Choose Me [Hardcover]

Xenia Ruiz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2005

Told in alternating voices, the debut novel CHOOSE ME is the tumultuous story of a Latina woman and an African American man whose search for true romance takes a detour through the perfect love of God. Eva has no desire for romance. She's a self-reliant, celibate Christian who, despite a truly bad marriage, has successfully raised two college-aged sons. Adam wouldn't mind being in love, but women seem to be too much trouble-they just have too many expectations. As a recent cancer survivor, he just wants time to heal, write his books and poetry, and work on his spirituality. But when Eva and Adam unexpectedly meet, their attraction to each other is immediate and undeniable. Struggling with their doubts and seemingly insurmountable pain, they will start to let down their guard-and share a love that only God would understand.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Walk Worthy Press (June 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446576700
• ISBN-13: 978-0446576703
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,450,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Choose this one!, August 2, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choose Me (Hardcover)

Xenia Ruiz's debut novel, Choose Me, is definitely asking to be "chosen."

Eve Clemente is an African-Latina single mother of two college-aged sons. Recovered from a disastrous marriage, Eve is a strong Christian woman determined to maintain her five years of celibacy. She believes suffering contributes to the growth of people's faith.

Adam Black is a man with women problems and a probation officer, as well as being a cancer survivor who has put his Christianity on the shelf. He just doesn't understand why God would allow His children to suffer.

A man and a woman. Adam and Eve. They meet at a party and embark on a journey of learning to love-each other and God Himself. And while on their journey they agree to a celibate relationship (until marriage), which becomes increasingly difficult, given their mutual attraction and growing love for each other. The problem is: neither wants to get married. What to do, what to do?

Ruiz's novel is populated with real, rich and complex characters you will grow to deeply care and root for as they traverse the winding and bumpy roads of racism, celibacy, adultery and acceptance. I love Eve. We seldom have the opportunity to experience a Hispanic woman in Christian fiction. And Adam is a wonderful black role model. How refreshing in a society that often portrays African-American males as less than stellar.

Armchair Interviews says: We're looking forward to more from Ms. Ruiz!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Choice!, July 26, 2005

By 

Wordpraize Reviewers "Wordpraize.com" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Choose Me (Hardcover)

Walk Worthy Press has really been turning out some good books in 2005! Xenia Ruiz is another debut novelist that offers a very "worthy" read. In Choose Me meet Eva a Puerto Rican, single mother of two college age sons. Eva is a growing Christian who has been celibate for five years. Eva is introduced to Adam who has refrained from intimacy with a woman, but not on purpose. Adam is a cancer survivor who has a new outlook on life.

Hitting it off upon their first few meeting, Adam and Eva decide to pursue a relationship with the understanding that no intimacy will be pursued until marriage. The couple begins to hit a wall as the temptation to pursue a physical relationship increases and becomes more fervent. The tricky part of dealing with the growing physical struggles comes in the fact that neither one wants to get married. Eva and Adams' struggles threaten to tear them apart and unfortunately tragedy and heartache pushes them both to the edge.

Readers will enjoy the humor and vulnerability of the characters. The cultural richness of the novel is also an added treat as people of a Hispanic background are not often seen in Christian fiction. Tackling such issues as celibacy, forgiveness, racial profiling, adultery, Xenia weaves a tale of two people in love who learn the true art of how to love from the Master Himself.
--Tyora Moody

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ev(a) and Adam... Nothing New Under the Sun, October 27, 2005

By 

Sharel Love "Sharel E. Gordon-Love, Author" (North Plainfield, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Choose Me (Hardcover)

Author Xenia captured the biblical lesson of Adam and Eve in this modern day story of temptation of the flesh. It addressed salvation and relationship with God in angst with emotions saved people still experience even though they have given their lives to God. Just like with Eve, temptation can be stronger than reason and logic, and certainly one does not count up the cost or consider the consequences of their actions until after it is all said and done.

Eva Clemente met her Adam and tried hard to keep her focus and loyalty to her relationship with God and her obligations to her church, but once she began to spend time with Adam, natural human desire to be wanted and loved became priority and she threw caution to the wind. The very night she decided to 'just go for it' led to the worst time in her life. Learning of a shooting spree at her sons' college the next morning after her decision, Eva had a hard time dealing with the guilt. Especially when both of her sons were injured in the melee. Because of what she did, Eva believed none of it would have happened had she not been with Adam.

By story's end, Eva was able to come to terms with her natural human feelings in perspective of who she is in relationship with and to God, and deal with the tragedies she suffered. Not due to what she had done, but because of her own guilty feelings in light of what she did. She found that God is yet a forgiving God and will restore you when you have acknowledged your wrong and help you get up and continue to live.

Although this is a fiction novel, I would recommend it, especially to new converts in Christ, to let them know that there are times when temptation of the flesh can be stronger than we are for that time. But redemption is always available to you if you are sincere and true about who you are in God. Donnie McClurkin's song, "We Fall Down", is such a befitting song to go along with this novel.


Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub