Party of One
When widow Annie McGee breaks through grief, she falls flat on her face into loneliness. In a bold move for this private woman, she founds Party of One, a communal table for single diners.
Outside of these weekly gatherings at a small, local restaurant, she has no intention of getting involved in the diverse lives of the people who join her.
Set in her ways and critical, Annie believes she has all the answers she needs for her life and some left over for others.
When confusion and curiosity chip away at her pride, she asks God for a sign, then gets way more than she hopes for. Her self-assurance continues to falter when she realizes the only thing weirder than the quirks of her eclectic tablemates is her fear of losing their company.
- Clarice James is that smart, hilarious, authentic, sometimes ironic friend you always want to be around, and her writing is all that and more. Party of One had me at hello, and I immediately felt I was part of the dinner crowd at Cranberry Fare. It's the kind of book you hate to start because you know, at some point, it will end. Funny. Poignant. Real. And smart--did I mention smart? You'll want to form a book club just to discuss this book. Invite me when you do. We'll have dinner!"LORI STANLEY ROELEVELD, author of Jesus and the Beanstalk: Overcoming Your Giants and Living a Fruitful Life, Red Pen Redemption, and Running from a Crazy Man (and Other Adventures Traveling with Jesus)
- Party of One is a celebration. Of life and love. Humor and heart. Faith, family, and friends. Clarice James serves up authentic, captivating characters I want as friends. I smiled, chuckled, and laughed out loud. And even cheered. RSVP Yes! to this party. You won't regret it.LINDA BROOKS DAVIS, author of The Calling of Ella McFarland and A Christmas to Remember
- Party of One is an inspiring, humorous, heartwarming, and cleverly crafted story of friendship, reinvention, and hope. Brimming with wit and a hilarious cast of enjoyable, unconventional characters, Clarice G. James brings us a fun-filled novel that affirms the ability of God to comfort us in dark times while gently illuminating a new path that will help restore our happiness and lead us closer to Him. One of the few authors who can make me laugh out loud!TORRY MARTIN, actor, screenwriter, comedian, and author of Of Moose and Men.
- "If you're looking for a heartwarming read with the literary power to make you laugh out loud on one page and grow teary-eyed on another, you'll enjoy Party of One by Clarice G. James. The author's sense of humor often kept me in stitches. Yet, she blends those skills with her ability to bring to life the experiences of widowhood, adjusting to spousal loss and the single life again, and the challenges of moving outside one's usual social circles to begin a second chapter in life. The author's descriptions of the many varied characters who people this modern-day novel, paint word pictures that bring the characters and the story to life. I highly recommend this cozy, hopeful, and inspirational tale.MELINDA V. INMAN, author of Fallen and Refuge
- Once again, Clarice James brings together wit, wisdom, and a winning tale in Party of One, a heartwarming story of grief reaching beyond self to bring comfort and joy to a group of lonely and sometimes unlikeable strangers. You'll be tempted to start your own "party of one" after reading this rewarding novel!STEPHANIE PRICHARD, co-author of Stranded and Forgotten