The day of THE CHOOSING ceremony arrives... and Carrington Hale isn't chosen, despite years of practice and plenty of promise. Instead of becoming a wife, Carrington is relegated to being a "Lint", an Authority worker of the lowest level. Carrington is devastated, as she questions her entire identity and purpose. However, Carrington is given an unprecedented second chance at avoiding life as a Lint. Meanwhile, one man, considered a traitor by the Authority, offers a different kind of hope but to accept it means betraying the Authority and risking death. Will Carrington recognize where the real hope lies or will she accept what she's always been taught to believe?

Rachelle Dekker's debut novel and first in a series kicks off with a bang! We are thrown headlong into Carrington's distress and inner turmoil as she wonders what went wrong. Normally, I'm not a fan of too much character angst but Rachelle Dekker handles it so well that it feels natural and purposeful. Carrington's process of self-discovery is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, and I'm thrilled we will get to spend more time with her as she becomes more comfortable in her own skin.

THE CHOOSING is an insightful and eloquent tale that will resonate with female readers in particular. In fact, THE CHOOSING is the sort of book I wish every young woman would read. Women are so often relegated to the roles dictated to them without understanding who they are or that each one is beautifully made. Rachelle Dekker addresses this topic through a dystopian setting as we see a young woman struggling to accept that she is nothing when inside her heart cries out for more.

Rachelle Dekker's debut novel is a winner! THE CHOOSING is an inspiring tale that reaches deep into the hearts of men and women, showing both the love and the darkness that can lurk within. I read THE CHOOSING in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down and I'm already anxiously awaiting the second book. I can't wait to see Warren start to grow up and watch Remko as he continues to recognize that his stutter doesn't define him. THE CHOOSING is highly recommended!

Book Summary

Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—to end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority.

But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. Though the whispers contradict everything she’s been told, they resonate deep within.

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, yet she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

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