A New Year's Blessing by Josie Riviera

I post this every January because it is so popular. Happy New Year!

"I'm walking into 2026 with a clear heart and mind.

If you owe me, don't worry about it. You're welcome

If you wronged me, it's all good. Lesson learned.

If you're angry with me, you've won.

If we aren't speaking, it's cool.  (I love you and wish you well.)

If you feel I wronged you, I apologize.

Life is too short for all the anger, grudges, and extra pain.  And we, as people, are not perfect.

God bless us all! Here's to 2026!

I'm so excited to announce the release of my newest inspirational romantasy, 

A Season Out of Time.

When everything feels frozen, could love be the one thing that finally thaws her heart?

Rosalind Drew has always lived by logic, not longing. A brilliant botanist clinging to control, she's watched her once-vibrant family conservatory wilt under the weight of endless winter—and the even heavier silence in her soul.

Dreams deferred. Love denied. Life on pause.

Then Edmund Winterborne arrives.
Mysterious, wealthy, and burdened by secrets of his own, Edmund steps into her world like a forgotten melody—unsettling, alluring, impossible to ignore. He's everything she's not: impulsive, passionate, and a believer in things unseen. And yet, he sees her. The woman beneath the routine. The heart aching for more.

As the snow presses in, so does the promise of something neither expected—a love that might restore what was lost, rewrite the rules, and bloom in even the harshest season.

But when past wounds and present choices threaten to undo everything, will Rosalind have the courage to let go of control... and trust the wild, beautiful promise of winter?

Includes, as a bonus, the classic Nordic fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon, reprinted from the public domain—a timeless story of sacrifice, transformation, and love that inspired this novel.

Preorder your copy of A Season Out of Time today.

Available in eBook, paperback, large print paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Do you love the winter season? Please leave your comments below.

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 supportive 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

November Gratitude and Thank You Gifts by Josie Riviera

Well, we made it back from our anniversary cruise! What an adventure that was. I'm still recovering from the brutal flight home from Australia. Whoever invented jet lag clearly didn't think it through. But seeing Tahiti and Australia and experiencing Hawaii for the first time? Absolutely worth every exhausted moment.

Now that I'm home and November is here, I'm in full gratitude mode, and I'm still pinching myself over this incredible trip. I also think about how blessed I am. Fifty years of marriage, the chance to write stories I love, and readers like you who make it all worthwhile.

There's something about coming home from a big trip that makes you appreciate the simple things—your own bed, a familiar routine, and yes, even doing laundry in your own washer. 

I have a thank-you gift for you! My sweet holiday romance, Cocoa's Christmas Love is free right now as my way of saying thanks for being amazing readers. It's about a florist whose Christmas magic starts healing a disillusioned photographer's heart, plus they rescue an adorable puppy together. Perfect for getting into the holiday spirit!

And I'm so excited to give you a sneak peek of my newest sweet inspirational romantasy release coming soon - A Canvas of Light. I can't reveal too much yet, but it is set in a New England town in the 1920s. The heroine is a photographer, and the hero is a keeper of a lighthouse. I love the cover and hope you love it, too.

What are you most grateful for this November? Please leave your comments below.

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 supportive 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

Why September Makes Me Want to Fall in Love (With Books) by Josie Riviera

I'm excited about September this year. Not that I'm ready for summer to end - definitely not - but there's something about this month that always feels like a fresh start. Maybe it's finally being able to wear my favorite sweaters again, or that sudden urge to light every fall candle I own and reorganize my entire closet. September just feels full of possibility.

I love cozy things - soft textures, warm drinks, and that perfect cardigan that makes everything better. I bought mine is Ireland many years ago. It is oversized and definitely well-loved. There's something so nice about slipping on that cardigan, even though I'm still not quite ready to let go of summer.

September mornings are perfect cardigan weather. Cool enough that you need something, but not so cold that you have to commit to a winter parka. 

This time of year always makes me think about second chances - starting fresh, trying something new, or finally going after what we really want. September energy, you know? There's something about pulling out those fall clothes and lighting that first pumpkin spice candle that makes everything feel possible again.

I have a free gift for you:

My Regency inspirational romance Seeking Rachel is free right now!

Rachel grew up wild and free with Gypsy children, dreaming of adventure and her perfect grey-eyed hero. Nash is a battle-weary man who's lost his faith and doesn't expect to find it among London society. But when these two clash, sparks fly and hearts heal. 

If you love clean, faith-filled romance with characters who feel real and a love story that will make you believe in second chances, grab your free copy while you can. Also free on KU.

And I'm thrilled to announce my upcoming winter release, A Winter Promise! 

It's set in a snowy small town, with a heroine with a secret that could change everything and a hero who's about to discover that sometimes the best promises are the ones we never saw coming. Mark your calendars—this book is an inspirational Romantasy (my first!) and is set in the 1920s.

Pre-order your copy of A Winter Promise today!

Back to the cardigans. Do you wear hoodies or cardigans this time of year? 

Please leave your comments below.

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 supportive 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