Giselle's Choice

Parenti Dynasty #2

by Penny Jordan

Saul Parenti has always been glad that he's second in line in the Arrezzian monarchy. He can concentrate on his business empire...and the delights of his new wife, Giselle....

But when his cousin is killed, Saul must ascend the throne. Instead of pursuing their own dreams, Saul and Giselle must now make their lives about pomp and protocol. But the secret traumas of Giselle's past have scarred her deeply; she never wants to be a mother--and that leaves her marriage in crisis. Because her royal duty is to produce an heir....

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Presents, Royalty, Historical Romance, Novels, Fiction

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 25, 2011

About the author

Penelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright

Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".

She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.

Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.

She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.

Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.

Reviews

[StMargarets · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a sequel to this couple's story. I didn't read the first book about their courtship, but PJ provides enough details to understand that this couple wed with the understanding they would never have children. The hero had a bad childhood and the heroine saw her mother and baby brother killed in front of her eyes when she was six years old.

The H/h have been married a year - are still commited to not having children - when the hero's cousin and wife are assassinated. The hero makes a deathbed promise that he will take over the pretend kingdom.

And guess what? The heroine falls pregnant (Why she never had her tubes tied or the hero got snipped is beyond me), and decides to have an abortion in London without ever telling the hero.

Hero figures something is going on and heroine has to tell her secret. She doesn't want children because her mother suffered from postpartum psychosis and she tried to kill herself and both her children by stepping in front of a truck, but the heroine survived. Heroine thinks she will also have postpartum psychosis. The H talks her into seeing a specialist (she should have had counseling years ago). She goes through with the pregnancy. All is well.

Okay - first of all - these two parters are never a good idea. Lynne Graham I'm looking at you. The Pregnancy Shock, A Stormy Greek Marriage
Second -I'm all about choice, but reading about a woman contemplating abortion because of ignorance about a very rare mental illness squicked me out.
Third - there were sex scenes, but not a bit of romance in this story. This was woman's fiction and I really don't want to read woman's fiction when I pick up an HP.
Fourth - I don't care about mythical kingdoms, their politics, or their need for high speed internet. Shoot me now.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really appreciated the exploration of postnatal depression, which isn't usually covered in romances. Sometimes one needs a break from blackmail, gold-digging, and revenge themes. Ya know?

Saul is a wonderful, supportive, loving husband, and is still sexy. Lucky Giselle! LOL Meanwhile, I thought Giselle took too much upon herself by not telling Saul about her fears.

And typical of the best Jordan romances, there are good doses of passion, love scenes and, of course, a happy ending as Giselle is able to work through her fears with both Saul's and modern medicine's help.

This is the second book of a two-part series which deals more with Saul and Giselle's marriage while Book 1, The Reluctant Surrender, covers their courtship.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic sequel to the first book. This book focuses on the issue of post natal depression. Saoul and Giselle's marriage is not so rosy after all but their love is so deep and intense and true that they overcome all obstacles! I want Saoul for my husband I wish he was not fictional lol

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Giselle's Choice" is the culmination of the story Giselle and Saul.

The book begins one year post the first one, and our couple is celebrating their first marriage anniversary. The hero's cousin dies, and he is to ascend the throne. This is a shock to the heroine, who does not want kids and it would be in the hero's duty to have an heir. Half of the book is them working out their issues, dealing with past trauma, PTSD, a pregnancy and ultimately working things out.

I found parts of the book discomforting but equally brave for going to places normally fluffy romances don't.

Safe
2.5/5

[Shatarupa Dhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a fight over a parking space leads to finding ever after love.

The Parenti Dynasty Duet by Penny Jordan is a two-part series about Saul Parenti and Giselle Freeman, and how their lives intertwine with mutual love, grief, happiness, and ever-afters!

Synopsis:
Also known as 'The Dutiful Wife', this book entails Saul and Giselle's short-lived romantic bliss (after their wedding), when Saul has to assume the role of a monarch due to the untimely death of his cousin. As Saul's priorities change, and Giselle comes to terms, or not, with her impending motherhood, both of them have to face their past demons. How they arise from the ashes of their past, and form a stronger bond is what forms the rest of the story.

Review:
I loved this too. In spite of being a ruler now, Saul and Giselle are equal, as equal as can be in HPLand. Also, the love, the bond they shared, with Saul being there for Giselle every step of the way to overcome her fears and insecurities is heartwarming.

You are the wheel on which my life turns, Giselle, the heart of everything I do. I promise you that somehow we will find a way to set you free from your fear.

Originally posted on:
https://sassyshaina.wordpress.com/201...

[Caro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Demasiado progresista la protagonista. Demasiado desagradable para mi gusto, no parece una novela de Penny Jordan.

[Chantal ❤️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another bad book by PJ just avoid this one.

[Kinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kérem szépen, a történetben van egy magát macsónak mutató pasi, aki valójában lelki sebekkel küzd, és egy nő, akinek szintén a gyermekkorából adódó lelki sérülései vannak. Emiatt mindketten félnek a szerelemtől, Giselle még a testi örömöktől is, egészen addig, míg nem találkozik ezzel a pasival, aki leveszi a lábáról… mondhatni, hogy sablonos történet, de nem érdekel, mert a szórakozási faktor megvolt. Kedvelhető szereplők, és ha nem lett volna muszáj letennem a könyvet, akkor egy ültő helyemben kiolvastam volna, mert nagyon olvastatta magát, így aztán megadom rá az 5 csillagot. :)

Giselle-t különösen sajnáltam amiatt, amit gyerekkorában át kellett élnie, és hogy emiatt magát hibáztatja, pedig akkor még gyerek volt különben is, miért kell egy 6 éves gyerekre rábízni, hogy fogja a babakocsit??. Annyira örülök, hogy folytatása is van ennek a történetnek, főleg, mert még mindig nem derült ki minden most hirtelen nem is tudom, milyen másik titokról van itt szó a baleseten kívül, vagy ebbe még nem lettünk beavatva mi, az olvasók sem?. És valamit nagyon várok a második résztől tudom, hogy vannak olyan emberek, akik gyerek nélkül is boldogok, de főhőseink esetében szerintem ez a lelki trauma miatt van, és valójában szerintem jó szülők lennének.

Biztos, hogy nem fogom sokáig halogatni a folytatást, talán még ma neki is állok. ;)

[Kinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folytatódik Giselle és Stefano története, szokatlan módon ez most egy 2 részes Harlequin-történet.

Az első rész végén hőseink látszólag révbe értek, azonban kaptunk rá egy kis utalást, hogy Giselle titkának csak egy részét fedte fel, ezért kíváncsian vártam, mi lehet a még súlyosabb titok, ami nyomasztotta őt. Szegény Giselle, ezek után teljesen érthetővé vált, hogy miért nem akart gyereket. Nem emlékszem, hogy ilyen kis füzetecskében olvastam már volna ilyen komolyabb témáról is. Míg az első rész a megismerkedésükről szólt és hogy hogyan talált egymásra két megtört lélek, a második részben már boldogan él(né)nek, ha nem szólna közbe a kifürkészhetetlen sors, és olyan események történnek, aminek a bekövetkezésétől tartottak, vagy éppen nem is számítottak rá. Ebben a helyzetben újra próbára kell tenni a szerelmüket, ami nagyon erős ugyan, de úgy tűnik, meg kell küzdeniük a múlttal ahhoz, hogy ez örökre így is maradjon. A történet egyúttal aranyos is, és úgy alakult, ahogy azt szerettem volna sejtettem én, hogy valójában a lelkük mélyén szerettek volna gyereket, csak túl erős volt bennük a félelem. :))

A könyv angol nyelvű adatlapját böngészve döbbentem rá, hogy Stefano eredetileg Saul, de valójában ezeken a névváltoztatásokon már nem kellene meglepődnöm. Azt viszont hozzá kell tennem, amit az első résznél elfelejtettem, hogy a fordítás szerintem jól sikerült. :)

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would seem that Saul and Giselle still don’t want children. Both have legitimate reasons for this. One wonders why he didn’t get a clip and her a knot, though? I don’t recall if there is an explanation for this so you just chalk it up to HPlandia. Well bun is there and Saul feels intentional but Giselle adamant not want children. She was never going to tell him but instead take care of it herself as it is her body. This doesn’t fly w/ him either. It’s happened why get rid of. She explains and Saul seeks out help for her. He supports her completely and shows that he is a great Hero in the end. She should have leaned on him from the beginning instead of trying to go her own way w/ her burden. He did share his w/ her.

[Roub · Rating 1 out of 5]

i did not read the 1st book, so i dunno if it's better but this one fell flat on its face. too much introspection and too many references to alpha men character which was laughable, made it dull. giselle's secret was not even dat bad. i meant she did not have to hide it. saul obviously loved her very much and was ready to compromise on anything for her sake.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saul & Giselle

I really enjoyed Saul and Giselle's story. The story started with them already married and very much in love with each other and happy to focus on their careers with no children. However, their lives are turned upside down when Saul must take the throne in the Arrezziam monarchy and with that all their plans are dashed and he need for a heir is required...Amazing read, kept me glued to the very end. Highly recommended.

[Desi · Rating 2 out of 5]

leído el 07/11/2012

2.5 estrellas

[Ginny Rodenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about post partum depression and how it had affected Giselle's life. Good read, not your normal Harlequin.

[Nurina Widiani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is it. Saya membaca juga novel karya penulis favorit saya. Bagi yang mengikuti blog Nurina Mengeja Kata pasti tahu kalau Penny Jordan adalah penulis favorit saya. Meski nggak semua karyanya saya sukai, saya tetap menobatkan dia sebagai penulis favorit.
Dan novel Giselle Choice ini bukanlah tipe novel Penny Jordan yang biasanya saya sukai. Saya lebih suka kalau Penny Jordan menulis tentang kisah balas dendam atau kisah love-hate antara hero dan heroinenya.

Dari awal cerita saya sudah disuguhi adegan panas antara Saul dan Giselle. Pancingan yang pastinya diharap mampu menarik perhatian pembaca. Tapi bukan adegan favorit saya, sebenarnya. Saya bukan tipe pembaca yang suka dengan adegan percintaan di awal kisah. Terutama jika sudah sama-sama suka. Hahaha..
Dan yang membuat frustasi adalah informasi masa lalu yang ditahan dan diberikan secuil demi secuil. Sepertinya Penny Jordan berniat memberi kesan misterius, agar pembaca tertarik menyimak apa sebenarnya rahasia yang disembunyikan Giselle dan seperti apa sebenarnya trauma masa lalu mereka. Tapi bagi saya itu nyebelin banget. Bukannya bikin penasaran tapi malah bikin bingung. Hufff... Saya jadi bertanya-tanya apa saya yang gagal paham atau memang benang merahnya sulit dihubungkan. Padahal cara bertutur Penny Jordan sangat enak dan dialognya mengalir.

Sebagai hero, Saul bukanlah hero favorit saya. Ada beberapa karakter pria dalam karya Penny Jordan yang lebih saya sukai. Seperti Kyril Andronov dalam The Most Coveted Prize, misalnya. Saya lebih suka si pengusaha berdarah dingin dan penuh dendam ini daripada Saul yang hangat dan penuh cinta pada Giselle. Tapi Saul juga keren kok. Dia penuh tanggung jawab, dan berusaha membahagiakan semua orang. Ia ingin semua orang mendapatkan yang terbaik. Ya Giselle, ya rakyatnya. Aaah siapa yang nggak meleleh sama pria suamiable macam Saul begini.
Sementara untuk Giselle, dia juga bukan karakter kesukaan saya. Sebel saya malahan. Giselle terlalu takut dan bagi saya malah terkesan nggak percaya pada Saul dan hubungan pernikahan mereka. Sebagai istri saya biasa menceritakan secara gamblang apa yang saya rasakan pada suami. Apa ketakutan, kecemasan, dan kebahagiaan saya. Karena saya percaya padanya. Karena saya tahu dia mencintai kegelisahan dan harapan saya. *oh oke ini kenapa saya malah curhat* *dikeplak pembaca*
Yah intinya saya merasa Giselle ini masih nggak percayaan. Padahal chemistry antara dia dan Saul asyik banget.

Konfliknya memang bikin saya sebal. Bukan konflik yang penuh intrik dan kelicikan seperti yang biasa saya suka. Tapi yang selalu suka dari Penny Jordan adalah penyelesaian konfliknya. Penny Jordan selalu bisa membuat saya mewek dengan dialognya yang mengena dan begitu dalam serta adegan yang jelas-jelas bikin meleleh.

Overall, meski saya nggak suka ide ceritanya, tapi Giselle Choice tetaplah enak untuk dibaca. Ringan, menghibur dan memberi pemahaman bahwa hubungan harus berlandas kepercayaan.

[Pauline Destinugrainy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Setahun sudah Giselle dan Saul menikah. Hidup keduanya bahagia tetapi sepertinya masih ada hal yang disembunyikan oleh Giselle dari Saul.Hal itu berkaitan dengan komitmen mereka untuk mempunyai anak. Tapi, selama Saul juga tidak menginginkan anak, Giselle tidak akan mengungkap tentang hal itu.

Akan tetapi, kematian Aldo, sepupu Saul membalikkan semua keadaan. Saul harus menggantikan Aldo menjadi pemimpin di Azzerian. Dan itu termasuk memberikan keturunan untuk melanjutkan tahta kelak. Saul berjanji kepada Aldo menjelang kematiannya. Janji yang dianggap Giselle sebagai pengkhianatan bagi komitmen mereka untuk tidak mempunyai anak.

Saul berusaha meyakinkan Giselle bahwa dia tetap tidak menginginkan anak. Untuk itu, Saul mengusahakan negara yang dia pimpin menganut paham demokrasi. Agar usahanya berhasil, dia meminta Giselle berjanji untuk tetap setia pada komitmen awal mereka. Nyatanya Giselle justru hamil. Merasa dia harus tetap memenuhi janjinya kepada Saul, Giselle berniat menggugurkan kandungannya. Lagipula, Giselle merasa tidak mampu mengurus anak mengingat masa lalunya yang buruk (yang disembunyikan dari Saul). Ibu Giselle sebelumnya mengalami sindrom pasca melahirkan dimana dia tidak menginginkan anaknya. Akibatnya Giselle hampir dibunuh oleh ibunya, untungnya diselamatkan oleh ayahnya. Tapi adiknya yang masih bayi tidak selamat. Giselle takut apa yang diderita ibunya akan menurun padanya.

Kenapa saya hanya ngasih bintang 2? Soalnya kesal sama Giselle yang katanya pintar tapi masih make perasaan dan traumanya. Masak dia ga tahu kalau sindrom itu bisa diobati dengan mendatangi psikiater atau apalah gitu... Trus dia malah menyalahkan Saul. Katanya demi cintanya sama Saul, dia mau mengorbankan anaknya. Pemikiran yang aneh.

[Lady Jaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise sounded really interesting. I, for one, don't remember the last time I read a HP where the couple were already married and still together and still in love from the very beginning of the story. Unfortunately, the story is interesting only in name; the execution was horrible.

My first impression was that the relationship was very unhealthy. What else can you think when any mention of the guy going somewhere on his own for even 5 minutes triggered feeling of "Oh he doesn't love me anymore; oh our marriage is not strong because we are not spending every waking moment together" in the heroine?

Speaking of the hero and heroine, they were both a bit Mary Sue and Gary Stu and quite stupid. A few good slaps of good sense into them would not have been amiss at all. They kept claiming to be in love, but I didn't see it. All I saw was two people acting so formal with each other, and two unhealthy people in an unhealthier relationship.

The treatment of post-partum depression in this book angered me. It was stupid, and not fit to print. Saul was an idiot and Giselle was an even bigger idiot who should have been put in counseling when she was 6 years old.

Not a good HP.

[Anuradha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Supposedly a follow up story to the main love story of the leads. I haven't read the main one, but I found this one bizarre and pointless.

After many upheavals in Part 1, the leads - Italian second in line Duke hero and a ragamuffin heroine - are happily married. First anniversary bout of sex is what the book begins with.

Since all their major conflicts are already dealt with, just one thing to go - Duh , its obviously baby trouble.

Well, the author in order to try her hand at surprising the reader, brings in a weird conflict. Both of them don't want kids because they had lousy parents. This logic in itself beats me.

But that's not all. The guy is forced to take up the royal throne (don't ask of which place !?!?) because the first in line cousin conks off.

Now he needs to produce an heir. But he wants to establish democracy , and thus his resolve of not having a kid strengthens further.

But after all that anniversary sex, our lady is already preggers. The rest of the book is just about moving from - I don't want a kid -> Oh, I am going to have one anyway -> I don't mind having one - I love the idea of having one !!

[Fanny Roswita Ria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cover asli dg terjemahan beda banget yak, kalo cover aslinya begitu "menggoda implisit" sedangkan yg terjemahan sangat2 bertolak belakang.

Kali ini Giselle dan Saul d ceritakan dlm alur "after marriage" bagaimana hero dan heroine saling dimabuk cinta setelah usia pernikahan mereka masuk ke tahun pertama. Tetapi prahara mulai masuk saat "Aldo" penguasa dari kerajaan Arrezio mendapat kecelakaan dan meninggal dunia. Krn ikatan darah Saul harus menggantikan posisi Aldo sebagai raja dr kerajaan tsb. Intrik dimulai dg ketidaksukaan Giselle krn Saul tdk bercerita soal pergantian kedudukan ini; lalu soal pewaris taktha kerajaan plus ketakutan Giselle akan penyakit keturunan dari pihak ibunya.

Biasanya kan, novel luar negeri yg bertema kerajaan itu sarat dg protokoler tp di novel ini gw ga nangkep itu unsur jadi berasa kayak bukan kerajaan. Jadinya gw kasih 3 bintang..lumayanlah, ga terlalu ngebosenin

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not exactly sure why this book was written for the "Harlequin Presents" series. It didn't follow the usual formula plot of the series. It lacked the "boy meets girl" plot, complete with conflict and misunderstandings that are so prevalent in this series. Instead, the story starts with a couple that's already married and is presented with new challenges that they need to overcome together as a couple. I found it a little boring because it did lack that overall stomach-dropping emotional tension. But I thought it was interesting that the author presented a topic which a minority of women encounter as a result of their pregnancies.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series not knowing until the next month that there was going to be another one. So you know that I had to read it.

We've already seen how Saul and Giselle got together and got married. Now they face something they never thought they would. Giselle is hiding a secret and then she ends up pregnant.

I like how the author gave us something a little more. We got to see how everything happened and thought everything would be ok. Now we get to see how to make a relationship get through some bumps in the road. Not everything is all happy afterwards.

[RomLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saul Parenti has always been glad that he's second in line in the Arrezzian monarchy. He can concentrate on his business empire...and the delights of his new wife, Giselle....But when his cousin is killed, Saul must ascend the throne. Instead of pursuing their own dreams, Saul and Giselle must now make their lives about pomp and protocol. But the secret traumas of Giselle's past have scarred her deeply; she never" wants to be a mother--and that leaves her marriage in crisis. "Because her royal duty is to produce an heir

[Alexis-Morgan Roark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay...this was okay. I'm writing this review after having read BOTH books in this "duet," and I must say that I was a little disappointed. Just a little.

I did appreciate the look in to the very real problem of post-partum depression/psychosis in the second book, but it did take something away from my enjoyment of the story.

I'll re-read it again one day.

[Sweety · Rating 4 out of 5]

suka banget disini, raulnya perhatian ama Giselle

pernikahan yang awalnya dilandasi tanpa mau punya anak
krn keduanya punya alasan yg berbeda kenapa ga mau punya anak,
tp begitu Raul tahu giselle hamil,memang awalnya dia marah tp habis itu dia care banget
so sweet...dia akan melakukan apa aja yg bs bikin giselle ga khawatir lagi

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: The Parenti Dynasty

[Mιss •kαthєяίиє• Τhε Emεrαℓd Pяίиcεss® · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book focuses more on the issue of post natal depression. If you think about it, it's so sad. It made me really really sad.

[Primadonna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this is the worst PJ's book that I've ever read. I cannot sympathize at all with the female protagonist. :(

[Lupita Figueroa BookLoverRomantic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me resultó interesante que el miedo a la depresión post parto fuera el.motivo de no querer tener hijos. Una novela sin mucho que decir.

[Suzanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book at all ....the premise was just silly ...the heroine was unsupportive of the hero...give it a miss.

[Claudia Muafeca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful sequel. Short and Sweet.