A Matchmaker Christmas

from the December 20, 2021 issue by Diana Dario

Tagline: Tired of being set up by her friends, Isabelle is dreading yet another holiday meetup...until Sean arrives to make her season merry and bright.

Observations: I thought the idea for this matchmaker story was cute and original. I'd never seen a story built around a silly party game. And maybe the editors hadn't either! 

Again, putting on my analytical reader hat, I found myself wanting to know more about Sean, specifically in two places:

Isabelle kept a smile plastered on her face as her friend Marie told her all about her soulmate-to-be: Sean. 

And later in the story:

As the party continued, Isabelle got to know more about Sean, and the more she learned, the more she liked.

Both places provided an opportunity to give us readers more details about Sean. As a busybody matchmaker myself when it comes to Woman's World stories, I want to judge for myself if he's a good match for our heroine, Isabelle, and personally, I didn't have enough information to do so. Ultimately, that can be a deal-breaker for me with these stories. Do I believe the couple are a good match--yes or no. 

Photo by hairyhenderson via Flickr Creative Commons License

The Greatest Gift of All

from the December 13, 2021 issue by Marcella Robinson

Tagline: Despite the busyness of hosting a Christmas carnival, Jen and Colin find a moment of quiet to feel the magic of love in the crisp air.

Stream of Consciousness Observations: 

1. Love the horse's name.
2. Oh, I have ridden in a horse drawn carriage decked out for Christmas and that was really fun. I'll bet a sleigh in the snow is that much more wonderful.
3. He brought her cocoa? Aw...a thoughtful man. 
4. Okay, so a friends to lovers story.
5. I really love this description, "...there was something about a sleigh, decked out in all its festive glory for the holiday season--evergreen boughs, red velvet bows, and twinkle lights--that drew people in," but that's a little awkwardly structured.
6. Hm...who is Sadie to Colin? Is he a single dad? This can't be a case of mistaken identity where the woman thinks the little girl is his daughter and it turns out she's his niece, because it's been established that Sadie has known Colin for "many years." 
7. He carried an eight year old up a hill in the snow. He must be a big strong man.
8. Oh wait. "...next year Sadie's father can take the reins?" Hm. So maybe a niece then? Still not clear on the relationship.
9. He asks if she has time for one more ride...with him. Nice. He's making his move!
10. Wait...their anniversary??? Hold on a second. They're a couple already? Is this a plot twist the author put in their on purpose? Probably.
11. Okay, we finally find out Sadie is their granddaughter. Wow. I was picturing two people in their thirties. 
12. Cute ending, calling back to the bucket list.

My personal preference would have been to know their ages and their marital status right up front. The story reads very differently if you know their a happily married couple than if you think Jen is hoping Colin will wake up and smell the coffee. With the former, the entire time I was reading, I would have gotten the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you come across love that has lasted through thick and thin. With the latter, my brain had to do a one-eighty (twice). This very likely could be because I'm not just reading for enjoyment, like most of the WW readers. I'm analyzing every component as I go, so maybe that's why I reacted negatively to the plot twist. Let me know in the comments what you thought.

Photo by rickpilot_2000 via Flickr Creative Commons License

Love's Missing Ingredient

by Beth Pugh from the November 29, 2021 issue

Tagline: Needing the secret add-in to his late wife's famous potato salad, Frank feels both out of luck and lonely...until Ivy shows up with a cure for both.

Observations: This story is a good example of showing a character growing and changing. Frank starts out missing his wife, but gradually, we see him decide it's time to move on with his life. I'll break it down for you.

How Pugh showed him missing her:

1. "Glancing at the wedding picture above the light switch, Frank shook his head. Sarah's death had broken his heart two years ago. He missed her so."

2. He wears his wife's apron.

How Pugh shows him making the change:

1. Frank notices Ivy's eyes, tan skin and chestnut hair.

2. He makes Ivy blush and finds that satisfying after having not affected a woman that way in so long.

3. His heart rate increases as he notes her perfume.

4. "...her sweet smile sending his pulse soaring."

How Pugh shows he's completed his arc:

1. "Taking a chance, Frank turned to Ivy, his confidence bolstered by her warm gaze. 'What about you? Would you like to share a sandwich?'"

2. "A date? His breath caught at the levity of those words. Was he ready? Maybe, maybe not. But it was time to try. Sarah would have wanted it that way."

3. There's the ubiquitous tingly physical contact.

4. "After walking the ladies home, Frank returned to the kitchen, an extra pep in his step. As he savored the perfect potato salad, he felt thankful and full of hope."

So as you can see, even in a short 800-word story, you can show character growth.

I do have to admit I was a bit confused as to the timeline of this story. I started out thinking it was dusk on Thanksgiving day because Iris says, "Happy Thanksgiving, Frank," and "...he knew the grocery store had closed already. The shortened Thanksgiving hours guaranteed as much." But then later, he asks her to share that sandwich and Ivy says she and her niece are having a movie night. Maybe I was the only who was confused by this, but I do think this makes the case for having someone else read your story before you submit. Just one more pair of eyes on it can make a big difference.

Photo by Robert Judge via Flickr Creative Commons License

A Holiday to Remember

by Cher L. Tom from the November 22, 2021 issue

Tagline: When Marcie gest stuck waitressing all alone in a snowstorm, dreamy cafe regular, Les, steps in to help...and cooks up a steamy recipe for love.

Observations: I am so proud of Cher. I have edited three of her stories now and this is the second one to get published. It seems weird--not to mention redundant--to analyze a story I've already analyzed in minute detail, so I will just say, this story had a fun, small town cafe feel to it and you couldn't help but feel Marcie is one of those waitresses who welcomes you to her cafe like you're one of the family.

Congrats, Cher!

Photo by Corey Taratuta via Flickr Creative Commons License