Photo credits: 858106 (pixabay), David Mark (pixabay) Edited by Vaishali Title: Alabama Admirer Series: States of Love #1 Author: Ann Omasta & Callie Love Publisher: Self published Year of Publication: 2022 Format: E-book/kindle app Genre/Themes: Contemporary romance, Adult fiction, novella/short story, suspense, single father Review... To preview this review, I want to spare some space and let loose a large rush of gratitude to authors, writers, creators and storytellers who believe in the power, gravity, importance and influence of compact literature. Whether it's a web comic, a novelette, a poetry book, a short story or a graphic novel, flash fiction is such an inclusive way of bringing those of us who are more cognitively challenged with all manner of learning/reading disabilities and mental/physical health disturbances into the fold as much as 'the short story' actually establishes a way for struggling readers (fresh and wisened) to enjoy books. For someone to get to pick something up and get and say I’ve read it! Not all of us get to say that. So many readers face an unnamed resistance towards this book reading culture we love, because to even scan across a sheet of paper with sentences made into paragraphs can be too confronting for words. So many non-readers are really just readers unable to or discouraged from doing what we love because it hasn't been made easy for them to love. Whether that sense of joy and limitless escapism isn't accessible to you either because well-being battles place a barrier between you and a page of words. Or learning disabilities might make you debase your own desire to read. Or you’ve been bombarded with the conventional pedagogy wisdom that exchanges the message that you're too unintelligent or simple-minded to learn because you haven’t really been taught how. Or whether you feel limited by a litany of intellectuals telling you what is and isn't true reading and what does and doesn't make a true reader. I wanted to use this space to give a small a voice to all you wonderful people who really do feel threatened by the enormity of making your way and finding your way through a story. It can feel like a rabbit hole of ambitious proportions. I’m one of those strugglers who really does labour through a book (and my yearly book count clearly authenticates that), so I wanted to hand over a seismic thank you to writers who care and readers who want to care through the frustration. And because of you, I get to dabble between books of all sizes. The term 'labour of love' particularly hits home for me because that's how I can appropriately describe my reading life. It's something I love that I labour through, but the labour is all because of the love. Lovers pain at its purest, a deep-in-the-trenches love affair. Since my brain function has been operating at far less than its usual poor and partial capacity, I've been opting for shorter-length and novella-appropriate reads recently to be gentle with my mental consumption while still getting my fictional fun fix. Reading Ann Omasta and Callie Love's Alabama Admirer was one of a short list of cursory reads that worked to prioritise my attempt at being more brain health conscious. With atrocious cognitive absorption, this first in the States of Love series fit the bill for a quick (quick being Vaishali-adapted because my quick is never the same quick as everybody else's quick) read. While I'm familiar with the usual elements and structure of a more abridged story, this book didn't quite fulfill on the enjoyment front, I have to admit. As the first book in this standalone novella series, Alabama Admirer meets with a single parent romance in the company of mini drama, a dash of suspense, some hasteful danger, rapid fire wanting and bonding, a few will they won't they intimate scenes, instant love and overnight forevers. The story begins with Xander entrusting Kate (an attractive stranger) with helping his daughter to meet her bathroom needs. Realising something feels off, he dashes to the public restroom only to realise that Kate is quite literally being held at knife-point and his terrified daughter frozenly watches on as the unsuspecting scene unfolds. They all get out of the situation unscathed (sort of) and at this point Kate and Xander are certainly Intent (in their own minds) on making a life with the other. There's a bit more drama, bonding and envisioning a life together thereafter. I loved that Xander showed a parenting awareness in the way he wanted to raise Zoey. He presented a conscientiousness which clearly resembles through his daughter, but the real gem in this book was his daughter. Everything about Zoey, her presence and her adorably clever spirit made this book more of a joy than it would've been without her. Since novellas quite obviously aren't compatible with a romance that burns more slowly and realistically, you have to prepare yourself for this taster on offer. The authors label this an instant love novella (which it is), so if the mood doesn't mind? The very limited matter won't either. There's isn’t a radiant sense of development by any means, and I can't say I was overly invested with the writing style. Often, the phrasing doesn't sit well, and the use of "the child", "the innocent child” and "the little girl" to reference Xander’s daughter felt inapt every time Kate seemed to juggle the terms interchangeably. On the subject of our heroine, Kate also - unfortunately - appeared the least realistic (to me) and the most flat of all the characters. Quoting one of my favourite movies and spoken by the lovable actor himself "relationships that start under intense circumstances never last” says Speed's Jack to Annie. I really can't say how that pairs with our couple here because I wasn’t given the time to particularly visit the scape, know the protagonists well or feel their connection take a real, featurable shape. I won't liken this to the fact that the starring couple in the mentioned movie aren't together in the sequel, but perhaps Kate and Xander take road better travelled. I seem to liaise with the minority with Omasta and Love's Alabama Admirer so if you're either a big fan of both authors or everything in you wakefully feels sure-footed about taking a step into this petite story, then I happily hope my insights serve as little more than a spindrift of caution. With more manipulation, interest and panache, I do think this story could have better established itself as a satisfying novella with a more satisfying development, so as it is, I wouldn't say it's one of the better short-length reads I've crossed. With a story at its minimum, Alabama Admirer's a light, sweet and instant love/instant lust romance with a bit of heat, a danger-danger situation, some sweet family moments and a small family vibe. I gave it two stars because it was an ok read and my topmost organ thanked me profusely for going small-scale. I gave this book 2.5 stars - Content Warning: A shootout. Some violence. Some blood. A bedroom scene. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK Leave a comment and let's talk about |
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February 2024
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