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Dime Store Duet
Two delightful coming-of-age stories in Small Town America.
FARLEY'S FIVE AND DIME
A Charming Waltz Down memory Lane
“It was just me and Daddy and Sammy that made up our family after Mama went to heaven in 1956. I was only nine years old when she left us. I remember thinking she must have been needed pretty bad up there, ‘cause I sure needed her down here, but heaven got her anyway.
The three of us ran the dimestore winter, spring, summer, and fall, without any outside help. We lived right above the store with a slide that landed us in the backroom, so we could look forward to going to work everyday. Summers were my favorite time of all and got a little crazy at times—but a good kind of crazy—‘cause when it got real busy, I got to work the soda fountain counter. The best part about that was getting to know everybody’s business, and believe me, there was a lot of business to know in Hog Eye Holler. “
There is something special about one’s first crush, and first waltz at the innocent age of twelve, especially in a small Southern town in the 1950’s. Farley’s Five and Dime is all of that, and more~
SUMMER OF THE CAROUSEL
A charming time in a charming town~
“Me and Nellie watch to see who won Miss Hog Eye Holler this year. You don’t find out who won ‘til she comes floating down Lavender Lane on her royal float, waving and chucking candy at everyone. “How long ago was it that you won Miss Hog Eye Holler, Nellie?” I ask her.
Nellie shakes her head and laughs. “Too many moons ago to count!” she answers. Nellie is still pretty as can be so it couldn’t have been that long ago. Just as we are talking about it, who should come around the bend but Miss Sandra Jane Jacobs in her long lavender sequin gown and purple high heels on top of her pink and purple floral float. Sandra Jane is the older sister of Emma Jean, who is the girlfriend of Billy Ray Baxter, who is the hunk of Hog Eye Holler. So I’m just a tinge bit jealous that Emma Jean gets to ride up there on that float with her beauty queen sister. “I sure would like to ride on that float myself someday,” I told Nellie, “but only if I can wear my over-alls instead of that skimpy long dress and high heels. I would trip for sure in those tall shoes right off the side of that float, trying to wave and throw candy at same time. I’d bust my front teeth right out, and then I’d look just awful for the newspaper photo.” This is what I say so when the time comes for me to lose the Miss Hog Eye Holler contest, I won’t feel quite so bad.
Nellie smiles. “Oh, you still got a few years yet to practice.”
~ A summer like this comes along only once a lifetime~
FARLEY'S FIVE AND DIME
A Charming Waltz Down memory Lane
“It was just me and Daddy and Sammy that made up our family after Mama went to heaven in 1956. I was only nine years old when she left us. I remember thinking she must have been needed pretty bad up there, ‘cause I sure needed her down here, but heaven got her anyway.
The three of us ran the dimestore winter, spring, summer, and fall, without any outside help. We lived right above the store with a slide that landed us in the backroom, so we could look forward to going to work everyday. Summers were my favorite time of all and got a little crazy at times—but a good kind of crazy—‘cause when it got real busy, I got to work the soda fountain counter. The best part about that was getting to know everybody’s business, and believe me, there was a lot of business to know in Hog Eye Holler. “
There is something special about one’s first crush, and first waltz at the innocent age of twelve, especially in a small Southern town in the 1950’s. Farley’s Five and Dime is all of that, and more~
SUMMER OF THE CAROUSEL
A charming time in a charming town~
“Me and Nellie watch to see who won Miss Hog Eye Holler this year. You don’t find out who won ‘til she comes floating down Lavender Lane on her royal float, waving and chucking candy at everyone. “How long ago was it that you won Miss Hog Eye Holler, Nellie?” I ask her.
Nellie shakes her head and laughs. “Too many moons ago to count!” she answers. Nellie is still pretty as can be so it couldn’t have been that long ago. Just as we are talking about it, who should come around the bend but Miss Sandra Jane Jacobs in her long lavender sequin gown and purple high heels on top of her pink and purple floral float. Sandra Jane is the older sister of Emma Jean, who is the girlfriend of Billy Ray Baxter, who is the hunk of Hog Eye Holler. So I’m just a tinge bit jealous that Emma Jean gets to ride up there on that float with her beauty queen sister. “I sure would like to ride on that float myself someday,” I told Nellie, “but only if I can wear my over-alls instead of that skimpy long dress and high heels. I would trip for sure in those tall shoes right off the side of that float, trying to wave and throw candy at same time. I’d bust my front teeth right out, and then I’d look just awful for the newspaper photo.” This is what I say so when the time comes for me to lose the Miss Hog Eye Holler contest, I won’t feel quite so bad.
Nellie smiles. “Oh, you still got a few years yet to practice.”
~ A summer like this comes along only once a lifetime~
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2018
About the author
Renee Riva
98 books90 followersRenee Riva has been writing humorous stories ever since she won her first writing contest in second grade. She now has over 20 titles and writes inspirational fiction for David C. Cook, and clean romance for Forget Me Not Romances. Her main categories are: coming of age, YA, romantic comedies, Historical Romance, chapter books and children's picture books.
Renee's ideas come from a happy childhood that she shared with 6 fun, loud Italians, and wouldn't trade those years or her siblings for anything in the world.
She is currently having her books narrated into audio-books for audio listeners.
Renee is a mom, a wife, an animal lover, and a kid at heart. She loves to hear from her readers and tries to answer all of her letters so drop me a line if you like!
Renee's ideas come from a happy childhood that she shared with 6 fun, loud Italians, and wouldn't trade those years or her siblings for anything in the world.
She is currently having her books narrated into audio-books for audio listeners.
Renee is a mom, a wife, an animal lover, and a kid at heart. She loves to hear from her readers and tries to answer all of her letters so drop me a line if you like!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 26, 2019
Dime Store Duet is a sweet pair of stories about Mazie May Farley, a twelve year old girl growing up in Hog Eye Holler Kentucky. Mazie's mother passed away when she was nine, and now Mazie, her father, and her older brother all live above her father's five and dime store. The store lets Mazie be in the center of all the doings in the small town. Mazie is muddling through her first crush on Billy Ray, the boy every girl in town dreams about, and she gets herself into some scrapes while she tries to catch him. Mazie's not a perfect Pollyana, but she's believable and interesting, and I loved seeing what she was up to next!
I enjoyed the narration, the story is told conversationally and the narrator's performance matched that tone. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed the narration, the story is told conversationally and the narrator's performance matched that tone. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
January 30, 2021
Dime Store Duet (Mazie May Farley) was a good read by Renee Riva. This book consists of; Farley's Five and Dime, and Summer of the Carousel. Farley's Five and Dime is set in the 1950s, in Hog Eye Holler Kentucky, everyone meets eleven year old Mazie May Farley. She helps her family run the local Five and Dime. She has had her eye on the popular hunk Billy Ray Baxter and will do anything to keep away from Emma Jean Jacobs. In the Summer of the Carousel Mazie is now twelve years old and her summer is just beginning. She still works in the family store, while also checking in on the new family in town. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.
October 16, 2019
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This was so cute. I loved Mazie. She was funny and spirited. I laughed out loud. The narrator was great too!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews