Review: The Choices We Make
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 7, 2014
I really do enjoy a good love triangle. So many options, so much unpredictability, I love when both men are great in their own way and the choice is nearly impossible. Call me sadistic, but it makes the whole reading experience that much more emotional. Choices is no exception. I quickly became invested in these characters lives, zealously reading till the end.  I was surprised with some of the plot turns and I enjoyed every minute of it.Quincy Priest has finally moved away from home to attend college and step away from her sister's shadow. Always the 'perfect' one, Quincy wants to relax and find out who she really is. She didn't plan on meeting Brody and Declan and her life changing drastically. Along the way Quincy will learn so much of herself and experience love and heartache like never before.The book is aptly named as its all about the choices we make. Quincy has to make some  difficult choices throughout the story, but its also about how other peoples choices impacted her life as well. Escaping a difficult family life, Quincy is sick of living in her sisters shadow and moves away to college to find herself.  What she finds is two very different men that grab hold of her heart. One is the 'safe' choice, he makes her feel safe and cherished. The other is lusty and challenges her. He makes Quincy step outside of her comfort zone and make choices she wouldn't normally make. Quincy fights her head with her heart and desperately tries to make the right decisions.They think they know you when they don't know anything. I've spent my entire life proving I'm not who they think I am and pretending that I don't care about their assumptions. But I'm tired, so tired of trying to be perfect.Even though of the men are very different from one another, there is a clear choice from the very beginning. Initially I couldn't understand Quincy's issues with choosing,  but as the story goes on, we get a clearer picture as to why she struggles to make a decision. I didn't mind Declan's character, but Brody definitely stole to show for me. From the beginning he was an enigma, the epitome of the 'player' bad boy and I wanted Quincy to be the one to tame him. I was desperate to get to know him better, understand the reasons behind his actions, why he was the way he was. He sizzled off the pages and had me swooning all over the place.I try not to compare Declan and Brody but I cant help myself. Declan is the total package. He is gorgeous, thoughtful and perfect. He already knows where he wants to go in life, and he's paving the road to get there. He makes me laugh and I trust him. Brody is smoking hot, but I hardly know anything else about him. I just know when he's around, I cant think of anything else. I've never had a real boyfriend, so I have no expectations.The story isn't just about Quincy's relationship with these men, but it also focus' on her relationship with her family, especially her sister. Quincy has struggled to live with her sister Katie who is Bi Polar. Always being compared to her, judged for their relationship, she was desperate to move away. Quincy was always on tenterhooks around Katie, not sure what state she'd be in and how it would affect her.  She was constantly guilty for being the 'normal' one. This relationship was heartbreaking. I've never had to deal with mental illness like that, but I know how special the bond is between two sisters and how important it is."I know you're afraid to love, afraid to get hurt. You've always played it safe, and you've always tried to make everyone around you happy. You've got to learn not everyone is Katie. And you aren't in Collier anymore. People here aren't just waiting for you to screw up, and I cant imagine that they'll turn on you if you do. You've spent so long trying to please others. I think its time for you to live for you. "Like I said, I was surprised, especially towards the end when something tragic happened. I was satisfied with the ending, but if I'm being completely honest, I wanted more. There was ample opportunity for some situations to be explored more and I was left a little deflated. Knowing this was the first novel for Sydney, she really should be commended on such a great story. I look forward to continuing the rest of the series.