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A Woman's Life #2
Choices
Cinderella picks the wrong prince and pays a heavy price for jumping the gun.
Shanna Brady grows up in the shadow of her beautiful mother and her Senator father, always feeling inadequate, never meeting standards she imposes on herself. When handsome Jordan Calhoun seems to fall in love with her, she jumps at the chance to prove her worth by helping him gain the political power he seeks. The signs are there from the beginning, but she tries to smooth things over, until finally she has to face the fact that he married her for her money and position and never loved her at all. But instead of grinding her even further down, shedding the dead weight of the man sets her free to try her wings and begin to develop a career, along with a spine. The baby they made together is her comfort--but Jordan becomes a source of anger and attempts at revenge, and she needs all the resources she's developed, as well as the love of a new man in her life, to fight off the shadow of the past.
Shanna Brady grows up in the shadow of her beautiful mother and her Senator father, always feeling inadequate, never meeting standards she imposes on herself. When handsome Jordan Calhoun seems to fall in love with her, she jumps at the chance to prove her worth by helping him gain the political power he seeks. The signs are there from the beginning, but she tries to smooth things over, until finally she has to face the fact that he married her for her money and position and never loved her at all. But instead of grinding her even further down, shedding the dead weight of the man sets her free to try her wings and begin to develop a career, along with a spine. The baby they made together is her comfort--but Jordan becomes a source of anger and attempts at revenge, and she needs all the resources she's developed, as well as the love of a new man in her life, to fight off the shadow of the past.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1993
63 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Marie Ferrarella
1,227 books277 followersMarie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 25, 2021
This is the first book of Marie Ferrarella I have read. The Story line was interesting and true to life and kept me hooked on till the end.
It is so true, without Choices we don't move forward. No amount of wealth and fame you possess helps if you don't make the correct choice. It is you alone that holds you back until you make a choice to move on or solve the problem, till then you are stuck in your head.
Glad that Shanna had her grandmother to guide and love her, and encouraged her to make the choice to move on.
A little bit confused about Reid and Shanna's romance, not much was expressed to make the reader feel connected though. And the time frame of events was a bit confusing, a little bit clarity would have helped.
The book definitely needed editing, but did not distract me from reading it. And quite a lot of loop holes being a story connected with a famous political family. But then, its a story and can be overlooked.
This book has been in my Kindle since 2014, and I am glad I finally read it. I was looking for book 1 and 3 in this series but could not locate it.
Overall a 3.5 stars is good enough for this book. Can't give that half star, so my vote is 4.
It is so true, without Choices we don't move forward. No amount of wealth and fame you possess helps if you don't make the correct choice. It is you alone that holds you back until you make a choice to move on or solve the problem, till then you are stuck in your head.
Glad that Shanna had her grandmother to guide and love her, and encouraged her to make the choice to move on.
A little bit confused about Reid and Shanna's romance, not much was expressed to make the reader feel connected though. And the time frame of events was a bit confusing, a little bit clarity would have helped.
The book definitely needed editing, but did not distract me from reading it. And quite a lot of loop holes being a story connected with a famous political family. But then, its a story and can be overlooked.
This book has been in my Kindle since 2014, and I am glad I finally read it. I was looking for book 1 and 3 in this series but could not locate it.
Overall a 3.5 stars is good enough for this book. Can't give that half star, so my vote is 4.
November 17, 2016
Good read
I have been a fan of Ms Ferrarella for a long time. She has written many books and I have yet to find one I didn't like. Choices was a classic about how wealth can cause a multitude of problems but yet solve many as well. Add a money, prestige person to the pot and you get a great book.
I have been a fan of Ms Ferrarella for a long time. She has written many books and I have yet to find one I didn't like. Choices was a classic about how wealth can cause a multitude of problems but yet solve many as well. Add a money, prestige person to the pot and you get a great book.
August 26, 2018
Okay read
Didn’t particularly like the female lead in this story and it isn’t one of the better reads of this author. Just an okay read.
Didn’t particularly like the female lead in this story and it isn’t one of the better reads of this author. Just an okay read.
June 16, 2022
Sweet romance
I found this book to be very enjoyable. The characters Shanna and Reid were down to earth and real. If you enjoy romance and politics this is the book for you.
I found this book to be very enjoyable. The characters Shanna and Reid were down to earth and real. If you enjoy romance and politics this is the book for you.
November 14, 2014
As romance books go, this one didn't really grab me. Shanna (the heroine) came from a family involved in politics and growing up never really felt close or cared for by her parents. She married Jordan, who wanted to use her to advance his political aspirations. She eventually caught on to the fact that he was cheating on her and had never really loved her. She divorced him and found out she was pregnant at just about the same time. Her own love of politics led her to work for her father and have a second chance to get to know him. When it is time to give birth, a cab driver delivers her baby as they are blocked in traffic and can't get to the hospital. I don't want to give everything away, so I will stop here.
Although Shanna clearly loved her own daughter, her daughter really isn't developed as a character at all in the book and I would have liked to see her feature more. As far as the love interest went, it was ok, but didn't seem totally believable to me. I had no compulsion to sit and keep reading with this one - pleasant, but bland.
Although Shanna clearly loved her own daughter, her daughter really isn't developed as a character at all in the book and I would have liked to see her feature more. As far as the love interest went, it was ok, but didn't seem totally believable to me. I had no compulsion to sit and keep reading with this one - pleasant, but bland.
November 17, 2014
I'm not really sure how to rate this one. I have never been one to really care about editing but this one kept me confused. You never knew what day,week,month or year it was. At one moment it was just weeks and then all of a sudden 1 year had passed but the book never said anything. And the her relationship with Reid had me also confused I never got to experience the romance with them. The book told me instead of letting me feel it. And why couldn't we something indicating whose pov it was. One minute we are in we are in her father head then all of sudden it's hers I was just lost and had to read the page again.
Overall the story was good it's was just the lay out that wasn't very good. I think if the late would have been different we could have gotten more from the characters and the story itself could have even had a stronger ending.
Overall the story was good it's was just the lay out that wasn't very good. I think if the late would have been different we could have gotten more from the characters and the story itself could have even had a stronger ending.
June 4, 2014
Good Read
I enjoyed this book, it started off a bit slow in the first pages, but eventually picked up. I was very happy when the heroine found her voice, and things picked up from there....
I enjoyed this book, it started off a bit slow in the first pages, but eventually picked up. I was very happy when the heroine found her voice, and things picked up from there....
November 8, 2014
I enjoyed this political intrigue with a female lead that had to find her way out of sorrow and insecurity. Great romantic story with good characters and hope...something not found often in politics!!
November 8, 2014
This book is true to its title. Life is all about choices, some easier than other (backing of a few million can certainly play an important role). It is easy to identify with the Shanna in her journey of finding herself as well as her parents realising the privilege of parenthood. Nice beach read.
August 20, 2016
A time for politics
Choices always lead to changes. Finding the strength to discover who you are is absolutely the greatest and most valuable asset any person can have. The changes might hurt, but the results surpass expectations.
Choices always lead to changes. Finding the strength to discover who you are is absolutely the greatest and most valuable asset any person can have. The changes might hurt, but the results surpass expectations.
September 21, 2014
This novel has the same old, tired plot of rich girl married to a scumbag, and she find her life lacks "something." Blech!
November 15, 2014
Middle of the road for me, maybe because I've read so many of this type of story line. Did enjoy the political aspect of the book.
Read
November 28, 2014Good! Started out as not-so-good but kept at it and thought it was very good.
December 12, 2014
There were a couple of things mentioned early in the book that weren't resolved, but I'd like to read more of the books in this line.
January 7, 2015
Because you have to give at least one star to a book this is all I can muster. The characters are one dimensional and not at all believable.
April 3, 2015
Good Story.
I love this story, it was a very good read. The characters are wonderful and this book does not drag out the plots for too long. I really enjoyed this book.
I love this story, it was a very good read. The characters are wonderful and this book does not drag out the plots for too long. I really enjoyed this book.
Read
June 11, 2016read before list, think i liked it
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews