Showing results by author "Renee Riva" in All Categories

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.

Ana Popesque arrives at Miss Ellwood's boarding house in Pine Glen to find she's boarding with a couple of very chatty housemates. The constant laughter and gossip make it difficult to focus on her violin practice for her upcoming Christmas Symphony. It's not until the other girls leave for Christmas break that Ana is left with the peace quiet of Pine Cottage. But in that silence, she hears beautiful violin music coming from the boarder downstairs.

Sequel to ORPHANS OF ELFINHORNE An enchanting island Charming Tiny People Whimsical Creatures ELFINHORNE

Animal lover, Zoey Pappas leaves the rat race of Seattle to move to the small town of Leavenworth, Washington to open her new grooming salon, Puppy Dooz. Having given up her former dream of acting, she is miffed when her cat, Sofie, is constantly pursued by a theater cat named Valentino. Especially, when his owner, Dawson, runs The Backstage Theater playhouse in town and wants Zoey to audition as his leading lady in the Jane Austen production of Persuasion.

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.

Ellwood Manor, Rose Glen, West Virginia, 1864: Young Lady Adaline's days fluctuate between tea parties in the rose garden at Ellwood Manor, and attending to wounded Union soldiers injured in the Civil War. When the town's hospital, plantation homes, and government buildings, overflow as makeshift hospitals, Adaline's mother, Lady Ellwood, offers Ellwood Manor as a convalescent home to recovering soldiers.

Meet Mazie May Farley. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to live above a 1950s Dime Store as a young girl, look no further. Take a charming waltz down memory lane in this humorous, heart-warming Dime Store Duet: Farley's Five and Dime and Summer of the Carousel.

A humorous memior of a happy childhood, raising pets and living the farm life, embracing all things Good and happy, warm and wonderful, tinsel and bliss, Tiny and True.

Brandy Jo Danner made up her mind in the third grade that someday, she was going to marry Dane Bronson. "Determined" doesn't begin to describe Brandy Jo.... "Sassy" would be more accurate. Dane has wanted to ask Brandy Jo out for the past 14 years, but his shyness has kept him at bay. It appears two people could not be more different. When Dane finally works up the courage to ask her out, his rival, Hank Halverson, gives Dane a run for his money.

Christie Rinkley flies out of rainy Seattle headed for Loreto, Mexico on her honeymoon. The only drawback: she is on a honeymoon for one. When the local adventure hiking guide tries to warn the blonde lady that a monsoon is expected, it is lost in translation. Why worry about a chance of rain when the sky is blue and the sun is shining? Unless that hike is in Mesquite Canyon with two rock walls and a rising creek in the middle. When the winds begin to howl and skies burst, Christie knows she is sunk.

When Liza Braun tries out for the Rainier Theater production of Anne of Green Gables, she has no idea that the assistant director is going to do everything she can to make sure her daughter, Charlotte, is the star of the show. But when Liza wins the lead role, the play is suddenly revised so the character of Diana Berry upstages Anne Shirley in every scene - until Dillon Derry gets the part of Gilbert Blithe and decides two can play that game.

In 1967, nine-year-old AJ wins a trip to Ireland to spend Christmas in a medieval castle. There's only one drawback; she has to bring her big Italian family along. It doesn't take long for AJ to drive her prom-queen sister crazy with her newly acquired Irish accent, or to take revenge on her brother with her Spooky Suzu doll hanging above his bed at night. Hop on the Blarney bus with the Degulio's , a group of tap dancers, and a family of yodelers for a rip roaring ride around Ireland.

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.

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 hates camping. And snow. But she's down to her last can of tomato soup. What's a hungry girl to do? Change her name to Sage Forester and show up for an interview in old camping duds, courtesy of Goodwill.

Neighbors Liza Braun and Dillon Derry began their childhood as enemies - according to Liza. Dillon called it a crush. After winning the Children's Charity Award for their performance in Anne of Green Gables, they toured with Classic Comedies and became best friends. Ten years later: Dillon has finished his tour of duty with the Coast Guard and owns a marina. Liza has finished college...The two friends have one last performance together in The Frog Prince before parting forever. Then Liza's red carpet is pulled out from under her...Liza decides to play summer matchmaker...

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."

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.

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.

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.

Two Theatrical Comedies with best friends, Liza and Dillon, destined to be together.Liza of Green Gables:When Liza Braun tries out for the Rainier Theater Production of Anne of Green Gables, she has no idea that the assistant director is going to do everything she can to make sure her daughter, Charlotte, is the star of the show. But when Liza wins the lead role, the play is suddenly revised so the character of Diana Berry upstages Anne Shirley in every scene---until Dillon Derry gets the part of Gilbert Blithe and decides two can play that game ..... Knowing the kind of pranks Dillon is ...