A Pair of Lovebirds

by Jill Weatherholt from the August 27, 2018 issue

Tagline: Myrna wasn't thinking about romance...until she met Jim!

Observations: Very cute story. I happen to adore hummingbirds. I have three feeding stations and have been battling ants this summer. They love the nectar as much as the birds to. I also lost a feeder to my gardener, who knocked it over while mowing the lawn, causing it to break. As a hummingbird aficionado, I also know that you should never buy the red dyed nectar. The dye damages the eggs. It's better (and much cheaper to make the nectar yourself. It's just one part sugar to four parts water.)

I admit I did not see Jim's third appearance as the one-man nursery crew coming. I was expecting her to go back to the store or something.

I think the ending was very well done.

She was thrilled that her new hummingbird sanctuary had not only attracted the birds but also a very special man.

Photo by C. Watts via Flicker CC license

The Lucky Penny

by Shelley Cooper from the August 6, 2018 issue

Tagline: Years ago, Lindsay tossed a penny in a fountain and wished for her Prince Charming...would it ever come true?

Observations: The most intriguing, different part of the story, for me, was when Lindsay realized her error. I found myself wondering what she was searching for in the fountain. That little mystery kept me reading. (Not that I would have stopped reading, because, you know, I have a blog I have to maintain. LOL)

When we find out the mystery, it's so touching...

"I'm not wading, officer." Then she told him about the coin her father had given her on her first day of school. A coin that he'd told her would always keep her safe. A coin she carried in his memory. A coin she'd mistakenly given to one of her nieces.

This story also made me chuckle out loud...

"My father taught me to always indulge the elderly and the infirm."

If you're a good student of Woman's World stories, you probably caught that little nod to independent women which was also the "black moment."

"Can I treat you to an ice cream?"

"No," she replied. A thrill shot through her at his obvious disappointment. "But I'd like it very much if you'd let me treat you."

Photo by Sam Howzit, via Flickr CC license

So Much In Common

by Jenny Welsh from the August 20, 2018 issue

Tagline: Sarah and Cody were perfect for each other, but it took the matchmaker downstairs to help them see it!

Observations: Another adorable story! I loved the rooftop setting. (Coincidentally, the story I'm publishing next has a scene on a rooftop!) The piled up coincidences were funny and not the least bit annoying.

You'll notice that the hero and heroine don't get much on-page time together, which is unusual and a little counter to the advice I usually give you, which is to actively show them connecting. This way the reader believes they have a real chance to fall in love. Often, we've seen the couple on a date or having spent some time together. We end up feeling confident they'll continue to see each other.

In this story, you only see them together for about one third of the story. In this case, the "happy for now" ending ends a little sooner than many Woman's World stories and we end up feeling confident they'll have a conversation. LOL But it still works.

Photo by Eddie Welker (Flickr CC license)

Teacher's Pet

Photo by Magic Madzik (Flickr cc license)

by Diane Crawford from the July 23, 2018 issue

Tagline: When Abby attended a former teacher's birthday party, she didn't realize it could lead to romance...

Observations: Adorable story. Also, a setting/premise I don't remember seeing before - a former teacher's birthday party. I saw the chocolate bar gift coming, but it didn't diminish the delight I felt when I saw my prediction come true.

Did you notice the story had a villain? LOL It's kind of a stretch to call Dean a villain, but in Steve's mind, Dean was definitely a minor threat to his courtship of Abby.

Romance by Accident

Photo Credit: Rusty Clark (Flickr cc license)

by Ann M. Janis from the July 30, 2018 issue

Tagline: Amy wasn't looking for romance, but her improbable meeting with Jim was a nice surprise!

Observations: I think I'm going to do a stream-of-consciousness analysis today, which means I type what comes into my head as I'm reading.

First paragraph - I immediately sympathize with Amy and her feelings about the family reunion. Who among us has not ever felt like we weren't going anywhere with our lives and worried that people were judging us for our lack of forward motion? This kind of thing establishes a bond with the reader right away. They think, "I've felt like that too. I want to keep reading so I can see if things turn out all right for her." And the reader, after reading that Amy ends up happy, feels more optimistic about her own life, or at least feels happy for Amy.

After the crash - Hm. That guy seemed very cool and collected for someone who could very likely get chewed out.

The flowers were a nice touch.

"I was mesmerized by the hard hat's blue eyes." - Hats don't have eyes.

Thursday she receives the check - I am admiring Jim Stevens's persistence. LOL

I'm surprised at her suggestion of a picnic and super surprised about the reunion because I totally forgot the story started with that! Awesome.

Okay, I just got to the part where Jim explains to Amy how his family is sparse and widely scattered and that nailed it. This is what you should try to strive for in a Woman's World story. You tell a romance, yes. That's obvious. What's not as obvious is that you should try to show how a character grows just a little and learns a small (or even big) lesson about herself/himself or life in general.

Think about what the story would have been without that part where Amy realizes how lucky she is that she has this caring but sometimes annoying family. It would have been a cute tale about a meet cute and a construction guy who isn't afraid to go after what he wants. But with the realization, it becomes so much richer, plus it strengthens the two characters' relationship and brings them closer.