Review: The Choice is Yours!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 23, 2013
This was one of the books that make you say 'its crazy but it works'. I like this book because I can almost identify with Christa. I had my own love triangle a few years ago but fate made my decision for me. The guy that haunted my dreams died, so I was left with the one that I was truly meant to be with. Its because of this that I do not have any regrets.I wasn't sold completely on this story because I found Christa's choice to be quite easy. It was obvious from the start that she would pick Ethan over Barry. The plot did not have enough obstacles except for the wedding, hateful father and financial woes. I didn't really like how Barry was painted in this book, he was basically  just a place holder. There is was no depth to him that would make her truly think twice about her decision. It would have been more interesting if Barry had a dark side and wasn't such a push over. Also I wish that when she met up with Ethan again he wasn't rich because to me that made it easier for her to choose him. Where was the trial and a bit of persecution? I didn't get the whole 'risking the wrath of her father' idea because the only reason he hated Ethan to begin with was due to his poverty, but with him rich now, I could not see how difficult it would be for the father to accept him. Its only his pride that would be affected now if he decided to recant on his disapproval of Ethan.Lo and Behold, Ethan shows up just days before her wedding. Christa did not need a sign more blatant than that. I got her Christa's anger she had a right to be livid with him because he took the decision away from her when they were younger by disappearing. What he left her with was a serious of unanswered questions and it was her need for closure that kept his memory alive in her heart. In a way it was admirable what he did by walking away because he did not want her to suffer the consequences of disobeying her father but he could have easily done it with a little more tact.With a love as strong as theirs were Christa deserved more than being deserted the way she did. What got me tickled is that when he left he found success and I would think that it was his plan all along to become successful so he could win her father's approval and be with Christa but that wasn't the case.  By doing what he did he basically forced her to settle for someone she could never truly love which was just tragic. It made me sympathize with Barry more than I should. If Barry was sadistic or controlling and she was trapped instead of settled then I would have hated him and love Ethan more because he would now become the hero in the story. This story didn't have any heroes for me. Christa did not need saving and it appeared as though even if she did Ethan wasn't truly out to save her.All the peeving bits aside, I liked Christa's fire the dialogue between her and Ethan was sizzling. It made the book very interesting. Ethan was very presumptuous and some of his challenges seemed conceited. What right did he have to dare her the way he did? If it were me the only response he would have evoked by challenging me the way he did was a solid slap to the cheek. This book had me going because I found the audacity and gall of Ethan to be so ridiculous it was actually genius in a way. You really are never to late when you are Ethan and you are loved dearly by someone like Christa. This was a nice read.