The Welcome Home Diner

Betting on the city of Detroit's eventual comeback, cousins Addie and Samantha decide to risk it all on an affordable new house and a culinary career that starts with renovating a vintage diner in a depressed area of town. There's just one little snag in their vision. Angus, a weary, beloved local, is strongly opposed to his neighborhood's gentrification--and his concerns reflect the suspicion of the community. Shocked by their reception, Addie and Samantha begin to have second thoughts. As the long hours, problematic love interests, and underhanded pressures mount, the two women find themselves increasingly at odds, and soon their problems threaten everything they've worked for. If they are going to realize their dreams, Addie and Samantha must focus on rebuilding their relationship. But will the neighborhood open their hearts to welcome them home?

A charming approach to cooking, entertaining, and table-setting with all the chicness of Parisians at home. The Parisian dinner party is the ideal of entertaining chic: the style of the host, the quality of the food and wine, and the beauty of the setting. With this creative and invaluable book, Laurent Buttazzoni--renowned French architect, gourmand, and celebrated host of delightful dinner parties in Paris--shares his tried and true elements for Parisian entertaining.Dispelling the myths of expense and complexity that can intimidate hosts, Diner à la Maison is a guide to shopping, cooking, and entertaining the Parisian way. Led by beautiful color photographs made in the author's home, the book covers the fundamental ingredients for the pantry, followed by a guide to pairing 42 menus with it's own décor and table setting. From weekday hits to weekend entertaining, seasonal events, and holiday parties, each menu is accompanied by ideas for a decoration theme. For weeknight gathering, Buttazzoni offers simple seasonal dishes such as Watercress Soup and French Macaroni and Cheese or Rack of Lamb with Pan Juices, Green Tabbouleh, and Lemon Tart. For a more formal dinner party a menu of Belgian Endive Salad with Pears and Blue Cheese, Duck Breast à l'Orange, and Honey Glazed Turnips or Poule au Pot, Poached Vegetables, and a luscious Berry Trifle. With a candid guide to shopping for everything from good-quality groceries to eclectic tableware, as well as creative tips on the details that make any dinner party a success (pop your champagne in the freezer before guests arrive!)--and with an introduction by style icon Sofia Coppola--this book is an essential tool for all those who want to receive family and friends at home.

A debut novel sparkling with wit and insight about a young woman whose reluctant return to her Jersey Shore hometown gives her the second chance she didn’t know she needed. Caroline Kline isn't ready to strike out. In New York City, newly single Caroline is stumbling her way through the recent implosion of her life. After a surprise breakup leaves her with no job, no apartment, and no backup plan, she’s unsure of what to do next. That is, until Caroline’s father, Leo, injures himself in a bad fall and asks her to move home to the Jersey Shore suburb she’d always been desperate to escape. But Leo doesn’t want his daughter to be his caretaker; he needs her to replace him as third baseman in his local men’s softball league. This isn’t just any season, Leo claims. This is the year they have a real shot at the World Series, the pride and joy of Glen Brook, New Jersey. Caroline agrees to move home, concerned that Leo is hiding a more serious health condition than he’s willing to admit. As the first female player in a league full of old-school men, she’s up against more than a few challenges. And when a night gone wrong lands her in the path of her hometown crush—and first love—Caroline struggles to reconcile the life she thought she’d have with the life she might actually want. Sharply observed and full of humor and heart, Welcome Home, Caroline Kline is a touching tribute to the many unconventional paths that victory, and recovery, can take.

Inspired by her beloved blog, dinneralovestory.com, Jenny Rosenstrach’s Dinner: A Love Story is many wonderful things: a memoir, a love story, a practical how-to guide for strengthening family bonds by making the most of dinnertime, and a compendium of magnificent, palate-pleasing recipes. Fans of “Pioneer Woman” Ree Drummond, Jessica Seinfeld, Amanda Hesser, Real Simple, and former readers of Cookie magazine will revel in these delectable dishes, and in the unforgettable story of Jenny’s transformation from enthusiastic kitchen novice to family dinnertime doyenne.

Short Stories

Josh Londer is happily married to his lovely wife, Brenda, and works as a certified public accountant in 1981. They have a modest but comfortable home in Morristown, Massachusetts, and spend as much time together as they can. Before long, the company that Josh works for downsizes, and he is let go with several other employees. Due to an economic downslide, he is able to find sporadic work; but before long, he and his wife begin to struggle to meet their monthly expenses. On a summer afternoon, Josh stops for gasoline and is kidnapped by three thieves who force him to participate in the robbery of a liquor store. One man is shot and killed by the store clerk, and soon afterward, the second is shot dead by the police. The third member, a girl, manages to escape, and Josh is arrested and charged. Overwhelming evidence convinces the jury that he is guilty, and he is sentenced to four years in prison even though he is completely innocent. While he is away, his wife is hired at an electrical component company where the plant manager takes an interest in her and moves her up to a very good paying position. He agrees to hire Josh upon his release as a delivery driver for the company, which is good because with his prison record, employment would be difficult to obtain. Shortly afterward, the manager plans to use her to “entertain” some of the buyers in order to sway them to purchase exclusively from his company. Realizing that she doesn’t want Josh to learn of this after all that he has been through, he sets her up and then blackmails her into doing so. The whole situation takes a serious turn for the worse, and Josh finds himself facing another prison sentence—this time for murder.

Who says you can't go home again? Devry and Holden have been in a relationship for two years, but Devry has never been given the opportunity to meet his love's family until he finds an invitation to Holden's family reunion. After a lot of convincing, Holden decides it's time to take him to the small town where he grew up. Though nervous, Devry finds Holden's mother and father more than welcoming, but Holden's grandfather is less than hospitable, unaware that Devry is his grandson's lover. Overnight he has become a secret...something he never wanted to be. As the day of the family reunion approaches, Devry finds that he doesn't know Holden as well as he thought he did. Holden has kept secrets from him that could very well tear them apart. After Devry creates a secret himself, he must decide if it's one that he should keep or reveal to Holden in order to save their relationship.

Time changes people...and every once in a while it can heal a broken heart. Against her better judgment, Abigail Cahill is coming home. Abigail's family is set on proving that she belongs in Three Creeks with them. Their childhood best friend, Kent Parker is willing to help them give Abigail a proper welcome. From the beginning, Kent makes it clear that he has zero interest in a serious relationship. Who cares that every time he is around Abigail he has the urge to punch anyone in the face that looks at her? Abigail is okay with having the small town hunk as a pal for her mini-adventures. She's not so thrilled that he chases away any guy that takes an interest in her. In this feel-good, love story, Abigail discovers the beauty of second chances and the meaning behind Welcome Home.