Finally Arleen's new life is going well. That is, until an old friend shows up, bringing with her a past and a bad memory Arleen thought she left safely hidden under the kudzu. When Arleen graduated High School, she left a wild life behind in Possett Alabama. In her new life in Chicago, Arleen has sworn to never tell another lie, have pre-marital sex, or return to her hometown. Extreme as it may sound, Arleen stays true to her promise to God, even with all the temptations her boyfriend brings into her life. But suddenly here is an old friend looking for a person whom Arleen was the last to see years ago, and asking a lot of questions about him. No matter how much Arleen fights it, her aunt and her boyfriend are determined to bring her back to reality and back to Possett.

      Gods in Alabama is one of those rare unforgettable debuts. The author successfully meshes a distinctive group of characters with a first-rate storyline. Arleen's dilemma -- not to mention her narration -- and her relatives keep the listeners engaged. The story moves thorough various emotions, reactions and possible conclusions. The characters are well-written, even the irritating ones. Listeners will most likely understand Arleen's frustrations with Possett and its citizens and may even feel sympathy for her as she relives her blackened past to help the ones she loves.

      Actress Catherine Taber does a wonderful job as Arleen. The southern accent seems natural for this Georgia peach. Taber's work includes the NBC series CONRAD BLOOM and UNION SQUARE. Her film work includes THE GIRLS' ROOM.