[Book Review] The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

The Choice 

Author: Nicholas Sparks 

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, 

Pages: 272 (Hardcover)

Released: September 24, 2007 

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing 

Targeted Audience: Women 

How I Heard About It: Nicholas Sparks novel turned movie that has Tom Welling in it. Of course, I’m going to read it.

Summary (from Goodreads): 

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life -- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him...and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive? 

In honor of The Choice DVD release today, I’m doing a book review for the first time in almost two years. Hopefully this is the first of many because I’ve missed blogging a lot. 

One of the main reasons I picked up the book was because I knew Tom Welling was going to be in the movie adaptation. I’ve read a handful of Nicholas Sparks books so I knew enough about the way he tells a story to know I was going to enjoy the book. 

The book caught my attention right away. I love when a book starts off at one point and then the rest of the book is a lead up to figure out how the characters got to that point.

I had a little trouble at first believing the romance because a big portion of the book takes place in such a short time, but that’s more of a personal preference. I tend to like the slow burn, but this novel brought up a great point in showing how fast falling in love with someone could be. 

As for the characters themselves, the strong characters are what sold the book for me. Nicholas Sparks did a very good job of creating different characters with different personalities that bounced around nicely with each other. From Travis’s relationship with his sister to the relationship he has with 

From puppies to bantering relationships, I could not put this book down! A nice quick read if you’re looking for a book that will make you feel good (and cry depending on how easy that comes). 

How It Compares To The Movie: There was so many differences between the book and the movie, but I didn’t find myself minding them. Tom Welling’s character was way more important in the movie than he was in the book. A win in my opinion. There was an added storyline with Travis’s dad that was not in the book and I really enjoyed in the movie. 

4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE CHOICE BY NICHOLAS SPARKS 

MOVIE TRAILER:

[Book Review] Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Summary (from Goodreads):

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.

Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy #5 

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 489

Genres: Fantasy/Paranormal, Young Adult, Romance 

Published: May 18, 2010 

Reading Level: Teens 

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve hated the idea of staying still. So rather than have my sister yell at me because I didn’t do the dishes or fold the laundry, I’ve been doing it on my own as I should be. But I also knew I wanted to get through the Vampire Academy series as soon as possible.

I never really thought about listening to audiobooks until I learned that Molly Quinn who plays Alexis Castle on ABC’s Castle, voiced some of The Mortal Instrument books. With that idea in mind, I looked for the audiobook on Youtube and stumbled across a Youtuber who reads chapter by chapter in each video. It was perfect. When I was done with chores, I would find exactly where I was on my hardcover copy and jump straight in.   

Plot: 

So much happened in the fifth book of the Vampire Academy Series. Looking back at how it started and how it ended, it’s almost weird how much changed just in one book. With one thing that was solved, another problem would rise. 

Characters: 

The reader really gets to know more about Adrian than the previous three books he was in showed. Sure, the readers know his history and what status he has, but in Spirit Bound, the reader gets to know more about Adrian’s character. We get to see a softer side of him.

There’s also a different side of Lissa that is shown. In the other four books, it’s pretty clear that Lissa isn’t really a fighter. In Spirit Bound, she is forced to show that fighter and stronger side of herself. 

Relationships: 

I’ve always said I’ve loved the Lissa and Rose friendship. Each book they prove more and more how much they are willing to do for each other. How far they will go just to help the other one out. A lot of that has been Rose doing things for Lissa. In Spirit Bound, Lissa does a lot for Rose.  

Romance: 

I’ve always been Team Dimitri. Even though I liked Adrian, I didn’t care for Rose and Adrian as much as I loved Dimitri and Rose. However, in showing more of Adrian’s softer side, Richelle Mead made me start to like the idea of Dimitri and Adrian.

The triangle was stronger than ever. During Frostbite there was a Dimitri/Rose/Mason triangle, but it was clear Dimitri was the front runner. Here it’s not so clear. Rose has a connection between both boys in two different ways.

5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR SPIRIT BOUND BY RICHELLE MEAD 

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series:

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)

Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3)

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4)

Here is the audiobook videos I was talking about:

And if you're new to the series, check out the first chapter of the first book:

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[Book Review] Pretty In Pearls by Tera Lynn Childs

Summary (from Goodreads):
Undersea romance with captivating merboys, deep friendship, and spectacular pearls.

Set in Tera Lynn Childs’ fin-flicking world that began with Forgive My Fins, this 100-page digital novella focuses on Periwinkle Wentletrap, Princess Lily’s best friend, and is perfect for fans of mermaids, light romance, and mythology retellings.

As Princess Lily’s emissary, Peri works hard to make sure her best friend knows all the goings on in the underwater kingdom of Thalassinia. The upcoming Sea Harvest Dance means plenty of fun for them, too, including shopping for jewels, trims, and dress making supplies. Peri especially loves the pearls she finds at Thalassinia’s marketplace—and she might be falling head over fins for Riatus, the thoughtful pearl trader who looks like a dashing pirate.

When Lily realizes her friend has a crush, she is determined to help them get together in time for the dance—except her matchmaking efforts backfire, sweeping Peri into dangerous depths and tangled in confusing tides. Should Peri give up on Riatus and find a different date to the Sea Harvest Dance, or will they finally find a way to float along the same current?

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

Series: Fins (Book #3.5)

Edition: ebook

Pages: 100

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mermaids

Published: January 7, 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books 

Reading Level: Teens 

Plot: Considering the novella was only a 100 pages, there was a lot of things that went on. When I heard Tera Lynn Childs was doing an e-book for her Fins series, I was expecting it to be as dark as it was. It was a nice surprise. 

That’s not to say that this is a dark book, because it definitely isn’t, but considering it was a short story, I thought there wasn’t a lot of room to make conflict. But then again this is Tera Lynn Childs and her writing is always amazing. 

Characters: Peri being Lily’s best friend gave readers just a fraction of insight as to who she is. There was more to her. I love how back and forth she was with her feelings for Riatus. Riatus is a character I wish I could read more of. I loved both Peri and Riatus’ characters when they interacted with each other. 

Relationships: I loved Lily and Peri’s friendship. Lily setting Peri up on a date was my favorite moment that the two of them shared in Pretty In Pearls. I’d love to read more stories that focused on their friendship.  

Romance: What I love about Tera Lynn Childs when it comes to her writing romance is the way she keeps her characters apart due to blank problem. A lot (and I mean A ALOT) of the YA books I’ve read put the couple together in the first 1/3 of the book then they must fight together to fix whatever blank problem they need to handle. 

Keeping the couple apart makes the story refreshing. It’s different from other books and so I like it. 

Way of Writing: I’ve always loved Tera Lynn Child’s writing. In Pretty In Pearls, I felt like Childs was able to explore the mermaid world in a way she hadn’t done before. She wrote about the mermaid world in her Fins books, but considering the entire novella was set there this time, she had to focus on it more. 

And since I hate reviews that come close to how long the book/story is, I’ll leave it with this:

4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR PRETTY IN PEARLS BY TERA LYNN CHILDS 

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