August 4, 2014
Nolan offers yet another witty send-up of midcentury pulp paperbacks (after Maxie Mainwaring, Lesbian Dilettante), here taking readers to 1960s San Francisco and the down-at-the-heels boardinghouse Magdalena Arms. When landlady Mrs. DeWitt slips, falls, and ends up in the hospital, boarder and aspiring actress Dorian “Dolly” Dingle takes responsibility for the property in her absence. From repairing the radiators to taking in new boarders, Dolly is determined to keep the Arms afloat despite the disdain of trustee Mrs. Putney-Porter, who seems determined to have the aging building shut down. As Dolly does her best to raise money for additional repairs, she faces some difficult choices concerning her love interests. The mysterious and pretty Arlene is attracted to her, but Dolly is surprised to find herself more enamored of Kay, an upbeat clarinet player. And even as Dolly feels the pressure to find a new acting job, she still worries that the Magdalena Arms will not survive without her help. Added Yuletide trimmings—the story is set around Christmastime—make for a welcome addition to the established formula of Nolan’s previous books: steamy romance, friendship, and a touch of mystery.