Mattie's Choice

by Gay N. Lewis

It's 1925 in rural Oklahoma. A naïve seventeen-year-old Mattie chooses to elope with Jesse, leaving behind an ideal life with her wealthy and loving family. With hope for a happy future, she vows to stay with her husband through good times or bad, but the wonderful life Mattie dreams of is shattered by Jesse's abusive nature and his refusal to allow her to see her family.

When Jesse’s brother, Joe, brings home his new wife--the vivacious Ella--Mattie believes Ella is living the life Mattie prays to have with Jesse. As the years grow harder and Jesse and Mattie’s growing family struggles to survive The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl and illness, Jesse’s abuse worsens.

Life also unravels for Ella and Joe as he begins to abuse his wife. Ella makes the choice that Mattie has never considered.

Will Mattie keep her vow to stay with Jesse at the risk of her own life and the life of her children or will she leave him despite the vow?

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2017

Reviews

[Penelope Marzec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Domestic abuse is never right, but in the early 1900s some men thought it was their right and often the officers of the law looked the other way. Married young, Mattie accepts her husband's beatings, believing in her failings as a wife. Her husband backs up his cruel behavior with his erroneous interpretation of the Scriptures. Her sister-in-law enlightens Mattie and helps to rescue her from the vicious cycle of mistreatment.

Mattie's courage and resilience shine through despite her circumstances. This is truly a worthwhile read with thought-provoking questions to ponder at the end of the book.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Lewis writes a compelling novel dealing with a difficult subject. Her historical work is well researched and spans sixty years of history and the accomplishments women have made to overcome their circumstances in the first part of the 1900’s.

The plight of Mattie and the choices she made in her life both to her detriment and to her honor bring a heartwarming story of hardship and success. She stayed strong to her beliefs and finally to herself to make a good life for her children. Excellent.

[Clare Revell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. However the constant time jumps, sometimes of several years, made it difficult to follow and jarred me out of the story.

[Carlene Havel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deals with the difficulties women face in life, particularly in an era or situation where choices are limited. I loved the contrast between the two women who faced a similar problem. One had the courage to escape; one had the courge to stay. Clearly there is not right or wrong answer, just the strength to make a choice and endure its hardships. Heart-rending, but definitely worth reading.