Love, Alabama

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.

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.

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.

loved this book

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.

I enjoyed this book. I was expecting a southern romance but it was more and I really liked the whole suspense part to the story. Even though this was the second book in the series it read well as a standalone as I hadn't read the first book. The characters and the storyline were entertaining. It had me eagerly turning the pages waiting to get to the truth behind the lies and secrets.

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.

A fun albeit predictable romance. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting. I'm from Alabama and there were a few nit picky things that bugged me. However unless you are a Auburn fan married to a die hard Alabama fan you probably wouldn't have picked up on them.
All in all it was an enjoyable quick read. I'll be looking for the other books in this series. I had no clue this was the 2nd book in a series. I didn't feel left out of confused at all by not having read the first book.

This is the first book that I have read by Susan Sands and I was pleased that I tried something different. Love Alabama, with its very appealing front cover, tells the story of Emma Laroux, a former Miss Alabama and Matthew Pope, who has come to the small town of Ministry, Alabama to produce a cooking show featuring Emma’s sister. Matthew and Emma cross paths when Emma comes on set to do her sister’s make-up. However, it is soon apparent that Matthew has met Emma several years ago, whilst Emma does not remember him. This is a pivotal point to the book.
Emma has struggled to meet anyone since breaking up with Tad Beaumont, a narcissistic male who has overshadowed Emma’s life since then. It is soon apparent that Tad is somehow involved in the events surrounding Emma’s reasons for stepping down from the title of Miss Alabama
Both characters of Emma and Matthew are well outlined with Emma displaying, strength and dignity despite the disappointments that she has faced. Whilst Matthew is initially portrayed as being remote, he is soon shown to be the ‘good guy’. He carries his own disappointments but he strives to support his family and faces his demons head on. I did wish though that the romance had been built upon, in more detail, as the intensity of their feelings was quite rapid.

A sweet romance with a touch of drama, which came together effectively.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I kept tapping my nose the whole time I was reading this one - it didn't work and I couldn't figure out why. I think I never really bought the two of them as real people, which is key to me for a story to work. It all just felt... off. Not bad, just not for me.