Love In Bloom's [Mass Market Paperback]

Judith Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2002

It's a landmark deli and popular New York City attraction because of its unusual fare and local flavor, but most remarkable about Bloom's is the family itself. After the suspicious and untimely death of her uncle, Julia Bloom is appointed president of her family's deli chain by Grandma Ida -- and no one is more surprised than Julia herself. She's soon thrown to the wolves amid family rivalries and outrageous antics, only to discover that life at Bloom's is simply delicious....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Oddball characters and humorous hijinks abound in Arnold's (Somebody's Dad) touching, romantic tale of an Upper West Side delicatessen akin to Zabar's. Julia Bloom, a fledgling divorce lawyer, is summoned by her formidable grandmother to take over Bloom's after her father's death. Julia rebels but is persuaded by her tattoo-sporting sister, Susie, to bring the deli into the 21st century. Tension mounts when Julia's jealous Uncle Jay tries to sabotage her, and her pushy mother, who believes she's the rightful heir to the business, makes it clear that Julia's just standing in for her as president of Bloom's. In addition, Julia must contend with the puzzling problem of those bagels that go missinglike clockworkevery week, while fending off Ron Joffe, the hunky but meddlesome business reporter from Gotham magazine (la New York) who's determined to get the goods on Bloom's. While Susie falls in love with goyische bagel-maker Casey Gordon, who knows more about those missing bagels than he wants to admit, Julia is unwillingly swept off her feet by Joffe. Anyone who has ever dealt with an interfering mother, domineering grandparent, flaky sibling or improper boyfriend will relate to this story. Charming, humorous and loaded with New York references, this lighthearted tale is satisfying subway reading.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Ms. Arnold delivers plenty of humor and demonstrates terrific storytelling in this delightful read." -- Romantic Times

"Oddball characters and humorous hijinks abound in Arnold's touching, romantic tale of an Upper West Side delicatessen." -- Publishers Weekly --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira; 1ST edition (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551669188
• ISBN-13: 978-1551669182
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,090,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lighthearted romantic comedy, June 8, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love In Bloom's (Mass Market Paperback)

One year ago Grandam Ida's son died leaving Manhattan landmark Bloom's Deli in trouble. With the business in trouble, the family matriarch decides that a new Bloom needs to run the deli. She surprises the entire family by selecting her granddaughter, divorce attorney Julia. Shocked at first, Julia wants to refuse and remain in her safe world, but her sister Susie persuades her to at least try.

Instead of support from her so-called loved ones, Julia faces sabotage and scorn. Her uncle tries to undermine her and her mother believes that Julia is an interim until she takes over. Then there are the unaccounted for bagels that someone seems to abscond with each week. Worse is Ron Joffe, assigned by Gotham magazine to learn if rumors of Bloom's financial troubles are true, because of her attraction to him. Finally, the most absolute catastrophe of all is dealing with her iron maiden grandma. As Julia works on overcoming the plots to destroy her, she falls in love with the nosy journalist.

This lighthearted romp is a fun to read tale that pays homage to all those Manhattan romantic comedies such as Crossing Delancy. References to the city add to the tour as the Big Apple comes across as a character more than just a locale. The female lead protagonist is an engaging individual struggling with a family that has their own personal interests and agendas above everyone else including the deli that has made and kept the Blooms wealthy. Judith Arnold furnishes a warm amusing excursion of the New York archipelago.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, June 17, 2002

By 

apoem "apoem" (Bosque Farms, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Love In Bloom's (Mass Market Paperback)

Grandmother Ida is strong and determined and wise. She puts her grandaughter Julia, a lawyer, in charge of Blooms, famous deli in NY. Julia doesn't know about managing a deli, she doesn't know about types of olives or even if this is what she wants to do. But do it she does.

While her Uncle Jay works at undermining her, her mother tries to be the president of Blooms, and a reporter looks for problems. Julia does her best to hold it all together.

Slowly she finds out who is stealing the bagels, introduces her sister to a true love, and begins managing Blooms. And, all the while, she falls in love herself.

What a wonderful romance. Light, fun, a family you can believe in, and love. Using food to bring people together is not new, however, this has the feeling of newness and originality. The zany characters in this novel only make it that much more fun- Uncle Jay the computer man, the bagel counter man, a poet writing sister, a cousin who is a director of sorts, a domineering grandmother and more.

Although this is the first book I've read by this author, it won't be the last. This was a joy from beginning to end. Well worth reading.

Enjoy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A joyful read from start to finish, June 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Love In Bloom's (Mass Market Paperback)

I don't think the back cover copy or reviews are doing this book justice. It's a total joy to read, fun, fast paced--full of terrific, real characters in very real family situations. The food metaphors are all fresh and fun, but it's the story that took my heart. This is a love story you can believe in--poignant, hot and compelling--yet the whole book's done in such a fun, fresh way that it reads like lightning. This author will forever be a must-buy for me.