I'm sorry to say that despite multiple attempts to get into the book, I just couldn't connect. The characters felt very flat to me and the writing was not compelling.

I figured I'd give the book a shot after reading the description. Books that hinge on a big great secret often swerve into tabloid weird world pretty fast. People have secrets, yes I know. But they can be handed in better ways and this book felt like it was pulled from the clickbait land of online. Not for me.

This book was provided free by Net Galley as an ARC for readers to offer the opinions on. This was my first book offered through this site and I'm sorry to have been let down.

Better Choices was a fun book to read. The family came alive in my mind and I could almost predict what they would say or do. The story was about a larger than life patriarch who had established a large company, built a huge housing development and taught his two children about life and keeping the family business alive. Extended family played a large part in the story and some were quite the “characters”. The book was funny and interesting. I finished the book in two days because I always wanted to see what the family was going to do next.

I enjoyed this read.... it was engaging and kept me pulled in. I look forward to reading more of this author's and appreciate the opportunity to review this one!

Better Choices by Rod Pennington and Jeffrey Martin, was a fast, enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. The story was far fetched and the characters were not believable, but somehow it came together as a fun book to read. I am recommending it to anyone that wants to be distracted in a good way.

Thank You to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC Better Choices. Thank You to the authors and the publisher. It was great. I really identified with the main character, Allison Clark, I, too, have a “lizard brain”. I am hoping my send chance at love will be as successful as hers...But, life isn’t always a fiction Romance novel, unfortunately.

I loved getting lost in the pages of this book. It was a fast-paced read with lots of family drama.
No surprises or Cliffhangers.

I would definitely recommend this novel to others. I look forward to other books by these authors.
Thank You again.

Really interesting book about recovering from lifelong habits that hold you back from really enjoying life. Parts of the story talked about dealing with a cheating husband, raising precocious twins who are now teenagers, dealing with the terminal illness of a parent, and lots more real life traumas. And throughout the story, there are tidbits of advice that can be applied to the reader's own issues (look for the tips about dealing with lizard brain). I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Its one of those books that you don’t always have to try to figure out who did what to whom....you can just enjoy the story! The story begins with the main character, Allison Clark starting off a bad day that only got worse for her.....sometimes in a very humorous way. The main storyline is the personal growth of Allison, on the brink of divorce and and empty nest, which was told in a way that the reader has to both cheer her on and shake their head. The additional characters of the book add much to the story as her friends and family come together as a result of the family matriarch, Edna O’Connor, is found to have a heart condition that will be limiting her days. Enter Aunt Tillie and her significant other, Aunt Jolene....who is a famous author dealing with Alzheimer’s; Allison’s twins Charles and Angela, who are graduating high school and their friend Paige; her brother Robert and 2nd wife, very young Gabrielle, along with his son and ex-wife.; best friend and attorney Beth, and first love Bernie. Allison seems to be the one person who is “clueless” to what is happening around her as three generations live under one roof to care for Edna. The others seems to have a goal of leading Allison to her own enlightenment with a lot of laughs and love along the way, The overall family dynamic is important to how this story evolves. The family is very well-to-do, which helps the characters lead the lives that are a huge part of the story. But don’t let that take away from the love and caring they have for each other as they all learn that there are choices they have to make: do they listen to what they think they should do, or should they follow their heart and mind to do what they know is their best choice. There is a twist that surprises most (but not me). I will definitely recommend this book as a great read to just sit back and enjoy, because that is how I read it! I received an ARC of this from NetGalley and Integration Press in return for an honest review, which this has been. #NetGalley #BetterChoices

I was pleasantly surprised. While I like chick lit, I don't care for romance. Was a little worried this would lean too much toward romance, but it didn't. The author really made the characters come to life. And while everything was wrapped up with a nice little bow at the end, it was a very entertaining ride to get there.

What a cast of characters! Aunt Tillie and Edna were a hoot. Good twist with the lawyer. I like how the authors wrapped up the loose ends at the end of the book. I enjoyed the story.

#BetterChoices #RodPennington #JeffreyAMartin #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview a mother of twins in a loveless marriage. Her mom in the hospital with heart issues. Where will this journey take us? It’s a story of love. Loss. Betrayal. Friendship. Family. As we learn of this family woven together so beautifully you get lost in their story. It’s a great read for the rainy days here in #puremichigan definitely one you will want to pick up and get swept away in. #bookreview #bookstagram

I enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book. I liked that I didn’t see the twists and turns coming, and that I could really root for the characters. The characters were well developed and believable. I was let down by the last 1/4 of the book. It felt cheesy and forced. I would give this author another try, but I wouldn’t recommend this book as a “must read.”

Better Choices by Rod Pennington and Jeffrey Martin

I’d rate this story 5 stars if only because of the antics of twins Charles and Angela, who, despite their parents’ odd marital agreements, find ways to not only work the system, but beat it. Add in a quirky aunt or two, a dying matriarch and the central figure, Allison, whose father was a self-made millionaire, and the delightful story unfolds.

The authors have created characters I’d love to have for friends, and set them in a fantastic story…not exactly realistic, but fun anyway. I’d read them again in a heartbeat!

I was granted an advanced reader copy of Better Choices by the publisher, Integration Press, and NetGalley.

Allison Clark was the child of a self-made, talented businessman. In high school, her head was turned by the philandering popular guy and thought she could settle him down. Instead, she has lived a life of turning a blind eye to her husband's unfaithfulness and 'gave in to move on' - avoiding conflict from all areas in her life. As the story opens, Allison's epic bad day becomes one that will ultimately turn her life around and gives her the power and strength to stand up for herself.

This story reminded me of an American-version of a Sophie Kinsella novel. It was a light, fun and quick read. The characters were privileged, true, but not so much that they were obnoxious or unlikeable. There wasn't any laugh out loud humor, and everything worked out perfectly, but still an enjoyable read. Good choice if you are looking for a feel-good escape book.

If you were to look at a real family's life, you'd find that each member makes contributions to the whole, some good, some bad. This is exactly how Rod Pennington and Jeffrey A Martin have written BETTER CHOICES.

At the center of the story is a mother, wife, daughter who now finds herself losing all these things that she has identified with forever. Her children are graduating from high school, she is getting a divorce from her cheating husband and her mother is ill with little time left. But before she can figure out what will become of herself, there are a few problems she must sort out.

A really well written story that was entertaining as well as educating. We will all be able to identify with the main character at some point in our lives and we'd love to think that our choices would be good ones. You should really add this one to your TBR pile....toward the top, it's that good!

3.75 STARS rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Integration Press or granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows a tight knit family in the verge of major changes in their life. The matriarch, Edna, is dealing with a health issue, her daughter, and main protagonist Allison, is going through life-altering decisions, including her long overdue divorce, and her children, Charles and Angela are about to embark on life after high school..

The synopsis centres on Edna revealing the long-hidden family secret, but really this book isn't about that. The book is about familial expectations, it's about the complicated dynamic of real families. It's about rectifying bad choices and making better ones. It's about Allison realising she does have control over herself, and allowing herself to be more than a mother and a wife.
The side characters in this book, Allison's young sister in law, and her Aunts, are delightful and just so well fully-formed characters.

I really liked this book. However, I would say that the 'revelation' happens so late in the book and I wouldn't say that it held that much impact over the main characters, in fact, I would even go so far as to say they took it in their stride.

I really liked this story. The characters were realistic and convoluted. The plot was well written and kept me interested. It was a very good read.
Many thanks to Integration Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Better Next Time is a book that demonstrates what a person can do when they are at a difficult crossroads in their life. Allison Clark has decisions to make. Her sham of a marriage is over, her twins are about to graduate high school, and her mother is facing an illness that could be terminal. To help Allison with these situations, her best friend as well as her aunts, offer some practical advice along the way.

Interspersed within the storyline, the plot is filled with ideas about standing up for yourself, taking risks, and recognizing opportunities when they present themselves. I liked the pace of the story and the arc Allison follows. My primary criticism is how at times, the authors presented ideas for Allison in a bit of a preaching manner, which then seemed insincere from the character who was speaking. Otherwise, enjoy the story and see what happens to Allison and her family.

( I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and have provided an objective review.)

1 star
This book is awful and offensive. DO not call God a woman. I absolutely will not recommend nor read anything by these authors again.

Interesting read about family dynamics and secrets kept and then later revealed.You never know what goes on in families behind closed doors.

Better Choices by Rod Pennington and Jeffery A. Martin
Source: NetGalley and Integration Press
Rating: 5/5 stars

Allison Clark previously believed she had her life and her sh*t together. Now, facing a divorce, the eighteenth birthday of her secretive twins, and a mother ready to drop bombshells now that her husband is dead, Allison isn’t at all sure about anything. In fact, Allison is on the verge of facing up to her bad choices and making significant changes in her life.

Like many parents, Allison is having a hard time seeing her twins as near-adults. Though her divorce is relatively amicable, Allison believes her twins know nothing about it; of course, her twins know all about the divorce and are on board with her decision. What’s more, in recent months, the twins have been secretive about their movements and activities. Though they have been careful, the jig is up when the high school calls Allison to report them absent without cause. When Allison tracks down the twins, she is blown away by what she discovers, and it takes everything in her and a stern talking to from her best friend (and lawyer!) not to lose her mind.

Up next on the agenda, Allison’s mother is in critical condition and the writing is on the wall with regards to the end of her life. As is typical, Allison’s mother has no interest in going quietly into the night and fully intends to live out her remaining days in any damn way she sees fit. To accommodate her mother, Allison, her aunt, and her aunt’s life partner all move in and then the fun really begins. Allison’s aunt’s life partner suffers from Alzheimer’s though she still has many wonderfully lucid hours each day. Between the bouts of memory loss, Allison’s coming to grips with the figurative loss of her twins, and the actual loss of her mother, Allison isn’t certain she can handle much more.

The Universe cares not for your emotional state.

On top of everything else, Allison’s ex is throwing a hissy fit about finances which forces the hand of Allison’s mother. When Allison’s mother finally spills the beans, the entire family is impacted and so many things from the past begin to fall neatly into place. With the future of her family radically altered, Allison does everything in her power to keep her sh*t together and not lose her damn mind.

The Bottom Line: Yet again, I find myself befuddled by the Goodreads star rating for a book! I found this book to be refreshingly light and rather wonderful despite all the crazy that occurs. In fact, it is all that crazy that occurs that makes this such an interesting and completely entertaining read. To get through the madness, Allison has to change her mindset and that opens up a whole new world for her. Her relationship with her mother and her twins greatly improves, she learns to be more open and accepting of life and its possibilities, and she finally finds her own voice and begins to use it, forcefully. There isn’t a character in this book I didn’t like, to one degree or another, and I found the blending of the sometimes wildly different personalities to be well-written and beautifully combined. In all, I found Better Choices to be an excellent read with a whirlwind of scenes, secrets, and clever maneuvering. This was a one-sitting and highly recommended read for me!