Monday, April 28, 2014

Romance is My Day Job by Patience Bloom

Hi gang!
Welcome back to another beautiful day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…where the weather may be bright and sunny or dark and gloomy, but the reading will always bring a smile to your day.

Today’s featured title is certainly no exception to that rule; rather the rule is there partially because of it.  As we swing the spotlight around to the Memoir side of things, we prepare ourselves for another real life experience through another’s eyes.  Sometimes they pan out, while other times they just…are.  Never fear readers, today’s title DEFINITELY pans out and if you don’t end your read with a smile on your face, well then I just don’t know about you…just kidding, we’re still friends!  You just might need to a reread a page or two.  ^_^  Without further ado, let’s get on with the show and meet today’s book of choice….


A Memoir of Finding Love at Last
By
Patience Bloom
9780525954385
Dutton

About the book….
At some point, we’ve all wished romance could be more like fiction. Patience Bloom certainly did, many times over. As a teen she fell in love with Harlequin novels and imagined her life would turn out just like the heroines’ on the page: That shy guy she had a crush on wouldn’t just take her out—he’d sweep her off her feet with witty banter, quiet charm, and a secret life as a rock star. Not exactly her reality, but Bloom kept reading books that fed her reveries.

Years later she moved to New York and found her dream job, editing romances for Harlequin. Every day, her romantic fantasies came true—on paper. Bloom became an expert when it came to fictional love stories, editing amazing books and learning everything she could about the romance business. But her dating life remained uninspired. She nearly gave up on love.

Then one day a real-life chance at romance made her wonder if what she’d been writing and editing all those years might be true. A Facebook message from a high school friend, Sam, sparked a relationship with more promise than she’d had in years. But Sam lived thousands of miles away—they hadn’t seen each other in more than twenty years. Was it worth the risk?

Finally, Bloom learned: Love and romance can conquer all.




Ah yes.  A true life story about romance…those that were, weren’t, might have been and finally may be.  The ups and downs, highs and lows, chances taken and swerves made to avoid unfortunate outcomes foreseen, are all there in their living color glory.  The author holds nothing back (well, that we KNOW of at least) and allows us to see her world as if we were right there by her side, along for the ride come what may.  Oh and things DID in fact come her way in many forms. 

From the alcohol dependent, motorcycle riding boyfriend to the cyclist more into himself than an actual relationship, her adventures in being set up on blind dates to those she orchestrated herself with our new virtual dating pools, she jumped in with both feet time and time again; sometimes landing on her ear and other times on her heart.  The bruises gained and bandages applied along the way go towards shaping her view on love and its necessity (or not) towards a happy life, as well as the person she will one day become. 

So, my take on it all?  It’s a beautiful story with all the romance life has to offer, missed chances often regretted later, and a happy-ever-after perhaps not torn from the very pages of the novels she devours and now edits (OMG…can you IMAGINE?!  I would love a job like hers one day…), but perfectly befitting a modern day “Cinderella”; just as it should be.  Recommended read for older teens through adult readers looking for a fairy tale without all the tulle.  It’s relatable, it’s personable, it’s a romp through the pages whether you are a genre novice, romance junkie, or simply…not.  It proves that yes, sometimes life DOES throw us curve balls, perhaps even a whole inning of them, but it’s the outcome of the entire game that matters most and what we take away from the plays along the way.  (Why on earth I delved into baseball analogies I have no idea as I’m not a sports person in general, but it came to mind and there you have it….^_^)

Review copy courtesy of Emily.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog, be sure to stop by their official site.  To connect with the author, connect with her on Twitter, or meet up on Facebook.  This title is available now via Dutton, a member of Penguin Group USA, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual page near you. OH and if you haven't seen the book trailer yet, I highly suggest you CLICK RIGHT HERE....definitely worth it.  ^_^

Until next time…happy reading!




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