As the executive culinary assistant to celebrity Chicago chef Patrick Conlon, Alana Ostermann works behind the scenes—and that’s just the way she likes it. But with developing recipes for Patrick’s cookbooks, training his sous chefs, picking out the perfect birthday gifts for his ex-mother-in-law, and dealing with the fallout from his romantic escapades, she barely has a personal life, much less time to spend with her combo platter of a mutt, Dumpling. Then a fluke online connection brings her RJ, a transplant from Tennessee, who adds some Southern spice to her life. Suddenly Alana’s priorities shift, and Patrick—and Dumpling—find themselves facing a rival for her time and affection. With RJ in the mix, and some serious decisions to make about her personal and professional future, Alana must discover the perfect balance of work and play, money and meaning, to bring it all to the table—one delicious dish at a time…Review“Stacey Ballis dishes up another fabulous and soul-satisfying meal in her newest novel. With the perfect blend of humor and heart, Ballis' writing is powerfully honest and genuinely hilarious, and embodies everything I love about contemporary women's fiction. Off the Menu is an irresistibly delicious five-course read!”--Jen Lancaster, New York Times Bestselling Author"Alana Ostermann has a great job working as an executive culinary assistant to Patrick Conlon (one of Chicago's top chefs), great friends (including one with whom she has been trading some "special" benefits), a great family and an adorable dog — all of whom love her dearly. So what if she still hasn't met her Mr. Right? But when an online dating service accidentally matches her up with a sweet, sexy transplanted Tennessean named RJ, Alana begins to think she may have found the missing ingredient in the recipe for a perfect life. Readers hungry for cleverly written contemporary romances will definitely want to order Off the Menu."—Chicago Tribune“Witty and tender, brash and seriously clever, Stacey Ballis’ characters are our friends, our neighbors or, in some cases, that sardonic colleague the next cubicle over…Her storytelling will have you alternately turning pages and calling your friends urging them to come along for the ride. And in Stacey Ballis’ talented hands, oh what a wonderful ride it is.” --Elizabeth Flock, New York Times Bestselling Author"ENTICING. Ballis writes a bit like Emily Giffin and Isabel Wolff, and the recipes will please gal foodies as well."—Booklist"A wonderfully joyful ode to good food, best friends, tough choices and great love. Off the Menu = one delicious read...that comes complete with recipes! So much fun." --Alison Pace, author of You Tell Your Dog First"Stacey Ballis knows her readers like books smart and funny—and she always delivers." --Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Author of Brand X: The Boyfriend AccountAbout the AuthorStacey Ballis is the Director of Education and Community Programs at The Goodman Theater in Chicago. The author of Sleeping Over and Inappropriate Men, she is also a home improvement junkie and a huge fan of DIY television, and has a strange compulsion to buy occasional tables. You can learn more about her at www.staceyballis.com. Views: 68
She thought she would never trust a man again… Until one rainy night two hunky truckers come to Jewel’s rescue, igniting delicious desires for a red-hot ménage trios. When she can no longer deny her cravings, she knows it’s time to return to the heat and passion she once knew within the safe confines of The Key Club. Views: 68
Science Fiction/Fantasy. 48884 words long. Views: 68
According to statistics, men think about sex 20 times a day and women around ten. Alison Tyler thinks about sex twenty four hours a day and the result is this sizzling collection of headily sensual stories, Morning, Noon, and Night. Fortunately, noted eroticist Tyler is half of a happy couple, well matched in every way so no editor is better equipped to curate a book of erotica designed to stimulate the minds, hearts (not to mention everything else) and stir the souls of couples to enjoy each other morning, noon, and night. From delicious trysts at dawn's early light to naughty nooners to afternoon delight and dinner in flagrante delicto and beyond, Alison Tyler is your guide to a scorching hot sex, anywhere, anytime. Views: 68
From the Back CoverAfter solving the mayor’s murder and exposing corruption among the top brass in Las Playas, Carly Edwards is happy to be back on patrol with her partner, Joe, putting bad guys behind bars. For once, everything in life seems to be going right.But then everything starts going wrong. Slow to recover from an injury, her ex-husband, Nick, begins pulling away just as they were starting to get close again. Meanwhile, when Joe’s wife lands in the hospital with a mysterious illness, their baby is kidnapped. As Carly chases down every lead in a desperate search to find the baby, her newfound faith is pushed to its limits. Views: 68
Warning - MMF Carter Moorehouse and Drew Bentworth have been mates for over 60 years, and they have been through a lot together, but nothing can compare to finding the other missing piece to their soul. Carter is Alpha of the Washington Pack and Drew is his Beta. Carter is perfectly happy with the way life is right now and is in no rush to find their other mate, but Drew is, and when Carter comes home to find a little human female in his house, he soon realizes his happy peaceful life is about to be turned upside down. Drew has been working as a Professor at Central Washington University in the business department for the last 30 years. Meanwhile, he has been Beta of the Washington Pack and mated to the Alpha Carter for 60 years. Life couldn't be better, except for the fact that Drew has decided he wants a family. So, while he isn't working as a professor, or acting as Beta, he is hunting for that perfect female that is the missing key piece to their family. After about 10 years, he had almost given up, so he couldn't believe his luck when she practically fell right in his lap as one of his Accounting students. She is everything Drew has been looking for, smart, beautiful, kind, compassionate, and strong. He was excited that Carter allowed him to bring her home, even though Carter wasn't interested in a human female for a mate. He wasn't anticipating, though, the battle he would have to endure to convince both his stubborn, bullheaded mates that this was meant to be. Views: 68
Wait a minute . . . . . . there. I made it to the next moment. And that's how you get through a bad moment of grief. You do it one moment at a time. --from "Worth Fighting For"LISA NIEMI and PATRICK SWAYZE were married for thirty-four years. They first met as teenagers at his mother's dance studio--he was older and just a bit cocky; she was the beautiful waif who refused to worship the ground he walked on. Through the years their marriage strained under the pressures that many do, but it was always a uniquely passionate and creative partnership. When they first exchanged vows, Lisa promised to be with her husband "till death do us part." But how many couples stop and think about what that truly means? "Worth Fighting For "is a remarkably candid look at what losing a partner really entails--how to care for him or her, how to make it through each day without falling into despair, and how to move forward in the second half of your life when the person you spent the first half with is gone. For the first time, Lisa Niemi Swayze shares the details of Patrick's twenty-one-month battle with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, and she describes his last days, when she simply tried to keep him comfortable. She writes with heartbreaking honesty about her grief in the aftermath of Patrick's death, and she openly discusses the challenges that the years without him have posed. While this is an emotionally honest and un-flinching depiction of illness and loss, it is also a hopeful and life-affirming exploration of the power of the human spirit. Lisa shows that no matter how dark the prospect of another day may seem, there are always reserves of strength to call upon. She writes, "I tell you, I am a different person now. One who has been thrown into the fire and forged." Like "The Year of Magical Thinking "and "A Widow's Story, "this book is both a tribute to a marriage and a celebration of the healing power that each day holds, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Views: 68
KoKo is back with a thirst for revenge. Treachery looms thick in her midst as she plants the brutal Kiss of Death on whoever is in her way. The plot thickens while KoKo is on her quest to find everyone involved in Kayson's murder. A guilty confession. Past family secrets that set a chain of events into play may cause her whole world to come crumbling down. Will KoKo maintain the empire that Kayson left behind or will the secrets and deception ultimately destroy her? Views: 68
When her fiancee calls off the wedding a second time, a young Amish woman is determined to change his mind. Stoney Ridge Seasons book 1. Views: 68
