Title: Grocery Girl
Author: Virginia’dele Smith
Genre: Wholesome & Cozy, Small-Town Romance
Book Blurb:
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 to escape to Green Hills today!
The Book Belles (my Green Hills book club) is reading Grocery Girl this month (January 2024). At our monthly meeting, I’ll be unveiling Miss Sadie’s quilt that is described in the novel. We’ll also have a special guest in attendance, so you don’t want to miss it!
My Review:
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.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
Product on my website: https://ashlimontgomery.com/products/grocery-girl
Barnes & Noble:
BookBub:
Goodreads:
Angus & Robertson (AUS): https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/books/grocery-girl-virginiadele-smith/p/9781957036021
Powell’s Paperback: https://www.powells.com/book/book-1-9781957036045
Powell’s Hardcover: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Book-1-by-Smith-Virginiadele/9781957036021
Waterstone’s Paperback: https://www.waterstones.com/book/book-1/virginiadele-smith/9781957036045
Booktopia (AUS) Hardcover: https://www.booktopia.com.au/book-1-virginia-dele-smith/book/9781957036021.html
Books-a-Million Paperback: https://booksamillion.com/p/Book/Virginiadele-Smith/9781957036045
Spotify Audiobook:
Other Audiobook Links:
Author Biography:
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 a community of quilters through Quilt 2 End ALZ, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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.
Get to know Ashli by subscribing to her newsletter, The Gazette, at AshliMontgomery.com
Social Media Links:
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Join my private Facebook Readers’ Group: Welcome to Green Hills
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Reviewed by: Nancy