What do you think?
Rate this book
Love Made the Choice
To Antonia, drama was something that happened to other people - until the day when the pleasant prosperity she had always known was abruptly swept away, and she had to face the appalling fact that her own father was a criminal.
She felt that the only thing she could do in the circumstances was to leave home and make a new life for herself - and that was how she came to know the impressive, magnificent but faintly mysterious Maximilian Shaw, who gave her a job but then swept her, willy-nilly, into a series of adventures that neither of them could have foreseen.
She felt that the only thing she could do in the circumstances was to leave home and make a new life for herself - and that was how she came to know the impressive, magnificent but faintly mysterious Maximilian Shaw, who gave her a job but then swept her, willy-nilly, into a series of adventures that neither of them could have foreseen.
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1942
About the author
Mary Burchell
162 books84 followersIda Cook was born on 1904 at 37 Croft Avenue, Sunderland, England. With her eldest sister Mary Louise Cook (1901), she attending the Duchess' School in Alnwick. Later the sisters took civil service jobs in London, and developed a passionate interest in opera. The sisters helped 29 jews to escape from the Nazis, funded mainly by Ida's writing. In 1965, the Cook sisters were honored as Righteous Gentiles by the Yad Vashem Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority in Israel.
As Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels by Mills & Boon since 1936. She also wrote some western novels as James Keene in collaboration with the author Will Cook (aka Frank Peace). In 1950, Ida Cook wrote her autobiography: "We followed our stars". She helped to found the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was its president from 1966 to her death on December 22, 1986.
As Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels by Mills & Boon since 1936. She also wrote some western novels as James Keene in collaboration with the author Will Cook (aka Frank Peace). In 1950, Ida Cook wrote her autobiography: "We followed our stars". She helped to found the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was its president from 1966 to her death on December 22, 1986.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 12, 2013
I've been re-reading books by my favorite author from my romance reading days, Mary Burchell. I had never read this one but found a cheap copy. It's a very odd romance, very readable but - odd.
Antonia finds to her dismay that her father is up to something illegal. She is so appalled she decides to find her own place, move out of the house, find a job, and turn down a marriage proposal from the man she loves. I found it hard to believe that this extremely good nice young woman could have been raised by her hard, manipulative mother and her weak, dishonest father.
Antonia finds a job with Max, a man twice her age, and he turns out to be a man who holds a piece of paper that can ruin her father. At her mother's urging, she tries to steal it and is caught. He is trying to get out of an unhappy marriage and convinces her that she must come away with him, become his mistress, and be the co-respondent in his divoce. She agrees.
I found this all quite surprising in a novel written in 1942 and republished in 1975. Certainly such "shocking" behavior from the heroine is atypical from a genre romance, although atypical stories appear in many of Burchell's books, which is why I like her so much.
Oh, and rest assured that Max finds out Antonia's true nature before she is "ruined" and all ends well.
This book is very interesting in terms of the evolution of genre romance, but I had a hard time getting to know or especially like the two main characters. The most interesting character was Max's secretary Miss Smith! Still, Burchell's writing skills are such that it's worth a read for fans.
Antonia finds to her dismay that her father is up to something illegal. She is so appalled she decides to find her own place, move out of the house, find a job, and turn down a marriage proposal from the man she loves. I found it hard to believe that this extremely good nice young woman could have been raised by her hard, manipulative mother and her weak, dishonest father.
Antonia finds a job with Max, a man twice her age, and he turns out to be a man who holds a piece of paper that can ruin her father. At her mother's urging, she tries to steal it and is caught. He is trying to get out of an unhappy marriage and convinces her that she must come away with him, become his mistress, and be the co-respondent in his divoce. She agrees.
I found this all quite surprising in a novel written in 1942 and republished in 1975. Certainly such "shocking" behavior from the heroine is atypical from a genre romance, although atypical stories appear in many of Burchell's books, which is why I like her so much.
Oh, and rest assured that Max finds out Antonia's true nature before she is "ruined" and all ends well.
This book is very interesting in terms of the evolution of genre romance, but I had a hard time getting to know or especially like the two main characters. The most interesting character was Max's secretary Miss Smith! Still, Burchell's writing skills are such that it's worth a read for fans.
July 14, 2025
Our heroine, Antonia, has discovered that her father is a criminal. Boyfriend Martin has proposed, but she refuses without telling him she's afraid her family secret will damage his career. So, because she didn't want to live on money from stolen goods, she gets a job with Maximillion Shaw's company and can live on her own. When she gets caught taking some incriminating evidence against her father from Shaw's safe, she ends up with him proposing she pose as his mistress so he can get divorced rather than turn her over to the police. This is 1942, so the implication is that if she does this she'll destroy her reputation.
Problems ensue.
I like Max, our hero, whose personality goes through incrimental changes as the story progresses. Martin was a great guy. Antonia is quite strong in her way, and is either brave or foolish.
Grey-eyed character: Martin (boyfriend)
Problems ensue.
I like Max, our hero, whose personality goes through incrimental changes as the story progresses. Martin was a great guy. Antonia is quite strong in her way, and is either brave or foolish.
Grey-eyed character: Martin (boyfriend)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews