Author: Susan SandsSeries: Alabama #4
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Release Date: October 26th 2017
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: IndieSage PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):
Photographer Rachel Prudhomme has finally settled in Ministry, Alabama. Sure, the pace is slower, and she's had her heart blessed more times than she can count, but putting down her roots where her family is feels right, if only the town’s new doctor and now neighbor weren’t so hot and constantly igniting her dreams. How can she keep her vow to steer clear of men when he keeps sauntering across her path?*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from IndieSage PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of this review in any way.
For Dr. Nicholas Sullivan to get his dream job in Atlanta, he must fill in at Ministry General, where they're short staffed for the holidays. He never expects to fall for his beautiful next door neighbor, Rachel.
Soon, Nick and Rachael make a deal. They'll pretend to date so Rachael can avoid the scrutiny from her family to "find a good man" and Nick can avoid the single lovelies in town who take his short stay as a challenge. Amidst the carolers, Christmas lights, and an unlikely Alabama snowstorm, Nick and Rachel can't help but notice the powerful emotional and physical attraction between them. Will a Christmas miracle be all it takes to make all of their dreams come true?
Every now and then I'm lucky enough to discover some literary gems, and Christmas, Alabama is one of those gems for me. I loved reading this book. It was such a nice change of scenery and storytelling technique from the spree I've been on recently, and I had fun immersing myself into a story like this one.
I liked the idea of a new guy in a small town. It was interesting to see the culture, habits and little quirks of a small town from Nick's perspective. I liked seeing how he went from barely accepting the idea of having to go to Ministry, to actually considering making this town his home. I liked his dedication to his job. He's a doctor, and a good one at that. It was pretty interesting to see how he dealt with the slower pace the town's hospital provided him with, as opposed to what he was used to from the big city hospital, and you can tell that he loves the job so much, he really didn't care all that much. Sure, he wanted the big career he had his eye on for so long, but he still did a perfect job, and I respect him for that, a lot. I also liked how slick he was with Rachel. I thought at first he was going to be not as smooth as he was, but the man knows how to put on the charm.
I liked Rachel. While you can tell she has a little bit of baggage, I liked her style. I can totally understand wanting to work from the comfort of one's home, with the work outfit being the comfiest pajamas ever. I envied her for that. On a more serious note, I liked how she described people and photography. It was interesting to see a photographer's perspective on people, and their psychology, as they see little details that many might not see or might ignore. She was also funny. And she and Nick had perfect chemistry, so that's a plus.
The book has a pretty fast pace, and while the plot is more laid back, it's more focused on characters and their interactions. This book reminded me, in a way, of the TV show Hart of Dixie, which is an adorable show. I like reading about small towns, and Ministry is a town I'd most definitely want to go back to whenever possible.
About Susan Sands
