Thanks to Roxanne Jones of Berkley Publishing Group, I am giving away one print copy of How To Change a Life by Stacey Ballis.
Description of How To Change a Life by Stacey Ballis
Eloise, thirty-nine and enjoying a comfortable life as a private chef, is content. With a loving mother and supportive client base, it’s been too easy to back-burner things like romance and career ambitions along the way. However, when Eloise reconnects with her two best friends from high school at their favorite teacher’s funeral, she’s finally forced to come to terms with the loneliness and shortcomings in her life.
In honor of their late teacher, the three women make a bet to complete a bucket list of life goals by their next birthday. Though initially met with success, each woman’s journey doesn’t come without a few hiccups along the way. And when Eloise seemingly meets the man of her dreams, a chance encounter brings to head two decades of unresolved issues that even the strongest of friendships might not survive.
Praise for Stacey Ballis
“With the perfect blend of humor and heart, Ballis’s writing is powerfully honest and genuinely hilarious.”—Jen Lancaster, New York Times bestselling author of By the Numbers
“Ballis delves again into foodie women’s lit with flavorful results…Honest and touching.”—Kirkus Reviews
“An absolutely charming read!…Equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.”—Harlequin Junkie
About Stacey Ballis
(c) Joe Mazza_
Stacey Ballis is the author of ten foodie novels: Inappropriate Men, Sleeping Over, Room for Improvement, The Spinster Sisters, Good Enough to Eat, Off the Menu, Out to Lunch, Recipe for Disaster, Wedding Girl, and How to Change a Life.
She is a contributing author to three nonfiction anthologies: Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, and Living Jewishly
Giveaway of How To Change a Life by Stacey Ballis
This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on September 15, 2017 midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
Publisher: Black Rose Writing (May 11, 2017) Category: Literary Fiction, Humor, Family Tour dates: Aug-Oct, 2017 ISBN: 978-1612968551 Available in Print & ebook, 193 pages
At the age of 14 and 11, brothers, Lucas and Grinder’s mother has left them and their alcoholic father. They never hear from her again.
Out of the blue a friend of their mother, Janice, contacts Lucas with the news that their mother has died. She asks them to come to Pittsburgh to take care of her effects, chief among them being Paul. Reluctantly, Lucas and Grinder head for Pittsburgh where they meet Janice and learn that Paul is their mother’s African grey parrot. Turns out that Paul has things to say that turn the brothers’ worlds upside down, especially regarding their mother.
This is a humorous look at matters of consequence—abandonment, alcoholism, grief and loss of a mother, living without clear answers, the relationship between brothers, separation and reconciliation and hope. It is also about a father who carries a piece of Jesus with him in a Ziploc baggie, a parrot who likes to get stoned, and a brother who cleans dead animals off the streets for a living.
Praise for Parrot Talk by David B. Seaburn
“As with David Seaburn’s other novels, Parrot Talk is ultimately about reconciliation and redemption among anguished family members. But this book uses the device of a seemingly wise and prescient parrot to great comic effect. I found myself literally laughing out loud at several points. The parrot steals the show but there are several clearly drawn and compelling human characters as well. This is Seaburn’s most successful novel and, overall, a moving hoot.”- Barry Jacobs, Amazon Reviewer
“I picked up this title based on its classification as humor and satire (two of my favorite words), and had absolutely no preconceptions about what I might find. I was delighted all the way through to find characters who were human, yet comical. Animals who were comical, and somewhat human. And a family with a genuine hurt that wasn’t easy to heal. Seaburn placed average people in average cities, and gave them relatively average lives. With nothing more than a parrot as a catalyst, three men are able to face ghosts of their pasts, and attempt to right some wrongs that give them all hope for a better future. Seaburn’s writing is light without being shallow, and he brings levity to a situation that’s taboo for many…the notion of a mother who is not present to watch her children grow up. Some authors might be tempted to vilify her, but Seaburn allowed Grinder and Lucas to grapple with real emotions and come to resolution. Seaburn also allowed the reader to love Millie, no matter what her past, and even gave us the chance to reconcile with Pop’s misdeeds. This book is a lovely tale of family, peppered with laughable antics, squirrel-sweeping, and parrots smoking pot. It’s a great opportunity to relax the mind and feel good about life for awhile.”-Amazon Reviewer
“Parrot Talk by David B. Seaburn is a hurricane in terms of language, dialogues, and situations. There is pretty admirable frenetic life and time for all the protagonists, not a second of break during the reading! Forget a great description of characters in the common sense of the word, because you see what it’s like to live the experience of a roundabout with this book. Enjoy this group of great chatters and these funny situations!” – Buckwriter, Amazon Reviewer
About David B. Seaburn
David B. Seaburn has been a Presbyterian pastor of a small country church, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at a leading university medical center, a pioneer in the field of Medical Family Therapy, and a prolific author.
Since 2005, Seaburn has published six novels. His newest, ‘Parrot Talk’, was released in May 2017 by Black Rose Writing. He also writes a blog for Psychology Today magazine, “Going Out Not Knowing.” Seaburn was a Finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards in fiction for his novel, ‘Charlie No Face’ (2011). He is currently an instructor at Writers and Books in Rochester NY. Seaburn is married with two married daughters and two wonderful granddaughters. A third grandchild is on the way.
Thanks to Ann-Marie Nieves of Get Red PR, I am giving away one print copy of The Dating Bender by Christina Julian .
Description of Dating Bender by Christina Julian
Here I am, on my knees in front of the Trevi Fountain, hoping like hell the legend is true. That the fountain gives you solace and love by a mere toss of a coin.
Why am I here, exactly? Let’s see…
It started with my parents telling me to get married. Of course, being the good Catholic girl I am, I did.
Needless to say, that marriage nosedived, and my parents weren’t exactly happy about it.
Newly ditched and shamefully disowned, I decided to follow the advice of Babs, a tart-of-a-mentor, who offered me a job in Colorado.
Her advice? Sex…and lots of it.
The temptation of freedom, to do whatever—whoever—I wanted was too damn strong for me to say no.
And that’s how it all started. The men, the sex, the journey…
The Dating Bender. because everybody deserves a do-over
Praise for Dating Bender by Christina Julian
“With humor, wit, and a whole lot of sarcasm Julian’s debut takes an unabashed look at a failed marriage, divorce, and dating under the scrutiny of a less than supportive family. She takes readers on a raucous ride that explores what it means to be a woman—gaping flaws and all.”–Adair Lara, former San Francisco Chronicle columnist, author of Naked, Drunk, and Writing
“A laugh out loud, don’t read in public, and sometimes heartbreaking story.” -United Indie Book Blog
“Quite a fun read. Samantha’s references to her favorite magazine publications add charm to her character and endear her to the reader with every personal drama and hiccup she explores.” -Kathryn Dee, CLiK Book Blog
About Christina Julian
Christina Julian writes snarky rom-coms that celebrate the underdog and live to make people laugh. She adores dysfunctional leading ladies and the tangled twisty lives they lead. She adamantly believes there is nothing in life that can’t be conquered with a bodacious wine, strong cup of coffee, or a generously iced cupcake.
When she is not tapping out her next novel or wrangling her 3-year-old twins, she can be found swilling and swirling in the name of research as a wine and food columnist in Napa Valley. She strives always to live her life to the extreme.
Giveaway of Dating Bender by Christina Julian
This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on September 8, 2017 midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
How To Change a Life by Stacey Ballis
How To Change a Life by Stacey Ballis
Dating Bender by Christina Julian