"The Choice"

by Nicholas Sparks, AF, 2007, audio CDs, 9hrs, rating=2
**SPOILER ALERT**

Set amid the austere beauty of the North Carolina coast, Nicholas Sparks tells the story of Travis Parker, a small-town veterinarian who's perfectly content with the active and exciting life he leads. Since he uses his spare time bungee jumping and swimming with the dolphins, he can't shake the belief that a woman would simply slow him down. That is, until Gabby Holland enters his life. Gabby, Travis's new neighbor, is in love with her boyfriend of three years, and wants nothing more than to start planning the wedding she's always dreamed about. However, there is a story within a story and the connection between Travis and Gabby is just a beginning. As their tale unfolds, their relationship becomes something different--with much higher stakes. With echoes of THE NOTE BOOK abound, listeners everywhere will fall in love. (Goodreads)

This was not particularly original ... man, happy being a bachelor but then the "right" woman comes along and it's love at first sight.  Man in this case was Travis and the woman was Gabby.  The problem of course was that Gabby was engaged to another man so she's suppose to be off limits.  That doesn't seem to stop any of them.  For the sake of true love they end up together, have children, and lo and behold later in their marriage, a car accident ends up putting Gabby in a coma.  Travis's choice was whether or not to pull the plug.  Did his decision give them the happily ever after?  But of c-----!

I basically tuned out after the affair so I could have been singing a different tune if that part was left off.  It's so disheartening.  Maybe I'm bitter because I've been the other person.  But really, have the decency to break the relationship you're in first then go ahead and have another one!!

Perhaps if I didn't tune out, I would have been bawling because it had major sap factor.  Mr. Sparks is pretty good about squeezing your heart for tears.  So this doesn't end my reading journey with his books.  I'm a sucker for torture! j/k  :)

P.S.  Now you know the behind the scene reason why I gave The Bridges of Madison County a rating of one star.  It was incredibly passionate that it rightly deserved five stars had I not taken account of the affair.  That said, this book might actually merit three stars.