Rating: 
Summary: Bloom Blossoms
Review: Bloom
Linda Dominique Grosvenor
Sadorian Publications
2003, 124 pages (pbk)
ISBN # 0-974171417 (pbk)
4.5 Star RatingDee Stewart, Reviewer Eleven years after Lily Manchester's husband ran off with the Army and ran off with her heart, Lily meets a charismatic young man twelve years her junior, who won't take "no" for an answer. Her quiet world in her quaint little flower shop gets turned upside down when her heart and her ex-husband returns home. Will she jeopardize her good standing in the small town of Bliss, North Carolina, to pursue "something that has been missing from her life for far too long" or will she take the safe route by taking her ex-husband back? Grovesnor's addition to Sadorian's The Cradle Robbers Series is just as fresh and brilliant as the flowers she describes in "Bloom". This novella is an intelligent and sweetly written story about the blossoming relationship between an older woman and a younger man. I love short works of fiction be it short stories or novellas, because they cut to the chase and tell the story matter-of-factly. In order to do that successfully, characters must be developed and fleshed out immediately. Plain and simple- you get to know the main character in detail by the end of the first paragraph or page. Grosvenor does an excellent job at fleshing out her characters. She makes them real int an instant. In most of the last books I've read the characters have been either too good, too bad, or too crazy. The characters in "Bloom" are just right. They are human. Lily's character flaws enhances the conflict. Her inability to trust, her fear of self-freedom, her own inadequacies about her age, lends to the question of this novella. It makes her problem real. Will she allow herself to love Alex James despite her own mess? Alex is just as real as his love interest. He is young, seductive, jealous, and insecure. Alex is as unsure of himself and his future as Lily is as unsure about her feelings toward him. Last weekend I had a discussion with some members of my writing group about making a familiar story your own and I used this book as an example. It is not a lackluster version of MacMillan's How Stella Got Her Groove Back or another remake of the "Graduate". This story has its own timeless voice. It is such a clever story that I've read it twice in three days. Thus, I give the novella a 4.5 rating. This book is cute and sweet enough for the purchase price. It is short enough to take on a weekend trip and it is intelligent enough to stimulate your mind. Kudos.
Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing & Enlightening Read!!!
Review: Ever imagined having the pleasure of taking a passionate stroll alone, through an elegant, colorful flower garden and suddenly you feel love and romance permeating your soul and mind? Bloom did that for me! This is a beautiful and intelligently written story about the budding romance between an older woman and a younger man.
Lily Manchester is an abandoned military wife who sells her home to buy a floral shop in order to survive financially. She lovingly names it, BLOOM! Twelve years later, she meets Alex James, an alluring young handsome man twelve years her junior. He is the substitute driver who delivers an order of fresh flowers to Bloom. He invites himself for lunch that same day, and as hard as it was for Lily to believe, it was love at first sight for him. For an older woman concerned about her good standing in her small rural community of Bliss, North Carolina, will Lily's concerns about the age difference confuse the budding passion she feels for Alex? Surely, the prying eyes and nagging mouth of her mothers' friend, Mrs. Miller will complicate and color her dilemma. And, certainly, you can expect Lily to have anxiety, when out of nowhere; her ex-husband returns and expects her to take him back. National bestselling author, Linda Dominique Grosvenor has delivered a wonderful tale of love at first sight and a premise that proves that LOVE is LOVE, no matter what the age and no matter others may think or say. The reader is taken on a journey of fancy and wonder with characters so realistically developed. Bloom stimulated the realization in this reader's mind that life and people are metaphorically like the colors and scents in flowers. BRAVO, Linda! I highly recommend this book!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Bloom
Review: Falling back on the romantic notion of old-fashioned love, Linda Dominique Grosvenor presents the second book in The Craddle Robbers series, BLOOM. Lily Manchester is a divorced flower shop owner who has established herself in her community, gotten through her past hurts, and is content with her life. Yet when she meets Alex, a handsome substitute delivery man twelve years her junior, her world changes and she begins wondering what the future could bring. On top of this, her ex-husband returns to town wanting to re-claim the spot in her life he forfeited 11 years ago when he entered into the military and after a brief time stopped all communication with her. She also has a town busy-body dipping into her business and spouting unsolicited words of warning regarding the potential relationship with Alex. Lily deliberates back and forth over her feelings for Alex and her ex-husband and in the process comes to term with her fears, her insecurities, and what's important to her. She even manages to face the impact of being deserted by her husband so long ago. Alex, on the other hand, also comes to terms with some of his flaws, yet he's not willing to let Lily go. The relationship that evolves is beautiful, inspiring, and sweet, but how will the town of Bliss, North Carolina, adjust to an older woman dating a younger man? Grosvenor has added another well-written story to her collection of books, but I was left wanting more of "something" from BLOOM to make this more than just an ordinary read. Even with romance books which are very formulaic, there seems to be some type of conflict for the main characters to go through in order to get to what they're searching for either in their own lives or in their relationships. With BLOOM, I loved the author's writing, the flow of the book, and the overall premise, but I simply wanted more. Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Bloom
Review: Falling back on the romantic notion of old-fashioned love, Linda Dominique Grosvenor presents the second book in The Craddle Robbers series, BLOOM. Lily Manchester is a divorced flower shop owner who has established herself in her community, gotten through her past hurts, and is content with her life. Yet when she meets Alex, a handsome substitute delivery man twelve years her junior, her world changes and she begins wondering what the future could bring. On top of this, her ex-husband returns to town wanting to re-claim the spot in her life he forfeited 11 years ago when he entered into the military and after a brief time stopped all communication with her. She also has a town busy-body dipping into her business and spouting unsolicited words of warning regarding the potential relationship with Alex. Lily deliberates back and forth over her feelings for Alex and her ex-husband and in the process comes to term with her fears, her insecurities, and what's important to her. She even manages to face the impact of being deserted by her husband so long ago. Alex, on the other hand, also comes to terms with some of his flaws, yet he's not willing to let Lily go. The relationship that evolves is beautiful, inspiring, and sweet, but how will the town of Bliss, North Carolina, adjust to an older woman dating a younger man? Grosvenor has added another well-written story to her collection of books, but I was left wanting more of "something" from BLOOM to make this more than just an ordinary read. Even with romance books which are very formulaic, there seems to be some type of conflict for the main characters to go through in order to get to what they're searching for either in their own lives or in their relationships. With BLOOM, I loved the author's writing, the flow of the book, and the overall premise, but I simply wanted more. Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining and refreshing good old fashioned love story
Review: From the very first paragraph until the last, Bloom, a novella written by talented Author, Linda Dominique Grosvenor was an entertaining and refreshing read. What I enjoyed most about this book was the mere fact that it was centered on a flower shop, which made this book such a treat. Let me just say that this book was a breath of fresh air from some of the drama-filled fiction that is being written today. As an author, I do know that there seems to be a heavy readership for drama, but every once in while I find it refreshing to read a moving and entertaining fiction book, supported with a wonderful story line, without having to be barraged with intense drama throughout. And, Bloom offered me just that -- an entertaining and refreshing good old-fashioned love story in every sense of the words. The story begins with the main character, Lily Manchester, reminiscing about her life as she stood in Bloom, her labor of love. Although Lily had been through a very big disappointment in her life at one time, she never gave up and would soon open the doors of Bloom. Lily fondly recalled her deceased mother keeping a garden and telling her that everyone needs his or her zone. And, Bloom would become Lily's zone and her place of refuge since in her mind there was something so therapeutic about horticulture. Lily's whole life was devoted to Bloom until the day that, Alex, a substitute deliveryman arrived at her flower shop. After this delivery, Lily's life would never be the same. Even a ghost from the past couldn't sway Lily from eventually embracing true love, which is what I believe life is all about. Pick up a copy of this wonderful novella. You'll find this book entertaining and refreshing as you grow to love this old-fashioned love story as much as I did. Reviewed by:
Carla J. Curtis, Author of A Single Woman's Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits and Grip the Rope: Prayers for Single Mothers
www.trccommuniccations.com
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Summary: "Bloom" - that's just what this story does!
Review: I love a book that practically draws me into the story line, as if I were an actual witness to all that the characters experience. Bloom does just that - I could see Lily struggling with her attraction to Alex, could hear the well-meaning town busybody with her 'tsk, tsk', feel the tension in the room when Lily's ex showed up at the club where she and Alex had gone. Grosvenor is able to develop fully fleshed out characters who move through a story that is well-crafted and captivating. Linda Dominique Grosvenor manages to never write the same story twice and has proven that she isn't afraid to stretch herself. And for that, this reader is truly thankful.
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Summary: LDG does it again!
Review: If you need a story to escape into, then Bloom is a perfect novel for you. Set in North Carolina, the story revolves around Lily, a not-so-young divorced woman running a successful business and leading a very quiet, uneventful life. All that changes when she gets a delivery that includes more than flowers and plants. Opening this package means that Lily has to decide what's more important - her happiness OR other folk's opinions, age differences, and holding on to her own baggage.
What I liked most about this tale is that Lily is already complete and not dependent on a man to have a full life. For her, meeting him is an extra bonus...like getting a gift when it's not your birthday!
Having read Ms.Grosvenor's previous work - Like Boogie On Tuesday - I was expecting a similar scenario. It's nice to read work by a writer where every story is NOT the same as the last. (Although I sure would like to see a sequel to Boogie!) Bloom is perfect for those cold stay-at-home days with hot drink and a warm blanket.
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Summary: The Craddle Robbers: Bloom
Review: Life in Bliss, North Carolina was anything but bliss for Lily Manchester the lovely but lonely owner of Bloom, who had been deserted by her husband years before. Seemingly, her only life passion was her flowers, that was until she met Alex James. Grosvenor handles this story with such delight. Definitely far from the ordinary romance. It was uplifting with its share of surprises. A definite must read for this summer.
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Summary: Bloom Blossoms
Review: Lily is the sole proprietor of a small country flower shop, Bloom. When her husband, Barry leaves her to go to the army he didn't return. With the proceeds of the sale of the home that he purchased for her prior to his departure she opened Bloom. Totally settled into a life of monotony she is totally thrown for a loop when her new flower deliveryman, Alex James, catches her eye. Not wanting to be the subject of town gossip she tries to ignore her 'blooming" feelings for him. Unfortunately, love throws a monkey wrench in her plans and she falls for hard. Everything is developing quite nicely until she receives a warning word from the town gossip, and receives a visitor from her past. Her budding relationship may be destroyed before it ever has a chance to take root and grow. Can her relationship with Alex blossom? Or will it be strangled by the weeds of familiarity? Linda Dominique Grosvenor has crafted a unique love story. She has taken a refreshing break from the typical May/December romance. Truly one of the best romance writers of our time, Linda Dominique is going to be name that draws recognition.
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Summary: A Beautiful Love Story
Review: Linda Dominique Grosvenor has done it again. With her wonderful prose she captivates readers young and old. I very much enjoyed "Bloom." Don't let the page count fool you, this beautiful story will stay with you for years to come. I can't say enough good things about this book or this author. The words flow like poetry. This is a book to keep in your collection for years to come.
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