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 … 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?
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It’s life situations that bring out our true character. Kevin didn’t know he was capable of being angry at God and unforgiving towards the person who hurt him. Through his recovery, he had to deal with bouts of pain, hurt and unforgivingness towards the person who hurt him and learn how to redirect his energy to helping others instead of being bitter against God.
Samantha was plagued with guilt over what she had done. And sought for ways to make it right.
Joy was the most interesting character in this book with her sage wisdom of pointing people around her to God.
Heather was a very helpful and optimistic wife. Her faith and patience was good to read about.
This was an okay read.
I was on the fence between a three and four star rating but since it isn’t available I bumped it up instead of down. I found the story drew me in and I enjoyed the concept very much but the rushed ending was the deciding point for me. It is a story that shows our choices can dictate our destiny if we don’t repent and sorrow. It shows you that forgiveness not only of others but of self is so important, and is another choice we make. I loved the coffee shop setting and look forward to reading more. There are life lessons to be learned through Choices and the characters will seep in and become friends over a cup of coffee. This is a quick, enjoyable read , that carries a punch.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Have you ever made a choice and it turned out bad? I think we can all say we have made choices that later came back on us. In this story their are several people whose lives interact with each other in a way that will change them forever.
One of the things I did like was the relationship between Kevin and Heather. They have a great marriage and relate to each other very well. They run a pet store which is profitable enough for them to live comfortably. Everyone seems to know them and enjoys the extra care they give each customer. In a blink of an eye everything changes for them one early morning. The accident that almost kills Kevin is devastating and emotions run high. I did like that Heather seemed to be calm during his recovery and was a great support for him.
The two main themes in the book is about forgiveness and guilt. Samantha deals with both of those when she is distracted that fateful morning. It just takes one glance away from the road to cause a person to find themselves in a chain of events that have consequences. I would hope that if I ever hit someone with my car that I would stop and help them. Samantha makes the choice to flee the scene and from there her life is out of control. Her sleepless nights and guilt were taking over and she knew she had to do something. I did find it a bit odd that after she found out who she hit, she would go to Kevin’s store and volunteer. Maybe it made her feel less guilty, but I’m not sure most people in her situation would have done that.
The story does a good job of exploring guilt and how it can take over your life. A decision Samantha makes to hide the evidence was a bit much for me. Again I know this is a fictional story but the author may have taken it to the extreme . I do have to counter my statement by saying people do unexpected things when they are overwhelmed with guilt.
I did like how the author introduces Joy and her coffee shop. It is the focal point where several characters go for great coffee and free advice from a woman of faith. I especially liked the interaction between her and Samantha. She also is helpful in directing a few of the characters to God and helping them understand forgiveness.
It is not a surprise in the book who caused the wreck which allows the author to let readers see different reactions from the characters as it affected their lives. Living with guilt or anger is a big problem for Samantha and Kevin. I was anxious to see how the author would tie the story up and felt the ending was rushed and abrupt. The story is a good example of forgiving others and yourself.
“We make the choice to forgive and then we work on it.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Choices
Samantha takes her eyes off the road to send a text. Kevin is riding his bike. By accident she hits him and leaves the scene. She realizes she knows who the person is that she hit. She is so scared of being found out. Will she ever admit her guilt?
Kevin has a lot to recover from being hit on his bike. Will he able to forgive the person who did it?
I loved how the book tells both side of the characters story. How Samantha felt for what she did and if Kevin can forgive her.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This book review is my own opinion.
‘How many crimes could she commit to avoid taking responsibility for the crash?’
As Samantha Lawrence works to avoid being charged in a hit and run accident, we are reminded how one lie can turn into so many more and one bad choice can change your life forever. As I read this story, I tried to imagine how I would have reacted. Panic caused Samantha to drive away from this accident but why didn’t she go back? Doubts and fear contributed to her dilemna but why didn’t she admit what she had done? As we witness Samantha’s conflict we realize her multiple bad choices. She chose to text while driving, she didn’t stop when the accident occurred, and she continued to cover up her actions.
What about the victim? Kevin Wyland experienced all of the emotions you would expect. He wanted to know who caused his accident and left him with severe physical injuries; he questioned why God would allow this to happen. Kevin also faced some choices—choose to accept God’s timing and work to go forward; continue to blame the person responsible and withhold forgiveness for what they had done! Author Jacqueline Lynn gives readers so much to think about and she successfully shows the many emotions in her story. Disbelief, anger, and hurt; acceptance, faith, and forgiveness.
Choices centers around a coffee-shop in Florida and this is the first book in the Joyful Cup Story series. Joy, the owner, is kind and wise and her Christian advice helps both Samantha and Kevin as they make the choices that will affect their future. I look forward to reading more about Joy and the Joyful Cup.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
Choices, perfect title for this book, and there were many choices to be made. Some good ones, but many bad. Imagine being a college student coming home at 5am from a friend’s house. She texts you as you’re halfway home. You look down for a brief couple of seconds, just enough time to veer off into the bicycle lane. Thump, you stop suddenly as a body hurls across your windshield. In a panic you leave the scene in a break neck hurry, not even checking on the person you hit. Is he dead, alive? Thus begins the journey of Samantha Lawrence. She fools everyone but herself.
I loved that the Joyful Cup Coffee Shop was the center of everything in this small town. And Joy the owner was a favorite character of mine. She knows everyone in town and gives out great advice to those that come in with problems. This small community comes together in times of need. I liked that too.
You also follow along with the victim, Kevin Wyland, who owns a pet supply store along with his wife Heather. Kevin has a very hard time with his feelings for the hit and run driver. He wonders why God has abandoned him.
I enjoyed getting to know these small town residents and look forward to another book soon to be coming out centered around The Joyful Cup.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.
My Thoughts on Choices:
When I first heard about this book I was struck by what a normal situation this is nowadays. People get in accidents or hit a dog or whatever and just leave. No one holds themselves accountable anymore it seems. So I was interested in how this book would work out.
Samantha hits a man on his bike when she is driving but not paying attention. Instead of stopping and holding herself accountable for her actions she drives off. This haunts her and she’s not sure later how to deal with her actions or her feelings.
The man on the bike, Kevin, is a man she knows. He also struggles with the accident. Physically he is hurt and has a long road to recovery. But mentally and emotionally his road is even longer. Can they find healing together or even get themselves together to accept responsibility?
They both go to the coffee shop owner for support and a listening ear.
I love the coffee shop! Joyful Cup is such a fun name and the owner Joy is a very sweet lady who listens without judging and gives the love of God freely. I am happy to hear that more books will be coming centering around the coffee shop.
This is a great book and I highly recommend it. It’s not a fast read and there isn’t mystery or suspense as you know who did what from the beginning. But the emotions and thoughts are so real that you just can’t stop reading.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, Unbound, which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
The title of this book sure hits it on the nail. We all make choices, some good and some bad, some we own up to, and others we want to sweep under the rug.
The author has given us characters that are given choices, as we all are, but one makes a terrible one, and we are there to see how one choice leads to another and then another.
I found this one a compelling page-turner, and I had to find out who made it to the end, and if all would be turned over to God.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to give a positive 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.
I read this novel over a single weekend, which is unusual for me, even when I like a book. Ms. Lynn is not a writer who’s interested in wasting your time – she gets on with it. I love that. In my opinion, this is Christian fiction at its best, dealing with the tough themes of shame, regret, and anger.
Early one morning in a small Florida town, invisible dynamics are set in motion when a college student, distracted by texting, strikes a biker, then, panicked, leaves the scene Thus the book is off and running. It was easy for me to put myself in the shoes of the justifiably angry bike rider, a small business owner who is laid up in ICU. Frankly, it was equally easy for me to put myself in the shoes of the college student, who hides her shameful act while the town seethes with rage.
You know reconciliation is coming – this is a Christian novel – but the journey to it is satisfying and believable. This appears to be Jacquelyn Lynn’s first novel, but she’s obviously a veteran writer. Well done.