NOEL, ALABAMA by Susan Sands
Some books are full of drama while others are full of mystery. Some books are full of hilarious situations while others involve the reader in history. All of these are worthy bases for stories. Susan Sands has written a novel titled NOEL, ALABAMA. It is a love story pure and simple. It doesn’t profess to be more and it doesn’t allow itself to be considered less. It is what it is – a simply delightful love story.
At the heart of the story is Bailey Boone, a young woman who at age eighteen left her hometown of Ministry, Alabama to pursue her educational and career goals in Los Angeles. Now at the age of thirty she is headed back home. It is for a unique reason. The movie on which she is working in the production/location department needs a small town that really celebrates Christmas. Ministry really, really gets into Christmas so this is the logical place for Bailey to suggest.
Going home for an extended period of time is something Bailey has not done for twelve years. She has made short visits but nothing extended. A major reason for this is she left her heart in Ministry with now Sheriff Seth McKay. Bailey and Seth have known each other all their lives, and they were romantically involved in high school, Still it has been twelve years and Bailey wonders if Seth has moved on way beyond her and their high school romance.
This question is the plot of NOEL, ALABAMA but there is also room for Sands to squeeze in some small town side stories which she does in a very deft way. There are even some other romantic stories that blend in with Bailey’s story and they include Bailey’s father and Seth’s mother. This just adds to the enjoyment of it all.
Compliments must also be paid to Sands for her portrayal of life in a small southern town. I was born in South Carolina and have also lived in California. There is a difference and Sands captures it in her description of the people and place of Ministry, Alabama. All I can say is “Bless their hearts!”
So as the air turns a little cooler, and if in your heart you are beginning to feel a little like Christmas, then get ahead of the season and read this book. It is for the romantics amongst us. Noel!
NOEL, ALABAMA is published by the Tule. It contains 268 pages and sells for $15.99.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
