Book Review: The Choice

One young woman. Two very different roads. The choice will change everything.

Even as a pregnant, unwed teen in 1974, Sandy Lincoln wanted to do the right thing. But when an ageless woman approached her in a convenience store with a mysterious prophecy and a warning, doing the right thing became even more unclear. She made the best choice she could . . . and has lived with the consequences.

More than thirty years later, a pregnant teen has come into her life, and Sandy’s long-ago decision has come back to haunt her. The stakes rise quickly, leaving Sandy with split seconds to choose once more. But will her choice decision bring life . . . or death?

Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.For more about Robert and his other books, visit www.robertwhitlow.com.

My Impressions:

I have been anticipating Robert Whitlow’s book, The Choice, for over a year. I had the great pleasure of meeting him and his wife at the ICRS 2011 in Atlanta. (Click HERE for my interview with him.) My book club will be discussing this book at our September meeting and my roundtable group has also picked it for our new year. Boy is Robert Whitlow popular! And for good reason. As soon as I got my copy of The Choice, my husband had to read it. Whitlow is one of his favorite writers, and he thinks The Choice is Whitlow’s best book to date. And throughout the 2 1/2 days it took me devour it, hubs kept asking me if I got to the part  . . .  yet.

So what did I think? The Choice is a well-researched and well-told story of the heartrending decisions made by thousands of women each year — should I keep the baby, opt for adoption or have an abortion?  In his afterword, Whitlow states he wanted to redeem the word choice. He has done that in a way that is sensitive and compassionate to women facing this politically charged topic. All sides of the equation are examined — the effects of an unplanned pregnancy on the mother, the father, friends and family, even the community at large and the effects of adoption on the adoptive family, child and birth mother/birth family. And while Whitlow delivers a book that is decidedly pro-life, you never have any sense of judgment or condemnation for those on the other side.

Sandy Lincoln finds herself pregnant. A high school student in 1974, she is faced with some very harsh consequences of her choice to become sexually active. Through guidance from her mother and aunt, Sandy decides to put her baby up for adoption, but is forced to move from her small town to Atlanta to finish her senior year at a school for kids with nowhere else to go. It is a tough decision and a even tougher reality she faces going forward in her pregnancy.  Thirty years pass and Sandy is again involved in the pro-choice debate when her 16 year old student becomes pregnant. Sandy has to make some more tough decisions that will again prove costly, perhaps even involving the life or death of her two now grown children.

Whitlow thoroughly explores the theme of sacrifice in The Choice. Decisions surrounding an unplanned pregnancy impact not only the birth mother, but her family, the father, and the father’s family.  The characters were very realistic, and there were times when I could feel the anguish that surrounds this highly emotional topic. And since this was a Whitlow novel, there is plenty of suspense involved.  The only negative was the ending — it seemed a little rushed.  I would have gladly welcomed another 50 or so pages.

So should you read The Choice?  Definitely!  I am really looking forward to my book club’s discussion.  We have educators, adoptive mothers, those who chose to keep a baby, etc. I anticipate  lively and perhaps emotional conversations.

Highly Recommended.

(I received The Choice from LitFuse.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To reader other’s views, please click HERE.

Celebrate with Robert by entering to win a Nook Color with GlowLight!

One “choice” winner will receive:

• A Nook Color with GlowLight
• A four book Robert Whitlow library (winner’s choice)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 27th. Winner will be announced at the “The Choice” Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/28. Meet Robert, get a sneak peek of his next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and more. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group.)!

So grab your copy of The Choice and join Robert on the evening of the August 27th for a chance to connect with Robert and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Tags: Robert Whitlow, suspense ficiton