MAKING HER DEBUT
The Hazards of Hunting While Heartbroken, the first novel by Boston-based Mari Passananti, tells the story of a young woman who sets out to find a man to solve her problems. The synopsis says: "Zoe Clark thinks her world will implode when her fiance dumps her on the eve of their splashy wedding. After nearly a decade with her college sweetheart, Zoe feels like a teenager about to be eaten alive by the New York dating scene. And her problems don't end there. Zoe works a less-than-ideal job, managing other people's careers while her own ambitions wither. To add insult to injury, she does so in the employ of a larger-than-life woman whose staff measures the boss' emotional state by the zealousness of her make-up application. Quitting is out of the question; Zoe's rent doubled when her fiance bailed. Enter Oscar Thornton. He's handsome, charming, attentive and rich - the perfect boyfriend. But does he harbour a dark secret? Or will Zoe torpedo her newfound happiness by indulging a far-fetched suspicion?"