Sabine is new to town, a therapist who is helping so many of Ministry's residents work through their lives and problems. But, Sabine has some problems of her own that she is trying to leave behind, and the small town of Ministry has become her haven.

Ben is charming, friendly and all of the single women in town love him, maybe a little too much. He meets Sabine and while he is interested in her, she doesn't want anything to do with him. Once Ben and Sabine spend a little time together and their pasts start to come out, they start to realize that maybe their first impressions weren't accurate after all.

This was a nice story, with a good plot. The writing just seemed a little awkward and the conversations stilted, which took away from my overall enjoyment and engagement in the story. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

The third installment of this series was my favorite to date. Told from the perspective of hometown favorite heart throb, Ben and new comer Sabine.

Ben is a great character. The love he has for his sisters and his earned cockiness make him a book crush for the ages! The way women swoon over him you wonder why he just won't open his heart and let someone in. To see this Strong man open up about heart break and then become super man again was a wonderful story.

I was very excited that Sabine was going to be the female lead in this story. The other two showed the family from a female perspective and it was nice to have an outsiders point of view. Sabine is smart and beautiful. Loving and sensitive. It was fun to get to know her.

This novel releases march 20. I hope it's not the last story in this series because I adore it!!

Ben Laroux is a handsome, unattached, successful lawyer who has vowed to never let a woman get too close after being betrayed by his former fiancée. Sabine O'Connor is a beautiful, mysterious therapist who is suspicious of Ben, since she's been privy to the feelings of the women in town during counseling sessions; women who have had their own hearts broken by Ben. Sabine's feelings about Ben have been influenced by her clients' stories, and Sabine herself is harboring big secrets of her own. Their story is so compelling, filled with warmth and heart, but also some danger and suspense as Ben helps Sabine to finally let go of her past. Forever, Alabama is the third in a series of books about the Laroux family in Ministry, Alabama. Small-town charm, humor, lovely characters, and an interesting storyline add up to a wonderful book. This book stands on its own merits, but I love to read a series from the beginning, and the previous books are also great reads!

Y'all! This is such a sweet book. I've read all of Susan's books in her Alabama series, but this is my favorite. The writing is tighter, the story is delicious. It can stand alone, but for more fun, read them all. Don't you just love cute cover?

I was given this book as an advanced reader copy via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. The above is my honest opinion. Go read it and enjoy!

Ms. Sands packs big power into a series of small reads with her Alabama Series. Her heroines are spirited, her heroes are relentless and the emotions that spill out are a sight to behold. This time around, a woman finds a soft place to land at the most surprising of times. Will she allow fear of the past to prevent her finding happiness? Forever, Alabama is wise, thoughtful and emotional. Like a fortune cookie or a greeting card, with just a few short words, the author can cause a reader to feel an abundance of emotions. That describes Forever, Alabama and her cast of characters.

Sabine is a woman well educated in secrets. Her clients secrets – and, more importantly, her own. It’s also a byproduct of her profession as a therapist to remember those secrets or opinions when encountering someone her clients have mentioned… often. Unfortunately, Ben Laroux has been tearfully or angrily mentioned by several, make that many of her clients in recent times. Sabine has already formed an opinion of this charming, womanizer long before their first meeting. And she wants nothing to do with his Southern charms. She’s already changed herself completely over one man, she’s not about to take a risk on yet another man who would be totally wrong for her. That’s too bad, really. Because the actual Ben is a charming man, one who may just be exactly what she needs in her life. Oh, and he never walks away from a challenge and she just tossed down a huge one.

I liked Sabine and Ben’s romance. Sassy, witty banter, a bit of danger and the right person each needed at exactly the right time. Oh, sure, there’s going to be some drama, some denial, some sizzling chemistry… but what’s a challenge without all that. I enjoyed getting to know the real people underneath the surface that others see. I adored Sabine’s mother, she’s now one of my favorite secondary characters ever.

If you’re in the mood for a charming romance, a bit of mystery, a touch of danger and a love that can overcome anything – then Forever, Alabama is the right story for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Favorite Quotes:

Jean-Claude Prudhomme deserved nothing from his former wife – except maybe a Taser to his testicles.

Fine. But it doesn’t keep me from wishing for him to get exactly what he deserves. Like someone throwing him naked on an anthill with peanut butter on his genitals. You know, real justice.

I didn’t want you to think I was pining for you – I was, by the way. Because every time I look at you, you reduce me to a horny fourteen-year-old boy who’s just gotten to second base for the first time.

My Review:

Sabine was a fraud, well, she was and she wasn’t Sabine, and she was and she wasn’t a fraud. Not really. Sabine and her devastated mother had changed their names and appearance and moved to a small town after their lives had imploded following a family scandal. The premise was intriguing and interesting and Ms. Sands’s writing was engaging, amusing, and entertaining. I enjoyed her humor and the lively and colorful descriptions she used in introducing each new character and location. The characters were relatable and interestingly detailed, with my favorite being the new and improved Ben. I cherished the man Ben evolved into after his rather painful personal epiphany. Part of Sabine’s discomfort was that she knew and was keeping too many secrets. Her own family’s secrets being the most deplorable, but as she had established herself as the leading therapist in the area, she also knew too much about many of the residents, and she had been forced to listen to and assist far too many women mooning over Ben to take him seriously. Poor Ben. My second favorite character was Sabine’s feisty mother, I adore seeing an older characters blossom.

"Forever Alabama" by Susan Sands. This story revolves around Ben and Sabine. Ben is the biggest sweetheart! I adored him. Yes, he's known to be a bit of a playboy but he has a heart of gold and will help anyone out that needs it. Sabine took a bit longer to like. While I felt for her and her struggles, I really didn't like her immediate judgement of Ben. However, as we learned more and more about her past and Ben turned on the charm, she became a character that I liked and was rooting for the whole way. I adored Sabine's mom and loved that this story shows that there is still life and joy out there, even as you grow older. Ms. Sands has penned a tale that is filled with love, romance, determination, friendship and family and even some danger. I did enjoy the pace that the story moved and found it, overall, an enjoyable read that held my interest and my heart too. I have not read the previous books in this series but found that it did not detract from this story. Ms. Sands does a wonderful job of recapping the history of the characters so a new reader is not lost. That being said, I am now looking to catch up and read the previous books in this series. (received copy for honest review)

This was a wonderful addition to the Alabama series. This author has a way of bringing the southern charm to life on the pages of her stories and you could definitely feel it in this book. Sabine and Ben were both great characters and I loved how taken back Ben was by the fact that Sabine wasn't falling all over him like a lot of the other women in town. This was an adorable, sweet story and one I would definitely recommend.

Fairly certain this was a part of a series and was slightly confused while reading. I ended up DNFing this book because I just couldnt connect. I think I am going to read the first book in the series and then revisit.

Everyone in Ministry, Alabama knew and loved attorney Ben Laroux. But, Ben had a problem with women. He couldn't make a commitment. Ever since the breakup with his one serious girlfriend, he held a one date rule. And because of it, a lot of women were left heartbroken.

Sabine O'Conner has been counseling some of the women who had their hearts broken by Ben. So, she thought she knew him well. When Sabine and Ben are placed on opposing sides in a court case, Ben starts to become interested in Sabine. But Sabine isn't a one night kind of girl. If Ben really wants her, he will have to change his ways.

Sabine has secrets that she worked hard to hide. When she moved to Ministry, she never expected anyone to ever know about her life back in Louisiana. When Sabine's biggest secret threatens to blow, Ben is right there to help her though it.

I enjoyed this book. I liked seeing how Sabine was able to change Ben’s way of thinking and how Ben was right there for anything Sabine needed. They had really good chemistry. The background of both characters and plot were well written. I also enjoyed catching up with characters from previous books in the series. Even though this is the third book in the series, it can be read on its own.

Ben Laroux is Ministry’s golden boy. He thinks nothing of doing what he has to in order to help anyone who needs it. After losing the love of his life to his best friend, he also isn’t interested in a committed relationship, and decides not to go out with any woman more than twice, to not only give everyone the benefit of going out with him, but also not to give them any ideas he is intrested in settling down.
Sabine O’Connor has been in town a couple of years. A therapist, she has not just helped many members of the Laroux family, but also many of the women of Ministry, most of whom have gone out with Ben and talk about how wonderful he is, even though he broke their hearts.
Ben finds Sabine intriguing, but can’t understand he obvious dislike for him. When he finally backs her into going out with him, she starts to see that Ben is a nice guy who is clueless as to how he affects women. When a secret comes out and makes him re-evaluate his aproach to women and the way he sees himself. He also turns to Sabine to help him out. Sabine finds herself falling for the man Ben is and who he is trying to be, but the secrets in her past threaten to end their relationship before it gets started.
I love the town of Ministry, Ben and Sabine. This is the third book in the series, and I feel like they just keep getting better. The characters are strong, both the main and the secondary, and the story is real, emotional and kept me hooked, beginning to end. I love revisiting the other members of the Laroux family, and, meeting Sabine’s mother and sister. Then there is Henry, Ben’s stepfather….What did he do before he retired?? This was so much fun to read. It is part of a series, but it can be read as a stand alone. If you haven’t read the first two, I highly recommend them. Ministry, Alabama and the Laroux family are highly entertaining.

Sabine O’Connor is the local therapist in Ministry and when local attorney Ben Laroux speaks to her about how grateful he is to her in helping his family she immediately attacks him which appears for no reason. You see other people in town love Ben and go to him all the time to get problems worked out between people without having to go to court. Surprised at the way she came at him he begins to wonder what things are being said about him by other people in those sessions. After Sabine realizes that she was too rough on Ben she agrees to go out to dinner with him in a very public restaurant. They each have a good time and realize that they have a lot in common. Ben decides to change somewhat towards people especially females because he realizes that he is sending off the wrong message. He also knows he must deal with a past relationship of betrayal if he wants to have a future relationship with Sabine or anyone else. Just when you think everything is going good you are given the total history of Sabine and find out that though she has been living in Ministry for two years she is still married to someone else in another state. Now this part of the story along with her father being in prison has made it for Ben, to be at the crossroads in what he is wanting to do. He believes that he is in love with her but must get past this knew information and they together must come up with a plan to get her away for good from the man she is still married to. The end of this book has a lot of action going on but it goes along with the story, and the author brings it all together at the end. A very good book with very good characters. Overall a good story. Read it to find out what happens.

Super cute read! I liked how the author created 2 strong characters that both needed each other. The relationship between Sabine & Ben was fun to watch evolve. I will be reading more by Susan Sands.

Forever, Alabama is the 3rd book in the Alabama series but can be read as a stand alone.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Forever Alabama brings popular playboy lawyer Ben Laroux together with clinical therapist Sabine O' Connor in a light, easy to read contemporary romance. I like that family plays a big part in Susan Sands' novels and that was certainly the case in this one with Ben's family helping him to understand that his dating practices were pretty thoughtless. Sabine's family relations are a lot more complicated, but it was good to see her mother's prominent and supportive role in the story. The characters in this novel are for the most part believable though I didn't quite gel with either Sabine's estranged husband or her father. The plot is good and for the most part kept my interest. There were a few spots where I felt the story could have flowed better but overall this was an enjoyable story.

Fun-loving, playboy Ben Laroux never goes over the two date limit. He doesn't do commitments and he makes that very clear to every woman he dates. Oblivious of course to the trail of broken hearts he leaves behind him. Sabine O'Connor, a fairly new transplant to Ministry, Alabama is privy to all the intimate details thanks to being the town psychiatrist. That has made her wary especially since Ben insists on flirting with her.

But Sabine has secrets of her own and they're about to all come out in a very big way. The only one she can turn to for help is Ben. Soon she realizes that though Ben may have a reputation as a heartbreaker, he has a heart of gold and honorable intentions. And that what they feel for each other might actually be the real thing.

I truly enjoyed this book! It is a heartwarming journey to self discovery and love. There are bumps along the way in every journey and Sabine and Ben's journey was no different from any of ours. Sabine and Ben are the main characters in this wonderful book and they are beautifully crafted. They were true to life and believable. The secondary characters are just as richly developed as the main ones and you will like some and not like some, like Sabine's husband. I loved the snappy dialogue and I must say that I chuckled many times. It is so realistic! This story flowed well from beginning to end and although you may know what is coming , there are many surprises throughout. I felt every minute of this book. I was so rooting for Sabine and Ben. This is a wonderful book that I know everyone will enjoy. I know that I did. Great writing, great dialogue, great storyline! I recommend this one!