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Jane Doe
Sometimes a brief getaway where no one knows your name can change your life.
Emily Carver is an inhibited, small town woman who, against warnings from her family, takes her first trip to Las Vegas. On her first night there, she is mugged and saved from worse trauma by Royal Wooten, an independent, assertive woman, and a virtual opposite of Emily.
With no money or identification and unwilling to go home and face her “I-told-you-so” family, Emily decides to stay in Las Vegas and rebuild her stolen finances. But what she actually rebuilds is her entire life. She even gambles on a chance for true love and discovers that sometimes in order to find yourself, you have to start from scratch.
Emily Carver is an inhibited, small town woman who, against warnings from her family, takes her first trip to Las Vegas. On her first night there, she is mugged and saved from worse trauma by Royal Wooten, an independent, assertive woman, and a virtual opposite of Emily.
With no money or identification and unwilling to go home and face her “I-told-you-so” family, Emily decides to stay in Las Vegas and rebuild her stolen finances. But what she actually rebuilds is her entire life. She even gambles on a chance for true love and discovers that sometimes in order to find yourself, you have to start from scratch.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2011
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Girolami
10 books19 followersLisa Girolami has been in the entertainment industry since 1979. She holds a BA in Fine Art and an MS in Psychology. Previous jobs included ten years as production executive in the motion picture industry and another two decades producing and designing theme parks for Disney and Universal Studios. After six years as the Director of Creative Development for a firm in Los Angeles, she has returned to Disney as a Senior Show Producer on the renovation of Disney's California Adventure theme park. She's also a counselor at a mental health facility in Garden Grove. She currently lives in Long Beach, California.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 8, 2021
This was the daily sale on BSB, and the premise sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a go.
Not bad, but not great either.
Emily aka our Jane Doe is 28 and has allowed her life to be lead for her by her parents, her small town community and her highschool sweetheart turned fiance. She realizes she has no joy for her upcoming nuptials, and is increasingly annoyed at her fiance's patriarchal behaviour. When she wins a trip to Vegas at bingo night at church, she is determined to go to at least see a big city once before she marries... her parents, boyfriend and rest of the town are fully against it. Telling her is a place of sin and debauchery and that she will surely lose all her money and get herself into strife. She goes anyway - but unfortunately ends up getting mugged on her first night there.
Enter Royal, 34, pawn shop owner and out lesbian who has had a history of straight girls who took advantage and broke her heart. She intervenes when she overhears the mugging and stays with Emily/Jane Doe. Emily is distressed after her attack, moreso because of the "I told you so" responses she is sure to receive from her family back home. Royal feels empathy for this small town girl, and offers her a place to stay while she recovers.
The two become fast friends, and Emily is introduced to Royal's exciting world of Vegas and lesbian friends. Emily is struggling with her life and all that has been laid out and planned for her. She constantly talks about not having a choice, and having to go along with what her parents and fiance says... Royal constantly and gently keeps pointing out to Emily that she is entitled to do whatever she wants in life... This conversation however becomes incredibly tedious as Emily constantly rehashes the same things over and over, and Royal keeps reminding her that she has the power of choice and deserves to be happy and follow her own path....
Unfortunately Emily just comes off very whiney and spineless in a lot of ways. Not knowing what she wants, but lamenting all she doesn't want - yet still choosing not to do anything about it - it just became irritating. Her character was annoying and I failed to see what Royal even saw in her!
On Royals part it seemed to be all physical, the narrative constantly mentioning how her clit would twitch at the sight of Emily's breasts rising and falling, and how Royal wanted to get her into erotic positions. Sigh. Yeah.
There's a predatory friend character who also has the hots for Royal, but also targets Emily.
There's a black moment where Emily won't make a decision and Royal pushes her away. It just felt very formulaic. Ends quickly and we never really do get to see them together properly. Disappointing.
Not bad, but not great either.
Emily aka our Jane Doe is 28 and has allowed her life to be lead for her by her parents, her small town community and her highschool sweetheart turned fiance. She realizes she has no joy for her upcoming nuptials, and is increasingly annoyed at her fiance's patriarchal behaviour. When she wins a trip to Vegas at bingo night at church, she is determined to go to at least see a big city once before she marries... her parents, boyfriend and rest of the town are fully against it. Telling her is a place of sin and debauchery and that she will surely lose all her money and get herself into strife. She goes anyway - but unfortunately ends up getting mugged on her first night there.
Enter Royal, 34, pawn shop owner and out lesbian who has had a history of straight girls who took advantage and broke her heart. She intervenes when she overhears the mugging and stays with Emily/Jane Doe. Emily is distressed after her attack, moreso because of the "I told you so" responses she is sure to receive from her family back home. Royal feels empathy for this small town girl, and offers her a place to stay while she recovers.
The two become fast friends, and Emily is introduced to Royal's exciting world of Vegas and lesbian friends. Emily is struggling with her life and all that has been laid out and planned for her. She constantly talks about not having a choice, and having to go along with what her parents and fiance says... Royal constantly and gently keeps pointing out to Emily that she is entitled to do whatever she wants in life... This conversation however becomes incredibly tedious as Emily constantly rehashes the same things over and over, and Royal keeps reminding her that she has the power of choice and deserves to be happy and follow her own path....
Unfortunately Emily just comes off very whiney and spineless in a lot of ways. Not knowing what she wants, but lamenting all she doesn't want - yet still choosing not to do anything about it - it just became irritating. Her character was annoying and I failed to see what Royal even saw in her!
On Royals part it seemed to be all physical, the narrative constantly mentioning how her clit would twitch at the sight of Emily's breasts rising and falling, and how Royal wanted to get her into erotic positions. Sigh. Yeah.
There's a predatory friend character who also has the hots for Royal, but also targets Emily.
There's a black moment where Emily won't make a decision and Royal pushes her away. It just felt very formulaic. Ends quickly and we never really do get to see them together properly. Disappointing.
February 14, 2015
This was a very interesting story. I loved seeing Emily's journey to find and actually become herself. Changing her name to Jane Doe was odd and funny at first, but brave after I processed the whole point of it. It was wonderful seeing her open her eyes to a bigger world that was different in every way from her small town mentality. Royal, on the other hand was already herself, but she finds herself changing a little as well. A guarded, though selfless person who didn't hesitate to give back and help others in many ways, including opening her home to a total stranger. As expected, a sweet and sometimes complicated friendship develops between them that eventually leads to something deeper.
I also laughed a lot whenever the best friend opened her mouth. My favorite part of reading this book was waiting for her perfectly timed delivery of metaphors, similes and analogies. She had a lot of them. So did the rest of the characters. Another reviewer said Delilah should have her own book. I agree.
Overall, although it may seem so, this book is anything but simple.
4.5 stars.
I also laughed a lot whenever the best friend opened her mouth. My favorite part of reading this book was waiting for her perfectly timed delivery of metaphors, similes and analogies. She had a lot of them. So did the rest of the characters. Another reviewer said Delilah should have her own book. I agree.
Overall, although it may seem so, this book is anything but simple.
4.5 stars.
August 6, 2015
This book is quietly, beautifully, and purposefully intense. That makes it an overwhelmingly fantastic story that brings countless poignant elements to the forefront to enjoy, savor, and relish. Oh, this all gets to happen in Las Vegas! The two main women are spectacular and their trials and tribulations plus their evolving emotional growth spurts were so magnificently presented in a dynamically understated manner that simply deserves a standing ovation. I do so recommend this. Powerfully poignant!
Emily Carver, who for the balance of this review will be affectionately and deliberately called Jane Doe, is one of the main characters. This book all stems from Jane's extraordinary experience within hours of arriving in Las Vegas...a trip she won at a bingo game at her church back in Horatio, Oklahoma. Then, following Jane's initial experience in Las Vegas, she is openly, carefully, and affectionately welcomed into Royal Wooten's home as soon as she is able to do so according to some reliable, professional folks. In retrospect, I think of Jane becoming Royal's houseguest as kind of equivalent to a re-birth experience. It is really hard not be captivated and enthralled by her because she appears to be so honest and astoundingly open even if later on she feels that even though Royal provided her everything she needed to recover, Jane had returned nothing but confusion. These two first-class ladies are predominantly fabulous and really lit up my heart. Profoundly sublime!
Royal Wooten owns a rather special pawn shop in Las Vegas. Additionally she has a truly fantastic and nearly unbelievable coterie of friends. Plus she is personally at her core almost bigger than all outdoors and possibly bordering on sainthood. However, she has been really badly burned by her two recent relationships and oh my goodness Jane has a bit too much in common with these not long past liaisons. Royal accidentally learns that Jane is engaged to be married. That piece of data seems to cement into Royal's brain that Jane is straight and must be kept at arm's length at all costs. In my estimation, Royal is not only subject to having the occasional panic attack, but she is also prone to wearing blinders and being a bit locked in cement about how she assumes past experiences will be repeated letter for letter. Oh, I guess that makes Royal human, but oh such a beautiful soul and amazingly passionate. Royal also has a friend who just lights up the proceedings whenever she enters the active arena. Her name is Delilah and she is a hoot and a half, a great friend and supporter for both Royal and Jane, and a bit of a necessary rock to anchor both of them. Hail, hail the august lesbians in the Las Vegas environs! Breathtakingly bedazzling!
This book grew on me and filled me with so much love and appreciation that I want to hop on the next available flight to Vegas to find and bask in the distinctive and super subculture presented. Sensationally satisfying!
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Emily Carver, who for the balance of this review will be affectionately and deliberately called Jane Doe, is one of the main characters. This book all stems from Jane's extraordinary experience within hours of arriving in Las Vegas...a trip she won at a bingo game at her church back in Horatio, Oklahoma. Then, following Jane's initial experience in Las Vegas, she is openly, carefully, and affectionately welcomed into Royal Wooten's home as soon as she is able to do so according to some reliable, professional folks. In retrospect, I think of Jane becoming Royal's houseguest as kind of equivalent to a re-birth experience. It is really hard not be captivated and enthralled by her because she appears to be so honest and astoundingly open even if later on she feels that even though Royal provided her everything she needed to recover, Jane had returned nothing but confusion. These two first-class ladies are predominantly fabulous and really lit up my heart. Profoundly sublime!
Royal Wooten owns a rather special pawn shop in Las Vegas. Additionally she has a truly fantastic and nearly unbelievable coterie of friends. Plus she is personally at her core almost bigger than all outdoors and possibly bordering on sainthood. However, she has been really badly burned by her two recent relationships and oh my goodness Jane has a bit too much in common with these not long past liaisons. Royal accidentally learns that Jane is engaged to be married. That piece of data seems to cement into Royal's brain that Jane is straight and must be kept at arm's length at all costs. In my estimation, Royal is not only subject to having the occasional panic attack, but she is also prone to wearing blinders and being a bit locked in cement about how she assumes past experiences will be repeated letter for letter. Oh, I guess that makes Royal human, but oh such a beautiful soul and amazingly passionate. Royal also has a friend who just lights up the proceedings whenever she enters the active arena. Her name is Delilah and she is a hoot and a half, a great friend and supporter for both Royal and Jane, and a bit of a necessary rock to anchor both of them. Hail, hail the august lesbians in the Las Vegas environs! Breathtakingly bedazzling!
This book grew on me and filled me with so much love and appreciation that I want to hop on the next available flight to Vegas to find and bask in the distinctive and super subculture presented. Sensationally satisfying!
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 2, 2011
Jane Doe by Lisa Girolami follows Emily Carver from the small town of Horatio, Oklahoma. Having never been out of her dusty little town, Emily's excited to win a trip to Las Vegas. Her excitement is short lived though when her fiancé won't go and her friends are also all too busy to go with her. For the first time in her life she makes a decision to do what she wants and jets off to Las Vegas, desperately trying to ignore the warnings of trouble that are ringing in her ears.
Unfortunately, it doesn't take trouble long to find her when she's mugged on her first day. Sore and sorry for herself, both in body and confidence, and having been robbed of all money and identification, she decides to embrace her new Jane Doe name. Anything to avoid the 'I told you so' she knows are coming her way if she lets everyone at home know what happened.
Stepping in to save the day is Royal Wooten. Royal saves her from worse injuries at the hands of the muggers, then offers her somewhere to stay while she recuperates. Taken in and cared for by Royal and her friends, Jane(Emily) soon learns that it's ok to be independent and to do what you want to do, not just what is expected. To her surprise, she finds the chance she is taking in living a new life, may also lead to her taking a chance on love.
Jane Doe is really sweet. For a short book, Girolami has given us some wonderful characters that we see grow and change by their influences on each other. We get to follow along as Jane's confidence slowly builds and her eyes are opened to a world of choices she never new she had. Royal is kind hearted and loveable and though having been burned by a straight girl before, her feelings for Jane force her to grow beyond the hurts of the past. Royal's friend Delilah is wonderful and I think she deserves a story all of her own. Jane Doe is a lovely, easy to read romance that left me with a smile on my face.
Unfortunately, it doesn't take trouble long to find her when she's mugged on her first day. Sore and sorry for herself, both in body and confidence, and having been robbed of all money and identification, she decides to embrace her new Jane Doe name. Anything to avoid the 'I told you so' she knows are coming her way if she lets everyone at home know what happened.
Stepping in to save the day is Royal Wooten. Royal saves her from worse injuries at the hands of the muggers, then offers her somewhere to stay while she recuperates. Taken in and cared for by Royal and her friends, Jane(Emily) soon learns that it's ok to be independent and to do what you want to do, not just what is expected. To her surprise, she finds the chance she is taking in living a new life, may also lead to her taking a chance on love.
Jane Doe is really sweet. For a short book, Girolami has given us some wonderful characters that we see grow and change by their influences on each other. We get to follow along as Jane's confidence slowly builds and her eyes are opened to a world of choices she never new she had. Royal is kind hearted and loveable and though having been burned by a straight girl before, her feelings for Jane force her to grow beyond the hurts of the past. Royal's friend Delilah is wonderful and I think she deserves a story all of her own. Jane Doe is a lovely, easy to read romance that left me with a smile on my face.
June 2, 2020
Emily aka Jane Doe is a small town girl caught up in a small town life where everything goes along as it has for generations. Winning a trip to Las Vegas becomes the catalyst to changing her life one step at a time. The premise is interesting and I love books and stories about Las Vegas so I was intrigued. It turns out to be a pleasant story that tries to develop and play on the angst of lesbian meets straight girl but I never really felt the emotional pull or turmoil jump off the page. Side characters are delightful and quirky. Writing style is good and it is a quick read. I’ll try another by this author to see if she continues to develop her stories.
August 28, 2025
Meh. Was fine. Nice short read while laying on the couch relaxing.
April 5, 2011
I've liked all of Lisa Girolami's books, but this is definitely her best. The characters are well developed and stick with you well after the last page is turned. Vegas is one of those cities that is a character in itself -- like New Orleans -- that could easily loom too large in story. But Girolami does an excellent job of keeping the story focused on the characters while letting the reader feel like one of the Vegas insiders. Well executed and well written, I'll be reading this one again.
October 21, 2014
2 1/2 stars
October 25, 2015
2011 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews