About Josie Riviera

Josie Riviera is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary, inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu who constantly needs grooming and live in an old house forever needing renovations.

The beauty of … A Tart in a Cart

Ireland offers many fun opportunities to appreciate the beautiful, lush countryside.

Because my daughter lives in Ireland, I’ve had the opportunity to visit the country often. Whenever we visit Dublin, we smile at the statue of Molly Malone.

In my sweet Irish romance, Oh Danny Boy, Danny, the hero, and a Dubliner, refers to the Molly Malone statue as “Tart in a cart.” Anyone know why?

(Hint: Sing the song, “Cockles and Mussels.”) I’ve included the lyrics below:

“In Dublin’s fair city
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!”Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”She was a fishmonger
And sure ’twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they both wheeled their barrows
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, ohAlive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, ohShe died of a fever
And no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, ohAlive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, ohAlive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh.”

Love Irish sweet romance?  My Irish romance boxed set, Irish Hearts, is new and improved and now contains 4 books!  

The set includes:
OH DANNY BOY

A reader favorite! This pot of gold could hold more than they bargained for…

MAEVE

He’s all business. She loves to laugh. When business conflicts with pleasure, what could possibly go wrong?

1-800-IRELAND

A strong minded Irishwoman pursuing her dream. A disillusioned businessman ready to retire. Can two determined people separated by years find true love at the end of a rainbow?
Bonus Story: A Chocolate-Box Irish Wedding

A woman who wanted more. A man who wanted her. Can they rediscover their love in the seaside town where it all began?
Grab your copy today, snuggle up with your favorite warm beverage, and begin reading.
Irish Hearts is available in ebook, paperback, and large print paperback.
Grab your copy of Irish Hearts today!

The beauty of … Valentine’s Day.

I love Valentine’s Day. The holiday is fun and festive, and oh so romantic.

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite recipes because it contains my favorite ingredients … chocolate and peanut butter! This recipe is also perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Recipe for Peanut Butter Cups

Bottom layer:

2 sticks margarine melted

1 18-ounce jar peanut butter

2 sleeves graham crackers, crushed

1 pound powdered sugar

Mix until well blended

Top layer

1 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips

1 stick margarine

Melt together in the microwave for about 90 seconds, stirring halfway through.

Place bottom layer in the prepared tins and pour the top layer over it.

Prepare in mini muffin or regular sized tins. The thickness of the chocolate can be varied according to your preferences.

Can also be done in a 9×13 dish and cut into squares.

Love Valentine’s Day? My boxed set of Valentine Hearts is now new and improved because I’ve updated the set and there are now 4 books in the set instead of three! All at the same low price of only $9.99. Grab your copy today. Available in ebook, paperback, large print paperback, and hardcover.

The beauty of … A New Year

I posted this last year, and it was so popular, I am reposting. Happy New Year!

“I’m walking into 2022 with a clear heart and mind. If you owe me, don’t worry about it-you’re welcome. If you wronged me, it’s all good- lesson learned. If you’re angry with me, you’ve won. If we aren’t speaking, it’s cool (I love you and I wish you well.) If you feel I wronged you, I apologize. Life is too short for all the anger, grudges, and extra pain, and we as people are not perfect. God bless us all! Here’s to 2022!”

New Release! New Year Hearts Only 99¢ for a limited time.

New Year Hearts

Enjoy three emotionally satisfying sweet romances. The boxed set includes:

A Chocolate-Box New Years

Some recipes don’t turn out quite as you predicted…

A Chocolate-Box Irish Wedding

A woman who wanted more. A man who wanted her. Can they rediscover their love in the seaside Irish town where it all began?

1-800-NEW YEAR

Her lost love is back in town. Is he back for a second chance…or closure?

The Beauty of … Giving

With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, it’s time to focus on the quickly approaching holiday season. The to-do lists are filling, at least mine is, with baking, shopping, and scheduling time to see my nearest and dearest family and friends.

Over the recent Thanksgiving holiday, I was reminiscing about the holiday seasons that meant the most to me. The ones that became the stories we tell our children and grandchildren. The ones that will be spoken of for generations.

What I came to realize is, with a few exceptions, many of my favorite memories are the ones where my family and I gave to others. The times where we helped someone less fortunate than ourselves.

As a family, we collected food for local food banks, provided gifts through Angel Tree or the Marine’s Toys-For-Tots, or baked cookies for our neighbors and friends. These activities brought joy to others as well as ourselves for being able to help them.

So this year, I hope we all take a few minutes to think about what we can do to give back to others who may not be as fortunate as we are. Whether your act of kindness is big or small, helping others will bring you joy.

Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday season.

New Release! My sweet contemporary holiday romance, 1-800-NEW YEAR.

 

A struggling landscaper. A toymaking tycoon. Is their long lost love worth saving—or is it just a castle in the air?

Grab your ebook copy of 1-800-NEW YEAR for only 99¢ today!