Book Review For The Noel Bridge By Jenny Hale

This story begins in modern-day Savannah, Georgia. However, most of the story takes place in the small snow-covered mountain town of Noel, Tennessee. It is a sweet holiday story that focuses on the protagonist Alicia Silver and her struggle to feel whole again after losing her fiancé, Bo, in a vehicle accident.

According to folklore, the Noel bridge had the miraculous power to grant people wishes. As you read this story you learn of the struggles of Alicia, members of the community, and visitors who take their wishes to the bridge in hopes that they will be granted. This is a story about hopes, dreams, wishes, healing, miracles, relationships, and Christmas.

When Alicia arrives in Noel she enters a local café and the owner, Leo, informs her that the restaurant is closed, he had just forgotten to change the sign. She is hungry and hoping for something to eat. Having closed the kitchen for the night, Leo offers her the burger and fries he had prepared for himself. She doesn’t feel right about eating his dinner—the two end up sharing the meal. She can tell that Leo is distracted. He acts as though he has somewhere he needs to be.

Later, Alicia learns that Leo’s father is the man with dementia who has gone missing. She also discovers that he is living in her childhood home. While reminiscing about their childhood with her best friend, Evelyn, they recall getting lost and discovering a shack along the river when they wandered from her home. The two wonder if Leo’s father could have made his way there. They go hiking through the snow with Leo in hopes of finding his father in the shack.

The story kept my attention and had me wondering about what would happen in the lives of the characters. Will Alicia make it to the bridge? Will she reconnect with friends still living in her childhood home town? Did the voice she heard on the bridge belong to Bo? Will Leo’s father be found? If he is found, will he still be alive? What will become of Evelyn and Andy? Could a relationship between Alicia and Leo work?

I loved the folklore about a bridge that granted wishes. However, I felt like the author placed too much emphasis on the bridge and its magical powers—it felt a bit overdone. I enjoyed the read, felt like I got to know the characters, and enjoyed feeling like a part of the Noel community.

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys Christian-fiction, clean romance, and believes in the magic of wishes. I give this book a solid 4 stars.