Matthew’s Choice by Patricia Bradley is a sweet contemporary romance published in 2014. I’m not sure how I found this book; perhaps I did from a BookBub special. I started reading it last Friday afternoon and finished it over the weekend. I was hooked!
There are three POVs in this story:
- 9-year-old Noah, who’s forced to grow up because his mom is an addict. He takes care of her and protects her the best he knows how to.
- Matthew Jefferies, whose complicated past has fueled his drive to succeed in the corporate world and become rich.
- Allie Carson. A school counselor and a reading teacher, and also Matthew’s first love.
Life throws them together as they become Noah’s co-guardians while the child’s mother goes to rehab. For Matthew to fulfill his role well, he must travel to his small town weekly, Cedar Creek, where he’s forced to confront the pain of his past, including his failed relationship with Allie.
What I enjoyed most about this story is the way Patricia Bradley developed the romance arc. The story starts with the hero and heroine dating different people, and these relationships continue for more than half of the novel. Yet, the very talented Patricia Bradley skillfully brings them together in an organic and realistic way. Bonus points for the fact that there’s no drama from the others involved as Matthew and Allie find their way back together. Instead, there’s grace and poise. Bravo! 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
This is a Harlequin Heartwarming story, so there’s no faith element. However, the theme of healing and forgiveness, the wholesome way the characters relate to each other, and the strong sense of community show strong Christian values, even if the novel is not meant to be Christian fiction.
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