When 17-year-old Sandy Lincoln loses her virginity to the boy she loves, she embarks on a journey that will strengthen her faith and impact the lives of people yet to be born. Despite her boyfriend’s insistence on getting an abortion, Sandy opts for adoption. Her choice infuriates him, revealing his true colors. He abandons Sandy, leaving her to face an uncertain future. With the support of a loving family, Sandy is sure the choice to continue her pregnancy is as right as it is difficult. But as her due date nears, new information will lead her to make another choice --- one prompted by an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger.

"Robert Whitlow’s THE CHOICE provides a compelling story, a great pro-life message, and a sense of hope for anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy.... an enjoyable book with a wonderful faith-based message."

Twins. That’s what the strange old lady in the gas station tells her, but that’s only part of the bizarre prophecy. Her next words make Sandy feel faint: “If they ever meet, one of them is going to die.” Sandy dwells on the brief conversation the rest of the way to Atlanta, where she will live with her Aunt Linda until the baby is born. The year is 1974, before ultrasounds provided in utero photos, but it isn’t long before Sandy senses the old woman’s prediction is true. With the help of Aunt Linda, Sandy connects with an adoption agency and tells them she wants a first and second choice couple, just in case. No one understands Sandy’s insistence that, in the case of twins, she wants them separated, but such a decision is the mother’s choice. Her twin boys are whisked off to new parents shortly after birth, one going to California and the other to Atlanta. Sandy returns to her hometown of Rutland, Georgia, completes her schooling and becomes a teacher.

Thirty-two years later, Sandy is still single and teaching in Rutland. When Maria, one of Sandy’s students, confesses her pregnancy, emotions and memories begin to stir. Sandy promises to help the girl, but the kind gesture is misconstrued by the school counselor, who believes Sandy is intruding on her territory. The counselor is determined to coerce Maria into an abortion, but Sandy knows that isn’t Maria’s desire. As the situation intensifies, Sandy hires a lawyer to protect herself and Maria. One visit to his office is all Sandy needs for her maternal instincts to kick in. The lawyer is one of her sons, she is sure of it. A little bit of Internet investigation is all it takes to confirm her suspicion. When Sandy reveals the truth, she finds her life enriched not only by her son, but also by his wife and children.

Overjoyed by this new twist in her life, Sandy still must face the ugly situation at school and her fears for Maria’s safety. She knows the counselor has hired a lawyer and expects a tough court battle and plenty of media hype. But expectations fly out the window when she meets the counselor’s lawyer, who recently moved to Atlanta from California. Sandy can’t help fearing the words spoken by a mysterious stranger 32 years earlier.  

Robert Whitlow’s THE CHOICE provides a compelling story, a great pro-life message, and a sense of hope for anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy. Unfortunately, it lacks the raw emotion that should have flowed like honey throughout many a scene. All in all, though, it’s an enjoyable book with a wonderful faith-based message.