This story opens with a lady named Dallas Dubois grumbling "Who the heck gets married during football season?" and complaining that a baby is making its arrival on the same day as a college football classic is played. Her unusual attitude may be explained by the fact that she's a TV reporter. Dallas used to have a huge crush on local quarterback Cal Hollingsworth, but that was years ago, so why does she still tremble when she sees him?

In SLEIGH BELLES Cal is now a computer science professor, unmarried as it happens, and Dallas can't avoid him at the hospital as she covers a local celebrity's new baby. Alabama is getting unseasonably bad weather, an ice-storm is predicted, and Christmas is fast approaching. People stock up on food and the children rehearse for a play. A Southern gentleman, Cal decides to court the lady he'd snubbed back in the day, back when they were both immature and going different directions. If that has to mean a paper cup of merlot, because she's frantically covering stories, then he'll do what it takes to get her attention.

There's a lot of TV production scenes, kids behaving and misbehaving and weather galore. Dallas has family issues which she doesn't want to go into but luckily for her Cal has time and patience. Beth Albright has written two previous tales in this setting, Sassy Belles and Wedding Belles, so if you decide you want to read more of her you've a treat in store. "We do Christmas up big at my house," a character declares as she invites the outsider Dallas to a party. SLEIGH BELLES is an unusual look at the holiday season and what it can bring, including new beginnings.