STORY: Who knows the ins and outs of romance better than a Harlequin editor? A surprising and exhilarating look into Patience Bloom’s unexpected real-life love story.
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.
REVIEW: This book is written as an autobiography. It follows Patience from her days as a schoolgirl on to college and then to her career(s). The daughter of professors now divorced and remarried, readers get an insight into the development of her personality and her relationship with her parents.
Patience has always loved romance novels which she gobbles constantly. Many of her documented experiences are about the guys she has known (or the lack thereof) at different times in her life. Her experiences in college followed by a year of study in Paris leave the reader chuckling. (Since Paris was home for me for a several years, I especially loved that part. So funny and spot-on!)
With her extensive French background, she accepts a job teaching French out in Arizona and loves her job and the area. With romance and reading her greatest pleasure, she ends up in New York City as an editor for Harlequin romance novels. Through the years, she has had many dates and met many guys, but none of them worked for her. However, a person from way in her past surfaces and they get together. Could she have finally found The One?
This novel will be one of those that you cannot put down and you will find yourself laughing out loud and probably blushing a bit because you will see your own self in some of her escapades.
*Connie for b2b.
*Book provided by Penguin Books.
bookworm2bookworm's Blog 
Patience Bloom is so talented. Her ability to tell a story and weave all of the characters together into a great ending is wonderful. I really admire her ability to share the experiences of her life and be able to laugh at herself as well. That’s rare.