Book Review: ‘From Alaska With Love’ By Ally James

Sara is 35 years old and single. She works for her brother as a nanny for their daughter and lives in their house. She hasn’t had a date or meaningful relationship in a while and when her aunt makes a comment about her being a spinster it gets to her. She sees an ad to write to soldiers overseas and decides to write a letter, not knowing who will receive it.

Major Gabe Randall is on another tour in his military career. This time he’s far from his home in Alaska, stationed in Iraq. He’s been in the military for a long time now. He has no girlfriend or emotional attachments except his dog back home. He is the lucky one that gets Sara’s letter. He writes back and they correspond for months. They even facetime each other and they each feel something for the other. Gabe is getting to come home after this tour ends and gets a ticket for Sara to come visit him in Alaska. She wants to go but her responsibilities in North Carolina where she lives weight on her.

Then one day out of the blue on his way home, Gabe shows up to see Sara and had planned to stay and fly to Alaska together. Things take a bad turn and he ends up leaving and they both think it’s over. But Sara finally realizes she has put her life on hold for too long and takes off for Alaska.

When she gets there and gets to Gabe things are tense and they both are not sure about what too do. Gave has six weeks to figure out how to get to Sara and his relationship on track, if indeed they’re going to have a relationship. Gabe isn’t use to these feelings and pulls out all the stops to try and win Sara once and for all.

If you’re a fan of romantic novels, this one is for you. It follows the usual formula of most romantic comedies. Boy meets girl, they have an issue and then they try to figure out if the issues can be overcome or not. And the story also includes a cool dog and a great setting in Alaska.

You can pick up From Alaska With Love in stores on Tuesday, March 3rd from Berkley.