Choosing Sophie PB

THE BEST CHOICE Leslie Carroll's latest book, CHOOSING SOPHIE combines so many disparate ideas and themes you wonder how it's all going to work out. Take a Harvard educated burlesque dancer, Olivia (Venus) deMarley; her recently deceased dad whose Last Will and Testament contains several difficult challenges; the daughter Venus gave up at birth (who was adopted by a loving family); a rusty, dusty gruff talking minor league baseball coach; some despicable relatives; an Italian-American judge whose courtroom demeanor includes large doses of Yiddish and the sensitive fiancé Venus leaves behind to tackle these new developments in her life. How does this assortment of characters come together? Beautifully. In the course of creating this very readable novel, Carroll tackles tough subjects like adoptive parents, birth mothers, hard choices and learning to live together. She intertwines the interpretation of an old man's will with the problems of running a minor league baseball club in the Bronx, of all places, as well as getting to know and love the daughter she couldn't cope with as a young, unwed mom. And it all works out for the best, in the end. Guys as well as gals will enjoy this story that includes things guys like best (beer and baseball) with things girls like best (family bonding and happy endings). When browsing through current book titles, whether on the web or in the bookstores, CHOOSING SOPHIE is your best choice.