Some Bunny to Love

by Mary Ann Joyce from the April 21, 2025 issue

Tagline: Dressed as the Easter Bunny, Elliot reconnects with an old crush during a springtime community event.

Off the Cuff Observations: But fair and square, he'd lost a bet with his sister Molly, who'd organized the Easter weekend event.

As sort of de facto matchmakers in the wings, we're always consciously or unconsciously judging the characters in the stories to see if they are good for each other. Here we've got to give the guy a point for being a good brother. 

"Besides," she continued, "it's just for a few hours, and women love a man in a suit...even if it is a bunny suit."

LOL

His walk turned light, and he added a hop every few steps.

Atta boy, Elliot! Getting into the spirit of things.

"Do you know the Tooth Fairy?" he asked, lisping through the gap in his front teeth. "'Cause I left her two teeths, she only paid for one."

LOL again.

...another little boy pointed toward Elliot's backside. "Where do the eggs come from? Do you lay them?"

OMG, so funny! Kids say the darndest things.

There was definitely something blooming beyond the yellow daffodils in the sun.

Nice way to set the scene and get important information across at the same time.

"...we're 'opposed to look for eggs now!"

Seems apparent Joyce has or had access to young children to mimic their way of talking so well.

The girl skipped away, giggling under the sun.

Hmmm. Was this little girl put up to asking him the question about having a girlfriend by a well-meaning matchmaker? 

Photo by somewhere in the world today via Flickr CC License

True Love at the Carnival

by Krista Wroblewski from the April 7, 2025 issue

Tagline: Abby's nostalbic visit to the carnival leads to a chance encounter, sparking a connection that promises new beginnings.

Off the Cuff Observations: I'm criminally behind on the blog, so I'm going to do the "quickie" analyses by jotting down my thoughts as I read the story.

While I don't love actually attending carnivals because I don't like those kinds of rides, I love the idea of a carnival as a story setting.

Oh, funnel cakes. Yeeesssss. So unhealthy but so good. I miss having school-aged kids because they were a good excuse to splurge on that and have a couple of bites to satisfy the craving.

Wroblewski sets the scene and the mood well before we meet the love interest.

There was an instant connection neither of them could ignore.

I like this line which shows the spark without mentioning electricity. I'm also thinking this seems to be told in an omniscient POV.

She in turn shared her own journey--a turbulent marriage that ended in divorce and her new life of independence and self-discovery. 

I feel that last part of the sentence embodies the kind of heroine and attitude we see often in Woman's World stories. We want characters with optimistic attitudes who are ready for love.

The lights twinkled like stars... 

I'm suddenly a little confused about what time of day it is. Further ahead it says "rest of the evening," so I guess it was late afternoon when she got there...?

...both felt a sense of hope and possibility.

Here is where I was absolutely sure this was an omniscient POV.

The flow and structure of this story is a bit different. I notice the prolonged ending. It could easily have ended here:

With a gentle kiss on the cheek, they parted ways, both feeling excited for what the future might bring.

Or here:

As Abby drove home, she couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, some of the best and brightest moments in life happen when you least expect them.

Okay, it actually could have ended on any of the last five paragraphs, but with all those paragraphs included, the author leaves us basking in a wistful, quiet hope.

Photo by chascar via Flickr CC License

Baking Love

by Cathy Cormany from the April 24, 2025 issue

Tagline: Hugh's sister is on a mission to set him up, but Hugh's too busy running his bakery to notice--until he meets Josie. With flour on her cheek and a love for sweet treats, she just might be the recipe he needs for romance!

Observations: Were you guys fooled by this story too? I totally thought Claire was the love interest! I love being surprised.

I wanted to discuss verisimilitude in Woman's World stories. The degree of reality in these stories is fluid. Where I live in surburbia, there are pretty much no mom and pop type bakeries. There are grocery stores and chain bakeries like Panera, Nothing Bundt Cakes (hate that name), Corner Bakery and the like. There is a cake place - but that's more specialty baking like for weddings. Other than that, Corner Bakery is called that because they want you to feel like you're in the type of bakery that doesn't exist anymore. 

But in the world of Woman's World stories, they certainly do. As I've said before, there is a certain amount of nostalgia present in the romances, mainly and probably because of the demographic skewing toward older women. 

So if you're someone like me, who strives to ground her stories in reality (is it safe for the heroine to say yes to a man who invites her to dinner at his house when she just met him in the grocery store?) remember the fact that you can sculpt the world of your story to fit the tone of WW's published stories and expectations of the readers.

Photo by Greta Ceresini via Flickr CC License

Good Guy in Green

by Shannon Fay from the March 17, 2025 issue

Tagline: Andy's hectic morning turns around when her daughter's teacher offers a thoughtful gesture--and a surprise dinner invitation--that might just make St. Patrick's Day her favorite holiday.

Observations: It's easy to see why this story was chosen for the St. Patrick's Day issue. This rang very true as a slice of life in a mom's life. It really brought back memories of when my kids were pre-teens. I also very much remember the anxiety of not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day, not wanting to get pinched! There were a lot of moments I wanted to touch on in this story.

I loved the moment when Andy calls Mr. Parr Greg and the daughter chides her for it. Hilarious.

That moment when Andy wonders how the wearing green situation was her fault was one of the ones that resonated with me as true to life.

I thought that the moment when Greg notices Andy's tension has not dissipated was great in that it showed he would make good boyfriend material. You always want to believe the couple in these stories has a solid chance at a future together. 

Finally, did you notice the black moment in the story? (The black moment is when you think all is lost.) Let me know in the comments if you saw it.

Photo by Tony Alter via Flickr CC License

Sew in Love

by Anne Gwynne from the March 31, 2025 issue

Tagline: Viola, the last single woman in her friend group, reconnects with Adam, a former classmate, while preparing to be her best friend's maid of honor. Could this reunion amid wedding preparations lead to romance?

Observations: I really identified with the character who made me remember when all my sorority sisters were getting married. It's a forlorn feeling, going to a wedding at which you want to be happy for the couple but are secretly and sadly envious.

I thought this was a cute premise--meeting someone from your past--a guy you secretly admired--at the tailor shop. And who hasn't dreamed of being wanted by Mr. Popular? This is a fantasy fulfillment story, for sure. 

Mrs. Choo was a cute secondary character who was kind of a matchmaker but more of an encourager, which was amusing. 

I have no idea what "lake effect snow" is. Anyone care to enlighten me?

Also, I was very puzzled at Mrs. Choo's statement, "She sins most of the time too." I was like, whaaat?  Weird that the tailor would comment on something like that, but then I figured out it was probably a typo. It was probably supposed to be "wins," which makes total sense. That just goes to show you, you shouldn't rely on spellcheck!

Photo by Jeff Egnaczyk via Flickr CC License

Two Tickets to Love, Please

by Vicki Cox from the March 10, 2025 issue

Tagline: Nora and Dale meet during a Star Wars screening, and while bonding over the film, a spark of romance soon begins to grow.

Observations: I loved the premise of this story, mostly because I think Star Wars is a perfect movie. I have very fond memories of seeing that in the theatre more than once the summer it came out and blasting the soundtrack over and over from my cassette player. 

I also appreciated the nostalgia introduced via the landmark theatre being refurbished and opening again in modern times. It's no secret that the demographic of Woman's World reads on the gray side the spectrum. There's nothing we boomers love more than a blast from the past.

Photo by Lynn Kelly Author via Flickr CC License

Dance of Second Chances

by Mina Beckett from the March 3, 2025 issue

Tagline: Liora gains confidence and sparks romance when she dances with a cclose friend at the Mardi Gras ball.

Observations: I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised to see this type of story appear in Woman's World. For years, I've been advising people to steer clear of heavy subject matter, but there is "a new sheriff" in town, and perhaps the editorial staff is more open to stories with a little more heft to them--like this one.

I mean, Liora has been battling back from what appears to be a career-ending injury. She was once a ballet dancer. Now, she seems to have finished her physical therapy and is dancing (non-professionally) for the first time since her accident. This story is all about her conquering her fear and realizing she can still enjoy dancing, if not at the level she once enjoyed, and finding romance along the way.

I really loved how encouraging Gavin was. The ending was fulfilling, but, for me, leaning more toward self-realization than romance. Which might be a good thing because I couldn't help but wonder at how ethical it is to start a relationship with a patient.

Even so, I very much enjoyed this story.

P.S. I know this photo is not of a masquerade or a ball but it is Mardi Gras and it was so cute, I couldn't resist.

Photo by Shreveport Bossier via Flickr CC License