Better Than Fiction
Better Than Fiction
Celebrate Lit Book Tour
About the Book Better Than Fiction
Book: Better than Fiction
Author: April W. Gardner & Michelle Massaro
Genre: Historical Fiction/Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: April 4, 2016
Imagining him was harmless…until it wasn’t.
Romance novelist Meghan Townsend’s marriage is slipping, and no amount of prayer seems to help. She aims to recapture her husband’s waning attention by getting in shape and finds escape by crafting her own fictional love story. Taking inspiration for the hero from a new friend—the attractive, spiritual, and attentive Curtis Jameson—she pours her yearnings onto the page, and craves the kind of pulse-pounding romance found in her book, Racing Hearts…
In 1916 Corona, California, motorcars are all the rage, and racing them is what Meghan’s hero, Russell Keegan, does best. But when his competition vandalizes his car, the only mechanic available is a greasy woman in a man’s overalls.
After a racing accident claimed her father’s life, Winifred became the sole breadwinner for her family. She is disdained as a female mechanic, but her daddy’s trade is all she has left. Can she swallow her hatred of the races and take up Russell’s offer of big bucks to fix his car, or will she lose everything to mounting debt?
Under Meghan’s skillful pen, these two embark on a thrilling, adventurous romance. But she finds that writing those love scenes with Curtis’s face in mind takes her heart places it shouldn’t go. Will she realize in time that real life can be better than fiction?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts on Better Than Fiction:
Man. This book. I’m not so sure what to say about it. It’s a great read. The authors are amazing. I fell in love with the characters.
But. Wow.
The story of this book is so so good. You get this great first story about a woman feeling lost in her marriage. She’s doing things to try to get her husband’s attention again but all the while she’s also visualizing another man as the hero or love interest in the story she’s writing.
Quick side note. The story within the story is amazing and I’d love to see that expounded on in another book too because there is so much potential there! I love that story.
So here’s the thing. Better Than Fiction is a fiction book about an author creating a work of fiction. Does it mean that her life is better than the fiction story she’s writing? Or does it mean that my life is better than the fiction story I’m reading?
See the dilemma. It convicted me a little bit. I read fiction to escape for a bit. To let my brain have some quiet time away from the daily struggles of life here in my house of eleven little monkeys. It’s my escape. But is the fiction better than my life? Do you ever feel like maybe you’re getting the short end of the stick in life because it’s not like a fiction novel?
Great things to think about while reading a wonderful book. Highly recommend.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
About the Authors of Better Than Fiction
April W Gardner writes Christian historical romance with a focus on our southeastern Native tribes. She is a copyeditor, military wife, and mother of two who lives in South Texas. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks.
Michelle Massaro writes contemporary fiction, soaked in grace. She makes her home in Southern California with her husband of over two decades and their four children. She’s dabbled in homeschooling, teaching Creation Science, and leading worship. When she isn’t tinkering with words, Michelle enjoys old Rogers and Hammerstein movies, making kefir, and Sudoku. A new lipstick and a good French roast always make her happy.
More from April and Michelle
April and Michelle get a lot of questions about how exactly co-authors write a book. Who writes which part? Did you have any trouble, any conflict? Valid questions! But in the case of Better than Fiction, it was no trouble at all, and neither author can remember a single heated disagreement. In part, because they’d been critique partners for eons and were already working together seamlessly.
It also helped that the story is made up of two intertwining novellas. Each author had her own blank canvas to color on with the other looking on and offering feedback. The most enjoyable part of the process was the challenge of making sure the events in the life of Michelle’s contemporary character (an author) influenced the characters’ decisions in April’s historical plot.
Why intertwining stories? The idea behind it was to show what it’s like to live in the mind of a writer, how her real-life makes its way into her stories. The theme of emotional affairs was a good fit, as it is often all too easy for women—even Christian woman—to be drawn to another man and justify it as harmless friendship rather than admit she is looking to this person to fill a need that only God and her husband are meant to fill.
They decided to set the story against the backdrop of Michelle’s hometown of Corona, California in 1916 and the real-life Corona Road Race that took place in April of that year. It was the third race and, due to tragedy, the last.
From concept to “The End,” it took a span of about four years for Michelle and April to publish Better than Fiction, and as far as teamwork goes, it went off without a hitch. April was able to fly from her home in Georgia to stay with Michelle’s family and do research, and later, Michelle flew to Georgia for a concentrated writing weekend. The two had an amazingly fun time writing and working together.
Another question the authors get…will there be a sequel? Only time will tell.
Blog Stops for Better Than Fiction
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 9
Among the Reads, October 9
Genesis 5020, October 10
Through the Fire Blogs, October 11
Betti Mace, October 11
Artistic Nobody, October 12
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, October 12
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 13
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 13
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 14
For Him and My Family, October 15
Remembrancy, October 15
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 16
Maureen’s Musings, October 16
Godly Book Reviews, October 17
Moments, October 17
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 18
Bigreadersite, October 18
Texas Book-aholic, October 19
For The Love of Books, October 19
janicesbookreviews, October 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 20
A Reader’s Brain, October 21
Inklings and notions , October 22
Simple Harvest Reads, October 22
Giveaway for Better Than Fiction
To celebrate their tour, April and Michelle are giving away the grand prize bundle of a $20 Amazon gift card, themed mug and bookmarks, and handmade throw pillow that says, “Books, my happy place”!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/ed92/better-than-fiction-celebration-tour-giveaway
Rita Wray
Sounds like a great book.
Erin S.
It’s a really good one!
Michelle Massaro
Thank you! 🙂 I’m so glad you like it!
Erin S.
It’s amazing!
Caryl Kane
Wonderful review, Erin! Thank you for being part of the tour.
Erin S.
Thanks for stopping by!
Emma
This sounds like a fun story, with a lot to think about.
Erin S.
It is! And yes it definitely makes you think.
Dianna
How fun that these two authors collaborated to write a book! I think that would be a great experience to have with a close friend.
Erin S.
Yes like how did they do it together? Who wrote what? Such a fun idea!
Michelle Massaro
It WAS fun! The best time ever! Lots of hard work, but so so worth it. <3
Erin S.
Love hearing this!
Melissa Wenger
I’m always intrigued by books written by 2 authors!
Erin S.
Yes like how did they do it together? Who wrote what?
Michelle Massaro
Well, I wrote the contemporary story of Megan and Steve, and April wrote the historical story of Winnie and Russel. We were in constant contact reading each other’s stories and brainstorming together how to make them fit together and how to have the events in my side influence what Megan writes about on April’s side. We had to be meticulous! There were many index cards sprawled on the table, or the hotel room floor. It involved a couple of airplane trips too, since April was living in Georgia at the time and I reside in Corona, CA. Such great memories made! 🙂
Erin S.
I really thought that it was split up that way but wasn’t sure who wrote which. And that sounds like such a fun time. Little girl weekends away to work on the book!
Michelle Massaro
I hope you enjoy it!
April Gardner
What a wonderful review, Erin! Thank you so much for having me and Michelle on your blog and for all your kind comments. Sure do appreciate you!
Erin S.
Thanks for letting me review the book and for stopping by.
Michelle Massaro
Erin, thank you so much for having April and I on your blog and reviewing Better than Fiction. I love what you wrote! It means so much to read the responses from readers who were really touched or impacted. Thank you for sharing! <3
Erin S.
Thanks so much for letting me review the book and stopping by.