The Decision

by Gayle Roper

Rose Martin, fearless young nurse, cares for the critically injured. But when a car bomb explosion kills her cancer patient -- rich widow and beloved mentor Sophie Hostetter -- Rose faces a difficult question: Who could have done this? Was it Peter, Sophie's financial risk -- taking son? Rose escapes into the arms of Jake, a man struggling with his past and his Amish heritage, yet decisions come hard in matters of love and forgiveness. Can the living find God's forgiveness for themselves and justice for the dead?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Amish, Mystery, Contemporary Romance

366 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 15, 1999

About the author

Gayle Roper rejoices every day that she gets to be a writer because she's in love with story. Even on the days that words rebel and have to be coerced onto the paper, there is nothing else she'd rather do. When readers like her work, it's like God says, "See? I knew what you were wired to do." When her books win awards like the Carol Award (Caught Redhanded) or the RITA Award (Autumn Dreams), the Holt Medallion (The Decision, Caught in a Bind, Autumn Dreams) or the Reviewer's Choice (The Decision), it's icing on the cake. And she gets to teach others how to write at conferences too. She spends a lot of time smiling. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America and is the best-selling author of Hide & Seek and more than forty other books.

Reviews

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised that I have not reviewed this book before now. I have lost count of how many times I have read this book. It's one of those favorites that may not be the next great American novel but stands the test of time/re-reads.

Roper drops the reader into the action from the first sentence which enables her to create a backstory for the characters as she goes along, a backstory that weaves the characters together in a believable and satisfying manner.

This book is a quick enjoyable read that survives round two of the purge from my personal collection.

[Anna Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so I'm a sucker for a romance where at least one of the leading characters has a physical disability. My brother is disabled, so I love to see characters written with strength and dignity and willpower to overcome physical challenges in life. That is probably the main reason I'm giving this cozy mystery/inspirational romance a 5 star instead of a 4 star rating.

Rose is a RN who gets involved in a murder intrigue when one of her patients dies in a car bombing. In order to keep her alive and away from the killer, she must go into hiding - conveniently by renting an apartment owned by an ex-Amish friend, Jake. Jake is a paraplegic who is trying to figure out life away from the Amish church, and learning to accept grace and forgiveness.

No big surprises here - just a very nice story and an interesting mystery element. I really appreciated the characterization, as I stated earlier.

[Jean Cowden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hero was in a wheelchair. Mystery, murder and hiding out in an amish community, brings them together. Jake didn't want to love her because of his life bound to a wheelchair, but all the events changed.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book and I would probably read it over and over again. I couldn't put it down and I finished it in one day.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful book. The third in this trilogy. I could not out it down. About God's forgiveness. The guilt people carry. And a beautiful ending for this series