I enjoyed this two books in one stories. Which was told by Harper Fleming as she is trying to get her life together. She decided to spend the summer with her grandfather in Nashville and discover her great grandfather journals and his life as a ballplayer in The Negro Leagues. Both stories turned into a full circle moment as the past, repeat in the present. I really enjoyed going along on the journey through this family history. I received this book as an ARC.q

This book is a sprawling family saga with a dual timeline. It’s beautifully written with strong themes of community and Black culture. The pace is leisurely, more an unfolding of the story, without a strong narrative drive.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I’m not a huge baseball fan, but I do occasionally get interested in historical teams from long ago. So, this novel about a young woman’s quest to learn more about her great-grandfather’s life as a player in a Negro league did not disappoint. Alternating between modern-day and the years of segregated baseball teams, the author offers many details about the times before the “color barrier” in America’s pastime was crossed.

*I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Take me out to the ballgame – to the past, to the struggles, to the secrets a woman’s great-grandfather shared in his journals and papers about his youth playing in the Negro Baseball League of the 30’s and 40’s. Rochelle Alers has been an author I got cozy with her family-centered romances and last year tried a historical women’s fiction for the first time that reached down into my emotions so I was jazzed to spy this year’s release was centered around baseball my favorite sport.

Home and Away started off on the right foot when I read the author’s introductory letter to readers about how she came to write this story. The nostalgia for the game and the excitement of the African American baseball hero, Jackie Robinson, smashing the racial color barrier were palpable and this energy drove a story that engrossed me thoroughly.

This was a story within a story. Harper is a sports journalist who can’t break into the bigs in Chicago. So, she takes a sabbatical headed to her widowed grandfather’s place in Tennessee with a new plan. She is there to help look after him while she now will take her talent into writing about Kelton, her great-grandfather’s experience playing in the Negro leagues. Her grandfather handed over a treasure trove of papers to fuel her fictional story. Meanwhile, life is looking up when her crush from the past, Cheney, is around and interested in his friends’ sister all grown up now.

The past tale showcased a young black man loaded with talent and what it was like playing in that era: Multiple games a day, avoiding the danger of the KKK, not recognized like the white leagues, and meeting Harper’s great-grandmother. I confess that Kelton’s story hit me deep. I’ve enjoyed hearing stories from our local sports broadcasters about the players of the old Negro leagues, but this felt like the inside scoop and so bittersweet and frustrating that the Green Book (guiding the players safely through the racial South) was so necessary.

Between a romance and new writing opportunity for Harper and Kelton’s fascinating story in the past that came alive as Harper read the papers and wrote her story, I was well-satisfied. Rochelle Alers’ love for the game, careful research, and her own writing style hit this out of the ballpark for me. Whether one enjoys sports stories or not, this historical fiction focuses on the people and historical elements more than the sport so this is for anyone who enjoys historical and women’s fiction brought together.

DNF at 31%. I had hoped I’d like this, because Rochelle Alers’ last epic historical fiction surprised me and blew me away, but clearly I’m the wrong audience for this. I love diving into Black history, and appreciate how Alers captures it, but this book was so slow, and I just don’t care enough about baseball to be really invested. And the blurb is really misleading, at least thus far. Harper’s presence is only in the beginning, and then we go for chapters in the past, and I hate when a book is dual timeline when it really doesn’t need to be because one timeline feels superfluous.

*Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Publishing for providing me with copy via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*

Last year, I read Take The Long Way Home by Rochelle Alers and fell in love with the writing, the characters, and the plot. When I discovered the author was working on a new novel, I couldn't help but be curious about the story. The title, Home And Away , caught my eye first; I think that just the cover itself will have you picking up the book and reading the summary. When I discovered that the book was about baseball, I knew I wanted to read it because it is one of my favorite sports to watch, and I have read a few books on it. However, I never read a novel like Home and Away, which gave a new perspective about baseball during the 1930s. It gave me a view of how much different it was back then, and what some of the players had to endure back then.

Home And Away told two storylines in one. I enjoyed reading Harper's and Moses' stories of being a baseball player in the 1930s.I loved reading both Harper’s story and Moses during the 1930’s as a baseball player. I enjoyed reading both of perspectives in this story, however I was more intrigued to Moses' story and found it difficult to put it down while reading it since I wanted to see what was going to happen. I loved how the two stories intertwined and how Harper could share her family's story without revealing everything at once. I admired how committed she was in her writing and the characters she created, which reminded me of myself when I get a chance to write.

The story completely captivated me; if I didn't have work or school to do, I could read for hours. I felt the same emotions that Harper and Moses did. I felt like I was part of Harper and Moses' journey. I thought the story's ending was a little rushed, but overall, I liked everything about it and couldn't get enough. I have feeling that I will be re-reading this story again in the future. This is the second book I've read by Rochelle Alers and I'm already in love with her writing. She has a way of grabbing readers’ attention from the first page. I am excited to see what she has in store for us next.

Alers makes life as a player in the Negro Leagues come alive in this novel about Harriet a frustrated sportswriter who sets out to write a novel about the fictional Moses, who is based on her real life grandfather. This is both education and entertaining with wonderful detail. The storytelling will have even those who have never been to a ball game turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This would also be a good one for the YA crowd.

Fascinating dual time line story about Harper, a young woman from Chicago trying to figure out her path in life. She moved to Nashville after quitting her journalism job to be with her grandpa for the summer. She read his dad's journals about being in the Negro Baseball League in the 1930s and 1940s. Harper decides to write a fictionalized book about his time as a ball player. So the two story lines are present day as Harper navigates life and embedded story of the book she is writing about the past as Moses, her great-grandfather, learns about life in the baseball world.
I loved how the two story lines are connected and enjoyed both of them. Moses gives us a glimpse of the ups and downs of the traveling and dealing with racism as well as his time playing winter ball in Mexico, Cuba, etc.
Harper's story has her reconnecting with a man that was friend's with her brothers and she finds that they enjoy each other's company. She takes the time to figure out what is important and what she wants out of life, with a little guidance from her grandfather. The fictional character of Moses was created to tell her great-grandfather's, Kelton Fleming, story of being a super star batter and being recruited to play for the Memphis Eagles.
If you are looking for an immersive historical fiction/contemporary story, I highly recommend this book!
#HomeandAway #NetGalley #historicalfiction
Thank you Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I haven't read a book by Rochelle Alers since my young adult years, and let me say she has not lost her touch. This book was absolutely amazing! I fell in love with the characters and two characters' love story in particular. Once you start reading you will not want to stop.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Two Stories in One

Life has taken a toll on Harper Fleming; she needs a break. To center herself she makes a drastic decision and decided to spend the summer with her grandfather as she did when she was a little girl. Learning about her grandfather's pass life as a Negro League baseball player. (This really touched my heart). Ms. Alers did not disappoint the story was a combination of history, education, and romance,

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Rochelle Alers for the opportunity to read this ARC, this is my honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is the story of Harper Fleming. She is trying to make her way as a sportswriter in Chicago. When she is overlooked for this position again, she quits. She decides to go to Nashville and stay with her Grandfather Bernard Fleming. While she is there, she decides to write a book about her Great-Grandfather, Kelton Fleming. He is an interesting character because he played in the Negro Baseball Leagues during the 1930's and 1940's. It was fun to read about the Baseball League. Even though the players were treated so poorly, they didn't give up. I liked this book. In fact, I liked both timelines-the 1930's and 1940's and present day. Kelton's story was good, as well as Harper's story. I like the way she kept examining her life and found happiness. I recommend this book for all readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoyed reading Home and Away by Rochelle Alers. This story about gave light to what it was like to be a baseball player in the Negro League. The book gave insight of the racism, traveling and inferior living conditions they had to endure. However, it also told of the love story between Moses and Sallie Ann, and also modern Dat Harper and Cheney. This was a very good read and I would highly recommend it. Kudos Rochelle Alers on a job well done!

I'm giving this novel 5 stars for keeping me engaged the whole entire time!
Wow! What a story it is! I couldn't put the book down!
Lots of history here. Loved every minute of it.
Harper is a wonderful character. I loved her from the minute I met her. I love her get up and go. Especially, determination for writing great grandfather's story on baseball.
I learned much from this story. It definitely touched my heart and left my heart feeling full and satisfied.
The 1930's was my favorite part of the story.
Moses Gilliam is a wonderful man for sticking up for his Sally Ann. Not many men do that.
But I really liked Harper too.
I didn't want this story to end. I highly recommend it.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine

Another great story by Rochelle Alers. I love how the author created a story within a story that flowed seamlessly. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I will continue to support this author on future books.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book.

When I read the blurb about the book being about an author, I was quietly anticipating a 2 for 1 book. This book delivered that and more. This story is a beautiful tribute to Harper’s great grandfather’s history.

Harper fed up with her job decides to quit and spend the summer with her grandfather like she used to as a child. While on vacation Harper sets out to find out more about her great grandfather who was a baseball player in the negro league. The fact that Harper finds love on this journey with her childhood crush is just the icing on the cake.

The knowledge and research put into this book is reflected through the information about real players from the Negro league interspersed through the novel and their experience’s.

What a homerun of a novel! 10/10

Harper is absolutely phenomenal. Following her journey through a part of history that is a bit unfamiliar really hit it out of the park for me.

(I'm almost out of baseball references.) But don't worry if you're not a baseball fan! This historical fiction novel is more slice of life than sports novel.

Rochelle Alers is such a fantastic writer. I felt like I was part of Harper's journey. And Harper is also a fantastic writer!

"I don't know if you will like our coffee because it's made with chicory, but it goes well with beignets."

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****