The Man for the Job

by Jenness Walker from the August 24, 2026 issue

Tagline

When Aiden shows up to fix a porch light at a client's house, he doesn't expect to reconnect with his high school crush--and feel a spark again.

Off the Cuff Observations

LMAO. Granny rented her a wedding date? That is hilarious.

Okay, the ex is not the groom. That really simplifies things. (I mean, I was getting When Harry Met Sally vibes.) We don't feel nearly the angst for Sarah. 

I mean, Gram is stealing the show. How she calls out, "You heard the fella!" Priceless.

Okay, wow. There was some serious tension going on there when the two guys faced off. This is something I've never seen in a Woman's World story. I wonder if this is a sign they're changing the tone for the future? 

I'm not sure how I feel about this, to be honest. Perhaps it's because as a reader of these stories for the past 20+ years, I have expectations when I read the stories. If there's conflict, it's either in the past or off the page. Then again, the first story I wrote for them had some conflict. So...maybe the longer word count--then and now--allows for that. Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo by Bob via Flickr CC License

Sailing into New Love

by Jennifer Anne F. Messing from the August 17, 2026 issue

Tagline

When Kaitlynne accepts a friendly invitation to a celebratory dinner cruise, she never expects to meet a handsome stranger--or feel a spark!

Off the Cuff Observations

Okay, I'm feeling the part-time caregiver thing. My mom, bless her 89-year-old heart, has three professional part-time caregivers, not counting my sister who lives with her. 

Dinner reservations for three? This is definitely a matchmaker story. I'm a little surprised Beatrice doesn't reserve two tickets and then bow out at the last minute. It's refreshing to see her just be honest about the whole thing.

He opened Beatrice's door and helped her out of the car. Then he walked around and opened Kaitlynne's door. -- This is odd. Kaitlynne actually sat in the car the whole time? I would have expected her to just get out before he had time to walk around and be a gentleman. It might have been a good idea if maybe Kaitlynne had been fiddling with her phone or something, delaying her exiting the car and then being surprised by him opening the door.

I love prime rib. Makes me want to roast one now. I make a mean one! Comment below if you want my recipe.

Wait. Kaitlynne has another job other than caregiver? I don't understand, especially considering the position of assistant manager is going to be a full-time job.

I had to Google the song, "Something Stupid." I haven't heard that song in a long time. LOL

It's a little bit of a coincidence that he happens to be watching the same season, but I'll roll with it. Coincidences abound in Woman's World stories!

Photo by Thank you (25 millions) via Flickr CC License

Love Hits Hard

by Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk from the July 27, 2026 issue

Tagline

Rachel and Matt make an innocent bet to see who wins their charity softball game, but thanks to a romantic spark, they both end up winners.

Off the Cuff Observations

The first paragraph sounds like a tagline! Colleen could make a living writing taglines, that one is so spot on!

The banter is cute. When I played softball in school--not something I relished--I always disliked people taunting the person at bat. It seemed unsportsmanlike to me, but I have come to learn that is part of the game.

Oh, another widow. Hm. Although this is a well-written story, this is a trope that I have always had trouble with--getting together with the late spouse's friend. I believe that they have developed feelings for each other and I wish them well, but it just doesn't feel right to me. It's not the story. It's me. Best friends to lovers isn't my favorite either. It just goes to show you, you can't please everyone.

Photo by slgckgc via Flickr CC license

Old Love, New Light

by Anne Skalitza from the July 13, 2026 issue 

Tagline

When Sarah agreed to meet a former flame for a walk, she never expected it might open the door to healing--and perhaps a second chance at love.

Observations

Anne does a few things in this story that I'd like to highlight. It's been a while since I saw some good teaching moments in a story, so bear with me. 

First, she states that Sarah is reconnecting with an old boyfriend and a little later we see "his dark brown hair now sported lots of silver at the temples," which gives us a rough idea of their ages. 

It's vital in fiction to provide readers with details with which they can create a mental picture of the characters. For instance, once I know they're old enough for gray hair, I can assume they might have married and had kids or even grandkids. They've probably had one or more relationships since high school. They likely have an established career. These assumptions are nebulous, but they're there in my mind, waiting to be true or false.

On the other hand, if we found out they were younger--say just out of college--I'd have made a different sent of assumptions. Their break-up is much fresher. They may not have had other relationships because one or both of them had been carrying torches for each other. They might be realizing that they'd made a big mistake and might be seeking reconciliation. They will have most of their lives ahead of them, meaning they could marry and create a family together.

The timing of when you reveal these details is just as vital. If you go too far into the story, the reader might erroneously create a picture that's inaccurate. For example, if they thought the character was an x-ray tech but find out later he's the head of surgery--that requires a complete mental revision which can cause annoyance and confusion. 

That being said, some character details are nice, but not vital. For instance, eye or hair color, or the fact that he has broad shoulders. Like I said, it's nice to know that. It helps me picture him in my head. But if I'm picturing a man with brown hair and later find out it's blond, it doesn't create nearly as much confusion. 

The second teaching moment I wanted to highlight is the plot twist, which is the point when a story unexpectedly changes direction. I mentioned that readers make assumptions. With this story I came to all the nebulous conclusions I listed above, which is why the fact that she's a widow comes out of left field. When you're writing plot twists, you subtly lead the reader in a certain direction so that you can surprise them later. Now, suddenly, I'm feeling a completely different way about Sarah and I love seeing how Ethan responds. 

And then, we get another smaller plot twist: he's a widower. Again, the story angles in a slightly different direction and changes the way we're looking at this couple. I find myself rooting for them more because they're both adrift, and experiencing love and loss means they will have another, deep and meaningful, layer of connection.

Photo by kowarski via Flickr CC license

A Lucky Stall

by Mina Beckett from the July 20, 2026 issue

Tagline

When Diane's car malfunctions at her daughter's high school fundraiser, the last thing she expects is a jump-start for her love life.

Off the Cuff Observations

a car full of dry cleaning -- Huh. I only dry clean my formal wear these days. But I was a stay at home mom for quite a while, so my wardrobe wasn't exactly full of office clothes. Even before that when I was an elementary school teacher, I didn't buy stuff that had to be dry cleaning. But maybe she's a lawyer or corporate exec.

She was a woman with a full calendar, a standing dentist appointment--and exactly one ex-husband. She wasn't the kind of woman who got randomly flustered when a handsome guy spoke to her. -- I'm puzzled by this. I understand the full calendar thing. But what does having a standing dentist appointment have to do with her not getting flustered? It shows she's...organized? And why describe the ex with "exactly one?" Meaning she might have had more than one? That's an odd thing to call attention to.

[His expression] was soft and warm, like a lamp coming on in a window. -- Love that!

"I'll call you," he said. Not a question. Not a performance. Just a fact he intended to make true.-- While I like how this helps to describe him as someone who behaves with honesty, this is the second time Mina mentioned that he wasn't "performing." Is this a thing now in the dating world? Someone enlighten me.

Man, this guy seems perfect. Why hasn't he been snapped up? LOL

This story is another reason I am LOVING the new heftier word count. The pace of this story was...normal. It didn't feel condensed or rushed. Do you know what I mean? It took its sweet time and it was refreshing and soothing to read.

Photo by Bradley Griffin via  Flickr CC License

A Treasure Uncovered

by Carrie Langevin from the June 29, 2026 issue

Tagline

When Christina heads to Cape Cod for the summer, a handsome seafood shack owner--and his lovable dog--turn her getaway into something more.

Off the Cuff Observations

She's vacationing for three months. Is she a teacher?

Yes, she's a teacher. LOL

I love the idea of a vintage cottage, but I doubt a refrigerator from the 60s would still be working. Maybe it was meant to be 60s style.

Thank you again to the publishers for extending the word count of the romance stories! I'm often noticing richer descriptions like in this story. 

I love the golden french fry scarfing Lab. Woman's World does love dogs in stories. I noticed that back in 2005!

And the coincidences rack up. First, she happens to run into Randy on the beach. Then his aunt just happens to own the cottage she's renting. Actually, this type of thing is to be expected in these stories. Yes, it's a little goofy, but that's what makes Woman's World stories so fun. You have to enjoy the tongue-in-cheekiness of this very specific genre.

OMG. See what I mean? He lives in Florida during the winter in her neighborhood! Well, of course he does. And his niece is a former student.

I liked how Carrie wove the sea glass throughout the story at the beginning, middle and end as a sort of motif. 

Photo by Kathleen Dagostino via Flickr CC License

Sweet New Chapters

by Anne Olivier from the June 22, 2026 issue

Tagline

When Lucy helps her father settle into a new senior liing community, she bumps into an old flame. Could it be a second chance at love?

Off the Cuff Observations

Lucy's dad needs to socialize more. Boy, I identify that loud and clear as a daughter with an 89-year-old mother. People think they want to live a long time, but when you outlive your friends, it can be tough. Dementia just makes it harder. She has trouble finding the right words which subsequently makes her reluctant to talk to people on the phone. She hasn't been allowed to drive for years, so she also is stuck at home. Aging is no picnic in the park, that's for sure. Anyway, back to the story.

OMG. I'm so far behind I'm analyzing a Father's Day story. <smh>

The dads are getting along. They're laughing and connecting. It has me really wishing my mom's visit to an assisted living place went as well as this.

And who doesn't love a good old-fashioned bookstore owner story? I was in Seattle for a bit after our cruise was over and I happened upon a romance bookstore! I had such a good time going in there. Beguiled Books, if you're interested.

I don't know why Bingo gets a bad rap. I think it's fun. The only problem I have is the slow speed at which they usually call the numbers. 

This is a cute story and a clever twist on the Father's Day theme. Two thumbs up for me!

Photo by Anne Varak via Flickr CC License

A View Worth Sharing

by Chris Maday Schmidt from the June 15, 2026 issue

Tagline

Patti's furniture delivery mistakenly ends up at her neighbor Nick's place. What follows is an evening on the patio--and the promise of second chances!

Observations

I am so far behind on the blog, it's not even funny. Like I mentioned, Life has been challenging. My mother is being released from the skilled nursing facility she as been at for the past two weeks. She can no longer be left alone, so we're talking major changes for us all.  I am behind on copy editing someone's novel and was also on a week-long 35th anniversary cruise to Alaska during which I refused to work. :) Anyway, I am going to do my best to catch up. 

In my class on how to write and sell romances stories to Woman's World, I talk about many different categories of Woman's World stories. There are first meet stories, matchmaker stories, person-to-the-rescue stories and more. This is a lovely moving-on story. 

Moving-on stories feature a main character who is typically trying to get past a divorce or the loss of a spouse. What you want to do when writing one of these stories, besides identifying what the person is moving on from, is show they're emotionally ready. You want the reader to feel confident that the character is making the right decision, that he/she has a great chance of being happy. 

Chris shows this in many ways. First, she establishes that it's been 2 years since Patti's husband passed away. She mentions that "morning had always been their time, but that the silence didn't feel as heavy as it once had. And then there's this passage:

...she admitted how much she'd like to share that view with a special someone again. Maybe. Just maybe.

Lastly, Patti acknowledges that "it was time to tackle things she'd been putting off on her bucket list."

After this, from the butterflies to her giggling, Chris shows how Patti's shift in her personal perspective changes how she looks at her neighbor. 

Then there are two moments that I loved. First, there's the appearance of the bird that Patti interprets as a signal from her late husband. Right after that, Patti decides to find out if Nick has been waiting for a sign from her that she was ready. It's that decision that I love. She is not waiting passively for things to happen--she takes action. She's definitely done waiting.

I also loved the ending--especially this line:

Hope stirred again, soft but certain.

That line gives me all the feelz, and then there's the wonderful call back to enjoying coffee on the balcony, except now, she wants Nick to enjoy it with her. So if you're looking for a good example of how to execute a moving-on story, this is it.

Photo by El Gran Sueno via Flickr CC License

Revving Up New Love

by Lisa Sideris from the June 8, 2026 issue

Tagline

As Charlotte heads to a car show, she can't help feeling a little lonely--until a handsome man named Russ sparks something unexpected.

Off the Cuff Observations

I have to start by apologizing for my absence from the blog. I've been dealing with some health issues--mine and my 89 year old mother. She's still in the hospital and I would appreciate prayers and good thoughts. 

Charlotte slowed to admire patches of colorful wildflowers on the surrounding hills... --  I live in Southern California and when the poppies are blooming, it's spectacular. 

It's a car show! My husband is a member of the Sons of the American Legion and they have an annual car show that he volunteers to help with. Unfortunately, it's in July and it's always super hot but there are a lot of cool cars to see and admire and vote on.

Oh, dear. Is Gramps just sick or has he recently passed on?

"I'm hoping someone from the car show will stop, but it's still so early." -- Um. She's driving a '65 red Mustang, Russ... LOL Maybe he's just so dazzled by her that he's not putting two and two together. 

Okay, Gramps is still alive. She talked about him in the present tense.

A small current zipped between them that could have shaken up a chemistry lab. -- I like how the author took the cliche of electricity and added a little personality to it, but are currents common in chem labs? I never took chemistry.

I love how persistent Russ was. It shows Charlotte just how interested he is in her.

Nice story!

Photo by Roberto via Flickr CC License

Something Borrowed

by Debra McNally from the June 1, 2026 issue

Tagline

When Maddie is stranded before her best friend's wedding, the best man comes to her rescue--and they discover a connection that can't be ignored.

Off the Cuff Observations

So far, I like the modern feel to the story. The heroine is texting and the excitement of being involved in a wedding is palpable.

Maddie then realized she wouldn't recognize Mason when he arrived. She had only heard a few stories..." -- I like how Debra included the backstory about Mason.

He's really not an Old MacDonald type at all. -- LOL

I'm not sure why he had to sneak the bracelet to her. Doesn't Luke's grandmother know they're borrowing it? Maybe I'm missing something.

I get it...the Chicken Dance, because he's a farmer. LOL

I love how they ended up with cute nicknames. I can totally see them fifty years later still calling each other City Girl and Country Boy.

Photo by Naomi King via Flickr CC License

Love in Bloom

by Sandra Smith from the May 11, 2026 issue 

Tagline

When Evelyn stepped in to help at her daughter's flower shop, she never thought a last-minute bouquet could lead to a second chance at love.

Off the Cuff Observations

Sandra packs a lot of info into the introductory paragraph, letting us know that Evelyn is of a certain age, the time of year, and that she helps her daughter out at the floral shop. This is important when writing very short stories. Make every word count.

"...The other places I checked were too busy." -- LOL. If Evelyn were touchy, that could be a dig suggesting the floral shop was floundering.

We get a lot of the business interaction with some personal stuff thrown in. If I had been working on this story with Sandra, I would have encouraged her to beef up the personal stuff. Perhaps have Jack elaborate on what a great mom his late wife was or had them share memories of special Mother's Days in the past. Maybe things he did for his late wife were very similar to what her late husband did for her. Or maybe they share silly Mother's Day traditions like pancakes a la mode that sprang up with their kids were small. A little less of the business and a little more connection. 

The convo with Megan is, appropriately, short and sweet. All we needed was for Megan to notice and point out that Jack affected Evelyn.

Even though getting her tulips was an excellent and thoughtful move, he must have gotten them from a competitor... LOL

I like the callback to his cluelessness about flowers at the beginning of the story. This type of thing makes the story feel tighter and well plotted.

Also, I found a dialog punctuation error. Tell me in the comments if you see it.

Photo by Ruth Hartnup via Flickr CC License

Meant to Meet Again

by Mary Ann Joyce from the May 4, 2026 issue

Tagline

Sofia isn't looking for love--despite her grandmother's constsant matchmaking--until a familiar face appears at the Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

Off the Cuff Observations

As you may or may not know, I'm a Starbucks barista, and I often have customers whose name is Sofia/Sophia. I always ask with an F or  PH? They seem to appreciate that. I do the same for Sara/Sarahs.

"I asked him if he was single when I sent you to look for the chili powder." -- LOL

"He does wrap the cheese very nicely, so we'll keep him on the maybe list." -- LOL again! Can't you just picture this abuelita (grandmother)?

So, judging from her suggestion that Sofia wear a certain dress, obviously Abuelita has something planned. My mother had a Mexican embroidered dress that she absolutely loved and wore for many years.

...Sofia and her grandmother joined the fiesta in the town square. -- I'm just slightly taken out of the story wondering where they live. The mention of a town square makes me think small town, but there is not real description of the setting.

Aha, a blast from the past. So the butcher was a red herring! 

I'm noticing how smoothly Mary Ann inserts descriptions of Ben's appearance. No paragraph of it--although there's nothing wrong with putting the physical description in one paragraph--just smatterings of it here and there.

I knew abuelita would utilize the wording of the promise..."no fixups with your friends' grandsons." 

Nice story. And now I really want Mexican food. LOL

Photo by ricardo [sic] via Flickr CC License

A Bouquet of Promise

by Jennifer Anne F. Messing from the April 27, 2026 issue

Tagline

Maybelle takes her daughter down to the local park expecting a simple, sunny day--but to her surprise, a sweet second chance awaits!

Off the Cuff Observations

Seems like this might be a "marriage in trouble" story.

"Yay! I'd like that," Brooklyn said happily. -- This does not seem like something a 7 year old would say. Feels a little stilted. If you're not around kids much and you're writing about a kid, find someone who has a kid around the age you need info for. Ask them to vet your dialogue and/or actions. It will add to the realism.

As I read the summary of all the things Jeremy still does, even after their separation, I know for sure this is a "marriage in trouble" story. Then, of course, he shows up as expected. :)

All right, second story in a row I see where I would have suggested an edit. And for the second time in a row, it has to do with the ending. As published, this story has what I call a soft ending. 

Then, Maybelle's gaze fell on the beautiful bouquet he'd just given her, bright and full of promise.

There is no concrete ending, but the suggestion that things will be all right in the future. This, obviously, is fine with the Woman's World editors. I see these types of endings all the time. However, I very clearly see a place where we can beef up that emotional payoff (and still keep that last paragraph.)

"Yes!" Jeremy said. "I'm now the manager at Fairlane Transport. But I've decided I won't take overtime anymore."

I would have suggested that the author end this statement right after he says he got the promotion. Let Maybelle give him the quick hug of congratulations. Then, I would have had him tell her about not taking the overtime anymore because this is big for their relationship. This is how Jeremy is demonstrating he is willing to change for the sake of their marriage. 

After that, I would want to let Maybelle process this information and tell the reader how she's feeling about it--the quiet hope she's feeling, maybe reassurance, joy, what have you. Let the reader bask in the All The Feelz Moment, or ATFM as I think I'll call it from now on. Like I said in my last post, this is the reward for reading the story, the reason we read romance. Love will prevail. 

Photo by Julie via Flickr CC License

A Cure for Writer's Block

by Barbara Barata from the April 20, 2026 issue

When Kelly settles into her usual cafe booth to write, she never expects her fictional romance to turn into real-life inspiration!

Off the Cuff Observations

Love the name of the cafe--The Postage Stamp Cafe. Sounds like a cozy spot.

...a physique a friend described as "hot teddy bear." -- LOL! Love.

He had a broken freezer. That brings back some fond memories of a novella I wrote in which a chef who had the same thing happen to her.

Ah...Tom converted an old post office into the cafe. I wondered if we'd find out why it was named that.

Their friendship had developed after January 1, when she became a regular customer. -- Odd that date was mentioned specifically... Was it because ...she had resolved that this was the year to pursue her dream? 

I'm almost halfway throught the story and have gotten to the part where we're in a flashback to her conversation with her sister and I'm really enjoying the pacing of these longer stories. The extra words are allowing us to more seamlessly add bits of backstory like this. It is so nice!!!

OMG. I love the lead-up to the kiss. The second the readers see that she's having trouble with the logisitics of the kiss, they know what's going to happen, even if Kelly doesn't--which is the whole point. The author knows this readers-know-but-the-character doesn't dynamic heightens the anticipation. In our minds, we're like, "Kelly! Just go with it. It's going to be fine!"

And do you see the small black moment? Let me know in the comments if you do. In my basics class on how to write and sell romance to Woman's World, I talk about including a black moment in your stories--that moment when you think it's not going to work out after all. It can be big and obvious or small and subtle (as it is in this story.) Either way, it's not mandatory, but in my opinion, better to include than not.

All right. Cute story, but if I had been called in as editor on this, I would have suggested that Ms. Barata beef up the emotion in this critical spot:

Kelly laughed too, her doubts flying away. "Yes."

This is the big payoff moment. Everything changes in Kelly's mind and heart because she knows that Tom is truly interested in her. I would like to have seen just a couple of sentences here showing what Kelly's going through. Let the reader in on all the feelz. Draw this out. Make the most out of it because this is why people read romance--vicariously living the feeling of falling in love. Don't skimp.

By the way, click here to find out more about my editing services.

Photo by Stephen Kelly via Flickr CC License

The Best Table in the House

by Kimberly Kirkland Absher from the April 13, 2026 issue

When Kyle's family invites him to brunch by the river, he has no idea that an old connection--and a little matchmaking--awaits!

Observations

Usually, a matchmaking story has a bit of humor and is lighthearted and fun. This story was a little different. This story was calm and quiet and had a sense of knowing things were meant to be this way, that the two people just had to be in the same place at the right time. I think the added words made it even more comforting.

I do have to say it feels like there were more connections between the grandmas than there were between Kyle and Chelsea.

Photo by Chic Bea via Flickr CC License

A Season for Second Chances

by Stacey Weeks from the March 30, 2026 issue

Eric thought his dating days were behind him--until an ordinary Wednesday night game turned into an extraordinary new start.

Observations

I'm not sure how long the extended word count has been in place, and I haven't counted the words in this story, but it felt longer and--dare I say it?--more complete. 

Now, that could be the story itself--how it's written and the pacing. But to me, it felt like we more fully experienced Eric and Emily's first meet and budding romance. I didn't feel like I just ate chicken nuggets instead of a plate of buttermilk fried chicken and all the fixins. Is it just me?

Photo by Rick Obst via Flickr CC license

A Stroke of St. Paddy's Luck

by Katie Fitzgerald from the March 16, 2026 issue

At Shamrock Hill's holiday parade, Grace epects an ordinary day--until a chance encounter makes her believe in lucky new beginnings.

Observations

I felt a little meh as I read, but the last part of the story brought me solidly into "I enjoyed it" territory. When Ian gets off the float to give her his last necklace and to ask her out, it's like a wee grand gesture. We're used to seeing grand gestures after someone messes up, so this is a nice little change from that expectation.

I also liked that last sentence:

Grace rubbed a shamrock charm between her fingers, realizing those four leaves on his cheek had been as much her good-luck charm as his.

I want to reiterate a point I make in my Basics class on how to write and sell romance fiction to Woman's World. Spend a little extra time crafting your ending. That is your last chance to impress the editor and make her feel all the feelz. It's like an event in gymnastics. If you don't nail the landing, you jeopardize everything that came before it. Conversely, a really great ending can give you extra points.

Photo by Mosman Library via Flickr CC License

A Cozy New Beginning

by P.S. Murray from the March 9, 2026 issue

When Roxie braves her first brutal cold snap in a new town, a cup of coffee and a stranger's kindness offer more warmth than she expected.

Observations

Sorry for the many weeks between critiques. I was laid up with a "fun" out-patient lithotripsy (kidney stone removal.) The lead up to that and the subsequent recovery added to my shoulder problems was a little overwhelming. But I'm back! Kidneys are in good shape. The shoulder...remains to be seen.

Anyway, let's get to the story. 

Well, I have lived in  Southern California all my life, but even I know that if I were to move somewhere with Real Winters, I would probably need new outerwear. I'd rather have seen the heroine have procrastinated on this rather than be ignorant of the problem. 

This bothers me when I watch movies or TV too--characters making poor choices. I gather this is a trope in horror movies, which may be part of the reason why I hate horror movies. But I see it in other types of movies too. It's especially annoying in situations where the characters create even more danger for themselves when they should know better. 

In this story, it's not a life or death situation but I would still prefer for the heroine to be a little more prepared when it comes to moving to a new town with an unfamiliar climate.

Photo by Geir Tonnessen via Flickr CC License

Skating into a Second Chance

by Donna Clancy from the March 2, 2026 issue

When Jamie opens her seasonal ice rink and beloved hot cocoa stand, she never expects someone from the past to melt her heart.

Off the Cuff Observations

Oh, what a fun side gig--an ice rink and cocoa stand! Having lived in Southern California all my life, I have never experienced watching a body of water freeze. 

I love how we get to know Jamie and her loved ones. We see her life is a full one. Cue the eligible man!

This story was a very solid old flame story. It plays out in a predictable, but satisfying way. People often dismiss "formulaic" writing, but in Woman's World, familiar tropes are loved and valued. 

We meet Jamie and see her "ordinary world." The old flame makes an appearance. Jamie "resists the call to adventure" by assuming he's married. (If you haven't read Vogler's The Writers Journey, you should.) We all discover that Andy is single and that he had a crush on her too, way back when. They make plans to see each other again. 

Photo by Jeremy Keith via Flickr CC License

An Always Kind of Love

by Mary Ann Joyce from the February 23, 2026 issue

When Laurie arrives home from her shift, she has no idea her sweet husband has transformed the night into something unforgettable!

Off the Cuff Observations

Ol' Betsy - I love when people name their cars. I should name mine. Maybe Penny, because she's a pretty bronze/copper color.

Reading about that old man visiting his wife everyday at the skilled nursing facility made my eyes well up. Real love does exist and romance stories and novels help us keep aiming for that ideal.

A friend told me that a mensch is a person of good character, a nice guy. I've got a mensch for a husband too. I was feeling overwhelmed the other day because of some medical issues and he surprised me with some flowers!

OMG. I just got to the part where he whips out the re-stoned engagement ring. THIS, my friends, is Romance. If I had been the editor, I would have clicked "Buy" right at that moment.

You know, first meet stories are all well and good, but seeing a couple still in love after 32 years is so heartwarming. Well done, Mary Ann! I bow to your mastery of the craft.

Photo by Sunshinecity via Flickr CC License