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beckyrendon's review
5.0
How do you talk about a book that resulted in numerous bouts of tears? How do you put into words the breaking of an already broken heart? Apparently, J.L. Berg has it down to a science.
The Choices I've Made is a second chance romance that packs some serious heartache from the beginning to the end. Heartache born from an unparalleled love separated by pain. This book may have a happy ending but tissues are a must!
The Choices I've Made is a second chance romance that packs some serious heartache from the beginning to the end. Heartache born from an unparalleled love separated by pain. This book may have a happy ending but tissues are a must!
ldooten's review
3.0
I have to say wow, what a first chapter! Usually that kind of chapter is mid way through a book. I wasn't sure where it was going to go from there, but the story did get interesting. The writing flowed well, and I thought the characters were well developed. Jake and Molly were high school sweethearts, but life had a way of turning things upside down. I was hoping that it would be a pretty straight forward story after that, but it wasn't. I was happy with the way things were progressing, but the last couple of chapters were not what I was expecting, and they just didn't sit well with me. Eventually, there was a HEA, but it was hard fought and a long time coming. This was a first for me from this author, but it won't be my last.
scvallese1's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. From the sub-genre of second chances and the setting in Ocracoke, NC, there was no doubt that I would read it. And I'm glad I did!
The Choices I've Made follows Jake and Molly, childhood sweethearts who took the long way back to each other. After graduating high school, Jake felt the need to escape the island life after dealing (or not dealing) with family issues. Molly had little desire to leave, and stayed behind to run her family's Inn. Years later, Jake returns and the two cannot help but pick things up, despite the fact that their desires on where to live still done align.
As someone who has visited the Outer Banks and Ocracoke (I love Howard's Pub!), it was nice to reminisce. My only issue- and it's relatively small- is that the story seems to reference Virginia Beach as having the closest hospital (approximately 4 hours away), but I know there's a hospital in Nags Head. I understand the need for the VA Beach hospital for Dean, but I would have though Terri would have gone to Outer Banks Hospital. Again, it's a small thing.
JL Berg has another hit on her hands! I loved it!!
The Choices I've Made follows Jake and Molly, childhood sweethearts who took the long way back to each other. After graduating high school, Jake felt the need to escape the island life after dealing (or not dealing) with family issues. Molly had little desire to leave, and stayed behind to run her family's Inn. Years later, Jake returns and the two cannot help but pick things up, despite the fact that their desires on where to live still done align.
As someone who has visited the Outer Banks and Ocracoke (I love Howard's Pub!), it was nice to reminisce. My only issue- and it's relatively small- is that the story seems to reference Virginia Beach as having the closest hospital (approximately 4 hours away), but I know there's a hospital in Nags Head. I understand the need for the VA Beach hospital for Dean, but I would have though Terri would have gone to Outer Banks Hospital. Again, it's a small thing.
JL Berg has another hit on her hands! I loved it!!
stormiclouds's review
4.0
A cute second chance beach read. Fairly quick read with some angst and heartbreak but I felt like the pacing was bit slow in certain parts.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review
3.0
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books
If you've read this author's books before, you know she can bring the angst-filled storylines and emotional characters. And if you're a lover of second-chance romances, this is one to consider.
Jake Jameson finds himself heading back to the small North Carolina island he grew up on. It means dealing with the family ghosts he ran away from and the love he left behind. But what Jake discovers once he's back on the island is that despite being the one that left, he's not the only one running.
I liked Jake and Molly's story. I liked how despite what happened to them when they were teenagers, they were somehow able to work around those feelings in the face of an accident that rocked their little island.
Molly was an interesting character. She held onto so much anger at Jake that she never looked at herself to see if she was going to hold Jake back from being who he was supposed to be. It was a little frustrating that it took her so long to figure out that she had to work on herself and realize they was more to life than the little island she surrounded herself with. To me, Jake was a saint. I don't think I would have had enough faith that they would get their HEA.
My only problem with the book was with Jake's best friend and Molly's fiance, Dean. I couldn't understand how the relationship with Molly ended abruptly and then the two of them are chatting about the nurse he has a crush on. If that was how their relationship was, a true friendship, I can't believe it moved to anything more. And the fact that Dean ended things moments after Jake came back into town made it more unbelievable. It probably would have been better to leave them as friends and Molly single when Jake came into town rather than forcing this other relationship.
Not my favorite JL Berg book, but still a solid way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
If you've read this author's books before, you know she can bring the angst-filled storylines and emotional characters. And if you're a lover of second-chance romances, this is one to consider.
Jake Jameson finds himself heading back to the small North Carolina island he grew up on. It means dealing with the family ghosts he ran away from and the love he left behind. But what Jake discovers once he's back on the island is that despite being the one that left, he's not the only one running.
I liked Jake and Molly's story. I liked how despite what happened to them when they were teenagers, they were somehow able to work around those feelings in the face of an accident that rocked their little island.
Molly was an interesting character. She held onto so much anger at Jake that she never looked at herself to see if she was going to hold Jake back from being who he was supposed to be. It was a little frustrating that it took her so long to figure out that she had to work on herself and realize they was more to life than the little island she surrounded herself with. To me, Jake was a saint. I don't think I would have had enough faith that they would get their HEA.
My only problem with the book was with Jake's best friend and Molly's fiance, Dean. I couldn't understand how the relationship with Molly ended abruptly and then the two of them are chatting about the nurse he has a crush on. If that was how their relationship was, a true friendship, I can't believe it moved to anything more. And the fact that Dean ended things moments after Jake came back into town made it more unbelievable. It probably would have been better to leave them as friends and Molly single when Jake came into town rather than forcing this other relationship.
Not my favorite JL Berg book, but still a solid way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
breeze_books's review
5.0
Oh man. This book got me good! The ending had tears pouring down my face. I love Jake and Molly. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book where the two main characters have that much chemistry. They were literal soulmates!
This story was so bittersweet and heartbreaking but also heartwarming.
I loved every minute reading this book !!
I also was really happy to see the Dean has his own book. Can’t wait to start that one.
(love finding books based in NC, my home state.)
This story was so bittersweet and heartbreaking but also heartwarming.
I loved every minute reading this book !!
I also was really happy to see the Dean has his own book. Can’t wait to start that one.
(love finding books based in NC, my home state.)
sasha2599's review
5.0
What an emotional read! I knew from the first chapter that this wasn't going to be an easy fairy tale-type story, but I also knew that I was already pulled in and ready to take the journey with Jake and Molly- they were such well-written characters. It was so worth the read- the pain and grief is so well done, although it was at times heartbreaking, it was also heartwarming and tender too. A must read.
**I voluntarily read an advance copy**
**I voluntarily read an advance copy**
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