A Sweet Blast from the Past

by Karen Kinser from the July 7, 2025 issue

Tagline: At a Fourth of July parade, Jenny is stunned to see Nick again--but she's even more surprised by the fireworks that spark between them. 

Observations: OMG! Funniest thing. I started reading the story and I knew I'd read it before. I was like, "Did Woman's World reprint a story??? What a huge gaff!" Then I looked at the author's name and remembered I edited this story! A month and a half ago, Karen notified me that the story we'd worked on together got sold and my aging brain didn't remember until now. <sigh> 

Anyway, so excited to read the finished version!

Right away I can see an adjustment where Karen clarified the setting for us. I love the whinnying horses. That small detail really puts me there in the moment. In fact, she really did such a good job of setting the scene for the Fourth of July with so many details.

This story is also unusual because get three breaks in the action: when the parade starts, after the parade when they go to get burgers, and finally when Jenny goes home before meeting Nick for fireworks. And the Kiss! Those are few and far between for Woman's World as well, but notice how sweet and fleeting it is.

I still love the idea of them finding one of the dimes they'd hidden. And at the end of the story, we get another fantastic description...

They slowly swayed to the soothing drone of the crickets and the occasional bursts of far-off fireworks. The air smelled like summer and the sweet aroma of freshly cut hay from the nearby fields.

I mean, come on. You're there, right?

Awesome story. So proud of Karen!!

If you are interested in having me work on a story with you, here's a link to everything you need to know.

Photo by Steren Giannini via Flickr CC license

A Home Run to the Heart

by Marcie McEachern from the June 23, 2025 issue

Tagline: Sharon meets a silver fox while teaching a senior social media class, but sparks fly when they bump into each other at a game.

Observations: I loved the premise for this story...the social media for seniors class. What an fantastic idea. I wish I'd thought of it. 

Woman's World magazine is unique in that it publishes romances about people in their golden years. I mean, it makes sense, since the demographic of their readership skews older. Readers want to connect with characters they can relate to. So don't be afraid to submit stories about elderly people.  On the flip side, don't hesitate to write stories revolving around younger people. Romance is for people of all ages.

Photo by OPAA Little League via Flickr CC License

Grillin' Up Romance

by Debra McNally from the June 16, 2025 issue

Tagline: Jessie was shopping for a Father's Day grill when she meets the charming shop owner, Matt. As they talk, sparks fly!

Stream of Consciousness Observations: Right off the bat we get the main character's goal and motivation: getting a grill for her dad for Father's Day.

The next paragraph really sets the scene and makes me want a grilled hot dog. As an aside, I haven't heard a hot dog referred to as a frank in ages! LOL

"I told you our grill skills were on fire!" -- Love a good dad joke.

"It's my week to have my son..." -- Clever way to tell the reader he's divorced.

"Inside the store, Matt wrote up the sale bill." -- This paragraph shows that you don't have to insert a character's backstory at the front of the story. This is where Ms. McNally decided to tell us about Jessie's living, job and relationship situations.

"...we discovered we had a passion for outdoor cooking--and other things." -- Ha! I bet one of those "other things" is Jessie!

I love how this ended up to be a matchmaker story. Very cute!

Please To Meet-Cute You

by Melanie Dusseau from the June 9, 2025 issue

Tagline: Jake's hoping for a quiet day after a long week of work, but a noisy bookstore owner--and their unexpected chemistry--derail his plans.

Stream of Consciousness Observations: I love how that first paragraph tells us Jake is in construction work and he lives above a storefront.

"Scowling, he banged on the door..." - Ah, this is a "hate-to-love" story.

"...self-consciously patting the messy knot of curly auburn hair piled atop her head." -- Nice physical description.

"Lily beamed a smile into Jake's frowning, handsome face..." -- Okay, there's also the grumpy sunshine trope.

"Then one of her too-large leather work gloves slid off her hand and hit the floor with a soft thud." -- Not sure what the purpose of this was. To show he's gallant, despite is mood?

Love the cat regarding him with "studious boredom."

"He's always a grump till he warms up to you." -- Sounds like Jake! LOL

OMG, a romance bookshop??? YES PLEASE. I am now kicking myself for not thinking of this as a setting for a Woman's World story.

I love the heroine's bubbly sunny energy. 

The selfie prep is darling. You can see Jake's stony wall crumbling.

"Don't smile because we're the grumpy-sunshine trope!" -- Aha! Told ya!

"You got it, sunshine." -- Perfect ending to a perfect story. Well done, Ms. Dusseau!