Jackson Choice

Gerard Murrin
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2005)
ISBN 1931741484
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (12/06)


“Jackson Choice” is a novel concerning life’s decisions.  Casey Borlen makes decisions based on outside events and on turmoil from within.  When Casey Borlen moves to a small town called Jackson to open a restaurant he faces challenges and struggles that he didn’t expect.  He struggles to run a restaurant and direct the employees and to deal with personal changes in his life.

Casey likes waking up next to Sarah.  He can’t help but think how beautiful she is.  Sarah is a bright spot in his life and with her around life is easier. 

Employees are not always easy to motivate.  Eddie didn’t like having a new boss.  He liked the way the former owner ran the business.  “Casey resorted to telling Eddie to “Just do it!”  Eventually the two came to an understanding and began to work together.

Life seemed good, Sarah was there for him, and the restaurant was going well and then came the River Club.  Things got bad after that.  River Club was a golf resort.  The resort has an expensive restaurant that threatens Casey’s business.  Soon Casey is caught up in the drinking, gambling and lifestyle that the new club promotes.  The price Casey pays is high.

Having been a former business owner I can relate to the stress Casey is under.  Every new business that comes to town will be checked out by the locals and will take a slice out of your business.  The stress affects all parts of your life from financial, mental, physical, emotional and home life.  Casey handles the situation different than most.  Most owners would not make friends with their competition, nor would they begin to patronize that establishment. 

“Jackson Choice” by Gerard Murrin is a good read.  The characters are realistic, especially Casey and Sarah.  The plot flows along smoothly taking you places you don’t expect to go.  Gerard is a talented writer. The cover is interesting and hints that Casey is looking back, pondering his past decisions.  I recommend this book to those that enjoy good fiction.

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