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Mackinac Island #2
Being Dorothy: In a world longing for home
1980 has rattled Dorothy Cooper’s world.
Disillusioned, she drops off the grid after more than a decade of dedication to The Service, a highly secretive organization. An expert at hiding, being found in less than a year reinforces Dorothy’s fear that she is losing her edge.
Escaping to a remote area from her long-ago past along with a fellow Service insider, they both assume new identities on a tiny Michigan island in the Straits of Mackinac. Taking up residence in the opulent Grand Hotel, Dorothy questions their relationship and wonders if anyone can be trusted after what she’s seen.
Trying to remain in the shadows, loneliness draws her into a friendship at a new knitting and craft shop, The Creative Lilac. The camaraderie and ambiance the owners and frequent visitors enjoy disrupts her concept of marriage, family, and faith. Can Dorothy find her long-lost feelings of love before the enemies of The Service find her? Or has her past destined her to an endless life-on-the-run, never allowing her to know the happiness of home?
“What happens when you combine a love of Wizard of Oz, Nora Ephron, James Bond movies, and the desire for true faith? You embark on an unforgettable 1980 journey to magical, Mackinac Island.”
-Author Michèle Olson
Disillusioned, she drops off the grid after more than a decade of dedication to The Service, a highly secretive organization. An expert at hiding, being found in less than a year reinforces Dorothy’s fear that she is losing her edge.
Escaping to a remote area from her long-ago past along with a fellow Service insider, they both assume new identities on a tiny Michigan island in the Straits of Mackinac. Taking up residence in the opulent Grand Hotel, Dorothy questions their relationship and wonders if anyone can be trusted after what she’s seen.
Trying to remain in the shadows, loneliness draws her into a friendship at a new knitting and craft shop, The Creative Lilac. The camaraderie and ambiance the owners and frequent visitors enjoy disrupts her concept of marriage, family, and faith. Can Dorothy find her long-lost feelings of love before the enemies of The Service find her? Or has her past destined her to an endless life-on-the-run, never allowing her to know the happiness of home?
“What happens when you combine a love of Wizard of Oz, Nora Ephron, James Bond movies, and the desire for true faith? You embark on an unforgettable 1980 journey to magical, Mackinac Island.”
-Author Michèle Olson
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2020
About the author
Michele Olson
9 books99 followersMichèle Olson has an over-forty-year career in advertising and marketing as a writer in all mediums, with an emphasis in health writing. She has also enjoyed a professional voice career including time as a DJ (yes, even when they still played records!) and has voiced local to national commercials and voice projects.
It has always been her dream to segue into fiction and Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy) is the first in a series based on Mackinac Island—a tiny island in the Straits of Mackinac that connect the Upper and Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Being Dorothy (In a world longing for home), where Piper Penn encounters a couple hiding on the island, but no one knows it! Think James Bond! A visitor to the island along with her husband for over thirty years, she loves to tell people about this unique place with no cars and plenty of fudge!
Next it's Being Alice (In a world lost in the looking glass) where a young woman with a disfigured face meets the musician of her dreams...and the pain in her heart can't compare to the pain of her past. Music lovers will love this book!
Book four is Being Wendy (In a world afraid to grow up) where 50 year old Wendy T. Bell can't figure out which one of her friends at her 50th birthday party is trying to ruin her career as a famous author. She escapes to Mackinac Island and more trouble, and the possibility of love follow. The ending will make your jaw drop!
Book 5 -Being Nancy (In a world lost in mystery) for all of you who grew up loving Nancy Drew! Nancy Benson is a middle aged woman bringing a Nancy Drew convention to the Grand Hotel in 1983. Mystery, mayhem, miracles, and mirth follow. Book 6- Being Goldie (In a "just-right" world) takes place in 1984. Follow twins Goldie and Gilda Locks to their stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Their devious Granny keeps them under her thumb with threats to remove their monthly stipends....but mysterious strangers threaten to disrupt everything they know about themselves. It's a wild ride with these ladies! Don't miss it! Every Mackinac Island story is filled with mystery, mayhem, mirth, mischief, and miracles...and a splash of romance.
A mom, a mother-in-love, and a “Gee Gee” (G as in good), Michèle resides with her husband in the shadow of Lambeau Field, where life around football abounds. She cherishes her faith and family above all and is delighted to take you on this trip to Mackinac Island, a place that has brought her so much respite and joy.
She loves connecting with readers!
It has always been her dream to segue into fiction and Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy) is the first in a series based on Mackinac Island—a tiny island in the Straits of Mackinac that connect the Upper and Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Being Dorothy (In a world longing for home), where Piper Penn encounters a couple hiding on the island, but no one knows it! Think James Bond! A visitor to the island along with her husband for over thirty years, she loves to tell people about this unique place with no cars and plenty of fudge!
Next it's Being Alice (In a world lost in the looking glass) where a young woman with a disfigured face meets the musician of her dreams...and the pain in her heart can't compare to the pain of her past. Music lovers will love this book!
Book four is Being Wendy (In a world afraid to grow up) where 50 year old Wendy T. Bell can't figure out which one of her friends at her 50th birthday party is trying to ruin her career as a famous author. She escapes to Mackinac Island and more trouble, and the possibility of love follow. The ending will make your jaw drop!
Book 5 -Being Nancy (In a world lost in mystery) for all of you who grew up loving Nancy Drew! Nancy Benson is a middle aged woman bringing a Nancy Drew convention to the Grand Hotel in 1983. Mystery, mayhem, miracles, and mirth follow. Book 6- Being Goldie (In a "just-right" world) takes place in 1984. Follow twins Goldie and Gilda Locks to their stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Their devious Granny keeps them under her thumb with threats to remove their monthly stipends....but mysterious strangers threaten to disrupt everything they know about themselves. It's a wild ride with these ladies! Don't miss it! Every Mackinac Island story is filled with mystery, mayhem, mirth, mischief, and miracles...and a splash of romance.
A mom, a mother-in-love, and a “Gee Gee” (G as in good), Michèle resides with her husband in the shadow of Lambeau Field, where life around football abounds. She cherishes her faith and family above all and is delighted to take you on this trip to Mackinac Island, a place that has brought her so much respite and joy.
She loves connecting with readers!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 1, 2024
This is such a beautiful, powerful story about marriage with God included. I appreciate how the author wove scriptures into the storyline, just as God is woven into believers' lives. It was magical, being on Mackinac Island, reminding me of a day spent there a few years back. The fudge is divine!
May 1, 2025
Being Dorothy: In A World Longing For Home by Michele Olson is a most delightful Christian tale. It is the second book in the Mackinac Island Stories but can be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading book one first for character continuity and progression.
Once more, the reader journeys to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The year is 1980 and there are references to the filming of the movie Somewhere In Time in 1979 (one of my favourite movies of all time), which was the focus of book one. We meet Piper and Cam, the leading characters in the first book.
In Being Dorothy, the focus is on another couple, Gideon and Dorothy. They are special agents running from an unknown threat, and have a marriage that is in trouble.
The couple do not know God. They have been running from Him but God is relentless in His pursuit of His children.
God uses people to accomplish His will. We need to have lives that are in tune with Him. “Thank you, Piper, for your boldness… I felt the nudge.” Sometimes God will ask us to do things that requires us to step out in faith, in order to help others in their faith walk. When God says ‘do it!’ Do not question, just do it! The fate of others may rely on our faithfulness.
There is a big difference between religion and relationship. “We don’t need religion. We need to reconnect with the One who made us and have an authentic relationship.” Following a set of religious rules will not save us. Only Jesus saves. Relationship brings us back to the heart of the Father.
The Christian walk may be hard. “Christianity in action is not always easy.” When we cannot do something in our strength, we press into God and do it in His.
Forgiveness is as vital as breathing. We forgive because we have been forgiven.
We need God in our marriages. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Being Dorothy is about coming home – physically to our roots, and spiritually to the heart of God.
I absolutely loved Being Dorothy. There were strong godly lessons for us all and a most delightful storyline.
Once more, the reader journeys to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The year is 1980 and there are references to the filming of the movie Somewhere In Time in 1979 (one of my favourite movies of all time), which was the focus of book one. We meet Piper and Cam, the leading characters in the first book.
In Being Dorothy, the focus is on another couple, Gideon and Dorothy. They are special agents running from an unknown threat, and have a marriage that is in trouble.
The couple do not know God. They have been running from Him but God is relentless in His pursuit of His children.
God uses people to accomplish His will. We need to have lives that are in tune with Him. “Thank you, Piper, for your boldness… I felt the nudge.” Sometimes God will ask us to do things that requires us to step out in faith, in order to help others in their faith walk. When God says ‘do it!’ Do not question, just do it! The fate of others may rely on our faithfulness.
There is a big difference between religion and relationship. “We don’t need religion. We need to reconnect with the One who made us and have an authentic relationship.” Following a set of religious rules will not save us. Only Jesus saves. Relationship brings us back to the heart of the Father.
The Christian walk may be hard. “Christianity in action is not always easy.” When we cannot do something in our strength, we press into God and do it in His.
Forgiveness is as vital as breathing. We forgive because we have been forgiven.
We need God in our marriages. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Being Dorothy is about coming home – physically to our roots, and spiritually to the heart of God.
I absolutely loved Being Dorothy. There were strong godly lessons for us all and a most delightful storyline.
July 17, 2023
Totally Delightful
This was such a fun and sweet story set in one of my very favorite and beautiful places...Mackinac Island. How could I not read this?!!! Touches on many things we all face like trust, faith, forgiveness, hope and more. It was great seeing old friends as well. Add some suspense and romance for the icing and it was a delicious read. I look forward to the next min the series. Happy reading.
This was such a fun and sweet story set in one of my very favorite and beautiful places...Mackinac Island. How could I not read this?!!! Touches on many things we all face like trust, faith, forgiveness, hope and more. It was great seeing old friends as well. Add some suspense and romance for the icing and it was a delicious read. I look forward to the next min the series. Happy reading.
November 30, 2022
I love Christian fiction. I think the writer does a great job picking the right Bible verse for the sections in the book. I loved how this book follows the first book. I love seeing Piper, Cam and Freddy meeting, helping and saving Dorothy and Gideon. What a great ending too. Cant wait to read the next book.
October 12, 2025
Can a spy novel be a light read? For me, this one was. Engaging characters kept me reading and wondering who was after them. The gospel is present throughout as a non-believer gradually sees how God can work in her life, heal her from past hurts and give her life new meaning. Love the setting. Descriptive scenes make me feel like I'm there on that beautiful and enchanting island.
November 23, 2020
You are back in the world of Piper Penn on Mackinac Island as you meet Dorothy. More mystery and intrigue draw you in as the story unfolds. Once I got into it, I could not put it down and read it in one seating. An easy, enjoyable read.
February 21, 2023
Can love survive based on lies.
A story of distrust, love, redemption, and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Just a small prayer, quietly utter, " Help me, " Jesus, always opens the door.
A story of distrust, love, redemption, and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Just a small prayer, quietly utter, " Help me, " Jesus, always opens the door.
August 15, 2024
Having visited Mackinac Island many years ago, I love being taken back there through Michele Olson's books. The childhoods of Dorothy and Gideon especially intrigued me, and the actions and twists moved so quickly throughout the pages of this book. It was entertaining, throughout!
September 29, 2025
Being born and raised in Michigan, the Great Lakes and Mackinac Island hold a special place in my heart. This was why I started reading the Mackinac Island series. Now, the stories and the interwoven emphasis on faith have me hooked!
February 18, 2021
I just loved this book! Her descriptions of what she saw on mackinac were absolutely wanting to go if you have never , oh and the mystery involved was awesome.😊
March 5, 2021
Great book!!!!! Everybody needs to read this story and find yourself emcompassed and held hostage by the beautiful tale until it's done. Don't miss out!! Read it today!!
May 5, 2021
This is a story with spies, mystery, and romance. The first story is best to read before this one because it helps with background and who's who on the island. I really enjoy this series.
July 19, 2021
Enjoyed the read. A little mystery, a little romance.
November 5, 2023
Loving this series
The story of Gideon and Dorothy is heartbreaking and heartwarming. What a gripping story. Too bad the Grand Hotel is no longer a going concern.
The story of Gideon and Dorothy is heartbreaking and heartwarming. What a gripping story. Too bad the Grand Hotel is no longer a going concern.
October 12, 2025
Fun quick read. Second in series, now off to start #3
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews