Lela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines – Review by Christie Mitchum

Lela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines is a great combination of romance and women’s fiction!!!

Lela is the epitome of a loyal daughter, not to say she isn’t obstinate and determined, but she has dedicated her life to her father and her niece. She had plans to make her own path when Sophie turned 18. However, Sophie has disappeared with her boyfriend which sends all of Lela’s plans completely off track. Now, she races to Malta to find her and bring some sort of peace to her family. She wasn’t expecting Hamish McGregor, who is working for her father, and aiding in the search. Their first meeting isn’t necessarily cordial. Lela doesn’t trust Hamish or anyone that works for her overbearing father. Yet, she can’t deny the attraction and pull she feels towards him, and he can’t deny his attraction to her. As the two work trying to find Lela, they soon find themselves falling in love.

Both Lela and Hamish are complicated and complex characters. Both have suffered tragic losses in their lives which has impacted their present lives, especially in their ability to have a relationship. Lela is fighting her father’s controlling behavior, and Hamish is afraid he will lose another woman to violence because of his job. The two did a tremendous amount of growth throughout the book. They are two different people by the last page even though not too much time passes within the storyline.

Their romance is a slow burn at first, but then, things take off quite quickly when they decide to give in to their feelings. There are some obstacles to their happily ever after, but thankfully without too much angst. While the disappearance of Sophie is the reason both of them are in Malta, that plotline does somewhat become secondary. The book was well-written and was very descriptive. At times, I found myself in the setting with the characters. It made me want to visit Malta.

I found the book quite enjoyable, and I not only liked but respected both of the characters for their determination and strength. While the book was mostly centered around their romance, it was also about family, loss, forgiveness, and second chances.

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