It’s cold here—but the stories are warm
Jan 20, 2026 3:24 pm
Hi ,
We’re in a cold snap here in Arkansas—temperatures down in the teens, the kind of cold that makes the air feel sharp when you breathe it in. We don’t have snow, but when I step outside, I like to imagine I’m walking through Vermont instead. Bare trees, quiet paths, that hush winter carries with it when everything slows down.
It’s the kind of weather that makes me want to curl up on the couch under a blanket with a good book and stay there. And honestly? I’m doing a little of that—and a little writing too. Some days progress looks like showing up gently instead of powering through, and I’m learning to let that be enough.
Sara and JD’s story is still moving forward, even in this slower season. There’s something about winter that suits them—steady, thoughtful, finding balance together instead of rushing ahead.
A Sugar Creek Moment
The lake has frozen enough now for skates. Laughter carries across the ice, uneven and bright, followed by the scrape of blades and the occasional stumble. A gloved hand reaches out without hesitation. Balance is found together. It always is.
Today I’m also sharing a couple of billionaire romances from authors I’ve met—or who have generously helped me along in my own writing journey. I hope you’ll enjoy spending some time in their stories as much as I have.
However cold it is where you are, I hope you find something warm today—whether that’s a story, a quiet walk, or a few minutes wrapped in a blanket doing exactly what you love.
Warmly,
River Ford
Book Shares:
Noah thought he was done with Caitlyn. He was wrong.
Two years ago, they ended badly and without closure, leaving only resentment and an ache Noah refuses to think about. They’re forced to work together on a high-pressure project that demands not only cooperation but trust. Something he can’t give. But she is thinner, quieter, more guarded, carrying a vulnerability that unsettles him.
Caitlyn never understood what went wrong. Noah simply walked away without looking back. In the months that followed, her life narrowed to one focus: survival in a body that had nearly failed her. Being forced to work with Noah opens old wounds, but she’s not that girl anymore. She’s a fighter.
Noah doesn’t want to dig up the past, and Caitlyn wants answers. They’re about to discover that some endings aren’t final.
She’s a billionaire in disguise. He’s part of a bachelor party bet. Ten days. One spark. Zero chance they leave unscathed.
Penny Stewart can’t claim her seat on the Wessex Resorts board unless she follows one wildly inconvenient rule: no work during her Florida getaway. That means trading her spreadsheets for lounging by the pool, attending resort activities, and—worst of all—mingling with actual humans. She’s convinced this 'relaxation challenge' is harder than any resort opening she’s ever managed . . . and that’s before the handsome guy on the pool deck strolls into the picture and turns her carefully controlled plan upside down.
Mac Hammond came to Daytona for sunshine, beaches, and corralling his pro-hockey player friends during a bachelor party. Then he witnesses a mysterious woman at the pool nix one of the player's flirting attempts and suddenly Mac’s easy vacation takes a competitive turn. The bet is simple: Charm the woman and prove good guys beat out arrogant, sexy hockey players. But Penny is nothing like he expects: sharp, warm, and absolutely captivating when she finally lets herself have fun. She’s everything he didn’t know he was looking for.
Until secrets come out. And trust breaks. And their perfectly imperfect vacation romance shatters.