Riversong [Paperback]

Tess Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2011

Author Tess Thompson (formerly known as Tess Hardwick) assembles a colorful cast of endearing small-town characters and takes you on a journey that will make you believe in the possibilities of life - even in the face of overwhelming adversity and unimaginable grief.

Lee Tucker is the kind of woman you find yourself rooting for long after the last page is read. When her husband commits suicide, he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother's dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh start. Lee's resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband's debt as her business blooms.

A surprising mix of romance, humor, friendship, intrigue and gourmet food, Riversong entertains while reminding you of life's greatest gifts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Booktrope Editions (March 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935961144
• ISBN-13: 978-1935961147
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (352 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tess Thompson is a novelist and playwright with a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California. In 2000 she wrote her first full-length play, My Lady's Hand which subsequently won the 2001 first place prize for new work at the Burien Theatre. Her first novel, "Riversong", became a bestselling ebook in 2012, reaching #1 on Nook and spending 35 days in Amazon's Top 100.

Like her main character in "Caramel and Magnolias", Tess is from a small town in Southern Oregon. She currently lives in near Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella, and their puppy Patches. She is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.

Tess is working on her third novel and regularly blogs about her journey as a mother, author and friend at www.tesswrites.com.

Contact her at: [e-mail]

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 98 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Riversong August 14, 2011

By Samantha J

Format:Paperback

Lee Tucker is in disbelief after her husband commits suicide. The disbelief doesn't just come from his death, but also what comes after the funeral. Turns out her husband had made a few deals, worth one million dollars in loans, and now the loan shark is after Lee to pay that money back. After Lee discovers she is pregnant, and in no way able to repay her husband's debts right away, she flees to her mother's house in a small Oregon town. Her hometown is filled with ugly memories, including an alcoholic mother who never seemed to care for Lee. Since her mother succumbed to the alcoholism, and her house was left Lee, she decides to fix it up and sell it to pay the remaining debt. After a wonderful neighbor helps Lee get settled back into her childhood home, she finds a job as a business consultant at a struggling restaurant. While there, she is met with cold shoulders and hostility by the owner's son, but pushes on with determination to make the restaurant succeed- and hoping her life will finally turn around.

The heroine in Riversong by Tess Hardwick can be described as resilient and determined. You learn right away about her horrible childhood with a sad excuse for a mother, and understand why she sometimes carries a chip on her shoulder. I was rooting for Lee the entire way throughout the book, and she is someone you want to see catch a break in life. This is Hardwick's debut novel, and I feel she is an author to watch for. I enjoyed all the restaurant scenes and how hard Lee worked to make it a success, and the stories of other residents among the small town will make you smile while pulling at your heart. There were a few grammatical errors in there that I caught, and sometimes I wondered why the loan shark didn't think to first look at her hometown for her, but overall, I really enjoyed a beautiful story with a smart heroine to connect with.

77 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect story April 11, 2011

By Teresa P. Miller

Format:Paperback

I had such great fortune to come upon this wonderful novel. The story was simply engaging, creating a world in which I was able to delightfully lose myself. I found the storyline to be quite empowering and hopeful, as it encapsulated a world filled with struggles and redemption. I did not want it to end.

91 of 109 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book April 10, 2011

By Maria

Format:Paperback

What a great book! The characters are so vivid and real and the storyline grabs you from the beginning. I had a hard time putting it down. It's the kind of book that, when you're finished reading, makes you sad that it's over and makes you want to read everything else that the author has written. I highly recommend this book. It would be a great addition to anyone's beach bag this summer!