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Nola Fran Evie
They were unladylike rebels, three young women abandoning rolling pins for baseball bats to join the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. They changed history and that changed them. After the league folds in 1954 Nola, Fran, and Evie meet by chance on a popcorn-scented summer day where it all began…Wrigley Field, Chicago. They team up once again to fight for a pivotal cause these dames can only win by uniting as one.
Inside these ball players lies a fierce beauty, an unconventional destiny beyond the kitchen. Foregoing the American dream of sparkling cars and pastel suburbia, together they face up to the reality of nuclear drills and civil rights. Their story is uncovered nearly forty years later when Jacks Demonte discovers a trail of clues tucked away in a vintage handbag. The extraordinary lives of these women intersect with Demonte’s as she falls deeper into a heroic past.
Nola Fran Evie is available for $3.99 on Amazon...http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSYBLAA
Inside these ball players lies a fierce beauty, an unconventional destiny beyond the kitchen. Foregoing the American dream of sparkling cars and pastel suburbia, together they face up to the reality of nuclear drills and civil rights. Their story is uncovered nearly forty years later when Jacks Demonte discovers a trail of clues tucked away in a vintage handbag. The extraordinary lives of these women intersect with Demonte’s as she falls deeper into a heroic past.
Nola Fran Evie is available for $3.99 on Amazon...http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSYBLAA
270 pages, ebook
First published July 13, 2014
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Britt Skrabanek
3 books25 followersBritt Skrabanek is a fiction author living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She enjoys writing about bold female characters who use their misconstrued sass and wit for good, no matter how sticky the situation may be. She is blissfully married, has two delightfully incorrigible cats and loves to experience the world--all of its quirky beauty inspires her endlessly. Her favorite authors are Ken Follett and Ian McEwan. When she's not writing, she's a bike riding Yogi who loves to hike and dance.
Books Available on Amazon
- Nola Fran Evie... http://www.amzn.com/dp/B00LSYBLAA
- Everything's Not Bigger... http://www.amzn.com/dp/B00A1TZ8NE
- Beneath the Satin Gloves... http://amzn.com/dp/B008OJVB98
Books Available on Amazon
- Nola Fran Evie... http://www.amzn.com/dp/B00LSYBLAA
- Everything's Not Bigger... http://www.amzn.com/dp/B00A1TZ8NE
- Beneath the Satin Gloves... http://amzn.com/dp/B008OJVB98
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 24, 2014
My blogging friend Britt Skrabanek has written a fun, fast-paced novel about three strong women who form a lifelong bond in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. (This was the league formed in 1942 to fill the void the war brought to Major League baseball.) Although there are a few early scenes at Wrigley Field, don’t expect lots of baseball games with pitchers staring down spitting batters. This book is really about the women’s disparate struggles after the league ended in 1954.
The league not only brings Nola, Fran and Evie together; while in it, each woman meets the man who, for better or worse, will change her life. Much of the action takes place in Chicago on hot summer days of the 1950s, after the men have returned from the war and the women are supposed to retreat to the suburbs. But Nola, Fran and Evie are not equipped to go quietly.
Their story is actually a story within the story of Jacks, a young contemporary businesswoman in Chicago who is heading to London for a new job, but who feels lost and empty. As she is packing up her apartment, a plate of laced brownies left by a mysterious neighbor and a vintage purse from a keepsake box send Jacks on a reverie about the purse’s owner.
Skrabanek knows baseball and she knows brisk plotting and crisp dialogue. She deftly ties together the story of the “imagined” trio with Jacks’ own story in a romantic, heartfelt way. Brava, Britt!
The league not only brings Nola, Fran and Evie together; while in it, each woman meets the man who, for better or worse, will change her life. Much of the action takes place in Chicago on hot summer days of the 1950s, after the men have returned from the war and the women are supposed to retreat to the suburbs. But Nola, Fran and Evie are not equipped to go quietly.
Their story is actually a story within the story of Jacks, a young contemporary businesswoman in Chicago who is heading to London for a new job, but who feels lost and empty. As she is packing up her apartment, a plate of laced brownies left by a mysterious neighbor and a vintage purse from a keepsake box send Jacks on a reverie about the purse’s owner.
Skrabanek knows baseball and she knows brisk plotting and crisp dialogue. She deftly ties together the story of the “imagined” trio with Jacks’ own story in a romantic, heartfelt way. Brava, Britt!
July 11, 2016
Britt Skrabanek was brave to write this, a book outside the boundaries of genre literature. But she followed her heart and penned a portrait of three baseball-playing women: their struggles, their hopes and fears, their relationships. Chronologically, it flits around but mostly it's in the fascinating 1950s, when their baseball playing days are over. Through an accumulation of details, both the context and the women's psychology are captured with great sensitivity. Don't expect a roller coaster plot here - what matters is daily life in all its imperfections, failures and successes, sadness and smiles. And above all, the gumption and resilience of the three women, so different and yet all so likeable because so human. Though I might on occasion have trimmed a few sentences, lightened the style somewhat, the writing is always assured and a special mention goes to the dialogue, which is never less than superb.
June 4, 2019
A terrific, well-crafted literary novel with memorable characters. The prose is terrific, and the dialogue is clever and snappy. Highly recommended, especially to lovers of literary and historical fiction.
November 12, 2014
I enjoyed Nola Fran Evie by Britt Skrabanek very much. The obviously talented author has spun a tale that caught my interest from the start. Before opening the first page I thought this was going to be ‘chick-lit’ and I probably wouldn't like it, but I was so wrong.
I enjoyed ‘A League of Their Own’ so expected something similar, but this story was much more. Women in the 40’s and 50’s were not supposed to be independent, willful and athletic. Nola, Fran and Evie were all those things and at the same time women who touched me in a surprising way. I would love to know each of them.
The author created characters that were so different one would think they could never get along much less become so dependent on one another’s friendship, but that’s exactly what happened.
I won’t go into details of the story because this book should be enjoyed by readers in their own personal way.
I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy a good story that will leave you thinking about the characters long after you put the book down.
I enjoyed ‘A League of Their Own’ so expected something similar, but this story was much more. Women in the 40’s and 50’s were not supposed to be independent, willful and athletic. Nola, Fran and Evie were all those things and at the same time women who touched me in a surprising way. I would love to know each of them.
The author created characters that were so different one would think they could never get along much less become so dependent on one another’s friendship, but that’s exactly what happened.
I won’t go into details of the story because this book should be enjoyed by readers in their own personal way.
I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy a good story that will leave you thinking about the characters long after you put the book down.
January 21, 2018
It has been a while since I've had the chamce to read a book I can't put down and actually not put
it down!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In the beginning it felt almost like a copy or add-on to the belove (to me) movie "A League of Their Own" but soon drifted away from the beginnings of the creation of the women's baseball league that was born during WWII.
I was fascinated by the stories of Nola, Fran and Evie and couldn't wait to find out what Jacks had to do with Them. I was kind of hoping there would be more to the "why" of Jack's existence or her link to the three women and was left a tad disappointed.
That said, this was an engrossing read and I'm so very glad I finally got 'round to reading this one.
it down!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In the beginning it felt almost like a copy or add-on to the belove (to me) movie "A League of Their Own" but soon drifted away from the beginnings of the creation of the women's baseball league that was born during WWII.
I was fascinated by the stories of Nola, Fran and Evie and couldn't wait to find out what Jacks had to do with Them. I was kind of hoping there would be more to the "why" of Jack's existence or her link to the three women and was left a tad disappointed.
That said, this was an engrossing read and I'm so very glad I finally got 'round to reading this one.
October 7, 2016
A homerun of a novel!
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Nola Fran Evie by Britt Skrabanek. I’m a sucker for stories that take place in the 1940s – 1960s. As well, I’m drawn to stories with strong female characters, smart dialogue, provocative writing, and a fresh premise. This book had it all—and then some!
What I loved best was how the author introduced several women who, on the outset, couldn’t possibly have anything in common, and then masterfully drew them together so their lives intertwined with immeasurable force. I felt everything the protagonists felt, wanted what they wanted, and hated what they hated. That is some powerful storytelling-mojo at work, Ms. Skrabanek.
Against the backdrop of racially charged Chicago, their stories play out as unpredictably as a baseball game. The reader is swept up in the fever of friendship, passion, self-preservation, human rights, and, of course, baseball. Skrabanek scores with this book.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Nola Fran Evie by Britt Skrabanek. I’m a sucker for stories that take place in the 1940s – 1960s. As well, I’m drawn to stories with strong female characters, smart dialogue, provocative writing, and a fresh premise. This book had it all—and then some!
What I loved best was how the author introduced several women who, on the outset, couldn’t possibly have anything in common, and then masterfully drew them together so their lives intertwined with immeasurable force. I felt everything the protagonists felt, wanted what they wanted, and hated what they hated. That is some powerful storytelling-mojo at work, Ms. Skrabanek.
Against the backdrop of racially charged Chicago, their stories play out as unpredictably as a baseball game. The reader is swept up in the fever of friendship, passion, self-preservation, human rights, and, of course, baseball. Skrabanek scores with this book.
July 18, 2015
Nola Fran Evie is a delightful read that interweaves the present-day story of Jacks with the nostalgic story of three women who played for the women's baseball league during and after the war. Jacks becomes drawn into their world after discovering items in a vintage purse that belonged to one of the women. Though Nola, Fran, and Evie are very different from each other, they all yearn for something and are willing to face adversity to find it.
The shifting back and forth between present and past is seamless, and the book's ending ties all four women's lives together in a satisfying manner. Rich characters, snappy dialogue, and fluid writing make this book a wonderful way to spend a few hours.
The shifting back and forth between present and past is seamless, and the book's ending ties all four women's lives together in a satisfying manner. Rich characters, snappy dialogue, and fluid writing make this book a wonderful way to spend a few hours.
August 1, 2014
Britt skillfully blends disparate women’s lives in to a masterful story. 3 strong characters’ first reveal that their own lives. Then they demonstrate a powerful connection as they find themselves needing to work together. Only to be separated again, each finding a unique path to follow. Set against a Chicago backdrop Nola Fran Evie was well written and a quick read. I enjoyed the book and I would be confident you would too.
January 28, 2015
Instant fan of those gals! Nola, Fran and Evie, as well as Jacks, who introduces us to them, are the kind of characters you want to discover and read about for ever. Britt Skrabanek takes us into a modern story you won't be able to put down until you read the last word, perfectly-written roles, intense descriptions that will make you want to see a movie come out of it all.
It's the month read, without a doubt!
It's the month read, without a doubt!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews