Some authors write linear series where stories continue chronologically. Others write standalones, where there may be familiar characters who are loosely tied together, but you don’t necessarily need to read the books in order to get the full picture.
And then there is MA Foster.
She writes stories that are a web of connections. Characters from previous books pop up when you least expect, and backstories are rich in detail.
In short, she has created a complicated, real-world for her characters to inhabit. They live and breathe more than any author I have read recently. And the location of Heritage Bay feels familiar like I’ve taken a vacation there.
Everything is just that real.
In Legacy, we get Dylan and Katie. But it’s not as simple as “it’s their story.” The author doesn’t work that way. It does largely belong to Dylan, mainly because he is the family member who gets the focus this time. But each of their stories is full – Katie is not just a love interest. She has her own story as well.
This is where the author excels. Because again, it’s not necessarily linear. We get a lot of Dylan’s story, but we don’t know where Katie fits in until later in the book. By that point, you’ll be a full believer in fate.
I also like how Ms. Foster knows how to seamlessly move from emotion to scorching romance to accurate observations on life. She’s a consummate juggler. Even phrases such as “tomorrow is a gift, not a promise” that could seem trite seem absolutely natural coming from her characters. You believe them. You root for them. And by God, you feel for them.
Just when you think you have been hit with a helluva gut punch, she’s got another one ready for you. It’s not an over-exaggeration to say she knows how to get a reader in the feels…repeatedly. But again, that’s the strength of the characters and the world she has created. You get to know them personally.
Another point about the web of connections: this means that the reader gets to hear from characters whose stories have already been told – but from the current characters’ points of view.
For example, those who have read her past books know what has happened to Marcus. But he is here again as part of Dylan’s story. This method adds to the richness of the details and helps build that realism.
You’ll notice that I haven’t said much about Dylan and Katie’s story. I have my reasons, but first and foremost it’s because I firmly believe a reader needs to experience them on their own time and in their own way. If I tell you what happens to them, or how it happens that will ruin it.
You’ll just have to trust me that if you’ve read her past books (like Cougar and Baller) you’ll get more details on those characters as well. And if you thought that the characters in those books were complex…you haven’t met Dylan yet. Hold on.
It’s best to just let yourself move to Heritage Bay while you read and allow yourself to be immersed in the world MA Foster has created.
If you’re like me, you’ll be wishing they were real, and you could meet them.
She’s just that good.
