Recipe for Disaster - by Stacey Ballis (Paperback)

About the Book

"To an outside observer, Anneke Stroudt is a mess--her shirts are stained, her fingernails stubby, her language colorful. But despite her flaws, Anneke's life is close to perfect: she has a beautiful historic house to restore and a loving fiancae who cooks like a dream. Until Anneke's charmed existence falls apart when she loses both her job and her future husband in one terrible day. In need of a new start, she packs up her disgruntled schnauzer and moves into her half-finished home, where she throws her pent-up frustration--and what little savings she has--into finishing the renovation"--Page 4 of cover.

Book Synopsis

Stacey Ballis cooks up a delicious broth of a novel about a woman whose perfect life falls apart in spectacular fashion--leaving her with a house to restore, an antique cookbook (but no cooking talent), and one very unhappy schnauzer. For fans of Jen Lancaster, Jennifer Weiner, and Emily Giffin.

To an outside observer, Anneke Stroudt is a mess--her shirts are stained, her fingernails stubby, her language colorful. But, despite her flaws, Anneke's life is close to perfect. She has a beautiful historic house to restore and a loving fiancé who cooks like a dream.

Until Anneke's charmed existence falls apart when she loses both her job and her future husband in one terrible day. In need of a new start, she packs up her disgruntled schnauzer and moves into her half-finished home, where she throws her pent-up frustration--and what little savings she has--into finishing the renovation.

But at the first step into the house's overhaul, Anneke is sidetracked when she discovers a mysterious leather-bound book, long hidden away, filled with tempting recipes and steamy secrets from Gemma Ditmore-Smythe, the cook for the house's original owners. Slowly, with the help of some delicious food and Emma's life lessons, Anneke begins to realize that, just like a flawless recipe, she's been waiting for the right ingredients to cook up a perfect life all along...

"With the perfect blend of humor and heart, Ballis's writing is powerfully honest and genuinely hilarious."--Jen Lancaster

INCLUDES RECIPES

Review Quotes

Praise for Recipe for Disaster

"With lively humor, Ballis pulls together a diverse cast, evocative renovation details, and delicious food descriptions in this well-seasoned novel. Fans of Mary Kay Andrews will enjoy this."--Booklist

"Recipe for Disaster...won me over with its unique heroine--think of Rehab Addict from the HGTV network. Ballis' heroine is a perfect blend of tough and vulnerable as she struggles to straighten out her messy life."--Heroes and Heartbreakers (a Best Read of the Month)

Praise for Out to Lunch

"Ballis delves again into foodie women's lit with flavorful results. Some of the story's pleasure derives from the sheer Pinterest-quality abundance of goods--cookies, cashmere and Chicago restaurants abound. A recipe index is offered for aspiring chefs. But Ballis has real things to say about relationships and grief, and at its best, this book is honest and touching. A cozy meal, with dessert."--Kirkus Reviews

"A unique and satisfying story which slowly gains momentum like a carefully cooked meal."--Booklist

"Heartfelt and hilarious....A deeply satisfying look at food, friendships and the families you create for yourself when you need them most."--Jen Lancaster, author of The Tao of Martha and Here I go Again

"A sparkling, heartwarming novel with all the elements of a can't-put-it-down read--a heroine you'll root for, unexpected plot twists, and dangerously good descriptions of food!"--Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Best of Us

"A funny and heartfelt tale of friendship, food, and how difficult it can be to open yourself up to love, you'll want to devour Out to Lunch in one delicious bite. This is Stacey Ballis at her witty and chef-tastic best."--Amy Hatvany, author of Heart Like Mine and Best Kept Secret

About the Author

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.