Goals, lists, and 2026 by Janice Lynn

I love Christmas and the New Year means the end of that special season. Makes me think of the lyrics from that Elvis song, "Why can't every day be like Christmas?" My husband and I spent Christmas morning with 2 of our daughters, their husband, and 3 of our GRANDS, then went to a family gathering where we participated in a White Elephant Christmas gift exchange. Fun. :) This Christmas was extra special because of our GRANDS, including the addition of our newest, Andi. She's a cutie, y'all!

I've finally gotten all the Christmas stuff packed away, a few Valentine's items out to keep the house from looking so bare minus the garland and lights, and am digging back in to writing. I haven't really set goals the past few years other than one that is the only official goal I've made the past two years. It's a simple one, but one that had weighed on my heart for some time. It's that every time I see someone ask for prayers that I officially stop what I am doing and pray for them. Right then, right there. No exceptions.  So, no official New Year's goals again this year other than to continue that life change that I happened to start at the beginning of a year. 

That said, I make lists on a regular basis and mark items off so in that sense, I do routinely have written goals. Usually my lists center around my day off from the day job to ensure that I get the things done that I need to get done. Sometimes I make lists for the week or even the month. I find I get more done that way and am less likely to forget something that needed completed. 

What about you? Did you set goals for 2026? Or are you a list maker on a regular basis? Do you find that you achieve things more frequently if you write them down? Or are you self-disciplined enough that you don't need a list or an official goal to make things happen?

USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. www.janicelynn.com  

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The Power of Caring by Merri Maywether

In sweet romance, caring comes in a variety of ways. I could make an extensive list of how, but it boils down to the characters in these stories give without expecting. 

And they do this because it proves that at the heart of it all, people matter. Not their job, or status in the community, or what they can offer in exchange. They do it because they care.

These are the characters readers root for.

The hero who fixes the broken step because someone might trip—Ivan in Cottage Cove New Beginnings.

The heroine who volunteers for a community project even though her heart feels heavy—Whitney in Cottage Cove Homecoming.

The friend who quietly endures a misunderstanding because the friendship is more important than being right—Kelly in Be My Grumpy Valentine.

I mentioned three of my characters, but this is in every sweet romance we read.

They’re the stories that are full of moments that seem small on the surface. Then, after they settle, they turn into something amazing—the kind of moments that build trust, give the character’s heart room to heal, and ultimately lead them to recognize that the love they’ve been looking for is waiting for their acceptance. 

And maybe that’s why sweet romance feels like comfort reading—it reminds us that goodness exists.

Today feels like a good day to remember that kindness, compassion, and care are never small things—and stories that remind us of that matter more than ever.

Character Hairstyles by Merrillee Whren

Short, long, straight, curly, or even bald. Blond, auburn, brown, jet black, gray, or even pink and purple. These might be some of the hairstyles that a character in a book might have. Hair color and eye color of characters are something authors must decide about as they create characters in the books they write. Eye color and hair color may be natural, but hair color can also come from a bottle. I have created characters with most of these hairstyles, except the pink and purple.  

Here are a few examples from the covers of my books.

A heroine with a short perky style and a hero with plain brown hair.

 

A heroine with long dark-brown hair and a hero with blond hair.

A heroine with light reddish-brown hair and a hero with dark hair.

 A heroine with long blond hair and a hero with brown hair.

 Do you have a favorite hairstyle for a heroine or hero in a book? Does it make a difference about the way you feel about the characters?

You can find information about these books on my website.

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.

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

Lyn Cote's First Free Ebook in 2026!

 

Free Jan 7-11 on Amazon!

A heartfelt tale of a courageous woman, a wounded hero, and a marriage of convenience. Disinherited and penniless, Honor is forced to marry deaf glass artisan Samuel. He needs Honor to speak for him and go to Cincinnati, the gateway to the western frontier. There Honor secretly takes part in the new abolition movement, risking her fragile marriage.

To download, click here. And why not tell a friend?--Lyn

It's 2019 ~ Jean C., Gordon

2019 was a year of multi-author series for me with my Sweet Horizons released as part of the Indigo Bay Second Chance Romance series and No Time for Apologies as part of the No Brides Series. 

The Series

The Indigo Bay Second Chance Romances series is a spinoff of the Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series with tons of fun for readers! But more specifically, it’s a set of books written by authors who love romance. Grab a glass of sweet tea, sit on the porch, and get ready to be swept away into this charming South Carolina beach town.

The Indigo Bay world has been written so readers can dive in anywhere in the series without missing a beat. Read one or all—they’re all sweet, fun rides that you won’t soon forget. Also, as special treats, you’ll see some recurring characters. How many can you find?

Sweet Troublemaker by Jean Oram
Sweet Do-Over by Melissa McClone
Sweet Horizons by Jean C. Gordon
Sweet Whispers by Jeanette Lewis
Sweet Complications by Stacy Claflin

See them all HERE.

The No Brides Club is a sassy and heart-warming series featuring sophisticated women and the men they fall for. What happens when you meet Mr. RIGHT at the WRONG time?

See them all HERE.

My Books

There’s nothing like a wedding to bring people together, but family dynamics can be complicated, especially newly blended ones.

Sonja Cooper is thrilled that her daughter Lauren is marrying Jesse Brewster and giving her a ready-made granddaughter in the irrepressible 3-year old Shelley. The fact that Jesse is also Sonja’s business partner in the launching of the Morrison Mansion B&B is just a bonus.

Custom bike shop owner Jeff Brewster is also delighted that his son Jesse is marrying Lauren and building a new family. The one awkward aspect is the unexpected attraction he feels towards Sonja. For although Sonja feels the same spark, having been burned in her divorce from Lauren’s father, she’s determined never to be dependent on a man again.

Then the Indigo Bay Business Association pits Sonja and Jeff against each other by having their businesses compete for the coveted “New Business of the Year Award.” All’s fair in love and war, but hearts don’t always listen!

This is the 3rd novel in the Indigo Bay Second Chance Romances series, but all books can be read as standalones.

BUY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kate Lewis left her family’s dairy farm and fell in love with everything about New York City--especially the high-powered, fast-paced world of finance. Once content to lie in the grass and watch clouds float across the sky, her biggest dream now is to work her way to the top of Wall Street.

Jon Smith is so much more than his plain name implies. He’s also a rising star in the world of finance, on a mission to save his grandfather’s cattle farm, and Kate’s former high school admirer.

When a shocking twist of fate puts these two in direct competition for a job they both covet, the last thing they need is any new sparks of attraction. Too bad fate isn’t done with them yet.Will they give in to their attraction, or is their newfound rivalry too intense to put aside? Find out in this sweet big city twist on the classic second chance romance theme.

Read an Excerpt

BUY: Amazon | B&N

WINTER SHIVERS____and a new book to read by the fire!

  Did the holiday season pass too quickly for you?  Mine did.

I can't believe it's over, and we are already on January 5th. Between relatives coming and going, three big dinners to prepare, and a book to finish, the days were a blur.

I've got just a couple of days left to finish editing my new book, DANGEROUS SUMMER, which will be released January 13th.   Click here to learn more!

Sophie Alexander has always been the strong one--holding her family together after heartbreak, raising her young son alone, and caring for her ailing grandfather.  

As a new graduate in Physical Therapy, she desperately needs a full-time job in her small town in northern Wisconsin. She has one chance there--and just three months to prove herself.

Her greatest challenge is a reclusive physician who has retreated from the world after a terrible tragedy.  He wants to be left alone. She is determined to help him.  

A heartfelt story of second chances, love, and the courage to begin again.

Wishing you all a wonderful year in 2026!

Roxanne Rustand

USA Today Best-selling author