Choices (New Beginnings #1)
by Michelle Lynn
Everyone makes lots of little decisions from the moment they wake up until they sink back into sleep at night. Decisions that have no consequences or expectations. But, what about the rare choices that could change everything? How do you know what is right for you?
Happiness is something you have to choose again and again, each day.
Michaela Matthews wants that more than anything. Standing in her way is a family pushing her down a specific path and the man she loves preventing her from choosing anything different. When she moves to the city for the next step in her parent’s plan, she starts to figure out what she wants – or more importantly, what she doesn’t want. She thinks she has to leave her old life behind to discover a new one. This throws every choice she has made into question. It isn’t until tragedy strikes that she learns that sometimes there is no choice at all. Sometimes you can have it all.
Jason Marks has had the kind of life where things have seemed to just happen to him, no choice involved at all. It’s a struggle for him to keep the past at bay while he tries to move forward. He is no longer the unwanted foster kid. He is a business owner, surrounded by people that love him. But, he isn’t in love. He’s not even sure he believes in it. Not anymore. At least, not until a heartbroken girl falls apart in his arms. It’s enough to make him a believer. Make him a dreamer. Enough to force him to answer that question. Do you give all of yourself to someone who might not choose you in return?
Yes. Yes, you do.
Choices, A New Beginning, proved to be quite the perfect choice for me to read one rainy afternoon. Michaela’s, Jason’s and Chris’s respective stories cut like a knife and got me twisted, thus making the story fully appealing to me.
The story revolves around siblings Michaela and Chris, who didn’t want anything to do with the birthday party that their socialite parents were throwing to their guests. Sure, it was Michaela’s birthday but the party was all about her mom and dad’s business associates. Things took a turn when Mic’s ass of a boyfriend proposed to her in front of the visitors, and Mic refused. Man, that gotta hurt, but damn, it thrilled me. Whew!
Chris got issues with his ‘rents too, as they didn’t really accept the truth about their son. Chris was gay and Mic’s proud of him, but their mom and dad were bigots, more like chauvinist pigs. All the more reason why Chris drunk his way to forgetting them.
Mic and Chris went away and took some time out from their family. Mic took drastic measures by refusing to go to law school and opted to work as a legal secretary in her brother’s firm. I say, that was brave of her.
And then there’s Jason. Chris’s bestfriend and a bar owner. He was a dear friend, caring and supportive, and got a lot of baggage after years of being a foster kid and hurt by someone he truly loved. I liked how Jason didn’t force himself into Mic’s life. He was there when they needed him, even though he didn’t like Michaela’s choices, especially when the latter decided to get involved with her ex again. That really sucked, man.
I gotta admit, I had confused Choices with another hockey sports romance I’ve read a week ago. There were a lot of hockey-related topics and players in the book, and the characters’ enthusiasm were off the charts, I couldn’t help but get engaged with the sports, too.
Soon I realized, Choices may be even better than that other book I’ve read. First, the pacing here is faster and more controlled. Second, there’s an LGBT topic that really interested me, with one of the character’s struggling to let his feelings out and having a disastrous time dealing with people who couldn’t accept his identity. And third, there’s this guy who still believed in finding The One, didn’t do casual drunk sex or one night stands. I actually thought he could have been my own The One (if I wasn’t already married, of course).
There were some surprising twists as the story progressed (which I had anticipated), and I liked how I was able to easily relate with the characters. Although, there’s that issue about Michaela’s constant crying and brash decisions when it came to Ethan (her ex), plus there was Chris’ over-the-top beer addiction. Also, I thought their parents’ indifference with Chris was still unresolved and I would have loved to know more about Katie.
This is Michelle Lynn’s first foray into new adult romance, a far cry from the dystopian novels I’ve read before and let me just say, it was good. If you’re into sports romance and LGBT themed stories, then this story is for you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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