About the Book

 


Book: Choices

Author: Jacquelyn Lynn

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Release Date: April, 2019

In a horrifying moment of inattention on a dark morning, lives change forever.

When college student Samantha Lawrence takes her eyes off the road for just a few seconds to send a text, she swerves out of her lane and hits Kevin Wyland as he rides his bicycle. In a panic, she drives away.

After the crash, Samantha tries to find out who the rider is and the status of his injuries. She is shocked to discover that she knows him. Not only does she shop at the pet supply store he and his wife own, they are both regular customers of Joyful Cup, a popular neighborhood coffee shop, and friends with the owner, Joy Shepherd.

Consumed with overwhelming guilt and fear of criminal charges, Samantha decides to do whatever it takes to avoid being identified as the hit-and-run driver. Kevin struggles with anger, bitterness, and a crisis of faith as he embarks on the slow process of recovering from his serious injuries.

As their lives intertwine with increasing frequency, Samantha and Kevin both turn to Joy for advice and guidance. Can she help them find the forgiveness and peace they need?

This is a heartwarming story with a powerful message of forgiveness that will make you smile even as it brings tears to your eyes.

Click HERE to get your copy.
 

About the Author

 


Jacquelyn Lynn finds joy in her faith, family, and friends, and in the knowledge that she is living God’s purpose for her life. In addition to Choices, she is the author of more than 30 non-fiction books including Finding Joy in the Morning and Words to Work By, as well as the meditations in the Christian Meditations and Faith Words Adult Coloring Books.
 

 

 

More from Jacquelyn

 

The idea for Choices first came to me more than five years ago. Though I’ve written (or ghostwritten) more than 30 non-fiction books, the process of writing a novel was both intriguing and intimidating. Once I voiced my desire, my wonderful husband Jerry Clement became my biggest champion, encouraging and even nagging me along the way as I talked but didn’t write. And when I finally began to write, he listened, offered suggestions, and proofread. Every time I voiced a doubt, he shot it down. As the manuscript neared completion, he designed the cover and supported me through the myriad of details that are essential to finishing and publishing a book. Had it not been for him, Choices would not be in readers’ hands today.
 
As Choices began to take shape, I realized that Joyful Cup, the coffee shop where much of the story takes place, had many more stories to tell. The next book in the Joyful Cup Story series will be released in 2020.
 

My Review

 

“Even though it’s a choice, forgiving is one of the hardest things we have to do.”

Deciding to sign up to review this book was honestly a bit of a whim. I wasn’t sure that I would enjoy it, and the subject matter isn’t what I normally gravitate toward when seeking reading material. However, I decided to try it since it is the beginning of Jacquelyn Lynn’s A Joyful Cup series. Admittedly, I was also drawn to the coffee element. And I am glad that I gave it a chance! It turned out to be a short but compelling novel.

“Choices” presents a real-life situation from different perspectives and thereby inserts the reader into the narrative. Likely, you would react in the way that at least one of the characters does, and it is enlightening to see the impact that our responses and attitudes have on each other and on ourselves. While it is usually easy to identify a poor mindset on paper, it’s often more challenging in our day-to-day lives, and “Choices” demonstrates some of the finer nuances of people’s outlooks. My favorite character, and undeniably the star of the show, is Joy Shepherd, whose name serves as an aptronym for her personality. Her coffee shop, Joyful Cup, is a refuge for those seeking both dietetic and spiritual pick-me-ups. What I admire most about her is her gift for meaningful conversation and her discernment; she knows when and how to give advice gently and also how to be a listening ear for those in need. Lynn did well in crafting her character, as Joy does not come across as preachy and yet she is open about her faith.

I did have a few issues with this novel, though. Its brevity, for instance, is both its strongest and weakest point. I was instantly drawn into the story, and I did not want to put it down once I began reading it. However, beginning with chapter two, there is a constant shifting of characters and scenes. This works to some degree because their lives all become interwoven and they all live in the same town, but it also makes for a somewhat disjointed narrative. Due to the short length of this novel, there is a character info-dump in chapter two rather than a smooth transition between the characters. Similarly, I really would have loved to see more spiritual metanoia with both Kevin and Samantha. I appreciate how their viewpoints evolve but wish that they had had more apparent spiritual epiphanies because I closed the book unsure as to where they stand. With that being said, I felt that the ending was anticlimactic and too abrupt given the depth of the characters’ issues. It tied everything up too neatly and quickly, in my opinion. Nevertheless, I did very much enjoy reading “Choices” and plan to read future books in this series. I would recommend it to readers inclined to contemporaries, authentic portrayals of real-life challenges, and those who are looking for a short but thought-provoking story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.


Blog Stops

 

 

Giveaway

 

 
To celebrate her tour, Jacquelyn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
 
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.