The Right Choice (Unexpected Love Series Book 1)

This was another great read by Carly Phillips. The story engages from the beginning with the innocent meeting of Carly and Mike. How the story evolves is very special. The characters are given just the right amount of vulnerability that you like them all even with the twist that comes. I hate to give anything away in myreview as the story is truly touching and in the end 'The Right Choice' is made. I would definitely recommend this books to anyone that likes stories with a happy ending.

This was definitely a good read. I enjoy this author and have read several of her books. Sadly these days I must state that it is a standalone book. Thankfully Ms Phillips does not try to bait and switch her audience for that alone her book deserves several stars. I recommend you read this book and others by this author.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. That being said...Once again, Carley Phillips has done it. This book lives up to all of her other books. I read it in one sitting and I loved it!

Carley Wexler was making preparations for the perfect wedding to a perfect man, Peter Novak. It was more of a match made of convenience than a match made in heaven. Then she met the brother, Mike. He made her feel things she had never felt before. When Carley finds out that Peter cheated on her, she calls off the wedding and goes on vacation to get away. Mike follows her and they both end up having to face theirs pasts in order to have a future together.

I would definitely recommend this book!

This was a sweetly sexy and slightly angsty romance.

“She wanted what she’d never realized she was capable of wanting. What she’d never allowed herself to desire. She wanted passion.”

Carly and Peter were good friends, who got engaged. Neither are in love with the other but Carly is committed to the safe, drama-free marriage that they’re going to have. She’s happy in their fairly unemotional, somewhat platonic relationship, until the arrival of Peter’s older brother, Mike.

“He watched as myriad emotions shifted across her face. At that moment, he understood that he would never get enough of her, not ever.”

Mike is a footloose and fancy-free photographer who travels to dangerous hot spots all over the world. He’s not keen on commitment or the prospect of being tied down.

“This man reached inside her. He understood her without the need for words. He was her other half. And he would leave her soon.”

Both Carly and Mike are running away from something, but when they meet, they find something in each other that is both alluring and scary.

This was a really enjoyable romance, with some great chemistry between the characters. I loved Mike’s character – how he pushed Carly to look at herself properly. I enjoyed how genuine and honest Mike and Carly were – there was no messing around with each other’s feelings. Their fear held them back but they were true to themselves and each other.

I love reading Carly Phillips books, they are always fun, inspiring and uplifting. This was no exception, as a fairly new reader I hadn't read the Classics before so I was excited to find these books were out there. Carly Wexler was a cautious woman, hurt by her Father's betrayal as a young adult, she closed herself of from feeling real love. Planned to marry a man that was to her mind 'safe'. There was no room on her life for real passion she thought, as she saw what that could do to a family. Enter her fiancée's brother Mike, a man fighting his own ghosts from his recent job. A globetrotting photographer sent to the hot spots of danger in the world, he was injured on the job and had to come home to recuperate. So the timing of his brother Peter's wedding to Carly, his only family, was good. Only he didn't intend to feel a connection to Carly that he had never felt with another person before. He knew his brother and Carly were all wrong for each other and he did his best to show that without hurting either of them. In the end, he ended up hurting Carly, she felt betrayed yet again by a man she felt she could trust, even while fighting her attraction to him. It was an fun journey to see these two discover how to trust and love again and realize not everyone will let you down. I would recommend this book for any Carly Phillips fan!!

The Right Choice is a wonderfully written romance about 2 people who are drawn together at a time that they shouldn't be yet powerless to stop the pull between them. Carly Wexler is getting ready to marry Peter Novak, the man she feels is perfect for her, there is only one problem...they don't love each other. Carly is marrying him because he is a safe choice, after seeing her parents shattered by passion and scandal Carly just wants a safe and secure marriage. All that changes when Peter's brother Mike comes to town and sees exactly what their relationship is really about. Mike and Carly are both strongly attracted to each other yet, due to her engagement to his brother, can't act on it. As Mike observes how mismatched his brother and Carly are and how they won't be truly happy with their marriage he tried his best to protect both parties by pointing out what Carly and Peter already know.

Will Carly realize that safe and secure is no match for passionate, wild and loved?

This is a fantastic book written by a fantastic author who has only gotten better over the years! You are guaranteed to be invested in Mike and Carly's journey through their own issues and into each others arms.

While this is one of Carly Phillips older titles, it makes it no less amazing than her current offerings.

Carly Wexler is engaged to Peter, but it really is going to be a marriage of convenience more than anything. She's always played it safe and this marriage will fall right into that category as well. When Peter's brother, Mike, is introduced to her, she feels things that she knows she shouldn't since he will be her brother in law. She does her best to push all of those romantic feelings to the side, even though the sparks are flying, and comes to the conclusion that going through with her wedding to Peter is the right decision.

While Carly tries to go through with the wedding to Peter, she finally hits a point where she and Mike can't deny what is happening between them. It is sweet, they connect and the love they share is undeniable.

This is a feel good romance that will warm you from the inside and make you smile. It's definitely one to pick up!

From the first page of The Right Choice, Carly Philips totally draws you in to the story and you wonder how such a crazy love triangle could possibly end up with everyone being relatively unscathed. But somehow she totally pulls it off, making this book fun to read and impossible to put down.
Carly Wexler is sweet but totally misguided about love and romance and therefore totally unprepared for the effect that Mike Novack’s mere presence has on her world. Mike is going through a tough time and is looking for a short reprieve, not a lasting love, and certainly not a connection with Carly. And both of them, as well as Mike’s brother, Peter, who by the way is Carly’s fiancé, have let their childhood hurts drive their present relationship outlooks. As you can imagine, all of that makes for a twisty, page turner that you can’t put down. The Right Choice is definitely the right summer read.

I had the pleasure of reading "The Right Choice," an oldie but goody about two souls running from life and attachments, recently released as an e-book. As is often the case with Carly Phillips' work this Love Unexpected book is filled with warmth, humor and emotion.

Originally writing as Karen Drogin, Carly Phillips puts her unique twist on the standard tale of a girl engaged to the wrong guy for security due to past hurt until she meets his brother and put Phillips unique twist on it.

Each grapples with hurt, Carly Wexler with her dad's infidelity and her mother's refusal to acknowledge it happened afterward, her coldness during Carly's teens. Carly learns to shut down. Brother and hero Mike Novak uses his job as a photojournalist to hightail it when the possibility of a connections arise; he leaves so they won't have the chance to leave him the way his parents abandoned him and brother Peter, Carly's finance.

Both learn to live and trust again, to give themselves a chance to feel and to trust others. Of course, that means a lot of give, extracting Carly from her engagement to Peter and globetrotting Mike wanting a home.

By the end of the book, even learn to accept Peter as the friend he once was to Carly.

Phillips wraps this tale in fun, laughter and heightened emotions. The descriptions she uses, however, are a big part of what makes her tales so interesting.

Here are a few examples: "a look that could freeze hot coffee" and "The woman would never hold her own in a game of poker, but at least he'd never be left guessing about her true feelings"

And thoughts don't just run through your mind in Phillips' tales. They go "rampaging around her brain."

Phillips is a master at using just the description to fit the situation, the locale she is describing. Even something as simple as tasting cotton candy, or that electric energy on contact.

She while talking Carly's feelings toward Mike during an outing at an amusement park, Phillips uses terms like rush... dizziness... heady rush tidal wave of sensations... threatening, when describing the something as simple as goosebumps and attraction from a finger nip:
"A rush of dizziness assaulted her, but that was like a small wave compared to the heady rush she received when he nibbled on her fingertip with his teeth. A tidal wave of sensations surged through her. Such a simple act threatened her very being."

There are people who write books and then there are writers, true wordsmiths, storytellers. Carly Phillips, aka Karen Drogin, is a storyteller -- her readers taste, smell and feel everything the characters do.

This is why I have been a Carly Phillips fan for decades.

3.5 Stars

Carly Wexler has always made the safest choices in life in order to make sure her life turns out right, including her engagement. However, when her fiancé’s brother comes to town for the wedding, Carly experiences feelings that she never knew possible. Now she must choose between her desires and her life plan.

This is a very fast read. The ebook had several spacing issues throughout the story, but they did not detract from the flow. The characters needed to be fleshed out a bit more, but overall this is an unexpected sweet story about deciding between true-love versus planning what one thinks is best. Fans of Carly Phillips work will enjoy the chance to read one of her earlier stories.

Notes:
I won a copy of this ebook in a contest held by the author.
This review was originally posted on the Ariesgrl Book Reviews website.

What if the predetermined Right Choice isn't the right choice at all?

Hooray for individuality and realizing one's true desires. I know when I grab any one of Carly Phillips' books, I am in for a treat. The Right Choice is more than a treat. The writing flows well and drew me in right away. One sitting. I literally started at page one and didn't get up until the end. Why? I had to know what would happen. There are so many plot twists that are not at all what I expected that once I thought I knew what would happen--the story zagged. And it all worked so well.

Carly knows exactly what she wants in life. Or so she thinks. She's easy for lots of us to relate to. We think we know what we want and then when presented with it, we realize it might not be what we thought. Sure, there are times when she comes across rather fretful and almost weepy. Come on. We've all been there. Confusion, desire, and one darned hot guy to stir the pot.

Then there's Mike. The man is headstrong. Like Carly, he knows what he wants and takes it. Sometimes he comes across as a steamroller, just doing what he wanted without thought to her. But being all male and very alpha. I didn't agree with some of the things he did, but I could forgive it because his heart is in the right place. Oh, and when he and Carly mix it up? The emotion, though not blatantly obvious is palpable. You feel it.

If you want a book that shows the true strength of the human psyche, then you need to read The Right Choice. 4.5 books, definitely.

Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews

In the beginning Carly is looking at wedding rings in the window of a jewelry store waiting for her fiancé so they can pick them together. A man makes a comment walking behind her asking which one would she choose..points to the one and she likes it...he likes those too..not too flashy.
She turns around stunned and can't take her eyes off of him. He's handsome, sexy a little dangerous...When she leaves he calls after her saying her name. She pauses asking how he knows her name? I'm Mike Novak;Peter's brother. She is embarrassed to say the least... They go there separate ways after speaking for awhile. When Mike sees that Peter and Carly are definitely not meant to be together he tries to make Carly see it, and Peter too. They both admit things to him and he knows for sure there not meant for each other. He some spends time with Carly and makes her laugh, and he isn't sure what he's doing but likes being with her...Peter is working all the time while Carly is planning the entire wedding by herself. Carly comes to the right decision and makes The Right Choice...What a wonderful book. The love between brothers...family finally comes through and takes a turn for the better. Carly sees things for the better and changes her life....It's sad and very happy, very touching story to see what happens in this book.

Love Carly Phillips work and this story is no exception.

Phillip is a douche and I wanted to whack him upside the head.

The storyline was engaging and kept you emotionally on edge the whole time. I loved the use of reflection and present tense to build depth in the story.

I also loved the use of the main characters and secondary characters to build the stories and relatability to the characters.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO PEOPLE WHO LOVE HEA, STRONG STORYLINES, CHARACTERS WITH DEPTH AND RELATABILITY AND PEOPLE WHO LOVE A GREAT ROMANCE

Carly and Peter are getting married, the only problem with that is they are friends and not lovers or in love with each other. Carly thinks she does not need or want passion in any part of her life, especially when it comes to marriage. In walks Peter's brother, Mike, and suddenly all good plans start to fall apart. This was a sweet story with characters who all needed healing from past events and true love overcomes everything. Definitely recommend this one and want to know how I missed this one when it first came out!

**Received this in exchange for an honest review**

The Right Choice was a refreshing read. I enjoyed the way the characters progressed and the revelations they came to about themselves. In the beginning Carly thinks she is sure of what she wants and needs only to realize as the book progesses that she couldn't have been more wrong. Mike appears as everything Carly thinks is wrong for her only to prove to her that they are better together in every way. He shows her everything that is wrong and is missing with Peter and gets her to face her fears of the past. Together they get each other to open up about their pasts and over come their demons.

Marriage of convenience...or marriage for love....
Be with Carly, yes main character's name is same as author, as she goes through preparation for her marriage of convenience at same time discovering maybe not best choice. She's never felt love before, steering clear to make sure she doesn't make same mistake as her parents. Is she depriving herself of a true love, will convenient marriage be the answer or... Be with the brother's as they discover truth about themselves. Book guides us through the transition and leads us to a love that will last.
This book is a feel good book. Carly, the author, makes us feel everything the characters in the book feels. You are living their life through the author. Great read! A keeper to read on day you feel down on life and want a pick me up to hope.

Karen Drogin does is again, serving up a tempting summertime reading dish with "The Right Choice." Intense at times and at other times evoking a chuckle or two, this story, about two people who'd been orphaned as children (literally and figuratively), will tug your emotions and keep you turning the pages.
Carly Wexler finds out in the nick of time that her fiancé, Pete Novack, is not the perfect match she'd convinced herself he is. Adding to her confusion over his infidelity and her conception of what she'd always thought she wanted is the fact that Pete's brother, Mike (arrived for his part as best man) stirs feelings in her that she never once felt for Pete. Pete & Mike were orphaned as children and a family scandal early in her life left Carly with feelings of abandonment and animosity towards her parents. When Mike and Carly are together the sparks fly, yet neither is at the point in their lives where they can make commitments to the other.
Readers will enjoy watching Mike and Carly come to terms with their pasts and work out their differences--with Mike it's going back into dangerous territory to finish an assignment he'd left half-done after tragedy struck, with Carly it's facing her parents, getting the true story behind the scandal--so they can move forward together.
My only regret in reading "The Right Choice" is knowing that Kensington has decided to terminate the Zebra Bouquet line. Ms. Drogin has one more title coming out later this year, "The Solitary Man," which I am eagerly looking forward to. I can only hope another publisher will snap up this author's work and get it out to the readers. We deserve the best and Ms.Drogin knows how to provide it.

Carly and Peter are in a relationship of convenience. While preparing for the wedding Carly finally meets her fiance's brother Mike. Carly is coming to realize that maybe her marriage might be a mistake. Mike is also noticing that his brother isn't even interested in future bride. While helping with the wedding plans both Carly and Mike are both having feelings towards one another. Well done Carly Phillips on another book that I couldn't put down.

I enjoyed reading this story very much. The books I usually read are much steamier, but this story was so well-written, the characters interesting and able to evoke my emotions, that I didn't miss more explicit scenes. I recommend this book to you as a sweet romance with a bit of heat.

(I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.)

LOVE this author. This book was wonderfully written. You will fall in love with the characters, Mike and Carly. The story moved at a great pace, finished in one sitting. Carly is a woman who is engaged to a SAFE man, Peter, who is an attorney at her father's firm, but in walks Mike, Peter's brother, and her world is turned upside down. The Right Choice is a must read, full of real life experiences with a twist. You won't be disappointed!

Carly Wexler a school counselor and advice columnist is engaged to Peter, the "perfect" lawyer. She doesn't mind that this is a marriage of convenience. Both focused on careers and impressions. Mike Novak is Peter's brother. Carly and Mike have an immediate spark for each other but they are not what each other want. Both have family and emotional baggage. I thought this was well written and a wonderful romance novel. Easy reading.

I honestly enjoyed this story line. The characters are relatable and interesting. I liked falling in love with them as they fell in love. I however, did not like how the point of view would change suddenly. At certain spots there are dotted lines so you know a scene or perspective change is coming. At other parts, the perspective just changes from one paragraph to the next. That confused me at times but after a while I anticipated this happening and prepared myself. All in all, this was a fun read and I highly recommend it to any romance lover. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When first getting into this story, you don't even expect the twist that comes. As the story starts off, Carly Wexler is already engaged and is trying to plan almost everything for her wedding on her own. Her fiance, Peter Novak, is shown to be a work-aholic and sends his brother Mike Novak out to help Carly with the planning. When Carly and Mike first meet, you can tell that some sparks are flying between the two but Carly tries to deny the feelings she has for him, but can't for too long. By the end of the story, details into Mike and Carly's lives are revealed, explaining a lot. Also, Peter is caught in a crude act which pushes Carly even farther than she has already gone.

I would definitely reccommend this book to anyone who is interested in romance novels. The details to some of the intense sex scenes are extremely classy and don't get too involved but you still feel the passion between the two people. I've always been really interested in romance novels because most of the time, love is not as it seems in the books. This is one book I will always remember reading.

Carly writes a beautiful and wonderful story. Loved reading about Carly and how s Carly.he had a tough decision to make in regards to who she really loves. Thanks for a great book.

"I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review."

Carly Phillips is amazing because the chemistry between the two main characters of this book (Carly and Mike) jumps off of the pages! You will be engrossed in this book from the beginning to the end. I really enjoy her new books, as well; but when you read her classics, you will love her even more!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I realized that I have already read this book. It was still enjoyable. I'm a huge fan of Carly's and have yet to find a book of hers I didn't like. I recommend this one.

What a sweet love story!! Can you imagine getting ready to marry someone for safety and security in a month. Then you meet the man of your dreams, who happens to be your Fiancé's brother?!?! To make matters worse, you are a psychologist not willing to face your own issues. Talk about ironic. Carly and Mike both have been running from their own troubles, can they put their feelings aside so Carly can marry Mike's brother? Or are they destined to overcome become each other's right choice? Read this great story....there is passion, humor, stupid choices and times you just want to shake the characters. But I really enjoyed this book, definitely the right choice!!!!

I was given this book in return for an honest review.

I liked it. Too short though, I like longer books that spend more time building the tension/desire between the characters. Few words and descriptions of thoughts and actions were too adult for teens, but otherwise clean romance.

In the beginning Carly is looking at wedding rings in the window of a jewelry store waiting for her fiancé so they can pick them together. A man makes a comment walking behind her asking which one would she choose..points to the one and she likes it...he likes those too..not too flashy.
She turns around stunned and can't take her eyes off of him. He's handsome, sexy a little dangerous...When she leaves he calls after her saying her name. She pauses asking how he knows her name? I'm Mike Novak;Peter's brother. She is embarrassed to say the least... They go there separate ways after speaking for awhile. When Mike sees that Peter and Carly are definitely not meant to be together he tries to make Carly see it, and Peter too. They both admit things to him and he knows for sure there not meant for each other. He some spends time with Carly and makes her laugh, and he isn't sure what he's doing but likes being with her...Peter is working all the time while Carly is planning the entire wedding by herself. Carly comes to the right decision and makes The Right Choice...What a wonderful book. The love between brothers...family finally comes through and takes a turn for the better. Carly sees things for the better and changes her life....It's sad and very happy, very touching story to see what happens in this book.

Carly and Peter are getting married, the only problem with that is they are friends and not lovers or in love with each other. Carly thinks she does not need or want passion in any part of her life, especially when it comes to marriage. In walks Peter's brother, Mike, and suddenly all good plans start to fall apart. This was a sweet story with characters who all needed healing from past events and true love overcomes everything. Definitely recommend this one and want to know how I missed this one when it first came out!

**Received this in exchange for an honest review**

Marriage of convenience...or marriage for love....
Be with Carly, yes main character's name is same as author, as she goes through preparation for her marriage of convenience at same time discovering maybe not best choice. She's never felt love before, steering clear to make sure she doesn't make same mistake as her parents. Is she depriving herself of a true love, will convenient marriage be the answer or... Be with the brother's as they discover truth about themselves. Book guides us through the transition and leads us to a love that will last.
This book is a feel good book. Carly, the author, makes us feel everything the characters in the book feels. You are living their life through the author. Great read! A keeper to read on day you feel down on life and want a pick me up to hope.

Carly thinks she is walking into everything she wants in life. A marriage to Peter that will make her life comfortable , give her the white picket fence and the children she wants. But something is missing in this relationship. Passion and love. Something Carly feels is ok because she's afraid she will turn out like her father . Until mike, peters brother walks in to the picture. Mike brings that passion and love into her life in a unexpected way. But Carly runs and pulls back. Afraid of commitment and passion and love. Will Carly be able to face her fears? Will Carly make the right choice in whom she will be together with forever?....

This is not your standard, formula romance. The depth of character development, plot situations, and well crafted writing make it fine, like a good wine. Carly, Mike, and Peter have been traumatized by past events. The story deals not only with a developing romance, but also with the growth of all the characters toward a better understanding of how the past has short- circuited their ability to commit to love. And while the author provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I am now hooked on the series. Well done, Ms. Phillips!