Showing results by author "Virginia Smith" in All Categories

Excitement is in the air in Goose Creek, Kentucky, as the small town prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary and the veterinarian's upcoming wedding. But trouble is brewing in this provincial paradise. Al Richardson agreed to open a B&B with his wife after his retirement in two years, but Millie secretly invites some guests to stay for the wedding. She plans to be the most gracious Southern hostess - until a tumble down the stairs leaves her unprepared for their quirky and cantankerous first guest.

Things are finally starting to fall into a steady rhythm in the small town of Goose Creek, Kentucky. Millie Richardson is hard at work renovating a drafty Victorian house into a B&B. Her husband, Al, is busy writing checks for the renovations. And the new vet, Susan, has finally found acceptance from the town -- not to mention a hunky new boyfriend, Justin.

Even though retirement is still three years away, Al Richardson is counting the days. He anticipates many enjoyable years in which every day feels like Saturday. But Al's wife, Millie, has different plans for their retirement. When she learns that a Victorian-era home is up for sale, Millie launches a full-blown campaign to convince Al that god's plan for them is to turn that house into a B&B. But a B&B won't be the only change for the small Kentucky town.

When purple-haired Mayla Strong slumps into the back pew of her mother's church, she has only one goal - to get Mama off her back. But Pastor Paul's message pierces her soul, and before she knows, it she's strutting down the aisle in front of the bug-eyed congregation, lip stud and all. Baptized on the spot, Mayla comes out of the water knowing one thing for certain: Life will never be the same

The daughter of a pagan priestess believes Noah's prophecy - especially when she discovers the horrifying secret behind her city's primary export. Belief in the One God is dangerous in Cainlan, a city founded on the worship of the god Cain. But when Eliana meets the son of a religious fanatic she is drawn to Shem's caring manner and deep faith. She believes his assertion that the One God will wipe the earth clean of the corruption that fills it.

Come sit on the porch a spell. Let's talk about times gone by and folks we remember, about slow summer evenings and lightning bugs in a jar. Listen to the music of a creaky swing and hand-cranked ice cream and cicadas chorusing in the sultry night air. Let's talk about how things used to be in the South - and for some of us, they way they still are. Welcome to the world of Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes, where award winning authors Deborah Smith, Sandra Chastain, Virginia Ellis, Debra Dixon, Donna Ball and Nancy Knight come together for the first time to create this poignant, humorous collection of nostalgic tales.

Attending a stranger’s memorial service wasn’t at the top of Kelli Jackson’s to-do list. Especially when that stranger was her own mother. To receive her inheritance Kelli must abide by the conditions of her late mother’s will. She is forced work as a zookeeper for six months with animals that terrify her. Since she needs to money to help support her aging grandmother, she must figure out a way to balance her career as a tax accountant with this new - thankfully temporary - assignment.

Max Davenport craves a break from the press. Constantly on the run from paparazzi and over-enthusiastic women, the football star takes to the small town of Green Hills to embrace a simpler lifestyle with his sister. But his pulse unexpectedly quickens when he discovers his sibling’s usually frumpy-dressed friend swimming in his backyard pool…opening his eyes to her breathtaking beauty.

Blake Fisher won’t let anyone destroy the life she’s built. So when a silver-spoon-in-his-mouth snob refuses to listen to her proposed deal, the hardworking real estate agent sneaks her way onto his land to demand a face-to-face meeting. But while she hits it off with his rambunctious trio of brothers, she’s determined not to yield an inch to her onetime crush…even after they share a bone-melting kiss.

Discovering the simple pleasure of having someone to share the load, Landry grapples with uncertainty when she is called to New York City to respond to a medical crisis. And though Davis is unsure where their relationship stands in her absence, even the start of a global pandemic can’t dim his dreams of sliding a ring onto her finger.

M’Kenzee Davenport knows love doesn’t last. So despite marrying her high school crush on a whim in Vegas, the gritty photojournalist never believed the union was real. But when her husband-in-name-only goes missing on a mission for the FBI, she’s stunned to receive his effects as next-of-kin.