Diva In The Dugout: All is Fair in Love and Baseball by Arlene Hittle

Diva In The Dugout: All is Fair in Love and Baseball Reviews

• 
  Tyler Leigh

  Dave is a semi-professional baseball who needs to get his act together fast. Enter Mel, his fling fro five years ago, and Tara, their daughter Dave did not know existed.
  
  I was not a fan of this story. The concept was good, but I couldn't move beyond the issues I had with the character development. Both of the main characters made a lot of rash decisions without really thinking things through. When Dave sees Tara with Mel, he immediately decides that she is his kid and that he deserves to be a part of her life. It never occurs to him that there could be another explanation. He sees this new family as an opportunity to show his management that he is responsible. They make quick judgements about one another; for instance when Dave smells alcohol on Mel (it was spilled on her), he assumes that she has a drinking problem. Usually their judgements are black and white, with no room for explanation. On the other hand, they are quick to forgive each other. Mel admits once that she forgave Dave for something based on pretty words and a smile. Gawh. Mel's family is horrible towards her; her mother calls her dumb and her brother is judgemental. Mel's father is one of the few characters I liked, as he stood up for Mel even when she was putting herself down.
• 
  Virginia Boylan

  It was fun to see the growth in both characters as they learn to love and trust after a long separation. Aside from little Tara, Dave was the most appealing character. Mel's parents seemed too much like cardboard cutouts and Mel was entirely too bitchy at times. I was disappointed not to see at least a bit of Dave's father, especially since we see Dave developing a slight understanding of him and because Dad called several times, giving Dave the perfect chance to begin a reconciliation, even if reluctantly. The book's biggest failing is in its geography. Not only is Amarillo so generic it could be Anywhere USA, but it's repeatedly implied that Amarillo is in North Texas, betraying an outsider's ignorance. Dallas-Fort Worth is in North Texas. Amarillo is in the Texas Panhandle. Not the same things. Amarillo and Dallas are over 400 miles apart, a good six-hour drive. The Dallas Morning News rarely reports Amarillo news, and certainly not minor league sports gossip. These are minor issues but take a Texas reader out of the book. The ending was nice but too abrupt. In addition to the unresolved issue of Dave's father, the book also left a few other threads hanging, the biggest of which is Dave's career. Did Mel convince him to change his mind?
• 
  Davette Bowden

  Hmmmm......I liked the story line, but I think some editing and revising might be in order. For example, one of the best sections of the entire story is when Mel has lunch with her mom. Then she comes home and talks with Dave. They talk. They kiss. They begin to make-up. The end. How about an epilogue? Adding more to the story?
  
  As far as the characters in the story, not very well developed unless Peter is supposed to be portrayed as a self-righteous jerk. As for Tara's parents as they might come off as harsh and uncaring. There's are parents out there that are just like they are. Although the public may not be ready to read about them. I suggest finding down some of their harsh comments.
  
  Lastly, Dave and Melinda need to slow down some of their decision making. they need to fall in love for love with one another.
  
  Will I read the next books in the series? Probably not. Will I of a revised version of this book is released and I like what I see. I don't know, maybe.