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Choice #1
The Choice
What if you had to risk losing the people you love to become your true self?
What if you had to make the choice between losing everything or being true to yourself? The Choice explores the difficult struggle Mina Thomas, a nurse with a loving husband and a successful career, endures after meeting Regan Martin, an attractive new nurse she is assigned to mentor. Long-buried desires are awakened within Mina, pushing her toward the need to finally make the choice that, in one way or another, will forever change her world.
Mina's life is comfortable and successful, though unfulfilling. She and her loving husband contemplate having a child, to help build a happy family. Regan enters her life, beautiful, intelligentand incredibly desirable. Mina must somehow work through her own feelings to discover just who she is inside, and the choice she finds herself faced with threatens all she knows and has worked for. The Choice is a novel of love and lossand surviving the tough journey one must take to be true to ourselves.
210 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
1528 people want to read
About the author
Maria V. Ciletti
10 books105 followersMaria V. Ciletti is a registered nurse working as a medical administrator in Niles, Ohio. Her new book, a self-help memoir titled, I Have to Leave You Now: A Survival Guide for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer's Disease,is scheduled for release in September 2014 by Dragonfly Publications. Maria's first novel, The Choice, published by Harrignton Park Press, premiered May 1, 2007. Her subsequent romance novels, Clinical Distance (2009), Collide (2010) Entangled, (2011) as well as the sequel to The Choice and Clinical Distance, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2012)were published by Intaglio Publications. Maria also writes articles for practice management magazines. Her essay, The Softer Side of Medicine, has appeared in the April 2014 edition of Sinister Wisdom. She lives in Niles, Ohio with her partner, Rose."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 5, 2013
I found this book interesting because I'm from the area where the writer lives and where the story is set. I left immediately after I graduated from college because of the conservatism of the area and I felt that I could never have a happy life there. It's interesting to see another point of view.
May 31, 2012
I do not like to spoil the book for anyone...this is a book about being true to ones self while taking a risk of loosing everything. Read about a woman's struggles to follow her long buried desires and choice to be herself. It is so true and very close to home for many who have been there.
July 15, 2015
An interesting book for sure. I've been wanting to read this one for quite awhile. I'm not sure exactly why, but something int he book description caught my eye the first time I saw it and it stuck with me.
I'll start off with the one big thing that sorta threw me off during most of the reading. It just felt like a very dated story. It was a sort of underlying feeling during the whole book. And, while by the end I did realize why it was like that, I don't believe that at the beginning of the book there was any indication to when it took place, and so I, wrongly, assumed that it was more contemporary than it actually was.
The book is about Mina Thomas and Regan Martin (yes, like the President, a joke that cracked me up in the book). They're both nurses at a Nursing Home. Regan a newly minted one just out of Nursing School and Mina, one with more experience who is tasked with teaching Regan how to do the job. There's also Mina's husband Sean, a police officer who seems to specialize in crime scene investigation, and his new partner from Cleveland, who also happens to be a woman. It's quite a complicated plot in some ways, lots of moving parts, and yet in other parts it's quite simple. Mina simply wants to find herself and find love that makes her feel whole.
I really liked the Nursing Home scenes, they jumped off the page at me. Although I will say that while a lot of the details were intriguing, some of them were a bit-- icky-- too.
I was also surprised about halfway through the story because I thought that it was going to go one way, and instead it took an unexpected turn another way. Not a turn that was out of the narrative, I just didn't see the story going that way. I was pleasantly surprised by that.
The novel also reminded me a little bit of the movie Gray Matters. Not so much that the story lines were the same, but that both works had the same feel behind them.
Overall I thought it was a good piece of fiction. Well written, well thought out and I really liked the end, closure, with just a hint at open-endedness (since this is the first book in the series).
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the author hoping that I would review and enjoy it, and, well, duh, it's a free book, of course I'm gonna read it an review it... (and enjoy it too) :)
I'll start off with the one big thing that sorta threw me off during most of the reading. It just felt like a very dated story. It was a sort of underlying feeling during the whole book. And, while by the end I did realize why it was like that, I don't believe that at the beginning of the book there was any indication to when it took place, and so I, wrongly, assumed that it was more contemporary than it actually was.
The book is about Mina Thomas and Regan Martin (yes, like the President, a joke that cracked me up in the book). They're both nurses at a Nursing Home. Regan a newly minted one just out of Nursing School and Mina, one with more experience who is tasked with teaching Regan how to do the job. There's also Mina's husband Sean, a police officer who seems to specialize in crime scene investigation, and his new partner from Cleveland, who also happens to be a woman. It's quite a complicated plot in some ways, lots of moving parts, and yet in other parts it's quite simple. Mina simply wants to find herself and find love that makes her feel whole.
I really liked the Nursing Home scenes, they jumped off the page at me. Although I will say that while a lot of the details were intriguing, some of them were a bit-- icky-- too.
I was also surprised about halfway through the story because I thought that it was going to go one way, and instead it took an unexpected turn another way. Not a turn that was out of the narrative, I just didn't see the story going that way. I was pleasantly surprised by that.
The novel also reminded me a little bit of the movie Gray Matters. Not so much that the story lines were the same, but that both works had the same feel behind them.
Overall I thought it was a good piece of fiction. Well written, well thought out and I really liked the end, closure, with just a hint at open-endedness (since this is the first book in the series).
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the author hoping that I would review and enjoy it, and, well, duh, it's a free book, of course I'm gonna read it an review it... (and enjoy it too) :)
September 23, 2013
I received a paperback copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a review.
Mina and her police officer husband Sean have been married six years, and things are getting a bit too routine. When Regan, a new nurse, is hired on at the nursing home where Mina works, her entire life changes and feelings she'd suppressed for years rise to the surface. Now Mina has to make the choice: maintain her safe, routine life, or take the risk with Regan and be true to herself.
First of all, if medical details give you the heebie jeebies, you may want to skip parts of this book.
Now, the actual review:
This story actually takes place in 1985, though that isn't clear until the end of the book. References to video rental stores, VCRs, pay phones, Jane Fonda workout tapes, and hotel rooms with free HBO did give me a hint that it wasn't intended to be occurring in 2013.
I really enjoyed this story. It was a bit slow to start (largely due to those medical details I mentioned earlier), but the story quickly picks up momentum. The romance is compelling, believable, well-written, and tugs at the heartstrings. There's plenty of sexual tension, but the love scenes aren't gratuitous or overly graphic. Up until the end, I wasn't entirely sure what decision Mina was going to make.
As things escalated, Sean came off as a bit of an alpha control freak - the kind of character you want to kick in the face for being a jerk - but he retained his "good guy" status by recognizing why he did/said the things he did, that he was wrong, and apologizing sincerely for them.
Mina was really conflicted - she loved her husband, but she couldn't stifle the person she really was any longer. Mina was a very strong, likeable character, and I was rooting for her through the whole book.
I think my favorite character was actually Sean's new partner, Rosemary Rosetti. I'd love to see her get her own book. I'm sure she has an amazing history that would shine a ton of light on why she's become the woman she is.
This book will be particularly good for readers who want to read f/f romance, but who don't care for the mystery/suspense books that dominate the genre.
There is a sequel to "The Choice"; it's called "Clinical Distance".
Mina and her police officer husband Sean have been married six years, and things are getting a bit too routine. When Regan, a new nurse, is hired on at the nursing home where Mina works, her entire life changes and feelings she'd suppressed for years rise to the surface. Now Mina has to make the choice: maintain her safe, routine life, or take the risk with Regan and be true to herself.
First of all, if medical details give you the heebie jeebies, you may want to skip parts of this book.
Now, the actual review:
This story actually takes place in 1985, though that isn't clear until the end of the book. References to video rental stores, VCRs, pay phones, Jane Fonda workout tapes, and hotel rooms with free HBO did give me a hint that it wasn't intended to be occurring in 2013.
I really enjoyed this story. It was a bit slow to start (largely due to those medical details I mentioned earlier), but the story quickly picks up momentum. The romance is compelling, believable, well-written, and tugs at the heartstrings. There's plenty of sexual tension, but the love scenes aren't gratuitous or overly graphic. Up until the end, I wasn't entirely sure what decision Mina was going to make.
As things escalated, Sean came off as a bit of an alpha control freak - the kind of character you want to kick in the face for being a jerk - but he retained his "good guy" status by recognizing why he did/said the things he did, that he was wrong, and apologizing sincerely for them.
Mina was really conflicted - she loved her husband, but she couldn't stifle the person she really was any longer. Mina was a very strong, likeable character, and I was rooting for her through the whole book.
I think my favorite character was actually Sean's new partner, Rosemary Rosetti. I'd love to see her get her own book. I'm sure she has an amazing history that would shine a ton of light on why she's become the woman she is.
This book will be particularly good for readers who want to read f/f romance, but who don't care for the mystery/suspense books that dominate the genre.
There is a sequel to "The Choice"; it's called "Clinical Distance".
August 1, 2013
The author, via her main character, gives a heart-wrenching perspective of what it would be like to have to choose between the desires of the heart and the "normalcy" that society at large would like everyone to fit into. A good read.
June 6, 2014
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review, so here goes :)
This book honestly is REALLY different from what I usually/am used to reading.
But that's ok, that's why when I read the description to this book when this book was still on a goodreads giveaway, I applied for it, because I wanted to try to read something different for once and give it a try.
And good thing I did because for this type of book being different from what I'm used to reading, this book did a pretty dang good job giving me a message when I finished reading this book, and that was that Life's important decisions take the most courage; and I agree :) so thank you Ciletti for providing me with something different to read an sendin me a message through your outstanding writing :)
Now a short summary:
The main question for the main character for this book was : "What if you had to make the choice between losing everything or being true to yourself?" What would you choose???
Well, this book explores the difficult struggle that Mina, a nurse with a loving husband, a close knit family and a successful career that somehow gets complicated when she meets Regan Martin, a attractive new nurse, who Mina is assigned to mentor.
With Regan, her Long buried desires are awakened in Mina, pushing her toward the need to finally make the choice that may change her life forever.
What do you think she chooses? To drop everything she has and go for Regan? Or ignore what we heart desires most to keep the life she currently has now?
(If you expect me to give you the answer then your out of luck, and are going to have to pick up this book yourself and read it :)
So, this book was quite the experience, I loved Ciletti's writing style, character building, the challenges captivating throughout the book, and how this book had everything from care, to humor <3
*recommend*
This book honestly is REALLY different from what I usually/am used to reading.
But that's ok, that's why when I read the description to this book when this book was still on a goodreads giveaway, I applied for it, because I wanted to try to read something different for once and give it a try.
And good thing I did because for this type of book being different from what I'm used to reading, this book did a pretty dang good job giving me a message when I finished reading this book, and that was that Life's important decisions take the most courage; and I agree :) so thank you Ciletti for providing me with something different to read an sendin me a message through your outstanding writing :)
Now a short summary:
The main question for the main character for this book was : "What if you had to make the choice between losing everything or being true to yourself?" What would you choose???
Well, this book explores the difficult struggle that Mina, a nurse with a loving husband, a close knit family and a successful career that somehow gets complicated when she meets Regan Martin, a attractive new nurse, who Mina is assigned to mentor.
With Regan, her Long buried desires are awakened in Mina, pushing her toward the need to finally make the choice that may change her life forever.
What do you think she chooses? To drop everything she has and go for Regan? Or ignore what we heart desires most to keep the life she currently has now?
(If you expect me to give you the answer then your out of luck, and are going to have to pick up this book yourself and read it :)
So, this book was quite the experience, I loved Ciletti's writing style, character building, the challenges captivating throughout the book, and how this book had everything from care, to humor <3
*recommend*
August 5, 2014
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
First off I would like to say that this isn't the type of book I would typically choose to read, but in entering drawings for First Reads books I sometimes like to try to win books that are outside of my comfort zone so to say. In the case of this book I am so glad I did that.
As a former employee of a nursing home, the characters in this book really interested me. I will always have a soft spot for the elderly and loved how the author captured the day to day activities which can be anything from monotonous to unexpected, stressful, entertaining and always fulfilling.
I also love the message the author portrays in this book. It is a message that tells us to be true to ourselves. We should not let what is accepted and expected of us shape the person we become. We should never choose to live a life of unhappiness just to please someone else. It is a message that we all could take to heart.
I do recommend this book even if you are not interested in LBGT literature. The characters, the love story and the message behind the entire book made it a great read. I read it in 2 days after all!
First off I would like to say that this isn't the type of book I would typically choose to read, but in entering drawings for First Reads books I sometimes like to try to win books that are outside of my comfort zone so to say. In the case of this book I am so glad I did that.
As a former employee of a nursing home, the characters in this book really interested me. I will always have a soft spot for the elderly and loved how the author captured the day to day activities which can be anything from monotonous to unexpected, stressful, entertaining and always fulfilling.
I also love the message the author portrays in this book. It is a message that tells us to be true to ourselves. We should not let what is accepted and expected of us shape the person we become. We should never choose to live a life of unhappiness just to please someone else. It is a message that we all could take to heart.
I do recommend this book even if you are not interested in LBGT literature. The characters, the love story and the message behind the entire book made it a great read. I read it in 2 days after all!
July 25, 2016
I got this from a giveaway and started reading it right away when it came to my door this afternoon and finished it in two sittings today.
Mina Thomas has to make a very difficult choice around her identity and how she wants to live her life.
I loved this book a lot. Maria Ciletti is amazingly good at emotive writing and the pacing is perfect. (I really couldn't put this book down and the only reason I split it into 2 sittings was because i had to eat.) I liked the twists and turns the narrative takes and the romantic scenes are all amazing and her cast of characters is amazingly diverse and what seemed fairly realistic. :D
Mina Thomas has to make a very difficult choice around her identity and how she wants to live her life.
I loved this book a lot. Maria Ciletti is amazingly good at emotive writing and the pacing is perfect. (I really couldn't put this book down and the only reason I split it into 2 sittings was because i had to eat.) I liked the twists and turns the narrative takes and the romantic scenes are all amazing and her cast of characters is amazingly diverse and what seemed fairly realistic. :D
November 6, 2013
I received this book a few months ago from a Goodreads first read contest, to view. I don't always read the description when signing up. This book wasn't something I would normally read. I enjoyed the book because of the medical parts & because I worked at a nursing home in the past. However, I had to skip over all the explicit scenes in the book. The story line was well written and I was anxious to see what Choice Mina made. I was shocked with the ended and didn't see that coming at all. Let me just say this book isn't for everyone.
April 13, 2014
I really liked this book and I can't wait to read the sequel! It's so easy to feel bad for a gay or lesbian individual who hasn't yet come to terms with their feelings or preferences but you forget about the people around them who can also be affected by their "coming out". Mina's husband Sean is devastated by the news that she's gay and wants to end their marriage which in turn, makes the thought of leaving hard for Mina though she knows what she's feeling won't change. Her only hope is that they can remain close even if she leaves. I won this book (free) through Goodreads!
July 29, 2016
This was a book that I had won from a goodreads giveaway and for that I am grateful to both goodreads and the author. Tackling an issue such as same-sex relationships, divorce, and other life changes are hard topics to depict. I think Ciletti did a remarkable job describing her characters in a very humanistic form. Her novel shines a light on the struggles that many people have with their sexual identity and their search for love. Bravo, Ciletti! Thank you for your work!
January 13, 2015
I'm sure for the right audience, this book would a fantastic, relatable story. As someone who's worked in healthcare and EMS, though, I got really bogged down in all the overly-detailed healthcare minutae, and moreover the characters' overpowering idealism in regards to their work - it actually took it out of believable context for me. In the end, the narrative and characters felt just a little too uptight for me, but I could easily see someone else enjoying this novel much more than I did.
September 2, 2015
I received this book from the Goodreads giveaway.
A moving story of a woman's journey through the maze of feelings she encounters when her life and eyes are open by a young nurse she is mentoring. Buried feelings, desires and confusion run through every page of this truth telling novel.
A moving story of a woman's journey through the maze of feelings she encounters when her life and eyes are open by a young nurse she is mentoring. Buried feelings, desires and confusion run through every page of this truth telling novel.
June 7, 2014
A book about making difficult decisions in life to fine happiness.
June 27, 2015
The emotional turmoil of becoming and embracing the person you are meant to be was well presented by the author. She told a believable story that others can connect to.
January 21, 2015
Loved this book!! The characters were great an easy to connect with!! Couldn't wait till I got the second one... I had to buy it that day.
August 4, 2015
I won this book through a goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the ending. Choosing between who you really are and who everyone thinks you should be is a very difficult decision.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews