But that's exactly what she finds when she returns from being out of town. Worse, the bear has been deliberately trapped by the shop's owner, Will Parker.Will is starting a new life in the town of Reindeer Ridge. His shop, The Big Bear, sells novelty items while also providing guests the chance to see a live bear kept humanely upstairs. Unfortunately, the shop owner across the way seems to be determined to have his shop closed down.But Annaliese soon begins to realize that Will isn’t the bad guy she wants to make him out to be. As their feelings for each other start to grow, they both begin to realize the importance of compromise.This book was previously included in the December 2020 anthology, Small-Town Christmas. The rest of the series was not part of that anthology.The Reindeer Ridge series is a sweet, clean contemporary Christmas series filled with swoon-worthy heroes and a small-town setting.

    But why does he look nothing like her? Gorgeous billionaire Giovanni Laurito bonded with his new baby, Vito, after a difficult divorce, so discovering Vito and Ric were swapped at birth is a huge shock! When Valentina and Giovanni meet to reclaim their children, sparks fly. They've already fallen for each other's babies… Could this unexpected beginning create the family of their dreams?

    (See individual title listings for descriptions of each book.) Harlequin Presents: Seduction and Passion Guaranteed!

    

    Our USA Today and Bestselling authors have written brand new holidays stories just for you!A Furry Little Christmas - C.D. GorriStephanie needs a Santa Claus stat! What she doesn’t need is entanglements of any kind while she figures out what it is she really wants to do at this stage of her life.Tell that to the hunk her Pack’s Alpha sent to work for the almost fifty she-Wolf.What do you get when you mix two Wolves with a little holiday spirit? A furry little Christmas…Unwrapping Her Dragon - Julia MillsLiving without him for sixteen years sucked, but Everleigh survived. Now that blasted sexy Dragon is back with a tall tale and a basket load of apologies, and she can’t forget how bad it hurt to lose him the first time. Can she leave the past behind and trust Deacon to stand by her side for all eternity, or will she give up on the holidays forever? Only time will tell, but if Fate has anything to say about it that sweet Baker Bear will be unwrapping her Dragon sooner rather than later.Her Cowboy Warrior – Liv BrywoodTen years ago, bear shifter Gage Davis’ darkest secret ruined his relationship with his best friend. Now Raven’s back and she needs protection from her ex-husband. Gage has a second chance to make things right, but to win her heart, he’ll have to reveal the monster inside his soul and risk losing his fated mate forever.Tis the Season for Sass – Melanie JamesWhen a shadowy premonition forebodes the harshest winter in decades, Black Paw’s Alpha counts on the pack’s strongest wolves to help everyone pull through. But the Seer’s visions are swirling with majik and suggest an ancient legend will deliver more than just a blizzard to the wolves of Black Paw.A Fated Mate for Christmas – Selena BlakeWhen a fight between their packs sends Gabrielle Landrum to Alpha Garrett Kingsdale’s doorstep begging for a truce, she half expects to be thrown out into the snow. She is the rival’s daughter, after all. Garrett’s instinct is to not trust a word coming from the seductive beauty. But the more he listens and watches, the more he’s drawn to her. Especially those lips. The next thing he knows, he’s kissing her and he can’t even blame mistletoe. To keep her safe, he whisks her far away to work on a truce of their own.The Honeybear’s Xmas Curse – Jacqueline SweetThree years ago, Theresa Grimm had her Christmas ruined by an ex-boyfriend's curse. But Gauge Morrissey, bear shifter in exile, might have the solution to her problem. But breaking the curse will require facing down a warlock and risking it all.Her Cowboy's Christmas Surprise – J. K. HarperGarret Reeves and Callie Mayfield have been in love for several years. They are true mates, and wolf shifter Garret will always adore his very sexy human woman Callie. But when Callie starts to be a bit away from him, Garret is worried. He has no idea what is going on with her. His thought is that he must entice her back to him, for sure. Especially with the perfect wild Christmas night eve that they will spend together to reintroduce their perfect soul mates.Gracie’s Gift – V. VaughnGood things didn’t happen to Gracie, which is why when she meets Jack, the hot new employee at Sugar Mountain, she doesn’t dare to believe he’s interested in her. But he’s relentless in his pursuit of Gracie, and she lets herself fall for him when he tells her they’re forever. What she doesn’t know is what forever with Jack means.

    Vincent Scarpetti has been running from his own demons. Attempting to right the wrongs in his past, Scarpetti searches for his freedom in Tempo, the newest and most anticipated resort in Las Vegas.Set on a collision course, can they survive the impact?Tensions rise as the lines between conference room and bedroom blur. Will Vincent offer Karlie what she wants? Can Karlie give Vincent what he needs?

    Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann! Widower Xander Lourdes will do anything for his toddler daughter. But in a high-profile custody battle, his millions only go so far. What he really needs is a wife, in name only. And he has just the woman in mind…if only he weren't so drawn to the beautiful redhead! Zoologist Maureen Burke is still reeling from a painful past, but her boss's proposal comes just as her work visa is expiring. If they're not careful, the heat between her and Xander may destroy the no-strings situation they're both counting on…

    Her lonely boss who hates Christmas. As they rediscover the magic of the holiday, will they also find love?  Christmas hasn't been the same for Allison Voss since losing her husband, but she's determined to make it merry for her daughters' sake. She's between jobs and simply managing day to day is a struggle until she meets Ward Haysgard. His act of kindness and offer of employment just might turn her luck around.Ward is not a fan of Christmas. As a district manager for a large department store, he's seen plenty of greed and selfishness and not much good will toward men. But Allison's plight touches him. As he gets to know her and her girls, they work their way into his heart. A heart he thought had hardened long ago, when he lost the loving grandmother who raised him.As the holiday approaches, an old secret from Ward's past emerges and threatens his closeness to Allison. Will he leave her heartbroken? Or will she and Ward discover together what makes Christmas real? Read all the stories in the Holidays in Applewood series by Christie Logan: A Real Christmas (Holidays in Applewood 1)Dear Acquaintance (Holidays in Applewood 2)A Gentle Heart (Holidays in Applewood 3)

    They grew up together, they were best friends until that magical summer when they were more than friends. That was years ago. When Carolyn's daughter lies in a hospital bed fighting for her life its Stephan who races to Carolyn’s side. And maybe this time, he’ll stay. Fans of Jacobs’ Just One Thing and Words of the Heart series will find this rerelease of her classic award-winning romance touches their heart. Jojo Moyes fans will love this story about the many faces of friendship.

    Maybe aminivan. She never envisioned a stock car thrown into the mix!That was before she met Jake Hinson, recovering from a boatingaccident at a secluded fishing cabin. Fact is, Jake's a NASCARdriver with plenty of cash, fans--and fame. Not something he'sabout to divulge to publicity-shy Stacy. But when the truth comesout, Stacy's not sure she can handle a celebrity lifestyle--despiteJake's reassurances.Besides, Stacy hasn't exactly been the pinnacle of honesty herself.And it's just a matter of time before her own cover is blown....

    She wants it to work more than anything in the world, so walking away from Cole is the hardest thing she'll ever do. But one last night together is set to change her life and her marriage forever…. Needing time to think, Emily returns to the one place that always feels like home: the Gingerbread Inn. It is the perfect setting to work out what to do with her little secret. And when Cole finds her, and her growing bump, he realizes that this Christmas, some things are worth fighting for….

    

    Many residents call the island home year-round, but day visitors and tourists bring plenty of excitement with them. Like other resort islands, there are quaint shops, cool restaurants, and friendly bars. There are several resorts on the island, but the queen of them all is the elegant Grand Hotel on a bluff with an ocean view. Owned by the extensive, multi-generational Phillips family, the Grand Hotel offers elegant service, five course dinners, and plenty of romance. White Pine Island Novella #1: Ned & Bethany Sometimes the heart hits a hole in one… Bethany Hinkle arrives at White Pine Island’s Grand Hotel for her sister’s wedding and to do a little environmental snooping. She snaps pictures of the hotel’s pristine golf course to ensure its compliance with EPA standards. Soon, she realizes that the course’s manager is as attractive as the course he so carefully protects. Ned Phillips feels the weight of family expectations squarely on his broad shoulders. The Phillips Family has owned and operated the Grand Hotel for three generations. For now, he manages the hotel’s golf course and makes plans for its future—plans that could be destroyed by Bethany’s spying. He gets close to the lovely environmentalist to watch for her next move until he gets too close to let her go. ***** White Pine Island Novella #2: Ellen & Pete What happens when you fall in love with your best friend just when it’s too late? All her life, Ellen Phillips has loved working for her family’s Grand Hotel on White Pine Island. Flying the hotel’s airplane and piloting the island ferryboat while knowing someday she will inherit the luxurious resort is a fairy tale existence she has no desire to change. She’s always loved Pete McCormack, too. After all, he’s her best friend, confidante, and playmate. Until she suddenly sees him in a different light just before Christmas. Pete McCormack has made sacrifices for his family’s golf cart rental business on the island, choosing to stay home and run it instead of pursuing his dream of his own career on the mainland. When his parents announce their plans to sell the business so Pete can leave the island, he has to choose between the future he thought he always wanted and his newfound love for the woman he would be leaving behind.

    When her character is put to the test, she saves a life and in the process earns the gratitude of Aiden, the charming new café owner in town. Sparks fly, but can Sonia overcome her own doubts and at the same time save the youth choir’s Christmas Eve performance? Travel to the beautiful Canadian Rockies for a sweet story and a good latte to find out…! In the heart of the snow-covered Canadian Rockies lies the small town of Evergreen Valley. Sonia and her sister Yvette have grown up in the quaint little town which neighbours a popular ski resort. Every Christmas they carry on their childhood traditions of sledding, baking and spending quality time with their mother and grandma. This year tragedy nearly strikes the sleepy town, but is luckily averted do to the quick actions of one of the girls. When Sonia meets Aiden, she is determined to avoid entangling herself in another relationship, but fate has other ideas. As she helps him with his struggling café, he helps her to confront her fears of abandonment. Soon she finds herself thrust into taking over as the church’s Youth Chorus director, but can she do the job and pull off the best Christmas Eve recital the town has ever seen? Cozy up with this heartwarming holiday read to find out! AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is an cozy contemporary stand-alone short story with a HEA ending! Story is a clean romance with no offensive language.

    The recipe for the bakery’s success had always been a mixture of community and tradition, with a heaping scoop of love thrown in. When the simple way of life in Mistletoe is threatened by big city developers, Madison rolls up her sleeves to protect the bakery and her idyllic childhood town. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate fighting developers, she faces another foe in Hunter Andrews, the dreamy boy she crushed on as a youngster. He’s game to sell. She’s determined to stay. Can an old-fashioned Christmas change his mind?Hot shot lawyer Hunter Andrews breezes into Mistletoe hoping to take his mother back to Denver and leave behind small-town life. He’s certain she’ll be happier at the retirement home he picked out, where she would be waited on hand and foot, rather than getting up at four a.m. to bake bread. The last thing he expects is to find Madison Willis all grown up and beautiful…and ready for battle. When the bakery’s treasured recipe book goes missing, Hunter has to decide if he’ll use his skills to fight for what he wants or for what’s right.Pitted against each other, Madison and Hunter face a bigger foe—gentrification. If they can’t work together, they will lose everything. Will they fight side-by-side to save the town? Will a kiss under the mistletoe be all they need to fall in love?Find out in Memories & Mistletoe…