Rating: 
Summary: Love is Ageless
Review: BLOOM by Linda Dominique Grosvenor is the second installment in the Cradle Robber series, a series that portrays loving relationships between older women and younger men.
Lily Manchester's husband, Barry Johnson, enlisted in the Army eleven years ago and never returned from his tour of duty. Since that time, Lily's poured herself into her floral shop, Bloom located in Bliss, North Carolina. That is until the day a very handsome delivery man, Alex James delivered more than flowers to Lily's flower shop. Instantly, they are attracted to each other, but Lily convinces herself that it could never work out between the two of them, mainly because of his age. She didn't want to be the talk of the town and risk losing everything that was important to her, mainly her reputation and her business
Despite Lily's objections, Alex boldly pursues her. As their love blossoms, Lily struggles with the disapproval of her mother's best friend, Mrs. Miller. Out of the blue, the ex-husband returns, which further complicates things. Will Lily give into love with Alex, or will she find herself thrust back into the familiarity of the past with her ex?
This was a romantic love story proving that age is nothing but a number. Lily shows us that sometimes it's okay to throw caution at the wind in our pursuit of happiness. Although BLOOM is a short read of only 125 pages, the characters were well developed and the story line was very engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in the Cradle Robber series and I look forward to reading the next installment, Class Act by T. C. Matthews.
Reviewed by Vanessa A. Johnson, Readincolor Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: Feel good novel
Review: Bloom is a novella about a divorced woman named Lily, a floral shop owner who lives in North Carolina. One day while at work, she meets a younger man named Alex. Through a cautious but careful courtship, Lily embraces the love that Alex develops for her and learns how to not care what other people think when it comes to the matters of her heart. Bloom is a well-written, nicely developed romantic novella that continues to showcase the talents of Linda Dominique Grosvenor. Lily's emotional state is real and heartfelt; a woman who has to convince herself it's perfectly fine to have feelings for a man who treats her right and proves himself to be worthy, in spite of their age differences. Bloom is a refreshing read and is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: What a great read!
Review: Bloom is an absolutely enjoyable read. Linda Dominique Grosvenor is the kind of craftsman that weaves her story so well you forget the world she takes you to isn't the real one. I loved this book!
Rating:
Summary: BLOOM is CAPTIVATING...
Review: Bloom is captivating, mind-blowing and a wonderful emotional read.
I have never read a novella so captivating, well rounded, fast, believable and daring...and when Lily said, "I'm going to love him like my life depended on it." I could have fell out of my chair.
Thanks Dom...for writing what love should be. Many people need to read and learn a great lesson...forget opinions and love freely.
Wow!
Rating:
Summary: BLOOM is CAPTIVATING...
Review: Bloom is captivating, mind-blowing and a wonderful emotional read.
I have never read a novella so captivating, well rounded, fast, believable and daring...and when Lily said, "I'm going to love him like my life depended on it." I could have fell out of my chair.
Thanks Dom...for writing what love should be. Many people need to read and learn a great lesson...forget opinions and love freely.
Wow!
Rating:
Summary: BLOOM is CAPTIVATING...
Review: Bloom is captivating, mind-blowing and a wonderful emotional read.
I have never read a novella so captivating, well rounded, fast, believable and daring...and when Lily said, "I'm going to love him like my life depended on it." I could have fell out of my chair.
Thanks Dom...for writing what love should be. Many people need to read and learn a great lesson...forget opinions and love freely.
Wow!
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Love Story
Review: Bloom is second in the Cradle Robbers Series of books published by Sadorian and is no less wonderful than the first work, Misdemeanor. The series explores "May-December" romances and is busy dispelling the myths associated with such courtships. Bloom is a wonderful tale of love at first sight and acceptance that love is love no matter what the age. Alex and Lily illustrate this point beautifully in Bloom. Lily Manchester had been married before to a man who celebrated every occasion with carnations. Lily couldn't stand carnations and I really related to this in the book, feeling much the same way. However, upon shipping out with the army and leaving the quaint confines of Bliss, North Carolina, Barry Johnson promptly forgot about romance and Lily. Leaving her lonely, Lily decided to open a flower shop to further enrich her passion for flowers, and you guessed it, she never carried carnations. As the story progresses, flower deliveries were an almost daily occurrence at the shop. The freshest came in daily and to turn a profit, must be sold that same day. The regular delivery guy was down and this new driver came and offered his assistance with placing the fresh shipment of Calla Lilies in the green house. This handsome but young man, Alex was the replacement driver. It must have been love at first sight for him, as he invited himself for lunch that same day and the rest shall we say, is history. Lily's concerns about the age difference really stymied her heart from blooming at first. And that coupled with the prying eyes and nagging mouth of her mothers' friend, Mrs. Miller served as a formidable deterrent to this relationship. Bloom is concisely woven to explore so many minute angles and weave a beautiful love story in between. Bloom is a quick read. I read it in a few hours and it has left me with the same beautiful thoughts about love, courtship, and romance as Misdemeanor has done. This series of books is well worth reading for those of us with sappy hearts. I can't wait for the third book, Class Act. More books should be written to celebrate true romance and undying love that don't follow the outline of a "romance" novel. What a refreshing and enlightening read.
Rating: 
Summary: A Sweet Love Story ...
Review: BLOOM is the second book in the Cradle Robber series. This series embraces love between an older woman and a younger man. Lily Manchester's husband enlisted in the Army eleven years ago and never returned. From the time of his departure, Lily's life and "love" has been her floral shop, Bloom. One day a very handsome delivery man, Alex James, delivers more than flowers to Lily's shop. There is an immediate attraction between the two, but Lily is determined to keep from being the "talk of the town." "We (women) weren't looked upon as savvy when we dipped below thirty. I didn't even want to think about what they would call me if I was ever caught up in a scandal liaison of any sort with Alex." [excerpt] Despite Lily's fears, Alex boldly pursues her - determined to prove himself worthy and mature for his age. As their love "blooms" Lily struggles with the disapproval of a motherly, but nosy customer and the surprising return of her ex-husband. This was a sweet love story proving that age is nothing but a number. Lily was at a stage in her life where it was time for a relationship - time to learn how to love again. Her fears were very real and the decision to be open-minded was a lesson for the readers about taking risks. It was a delight to read about a young man who truly pursued love rather than another sexual conquest. The author is to be commended for creating an extraordinary male character like Alex. While BLOOM is a short read, the characters were well developed and readers will find the storyline to be engaging from the first page to the last.
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Summary: Refreshing and Absolutely wonderful -!
Review: Bloom is the second in the Craddle Robbers series. In this captivating work, the reader is introduced to Lily Manchester. Ms Manchester is a forty something entrepenuar waiting for her life to begin again. She owns Bloom, a flower shop in Bliss, North Carolina. One afternoon Alex James walks into Bloom and sparks between Alex and Lily start to fly. Unfortunately for Alex; Lily has some unresoloved baggage with her estranged husband who left her eleven years ago to enlist in the Army and never returned; coupled with the fact that Alex is twelve years her junior, makes Lily study her actions carefully. How Lily works her way through these conflicts makes for an intriguing and budding novella. Lily constantly fought to keep her flowers alive and to see the glass as half full her action throught the book displayed the same. Linda Dominique Grosvenor proves once again that she has the skill to create characters who can carry the book on their own and draws the reader into the story.
Excellent job LDG! Missy
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Summary: Reviewed by Janet Elaine Smith
Review: Bloom, a wonderful passionate spring/autumn romance by Linda Dominique Grosvenor, makes great use of horticulture as a theme throughout the entire book. The chapter titled employed the use of various flowers, but the real warmth of the book was not in the greenhouse, but in the characters. Lily, the main character, was immediately drawn to the new "delivery boy" when he showed up as a substitute delivery man. From the first delivery, when they shared his tuna sandwich, to the very last, when they decided to share a life, the depth of feeling between these two was delightful. A side-issue was the appearance of a typical small-town busybody, who came in regularly to purchase her calla lilies. She warned Lily of what might lie ahead of her, but it was only at the end of the book that Lily learned why she was so concerned. It was a very tender, heart-rending touch to the book. Whether you have a green thumb or not, this book is one that will have you wanting to go buy a bouquet of flowers-in honor of Lily and Bloom.
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