Books with author Catherine Gruben

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Not remotely preachy' - The Times 'Jaunty, shrewd and convincing' - Sunday Telegraph 'Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying.' - Alice O'Keeffe, Guardian 'Truthful, modern and real' - Stylist 'Brave, witty and brilliantly written' - Marie Claire Ever sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us. 64% of Brits want to drink less. Catherine Gray was stuck in a hellish whirligig of Drink, Make horrible decisions, Hangover, Repeat. She had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures. But this book goes beyond the binges and blackouts to deep-dive into uncharted territory: What happens after you quit drinking? This gripping, heart-breaking and witty book takes us down the rabbit-hole of an alternative reality. A life with zero hangovers, through sober weddings, sex, Christmases and breakups. In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray shines a light on society's drink-pushing and talks to top neuroscientists and psychologists about why we drink, delving into the science behind what it does to our brains and bodies. Much more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking, this book is about the escape, and why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you're a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely sober-curious, or you've already ditched the drink, you will love this book. 'Haunting, admirable and enlightening' - The Pool 'A riveting, raw, yet humorous memoir with actionable advice.' - Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind 'Like listening to your best friend teach you to be sober. Lighthearted but serious, it's packed with ideas, tools, tips and, most importantly, reasons for living a sober life.'- Eric Zimmer, host of podcast The One You Feed 'Gray's fizzy writing succeeds in making this potentially boring-as-hell subject both engaging and highly seductive' - The Bookseller 'Her exquisitely crafted thoughts on the joys of being sober are not only deeply honest and pragmatic, but she manages to infuse tons of humor. This is a delightful, informative, and compelling read for all those who are sober or seeking sobriety.' - Sasha Tozzi, Huffington Post

“We need to talk,” Tal said. Then I knew it was going to go badly. ‘We need to talk’ is the conversational equivalent of walking into your basement without turning on the light, on a dark and stormy night, when a known psychopath is on the loose. You might as well cut to the chase and slit your own throat.Chloe Diaz assumed three things: that when Tal said that she was one of The People sent from heaven to maintain the cosmic balance, it was code for ‘I’m a pamphlet distributing, incense burning, religious weirdo;’ that the gorgeous Seth Wilks would never be her soul mate and that she’d never have to choose between them. Chloe was wrong. Now the future of the world is in her hands, but what if the price is too great to pay?Find Chloe and Seth on facebook (they’ll respond to your posts), read deleted scenes and hear Seth’s latest song at lifeinthepalacesaga.com To Call Your Name- Book 2 of the Palace Saga available now.Warning- The Palace Saga is a series about people who choose to leave the secular world and dedicate themselves to a higher power (aka live a life of faith.) It is not necessarily written for religious people. If the occasional swear word, allusion to pre-marital sex or double-entendre involving mashed potatoes is outside your comfort zone, then this is not the series for you. (Although, feel free to read it anyway and then leave a one star review bemoaning the level of realism.)In other words, this is the book you want to buy your teenager when you say no to that keg party, not the book you give your pre-teen to read between prayer meetings.

Simeon Lee has spent his life keeping America free from terror. Which makes the discovery of a band of hooded murderers sparking fear from coast to coast a very unpalatable shock. Someone is trying to change America from the ground up, and whoever they are has no qualms about murdering the weak in their way. But as he takes hold of faith and leaps out into the fight again, Simeon begins to suspect God might have an ulterior motive in driving him back to work. Happiness, the elusive sweetness in life the old spy has long given up hope of finding, could be waiting for him in the smile of an unexpected young man.

Underneath the French A15 Interstate, where it towers over the river Seine, sits a warehouse. It is particularly uninteresting, just a gray rectangle, like an overgrown cinderblock. But to a team of American spies it is extremely interesting; it’s the building Simeon Lee picked to unmask a terrorist of an unusual sort. Simeon’s best friend is in trouble, framed for terrorist activity by someone calling themselves ‘Solitaire,’ and that’s not something the Parabaloni are willing to overlook. At that singularly ugly warehouse the four spies must bring together Gigan’s family of Parisian smugglers, all the law-enforcement they can pack into three rooms, a crowd of Islamic terrorist, one crooked inventor, and this unexplained Solitaire. But once there, will Simeon manage to draw a confession out, or will Solitaire end the night by his favorite method of igniting TNT, and blow them all straight to minuscule pieces?

Yaspur the Hard, Grand High Pumba of the Rocks, has overthrown the world. He rules behind a puppet king who usurped the throne twelve long years ago, murdering the entire royal family. Or did he? Astor Meagan, the last surviving knight, knows Yaspur is looking for something. Could it be a bigger secret than anyone has ever guessed? A chance to right the kingdom and restore a world is handed to Astor Meagan and his knife-wielding daughter. But never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined a dirty, peace-spouting, vegetarian farmer would become the pivotal point in the vast game of politics and intrigue happening on their planet’s surface. Translated from original language by Arthur A. Simpson, and here follows his description of the second volume: "Since you have read A Son Rises, you already know about Charlie’s interesting past, and Corinth’s cooking and dagger skills, and Meagan’s determination to get the true king back in place and upset the nasty plans of Yaspur, Grand High Pumba of the Rocks. Very good. Now in this volume, Charlem Hartsom is born; you have only sort of met him, and I find him quite an interesting fellow, whom I think you will enjoy learning about. Though not all of this second book is an enjoyable tale, the death of Charlie Biggton is a bit difficult to swallow, and…but I think I’m telling too much. I had better shut up and let you get on with reading. After all, Charlie and the Meagans are better story-tellers than I am. Go read their account, made possible by my brilliant translations into English."

Yaspur the Hard, Grand High Pumba of the Rocks, has overthrown the world. He rules behind a puppet king who usurped the throne twelve long years ago, murdering the entire royal family. Or did he? Astor Meagan, the last surviving knight, knows Yaspur is looking for something. Could it be a bigger secret than anyone has ever guessed? A chance to right the kingdom and restore a world is handed to Astor Meagan and his knife-wielding daughter. But never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined a dirty, peace-spouting, vegetarian farmer would become the pivotal point in the vast game of politics and intrigue happening on their planet’s surface. Translated by Arthur A. Simpson. Here follows his original description of this volume: There are some stories that are hard to explain, especially when they are told by several people. It is difficult to condense Charlie Biggton’s changes in life (from a small-time dreadlocked farmer, to a homeless wander, and then…well, and then to a place he never wanted) into just a few words. It is even harder to explain Corinth Meagan’s experiences, watching the weak vegetarian farmer becoming a Christian leader. I suppose the only one that is fairly easy to explain is Astor Meagan’s business in the matter. As a practical missionary soldier, his job is keeping Corinth and Charlie alive and their eyes focused on God’s goals as they find themselves racing for their lives across the world. Not our world, you understand, but the planet somewhere off in our wide universe where these texts were written. How they fell into my hands is, of course, another story.

Assassins on the move again.The Dreaded King ousted from his throne.Questing with a screaming baby. You would assume a king forced from his throne and in hiding among the lowest dregs of his people would be decidedly depressed about it all. The Dreaded King, however, is delighted with the opportunity to escape his political duties for a time. Corinth is nearly as excited at the prospect as her husband but, what with the wailing going on every night, she is a little too worn from sleeplessness to notice. Thankfully Arvi and Turner are along to protect the exiled king, and help with Aston Hartsom, the heir to the throne, high prince, and the joy and torment of his royal parents. One thing is evident as they settle in the ancient old house on the edge of slums; the new prince has a good pair of lungs. But as the days come and go, the pleasant life in the Old Mereson Place is rudely cut short. Unpleasant plots begin to press in on the Hartsoms and their two companions. The unknown mastermind behind the king’s near murder, and his present dangerous position, is still on the move. A new danger raises its monstrous head, threatening the entire kingdom. And only the Dreaded King is equipped to combat it…with a bit of help from his clever wife and the ill-matched duo of Arvi and Turner.

A single week in the life of Peter Aziz finds him sold out by his team, captured by Islamic terrorists, shot at by camel herders in the Empty Quarter, nearly drowned in a Yemen river, almost blown to bits while rescuing a king, and shot out of the sky while wearing a pteranodon-styled flight suit. This world can be a surprising place. But when new friendships begin to form, for Peter Aziz life's surprises begin to switch to the good kind instead of the nightmares it’s been for the past year.

A call comes in after a long weekend, and sends Simeon and Vincent hurtling toward Ireland to stop thousands of men, women and children from being blown to bits. The lies are so thick even the Parabaloni struggle to find the perpetrators before the situation erupts. But just when Vincent and Simeon think they are on the right track they find themselves in a room full of high explosives, and feel the barrel of an AK47 in their backs… One thing is certain: what these friends believe shapes how they will act in the situation. But will the action be enough to keep this from being the final chapter in their adventures?

A peaceful holiday season never lasts when your job description is expert trouble-shooting spy. But at least Antarctica poses a pretty landscape for an approaching Christmas, and anywhere can be home if you have a heated house-plane, friends near, and Christ’s joy in your heart. Until your heated plane is shot down in frigid water, and you find yourself stranded in an ice cave with one of your team members half dead and the group of killers who shot you down only a mile’s easy march from you. But on the bright side, the short distance from well-supplied enemies is nice for raiding purposes. And there’s nothing better on a cold night than a game of riddles, and this situation poses a doozy; what’s the link between slaughtered penguins, famous pieces of art, a drilling site, arid outer space, a 1st century band of Christian brethren, and a group of mismatched American spies?

Simeon Lee has retired from all spy work, he realized he was getting to old two years ago and shifted to filing paperwork. Boring, steady job, near a good church, that's what he chose and what he wanted. So how does he come to be chasing a terrorist assassin into Washington when he was supposed to be having a quiet conversation with a church friend? As the night goes on, Simeon finds himself confronted by a strange set of circumstances that awaken his dangerous curiosity, and make him wonder if his America is as safe as he had assumed. But there is one question put to Simeon Lee that he realizes must have an answer that night; can an old spy serve God best by going back to work?

Impish faeries, evil pirates, and chivalrous hearts, tossed together on the high seas!A wager among faeries never bodes well for humanity. Mattrinka Grovyer knows it, yet he finds himself stuck in the midst of faery squabbles. Matt is sure there's a better way to get spices for their cookery than capturing the ten most dangerous pirates alive. But once chosen by a faery, there’s not much a man can do about it. Will Matt manage to win Durgum’s bet, rid the seas of pirates, open the way for spices inland, and still keep from being turned into a newt?