Song of the Road

Route 66 #3

by Dorothy Garlock

Widowed, pregnant, and penniless, Marilee returns home to Cross Roads, New Mexico, only to find that her father has been dead for six months and that her mother hasn't been sober since. But Marilee's determined to make a good life for herself and her baby. Her first order of fix up the family's Wayside 66 Motor Court, now rundown and overrun by outlaws. It's dangerous with bootlegger Jeb Pierce around; he'd taken charge of the place and wants nothing to change. When his actions become frightening, Marilee finds an unexpected ally in another resident. Hank Sloan was a hell raiser for years but is now making something of himself. Together he and Marilee will face danger in the fight for their newfound dreams.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Westerns

406 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Dorothy 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 Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.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

Reviews

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the Route 66 trilogy begins with two people riding a bus - both of them getting off at Cross Roads, New Mexico. Mary Lee Clawson is a young pregnant widow. Jake Ramirez spent two years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. They both have reasons for returning to Cross Roads.
Some characters from previous books show up in this story. The lovable Deke Bales helps out when he is needed most. He may have even found a girlfriend.
I couldn't put these books down until I reached the last pages. I'll be looking for more by Dorothy Garlock in the future.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series

I've had this series for years and came back to it this week. As a writer myself it's always interesting to see another style of writing and to learn from it.

Miss Garlock has a way of telling the story that grabs you and reels you in and keeps you engaged from page one.

I enjoy the history and how she weaves in historical figures and events. I feel I could go look up Mary Lee's lineage and learn what became of Scotty.

It's always a pleasure visiting old friends and old faces when Miss Garlock weaves her tales of yesterday.

[Paula Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as genre#20 - "book with a cover or title that includes a route of travel"
This book tells the story of a young woman, Mary Lee, who grew up very close to Route 66 with her father owning a small hotel that many travelers stay at as a stop over on their long journey to California.

Mary Lee had left her home and went to another state when she got married. When her husband dies and she is pregnant and alone, she learns that her father has died and left her the motel.

She goes back to her childhood home and fixes up the motel with the help of old and new friends.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

After finishing Spencer's Morning Glory, I was looking for more books set during that time period. It's an enjoyable story, set in an interesting time at a motor court (little cabins) off Route 66, but not nearly as well done. A lot of the ideas and language are dated, but given it's set in the 1930s, I'll give it pass. The formatting is off and you couldn't always tell which characters are talking. Please start a new paragraph with each new speaker. That's how it's supposed to be done.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story about a woman down on her luck who returns home after the death of her husband. She's pregnant and her alcoholic mother has turned a profitable motel on Route 66 into a failing business.

[Dru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having never read anything by this author I was a bit skeptical. But I found this quite a good book. Easy to read and a great story. Now I see it's Number 3 in the Route 66 series so I'll probably be hunting for the first two.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good finish

I don't think this is as good as the first two because it really isn't about traveling route 66, other than Mary Lee owns a motor court. I like the adventure of the first two. I do like the connections and that Deke was in this one with a happy ending.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This falls in the category of what I call 'comfort' books...not too intense, but keeps you interested.

[Rhonda McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorothy Garlock's Mother Road series is some of her best work.

[IrishFan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this last book of this trilogy as much as the first 2. I liked the characters all right, but for me the story was a bit slower.

[Charles W Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story!!

This book takes you back to a time when ones word meant thing and life. Was slower paced. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Mindy Cossins · Rating 4 out of 5]

just loved this group of books and characters

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Skipped the middle book in the series because it sounds too violent for me.

[Judy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her books!

I read this book many years ago and absolutely loved her books and now I’m rereading or listening to them
again. I would love that her books were in audible form.

[mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice romance that flows nicely. does have a few twists but really enjoyed

[Sharyl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down, really good characters, loved the setting.

[kingsley]

plan to read rest of series

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently read Dorothy Garlock's book Song of the Road, what a great book, I make myself put it down so I don't read it all in one night. I only have one more of her books to read. I am so glad I discovered this author. I will be looking for more of her books.

[Nan McGrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

As always I was hooked from the beginning. This book had a little suspense in it. Dorothy Garlock is one of my favorite authors.

[❤ArtfullySinful❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Third Installment of the Route 66 Series. An overall fast paced and beautifully written novel set place in the early 1900s, including a young woman with hidden secrets named Mary Lee and her baby on the way. After receiving word of her father's death, Mary Lee felt heartbroken enough, but after her husband Bobby is murdered in an alley way because of a gambling problem, she feels no more ties where she is. After spending several days traveling on a bus to arrive at the Motor Court, her father's pride and joy, she didn't receive the welcome she was expecting. Same old Drunken Mother she left behind as soon as she could to escape the embarrassment she caused Mary Lee. Dolly, her mother, fought her tooth and claw when she tossed out the leeches who were only using Dolly for her money. Frank Pierce, a man who played her mother to try and uproot the Motor Court from Mary Lee, was a burden from the start of her arrival. Rude, mean and nasty, he made her work of rebuilding it seem impossible, and Jake Ramaro held a hatred to that man for every nasty word he called her. After she found Eli, a thirteen year old boy who was run off from the ranch he tried to find work at in her wash-house, Mary Lee took to him and graciously accepted his help as her pregnancy kept her from the heavy lifting. Reconnecting with a childhood friend, Trudy, she never expected her friend to find love and solace with Deke. As Mary Lee fights off Bobby's father who's destined to take her child, one of his hands, sets out to have Mary Lee and her baby killed to get the ranch. Suffering from a shot to the shoulder, Deke and Jake find her just in time, and she makes recovery at home. Within days of her getting home and beginning to recover, Jake and her wed, and soon after the baby is born. But more shock erupt when it's learned Jake is related to Bobby's father by blood, giving him part ownership of the ranch. Mary Lee and Jake move to the ranch with two kids and Eli, where they finally find love forever in an unexpected place. Trudy and Deke became owners of the Motor Court, but sold it after five years when Trudy gets pregnant again.

[Bec Braswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Garlock and from my fave series, Route 66! You will laugh, you will cry, and you will also want to whoop butt! You will see and old friend and meet new ones, do yourself a favor and dive in!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much loved the main character Marilee. Life is hard on her but she is a fighter and remains very sweet and gentle. It was easy for me to get into the story about her life right from the beginning.

There is some bad language to be aware of. The main characters not so much, but the shady characters have the kind of language that you would expect. It's not horrible, but it's there.

I love the setting and even though this story takes place in the Depression time frame, it seemed like the events could happen to anyone who lived in a small country town.

[Barbi Huhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book. I liked the fact that it took place in the early 1900s. It was kind of a change of pace from the modern day romances that I have read. Mary Lee was a well-written, strong female character who was just trying to right wrongs and make a home for her growing baby to be. I enjoyed watching her relationship with Jake and Eli grow throughout the book.

I had trouble putting this book down because I wanted to know how things would play out and if certain characters would work out their personal issues and admit that they were in love with one another.

[Virginia Markhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this book a three rating, barely. I had the large print edition which was very nice. I found the book to be entertaiing at times. The sentence structure was awkward and there where times when I was not sure who was doing the talking, and who was being spoken to.

I loved the era and storyline was very very good. I enjoyed Mary Lee's character. She had a lot to deal with, drunken mother, being a pregnant widow, etc. Lots to enjoy about the book.

I did not enjoy some of the dialog. At times it was down right crude.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothy Garlock is a good historical romance novelist. I don't like any of her books from the 80s, but her books I've read from the late 90s and on are really good. Not as flowery, you know? I picked up the first one because it was set in Oklahoma, on rt 66.

[Avalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looooved this book. I read it awhile ago, but I still think about it all the time. it's the kind of story that imprints on your heart and never leaves you. you will adore this romantic, adventurous novel as much as I did. You'll devoure it and be begging for more. Beautiful.

[Christel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just cannot get enough of her books. I am really a fan of hers.

[Sally johnston]

still wonderful reading

[Pitterpat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading of a motel on old Route 66 and the struggle life brings - with a great ending.

[Cws]

LP Gar