MATTER OF CHOICE
Author: RM Alexander
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: January 21, 2014
Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions
Some promises can’t be kept.
Shannon Winters’ picture perfect marriage is in shambles after a car accident left her husband an amnesiac. The commitment to vows he doesn’t remember making keeps her fighting while covering up the parade of other women and a spectacle of bad behavior. Her career as owner and manager at a successful boutique hotel alongside the Hudson River keeps is her refuge, but, at thirty-seven years old, what she craves is the bond to be repaired.
Even twenty years after high school, Triston Keyes continues to be haunted by the memories of the girl he’d lost, the only woman he’s ever loved. When he meets Shannon during a vacation, he finally has the chance to apologize. It’s the only hope he has if he ever wants to fall in love with anyone else.
Sparks rekindle between them, and Shannon struggles to find a reason to stay true to a broken marriage which is quickly crumbling as she gravitates towards the forgotten love.
Until her husband pleas for her to come back.
But when the depth of betrayal is revealed, Shannon must choose her vows-and her beloved hotel-or to remain true to her heart; while Triston must fight to keep the past from catching up to his future.
Both know nothing is a matter of luck, but a matter of choice …
by R. M. Alexander
ARC review
Published: January 21, 2014
My rating: 4 of 5 ⭐️
A car accident two years ago left Shannon Winter's husband, Greg, with amnesia that left him unable to remember his wife or his marriage. All this time Shannon has clung to her own vows despite his constant drinking and strings of affairs, hoping Greg would one day return to the person she once married. In the meantime, her exclusive hotel on the Hudson River keeps her busy and distracted. Until Greg start disrupting her safe haven there as well.
It's been about two decades since high school, but Triston Keyes could still not shake the guilt he felt for losing the one girl that really mattered. He was a successful and established business owner and had no problem finding female companionship, but in twenty years, had not been able to find anyone who could keep his attention. Hoping that by clearing his conscience he would be able to free his heart, Triston goes in search of the girl he wronged and finds her at her hotel.
Facing Triston again after all these years, just as she is in the middle of a disaster of a marriage going from bad to worse in a hurry, is not something Shannon could have dreamed up in her worst nightmares. But Triston surprises her by claiming to want to make restitution for his actions back in high school. And just as she discovers she has been subject to the worst betrayal, he is there to support and comfort her.
The feelings they had between them once are quickly rekindled and although Shannon desperately tried to stay true to her vows, she cannot single-handedly keep the sinking ship afloat. But regardless of which choice she makes, the loss will be big.....her hotel, or her heart.
****
Very intriguing plot line......
I really enjoyed the variety of plot twists and turns of this story. An interesting outline to start with, the 'plot thickened' tremendously when the old boyfriend was added to the cast. Played out mainly within the confines of the hotel, this story could almost serve as the script for a play. I seemed to visualize it that way as I was reading it.
Shannon, although a strong and self sufficient woman, is allowing her husband to run around on her claiming loss of memory. She sticks by him, simply to honor her vows of marriage, hoping he will come to his senses and blaming his (in my opinion) unforgivable behaviour on his amnesia. I take some issue with that, namely, even if your husband loses all memory of you and your marriage, what kind of character does he have to drag other women in front of you indiscriminately and disrupt your place of work drunk?? Amnesia is not an excuse for shitty behavior...... it is an excuse for not remembering your name or your role. I find it difficult to reconcile that a woman so well put together and successful would miss that distinction.
Triston seems determined to seek Shannon out. He did a real number on her in high school, but apparently the excuse of youth works for him. To his credit, he seems committed to do right by her this time, although I am always a bit suspect of emotions getting switched off and on at the drop of a hat. He is protective and would like nothing more than to pick up where they left off years ago, but realizes that Shannon needs to make decisions on her own. Even if he doesn't understand why she would stay in a marriage like that.
This novel had me hooked with the storyline. I simply had to know what was going to happen next, and so I finished in one sitting. Highly enjoyable!
If you like a bit of a character study, some psychological game playing, a bit of action and some sexual tension without the heat....... This book is for you!!
✨A striking, emotional and empowering story of letting go.✨
**ARC provided in return for an honest review.**
“I think you’re underestimating my commitment here.”
“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“Am I?” He leaned forward, his knuckle cupping her chin as he edged it upwards and softly pressing his lips against her mouth. Her every fiber wanted to fight him, to push him away, but their skin pressed together felt too good, and she melted into him.
Slowly, they parted, her voice hoarse as she spoke. “We shouldn’t …” She couldn’t bear to open her eyes. She didn’t want to see the expectations and hope she imagined to be shimmering in his gaze, or reveal the shame and uncertainty she knew was in hers.
He pressed a finger against her lips, leaning forward to whisper in her ear, his breath intoxicatingly warm. “Don’t say ‘we shouldn’t’ anything. Open your eyes sweetheart, look at me.” He paused, and she could feel him back away. Setting her jaw firm, her lids eased open, staring into his gaze a mere inches away. “It was one kiss Shy. That’s all. And I won’t go further than that until you’re ready. But to make it clear, I love you. It might seem impossible, it’s been years and we haven’t spent much time together since I came to the Grande. But I realized this afternoon, when I took a jog down that path we walked… I loved you in high school. Honestly, truly loved you. I screwed it up. But the love never really went away.”
RM Alexander is an author of Contemporary and Paranormal Romance. Her current novel, "Matter of Choice" is releasing in January 2014.
She has been writing since she was 10 years old. Many times, she stopped writing for months or even years at a time, but always came back to it until, in 2009, an idea came to her she couldn't put down. Over the next two years, she wrote and revised "Shadows", which will becoming available in spring/summer of 2014.
Another novel, "Matter of Choice", found its way to paper in 2010 during the revision process for "Shadows". And as "Shadows" was making its rounds to literary agencies, "Matter of Choice" was finished and slated for release in January of 2014.
With characters who look for love in wrong places and are victims of the worse kind of betrayals while fighting for what they want and believe in, RM's novels promise a good read with unexpected twists and turns.
When she's not writing, RM is spending time with her husband and two small children in Michigan. She loves to travel, especially to Walt Disney World, and can often be found on Twitter or Facebook chatting with other authors and fans.
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