The Courting of Thomasyna Tollefson

Dedications and Acknowledgments THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED to my mom, Virginia, who loved a good romance story herself. Because she passed those novels on to me, I was inspired to create a little romance myself. Before her illness took her away, she’d started to become a valuable critic to me. Always ready to tell me what worked as well as what didn’t. This tale acknowledges all the lefties in the world—guys and gals of any age. And, of course, anyone who loves a good clean read with heart and humor. As a writer who spends countless hours creating make believe worlds in my writer’s cave while the real world goes on around me, I sincerely thank my family for their understanding, patience, and support while the laundry and dishes pile up around them. The island that Thomasyna, her sisters, and the Deverills and the Kelmanns reside on doesn’t actually exist. Originally, Littleton-By-The-Sea was to be located next to Jamestown, but I decided, after numerous trips to Rhode Island that it needed a spot of its own, and so let Jamestown on Connanicut Island remain by its lonesome right where it is. Thus, Littleton-by-the-Sea resides on its own island, which after searching for a great name for said island, I’ve decided upon Quonotamaquot Isle. Which is another Native American form for Connanicut, or Cananicut. Means the especially long place. Kingsdale, also a figment of my imagination, is roughly located somewhere off Route 138 between Middletown and Portsmouth. Originally, it was located between Peacedale and Kingston—hence its name. But I needed it to be closer to the Atlantic so that DreamWynd Equestrian Center could have shady trails giving out onto sandy beaches. Real life places don’t always have what you need for your story, or there’s some sort of limitation that wrecks your plans for one thing or another. Like a cliff for Thomi’s place to sit upon. So taking a cue from Mark Twain who moved a town, I dropped a large island along with a cliff into the ocean where they serve my purposes very well. My brother may have a different opinion, but I’m grateful that the Navy stationed him at the Newport naval base back in the ‘70s which gave me the opportunity to come to know and love the area. Although important, setting is secondary here, the characters come first. And I hope you enjoy the adventure and the romance herein. Oh, yes, and I’m giving you fair warning—there is “Small Child” dialect contained here. I’m not apologizing for that; just letting you know it’s here. I took their manners of speech from all the little ones I’ve had the pleasure of listening to over the past forty-five years or more. I’ve spelled the words of said dialect(s) to the best of my ability as I heard and understood them. I had fun with them. I hope you will as well. Neenah Davis-Wilson –––––––– MELODY LARAMIE - sss Reader Review What I appreciated most about this story is that all the characters were REAL people and it showed how REAL families deal with each other. Despite family issues that arise shows there is a strong sense of family, which is lacking in most families. I loved that it wasn’t a trashy Romance novel that cheapens romance . . . This novel is refreshing and it is very easy to get attached to the characters. The author is easy to follow and is very good at keeping your attention. I highly recommend this for young and old. –––––––– KIMBER ~ COFFEE TIME Romance Review Set among horse farms and the glamour of success and failure of believable situations and characters. . . . Ms. Davis-Wilson has created an in-depth story of family, the promises, betrayal, and forgiveness woven within detailed plots and subplots. A truly enjoyable read for anyone who loves long, sweeping family sagas. I found it an engaging and heartfelt drama . . . –––––––– MAURA FRANKMAN ~ THE Romance Studio Review This is for the most part a very entertaining story. Thomi’s family and friends are very colorful and I really like the setting on the coast of Rhode Island. There are many subplots, but they do not overshadow the main story. I could identify with Thomi’s frustration with Stephan and his cousins. They seem to ask for total honesty from her while withholding very important facts from her . . . Overall, this is a good if complicated story . . .