A Million Little Choices

From the very first page, this book drags the readers in, turns them inside out and upside down, and doesn't let go until the very last word of the book.  It is by far Tamera Alexander's best offering I've read, and I've read a lot of books by her.  

Every day everyone is faced with tiny choices that will eventually culminate into the bigger choices of life. Each choice made has its own consequences and brings the choice-maker to the next choice to be made, once again sending the chooser into the next choice.  

Claire Powell is an award winning interior decorator who has just been named partner in her firm in the Denver, Colorado, area.  Her husband, Stephen, has just been offered a partnership in a law office in Atlanta, Georgia, and decides to move Claire there.  While on a house-hunting trip, Claire finds out that Stephen has already bought a house, and there is really nothing she can do about it.  The house is huge and really doesn't fit the lifestyle she wants. But the more she investigates the house, the more she feels there is something to be done with it. 

There is an issue with the move in and of itself.  Stephen has been emotionally involved with a woman at the gym where he works out.  The move is supposed to be a way for him to get away from her before it explodes into a full blown affair.  She follows him to Atlanta and makes play after play for him, until each choice pushes him farther and farther into a situation he truly doesn't want.  

Once all of the truth is exposed, Claire goes on a rampage with a sledge hammer and finds a room in her house that no one knew was there.  In that room are two trunks, one with identical dresses of various sizes, and one with heirlooms and mementos along with a journal.  In reading the journal, Claire finds out  that the house was part of the Underground Railroad in the later years of the Civil War. While the journal is an integral part of the novel, the story revolves more around Claire and Stephen and the journal enriches the plot exponentially. 

There are so many layers to Claire's and Stephen's relationship that Tamera has had to peel away like the layers of an onion. This has been one of the most engrossing books I've read in a while.  It was hard to put down, easy to lose sleep over, and I never wanted to set it aside for the chores I needed to do.  It isn't highly entertaining as much as it is thought provoking. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a ticket to ride on the Underground Railroad. 

Tyndale House provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.