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Home and Away
Spanning eighty years, from Nashville in the 1930s and 1940s to present-day Chicago, this sweeping novel draws on the turbulent history of the Negro Baseball Leagues, as the great-granddaughter of a former player sets out to tell her family’s story—and redefine her own.
Harper Fleming is done with being passed over. As a journalist for a Chicago newspaper, she’s been refused a shot at the sportswriter position she longs for. And her on again/off again relationship is going nowhere. Leaving both behind, she heads to Nashville, Tennessee, where she plans to interview her grandfather, Bernard Fleming, for a book about her great-grandfather Kelton Fleming’s time in the Negro Baseball Leagues.
When Bernard admits to experiencing health issues within days of her arrival, Harper assumes the responsibility of caring for her widowed grandfather. However, when she mentions his father playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Bernard gives her a trove of letters, journals, and clippings encompassing Kelton’s career. But some stories are too personal to print without dishonoring the memory of her great-grandmother. Instead, with Bernard’s approval, Harper begins weaving them into a novel, telling her great-grandfather’s story through the eyes of the fictional Moses Gilliam.
Chapters flow effortlessly as Harper breathes life into each memory. Particularly intense are Kelton’s recollections of the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African Americans navigate the segregated South. Negro League teams relied on it as they traveled between games, hurrying out of unwelcoming towns before sundown to avoid the Klan.
As Harper delves into Kelton’s past, a piece of her own resurfaces in the form of Cheney, the childhood friend of her two brothers. And though Harper came to Nashville to honor her great-grandfather’s life, she’s finding inspiration to defy others’ expectations, and take her own in a bold new direction . . .
Harper Fleming is done with being passed over. As a journalist for a Chicago newspaper, she’s been refused a shot at the sportswriter position she longs for. And her on again/off again relationship is going nowhere. Leaving both behind, she heads to Nashville, Tennessee, where she plans to interview her grandfather, Bernard Fleming, for a book about her great-grandfather Kelton Fleming’s time in the Negro Baseball Leagues.
When Bernard admits to experiencing health issues within days of her arrival, Harper assumes the responsibility of caring for her widowed grandfather. However, when she mentions his father playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Bernard gives her a trove of letters, journals, and clippings encompassing Kelton’s career. But some stories are too personal to print without dishonoring the memory of her great-grandmother. Instead, with Bernard’s approval, Harper begins weaving them into a novel, telling her great-grandfather’s story through the eyes of the fictional Moses Gilliam.
Chapters flow effortlessly as Harper breathes life into each memory. Particularly intense are Kelton’s recollections of the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African Americans navigate the segregated South. Negro League teams relied on it as they traveled between games, hurrying out of unwelcoming towns before sundown to avoid the Klan.
As Harper delves into Kelton’s past, a piece of her own resurfaces in the form of Cheney, the childhood friend of her two brothers. And though Harper came to Nashville to honor her great-grandfather’s life, she’s finding inspiration to defy others’ expectations, and take her own in a bold new direction . . .
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 24, 2024
193 people are currently reading
3874 people want to read
About the author
Rochelle Alers
220 books1,051 followersRochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.
Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.
Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.
Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 20, 2024
Harper Fleming works as a journalist for a Chicago newspaper and she’s been overlooked again for the position as a sports reporter and she's sure it’s because she’s a woman. Harper takes an extended break over the summer and she decides to visit her widowed grandfather Bernard in Nashville, Tennessee. He mentions he found a box of his father Kelton's mementos when he moved and sold the family farm and Harper can’t wait to learn more about her great-grandfather.
Harper decides to write a book about her great-grandfather and how as a teenager he was signed up to play in the Negro Baseball League and for the Memphis Eagles and to protect her family’s privacy she refers to him as Moses Gillian in her novel.
Kelton wrote about his teammates, the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African American’s navigate the segregated and dangerous south, how they played up to three games a day and it was referred to as barnstorming. During the off season Kelton travelled to play ball in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Harper bumps into Cheney Sanders in Nashville and she never thought she would see him again and he’s a childhood friend of her older brothers and hung out at the farm during the summers and he loved her grandmothers cooking and she had a big crush on him.
Harper uncovers interesting things about her great-great-grandfather and his career in the 1930's and 1940's and how he met his bride to be and her great-grandmother. While wading through Kelton’s recollections, Harper discovers a big secret, she doesn't share this with anyone and include it in her narrative.
I received a copy of Home and Away by Rochelle Alders from Edelweiss Plus and Kensington publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. I have read one novel previously by the author and I was disappointed and it’s not the case this time.
It was fascinating reading about the Negro Baseball League, being an Australian I didn't know a lot a playing ball however I am a sports fan and it wasn't hard to follow. This dual timeline narrative is a story about family and marrying up, race and racism, history and secrets, issues and moving forward.
Five stars from me, I highly recommend Home and Away a well written and engaging book, full of subjects and topics that are still relevant and happening today.
Harper decides to write a book about her great-grandfather and how as a teenager he was signed up to play in the Negro Baseball League and for the Memphis Eagles and to protect her family’s privacy she refers to him as Moses Gillian in her novel.
Kelton wrote about his teammates, the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African American’s navigate the segregated and dangerous south, how they played up to three games a day and it was referred to as barnstorming. During the off season Kelton travelled to play ball in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Harper bumps into Cheney Sanders in Nashville and she never thought she would see him again and he’s a childhood friend of her older brothers and hung out at the farm during the summers and he loved her grandmothers cooking and she had a big crush on him.
Harper uncovers interesting things about her great-great-grandfather and his career in the 1930's and 1940's and how he met his bride to be and her great-grandmother. While wading through Kelton’s recollections, Harper discovers a big secret, she doesn't share this with anyone and include it in her narrative.
I received a copy of Home and Away by Rochelle Alders from Edelweiss Plus and Kensington publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. I have read one novel previously by the author and I was disappointed and it’s not the case this time.
It was fascinating reading about the Negro Baseball League, being an Australian I didn't know a lot a playing ball however I am a sports fan and it wasn't hard to follow. This dual timeline narrative is a story about family and marrying up, race and racism, history and secrets, issues and moving forward.
Five stars from me, I highly recommend Home and Away a well written and engaging book, full of subjects and topics that are still relevant and happening today.
December 22, 2024
About 30% of the way through, I just knew this was going to be a 5-star read for me! Watching our main character, Harper, bring her great-grandfather's journals to life in a novel was enjoyable , and the dual timeline made it even better. I absolutely loved the little history bits sprinkled throughout the story! I found myself Googling the people and moments mentioned, eager to learn more. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you’ve got to pick this one up ASAP! Trust me, it’s that good!
December 20, 2024
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.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on 12.11.24.
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.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on 12.11.24.
December 31, 2024
Harper Fleming has had it up to here with being denied a chance to do sports reporting for a weekly Chicago newspaper. After all, her father, Daniel Fleming, is a former big leaguer and Baseball Hall of Famer doing TV coverage for the Chicago White Sox. However, Harper does not want to get opportunities by trading on her father's name but on her own merit. She quits her newspaper job and heads to Nashville to spend time with her grandfather and write a book about her great grandfather, Kelton Fleming, and his career in the Negro Leagues. What she discovers is not only the story of her great-grandfather but also a window into the treatment of Blacks in a Jim Crow society and of women in the post-depression/WWII era.
As a baseball fan, I enjoyed this book. Although I knew of a few players in the Negro Leagues, I didn't know many. Home and Away has made me want to discover more about the League and the players. I also liked the female characters and the choices they made to try to protect their families and assure a future for their daughters. Frankly, I would like to read a book based around the character of Winnie Chess-a smart businesswoman who knew what she wanted and how to navigate in a racist and misogynistic society.
So, without giving too much away, I will say that the main characters were well developed (although I would like to have seen more about a secondary character, Inez). I liked the way Kelton's story came together and aided Harper on her new path. I will definitely read more of Ms. Alers' books. A 4.5 for me rounded to a 5.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC and offer my honest opinion.
As a baseball fan, I enjoyed this book. Although I knew of a few players in the Negro Leagues, I didn't know many. Home and Away has made me want to discover more about the League and the players. I also liked the female characters and the choices they made to try to protect their families and assure a future for their daughters. Frankly, I would like to read a book based around the character of Winnie Chess-a smart businesswoman who knew what she wanted and how to navigate in a racist and misogynistic society.
So, without giving too much away, I will say that the main characters were well developed (although I would like to have seen more about a secondary character, Inez). I liked the way Kelton's story came together and aided Harper on her new path. I will definitely read more of Ms. Alers' books. A 4.5 for me rounded to a 5.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC and offer my honest opinion.
February 7, 2025
I believe this was a great find, but there are some issues I have with the storyline. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and this book gave me what I needed. Historical accuracy mixed into the history of the characters. I loved how the author blending two different timelines of Harper and the retelling of her great grandfathers journals as well.
But. Why is there a whole section about a woman owning the ball team, her background, and her torrid love life when she is barely pertinent to Gilliam's life? She's a blip in the story. for why? Also, the cutesy "I love you but don't know you" stuff got on my nerves! It made no sense to me but hey not my creative license to critique. It may be great for others but not me.
One last thing, historical accuracy was present, but there was little detail about historical events impacting the characters lives. I would have loved the author to lean into these more and discuss how it impacted the lives of the characters and the families. We got a lot of info about Jim Crow in America but not enough about how Vietnam and WWII also impacted their futures
Overall yes it's worth a read.
But. Why is there a whole section about a woman owning the ball team, her background, and her torrid love life when she is barely pertinent to Gilliam's life? She's a blip in the story. for why? Also, the cutesy "I love you but don't know you" stuff got on my nerves! It made no sense to me but hey not my creative license to critique. It may be great for others but not me.
One last thing, historical accuracy was present, but there was little detail about historical events impacting the characters lives. I would have loved the author to lean into these more and discuss how it impacted the lives of the characters and the families. We got a lot of info about Jim Crow in America but not enough about how Vietnam and WWII also impacted their futures
Overall yes it's worth a read.
May 15, 2025
Home and Away by Rochelle Alers (2024)
X+358-page Paperback story pages 1-356
Genre: Historical Fiction, African-American Fiction
Featuring: Book Covers for Take The Long Way Home, The Seaside Café, and The Beach House; Bibliography for Rochelle Alers, Epigraph, Letter From Author, Baseball, Newspaper Journalist, Black-Owned Paper, Aspiring Sports Writer, Chicago, Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Negro League, Grandfather, Retirees, Chicago White Sox, Road Trip, 2020s, 1930s, 1940s, Fictional Account of Journals, Sex - Discussed & Fade Out, Racism, Story Within a Story, Memorial Day, Historical Events, Fixing Games, The Great Depression, Greenwood, Rosewood, Red Summer, Multiple POVs, Dual Time Periods, Infidelity, Family Saga, Family Dynamics, Discussion Questions
Rating as a movie: PG-13/ PG-15 for adult content and language
Books and Authors mentioned: Take The Long Way Home by Rochelle Alers, The Seaside Café by Rochelle Alers - Book Club #1, The Beach House by Rochelle Alers - Book Club #2, The Book of Proverbs by King Solomon, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas with Auguste Maquet, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas with Auguste Maquet, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, The Negro Motorist Green Book by Victor Hugo Green, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Claude Brown, Elridge Cleaver, Zora Neale Hurston, Angela Davis, William Shakespeare, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½📰⚾️🧢👨🏿🌾
My thoughts: 📖 Page 68 of 358 Chapter 6 - I was a bit confused as the woman on the cover is on an old train and so far there's no train and the historical character is a man. This story is about a journalist writing a fictionalized version of her great-grandfather's journals. It's okay, I'm having the usual issue that I dislike Alers telling instead of showing writing style, but the story makes up for it.
📖 104 Chapter 9 - I'm not feeling either story at the moment, so it's going to the back of the line.
📖 165 Chapter 14 - I think I know who the woman on the cover is now. This is starting to remind me of assigned and independent reading selections during high school.
This was okay, I didn't enjoy the writing style, but the story was decent. It was a bit sugar-coated, but that makes it teen-friendly.
Recommend to others: Yes. I'm sure most people will enjoy it more than I did due to my show-not-tell bias.
X+358-page Paperback story pages 1-356
Genre: Historical Fiction, African-American Fiction
Featuring: Book Covers for Take The Long Way Home, The Seaside Café, and The Beach House; Bibliography for Rochelle Alers, Epigraph, Letter From Author, Baseball, Newspaper Journalist, Black-Owned Paper, Aspiring Sports Writer, Chicago, Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Negro League, Grandfather, Retirees, Chicago White Sox, Road Trip, 2020s, 1930s, 1940s, Fictional Account of Journals, Sex - Discussed & Fade Out, Racism, Story Within a Story, Memorial Day, Historical Events, Fixing Games, The Great Depression, Greenwood, Rosewood, Red Summer, Multiple POVs, Dual Time Periods, Infidelity, Family Saga, Family Dynamics, Discussion Questions
Rating as a movie: PG-13/ PG-15 for adult content and language
Books and Authors mentioned: Take The Long Way Home by Rochelle Alers, The Seaside Café by Rochelle Alers - Book Club #1, The Beach House by Rochelle Alers - Book Club #2, The Book of Proverbs by King Solomon, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas with Auguste Maquet, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas with Auguste Maquet, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, The Negro Motorist Green Book by Victor Hugo Green, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Claude Brown, Elridge Cleaver, Zora Neale Hurston, Angela Davis, William Shakespeare, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½📰⚾️🧢👨🏿🌾
My thoughts: 📖 Page 68 of 358 Chapter 6 - I was a bit confused as the woman on the cover is on an old train and so far there's no train and the historical character is a man. This story is about a journalist writing a fictionalized version of her great-grandfather's journals. It's okay, I'm having the usual issue that I dislike Alers telling instead of showing writing style, but the story makes up for it.
📖 104 Chapter 9 - I'm not feeling either story at the moment, so it's going to the back of the line.
📖 165 Chapter 14 - I think I know who the woman on the cover is now. This is starting to remind me of assigned and independent reading selections during high school.
This was okay, I didn't enjoy the writing style, but the story was decent. It was a bit sugar-coated, but that makes it teen-friendly.
Recommend to others: Yes. I'm sure most people will enjoy it more than I did due to my show-not-tell bias.
February 11, 2025
I absolutely loved Harper. I also liked how the story she was writing about her great-grandfather was included in the book.
I just absolutely loved it.
I just absolutely loved it.
December 15, 2024
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.*
*I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
January 20, 2025
This book is fabulous and a new author to me and I hope to read more
March 9, 2025
While I enjoyed the premise of the book and the way it was written (snippets of the author in the present day and snippets of the book she was writing), there were many errors, repetitiveness, and unrealistic dialogue that kept me from giving the book a higher rating. Things like accidentally mis-spelling a character's name (Edgar Donnelly to Connelly back to Donnelly), repetitive dialogue while describing the main character's history, and historical events, many times over, and also some errors when describing baseball games (Moses was fifth in the lineup, then after explaining the inning and outs prior him to batting, he was actually sixth; a cleanup hitter being instructed to bunt with runners on base, and Moses randomly deciding to become a switch hitter while playing overseas and becoming successful at it in a few months). The Black Sox scandal had already been described in the book before Moses was given a speech about rules of the team, which included no gambling, and a character went on to describe the entire event in detail again (do people really talk like that?!)). The ending also seemed rushed and there were large lapses in time after Moses got married to end it. I think the book would have been better served if it had described his life (like it was supposed to) instead of just the first year in the league. It seems to me that this book could have used a heavier dose of editing to eliminate a lot of these issues. It's a shame, because it was an interesting story and could have been much better.
September 8, 2024
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."
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."
February 22, 2025
Harper Fleming has left behind her job with a Chicago paper and her on again/off again boyfriend to spend the summer with her grandfather in Tennessee. For too long she has waited for the opportunity to be promoted to a sportswriter, only to get excuses as to why she isn't right for the job, including the fact that she's a woman. One of her favorite places to visit during her childhood summers was her grandparents farm. She hopes to recreate that feeling of comfort and security by staying with her recently widowed grandfather and finally write the book she's been wanting to write about her great-grandfather and his time in the Negro Baseball Leagues during the 1930's and 1940's. Perhaps along the way, she can redefine her own life.
Harper's grandfather had saved all of his father's journals from his father's time playing baseball. He never had the desire to read them, but he was willing to let Harper do so, and they would become the main source for her novel. She decided against writing a biography of her great-grandfather's life, knowing it might tarnish her family's reputation she discover any sort of scandal, especially given her father's public life as a former professional baseball player, now sports broadcaster. The story of Harper rediscovering what it is she truly wants in life is interwoven with that of the novel she is writing, the story of a fictional baseball player who is desperate to play ball, loosely based on her great-grandfather's life.
While I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish with the novel, the novel within the novel aspect did not entirely work for me. Perhaps the meta novel was meant to be a snapshot of what Harper was writing, but I did not read it that way. I was expecting it to hold its own along side the contemporary storyline. And so it seemed like certain aspects were rushed and others left incomplete, leaving me wanting more. Even so, I thought the overall novel had a lot going for it too. The main and minor characters, including those in Harper's novel, were all well-developed with strong backstories. I was fully invested in Moses, Winnie, and Sallie-Ann's stories just as much as I was Harper's and her old childhood friend Cheney's stories. I especially liked those moments when Harper reflected on the characters she created, relating them to her own life just as much as she did with her great-grandfather's story and history itself.
I found Harper to be a very relatable character. Her fierce independence and wanting to prove to the world that she was able to do it all on her own, is something I can relate to. She is also very protective of her heart. Running into her brothers' old childhood friend and getting reacquainted with him causes her to have to re-evaluate some of the rules she's put in place. I loved her grandfather. There's one scene in which he confronts Harper with some hard truths and her life in general, and even I admit they made me stop and think.
While Harper's main character, Moses, is the main focus of her novel, the women she wrote about stood out even more for me. While some of them took on more tradition roles in their lives, others, like Winnie, the owner of her own baseball league, definitely was not. All of the women in Rochelle Alers novel were strong and intelligent women.
There is a lot of baseball talk and baseball history in the novel, which may be off-putting to those not interested in the sport, but regardless, the history was fascinating. I knew so little of the Negro Baseball Leagues going into this novel, and now I find myself wanting to know more. Alers also gives us a look at life in the South (and beyond) during the 1930’s and 1940’s, with the Jim Crow laws and prejudice against people of color on high display. The fear these baseball players felt going into some of these towns, the discrimination they faced, was all too real. It wasn’t unheard of for them to be taken advantage of by their own league owners, having them sign contracts they couldn’t read because they hadn’t been afforded the opportunity to learn. The contrasts between the treatment of the Black players in Latin America where they played in the winter was immense. It made coming back to the U.S. in the spring particularly difficult and frustrating.
I thought this would be a perfect book to feature this month, for Black History Month. Not only does it feature a popular American past-time, but it also reflects a part of US history, both good and bad. As I see headlines today of attacks on diversity programs in workplaces and in education, it makes me sad—and mad. Mad that the powerful are championing the cause of racists, misogynists, ableists, and ageists to discriminate against those who appear differently than they do. These baseball players were amazing at their sport and many were probably better than their white counterparts. But because they were Black, they were looked down upon and treated poorly. Diversity programs in schools and in workplaces were set up to help educate and prevent discrimination and to create equal opportunity. The benefits of such programs have been documented over and over again. It would be nice if such programs weren’t necessary, but we’re already seeing the reasons why they are still very much needed—just by looking around and hearing what is going on in our communities and around the country today.
Harper's grandfather had saved all of his father's journals from his father's time playing baseball. He never had the desire to read them, but he was willing to let Harper do so, and they would become the main source for her novel. She decided against writing a biography of her great-grandfather's life, knowing it might tarnish her family's reputation she discover any sort of scandal, especially given her father's public life as a former professional baseball player, now sports broadcaster. The story of Harper rediscovering what it is she truly wants in life is interwoven with that of the novel she is writing, the story of a fictional baseball player who is desperate to play ball, loosely based on her great-grandfather's life.
While I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish with the novel, the novel within the novel aspect did not entirely work for me. Perhaps the meta novel was meant to be a snapshot of what Harper was writing, but I did not read it that way. I was expecting it to hold its own along side the contemporary storyline. And so it seemed like certain aspects were rushed and others left incomplete, leaving me wanting more. Even so, I thought the overall novel had a lot going for it too. The main and minor characters, including those in Harper's novel, were all well-developed with strong backstories. I was fully invested in Moses, Winnie, and Sallie-Ann's stories just as much as I was Harper's and her old childhood friend Cheney's stories. I especially liked those moments when Harper reflected on the characters she created, relating them to her own life just as much as she did with her great-grandfather's story and history itself.
I found Harper to be a very relatable character. Her fierce independence and wanting to prove to the world that she was able to do it all on her own, is something I can relate to. She is also very protective of her heart. Running into her brothers' old childhood friend and getting reacquainted with him causes her to have to re-evaluate some of the rules she's put in place. I loved her grandfather. There's one scene in which he confronts Harper with some hard truths and her life in general, and even I admit they made me stop and think.
While Harper's main character, Moses, is the main focus of her novel, the women she wrote about stood out even more for me. While some of them took on more tradition roles in their lives, others, like Winnie, the owner of her own baseball league, definitely was not. All of the women in Rochelle Alers novel were strong and intelligent women.
There is a lot of baseball talk and baseball history in the novel, which may be off-putting to those not interested in the sport, but regardless, the history was fascinating. I knew so little of the Negro Baseball Leagues going into this novel, and now I find myself wanting to know more. Alers also gives us a look at life in the South (and beyond) during the 1930’s and 1940’s, with the Jim Crow laws and prejudice against people of color on high display. The fear these baseball players felt going into some of these towns, the discrimination they faced, was all too real. It wasn’t unheard of for them to be taken advantage of by their own league owners, having them sign contracts they couldn’t read because they hadn’t been afforded the opportunity to learn. The contrasts between the treatment of the Black players in Latin America where they played in the winter was immense. It made coming back to the U.S. in the spring particularly difficult and frustrating.
I thought this would be a perfect book to feature this month, for Black History Month. Not only does it feature a popular American past-time, but it also reflects a part of US history, both good and bad. As I see headlines today of attacks on diversity programs in workplaces and in education, it makes me sad—and mad. Mad that the powerful are championing the cause of racists, misogynists, ableists, and ageists to discriminate against those who appear differently than they do. These baseball players were amazing at their sport and many were probably better than their white counterparts. But because they were Black, they were looked down upon and treated poorly. Diversity programs in schools and in workplaces were set up to help educate and prevent discrimination and to create equal opportunity. The benefits of such programs have been documented over and over again. It would be nice if such programs weren’t necessary, but we’re already seeing the reasons why they are still very much needed—just by looking around and hearing what is going on in our communities and around the country today.
December 1, 2024
Harper Fleming is done with being passed over. As a journalist for a Chicago newspaper, she’s been refused a shot at the sportswriter position she longs for. And her on again/off again relationship is going nowhere. Leaving both behind, she heads to Nashville, Tennessee, where she plans to interview her grandfather, Bernard Fleming, for a book about her great-grandfather Kelton Fleming’s time in the Negro Baseball Leagues.
When Bernard admits to experiencing health issues within days of her arrival, Harper assumes the responsibility of caring for her widowed grandfather. However, when she mentions his father playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Bernard gives her a trove of letters, journals, and clippings encompassing Kelton’s career. But some stories are too personal to print without dishonoring the memory of her great-grandmother. Instead, with Bernard’s approval, Harper begins weaving them into a novel, telling her great-grandfather’s story through the eyes of the fictional Moses Gilliam.
Chapters flow effortlessly as Harper breathes life into each memory. Particularly intense are Kelton’s recollections of the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African Americans navigate the segregated South. Negro League teams relied on it as they traveled between games, hurrying out of unwelcoming towns before sundown to avoid the Klan.
As Harper delves into Kelton’s past, a piece of her own resurfaces in the form of Cheney, the childhood friend of her two brothers. And though Harper came to Nashville to honor her great-grandfather’s life, she’s finding inspiration to defy others’ expectations, and take her own in a bold new direction . . ..
*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.
When Bernard admits to experiencing health issues within days of her arrival, Harper assumes the responsibility of caring for her widowed grandfather. However, when she mentions his father playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Bernard gives her a trove of letters, journals, and clippings encompassing Kelton’s career. But some stories are too personal to print without dishonoring the memory of her great-grandmother. Instead, with Bernard’s approval, Harper begins weaving them into a novel, telling her great-grandfather’s story through the eyes of the fictional Moses Gilliam.
Chapters flow effortlessly as Harper breathes life into each memory. Particularly intense are Kelton’s recollections of the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African Americans navigate the segregated South. Negro League teams relied on it as they traveled between games, hurrying out of unwelcoming towns before sundown to avoid the Klan.
As Harper delves into Kelton’s past, a piece of her own resurfaces in the form of Cheney, the childhood friend of her two brothers. And though Harper came to Nashville to honor her great-grandfather’s life, she’s finding inspiration to defy others’ expectations, and take her own in a bold new direction . . ..
*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.
December 23, 2024
The game of baseball is often used as a metaphor for life, and Rochelle Alers does use a few metaphors in her historical novel titled Home and Away. The title refers to baseball, in this case, the Negro Leagues baseball teams. The story is told from two perspectives, present and past. The author has chosen a female journalist as her protagonist for the present, which is fitting, as the story also highlights the social status of women, particularly women of color, even in today’s world.
Harper Fleming is the daughter of a former star baseball player, and she’s been promised a chance at a sportswriter position at the Chicago newspaper where she’s employed. But she’s been passed over time and again; finally, enough is enough, and she gives her notice. She decides to drive down to Nashville to spend the summer with her elderly grandfather, who is thrilled to have her. She spends her time cooking his meals, cleaning, doing his laundry, and – oh, something else!
Harper’s great-grandfather, Kelton Fleming, had played professional baseball for the Memphis Eagles. She’s thrilled to learn that he had kept journal and that her grandfather had all his writings in boxes in the attic. This becomes the other part of the story, although Harper decides that she doesn’t want to air all her family’s “dirty laundry” in public. She creates a fictional character, Moses Gilliam, an 18-year-old who is not just a baseball phenom. He is smart enough to have turned down college scholarships when he could have gone to law school or medical school. He comes across as business-savvy, and he’s also a gentleman when it comes to young ladies. He is always kind and considerate to the young woman he meets in a bar and almost immediately decides she might be “the one.”
For those who don’t appreciate baseball, don’t worry. The book is not saturated with details about the sport. As someone who grew up following Major League Baseball, this was rather disappointing. The Negro Leagues still existed when I was a young girl, but only until sometime into the 1960s, I believe. Even so, I was familiar with some of the names – Satchel Paige and Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, of course; Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Minnie Minoso too.
However, the book is filled with tales of the road – home and away. Racism abounded. It was the age of Jim Crow, and players had to be aware of where they could and could not go in each city. White fans sometimes harassed the players, and players could be fined or suspended for fighting back. Kelton’s journals are also rife with recollections of sexism and philandering.
Meanwhile, Harper maintains that when the book is finished and summer is over, she’s returning to Chicago to look for another job. Unless – a certain someone she knows from her high school days turns out to be “the one.” Maybe there’s a “home run” in her future after all?
The author’s writing style didn’t immediately grab me. In fact, it wasn’t until well into the book that I really felt engaged with the characters. I did appreciate the history and the message, but the characters felt a bit stilted. Could this have been appropriate for the period? I don’t know, but I found that a bit of a road block. Nonetheless, I did find the finale to be quite satisfactory.
I received a digital copy of Home and Away as an ARC. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Ms. Rochelle Alers.
Harper Fleming is the daughter of a former star baseball player, and she’s been promised a chance at a sportswriter position at the Chicago newspaper where she’s employed. But she’s been passed over time and again; finally, enough is enough, and she gives her notice. She decides to drive down to Nashville to spend the summer with her elderly grandfather, who is thrilled to have her. She spends her time cooking his meals, cleaning, doing his laundry, and – oh, something else!
Harper’s great-grandfather, Kelton Fleming, had played professional baseball for the Memphis Eagles. She’s thrilled to learn that he had kept journal and that her grandfather had all his writings in boxes in the attic. This becomes the other part of the story, although Harper decides that she doesn’t want to air all her family’s “dirty laundry” in public. She creates a fictional character, Moses Gilliam, an 18-year-old who is not just a baseball phenom. He is smart enough to have turned down college scholarships when he could have gone to law school or medical school. He comes across as business-savvy, and he’s also a gentleman when it comes to young ladies. He is always kind and considerate to the young woman he meets in a bar and almost immediately decides she might be “the one.”
For those who don’t appreciate baseball, don’t worry. The book is not saturated with details about the sport. As someone who grew up following Major League Baseball, this was rather disappointing. The Negro Leagues still existed when I was a young girl, but only until sometime into the 1960s, I believe. Even so, I was familiar with some of the names – Satchel Paige and Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, of course; Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Minnie Minoso too.
However, the book is filled with tales of the road – home and away. Racism abounded. It was the age of Jim Crow, and players had to be aware of where they could and could not go in each city. White fans sometimes harassed the players, and players could be fined or suspended for fighting back. Kelton’s journals are also rife with recollections of sexism and philandering.
Meanwhile, Harper maintains that when the book is finished and summer is over, she’s returning to Chicago to look for another job. Unless – a certain someone she knows from her high school days turns out to be “the one.” Maybe there’s a “home run” in her future after all?
The author’s writing style didn’t immediately grab me. In fact, it wasn’t until well into the book that I really felt engaged with the characters. I did appreciate the history and the message, but the characters felt a bit stilted. Could this have been appropriate for the period? I don’t know, but I found that a bit of a road block. Nonetheless, I did find the finale to be quite satisfactory.
I received a digital copy of Home and Away as an ARC. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Ms. Rochelle Alers.
May 20, 2025
Harper Fleming works as a journalist for a Chicago newspaper and she’s been overlooked again for the position as a sports reporter and she's sure it’s because she’s a woman. Harper quits her job and she decides to visit her widowed grandfather Bernard in Nashville, Tennessee. He mentions he found a box of his father Kelton's mementos when he moved and sold the family farm and Harper can’t wait to learn more about her great-grandfather.
Harper decides to write a book about her great-grandfather and how as a teenager he was signed up to play in the Negro Baseball League and for the Memphis Eagles and to protect her family’s privacy she refers to him as Moses Gillian in her novel.
Kelton wrote about his teammates, the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African American’s navigate the segregated and dangerous south, how they played up to three games a day and it was referred to as barnstorming. During the off season Kelton traveled to play ball in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Harper bumps into Cheney Sanders in Nashville and she never thought she would see him again. He’s a childhood friend of her older brothers and hung out at the farm during the summers and she had a big crush on him.
Harper uncovers interesting things about her great-great-grandfather and his career in the 1930's and 1940's and how he met his bride to be and her great-grandmother. While wading through Kelton’s recollections, Harper discovers a big secret, she doesn't share this with anyone or include it in her narrative.
I enjoyed this story but the pacing was slow. Which made me think there was a book two. But then as I got closer to the end it was a rushed ending. Which is too bad because it was really a great story. I would have loved to learn more about baseball in it, where he went, the war he lived through and how he kept that affair with Inez going. I also didn't like how he was made out to be a great honest person yet he had a lifelong affair with another woman that he had a child with. I'm being told he's an honest good man and yet he is not. I think I would have liked to see the longer version of this story.
Harper decides to write a book about her great-grandfather and how as a teenager he was signed up to play in the Negro Baseball League and for the Memphis Eagles and to protect her family’s privacy she refers to him as Moses Gillian in her novel.
Kelton wrote about his teammates, the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African American’s navigate the segregated and dangerous south, how they played up to three games a day and it was referred to as barnstorming. During the off season Kelton traveled to play ball in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Harper bumps into Cheney Sanders in Nashville and she never thought she would see him again. He’s a childhood friend of her older brothers and hung out at the farm during the summers and she had a big crush on him.
Harper uncovers interesting things about her great-great-grandfather and his career in the 1930's and 1940's and how he met his bride to be and her great-grandmother. While wading through Kelton’s recollections, Harper discovers a big secret, she doesn't share this with anyone or include it in her narrative.
I enjoyed this story but the pacing was slow. Which made me think there was a book two. But then as I got closer to the end it was a rushed ending. Which is too bad because it was really a great story. I would have loved to learn more about baseball in it, where he went, the war he lived through and how he kept that affair with Inez going. I also didn't like how he was made out to be a great honest person yet he had a lifelong affair with another woman that he had a child with. I'm being told he's an honest good man and yet he is not. I think I would have liked to see the longer version of this story.
February 17, 2025
Home and Away is a book within a book. Harper Fleming works as a journalist for a Chicago newspaper and once again, the position for a sport's reporter has been given to a man. She quits and decides to go visit her grandfather in Nashville, Tennessee for the summer. When she arrives, he tells her that he found a box of his father's mementos. His dad, Kelton, played in the Negro Baseball League and she is excited to learn more about her great grandfather. His journals are in the box, so as she reads them, she decides to write his story. To protect her family's privacy, she calls her MC, Moses Gillian, and he plays for the Memphis Eagles.
I really enjoyed this book. It was like a dual timeline story, but the second timeline was her book based on Kelton's journals. I learned a lot about that time. Jim Crow laws were still observed in the south, and even though racism was not supposed to be as bad in the north, it definitely was. I didn't know about the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African American’s navigate the segregated and dangerous south. It shared where they could stay, eat, drink, shop etc. The teams traveled a lot and often played up to three games a day! They didn't make a lot, but it was better than working the fields or in the mines. The present day story had Harper meeting up with an old friend. He was a good friend of her brothers and spent a lot of time at their house growing up. As they have matured, they begin to have feelings for one another and perhaps, Harper might not return to Chicago? I enjoyed both of these storylines and think this book is a good one to show that although African Americans have more rights and freedoms than they did back in the 20s to the 40s, there is still a long way to go. Patricia R. Floyd narrates this book and does a great job. She gives voice to the various characters and adds just enough emotion to bring the book to life.
I really enjoyed this book. It was like a dual timeline story, but the second timeline was her book based on Kelton's journals. I learned a lot about that time. Jim Crow laws were still observed in the south, and even though racism was not supposed to be as bad in the north, it definitely was. I didn't know about the Green Book, an annual guidebook that helped African American’s navigate the segregated and dangerous south. It shared where they could stay, eat, drink, shop etc. The teams traveled a lot and often played up to three games a day! They didn't make a lot, but it was better than working the fields or in the mines. The present day story had Harper meeting up with an old friend. He was a good friend of her brothers and spent a lot of time at their house growing up. As they have matured, they begin to have feelings for one another and perhaps, Harper might not return to Chicago? I enjoyed both of these storylines and think this book is a good one to show that although African Americans have more rights and freedoms than they did back in the 20s to the 40s, there is still a long way to go. Patricia R. Floyd narrates this book and does a great job. She gives voice to the various characters and adds just enough emotion to bring the book to life.
November 20, 2024
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 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.
February 21, 2025
This was a most enjoyable book. If you like baseball, it’s even better! It was easy to read even though there were two different stories being told concurrently. Occasionally I got lost following two generations back trying to remember who was who. I really admired Harper, main character, for being her own person despite being part of a privileged family.
Although the writing is straightforward and easy to read, I did find the character Sallie Anne to be a bit unrealistic. Unless I just don’t realize that young people were more mature in the mid 1930’s, she seemed wise beyond her years. Considering her home environment, I thought her vocabulary at times was more academic that I would expect. Moses was almost too perfect, though by the end of the book he did demonstrate a few flaws.
The best thing about the book was the opportunity to learn more about the Negro Baseball League and what the players endured. I had no idea that Latin leagues even existed. Today, players from Latin American countries make up a significant portion of major league baseball, and African American players a very small percent.
The end of the book seemed to end abruptly, though all pieces were nicely tied together.
Although the writing is straightforward and easy to read, I did find the character Sallie Anne to be a bit unrealistic. Unless I just don’t realize that young people were more mature in the mid 1930’s, she seemed wise beyond her years. Considering her home environment, I thought her vocabulary at times was more academic that I would expect. Moses was almost too perfect, though by the end of the book he did demonstrate a few flaws.
The best thing about the book was the opportunity to learn more about the Negro Baseball League and what the players endured. I had no idea that Latin leagues even existed. Today, players from Latin American countries make up a significant portion of major league baseball, and African American players a very small percent.
The end of the book seemed to end abruptly, though all pieces were nicely tied together.
June 12, 2025
I’m rating this book 3.5⭐️ because I was disappointed in how quickly the story ends. See it’s a dual story line. The book starts in the now when Harper quits her newspaper job in Chicago then heads to Nashville to spend the summer with her grandfather. She wants to write a book about her great-grandfather who played baseball in the Negro League based upon the journals he kept while playing baseball.
The alternate story is the tale of Moses Gilliam, who is the fictionalized version of Harper’s great-grandfather. It tells of his decision to play baseball and his adventures while on the road. The story of how he met his wife and the other woman in his life. This actuality was the more interesting story in the book. The racism Gilliam experienced in both the segregated south and the north, his ambition and determination, how he was a well read, educated Black man when circumstances kept Black people down. How he met and married Sallie Ann, his wife. There was a depth to this part of the story that was lacking in the future part.
The love story of Harper and Cheney gets shortchanged…everything is just so rushed. And I wanted to know more about them…that’s what annoyed me about the book.
Borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited.
The alternate story is the tale of Moses Gilliam, who is the fictionalized version of Harper’s great-grandfather. It tells of his decision to play baseball and his adventures while on the road. The story of how he met his wife and the other woman in his life. This actuality was the more interesting story in the book. The racism Gilliam experienced in both the segregated south and the north, his ambition and determination, how he was a well read, educated Black man when circumstances kept Black people down. How he met and married Sallie Ann, his wife. There was a depth to this part of the story that was lacking in the future part.
The love story of Harper and Cheney gets shortchanged…everything is just so rushed. And I wanted to know more about them…that’s what annoyed me about the book.
Borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited.
January 31, 2025
Such an informative historical fiction story on Negro baseball league and segregation. Harper is a city girl from Chicago that decides to stay with her grandfather after a work issue and needs an escape. She wants to go back to her family roots in Tennessee and write a book about her great grandfather under the alias Moses to give her family privacy. This book was a page turner with so much information, the Green book for safe travels, & a story that unfolds with Moses and Sallie Anne. Harper continues to write to her hearts desire and while on a break runs into a childhood crush that confesses his feelings for her. Harper uses every excuse in the book to fight off the mutual feelings because she wants to finish her book and swears she doesn’t need a man in her life. I really loved that the story bounced back and forth to the present with Harper and the past with “Moses”. The only reason why it wasn’t a five star read was because it seemed a bit rushed at the end with both stories. I loved the authors writing style and would definitely read more of her work. Thankful for a complimentary copy for my honest opinion.
December 24, 2024
I would give book a minimum of 4.5 stars. It is historical fiction, but it is a story within a story. You get snippets of the past interwoven into present times.
This story starts out at a pivotal moment. The main character, Harper, learns she will not be promoted to sports journalist. She decides to leave Chicago and head to Nashville to 1) spend the summer with her grandfather, Bernard, and 2) write a novel about her great-grandfather, Kelton, who played in the Negro baseball league.
Harper has lived a privileged life, but is struggling to find herself. Bernard, gives Harper his father's journals, and Harper takes on the task of writing her great-grandfather's story. She learns about family drama, family trauma, and family secrets. I absolutely loved how Harper writes bits of herself into the characters of her book and notices the parallels. I wasn't expecting a love story, but the author snuck that in, as well.
I truly enjoyed reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this wonderful story.
This story starts out at a pivotal moment. The main character, Harper, learns she will not be promoted to sports journalist. She decides to leave Chicago and head to Nashville to 1) spend the summer with her grandfather, Bernard, and 2) write a novel about her great-grandfather, Kelton, who played in the Negro baseball league.
Harper has lived a privileged life, but is struggling to find herself. Bernard, gives Harper his father's journals, and Harper takes on the task of writing her great-grandfather's story. She learns about family drama, family trauma, and family secrets. I absolutely loved how Harper writes bits of herself into the characters of her book and notices the parallels. I wasn't expecting a love story, but the author snuck that in, as well.
I truly enjoyed reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this wonderful story.
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May 19, 2025I gave this book 3 stars instead of 5 because there were times when the story did not keep my attention. There were a lot of characters in this book but understandably so, because it was two stories in one which I really loved that concept. I really loved the fact that Harper could quit her job and go spend time with her grandfather. Moses knew he wanted to be a baseball player and that he was. He was a smart man. Moses found his love in Sally Mae even though he had an affair. I am so glad no real trouble found Moses why he was playing ball. Winnie was smart and rich. I liked her character.i felt sorry for Sally Mae with what happened to her with her childbearing. Harper’s story was just ok. I was happy for her and Cheney though. He was a good catch. I loved how they took care of Bernard. Oh my favorite part of the whole story was when Moses brought her mother a sewing machine. I loved it.
Overall this was an ok story.
Overall this was an ok story.
November 7, 2024
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.
February 4, 2025
Usually historical fiction I end up really enjoying but it takes me longer to read. This was the opposite, I was completely drawn to this story by chapter 2 or 3. Harper is an aspiring sports journalist who ends up finding her own self worth and quitting her job to write a novel. Harper‘s life crosses paths with the historical fictional characters, resulting from the writings of her great grandfather, and the experiences he had documented meticulously. I feel that I could’ve read about these characters, especially Harper, Moses, Sallie Ann, Inez, and Bernard for ages. I’m sad it ended or maybe I’m sad it had just started.
I would most definitely love to try another book by this author. Well done and happy reading!
I would most definitely love to try another book by this author. Well done and happy reading!
August 27, 2025
I have had the opportunity to read many of Rochelle Alers books and she always amazes me with her writing style, characters and plots. Baseball is one of the sports that I can absolutely identify with and know what is going on. Harper is a Chicago journalist and has been passed over for a position for being a sportswriter. She goes to Tennessee to interview her grandfather and learns so much from him about the Negro Baseball League. It was great learning about the Negro Baseball Leagues as they travelled from state to state and everything that they endured. This was truly a historical retelling of the Negro Baseball League.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
January 21, 2025
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one as it took a while to get interesting. While obviously the author did a lot of research and I learned about a part of history I knew nothing about, I'm not very passionate about baseball. And the changing between past and present seemed a bit abrupt, it didn't flow easily. However, the story evolved more into relationships and became much more enjoyable as the different timelines intertwined. Overall it was a worthwhile read and I'm glad I stuck with it. My thanks to Kensington Publishing for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2025
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. Something just didn't click with me and this story. I think it's because I spent way more time with the fictional protagonist's life vs the female MC. I also feel the female MC was 2-D (a successful, independent woman who doesn't need a man) and lacked dynamism. I hated how both her great grandfather and grandfather were adulterers and that childhood love story came out of nowhere. Moses' story plodded along and felt redundant because the female MC repeated herself often.
Despite that, it was interesting when I could muster up the interest to continue reading.
Despite that, it was interesting when I could muster up the interest to continue reading.
April 26, 2025
Rated 4.5 Stars
Rochelle Alers has done it again, sucked me into a story from the first line. Home and Away was amazing. It's told in dual timelines featuring Harper and her great grandfather's stories. There are two love stories unfolding concurrently packed with secrets and some twists thrown in. This book was an absolute joy to read. It was both interesting and informative without the info dumping. I loved the way the author weaved both tales seamlessly, to me it was so very well done. I still don't understand baseball but what an awesome story and experience this was. I highly recommend it.
Copy provided by publisher through NetGalley
Rochelle Alers has done it again, sucked me into a story from the first line. Home and Away was amazing. It's told in dual timelines featuring Harper and her great grandfather's stories. There are two love stories unfolding concurrently packed with secrets and some twists thrown in. This book was an absolute joy to read. It was both interesting and informative without the info dumping. I loved the way the author weaved both tales seamlessly, to me it was so very well done. I still don't understand baseball but what an awesome story and experience this was. I highly recommend it.
Copy provided by publisher through NetGalley
November 11, 2024
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.
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.
August 23, 2025
An interesting premise that had me wanting to read this novel. There are two stories in this novel. Moses and Harper's story. I enjoy historical novels and this novel gave a lot of information about Moses' first year in the Negro League. The switching between the 1930's and modern day was developed well. The cover did not depict the story well. I was expecting it to be more about a woman and her love of baseball. Luckily I read the back of the book and got a better idea about the story. I recommend this for historical, sports and Rochelle Alers fans.
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