Baller by M. A. Foster (Review)

I loved this author’s Cougar; it was one of the most emotional, epic love stories I have ever read and still remains one of my favorite books. It would be hard to outdo Emerson and Cam’s story, but Liam and Vanessa come pretty close.

One of the things that I like most about this author is that she writes in a more narrative style than others. What do I mean by that? I am not exactly sure – it makes sense the way I think of it but is hard to explain. I’ll give it a shot.

With other stories, it is easy to recount a plot in terms of plot points: boy meets girl, boy does something dumb and loses girl, boy regrets it, boy gets girl back…that sort of thing. You know that there is going to be stupidity and tears, and worrying about making the right choices before everyone ends up where they are supposed to be.

I suppose you could pigeonhole Baller into this framework, but that would be to do it an injustice because there is nothing formulaic about the author’s storytelling. She creates whole worlds with fully realized characters who have complex relationships and connections. Her stuff is just…real. That being said, you can get book report reviews elsewhere; I’m going to talk about what I liked about the book.    

I loved the story arc, and how it overlapped with past books before moving forward. That’s another thing that I like about this author. Her stories aren’t exactly linear (as in book one happens, and then book two happens). It’s more like watching a tv show from different points of view; the holistic approach is another thing that lends realism to her plots.

I thought that Vanessa was an interesting character. She was stubborn, even when she knew she might be wrong. Thank goodness her friends were there for her from the beginning. I really enjoyed the scenes with the four of them, because it was straight-talk from real women – not just the “my tribe will always agree with me.” We could all use friends like that.

I also liked how the author captures male camaraderie, which isn’t always easy. One particular scene in a restaurant bathroom had me literally laughing out loud because I know people who would say the exact things that the guys said.

If I had any complaints about this story, and this is being nitpicky, is that everything seemed to go a little bit fast at the end. I kind of expected a little bit more angst or drama. But how it all played out didn’t bother me (if that makes sense).

This is also the only author who, in addition to the detailed character lists she shares, I also need to keep my own notes. But that’s okay, because I enjoy active reading much more – it keeps me engaged.

I love this author’s style, I love Heritage Bay, and I’ve become attached to the characters. I can’t wait to see who gets the next story!

Books On Tour (Review): Into the Darkest Day by Kate Hewitt

Epic in every sense of the word, this book is one of the finest examples of historical fiction I have read. There is so much that I liked about it that I don’t know if I can cover it all, but I’ll try.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2YFDimH Apple Books: https://apple.co/2zmZh7h Kobo: https://bit.ly/3fs2qn1 Google Play: https://bit.ly/2W8DNnM

One thing I noticed right from the start was the attention to detail in both the contemporary and historical storylines. It is always easiest to picture something familiar, so getting an image of Abby’s apple orchard and the farmhouse was simple to imagine. The author was so descriptive with the WWII scenes that I could picture them almost as completely.

The author hits the other senses with her descriptions as well. From the pigeon coops to events during the war, I felt like I could smell and hear what the characters were; that’s how good they were. It must be said that with that depth of detail also comes the emotion that goes along with it, and I felt gut-punched by a few of them (no spoilers).

I liked how the story started out being about one thing but then took off a different direction. This felt realistic and added to the intrigue of the WWII portion of the plot. I did think that a few of the contemporary plot points were extraneous, but I understand how the conflicts were needed to give more depth to Abby and Simon. I think it was because the WWII sections were so compelling, I just wanted to get back to them.

I also liked how some of the questions propelling the plot were not answered until close to the end. That was effective because 1) it kept me reading to find out the resolution, and 2) the author was able to take the story in different directions to get to the final point (instead of just reaching it directly).

A word must be said about the history. I have often mentioned that I like historical fiction because I usually learn something new. This time I learned several things via Matthew’s experiences (again, no spoilers). His arc led me to a fascinating documentary, and also served as a reminder that even after D-Day, there was still a lot of war left to fight.

The author has spun a masterful story. If you are a fan of historical fiction, you definitely should have this on your TBR list.

Author Bio

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. 

Website: https://www.kate-hewitt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1269244.Kate_Hewitt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katehewitt1  

Blog Tour w/Review: You, Me, and the Movies by Fiona Collins

I cannot think of another way to describe this book other than cinematic.

Yes, movies and movie quotes are a significant part of the plot, but it is so much more than that.

Scene descriptions were incredibly detailed and created vivid pictures. Events had depth and everything had a purpose. The book as a whole was focused and entertaining.

And heartbreaking.

Confession: I had to re-read the last few chapters twice. The first time I could barely see the pages through my tears. There was so much emotion flowing through the pages that it just got to me.

More than that, however, was the empathy that I felt for Arden.

I don’t want to give the whole thing away because it unfolds beautifully, and readers should experience it on their own. But her realization that her best years might be behind her, and subsequent understanding that she might have the possibility of a better future was heartfelt, realistic, and infinitely relatable. ‘Nuff said on that before I start crying again.

I loved the unique perspective of this story – a history told through movies that were significant to the relationship. The quotes that Arden and Mac remember prove that memories stay with us even as our lives change. It is no surprise that movies guide Arden’s life, given her mother’s propensity for fantasy and image.

I could go on and on about all of the things I liked about this book, but I am honestly having a hard time finding the words because it was just so epically beautiful in every way.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up right away.

About Fiona Collins

Fiona Collins grew up in an Essex village, and after stints in Hong Kong and London, returned to the Essex countryside where she lives with her husband and three children. She has a degree in Film and Literature and has had many former careers including TV presenting in Hong Kong, traffic and weather presenter for BBC local radio and film/TV extra. You can find her on Twitter @FionaJaneBooks.

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