LOVE FINDS YOU IN NORTH POLE ALASKA

by Ellen C Maze
(Montgomery, AL, USA)

Ellen C Maze, author Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider

Samantha Sinclair is a 27 yr-old baby sister to a week's worth of brothers, none of which believe that she can make it on her own. With the weight of this knowledge on her shoulders, Sam attempts to prove to her loving yet overbearing family that she knows what she is doing. With an RV, a hard-won degree in culinary arts, and a promise of employment, Sam treks across the nation from Baltimore all the way to North Pole, Alaska to pursue her new, independent life running her own kitchen in a local hotel.

Ex-Marine Bryce Stone has returned home to the place where he grew up; a tourist town where it is Christmas all year--North Pole, AK. He grumbles constantly about the commercialization of the Day, but in his heart, he is empty and burdened with his own hypocrisy. Haunted by the deaths of his parents, a harrowing injury on the battlefield, the deaths of his fellow soldiers, and the recent break-up of an engagement, Bryce crawls back home to take over his Aunt Olive's Christmas store.

Bryce's life intersects Sam's as her hotel chef job falls through the day she arrives and a job offer by Aunt Olive follows directly after. Olive is wise and god-fearing and she lovingly steers the two young people together as they do their individual best to avoid falling for each other.

Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska is chock full of sing-song dialogue and oh-so-natural communication between its characters. It was impossible for me to suppress a smile as I overheard conversations between Bryce and Sam, eavesdropped into their points of view and rooted along with Aunt Olive for their budding love. I was infatuated with the characters from the get-go and like all excellent authors; Loree causes her readers to empathize completely and with abandon. I was Bryce, I was Sam, and yes, I was also Aunt Olive. Because of Loree's superb literary prowess, I understood the pain of the ex-marine confused and addled by the beauty taking over his shop. And I was Samantha; full of love, faith and an unending hope that God has a plan for my life.

Author Loree Lough has not forgotten what it feels like to fall into real love for the first time and because of this, many pages of my copy of Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska are stained with happy tears. This is the first book I have ever read in this genre, and certainly not my last. Loree has found a lifelong fan and friend in me.

Unnecessary Technical notes: I wanted to add how much I love the cover art and appreciate the silky, smooth matte finish. Although smaller than I like (I prefer 13pt), the print is an easy-to-read font that gave me no trouble. The author used flawless POV changes (point of view) and employed a flowing style of prose that enabled me to read this book in one sitting.

Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska By Loree Lough / Summerside Press There aren't any reindeer prancing around this North Pole. Just a self-admitted "Scrooge" who'd rather be anywhere but here! Ex-marine Bryce Stone isn't happy about returning to his holiday-obsessed hometown anyway---and getting stuck managing his aunt's cluttered Christmas boutique is the last straw. Will his plucky new employee be a help---or another humbug hindrance? 320 pages, softcover from Summerside.