I loved this heartwarming and very inspirational memoir that involved so many emotions including caring, hope, love, acceptance and healing. I laughed and and I cried.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book.

Absolutely wonderful! We absolutely adore Wade and this book is so touching. Like all of his books, you can tell he pours his heart and soul into every last page. Thank you!

Wow!! Just wow!! I've read several novels by Viola Shipman, so I already knew Wade is a great writer, but this one as is Wade's hope by the end is a winner!! This book will grip you from the start and not let go. You will be angry, happy, you may laugh, & you will most definitely cry. I admire Wade for having the caring heart and soul he has to always stick by his dad no matter what hateful words or acts his dad says/does. I don't believe his dad was a bad person or that he wanted to be. Wade truly has a heart of gold. He had a rough life, but somehow he has managed to be a better person no matter those tough times. This is one that will stick with me for a while!!

This is a memoir that is so very well written!
It's the story of learning that love is not always perfect.
The chapters are told in baseball innings as life progresses to the "bottom of the ninth" for both Wade and his Dad and a "win" is finally accomplished.
I truly loved this book!
It made me think and re-evaluate my own feelings regarding my father.
This story is full of emotion, and it is a great read!
Well done!!

Thank you to NetGalley and #Harlequin Trade Publishing for this amazing ARC and allowing me to provide my review.

This was a super emotional book for me to read, just everything about this I loved! The story was both heartbreaking and heart warming at the same time. Thank you so much to #Netgalley and the publisher for the arc

I’ve read several of his other books so I was excited to read this one too. Plus I’m a baseball fan but I route for the Cubs instead of the Cardinals
I thought it was a good book. I couldn’t help but feel sad for him and his relationship with his Dad. I like that he was able raise above everything and follow his dream.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. Thanks to the author for sharing his story.

Magic Season
by Wade Rouse
Pub Date: May 3, 2022
Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this fantastic ARC. Bestselling author Wade Rouse finds solace with his dying father through their shared love of baseball in this poignant, illuminating memoir of family and forgiveness.
I was drawn to this book because I am a huge fan of his writing as Viola Shipman. These books are some of the best books I have ever read! So first of all, I recommend these fiction books. So when I received the ARC of Wade's life I knew it would be a winner! This is a must-read.I really appreciated Wade’s honesty in his latest memoir about his life with his dying father, his family life growing up, baseball games with his dad, and his wonderful partner, Gary. “ I have "met" Gary and Wade on their literary event called Wine and Words with Wade.
I highly recommend this book.
5 stars

Name of Book: Magic Season
Author: Wade Rouse
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Pub Date: May 3, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars!


I have read several Wade Rouse stories only by his pen name Viola Shipman which was his grandmother’s name. Those stories were all beautifully written with a message of family tradition.

In this memoir Wade tells us about his relationship with his father ~ Wade always had hope and continued to try for his father’s love no matter how many times he was rejected. He tells us that giving his father so many changes is the same reason we stick to our favorite sports team season after each miserable season as we know a miracle can happen and the Magical season will occur.
He said that everything divided them except baseball! Therefore his memoir is written with a baseball analogy and yes the last chapter is the ‘Bottom of the 9th’!

Wade’s husband Gary is a very supportive loving spouse and always believed in Wade’s talent.
This is a story of family love and the power of Hope!

Yes! It did get difficult to read with tears in my eyes

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing – Hanover Square Press for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 3, 2022.

Wade Rouse is a wonderful writer with a somewhat difficult past. In this memoir he tells of his relationship with his gruff and critical father and what his life was like growing up in a rather dysfunctional family. I lived with a parent who rarely had anything complimentary to say so I could relate easily to much of his story. He told his story through the background of a St. Louis Cardinals' baseball game, dividing sections into innings. He and his father shared a love for the Cardinals. I did find it repetitious in parts but it was interesting and enjoyable reading.

I was excited to get approved by NetGalley for Wade Rouse’s new book “Magic Season” since I’m a huge fan of Viola Shipman. Wade writes under his grandmother’s pen name which is Viola Shipman. I really appreciated Wade’s honesty in his latest memoir about his life with his dying father, his family life growing up, baseball games with his dad and his wonderful partner, Gary. “This is a winner, folks!” Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published May 2022.

Touching, funny, heartbreaking. This memoir delivers exactly what you expect.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy

When I discover a book written by someone who can string letters into words, words into sentences, and then weave them into a book torn from the author's soul, I know I have discovered a master writer and book that will remain with me for years. This is such a book.

This is Wade's story. His troubled youth when was denied the chance to be who he was in his heart, and then have his father's love denied when what he needed most. And yet the man he becomes returns to this place of heartache, again and again, to care for his aging father who has been diagnosed with dementia.

As a writer, one of the worst things to happen is to be unable to find the words necessary to express your feelings. I am that writer after reading Wade's book. It touches a fountain of emotions both for Wade and within myself. I am in awe of Wade as a writer but even more as a human being. His ability to put this story into words and then put it out into the world shows the strength and love we should all aspire to have.

If I could give this book ten stars, that would not be enough.

Bravo, my writing friend!!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Magic Season from NetGalley. I devoured the book in one day. I am very familiar with the novels that Wade Rouse has written using his Grandma’s name Viola Shipman as his pen name. These are my favorite books. Each one celebrates family traditions and heirlooms. So when I had the chance to review Magic Season, I was thrilled. What an incredible tribute to resilience and hope! Wade bares his soul to share the relationship between his father and himself. searching for acceptance and wanting to know he is loved by his father. No matter how many times his father rejects and hurts Wade, Wade continues to give him one more chance. Gary, Wade’s husband, is an amazing, loving spouse! Gary believes in Wade’s talent and supports him in anyway he can. Viola Shipman has a literary event on Thursdays called Wine and Words with Wade. Gary is an integral part of these hour long shows. This memoir is a love story to family. Wade believes in the power of HOPE! I highly recommend this book to everyone. It deserves a place in every library and home. 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Wade Rouse is inspiring, and an amazing writer. I loved reading about his upbringing and his stories. His grandmothers and mother sound like strong and inspiring women I’d have liked to know. Wade paints vivid pictures like you’re there with him. You can almost taste the cherry chip cake. And he sounds like he has an amazing husband. This book was amazing. Real, raw and heartbreaking at times. Anyone who has a chance to read this and see an intimate look at a real family with real struggles is lucky.