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Virginia'dele Smith
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Book 1: Grocery Girl (Green Hills) Kindle Edition

by Virginia'dele Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 346 ratings
She inhales life with every breath. He’s suffered a world of pain. Can they rise above tragedy to find their happily ever after?

Maree Davenport refuses to let a tearful past rule her future. After losing her parents at the age of five, the big-hearted fabric designer is determined to embrace her feelings and find happiness no matter what. So when she literally runs over a handsome new firefighter in the produce section, the hopeless romantic is certain she’s just collided with destiny.

Everyone Rhys Larsen ever loved has died. And though he may have hit it off with the pretty girl at the store, the haunted EMT knows better than to let her into his heart. But when an accident leaves her wounded and in need of care, he vows to nurse her back to health.

As Maree struggles to break through the grieving man’s walls, she fears his deep-seated superhero complex will make him unreachable. And as Rhys grapples with trying to protect the beautiful woman from his curse, he worries he’ll have to choose between doing the right thing and true love.

Can this conflicted couple reconcile their opposite takes on adversity and find purpose in each other’s arms?

Grocery Girl is the touching first book in the Green Hills wholesome small-town romance series. If you like strong but vulnerable characters, emotional growth, and quaint backdrops, then you’ll adore Virginia'dele Smith’s celebration of joy.

Buy Grocery Girl and escape to Green Hills today!

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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Green Hills
  2. Print length
    256 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 30, 2021
  5. File size
    3.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Green Hills Series Book 1: Grocery Girl - wholesome fireman and quilter romance
She inhales life with every breath. He's suffered a world of pain. Can they find the space for love?

Green Hills Book 1: Grocery Girl - heartfelt small town romance - love after loss

Green Hills Book 2: In the Trenches - wholesome football romance with intrigue

Green Hills Book 3: Three Times to Make Sure - big bother's best friend romance - military MIA love

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This small-town story between a competent woman and an emotionally wounded newcomer will comfort fans of clean romances." - BookLife

"A thoroughly enjoyable romance populated with
broken and utterly endearing characters. Very
enjoyable!" - The Wishing Shelf

"A sweet and simple romance, perfect to curl up with on a weekend with some hot chocolate and a cosy blanket." - Reedsy Discovery

"When you're reading, you travel in time and space, but most importantly, you travel inside your mind, inside characters' emotion, inside author's head and heart. It is a voyage of discovery, whether you're reading some crime mystery or romance or anything. As a reader, you are going somewhere in a more intimate contact than you have with any other being on the planet. Movies, TV or anything cannot take you as deep into the essence of feeling and emotion as reading does. And no matter whatever the genre you're reading, if it's well written, the book speaks to the reader. Grocery Girl by Virginia'dele Smith does the same.

Maree Davenport lost her parents when she was only five. Despite all the hardship she faced at very young age, she will not let her future be dictated by a tearful past. Determination to find happiness despite her circumstances drives her every day. When she first saw the handsome new firefighter Rhys Larsen at store, she believed that They were just fated to be together.

Rhys Larsen's entire past is dotted with tragic deaths. Despite feeling a connection with the pretty girl at the store, the haunted EMT knows better than to be taken in by her. However, when an accident leaves her injured and needing treatment, he vows to take care of her.

Rhys falls hopelessly in love with young, beautiful, charming, highly intelligent yet distant Maree. Her beauty, her charm draw him in like a siren's call.

While Maree struggles to break through the walls of his heart, Rhys struggles with his desire to protect the beautiful woman from his curse of losing everyone he loves. They are both damaged, lost, and guarded until they find one another on this emotional journey of love. Buckle up for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together by the end.

This book, Grocery Girl, is sweet, touching, oozing charm, full of wonderful, likable characters, and has a surprising amount of emotional depth and insight about love, loss and the tendency of people to put their hopes in things that may or may not always be as real as they think. It's not just about finding the person who makes your heart race or swoon but it's also about learning about who you are, what is actually important and what makes you tick. It's peppered with a little humour and there's a dash of sadness. The setting of Green Hills is gorgeous and used very effectively in the storytelling!!

The writing is beautiful imbued with the rich language that arrest the reader's heart. Virginia'dele Smith tells her story not in so many words but through the description of thoughts and conduct of her characters. The theme of love is expounded on the thoughts and conduct of Maree and Rhys. With a slowly and deliciously unravelling story, author gradually introduces lives and issues of characters.

Virginia'dele Smith, knows how to write emotion - gritty, sad, heart achingly moving emotion. This was an unforgettable reading experience. The author weaves a mixture of light and dark, love and hate, pain and joy, past and future, Suffering and healing. All put together in a gorgeously written, relatively short book. In Grocery Girl, Virginia'dele Smith captured both the thrill and fumbling perfection of first love - the awkwardness, curiosity, desire, hope. Highly recommended." - The Bookish Elf

From the Author

Welcome to Green Hills, a fictitious small town that could exist just off the Indian Nation Turnpike in southeast Oklahoma.

Hidden among lush green trees, Green Hills has mystical qualities of unity and encouragement. The community is designed and depicted how I wish the world would be: uplifting, supportive, helpful, and kind. There are all types of people in Green Hills, with all types of backgrounds and careers, and I look forward to sharing each of their stories for as long as the words keep flowing.

We are often advised to "write what you know," so while I have a healthy, overactive, and dramatic imagination, I expect the fine folks of Green Hills will love many of the jobs and hobbies that I love: quilting, sewing, reading, writing, cooking, baking, book stores, libraries, tea rooms, hair salons, dress shops, boutiques, antique malls, crafts, fabric shops, home decor, architecture, real estate, teaching, and singing. There will be a lot of football, and other sports like baseball, dance, and yoga. There will be doctors and nurses, firefighters and EMTs. There will be police and mayors and civil servants.

There will be tragedy and loss. There will be challenges and struggles. There will be a theme of facing Alzheimer's disease and the fight to end it.

There will be love — heartfelt and wholesome love, sweet love, deep and emotional love. Lots and lots of love!

I'm so glad you are here to visit, and I hope you will return often...

With love and hugs,
Ashli Montgomery, writing as Virginia'dele Smith

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09KQDK8D8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Books are Ubiquitous, LLC (October 30, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 30, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 346 ratings

About the author

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Virginia'dele Smith

Virginia'dele Smith

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

** Special Edition Autographed Hardcovers with Dust Jacket Available at AshliMontgomery.com **

Ashli Montgomery is a wife, a momma, and an author whose passion is sharing love stories, books, quilts, yoga, recipes, and all of her favorite things in life. She is quilting to mend the mind by spearheading and educating a community of friends who love quilts and quilting but hate Alzheimer’s disease through Quilt 2 End ALZ, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit she launched to use her quilting hobby as a platform to advocate for an end to Alzheimer's disease.

Ashli writes under the pen name Virginia’dele Smith to honor Syble Virginia Tidwell, Adele Gertrude Baylin, and Etta Jean Smith. These three cherished grandmothers were beautiful role models, teaching Ashli to love without judgment and to always put family first. Through Grandma Syble’s journals and appetite for books, through Momadele’s priceless cards and handwritten letters, and through many, many hours of visiting over fabric at Mema’s kitchen island, Ashli also learned to treasure words.

To learn more about Virginia’dele Smith and the Green Hills series of wholesome, small-town romance stories, visit AshliMontgomery.com — while exploring her site, sign up to receive an invitation to join her exclusive online community, Welcome to Green Hills.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
346 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a sweet and inspiring story with amazing characters, and one customer notes it has developing plot elements that keep readers engaged. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its readability and realistic pacing. Additionally, customers appreciate the emotional content, with one describing it as cathartic, and another noting how it provides insight into relationship complexities.

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Select to learn more

17 customers mention "Story quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, describing it as a sweet and inspiring narrative with multiple layers of people's journeys, and one customer notes how it keeps readers engaged with its developing plot.

"...This is an unusual romance novel for me to enjoy because it goes into a lot of backstory and has almost a sepia feel to it, if that makes any sense..." Read more

"This is a great book that keeps interest in two lives struggling with overcoming traumatic events in their lives and the pain of loss, as sell as..." Read more

"...Everything a good story needs. PS I would like to see the story continue and find out what the became of the arsonist or fire bug." Read more

"Loved this book! The characters were so lovable and relatable, I was cheering them on, and had to keep reading to find what happened next...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"Loved this book! The characters were so lovable and relatable, I was cheering them on, and had to keep reading to find what happened next...." Read more

"...Good, clean romance..and a great description of the characters. The author made me care about them." Read more

"I really enjoyed the characters in this book, even though it was hard to re-live my own car accident trauma as I read along. It felt cathartic!..." Read more

"I love the depth of these characters, the details in the descriptions and the interactions...." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be an amazing read.

"This is a great book that keeps interest in two lives struggling with overcoming traumatic events in their lives and the pain of loss, as sell as..." Read more

"Loved this book! The characters were so lovable and relatable, I was cheering them on, and had to keep reading to find what happened next...." Read more

"...Girl: Green Hills Book 1 is not a quick read, but well worth the time it takes to read." Read more

"This book has been such a delightful read. The author is an excellent storyteller and the characters are amazing. I highly recommend it!" Read more

3 customers mention "Feel of content"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's feel, with one noting its sepia tone and another describing it as cathartic.

"...to enjoy because it goes into a lot of backstory and has almost a sepia feel to it, if that makes any sense :)..." Read more

"...It felt cathartic! And I love the setting…I can’t wait to see which characters are next!" Read more

"...so enjoyed following the twists and turns but most of all the bok made me feel good." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting it feels very real and another mentioning they love the setting.

"...novels that I read but I honestly didn’t notice because it all felt very natural and necessary to the story...." Read more

"...It felt cathartic! And I love the setting…I can’t wait to see which characters are next!" Read more

"Inspiring but not all roses. It is so real life like. I loved Grocery Girl so much I stayed up until 3am because I wanted to know what came next...." Read more

3 customers mention "Relationship complexity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the relationship complexity in the book, with one customer noting how it helps understand why relationships are so complicated, while another mentions the acceptance of each other's love.

"...events in their lives and the pain of loss, as sell as acceptance of each other's love and need for self forgiveness...." Read more

"...away by the depths of love, fear, trust and understanding of why relationships are so complicated that Virginia’dela Smith is skillfully able to..." Read more

"...depth of these characters, the details in the descriptions and the interactions...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Cassandra Christian
    5.0 out of 5 stars So, so lovely
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I fell in love with this book within a few minutes of opening it up. This is an unusual romance novel for me to enjoy because it goes into a lot of backstory and has almost a sepia feel to it, if that makes any sense :) this book is longer than a lot of romance novels that I read but I honestly didn’t notice because it all felt very natural and necessary to the story. Maree was sweet but strong, and Rhys had a lot to overcome to be ready for this love, but they both made you root for them and want them to find their way. There was a lot of electricity between the two characters without needing any sex scenes or inappropriate language. I felt myself swooning so many times :) I loved this book and will be waiting impatiently for the sequel!!!
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • BeeHouse7
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good read!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book that keeps interest in two lives struggling with overcoming traumatic events in their lives and the pain of loss, as sell as acceptance of each other's love and need for self forgiveness.

    I recommend this book to teens and any age adult.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • RuthMary
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love That Is for Real.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is my kind of story. Two people to be one couple. To make declarations of love to each other. To confide their pasts and their hopes for the future. The author gave us their world, their friends and neighbors, the world with food and homes, their furnishings and clothing. Everything a good story needs.
    PS I would like to see the story continue and find out what the became of the arsonist or fire bug.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Grammy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Blah
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It was a blah book for me. I struggled to finish it. I could have done without the curse words! That alone turned me off.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Meesh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Addicting! I couldn’t stop until the end!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book! The characters were so lovable and relatable, I was cheering them on, and had to keep reading to find what happened next. It’s way past bedtime, but I just had to finish it!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, compelling romance
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The first couple of chapters were a little slow...but keep reading! The pacing increased and I could hardly put this book down! I love the fact that the writer included quotes from the Bible. Good, clean romance..and a great description of the characters. The author made me care about them.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • deborah knisley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Don’t assign yourself credit for something you can’t control!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is an inspiring story of a young man devastated by the loss of his twin brothers in a fire. And subsequently his parents died of “broken hearts”, he’s assigned himself as responsible for not saving them and therefore a curse to those he loves. Quite a lot of credit for something completely out of his control. Along comes Maree, she’s also suffered the loss of her parents, but she’s upbeat, happy friendly to everyone. She finds ways to honor her parents, with her life. They fall in love, but his demons keep him committing to her. He backs away every time they start to get close. The struggle for both of them is heartbreaking and inspiring, as they work on him releasing his demons and accepting that he doesn’t want to live without her.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Brynn Oly
    5.0 out of 5 stars definitely keeping an eye out for more!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed the characters in this book, even though it was hard to re-live my own car accident trauma as I read along. It felt cathartic! And I love the setting…I can’t wait to see which characters are next!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Koodie's Mum
    5.0 out of 5 stars A "clean" Romance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    One thing I have to admit I really enjoyed was the first paragraph of each chapter.
    Obviously researched in depth by the author as each quote had a direct link to the following chapter's story.
    The story itself is beautifully written and enables you to lose yourself and become involved with the main characters.
    The ups and downs that their relationship takes you through is clearly explained, leaving no doubts as to the authenticity of their feelings for each other. Which makes you want to back them even more and not wanting to give Rhys a hard clip to the back of his head .
    It's another book I couldn't put down and read in one sitting.
    So good, I immediately went to Kindle to buy book 2, only to discover that it's not there!
    SO DISAPPOINTED!
    Will have to just wait and see now 😒.
    Report
  • N. N. Light
    5.0 out of 5 stars Grocery Girl is truly unputdownable
    Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Can two people lost in a sea of anguish find the strength to love each other without fear? Grocery Girl is a heart wrenching tale of loss and love in a cozy small town. The characters will touch you deeply as will their pain. The emotional narration is gut-wrenching and will wreck you, in the best possible way. Once I started reading, I got sucked into the story. Grocery Girl is truly unputdownable.

    Let’s start with the characters. Maree is a sweet heroine who dealt with crushing emotional pain. After her parents die, she’s all alone. But she’s determined to not let her sorrow dictate her future. Then, in the grocery store, she meets handsome Rhys. She thinks it’s destiny but she’s not sure she can break down the walls around his heart. They are opposites when it comes to pain and losing loved ones. Can they overcome to be together? This paradox drives the characters. I found it to be inspiring while reading. As someone who’s dealt with extreme pain and loss, I empathize.

    The descriptive narration is flawless and allows the reader to experience everything. Every detail is poignantly described with emotional nuances and subtext.

    The romance is very slow-burn with small-town charm. The meet cute is adorable. The pacing of the romance is slow but realistic. Rhys has a lot of issues to work through. When the ending came, I was an emotional mess. I had a book hangover for days.

    If you’re looking for a slow-burn, emotional, small-town romance, pick up this gem.
    Report
  • Mitul
    5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet, touching book with full of wonderful, likable characters
    Reviewed in India on December 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    When you're reading, you travel in time and space, but most importantly, you travel inside your mind, inside characters' emotion, inside author's head and heart. It is a voyage of discovery, whether you're reading some crime mystery or romance or anything. As a reader, you are going somewhere in a more intimate contact than you have with any other being on the planet. Movies, TV or anything cannot take you as deep into the essence of feeling and emotion as reading does. And no matter whatever the genre you're reading, if it's well written, the book speaks to the reader. Grocery Girl by Virginia'dele Smith does the same.

    Maree Davenport lost her parents when she was only five. Despite all the hardship she faced at very young age, she will not let her future be dictated by a tearful past. Determination to find happiness despite her circumstances drives her every day. When she first saw the handsome new firefighter Rhys Larsen at store, she believed that They were just fated to be together.

    Rhys Larsen's entire past is dotted with tragic deaths. Despite feeling a connection with the pretty girl at the store, the haunted EMT knows better than to be taken in by her. However, when an accident leaves her injured and needing treatment, he vows to take care of her.
    Rhys falls hopelessly in love with young, beautiful, charming, highly intelligent yet distant Maree. Her beauty, her charm draw him in like a siren's call.

    While Maree struggles to break through the walls of his heart, Rhys struggles with his desire to protect the beautiful woman from his curse of losing everyone he loves. They are both damaged, lost, and guarded until they find one another on this emotional journey of love. Buckle up for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together by the end.

    This book, Grocery Girl, is sweet, touching, oozing charm, full of wonderful, likable characters, and has a surprising amount of emotional depth and insight about love, loss and the tendency of people to put their hopes in things that may or may not always be as real as they think. It’s not just about finding the person who makes your heart race or swoon but it’s also about learning about who you are, what is actually important and what makes you tick. It’s peppered with a little humour and there’s a dash of sadness. The setting of Green Hills is gorgeous and used very effectively in the storytelling!!

    The writing is beautiful imbued with the rich language that arrest the reader's heart. Virginia'dele Smith tells her story not in so many words but through the description of thoughts and conduct of her characters. The theme of love is expounded on the thoughts and conduct of Maree and Rhys. With a slowly and deliciously unravelling story, author gradually introduces lives and issues of characters.

    Virginia'dele Smith, knows how to write emotion - gritty, sad, heart achingly moving emotion. This was an unforgettable reading experience. The author weaves a mixture of light and dark, love and hate, pain and joy, past and future, Suffering and healing. All put together in a gorgeously written, relatively short book. In Grocery Girl, Virginia'dele Smith captured both the thrill and fumbling perfection of first love – the awkwardness, curiosity, desire, hope. Highly recommended.
    Report
  • Krupa C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beutiful story
    Reviewed in India on May 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Rhys is a firefighter with a troubled past that keeps him from loving wholeheartedly, because he believes that whoever he loves dies, and maybe he's carrying a curse in that case.

    Maree thinks all that is BS and that Rhys and her have a great future ahead if he can overcome his demons.

    Maree and several others provide the delicate support and words of wisdom to help Rhys deal with the trauma of the past.

    The story is beautifully written, with several passages worth highlighting.

    The story includes a possible arsonist but that thread finds no closure in this book. I wish it had.

    I will keep the book in my Kindle library and revisit it in the future. And will read the next one that involves Maree's brother and Maree's quiet and secretive friend Janie Lynn.
    Report
  • A Wai
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming romance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Such a captivating story, I was immediately drawn in by Maree's heartfelt journey. Loved the small-town setting and relatable characters that came to life on the page. I can't wait to read the next book in the Green Hills series!
    Report

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