💐 The Heart of Sweet Romance: Celebrating Moms and Second Chances by Merri Maywether

Around the world, Mothers are celebrated at various times in a variety of ways. 

💐 In the United States, we take a day to honor moms with cards, meals, and a little pampering. 

💐 In the United Kingdom, "Mothering Sunday" began centuries ago as a tradition of visiting one’s "mother church" and celebrating family. 

💐 In Mexico, "Día de las Madres" is filled with music, flowers, and family gatherings on May 10th. 

💐 In Ethiopia, families celebrate mothers during the Antrosht festival with feasts and song. No matter how or where it’s celebrated, the heart of the day remains the same: honoring women who love, nurture, and shape the world around them.

Mother’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays, not because of the cards or flowers, but because of the small, heartfelt moments.

One of my favorite gifts came from our youngest son. He was the one the siblings used to negotiate later bedtimes, family outings, and impulse purchases. When he was fifteen, he wrote a cookbook with an illustrated cover for me. It had the ingredients for several meals made up (surprise, surprise), his favorite dishes. In the days and weeks after Mother’s Day, I happily cooked every recipe. 

When I write my sweet romance stories, I try to honor the mother’s journey. Most of the time, it’s a day-by-day process—growing, learning, and figuring out how to navigate a life where every decision impacts not just herself, but the people she loves most. Moms are the quiet heroes—lifting others up while carrying so much themselves.

And then, I love to introduce the unexpected:
💐 Love that opens her eyes to even greater hope than she already shares.
💐 Someone who laughs at her jokes (because there’s a season where kids insist their mom isn’t funny—even though we all know she could have been a professional comedian if she didn’t love being a mom so much).
💐 Best of all, someone who shows her the beauty within herself that she may have forgotten—or never fully seen.

In my upcoming release, Make Room for Second Chances, Millie is that kind of mom. She’s doing her best for her son Michael, building a beautiful life while expecting nothing in return. When love finds her through friendship and kindness, it’s a sweet reminder that second chances come when we least expect them—and often when we need them most.

The scene I'm sharing today begins when Millie finds Matthew in the middle of a big mess. Her kindness naturally comes out when she's with Matthew, offering him exactly what he didn’t realize he needed: a little help, a little hope, and a lot of heart.

Here’s a little sneak peek:

“Michael, this won’t take long. I’ll get the big pieces, and you can sweep up the smaller ones with the broom,” she said, gently directing Matthew’s attention to the utility closet. “We can use a vacuum for the shards.”

Matthew tried to object, “I can take care—”

Millie didn’t let him finish. “You know what they say about many hands.” Then she gave him the smile. The one that made Matthew feel like it didn’t matter what they were doing. She enjoyed spending time with him.

( Make Room for Second Chances is a Kindle Unlimited story)

Mothers show us that love isn't just grand moments—it’s found in the little things: a homemade cookbook, a broom, a soft smile that says, “I’m here.”

I’d love to hear from you:
What’s one of your favorite memories tied to your mom, a mother figure, or a fictional mom who made you smile?

Wishing you a May full of blooming possibilities and heartwarming moments. 🌸

Reprise (Dance Like a Chicken Day) by Merrillee Whren

 

May 14 is Dance Like a Chicken Day. I've mentioned this day before in a two previous blog posts. The first time was in 2019 and the second in 2021. Four years later, I'm taking advantage of this topic again. In the previous two posts, I mentioned that the "Chicken Dance" is often used at weddings receptions. In the first post I talked about a book that was only forming in my mind with a secondary character from another book. At that point I knew these four things:

Number one: Caroline Keller was the heroine's name. 

Number two: The book would be the fourth book in my Kellersburg series.

Number three:  Caroline was the sister of Nathan Keller, the hero of Hometown Dad, book #3 in the series.

Number four: Caroline had recently returned to the United States after serving as a missionary on the African continent. I still hadn't decided in which country.

This is the graphic I used in both of the previous posts. 

I mentioned that I had no idea that the chicken dance would appear somewhere in that book. I always marvel at how my pantser writer's brain can come up with unexpected things. At the wedding reception for her brother, Nathan, Caroline finds herself pulled into the chicken dance. In the scene just before the dance, the hero of Hometown Cowboy, Wyatt Bayer, has just had a hard conversation with Caroline, when the son's of the bride appear to ask Caroline to dance with them. The dance scene is in Wyatt's point of view, and he sees the smile that replaces her troubled expression. Even when life is troubled, the chicken dance can make you smile. Here is an excerpt from that scene. 

     “Aunt Caroline, Aunt Caroline.” Wyatt turned to see Ryan and Andrew, Melanie’s two sons, racing onto the portico. The boys stopped in front of Caroline. “You have to come and do the chicken dance with us.”
     Caroline looked at the two boys as a smile displaced her troubled expression. She stood. “Sure. I wouldn’t want to miss the chicken dance.”
     Wyatt followed behind while Caroline’s hard story stamped itself on his brain. Did this mean the end to their conversation and his plans? Probably. He figured she would never agree to go somewhere with him alone. He stood at the edge of the small dance floor and watched Caroline do the chicken dance with her nephews. He ached to make her that happy, but could she overcome what had been done to her? A dozen other questions danced in his mind to the frenetic tune filling the air.
     Nathan approached, a wide smile brightening his face. Wyatt looked pointedly at his friend. “You’re not doing the chicken dance?”
     “No. I’ll leave that to my wife and boys. I’m not sure who requested that silly song.” Nathan chuckled.  “I see you’re not joining in either.”
     Wyatt waved his cane. “I don’t want to fall on my face while I’m flapping my imaginary wings.”
     “Yeah, I see what you mean.” Nathan laughed. “Thanks again for finding this place for us. It’s great. Everything has been super.”
     “Glad to do it.” Wyatt’s thought wrapped around an idea. Maybe there was a way to take that trip to the ranch he’d planned with Caroline. “Did I hear your parents and the boys are staying here and enjoying the beach while you’re on your honeymoon cruise?”
     “That’s the plan.”
     “Do you suppose the boys would like to see a cattle ranch?”
     Nathan shrugged. “Why do you ask?”
     “The guy whose family owns this hotel also has a cattle ranch not too far away, and he’s invited me to visit. I’d like to do that, and I thought Ryan and Andrew might like to go with me.” Wyatt hesitated. “And I thought Caroline could drive us, since I can’t drive.”
     “Is this a ploy to get close to my sister?”
     Weighing his response, Wyatt stared at Nathan. “If it is, do you object?”
     Nathan clapped Wyatt on the shoulder. “No, but I’m not sure about Caroline.”
     “If she agrees, will it be okay with you?”
     Nathan shrugged. “You’ll have to run this by Melanie and my parents. Caroline can make up her own mind without my permission.”
     “I would like your approval.”
     “I think it’s Caroline’s approval you’ll need before mine, but I say go for it.”

I hope you enjoyed that little excerpt. You can buy Hometown Cowboy at these retailers.

Amazon

B&N

iBooks 

Kobo

Since the publication of this book, I've written two more books in the Kellersburg series, Hometown Hero and Hometown Girl. Please check out the whole series on my website. You can click or tap on here.

When you attend a wedding reception, if they play the chicken dance, do you participate?

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

 

NEW RELEASE!

In 1874 Texas, the wealthy patriarch of the 7-Heart ranch delivers an ultimatum to his seven independent sons: marry within the year or forfeit their inheritance. The directive sends these confirmed bachelors scrambling to secure their futures while protecting their fiercely guarded freedom.

While the youngest brother races to be first at the altar, the other brothers are more reluctant to tie the knot. The Hart brothers face unique challenges on the road to romance with a cast of remarkable women: a long-lost love haunted by the past, a former sweetheart guarding her heart, a cave-dwelling lady with mysterious money, a mail-order bride who falls for the wrong man, and a Civil War nurse willing to heal a scarred soldier's heart.

Will they find true love under the pressure of their father's demands, or will they sacrifice their inheritance to maintain their independence?

This fun series by Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2025

What a delightful book! Even though it was a long book, I had a hard time putting it down and when I was finished, I didn't want to leave the Hart family! I wanted to know how all of their futures turned out! After spending so much time with them, I felt like part of their family! award-winning cast of authors is a great read. 

From a Reviewer: 

My novella in the series is #6 out of 7. Here's sneak peak:

Mail-Order Mayhem

Hartsville, Texas

1874

Stephen Austin Hart stood behind a parked wagon in the alley beside the blacksmith shop, watching the main road leading into Hartsville. The stage was due in five minutes, although that didn’t mean it would arrive any time soon. Or even today. 

Leaning back against the wall of the mercantile, he tried to stop the apprehension snaking through him. He hadn’t been this nervous since his first few battles during the War Between the States. Something in his gut told him he was making a huge mistake, but what choice did he have after his pa issued that ultimatum—get married in a year or lose his inheritance. 

He couldn’t lose the land that represented his future—land that had been in his family going on three generations. Here he was the oldest of the Hart brothers and still wifeless, while all of his brothers were now married, except Bowie. His youngest five brothers had hopped on the task of finding a bride like cats on crickets, and each one had met with success and was happier now than he’d ever seen them. He didn’t begrudge their success or happiness, but he sure didn’t like that his pa had forced them all to marry so quickly. 

Would Pa really deny him his inheritance if he didn’t marry? The huge ranch house that had been the family home all his life was supposed to go to him, as well as a big section of land due south of it. What if things didn’t go as planned? Could he lose everything? If that happened, could he ride off like Bowie had done, turning his back on his heritage?

Austin gritted his teeth. No. He couldn’t. The Seven Heart ranch was his home. His only option was to marry-no matter what. 

        Like any warm-blooded man, his eye had strayed toward a pretty woman when he encountered one, but he’d never thought much about marrying. He stayed too busy for that, trying to keep things in order and running smooth at the ranch. But soon he would be married. Wrapping his mind around that notion wasn’t easy, especially since he’d never laid eyes on his future wife. But soon…. 

        He pressed his hand against his vest pocket, feeling the familiar crinkle. He’d done something none of his brothers had thought to do—sent for a mail-order bride. His gut churned as if he’d swallowed soured milk. What if he didn’t like her? What if she was plug ugly? What if she took one look at him and hopped back on the stage?

  Austin blew out a sigh. Character mattered more to him than looks, when it came down to what was most important in a long-term relationship. He hoped his bride felt the same. He could face a homely gal each morning as long as her cooking was good and she was honest and faithful to him and God. But knowing that didn’t take the edge off his jitters. The most important thing was that he could not fail.

      He had a feeling he was already starting off on the wrong foot since he had agreed to Jenny Evans’ request to meet him and then to spend a few days getting to know one another before they married. What if she decided she didn’t like him? His brothers had said plenty times he was too cranky. Too bossy. They didn’t realize how hard it was to keep six rowdy brothers, such a large ranch, and thousands of head of cattle all moving in the direction of profitability. One bad year of drought or sickness could ruin all that his forefathers had worked so hard to build. And even though his father was still alive, somehow the load of it all rode on Austin’s shoulders.

        Throwing an unknown woman into the whole shebang wasn’t something he could prepare for. But, he had no other option. He’d made up his mind to marry—and he rarely changed it once he’d decided on which trail to take. But he still wondered what he’d do if she changed her mind, which he was learning from his five sisters-in-law was something women did a lot. He booted a rock. It rolled across the narrow alley and thunked against the far wall. He couldn’t shake the worry that his bride would find him lacking.

He had to make her want to marry him.

  But he had no idea how to do that.

Purchase here:

Ebook

Paperback

May Mornings: A Backyard Bird Story by Josie Riviera

You know what's making my mornings more delightful lately? My smart video bird feeder. What started as a simple gift that I purchased for myself after a book signing has turned into an amazing window into the secret lives of birds. In a few months, it's documented 30 different species visiting my yard. And the Carolina Wren has shown up 370 times!

May mornings are too perfect not to appreciate. The air still has a cool edge before the real Carolina heat kicks in, and my hydrangeas are starting to show off their first blooms of the season. I've already spotted three different shades of blue in the neighborhood.

Technology can be frustrating sometimes, but my bird camera is one of my best purchases ever. I used to see random birds and think, "Oh, pretty!" Now I'm getting detailed photos and data about every visitor. It's like having my own private nature documentary playing right in my backyard.

Even better, I can share the camera, so my husband, son, and granddaughters can also access the data.

I'm thrilled to offer all my readers a FREE inspirational eBook this month: A Homecoming to Cherish.

All relationships require a commitment, but is she ready to sacrifice her heart again?

Available in eBook, paperback, large print paperback, and audiobook. FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Grab your copy of A Homecoming to Cherish today.

If you're looking for your next great read, the complete Sweetwater Springs series is my newest release and now available in a boxed set. These three sweet romances will transport you to a charming small town filled with hope, heart, and the kind of community we'd all love to find.

The three books in the boxed set include:

WHISPERS OF LOVE IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
One mysterious letter. Two childhood friends. A love story decades in the making.

WHISPERS OF MAPLE MEMORIES IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A century-old secret. A stolen chronicle. Could unearthing their past cost them their future?

WHISPERS OF HOLIDAY MAGIC IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A struggling baker, a determined financier, and a small-town mystery where secrets spark holiday magic.

Grab your copy of Whispers of Sweetwater Springs today at the special introductory price!

FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Who else is fascinated by the hidden world of birds in their backyard? Drop a comment below and tell me about your most frequent visitors.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully support husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

Looking Back at 2015

Skipping ahead two years from last month’s blog, in 2015, Harlequin released Winning the Teacher’s Heart, the first book in my Love Inspired series The Donnelly Brothers. Winning the Teacher's Heart  was later rereleased as Her Very Own Champion, book five in my Paradox Lake sweet romance series. I also released a holiday novella, Holiday Escape, as the second book in my Team Macachek series.

Writing/Publishing Tidbits

With the popularity of cowboy and rodeo short romances and my lack of inclination to write cowboy books, it struck me that motocross racers were similar to rodeo competitors. That thought was behind both of my 2015 books.

She’s never had a champion before. She doesn’t need one now.

High school history teacher Becca Norton is too sensible to expect a fairy tale life with a knight in shining armor. But she never dreamed she’d be on her own, a divorced single mother fighting for her kids, her home, and her heart. The last thing she needs is a reformed bad boy on a vintage motorcycle “rescuing” her. And taking her breath away.

Motocross champion and local bad-boy-made-good Jared Donnelly is back in Paradox Lake. He’s here to give back to his hometown and polish up the tarnished Donnelly family name. With a motocross school to give needed guidance and encouragement to troubled kids like himself, he doesn’t have time for a romance with Becca. She was out of his reach in high school, and with the even more complications of single motherhood, she should be off limits now. Except he can’t deny the attraction when old flames fan hot. What starts as simple attraction becomes a complex battle for a happy ever after Jared never knew he wanted so bad.

Jared’s hitting too close to home for Becca, with the proximity of his school and the growing connection between Jared and her son. It doesn’t matter that Jared’s kindness to her and the kids melts her long-frozen heart. She can handle her life and family just fine. She should be pumping the breaks with him, especially considering the brewing trouble with her inlaws over custody of her kids and the bad blood with the Donnellys. No good can come of tangling with the town bad boy, no matter how much he’s reformed. Her heart, however, has other plans and is fighting for the happy ending and all the fairy tale feels love has to offer. How high will the price tag be, and is she ready to pay?

Could the best way for Jared to show his love for Becca be to walk away from her and Paradox Lake or to stay and fight—winner takes all? Find out in this engaging small-town sweet romance with a hint of historical family intrigue.

BUY: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo |

TEAM MACACHEK: Meet the strong women and fearless men of the motocross circuit

Bridget O’Brien lost her fiancé to a dangerous job. And, while she’d love to have a relationship like the one she lost, the last thing she wants is one with another man who willingly puts his life in danger. Luke Foster is a motocross racer whose track record with women runs short and no-strings-attached on both sides. He’d never seriously pursue a forever-after woman like Bridget.

All they want is a holiday week away. Bridget from her well-meaning family’s condolences about her planned Christmas Eve wedding and her memories of a future that won’t be. Luke from his family’s annual critique at which he and his life choices always fall short of expectations.

But, under the blue Caribbean skies, anything can happen.

BUY: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo