Choices

New Beginnings, Book 1

By: Michelle Lynn

Narrated by: Allyson Voller

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

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 who 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.

©2016 Michelle Lynn (P)2016 Michelle Lynn

Matthews family ups and downs

I wanted to like this book but it just didn’t flow well and the characters kept giving me whiplash. In the beginning, it appeared to be another cliché new adult book with rich overbearing parents who strong-armed their kids to following a life path set by the parents in order to fit into their high society expectations. When the heroine Michaela Matthews refused to marry Ethan Walker, the prized prince of their social circle, it appeared that she finally stood up for herself. However, Michaela waffled a lot between asserting her independence and falling back to the abusive lifestyle her parents crafted for her.

This book’s premise has a lot of potential but the execution left me wanting more. There are two young adults, Michael and older brother Chris Matthews, who were trying to find themselves outside of their parent’s expectations. There was an orphan bar owner, Jason, who was looking for someone to love and belong to. I didn’t feel like this book was developed that well. The characters at first blush were so one-dimensional and stereotypical. But half way into the story, it appears that some of the characters were misunderstood and actually more complex that first believed.
It became clear that this family lacked communication from the dad and mom, to the siblings with each other. The family wasn’t as screwed up as I initially thought so there was room for the author to delicate build those relationships. The book wasn’t paced well and I couldn’t connect to the characters expect the brother Chris and his friend Jason. Chris and Jason drew my emotions in because their pain was more evident.

I can actually envision this being a true-life story and I found the character’s behaviors to be normal. I would have liked the author to take her time with the characters and slow down the pace from subtopic to subtopic. The writing just lacked the finesse to really smoothen these characters and their plight out. I am glad the book ended on a good note. I was pleased with the resolution.

I received this audiobook for free but all opinions are solely my own.

Truly Enjoyable

I enjoyed this book so much that I listened to it twice! The storyline, characters, and narration were wonderful and captivating. Looking forward to more books in this series!

I was voluntarily provided this free audiobook by the author or narrator in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Good Read

I got this book via audiobook boom. Two siblings who have been groomed from birth to follow their parent's plans for them. They leave the house and try to make their own way is a good plot that makes a good feel good novel. the narration was good not the best but good.

Loved it!

The last time I listened to Allyson Voller I did enjoy her work but was a little annoyed by the way the main character sounded in the book. well after listening to Choices by Michelle Lynn I have to say she is someone I look forward to listening to more often. I loved the story it was a little dramatic and funny. I enjoyed listening it. I look forward to listening to more from both author and narrator. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.