Showing results by author "Renee Riva"

When Amy Landers inherits Aunt Polly’s Inn, she has no plans to stay any longer than it takes to sell it. Even though Amy spent her childhood summers with Aunt Polly in cattle country, she’s lived the past 14 years as a refined city girl in Seattle. She has no desire to change, until she sees her childhood playmate Jesse Drake, now a strapping cattle rancher next door. Amy can barely stand the sight of a tumbleweed and refers to Country Western radio as the Book of Job put to music. It will take more than a cowboy in a nice pair of jeans to win this city girl's heart.

In 1948, 21-year-old Shannon Lyons immigrated to America, and was hired as a waitress at The Crater Lake National Park Lodge in Oregon. That same summer, an Italian bus boy, Johnny Marino, is returning for his third summer. It takes some time for Johnny to work up the nerve to ask the beautiful new waitress out on a date. A few dates, hikes, and picnics later, the two are celebrating Shannon's birthday and take a sunset drive to see Phantom Ship Island. Everyone has one summer in their life that stands out above the rest. For Johnny and Shannon, the summer of 1948 was one of those summers.

When Peyton Abercrombie runs away from an arranged betrothal, she is soon discovered by Captain Jackson Lafitte stowing away aboard the Mon Cherisse. "Did you say your last name is Lafitte?" Peyton glanced around the Captain's cabin. "Oh my goodness; a sword, a crew of uncultured men, barrels and barrels of who knows what all…you, Captain, are a pirate! ....I am on a pirate ship!" "I prefer to call it a cargo ship," Jackson replied. "And I'm sorry to inform you that you won't be staying."  

The year is 1968. After spending the first half of summer vacation driving her Italian family crazy with her fake southern accent, 10-year-old A.J. finds a soul mate on the other side of the island to divert her attention. She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same burning desire to know God and realizes that few people her age think as deeply as the two of them do. However, the depth of their newfound faith and friendship is soon tested when Danny's father betrays his wife.

When an early 1900s love story makes its way from revolutionary Russia to a small town in America, a young girl’s life begins to change. Clara Bradley moves from the city to a remote farming town in Eastern Washington—with nothing to offer a young cheerleader but miles of snow-covered wheat fields. She now has no cheer team and nothing to cheer about. But that move brings her an unusual neighbor: an elderly Russian woman who has a love story she is translating into English. Clara’s love of books draws the two together and she becomes immersed in the lives of Nina and Pasha.  

South Carolina, 1908: Scullery maid Lucy Forman has been serving at Worthington House since the day she turned 16. Now, at 19, she is asked to take over the duties of gathering chicken eggs out by the stables. It doesn't take Lucy long to notice there's more to see at the chicken house than just chickens. When stable boy James Parker notices the young redhead in place of Bossy Betty, he suddenly takes a deep interest in repairing loose boards down at the coop.

A delightful romantic comedy! Allie Jaskie, recent fashion school graduate, needs a job. Charlie Braun, editor of Happy Camper Magazine, needs a field reporter. The clock is ticking for an article about summer snow camping on Mount Rainier. Allie is not fond of camping, much less, snow. But she's down to her last can of tomato soup. What's a hungry girl to do?

Farley's Five-and-Dime plops the reader into a fun, folksy, small town setting, with a touch of romance, humor, and sweet southern charm. Set in the small town of Hog Eye Holler, Kentucky, in the 1950 s. Kids, and the young at heart alike, will enjoy meeting 11-year-old Mazie May Farley; a cross between Pippi Longstocking and Caddie Woodlawn. The high spirited, red-headed whirlwind who helps her family run the local Five-and Dime, has her sights on the popular town hunk-a-hunk, Billy Ray Baxter.