VBT# - The Choices I've Made - JL Berg

Review: The Choices I've Made - Book #1 By The Bay Series - JL Berg - October 2017 - Re-Released April 2025

Years ago, I actually read *Book #2* of this series, so going into this one, I already had an idea of the underlying tragedy that shaped these characters’ lives. *Book #1* introduces us to Jake, the main character, who grew up in a charming small bay town. Everyone expected Jake to settle down there and live a happy life with Molly, his high school sweetheart. But Jake wanted more — more than the quiet town, more than the predictable life. At eighteen, he left without looking back and went on to become a successful, well-known chief of surgery.

Fast-forward several years, and Jake is forced to return home after the sudden death of his father. As part of his father’s will, Jake inherits the local medical clinic — something he never expected. But tragedy strikes almost immediately when the ferry carrying Jake and his childhood friend Dean explodes. Both men are injured though one worst than the other , and their lives are upended once again. Dean, who had been set to marry Molly, pulls away from the world in his grief and pain. And now, with Jake back in town, old feelings resurface.

Molly finds herself torn — between the man she had always truly loved (Jake) and the man she’s learned to love (Dean) over the years. The push and pull of her heart, the weight of past decisions, and the ache of second chances all swirl together beautifully in this romance.

This book gave me *Sweet Home Alabama* vibes — that classic “big city success returns home to small-town roots” feeling, mixed with nostalgia, heartache, and the pull of old love. As someone who already knew Dean’s story and his own eventual happily ever after (from reading the second book first), it was satisfying to come back and see how it all began — to watch the start of this second-chance romance unfold and better understand the emotional groundwork that shaped these characters’ futures.

It’s a heartfelt, emotional read that fans of small-town, second-chance love stories will definitely appreciate.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/42EUb1C