to continuing the series.

[Bobbie N · Rating 3 out of 5]

87-year-old Dorothy Jean Wetstra has a penchant for wearing pink and speeding around town in her 1976 Lincoln Continental. She enjoys playing bunco with her pals and stopping in at Harry's diner often enough to stay on top of the latest gossip. But now she faces a decision that will not only change her life, but may change her town forever, and the answer to her prayers just might come from an unlikely source.
A delightful start to what will likely become one of my favorite series.

Just as good the second time around. I would add to what I wrote above that the unlikely source is Katie Durbin, who, along with her teenaged son Joshua, comes to town to take care of her recently deceased aunt's home and belongings - and finds her life changed by the experience and the people she meets there.

[♏ Gina☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to love Dorothy. She's a woman in her 80's who tools around the little town of Partonville, Illinois in her 1976 Lincoln Continental, nicknamed the "tank" for good reasons. This is book 1 in a series and every single one is worth the read. Be prepared to love Dorothy and to laugh at her antics.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I read this a few years ago but for some reason, don't have a record of it. A lot of it was familiar. I enjoyed reading this. It was light hearted, easy and quick to read. (Sometimes you just need those kind of books!) I look forward to reading more of the series and seeing what adventures Dearest Dorothy takes.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #1 in a hilarious series about an 87 yr old former bandleader( still has her spunk ;) ) who marches her way into the hearts of a small town..with her wit, humor and tidbits of faith :) Wonderful series!

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet? by Charlene Ann Baumbich is a delightful humorous 'slice of life' set in small rural town Partonville (aka Pardon Me Ville). It's the first book of the Dearest Dorothy series. Dorothy has a life-changing decision to make - and prayer isn't helping, so far. Should she sell her beloved Crooked Creek Farm, where she's lived her entire life, to a developer? She's a widow, children grown and gone from Partonville.

When Katie learns her Aunt Tessa has died, it's just one more headache for Katie. Until getting fired, she was a hotshot commercial realtor, her days too full to pay attention to her teenage son Joshua. She and Josh head to 'Pardon Me Ville' where Katie is determined to wrap up her aunt's estate (miniscule as it is) rapidly and head back to her big city life. Tessa's house is stuffed to the gills with junk, taking many more days to clear out than Katie expected. During her time in Partonville, she slowly (albeit reluctantly) begins to appreciate the peace & quiet of farm country, and to really notice her son for a change.

The various eccentric characters in the town are a hoot; as are Dorothy and her "Tank". This series-starter was a delightful surprise offered in Hoopla Bonus Borrows!

Quotes:

"To be seventy years young is far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old."---Oliver Wendell Holmes

Like Santa Claus on the night before Christmas, Lester spoke not a word but kept straight to his work as the customers plunked onto their stools.

"Just because someone lets her lawn grow tall enough to be baled rather than mowed doesn't mean her place ought to be condemned."

"Dorothy Wetstra Found Hanging" the headline read. That sure got everybody's attention, as well as won second runner-up for the most misleading headline in the tricounty area at the annual district press awards.

"Dear Jesus, Just DO something. Amen."

Why in the world Dorothy needed to be getting back home faster than a speeding bullet, Jessie couldn't imagine, but then at their age, neither of their bladders was what it used to be.

"My music just wouldn't be the same if I couldn't stand in a freshly plowed row of black Illinois earth or watch the sun go down over a field of golden corn."

Never let it be said that Maggie Malone had slipped off the cutting edge of trends and fashions, even though her waistline had long ago caught up with her hips and she was often surrounded by a gaggle of great grandbabies!

"I guess I get bored with things more easily than other people"

The overt decadence prickled her hide.

Colton Craig was obviously reading her like a short book.

It was beginning to sink in that the only thing she could count on while she was in Partonville was the unexpected.

What happened to the girl in love with colors and magic? "Are you in there, Katie girl?" she said aloud.

She could look at dust for days, maybe even weeks, but clutter drove her to distraction.

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dorothy is a spry octogenarian who drives an old Lincoln called "The Tank" like she's a racecar driver. She's clearly loved by everyone in the small town of Partonville, also known as "Pardon Me Ville", Indiana.

Katie Durbin and her son Josh are summoned to town from Chicago due to her aunts passing. Katie is a highly regarded commercial real estate professional who has few memories of the town, except that her mother having grown up there and a few visits when she was young. Her teenage son almost immediately falls in love with the town, it's quirkiness, and with Dorothy. By the time they leave, Dorothy has sold her farm to Katie who plans on saving the land for a park, and Dorothy moves into her aunts old home.

Liked this one; not a lot of BS and drama.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my kind of book! An 87 year old lady, who is a hoot, and beloved by all in a small, rural town of Illinois, is very active in her community and friendships. She mends the broken and feeds the hungry, not just with food. A local in the town dies and her only living relative is her niece and everything is entrusted to her. And it brings her and her son to the small town where they receive a lot more than they expected in many ways. Dearest Dorothy takes care of them, which in turn they do her a kind favor that answers her prayers.
I love this simple book with profound lessons and good humor.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet? is the first book in a series by Charlene Ann Baumbich.

A commercial realtor from Chicago learns that her aunt has died, and she is the only remaining relative. She travels to a small country town with her son to handle all of the affairs related to her aunt's death.
A simple, but sweet story that contains a variety of characters with eccentric personalities and a predictable storyline. However, this is a pleasant enough read for those times when a reader just needs a sweet story.

[Rosemary Dreyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An account of life in a small Illinois farming community. The story centers around a charming elderly woman named Dorothy and her friends. Katie Durbin’s Aunt Tess dies, and so she and her son come down from Chicago for the funeral and to settle the estate. What I liked: the colorful cast of characters; the loving influence of Dorothy; the depiction of life in this small town. What I didn’t care for: the rather simplistic and at times very predictable writing; how some characters were stereotypes; the heavy handed Christian messages. Not my typical book fare.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good enough book. It's one of those stories with a little old lady who knows what's best for everyone in her quaint little town and tries to help them find their way without it looking like it's her idea, and in the end they show the big corporation blah blah blah. Some of the characters were interesting, and I expect they will pop up in later books of the series, but I doubt I will read on.

This was a pretty short book. It only took me so long to read because I was under the weather.

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very charming story with a great underlying theme as well as a nice ending. Dorothy is a fiesty old lady who still lives on the old family ranch near the small town of Partonville, IL, a town full of good-hearted people for the most part. They are all soon to meet Katy, a big city girl who is forced to return to Partonville for a funeral, and her son, who has baggage - mostly because of his mom. Big city girl meets fiesty small-town old lady, and just saying, it's worth the read.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more 31/2 stars. I felt like, in some instances, the characters were flat and cliched. Then Baumbich would craft a passage rich in emotion and depth, and I would keep going. The struggles feel real, but some situations felt manufactured. Why would a beloved sister who essentially raised her younger sibling be so cut off from that sister’s family? No conflict seemed involved and I kept waiting for more than she moved five hours away.

[Cheri Pickslay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we learn from the past? Can we become something new? A divorced mom and her teen-aged son think they're going to make a quick trip south to bury her deceased aunt and sell her home. Neither imagined it could change their lives and their relationship forever. They certainly didn't imagine an eccentric ninety-something old lady to be the catalyst. A beautiful story of how God can transform our lives when we let him.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this book in the beginning as the characters were a bit loud and silly. I also didn't care for the name of the women's social club - The Happy Hookers. Even after finding out it represented that the group started by hooking rugs, it didn't change that I found the name offensive. I continued to listen to the book and as I did, I began to appreciate the kind hearts and devotion to God of the characters. Not sure if I will read another one at this point.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this whole series in Sept. The books were given to me by a "Concerned aunt" That I was back sliding into my drug days simply because I don't attend church weekly. This series may be okay for extreme Christians of days long ago. But for us post modern day Jesus followers , this was all just too sappy to swallow.