Susan Sands

Forever, Alabama by Susan Sands
Book #3: Alabama Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:

Is it possible to be a colossal ass and not know you’re a colossal ass?? In Ben Laroux’s case, the answer is a resounding yes! Trouble is, he is Ministry, Alabama’s most beloved colossal ass which has allowed him to go through life completely ignorant of his behavior. It’s hard to hide things from the town shrink though 😊

Sabine spends her days trying to help those who are at the show more end of their rope. She listens, counsels, and keeps the secrets of countless Ministry, Alabama residents. Which is precisely why she knows the kind of man Ben Laroux is without ever having to talk to him. With his ridiculous two date rules, Ben has left many women in Ministry wanting more than he is ever going to be capable of giving. As Sabine has figured out, Ben thinks he’s doing everyone a solid by being up front and honest. He never leads anyone on and simply walks away when the dating limit has been hit. Yeah, Sabine doesn’t need any part of that arrogance in her life. She’s full up on that kind of crap!

Sabine and her mother are only in Ministry until Sabine can secure a divorce from her powerful, egomaniacal husband. For two years, they’ve hidden in Ministry hoping he will eventually come to his senses and grant Sabine the divorce she desperately wants. After all the lies, the cheating, and the relentless pursuit of power, Sabine wants out of the public spotlight and as far away from her husband as is humanly possible. In fact, Sabine is ready to move forward with her life and that can’t happen as long as she’s still tied to her past.

When she refuses to give him even an ounce of consideration, Ben decides to push and poke at Sabine until she agrees to give him a chance. What Sabine finds is a man who is clueless about his behavior, who’s stunningly sexy, and under all the bravado, a genuinely good man who cares for her. Which is just about the time Sabine sabotages it all by telling Ben about her past and her struggle to break free. Though he is justifiably angered, Ben does what all Laroux’s do, he turns to his family for advice. As always, the Laroux’s come to the rescue (HOWARD!!!!) and Ben crafts a plan that will not only secure Sabine’s divorce, but land her despicable husband right where he belongs, in prison! To be sure, the plan is risky and before all is said and done, it becomes downright dangerous!

The Bottom Line: I am still 100% a smitten kitten with Susan Sands’ Alabama series!! Of all the Ministry couples, Ben and Sabine are by far the most formidable. With her keen intelligence and insight into human nature and Ben’s intelligence, determination, and kind nature, there’s not much of anything or anyone who can stand in their way. Well, they can try 😊 Once again, Sands involves the entire Laroux family (and much of Ministry) which makes the read so much better, far more entertaining. Though I can’t say for sure this is the end of the Alabama series, I can say, if it is, Ben and Sabine’s story would be a fitting ending as it couples up all the Laroux kids and completes the family. With that being said, there are still a few characters hanging about (Sabine’s sister for example) who are just begging to have their story told. I’m not being subtle here, Susan Sands, I want more of the Alabama series. ASAP!!! show less

Again, Alabama by Susan Sands
Book #1: Alabama Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:

Cammie Laroux never had any intention of returning to her home state of Alabama for an extended period. When she left, she did so under the worst of circumstances so coming home under similar circumstances isn’t at all what she had hoped for. Her culinary career is in shambles, her former co-worker is ruining her reputation in a very loud and public way, her mother is having a dangerous yet show more necessary back surgery, and the family business needs a competent hand at the helm. Since she’s currently out of a job, Cammie is back home in Alabama, again.

Cammie’s hometown isn’t exactly a metropolis so her hope of staying under the radar is dashed almost immediately. Out of bed after a long flight, too little sleep, no shower, and only in her underwear, Cammie throws open the curtains only to find her rat-bastard ex-boyfriend standing on a ladder and adoring the view. Not the way to stay off the radar. As if the day couldn’t get any worse, as Cammie begins her assessment of the house/business, she discovers everything is much more of a mess than she was led to believe. The house, an historic site they rent out for all types of events and occasions is coming apart at the seams and apparently, her mother hired her ex to oversee the considerable and extensive repairs. Even more traumatizing is the kitchen and pantry, Cammie’s happy place. It’s virtually bare and the house has events coming up sooner rather than later. Time to go to town . . . . .

Town is just as Cammie expected, a hot bed of gossip and stares and Cammie is the main topic of conversation. All anyone can talk about is how Cammie’s career literally went up in flames and the fact her ex is back in town and working on her home. What everyone, including Cammie wants to know is how she feels about her ex, especially considering the fact he is once again single. Trouble is, Cammie isn’t single and she’s having a hard time remembering that. Her ex was always hard to resist and now that she’s learning more about what really happened all those years ago and what he’s endured in the meantime, he’s becoming even more irresistible. With her family encouraging her to forgive and forget and knowing she’ll be in town for an extended period while her mother recuperates Cammie considers the possibility of trying to mend a bridge or two.

As the days turn into weeks, Cammie finds it harder and harder to resist her ex’s charms and as the house starts coming together and business is picking up, she begins to think more and more about where her future truly lies. Of course, those kinds of decisions aren’t easy to make and the universe has a way of throwing up one obstacle after another. In the way of obstacles, Cammie and her ex(?) face all kinds of crazy including Cammie’s fiancé, her former colleague who is still causing problems, one emotionally fragile little girl, and some family secrets not a single person in the world saw coming.

The Bottom Line: After reading Again, Alabama I feel a little like I need to find a small southern town to live in as there seems to be a lot of crazy that goes down there. Cammie’s story is just chock full of crazy and it’s enough to make a sane person go, well, crazy! From one day to the next, Cammie doesn’t know what she’s going to be hit with which makes having her family and ex-turned-friend near such a comfort. It’s that comfort which reals Cammie in and reminds her of what’s important in life. There is a bit of everything in this read that greatly appeals to me including a feisty heroine, a sexy, sweet and slightly damaged man, the past coming back to haunt A LOT of people, and enough southern drama and charm to satisfy everyone! show less

In Home To Cypress Bayou, the first book in The Louisiana Series, author Susan Sands weaves a wonderful Southern Women's Fiction story of letting go of the past, coming home, moving forward, and second chances.

Leah Bertrand is the owner of La Toile art gallery in Paris. She inherited the art gallery from her boss, Alaine, who passed away from blood cancer. After Alaine's death, she signed up for the bone marrow registry. She received a call from the bone marrow registry, and is told that she show more is a match for a bone marrow donation in Louisiana. It's been two years since she's gone home to Cypress Bayou, Louisiana, and this visit home is sure to be stressful between family drama, an ex-boyfriend, and the bone marrow donation procedure.

Dr. Jake Carmichael is an infectious disease specialist who travels throughout Louisiana to different hospitals with his team to handle challenging cases. Jake recently decided to come back home to Cypress Bayou and put down roots, but there is one thing missing in his life, his ex-girlfriend Leah, and when he hears that she is coming home to be a bone marrow donor, he has mixed emotions about seeing her again.

Set in Cypress Bayou, Louisiana, the reader follows Leah and Jake's story as their shared past filled with hidden secrets, omissions, and internal struggles resurface with their unexpected reunion. The chemistry between Leah and Jake is still undeniable, but can they overcome the past and find their way back to each other? And if that isn't enough, Leah has to deal with mama drama and a deep family secret revolving around the bone marrow recipient that makes Leah's visit home that much more intense.

As a fan of Southern Women's Fiction, Home To Cypress Bayou is a beautifully written story that is filled with an abundance of Southern charm, hospitality, wit, drama, humor, and romance, that left me smiling and pleasantly satisfied. I really enjoyed following Leah and Jake's story. I was intrigued by the mystery behind the secret of who the bone marrow recipient is to Leah's family, and when you add in the emotional baggage and still undeniable love between Leah and Jake, there was no denying that this story easily kept me engaged and turning the pages. I loved the connection and witty banter between Leah and Jake; the rich description and essence of the southern town settings of Cypress Bayou and New Orleans; a host of engaging secondary characters; and all the drama, intrigue, and romance that easily made Home To Cypress Bayou an enjoyable story that left me wanting more.

I look forward to reading Secrets In Cypress Bayou, the second book in The Louisiana Series.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/06/home-to-cypress-bayou-by-susa... show less

Emma Laroux has convinced herself that she is happy living the single life with a successful business. Her one experience with love has left her feeling insecure about relationships. Especially when every time she has attempted to date, the guys mysteriously break it off before it even begins. It does not help that Tad Beaumont, her ex and now mayor of Ministry, Alabama, keeps close tabs on her every move.

Then Matthew Pope comes into the picture and Emma can't help but befriend him. Matthew show more is allergic to the thought of Alabama so being in Ministry is hell for him. He has his own skeletons to hide but he also knows Emma's secret and he cannot bear to reveal that fact because she is the only thing that makes it worth staying in Ministry, Alabama.

But Tad can't have Emma and he won't let Matthew have her either, so when the truth comes out more than one life is bound to be destroyed.

This book was a terrific mix if romance, suspense and drama. It was also the first book I have ever read by Susan Sands and it prompted me to go in search of the first book in this series.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. show less