** spoiler alert ** The Choice is a tender Amish love story. Sweetly simple yet delightfully surprising with numerous twists and turns in the plot to keep the reader engaged and interested throughout the book.
Carrie and Sol, a promising baseball pitcher, want to run away and leave the Plain life, however, after Carrie’s father passes away, she realizes she cannot leave her younger brother Andy, with her sometimes cruel and ridiculing stepmother. Sol leaves Carrie to go and pursue his baseball career, while Carrie, feeling betrayed by him, marries another man whom she does not love. When her husband, Daniel, whom she was just starting to grow close to, dies in an accident, her heart is torn with guilt and remorse. It is only when Abel, Daniel’s cousin comes to live at the farm, Carrie discovers God has a way of working things out for good.

The ending is somewhat obvious, but I liked the way Suzanne (the author) managed to tie up all the loose ends in such a sweet and sincere finale.

At times the book was poignant and gripping, yet there were also some humourous characters thrown into the storyline to give it a bit of comedic relief. The Amish lifestyle is beautifully portrayed throughout the book and we are drawn in to the Plain way of life.

Readers will not be disappointed by this beautifully written story.

Lynn Dove
www.shootthewounded.org