Finding Bliss

by Dina Silver, Cristina Panfilio (Narrator)

Listening time 7 hours 19 minutes

Chloe Carlyle has always longed for the perfect family. Growing up with an alcoholic single mother, she has seen her share of heartbreak and disappointment, and is striving to build a new legacy for herself. After graduating from college, she takes a job working as a summer girl for the Reeds - a wealthy, accomplished family that personifies her American dream. Her summer takes an unexpected turn when the Reeds' eldest son Tyler, the star quarterback for Notre Dame, shows up and turns her life upside down. An ambitious young woman with a wry sense of humor, Chloe never imagined herself as the type to succumb to the looks and charms of the hometown hero, but she falls hard for Tyler, and is devastated when they part ways at the end of the summer. As she heads off to law school, Chloe tries to convince herself this was just a fling, but she can't quite get over him. It's not until Tyler contacts her out of the blue late one winter night that everything changes. After doing everything in her power to build the perfect life, Chloe soon learns that there are things beyond her control. She must draw on inner reserves of strength as her life takes unpredictable - and sometimes heartbreaking - twists and turns, and she finds herself faced with decisions she never thought she?d have to make. Poignant, heartfelt, and emotional, Finding Bliss is a reminder that you don't have to live a fairy tale life in order to have a happy ending.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Drama, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published July 16, 2013

About the author

Dina Silver is an author, a wine lover, and an excellent parallel parker. She lives with her husband, son, and twenty-pound tabby cat in suburban Chicago. She’d prefer to live somewhere where it’s warm year-round, but she’s also a licensed real estate agent in Illinois, and she loathes the thought of having to take the broker exam again in another state. Dina is the author of five other novels, including One Pink Line, Kat Fight, Finding Bliss, The Unimaginable, and Whisper if You Need Me. To find out more about Dina and her books, visit www.dinasilver.com.

About books I review...
I am an author, so I appreciate the value of a 5-star review. I know that those stars mean more to an author, than they do to me as the reviewer who's doling them out. That being said, if I like a book at all, chances are I'm going to give it 5-stars. However, in the detailed description of my review is where I will attempt to explain what I actually thought of the book, so people can get a better idea of exactly how much I liked or loved it.

If I did not enjoy a book, or was unable to finish it, I simply will not review it. I have no interest in bashing anyone else's hard work.

Reviews

[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE REVIEW -mature content reader discretion is advised.
4 STARS out of 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
WARNING: Because I have friends who do not like this in their reads I must let you know...This book does involve cheating.



NOTE: This review contains a mild spoiler that touches on one of the sub-plots, I only touch the surface, it will in no way hinder your reading experience.



After finishing this book all I could say was “WHOA” Then I admittedly in boxed Dina to tell her all my feels. And mainly how much I loved it!
Please excuse me while I tip toe around this plot in avoidance of spoilers.

Please excuse me while I tip toe around this plot in avoidance of spoilers.

Finding Bliss is a spin off from Silver’s One Pink Line. Have you read that? If not, READ IT, such a goodread! In Finding Bliss we meet a young woman named Chloe and we follow her journey from young adult in to womanhood. As she falls in love and endures all that life throws her way.

When the book starts Chloe is preparing to go away with the Reed family to their cabin on the lake for a summer job. She is the nanny to the younger two of the Reed's three children. The eldest is Notre Dame football quarterback star Tyler Reed. Chloe has only seen Tyler in family photos, never in person. However that is all about to change this summer.





And this is why I love thee Ms. Dina Silver

This is not a romance. It is so so SO much more. You want to talk about keeping it real because that is exactly what she did.

Nothing comes easy to Chloe in life, if she wants something she has to work to get it. She’s had to take on an adult role since she was a child. Having a mother that suffers from alcoholism caused her to grow up fast. The summer she meets Tyler the attraction between the two is strong. Pretty much lust at first sight. They of course “hookup” and then Chloe find’s out a few not so cool things about Tyler. She writes him off as a summer fling yet he still pursues her. Because like most guys he wants to have his cake…the pie and every other dessert in reach of his hands.
Time passes and after a few back and forth attempts of “are we or aren’t we going be together” a tragedy brings them closer.
In between all this we meet Cam he is a neighbor of Chloe’s in her apartment building they attend school together and become study buddies which of course leads to a close friendship. Now I will not go in depth on this but I will say that Cam is the man, love love loves him!And I assure you, you fall for him too!




Love and Marriage.. Baby Carriage???
Now officially a couple Chloe and Tyler marry and everything is good… until it all falls apart. Chloe and Tyler face an issue that thousands maybe even millions of couples must endure. Infertility. And let me tell you reading through their struggles, hopes and disappointments was HEART-BREAK-ING.

That ending... GAH! She definitely leaves room for a sequel and thank the heavens it does not end as a cliffhanger.

My Thoughts
Dina Silver has a style of writing that is very true to life,and authentic. In other words you will not meet your ideal male or female heroes. Nor are they outrageously flawed. You will however see them as someone you might know. A friend, a roommate, a sister, a brother a cousin.
The Characters
I must admit I am not a fan of Tyler he is not how I prefer my hero’s to be. Nope, instead of being the jerk of my dreams at times he was just a jerk. And at other times I also found him to be a little bit of a coward, especially when it came to his dad.
Chloe on the hand was strong willed and determined. If she knew what she wanted she went after it with everything she had and it’s crazy because this is a trait Tyler lacked. And just like the readers come to notice it so does Chloe.

Overall Silver tells a solid story on the trials of life and how fairy tales are just that, fairy tales, because you don’t always end up where you expected to be.

SPECIAL THANKS: To author Dina Silver, for thinking of me and sending me her latest novel!

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable and easy to relate to
Writing Style- Strong
Plot/Storyline- True to life coming in to womanhood experiencing love, lost and everything life is about
Steam Factor- Low/On a light simmer
Overall- I loved it! Dina Silver is an auto buy author! READ IT!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!
For more reviews got to http://realitybites-letsgetlost.blogs...
*Copy kindly provided by the author for an honest review*

[Smitten's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

RELEASE DATE: July 16th 2013

This book is a spin off, but not a sequel to Dina's fabulous book, One Pink Line, which I have read and would recommend to mother's and daughter's everywhere! So I was excited to read Finding Bliss.

There was so much about this novel that I loved. I absolutely adore Dina Silver's writing. I read this book in one evening and I couldn't put it down, so that tells you a lot about how I felt whilst reading the book...
Which is why I couldn't give it less than four stars.

However, there was also things that didn't work for me.
I like to spend an entire book falling in love with my hero to then have everything come together, idealistically, at the end. That, for me, is what reading romance is about. I want it to build and build, ready for the crescendo. And when I fall for a character, I fall hard!

That doesn't happen in this book. I can't explain why, without giving major plot twists away, but I can just tell you, you don't get to spend the 285 pages falling deeper and deeper in love with Chloe's knight in shining armour. And that disappointed me.

Finding Bliss is about the ups and downs of Chloe's life and how she manages to wade through the crap life throws at her to find happiness. It is no idealised, starry-eyed romance. This is about real life trials that so many people, all around the world, are dealing with. And for me, it was about how everybody's happy-ever-after is different, as is their journey.



This book was a lot more than I bargained for. The blurb doesn't give away just how much happens in Chloe's story. She deals with some awful circumstances and I really felt for her.

"Your mom is like the Titanic: if you stay with the ship, you'll go down too. Those people who clung to the boat ultimately perished. You need to get yourself on a lifeboat and get as far away as you can."

I liked her character. She was true and real. There was no 'Oh, he's really hot, but I don't think I should be with him because of some lame ass promise I've made to myself to be an independent woman.' etc, etc... She had her hesitations for like, a split second, and then she got the hell over them and took what she wanted. And what she wanted was sex with the hunky, childhood-crush, football superstar!! I loved that.

"She's just a girl."
"What am I?"
He leaned to his side and ran a hand through my hair. "You're a woman," he said and then kissed me ear and left his mouth there. "A gorgeous, smart, fucking sexy-ass woman."

I wasn't entirely sold on Tyler. I'm not sure why, but even at the beginning, he just didn't do it for me. I just didn't feel that connection between him and Chloe and I wanted him to sweep her off her feet and bow at her feet.

"All that I know about happiness, you have taught me, and everything good in my life can be traced back to you."

I loved Chloe's friendship with Cam. I want to be friends with Cam! He's sooo damn cute and he supplies stuffed crust pizza, in times of need. What more does a girl want?

"Just click your heels together three times and say, there's no one like Cam, and I'll appear."

There is a big part of the book where Chloe struggles to get pregnant. She goes through many trials, tests, bloodtests etc. and it is excruciating to read her pain throughout the whole ordeal. Now, I have no experience of any of this, but I imagine that this will hit close to home for people who have been through a similar experience, so I felt the need to note it in my review.

Once Tyler did his job, a nurse would take Tyler's sperm, wash them in the spin cycle, give them each a spritz of cologne and a tequila shot, and then load them into a turkey baster that would eventually be inserted into my waiting vagina. So this was how babies were made.

Parts of this book moved so quickly that it made my head spin. But it worked. Sometimes, I'd begin the next chapter and it'd say 'Three months later' and I'd be like, 'Hey! What? What happened to [insert situation A here].' But it did work. So much happened that it was necessary for the author to skim over parts that just weren't essential to the plot, even if they might have been cute to read about.

So there you go. There are parts of the book that I would give less than four stars. For example, the lack of a solid, loveable hero. But the fact that I couldn't put it down and I devoured it in one evening, plus, that I love the way Dina Silver writes, would have scored five stars, so I settled on four. I hope some of you will give this a go and let me know what you think.



Finding Bliss Statistics
Steam Rating (out of 5): ♥
Ending: Happy Ending
Series: No but it is a spin-off from One Pink Line
Can this be read as a standalone? Yes
Themes:
Childhood hero
Real life
Pregnancy/IVF
Alcoholism
Friendship
Family
Warning. This book includes...
Detailed account of IVF
Alcoholism
Mental Health
Cheating
Writing: Great

RELEASE DATE: July 16th 2013

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[Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Review was Posted at Angie's Dreamy Reads

I want to start this review by saying I love Dina Silver books. Kat fight was awesome, One Pink Line was amazing, so going into this I was excited. I wasn't sure what to expect but I knew that Dina writes beautifully. It's crisp, clean and to the point. One of the things I love about this author. When I started reading Finding Bliss I was completely intrigued. Almost immediately I fell in love with Chloe and Tyler and the love story that was slowly developing. I noticed that this was a little different than the other Dina Silver books I had read, as the angst level was high in parts. The plot itself is very realistic and the characters in the beginning are appealing and sexy. There's so much Chemistry between Tyler and Chloe that I was hanging onto every word just waiting for some sexy moments. Unfortunately that soon fizzled out and something changed for me. Chloe began to grate on my nerves and Tyler slowly became disappointing. The plot seemed repetitious and the storyline started to annoy me. To really get into this review I'm going to have to divulge spoilers. Now I HATE spoiler reviews but I can't explain my POV without going over the book...so take heed, this is your SPOILER WARNING!!!

*****************************************************

SPOILERS, SPOILERS HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD!!

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Ok let me start at the beginning. Tyler and Chloe meet with Tyler sitting right in front of her her, staring and crunching on Doritos while Chloe's sleeping. He's the sexy, Greek God, athletic college boy that Chloe has been harboring a secret crush on for years. Chloe awakes startled to this sexy man. Tyler is IMMEDIATELY intriguing and you get those little belly dips when he opens his mouth to talk. You can tell he's a little bit of a bad boy and the appeal is intense. Slowly Tyler and Chloe start to have these encounters and Tyler eventually kisses Chloe leaving her reeling, until she finds out that Tyler has a girlfriend (first red flag). Nonetheless Chloe's mad but Tyler's the boy Chloe can't get enough off. So to make a long story short Tyler and Chloe land up having a hot summer fling. At this point, I was in love with the story. I was smiling wide, happy and really into it. A summer fling is yummy and fun. As life would have it Ty and Chloe go their separate ways after the summer with Chloe heading to law school and Tyler going back to Notre Dame to play football. They keep in touch but it’s really a hit or miss thing. When Chloe gets to law school we meet Cam. Oh Cam...he's the nerdy, sexy, Abercrombie and Fitch looking best friend that helps Chloe get through her tough days at school and in life. He's funny, sweet and harbors a crush on her. Unfortunately Chloe is still pining heavily for Tyler. Time passes in Chloe's life and several things happen that bring Tyler and Chloe back together. Now at this point in the story I was happy and feeling good. In my opinion the story was going well, Chloe was in my good books. Sure she was missing some tiny red flags but I didn't care. She was choosing Tyler and I was happy. More time passed and Tyler and Chloe ended up getting married. Chloe became a lawyer with a CRAZY schedule and Tyler's opened his own business and they were both "happy and healthy!!" So of course the natural cycle of life says your married, you have careers a baby is next. So this becomes Chloe's next quest. She tries everything and her struggles are heartbreaking as she tries to conceive but can't. My heart was in my throat and my chest ached for her. There's nothing worse than feeling that need to be a mother but not being blessed with the opportunity. And while my heart was breaking for her my view of Chloe slowly started changing. Little things she began to say and do started to upset me. The first thing was that she never thought that the time away from her husband was a problem! Not once did she have a moment when she sat down and thought of Tyler and his feelings. She started to turn into a selfish, self absorbed woman. She wanted a baby, a career and her husband was a second priority. They land up pregnant after an intense amount of stress and hardship but do you think Chloe thinks for one minute to slow down, to take care of herself? NO! Do you think she gives her husband the time of day? NO. She just keeps going and going until Tyler gets caught in a web of lies. Not just little lies but HUGE, EPIC, LIFE CHANGING lies. He's caught red handed with evidence of cheating. Is it shocking to the reader? Absolutely not. Honestly Tyler lost appeal halfway through the book. He lost that sexy, bad boy image in my opinion when he became second string to Chloe's career so he wasn't an amazing catch in my eyes. BUT, that said I was NOT shocked. Chloe had turned from a sweet, sensitive and good hearted woman into an annoying, self centered and frustrating one. She was so annoying that I had to take a break at points. So while Chloe is reeling from being cheated on while being pregnant Cam shows up. Here's where it got weird. Cam and Chloe have never really been romantic so in my mind Cam's just a friend. He’s definitely there for Chloe when times get tough but I felt like there was no chemistry between Chloe and Cam. In the middle of the book were are told of a kiss when they're in College but that left me thinking okayyyyyy?! It was odd but other than that one time thing there was absolutely nothing there. Anyway moving on Tyler lands up trying to get Chloe back. The problem is he doesn’t try hard enough and the damage has already been done. She’s simply not sure she wants him or can forgive him. And so the drama continues and the end comes quite quickly. Once I reached the end of the book I felt relieved but sad. I was disappointed because I lost that reader connection with Chloe and I didn’t even feel bad for her at the end. More than that I felt like she never took one moment to reflect on what she did wrong in her marriage. There was ZERO self reflection and it didn’t work for me. I wanted more from her. I just wanted more altogether. The ending felt rushed, awkward and ultimately I was left think WOW, Really? I don’t know what I’m feeling.

So here's my dilemma, the beginning was 4.5 stars for me!! I LOVED it. I was happy, intrigued and blissful but then the book completely LOST me and I can’t give it more that 2 stars for the ending. I just can’t. Would I recommend it to you? YES, I would, and only because you might get something COMPLETELY different out of this story than I did. No two people EVER read the same book. We're all different, have different perspectives and thoughts on things. So your conclusion might be different and you might love it. I’m still a HUGE Dina Silver fan but I think this one has left me feeling torn. It’s not a good thing but it’s not a bad thing either. I am simply on the fence with it. So my rating is 3 STARS. Give it a try, you might love it.

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 1 out of 5]

05/31/2014 --

Overall Rating = 1.5 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 3 / 1 = 2 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 2 Stars
Character Development = 3 Stars
Story Appreciation = 1 Stars
Ending = 1 Stars
Worth the Chili = 2 Stars -- [$3.99 on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Mild
268 pages

I'm really not sure what to say about this one, so will make it brief. I read One Pink Line by this author a few years ago and really liked it. It was one of those reads that had a profound effect on me. I ID'd with it and it touched elements in me. Love when that happens. So, I've wanted to read another. I did. Finding Bliss didn't do anything for me. I stayed with it out of respect for OPL -- if I hadn't had previous experience with talent of Dina Silver, it would have been a DNF for me.

Why? Well, in this one, there were too many elements that didn't really have closure. Or, in hindsight, maybe they had closure, but didn't add to the story. Not in the least. Nothing. Examples: 1)The whole Notre Dame quarterback thing just died and wasn't even remotely important. 2) The drunk mother .. not really important to the story or to the development of our h. Then she was a recovered alcoholic [good news], but now crazy -- totally nucking futz [now what?].

The ending ... I felt like I wasted time reading the wrong story [and I actually predicted this would happen about 33% into the book!]. I originally gave the ending a 3 -- bumping it back to a 1. Just an awful ending. Now what? If there is a second book, I'm not going to be reading it, so .. I wasted too much time on this mediocre book with a crap ending. UGH!

I hope you "found bliss" reading this one. Me? Not so much!

Happy Reading!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding Bliss is a spin off book from Dina Silver’s, One Pink Line. It can be read as a stand-alone.

Life has been hard for Chloe Carlyle, who grew up without a father and lived with an alcoholic, mentally unstable mother. Growing up like this has shaped her life to be ambitious, successful, and determined to build a better life than what she was given. She wants to be like the Reed’s, who have status and wealth. The Reed’s hired Chloe to be their nanny during the summer, while vacationing at their summer home. Once the summer is over, Chloe will be off to law school. She’s always had a crush on the Reed’s eldest son, Tyler Reed, the star quarterback for Notre Dame. When he shows up that summer, Chloe’s crush grows to a whole new level. Chloe falls hard for Tyler’s charm and good looks.

But this love story is forbidden by his parents. They would never approve of Chloe and Tyler being together. And Tyler lets his parent’s dictate how he lives his life. He must be the best of the best in football. He must marry a girl within their social status. That doesn’t stop Tyler and Chloe from forming a friendship that turns into a summer fling. A fling that ends when summer is over.

Chloe is devastated when they part ways at the end of the summer. She goes to law school and Tyler goes back to Notre Dame. They try to stay in touch but the distance is hard for them. Chloe still thinks about him and has never gotten over him. He is the one boy she wants but can’t have. Lots of time goes by before they see each other again. But then Tyler contacts her one wintery night, pleading to see her again, and everything changes on that one fateful night.

***In order to better review this story, I’ve added some SPOILERS BELOW***

Fate works in interesting ways. After that night, a lot of things change between Chloe and Tyler. They become a couple and eventually get married. They never thought they would be THAT couple who couldn’t get pregnant naturally. I felt poor Chloe’s frustration and heartache as she desperately tries to become pregnant. Infertility is hard on any woman who desperately wants a baby. It’s painful not to be able to have a baby when your friends and family are getting pregnant left and right. I also felt Chloe’s pain when things start to crumble and she thought she failed as a wife. I admire Chloe for everything she endures as she tries to remain strong and determined throughout the story.

The first problem I had with this story is Tyler. I really liked Tyler in the beginning. But, as the story progresses, I just stopped caring about him. Unfortunately, I never fell for Tyler as my hero. He really didn’t have much page presence during the story - which made it impossible for me to feel like I got to know him. This was frustrating for me since I’m a romantic at heart and the hero usually makes or breaks a book for me. Don’t get me wrong, Tyler did NOT ruin the story for me, he just didn’t make me swoon like the heroes I generally read do.

The second problem I had with this story is Tyler and Chloe together. They never really struck me as true love. The chemistry felt off. Neither one of them really fought for one another the way a couple in love should. They both worked too much and spent way too much time apart. The author focuses a lot on Chloe trying to get pregnant and, in the meantime, the stress takes a toll on the marriage. It was very sad and frustrating to read as it happens. But, in reality, this happens in marriages all the time.

If I was to choose the true hero in this story, I would say its Chloe’s best friend, Cam. She met him while in law school. His quirky humor, hot nerdiness, kindness, and loyalty to Chloe made me fall for him. Am I hinting around to a love triangle? No. There is no love triangle. But both Cam and Tyler’s characters play an integral role in this story.

I would like to mention that this book reads more like Chic Lit. There is some romance, but it’s more about Chloe’s journey to figuring out life, falling in love, heartache, disappointment, friendship, marriage, infertility, betrayal, and life-changing decisions. This story portrays just how messy, complicated, and unpredictable life can be. I shed some tears and my heart went out to Chloe. One of the things I like most about Miz Silver’s writing is how I can relate to her characters. She writes them deeply flawed and genuinely real. I definitely connected with Chloe on an emotional level. Now I know I’ve mentioned that I didn’t like Tyler and thought the relationship lacked true love chemistry. I still liked this story. I think the author wrote an honest and touching book about real life challenges.

Rating: C+
Heat: Sweet-Warm

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review


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[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this one for a dollar when I saw that it was normally listed for 9 and looked right up my alley.

Firstly I loved that it felt a little original, not over done. Chloe is a baby sitter for a rich family, and she is a great girl. She has a mom who growing up was an alcoholic, very selfish and mentally ill. I could relate to her in that sense and it made the story with her mom a bit better for me.

She meets Tyler the oldest son of the family that she works for and he is HOT. They have their issues, and at times I thought Tyler was a bit dumb for not taking a more front row seat to his own life, but I think it is a common issue for kids who grow up with money, they allow their parents to make all their choice.

Tyler's mom is ANNOYING. She is a true southern woman, who thinks that she has to have everything perfect and she likes Chloe, enough to let her care for her children (I'm not sure of this woman's maternal instinct at all) I knew she loved Tyler, but I think she loved her husband more and she made Chloe feel like crap more than once.

Cam is a really cute guy who Chloe meets in law school. I liked him, I really did but I didn't like him as much as I liked Tyler, even when Tyler was being a complete and total douche. I know that is wrong, I know that Cam was suppose to stand out, but he didn't for me, I saw him as a good friend for Chloe but not someone she should have ended up with.

****Spoiler**** Tyler cheating on Chloe was pretty low, in fact I thought after all she went through to get pregnant for him to go out and do that was low, but at the same time I think any relationship or marriage that goes through the whole IVF thing they have a very hard time, it's a proven issue and Tyler didn't deal with it in a good way at all, and I hated him for it, but I thought that he tried to make amends and he tried to make his family whole again and Chloe didn't allow him. There is being tough and there is being self righteous and I felt that Chloe's choice was just not the best one.. Totally my opinion of course. *****Spoiler****

[Dina]

I'm so thrilled to be able to share this book with everyone. Finding Bliss is a spin-off of my debut novel, One Pink Line, but NOT a sequel. Readers who've read OPL will enjoy being reunited with Grace and Sydney at another time in their lives, while readers who've not read OPL will still enjoy this emotional and heartfelt novel. I think the book's description does a really wonderful job of providing some insight into the story, so I will leave it at that.

Finding Bliss will be released 7/16/13.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing I will say is that the cover is deceiving. This is a very emotional journey. So for her childhood, I have little to say. The fact that her Mother is there and an alcoholic is just so sad. Her babysitting job for a while was taking care of Sammy and Sarah, they were the Reed family twins. Of course she knew "of" and saw pictures of their oldest, Tyler, who was away at Notre Dame on a scholarship. She always thought he was cute and blah blah but never met him. When she does she is (in my opinion) in love with the ideal boy, the person she thinks Tyler is, the person his parents want and insist he be.

I will say that there is not one but several tough subjects discussed in the book. ALL of them are eye opening. I saw some other reviews of the book and I will say it saddened me that people wrote "this involves cheating" and "coming from a broken home". I will say that Chloe has issues at home, but although the same as discussed in other books, she is so real to me. Her character and her relationship and future are what brought her to life. Quotes like:

"For once in my life, I’d felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I’d enjoyed every last minute of it, and given the chance would’ve done it all over again. How can you be taken advantage of if you’re a willing participant?"
She was in my mind and didn't leave, even now a week after I read it.

For the issues of course her Mom being an alcoholic, but then later on in life had issues with mental health. Chloe didn't judge her or become bitter either. Somehow she managed and used her friend Sydney and Mom Grace to fill the void. What I loved was the message that things for Chloe didn't start out great, but she was so determined and focused to find her passion for school and practicing law. Everything about her education was realistic. People don't know what new grads taking the bar are up against. 80 hours a week and that is the norm.

Then Sammy and Sarah in my opinion were heartbreaking too. Dr. and Mrs Reed were awful parents. When you read the book, and I HOPE you will, listen to the sub-plot and their dialogue. I wanted to take a hammer to his hands and rip her voice box out. SO there! Tylahhhhh smack, crack, break, DONE


Another quote:
"I burst into tears as they took her away to the psych ward, kicking and screaming obscenities at me and everyone around her. To say it was the lowest point of my life would be a grandiose understatement."

It explores all aspects of marriages and grown up life. Yes for both Tyler and Chloe and his parents, marriage is not easy and it NEVER is. I took away from the story, a big reality check. Many people I know and love are divorced and not once but a lot of them twice over. I am lucky and not one of them, but like Sydney and Grace, I was the listener to many people going through so many similar issues.



"Though she liked Tyler a lot at this point, she’d always remained a little skeptical of him. I think she thought I was more invested in him"

The mental illness that went on in the Reed household was there and it was powerful. Putting pressure and unusually difficult expectations on children is what hurt me for all of them.

"We were both excited for the opportunity to prove to ourselves that we knew what good parenting looked like, despite our lack of examples"

The mental beating Chloe took from the Reed family in order to collect her $20 an hour was just painful. Her financial issues were her own and her Mother was evil when it came to that part. You would think she would resent it but no she didn't.

I really have to say bravo to Dina. This was a great book. I felt so strongly about the issues and I urge all my pals to read it. Maybe it will open your eyes.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story

I do enjoyed this story. Chloe went through so much and yet she stood strong through it all. Not sure I enjoyed the ending but from how the author portrayed Chloes' strength she be fine with whatever her path takes her.

[RoloPoloBookBlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding Bliss by Dina Silver
Source: Author for a fair and honest review
Rating: 3/5 stars

Dina Silver’s Finding Bliss is an emotional read that sort of sucked me in right from the beginning. In an effort to be as spoiler-free as possible, I am opting for a list-type review rather than a full-blown description and discussion. Hang on, dear reader, because here we go 

What I liked:
*The first third of the read which details the journey Tyler and Chloe take toward one another and their life together. This journey is not by any means a traditional one and makes the first third of this read particularly enjoyable.

*How decidedly different Tyler and Chloe’s individual situations are. These two come from totally different places/backgrounds and I applaud Silver for using the backstory of each character to inform every decision (both obviously and not so obviously) each makes in their lives. This is a nice bit of consistency that ties beginning, middle and, end together.

*Tyler: even though he pulls some pretty crappy moves throughout the read, he is by far the most fully-developed character. From start to finish and based on some very specific events, Tyler completely changes. It is a credit to Silver’s writing ability to be able to convincingly change a single character so completely over the course of a single read.

*The overall writing style. This is a very smooth read (even as an ARC) which is carried by good dialogue, fine pacing and, tight editing.

What I didn’t like:
*Chloe. For myself, Chloe was only a likeable character in the first third of the book. While I respect her fierce determination, this quality also makes her somewhat cold and hard to relate to. I appreciate that Chloe experiences some seriously awful things in her life but as the story progressed, I found it increasingly more difficult to root for her.

*How the plot evolves. Once Tyler and Chloe finally get together, their story begins to read like a biography rather than a novel. While there are certainly still big events occurring, the last two-thirds of Finding Bliss doesn’t have the same feel or level of excitement as the beginning of the read.

The Bottom Line: Let me be clear, I never once considered DNFing this read!! Silver is a fine writer and from a technical perspective, Finding Bliss is a well put together novel. I was totally sucked in by the first third of the novel and kept reading because I just knew everything was going to come full circle at the end and finish with the same level of appeal as it began with. Unfortunately, this did not happen for me and I found myself being slightly disappointed with the read as a whole. With this being said, I can honestly see Finding Bliss appealing to readers who like emotional reads that focus on only a few characters and their journey together in this life.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved a free ARC of this book for an honest review.

4 Oh-Honey Stars



Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. Oh, Honey. Life is not easy is it? I need a hug after this book and you can get your sweet pippy Chole needs one too. Finding Bliss is a realistic rollarcoaster of a read. You just shake your head and say "oh honey".

Chloe meets Tyler when she is finishing college and nannying for his younger brother and sister. But she has known who he is for years because he is the local stud muffin QB for Notre Dame. He begins to pursue her and she thinks, "Yeah baby. This is it. I get Johnny Football". Then he brings another girl home for a stay...Oh Honey. But wait, he still wants Chloe and they hook up. Then his overbearing, socialite mother tells her that Tyler has bigger fish to fry than diddling the nanny...Oh Honey. But Tyler doesn't care what his mother thinks, so they begin a relationship. Until he goes back to college and she doesn't hear from him for months...Oh Honey.

You get the picture. Life is one big rollarcoaster ride for our Chloe.



And it continues. Things are sooo good and then....soooo not so good. You feel for her every step of the way. The doctors visits. Oh my. I have been there and Ms Silver nails the guilt, jealousy, anxiety and heartbreak of those months and months of doctors visits. But through it all she has Tyler, the boy she dreamed of, crushed on, and fell hard for as a teenager. Now he is hers through good times and bad. Boy, do they take that vow literally. Until. BAM...The rollarcoaster has hit the top of the last big hill. You heard the click, click, click and then...the Bottom. Drops. Out. OH HONEY. What condition will be they be in when the ride stops?

Chloe and Tyler are a real couple with real problems. Not over the top Rock Star Drama. Not Uber-Alpha Tattooed Motorcyle Guys. But normal people trying to make a good life. But best friends, his over the top mom, her delusional mom, career demands and one very bad decision get in the way. Sequel? Yes? No? It does not end in a cliff hanger, but Ms Silver leaves the possiblity open.

Please pull the restraints down over your head. Secure your sunglasses and keep your hands in the car for this ride. Just don't be surprised when you are screaming "Ohhhhhh Honeyyyyyy" during all those ups and downs.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bittersweet read. It’s the perfect book to get you through your evening after a long day because it will take you on a gentle emotional journey. With that being said...I did have a few issues with the book, the pace moved way too fast and there were some serious topics that were glossed-over. Had the story not been so rushed maybe I could have believed the chemistry between Chloe and Tyler. Tyler really didn’t do it for me as the MC because there was something about him that I couldn’t connect with but I still enjoyed the story.

Chloe had a hard life but despite the issues she has with her mother, she’s resilient and incredibly determined. She then meets Tyler and they both instantly fall in love. Again, Tyler didn’t move me one bit but he’s not all bad, right? WRONG! WRONG!!! I won’t give anything away because that would ruin the story and I don’t believe in spoilers. Again, while I didn’t care for Tyler with Chloe, their issues felt genuine and incredibly real.

The relationship I found to be the most intriguing was with her best friend, Cam. I absolutely adored him. Everything he said was backed-up by actions. He was also incredibly witty and their banter made me giggle on different occasions. I was Team Cam at every turn!!!

Finding Bliss is about creating perfection and not letting anyone or anything getting in the way of that dream…this is that story. It’s about following your heart but sometimes the heart doesn’t always lead you to perfection or happiness, at least not in this book. What you can expect from this story is solid writing, an emotional journey and it will keep you entertained. It’s light on the romance and the ending is a bit abrupt but it’s still an enjoyable read, who knows…it could be your next favorite book! Happy Reading!

[Rebecca Berto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to start referring to her books as “Dina Silver books” from now on in the same vein as “a Picoult book” is used. This is my third Dina Silver book and I love it. It makes me feel warm inside when I close the last page. I close my eyes and fall away into my mind and go over all my favourite bits. The cherry on top is I love recommending Dina Silver books because she writes stories for women that make your heart happy. And they’re all great.

Finding Bliss is apparently a spin off book from her debut novel, One Pink Line. To be honest, I forgot this and only remembered that at various parts. In my opinion, this is more of a standalone than a connected book where I would recommend you read the first book beforehand. Seriously, that’s one less thing holding your back. Just dive into this novel already!

Chloe is one of the few female characters I adored and respected. You don’t read Dina Silver books, scratching your head, wondering where the personalities went with all the female leads, or why the guy is so hot and amazing…but what happened to the girl!? Where she just follows and bends to his needs. Nope. The main character Chloe is identifiable for every woman who’s been married, divorced or is a mother. I love watching her grow because she causes me to *feel*. Pain, love, excitement and she grows in this story.

Dina Silver’s writing is evocative yet gives the stage to the story. You don’t realise how big and flashy her writing is, but how vivid each scene is, drawing you in. I couldn’t pick a part I got bored or even wanted to put down my Kindle.

Basically, I love this fresh story. A woman who grows and changes, overcoming her troubles. It’s simply beautiful.

✭✭✭✭✭ big stars!

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd at about 45% - there's just zero character development. The characters interact briefly and then LOTS of time passes . . . this one just isn't for me. Not even Cristina Panfilio could save it.

[Autumn Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book...tore me up. FINDING BLISS is realistic story about a woman who is making her way through life. It's not always pretty, but she learns to appreciate the joy that the comes out of the journey.

Chloe has managed her life carefully. She's had to deal with an alcoholic mother and also work her way through school. The summer before she starts law school, she goes to work for the Reed family as their nanny. Even though, Chloe went to school with their oldest son, they never really knew each other. Then, they meet. And then...Chloe fell in love with the super star. How could she not? He's handsome and magnetic. Plus, there is a deeper side to Tyler that not everyone sees. Chloe sees him. What starts out as a summer fling, turns into more. Eventually. Tyler is focused on his football career and Chloe needs to get through law school. They keep in touch off and on and until they just can't be apart anymore. At this point in the story, I started having this slightly nauseous feeling in my belly. I just knew something was going to happen. And I was right.

I could relate to Chloe in a lot of ways. She's ambitious, confident, and wants to have a happy family life. She wants that with Tyler. For a short time, her dreams come true. Her relationship with Tyler is going strong and they're both successful in their careers. When they're ready to move forward with their family, they hit some bumps. Relationships are challenging. Marriage is challenging. It takes work, regardless of how in love you are. At this point in the book...I was a wreck. However, I was sooo proud of Chloe. She had to make some truly difficult choices and I was happy to see that didn't take the easy road. It took an enormous amount of strength and resilience to get through.

Sooo...there's someone I haven't mentioned yet. He's Chloe's best friend, Cam, but he's also had a crush on Chloe for years. But, because Chloe was so hooked on Tyler, she only saw him as a friend. I absolutely loved Cam. He was so supportive of Chloe. Especially when she needed him. I liked him so much, that I shamelessly begged the author for a novella for him. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get my way.

Side note: I LOVED seeing Grace and Sydney from One Pink Line! I adored that book and those characters. It was great to see how they intertwined into the story.

Overall, I really liked FINDING BLISS. It's not an easy book to read. One of the biggest frustrations for me was that I could see Tyler's appeal and honestly, I would have gone for a guy like him. And I do think he really loved Chloe. I also think he sincerely felt remorseful. But in the end, I would have done the same thing that Chloe did. She had to take care of herself. You can not live with someone without trust. Period.

If you're looking for a realistic take on life and love, check this one out! Be prepared though, Dina Silver can pull out the feels!

[Jessica Hull · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not the type of person that needs a happy ending. I actually love when a book breaks my heart. You don't need a happily ever after to have a great story.

But sadly, this book has neither. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters. I felt no build between them either. The first few chapters of Chloe and Tyler getting to know each other were entertaining and interesting. But I didn't really think Tyler tried hard enough to prove himself as a man deserving of Chloe. And then all of a sudden, the chapters are rushing by, no longer am I in the story, I'm now merely being given a highlight reel of stuff that already happened. I know virtually nothing about these characters, who they are, how they fell in love and now they're suddenly married. I missed the build. I missed the wedding. There was nothing in there at all. There's no meat and guts to this story.

Then pages upon pages upon pages of Chloe's infertility struggle. I can appreciate a dramatic, heartbreaking side to the plot, but I think had the author given as much detail to this couple's relationship as she did too her IVF treatments, I might have felt more connected to the story.

Then the climax. Tyler is a cheater. Why the dramatic build up of this romance if you're going to make the main male character a cheating douche bag? I'll be the first to admit, I like a jerk. I will typically always gravitate to an asshole male character if he even attempts to redeem himself. But Tyler hadn't even consider apologizing at first, and Chloe is considering taking him back already. Again, where is the build? I lost all respect for both characters at that point.

And then Cam... I might have appreciated her ending up with the decent choice if I felt some emotional connection to his character. But I didn't. I knew he had s crush on her. But she was emphatically in love with Tyler the entire book and then boom she chooses Cam? I know we can't pick our endings, it's not my story to write... But ideally Tyler could have made a better attempt to win back his wife and she would have gone back with him. Why all the useless information regarding Sadie, Tyler's family, his rude mother, all of that if she wasn't going to end up with him? It totally lost me somewhere. I could have probably embraced the ending had I felt a build of some kind between characters, if the author had better directed me to embracing this relationship. But the entire book is set around a love story between Tyler and Chloe. And then nothing.

I've heard nothing but good things about this author, and I'd love to read her other books. But this one is not on my list of good reads, sadly.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Finding Bliss is a book that leaves me struggling a bit to find the right words to express my feelings. It is one woman's journey towards finding love, maybe, but more importantly, finding herself.

Finding Bliss is not a love story. This is something that I had to continually remind myself while reading. Women's Fiction is a genre that I typically enjoy, but as a romantic, that is something that I always struggle with. Sure, there is usually romance in some form, but it is not the focus. Finding Bliss is a "big picture" story. It is not a romanticized account of her life. It was sometimes sweet and romantic, but also sad and troubling. It was real.

This is the first book of Silver's that I've read, and I really liked her writing style. It was very clean and inviting. I was immediately pulled into Chloe's head. I don't know if this was intentional, but Chloe was the only character that I felt drawn or connected to. There were several secondary characters: Chloe's mom, best friend Grace, the Reed family, Tyler and Cam, but I never felt as if I knew them. Grace was more of sporadic character. Chloe's mom, who was not mentally stable, was a strong influence into her personality and choices.

There were two men in Chloe's like, Cam and Tyler, but Finding Bliss is not a love triangle. Cam is a long-time friend and apparently had feelings for her, but I never felt that. I mean, I was told that he did, but I never got that sense of longing or sadness over an unrequited love from Cam. Tyler was...Tyler. I liked him and felt sorry for the position he was put in by his family. He seemed like a nice guy who genuinely cared for Chloe, but he also makes bad choices sometimes. I just don't know how I felt about him. Maybe it was the romantic in me, but I didn't want to believe that he could be selfish and just wrong. (Okay, at this point maybe I'm over thinking this!)

There were quite a few moments that I truly enjoyed Finding Bliss, and was so invested in Chloe's life. But at other moments, I felt as if I was missing a true connection. The ending left me hopeful, yet puzzled. I think I can see what the author was going for, but I didn't feel it. As I mentioned before, Finding Bliss is a realistic story. This is the story of a life, the good, bad, and ugly.

[DaniSays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a reader who only wants to read happy endings. However there are no rules as to what makes an ending Happy. Although I gave this book five stars, it will not be going onto my favorites shelf. It is not to say this book wasn't absolutely breath taking and marvelous. It was all that and more. This is the type of book you remember forever and book on my favorite shelf are ones I would read 100 times.This book you read once, smile, laugh, maybe cry, and then you give it to a friend who needs it more then you and your favorite's shelf does. This book is enlightening and uplifting. A book that never truly slips your mind.

[Midwest Galley Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review on my blog, Midwest Galley Girl.

http://midwestgalleygirl.wordpress.co...




*spoiler free*

Dina Silver emerged on the scene this year with her novel, One Pink Line , a favorite of mine for sure. Her novels focus on smart women you sometimes want to wag your finger at. Or shake...maybe a little. Because you care, which is the sign of well-written characters, even if they're not doing exactly what you want them to do. Sadly, for so many reviewers, this equals bad character development if they're not always "likeable". I shake my head at these reviewers...and possibly my finger.

Finding Bliss introduces us to Chloe, the whip-smart best friend of Grace, whom we met in One Pink Line. This isn't a sequel, but I'd highly recommend reading One Pink Line before Finding Bliss because a few of the minor characters in Finding Bliss are developed there. They're characters worth knowing and loving.

Chloe's home life hasn't been fantastic and she's driven to build a life for herself in suburban Chicago by attending law school at Northwestern University. To earn her way, she works as a Summer Girl for the Reed family, caring for their 8-year-old twins. Dr. Reed is largely absent from the story (and his family). Mrs. Reed is the quintessential doctor's wife. She is a passive-aggressive Southern Belle transplanted to Chicago, referring to everyone as "dahling" and smiling while delivering less-than-beautiful statements about everything under the sun. You know the type. As long as everything appears perfect, it's good enough for her.

Enter Tyler Reed, the golden boy oldest son, whom Chloe has been crushing on from afar for years. A football star during high school in suburban Glenview and then Rose Bowl-bound at The University of Notre Dame, these two come from different backgrounds and perspectives of the world. Let the romance, and the struggles, begin!

Over time we're introduced to many characters, including Cam, Chloe's law school neighbor and dear friend. It's not a conventional love triangle, as Chloe's choices for Tyler are always very clear to the reader, although there will always be questions about Tyler. His behavior plants seeds early on that will keep you wondering throughout the story. Cam is a wild card. What are his motives anyway? Delicious and subtle (and perhaps frustrating) for the reader, as there are no clear answers...only more story.

A quick disclaimer that this book deals heavily with the journey though infertility and its treatments. I recognized so many of my friends in this story and their pain is palpable, as is Chloe's.

A warning. When you hit THAT POINT in the book where your adrenaline surges and you're angry and feeling ALL the feels, solider on, reader. Finish the book and the epilogue. Breathe. Pour a drink. Even sleep on it. Then go back and re-read the last 5 or so chapters to really feel it again to find the Happily Ever After. It may not be a typical one, but it's VERY satisfying once your heart isn't beating in your ears. It will start to remind you of people you know and love. No caricatures here.

I greatly hope Dina Silver writes Chloe into her next book much the way she wrote Grace and the rest of the family into Finding Bliss. I loved knowing more about their story after falling in love with them in One Pink Line. Finding Bliss IS Chloe's story, but once you love characters, you want to keep loving them.

Read this in your book club for a great conversation about modern women and the choices we make. It's sure to be lively.

4 stars

[Stephanie Karaolis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dina Silver’s debut, One Pink Line, was one of my favourite books last year, so I had high hopes for Finding Bliss. It wasn’t what I expected, and initially I was a bit disappointed. But actually it turned out to be a bit of a surprise and a book that had me thinking about it for days after finishing it.

I’ve had this on my Kindle for a while now, and didn’t bother to re-read the blurb before I started it, so I’m not entirely sure what I expected. But it wasn’t the teenage romance novel that was the first few chapters: Chloe is babysitter to two adorable kids who are neglected by their wealthy, socialite parents, and confuses her lust for their older football-hero brother Tyler with love. I was rolling my eyes at the clichéd development of their relationship and the implausibility of the strength of their feelings having only actually met a handful of times. So far, the kind of fluffy stuff I’d read on holiday.

When the narrative started skipping through time more quickly though, I realised maybe I’d formed my opinions too soon. Without spoiling what is the bulk of the novel, I can say that Chloe and Tyler do end up together and Finding Bliss is about their adult lives rather than their teenage relationship, touching on some issues that Dina Silver already handled so well in One Pink Line (complicated relationships, parent-child bonds, pregnancy and parenthood) and some newer issues, particularly infertility and mental illness. So it turned out to be quite different from the fluffy romance novel suggested by the early chapters.

I don’t think Finding Bliss is perfect. There are clichés, in many of the characters and many of the situations. I wouldn’t say I found myself rooting for any of the characters, and I think that’s because they didn’t feel real. Tyler is a football prodigy as a teenager but once we’ve fastforwarded a few years, it’s never mentioned even as a hobby. Chloe is the typical all-round perfect girl – pretty, hard-working, intelligent, compassionate – who stubbonly refuses to believe that Tyler can really love her, but married him anyway. Cam is the predictable third-wheel, the best friend who Chloe worries about taking advantage of (echoes of Twilight here), and Dixie Reed is a fairly two-dimensional Southern matriarch. I found all this surprising and disappointing, as the characterisation in One Pink Line was one of its many strengths.

For me, Finding Bliss felt like two separate books forced slightly uncomfortable together. Because the start of their relationship was covered in such a swift and unsatisfying way in the first few chapters, it doesn’t add anything to what comes later: if anything, those chapters just undermined the later attempts to show Tyler and Chloe as a couple that belong together. We never see them truly (believably) get to know one another and fall in love. I’d have preferred it if the novel started in their newly-wed days.

On the other hand, the book did surprise me and amongst the clichés there were some unpredictable events and plot turns. I liked the gentle link to One Pink Line, via Chloe’s best friend Grace. It also made me cry, just a little, towards the end – and I generally take that as a good sign (especially if it manages to do so when I’m on public transport!). I’m not sure I’ll read it again, and I’d definitely recommend One Pink Line more strongly, but Finding Bliss is very readable and much better than I initially gave it credit for.

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is my first Dina Silver experience and I enjoyed the journey.

Chloe is the girl with sketchy past with the alcoholic mother but that only drives her more to be a super successful lawyer. To achieve this goal she takes a part time job school babysitting.

Tyler who happened to go to the same school as Chloe as well as be the big brother of the kids that Chloe is babysitting and he also is the star in Chloe's fantasies of her potential 'better life'.

When Tyler meets Chloe there is a spark but not tons of chemistry but Chloe is so in love with the idea of being in love she makes Tyler to be so much more than he is.

In reality Tyler is Meh! Just ok. He may be good looking but he doesn't have much of a back bone nor a lot of strength and desire to be the best that he can be. So he listens to everyone else especially mommy and daddy's wishes to be the star football player and marry for money and status.

Chloe is a bit neurotic and really naive yet still endearing. However , she had a total of maybe 8 hours with Tyler and she thought they had this huge epic relationship.

While Chloe is away at school pining for Tyler she meets Cam who ends up being her rock and BFF.

With the spark between them, Tyler makes an effort for Chloe but an accident happens and it can either push them together or pull them apart. In this cases it pushes them together but for Tyler it is more of complacency but with Chloe it is all her wishes coming true.

With the growth of their relationship I felt it was very complacent and predictable then they had trouble conceiving which rocks Chloe's world and not for the better. She becomes obsessed with having a baby that she get tunnel vision and pushes everyone away.

As I was reading the book I was just about to get bored and then at like 82% I was... I did not see that coming. I should have but I didn't. My heart fell into my stomach.

If I had Chloe's life I don't know if I would have made similar or different choices.

With Tyler I never really felt him. He couldn't commit or stand up for himself.

The ending I am still unsure if I loved it or hated it.

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[Renee Elden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received my "Advanced Reader's Copy-Uncorrected Proof" from an online book blog contest and WON, yippee! I first met Author Dina Silver last fall in Chicago at my first Author signing event. Wow, overwhelming is all I could say. I returned home and instantly bought One Pink Line for my kindle. Knowing I was meeting her again just last week to pick up my copy of Finding Bliss, I right away opened my kindle and read OPS. Omg, why did I wait so long to read it, I’m in love with the story and could not wait to get my hands on FB. I read it within 2 days, loved it as much
as OPL.

Book 1 is all about Grace, her life and family. Grace becomes best friends with Chloe. Book 2 is all about Chloe and her life, not a continuation at all, which I REALLY liked as either book can stand on it’s on.

Chloe takes on a summer nanny job for the Reeds twins. The Reeds have a son who is a star quarterback for Notre Dame named Tyler. It is love at first site for Chloe but she knows he is out of her league. At the Reeds summer cabin one evening things take a turn for Chloe and sparks fly between her and Tyler only to wake up the next day and he’s gone. Fourth of July he returns, explains a few things and sparks fly again for another fantastic evening. However, Mrs. Reed warns her to stay away from Tyler as he has a big year coming up with the draft and Chloe will be starting Law school in the fall.

Once both are back to school, they exchange text messages back and forth every couple of weeks or so. In the meantime, Chloe tries to convince herself it was just a fling until Tyler contacts her one winter night that changes everything and turns both their lives upside down.

This story is about young love, families, friendships, marriage, jobs, heartaches, everything a young person in their early 20’s shouldn’t have to go through but Chloe experiences it ALL. In the end, Chloe comes out the biggest winner in all and even stronger than ever.

I LOVED this story line, it flowed perfectly. An easy read and I’d say for any teenage & up to pick it up and read it.

[Shasta Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Finding Bliss from Dina and was very excited to begin reading this book. After getting an idea of what this book was going to be about it completely shattered my expectations. I fell in love with this book. I fell in love with her characters and how she took things of what would happen in relationships and made it work into one of my favorite books now. This book may be an emotional roller coaster, but I could not put it down.

The book starts with Chloe Carlyle, a soon to be law student, getting ready to go away to the Reed family’s summer home to sit for the younger two Reed children. We find out that of course Chloe comes from a broken home with a delusional and alcoholic mother, who never really provided the type of stable and loving home life that Chloe craves. In walks Tyler Reed: star quarterback for Notre Dame, sexy Adonis (as Chloe says), and oldest son. Chloe has only ever seen Tyler in pictures, but ends up falling head over heels in love with Tyler. But of course you never want a great love story to be easy. You know where it is love at first sight, girl gets boy and they live happily ever after. And trust me Dina does not disappoint. Chloe and Tyler face many trials in order to be together. But sometimes true and lasting love isn’t always meant to be. Life can throw many battles to test the strength of a couple and with stress, pregnancy issues, and even cheating spouses. Chloe and Tyler are tested with it all. But you will have to read to find out if they can make it through them. I can tell you that you will not be disappointed one bit with this book.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Finding Bliss" is a great achievement. Dina Silver does a great job of describing young love and the power it holds over those who are consumed by it. Chloe is drawn to Tyler, not the kind of guy she would like to fall for. As she spends part of the summer with his family as baby sitter she is hugely attracted to him despite her reservations.
Coming from a broken home with a schizophrenic and alcoholic mother she longs for bliss in Tyler's arms, but he is damaged, too, with abusive parents, and plays hot and cold with her.
The two of them however end up getting married and predictably run into hard times ahead.
I felt the book had a lot of potential, particularly the beginning with the descriptions of the family problems of both lovers was particularly promising and I was looking forward to some deeper dealings with the problems and the issues brought in to the book. The resolve offered in the book - for my taste - however remained on the surface.
Silver is a gifted writer whose narrative, dramatic structure and other writing credentials are all very sound and indisputable. The ending redeemed my above mentioned concern by resolving some of the issues and leaving the readers with bliss indeed and a hopeful and inspirational message.
This book is entertaining, gripping and engaging and if you are not expecting too much more than a good story with some memorable characters and a happy ending than this will certainly be worth your time.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

*SPOILERS*
I can't say I enjoyed it even though I couldn't put it down. Now that may not make sense to you and trust me I'm not sure why either but I struggled with it. I couldn't figure out where this was going, there was hardly any character building and as for Chloe and Tyler's relationship I had no connection with them. Aside from the occasional conversation we were witness to we were told they spent a night or 2 together. They don't see each other again. A year later an accident happens they're together again and then its 3 years later all skimmed over. The proposal beautiful, the wedding was skimmed over, no lead up and they were married. Was the story about their struggle to get pregnant and the stress that causes on the relationship? Or his infidelity? Because thats where we learned more about them than any other part the book and it still wasn't enough. I felt i should've been heartbroken but i wasn't. After finishing it, I'd say it's all of it together. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen and expecting more and not getting it. So in a way it sucked me in but it left me wanting more. Yes it was more of reality story (which I liked) with no HEA depending on your perspective of course, but compared to your typical romance, if that's what you're after you won't get it here. I could've loved this, the perfect story was there, I just didn't get the connection I needed.

[Brianna Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Finding Bliss” by Dina Silver
I received this book from the author and this review is my honest opinion.

Before I started reading this book, I had an idea in my head what it was going to be about. I thought it would just be the sweet girl gets the popular jock, and after a few struggles they live happily ever after. I don’t think I have ever been so wrong about a book. Yes, there was the girl and the jock...but this story isn’t that simple.

Dina Silver packed this book with some hefty situations. It wasn’t your typical drama that filled this book. “Finding Bliss” had alcoholic and delusional mothers, insecurities, cheating spouses, pregnancy problems, career stress, and condescending mother-in-laws. This novel also showed amazing friendship, determination and ambition, and the importance of independence.

I was very impressed by this 5 STAR novel. There was just so much going on over a span of years, but it never seemed rushed or cluttered. “Finding Bliss” is well-written and I will most definitely read future books by Dina Silver. I highly recommend her work. This book was just an overall good story. I loved the laughs (nun pee! haha) and my heart ached from all the heartbreak the main character suffered through.

Go check it out! 5 STARS.

Happy Reading!

Brianna Lee Book Reviews
http://www.briannaleereviews.blogspot...

[Marchessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slight spoilers ahead.

I didn't want to leave a review because I absolutely hate reading about cheating, really really hate it. I know there are millions of books where this happens but I dare to say that in most cases it's usually the good ol' "It happened only once and it didn't mean anything to me" scenario where h and H (people who the reader is supposed to fall in love with) are concerned.

I have to say I didn't much like Tyler from the beginning on but the way he cheated on Chloe? All the dirty messages to his affair? He flat-out lied to her, didn't have the backbone to admit that he's a royal cheating fuck-up. I understand that marriage is hard, more so when the couple is trying hard to have children... shit happens, but please at least make the H look like a real man and not some weak pussy who can't stand up for his own mistakes and failures. He cheated on her for MONTHS. If I were Chloe I would kick his stupid ass to the curb and never look back but that's just my two cents.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this book it is a candid and thoughful look into the life of a girl on the cusp of adulthood, how she spends her final summer before going to law school and the relationship's she developes over that time and afterwards.

Chloe has had an unusual upbringing, with an alcoholic mother. But she has managed to put this behind her and is getting ready to move onto the challenge of becoming a lawyer. She meets Tyler several times whilst at school and babysitting his younger brother and sister, and with him being the school football star she has a crush on him. Its only whilst spending summer looking after his siblings at their families lake house that things develope further.

This is one of those books that you can snuggle up, or chill out by the pool with. There are are few twists and turns, but I smiled and had contented sigh to myself at the end. Worth a read if you are looking for something light and entertaining.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dina Silver writes stories that cause me to respond emotionally. It's like she is writing the book just for you. You find hidden messages about the bigger issues in life within the pages of her novels. You find yourself inspired, reflecting and hopeful when reading her words. Silver writes stories that get into my bones and stick there. In her newest novel Finding Bliss, Silver writes a story that kept me up late into the night, one that was hard to put down, one that moved me once again. Finding Bliss is about so much more than young love. It is about staying true to oneself and about making it through the bumps in the road with your head held high and your dignity intact. Silver writes a beautifully woven story that is thoughtful, funny and memorable. Her story is one that makes you certain that there is not just one path in life, but many and one must choose their own path in order to find bliss!!! I LOVED this book and rate it 5 stars!!!

[Michelle Daily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Bliss is my new favorite Dina Silver novel. Chloe was lovable and while reading I saw myself as her. We all had the good looking guy in high school or college that we thought would never give us a second glance. It was fun to read Tyler and Chloe's journey from the beginning to the end.

There were moments in the book that broke my heart, and moments in the book that gave me butterflies. If you are looking for a book to toss in your beach bag as you head to the beach or the local pool, I highly recommend you giving Finding Bliss a chance. Between the romance and the flawless writing style of Dina Silver, you will finish the book wanting more and hoping your girlfriends read it so you can have a fun night of wine drinking and talking about the book.

I am giving Finding Bliss five out of five stars--no surprise there!