Love, Alabama is the second southern romance in the Alabama series written by author Susan Sands. Thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the advance copy.

Actual rating: 3.5
Few months back I sat down and binge watched Hart of Dixie, so I’m on the lookout for books set in Alabama, it’s an obsession. I think this book did a great job at bringing in southern charm into the story.
I liked the way this book was written, it worked well as a standalone (I only learned it was a series after my NetGalley request was approved). It deals with some serious issues, but keeps romance as the main genre, providing an interesting plot. The dialogues were playful, the characters were great. It's not perfect, and I couldn't get into as much as I wanted to, but overall, it’s a decent summer read.

loved this book

This book is more of a 3 1/2 star book, but I always round up when I am between stars.

This is a sweet small town romance that is pretty straight forward. Girl meets boy, finds boy annoying, then finds boy charming after boy makes an effort not to be a jerk. There are some secrets, of course, to keep things interesting and a villain to drive the story.

I enjoyed the book and liked both Emma and Matt. I thought they were both nice people and I felt like they belonged together in the end. The supporting characters were also likable and well written. This book is a pleasant way to spend a few hours but I am not sure I would read the other books in the series.

I would recommend this book for anyone who likes small town romances.

I really enjoyed this story very much. There was depth and value to this story. Being from the South myself, I could understand the subtleties of southern culture, especially small town southern culture.

Emma Laroux had been chosen as Miss Alabama in college and was preparing for the Miss America pageant when something dreadful occurred in her life. Ten years later and her life was still being affected by one horrible evening. The most frustrating thing was that she couldn't remember what happened. She was only aware of the fallout afterward. Her memory was of a man who had acted as her protector that night and had shielded her from as much as he possibly could.

Matthew Pope was a changed man. He looked different and his name was different but he would never be able to forget Emma Laroux and the impact she had on his life ten years earlier. He had found her wandering in a drugged state in nothing but her underwear and all he could think to do was to get her away from the frat house and to a place of safety. Here he was ten years later, in her small town in Alabama and she was just as beautiful as ever. But, he didn't let on that he knew her from a night so long ago and such terrible memories, or lack of, for her.

As Emma and Matthew began to give in to the chemistry between them, Matthew wanted to come clean but didn't know how and Emma began to suspect that she should be able to recognize Matthew from an earlier time in her life. Would their love be able to survive the fallout? Would Emma's ex who had controlled her for many years, be able to destroy what she and Matthew had started? You'll have to read to find out and I would bet you will enjoy the ride.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love Alabama is the second Susan Sands novel I have read and I really enjoyed it.
This book offers a nice twist on the second chance at love trope as we follow the story of former Miss Alabama Emma Laroux and hunky TV director Matthew Pope, who crossed paths ten years earlier in difficult circumstances. While neither really knew each other at the time, she vaguely remembers his kindness in rescuing her, while he has never forgotten her.
Throw in a narcissistic former boyfriend who is able to pull strings to get his own way, and a bevy of apparently bitchy southern belles and you have the makings of a ripping good story.