They're women across North America committed to changing and enriching lives, one good deed at a time. Three of these exceptional women have been selected as recipients of Harlequin's More Than Words award. And three New York Times bestselling authors have kindly offered their creativity to write original short stories inspired by these real-life heroines.We hope these stories inspired by strong, courageous women will touch your heart and motivate the heroine living inside you.

    Yet after a month at the Rainshadow Lodge, people begin to change --- and fall in love. How else can you account for what happens to the most mismatched, unlikely couples? There's Beth, who's stuck sharing the lodge with a complete stranger --- and a difficult one at that. And Mitch, a workaholic on a deadline who has to depend on free-spirited Rosie, who functions on "island time." Not to mention Catherine, who's falling in love with Michael, the lodge's handyman --- for the second time!

    But when the beautiful librarian appears on his doorstep as his every fantasy come to life, even though Jake knows loving Sophie isn't the right thing to do...how can he possibly resist?On A Night Like This by Barbara Freethy (Callways #1)From #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy comes the first book about the Callaways, a big Irish family born to serve and protect, many as San Francisco firefighters.May Day! By Heather GrahamMembers of the Krewe of Hunters team plan a relaxing vacation to jolly old London for the English celebration--they never figured that a May Pole just might be murder.Shopping for a Billionaire by Julia KentWhen mystery shopper Shannon Jacoby meets billionaire Declan McCormick with her hand down a toilet in the men's room of one of his stores, it's love at first flush.Built to Last by Susan MalleryThe tale of Aaron Cross, a man who doesn't know he needs saving...until he meets Marissa Spencer, a heroine inspired by the real life founder of the Motheread/ Fatheread Literacy Program.A Baby of Her Own by Brenda NovakDelaney is tired of waiting for the right man--all she wants is a baby. After seducing a handsome stranger, she returns to Dundee to find that same man is actually taking up residence on a ranch just outside of town--where he will very likely realize she's expecting.Dare to Love by Carly PhillipsIn relationships, Ian Dare offers the bare minimum--until one glimpse of sensual Riley Taylor changes his perspective. Their affair heats up and love comes into play, but Riley's secret past just might cost them everything.Executive Seduction by Jennifer ProbstWhen Chandler Santell turns to Logan Grant, the most ruthless CEO in the finance industry to save her beloved Yoga and Arts Center, she never intended to have seduction as part of the plan...In Too Deep by RaeAnne ThayneThough fiercely drawn to the comfort of Andrea McPhee's arms, Will Tanner isn't sure he can find room for a woman like her in a life focused on vengeance--until he discovers she has secrets of her own.Every Girl Does It by Rachel Van DykenAmanda gets a flash from the past when the nerdy kid she rejected in high school suddenly reappears in her life...dead sexy, he's all man and he wants her.Homecoming Season by Susan WiggsMiranda Sweeney and her family find hope and healing while spending an autumn at Willow Lake after Miranda survives breast cancer.

     And in this once upon a time tale, you’ll meet a circle of friends. There are friends who want to become lovers, colleagues who must resist an office romance, and fake dates that might turn into the real thing. But all those stories start with instant attraction... When hipster Gavin suddenly finds his best friend Savannah utterly irresistible… When charming Enzo thoroughly falls for taken successful, sophisticated Valerie though he’s contracted to work with her company… When Jason meets his best friend’s feisty and fun sister, Truly, for the first time… Grab your popcorn and devour this ensemble romance of three interconnected couples whose lives intersect as they fall in love.

    Traditionally a boys-only school, Saint Ambrose has just enrolled one hundred and forty female students for the first time. Even though most of the kids on the campus have all the privilege in the world, some are struggling, wounded by their parents’ bitter divorces, dealing with insecurity and loneliness. In such a heightened environment, even the smallest spark can become a raging fire.One day after the school’s annual Halloween event, a student lies in the hospital, her system poisoned by dangerous levels of alcohol. Everyone in this sheltered community—parents, teachers, students, police, and the media—are left trying to figure out what actually happened. Only the handful of students who were there when she was attacked truly know the answers and they have vowed to keep one another’s secrets. As details from the evening emerge, powerful families are forced to hire attorneys and less powerful families watch helplessly. Parents’ marriages are jeopardized, and students’ futures are impacted. No one at Saint Ambrose can escape the fallout of a life-altering event.In this compelling novel, Danielle Steel illuminates the dark side of one drunken night, with its tragic consequences, from every possible point of view. As the drama unfolds, the characters will reach a crossroads where they must choose between truth and lies, between what is easy and what is right, and find the moral compass they will need for the rest of their lives.

    so settle into your coziest armchair and enjoy four captivating tales that will make your holidays merry and bright..."Silver Bells" by Fern MichaelsFor years, movie star Amy Lee wondered what it would be like to leave her shallow Hollywood life and go back home to Apple Valley, Pennsylvania. This Christmas, she plans to find out. And Hank Anders, her high-school boyfriend, is now ready to give her a welcome she'll never forget..."Dear Santa..." by JoAnn RossMystery author Holly Berry's SUV has broken down in the little hamlet of Santa's Village, Washington. Holly hates the holidays--that is until lodge owner Gabriel O'Halloran and his five-year-old daughter rekindle her belief in passion, magic, and Christmas wishes..."Christmas Past" by Mary BurtonPhotographer Nicole Piper just received a very unwelcome Christmas gift--a letter that holds clues to an elusive killer's identity. Uncovering the truth means enlisting homicide detective David Ayden's help, and embarking on a road trip that will take them both into the heart of danger and desire..."A Mulberry Park Christmas" by Judy DuarteEvery Christmas, the folks living on Sugar Plum Lane pull out all the stops when decorating. After a bitter breakup, Alyssa Ridgeway's heart just isn't in it this year. But running into her first love, James "Mac" MacGregor, fills her with memories of the tender Christmas kiss they once shared...

    First she got engaged, then she was jilted, and now she’s pregnant—via a sperm bank! She was so sure love had passed her by, she decided to have a baby on her own. Before Lily’s due date, Jake will have to woo her, win her, marry her, and convince her that he wants to be a dad to the baby she’s carrying…and maybe a few more. Originally published in 2004 in Mothers by Design.

    Claire!Linda Lael Miller delivers a holiday miracle in the bittersweet tale of a young woman who can't hide her broken heart -- or her past -- when she returns to her hometown. But a sexy widower may just help her discover the true meaning of home in "Christmas of the Red Chiefs." Catherine Mulvany spins a fairy tale come true in "Once Upon a Christmas." They flirted as teenagers, but it takes time -- and some divine intervention -- to bring two star-crossed lovers together at last. Julie Leto pairs fire and ice in "Meltdown," the sensual tale of a Cuban-American PR whiz whose job description includes thawing out her CEO boss's frosty image. Will their sparks torch into flames of passion? Roxanne St. Claire unwraps the thrills of Christmas in New York, where a female bodyguard toys with a dangerous desire for a mysterious hunk while protecting his young daughter. It's a risky game with passion as the prize in "You Can Count on Me."

    Gorri, P.T. Macias, P. Mattern, Yolanda Olson, Ariel Marie, Savannah Morgan, Amanda Kimberley, Heather Kirchhoff, Aimee Shaye.Featuring Shifters, Dragons, Werewolves, Bears, Vampires, and more!*All Proceeds go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital“The holidays only come once a year, but this crazy couple plans to make it last forever.” Dragon Got Run Over By A Reindeer by Julia Mills“Some gifts are worth waiting for.”Gift of the Gods by Tami Lund“She doesn’t want anything to do with a soulmate, but he’s determined to convince her otherwise.”Solstice Magick by Heather Marie Adkins“His heart is frozen, can she change his mind about love?”The Dragon’s Christmas Gift by C.D. Gorri“Carina rapidly learns that a magical night with a dragon surpasses a white Christmas in New York.”The Dragon’s Magical Gift by P.T. Macias“It was her father’s debt……but Princess Calista has the Devil to pay!”12 Magical Nights of Bedevilment : My Demon Lover by P. MatternUnderneath a Fallen Sky by Yolanda Olson“Will her secret destroy their chance for love everlasting?”A Beary Christmas by Ariel Marie“A love sanctioned by the Gods or a dynasty mired in a new threat, Alpha female Lexie Wolfe has 12 days wrapped in Majick to decide which is her true path.”Wrapped in Magick by Savannah Morgan“Cures sometimes have a bite.”The Cure by Amanda Kimberley“Christmas is supposed to be a magical time.”A Magical Christmas by Heather Kirchhoff“Being enchanted never felt so wicked.” Kiss of Winter by Aimee Shaye

    RothCrazy for You by Kennedy KovitSimmering Seductions by Mandy M. RothExecutive Decision by Mandy M. RothThe bright lights of the big city called to Liz Rogers. Her best friend and almost roommate, Dale, helped her make the transition from small town girl to big time ad executive. They work together and nearly live together. For eight years he's been her rock, her sounding board. As Liz starts breaking off one workplace relationship, another one--that has been brewing since the first day she arrived in New York, blossoms--leaving her confused and concerned. She'd been burned once by love and isn't willing to risk her heart again, especially not to a man who was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth.Dale Corbins has been in love with Liz from the moment he laid eyes on her. He knows time is running out, that one of these days she's going to come home and tell him she's fallen for someone else. When he finds out she's been sleeping with their boss, he decides it's time to take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, winning Liz's heart isn't an easy game to play. It will take more than romantic gestures and sweet nothings to get the woman he loves. Thankfully, he's a very persistent man. But is this a game even he can't win?Crazy for You by Kennedy KovitMeredith is home again, ready to settle down in her small town and open the antique shop she's always dreamed of owning. She's had enough of powerful men trying to use her and wants to simply fade away from the dating scene and enjoy life. When she runs into the diner's new owner, she quickly realizes her master plan might have been premature.Landry left life in the fast lane for life on Main Street. He's sworn off women for a while. They're nothing but trouble. Meredith is no exception. In fact, he's pretty sure she's not quite right in the head, but for some reason he gets her offbeat, whimsical behavior and craves being around it, not to mention she's smokin' hot and oozes sex appeal. It's hard to fight nature's pull even while chanting, "I've sworn off women."Simmering Seductions by Mandy M. RothSometimes, it's possible to forgive but never forget. Can true love conquer all?Devan Seward is in the process of starting over--moving to the big city and doing her best to move on from an ugly past. When she waylays "Mr. Right" in the stairwell of her new apartment building, she feels an instant connection to him. There is something about the tall, dark and handsome man that leaves her feeling as if she's known him all her life. Devan no longer trusts blindly, a hard lesson learned but can't seem to stop herself from confessing things better left behind.Chef Kurt Holland is like a rock god in the culinary world. Cooking is his passion. His restaurant, E&E, caters only to the rich and famous. When a sexy blast from the past literally falls into his lap, he refuses to retreat like he did last time. No. Seizing the moment and Devan's heart becomes his ultimate passion.Sometimes, it's possible to forgive but never forget and the web of hurt reaches out further than most realize.

    Betsy Taylor and the Wyndham werewolves are back in three all-new outrageous novellas from New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson.MaryJanice Davidson “continues to put her own unique spin on paranormal romance” (Fallen Angel Reviews) in these hilarious and sexy new novellas featuring Undead Queen Betsy Taylor as she meets Fred the mermaid, an all-new female superhero, and Lara Wyndham, the daughter of the Pack leader of the Wyndham werewolves.

    There, Jennifer will discover new meaning in life and experience not one, but two of the most amazing love stories ever.

    The five dedicated women selected as this year's recipients of Harlequin's More Than Words award have done just that, by discovering a seed of compassion, and nurturing it to effect real change in their communities. To celebrate their accomplishments, five bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing short stories inspired by these real-life heroines.We hope "More Than Words" inspires you to look into your heart and find the heroine who lives within.

    In “Christmas in Shelter Bay,” New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross returns to Shelter Bay, where Kelli has long tried to keep her feelings for her friend Cole a secret. But when the local matchmakers conspire to send them to a secluded lakeside cabin, the two friends soon discover that a little love will keep them warm.TV producer Nathaniel Ravelle knows the Bayberry Island mermaid legend is a joke— how could a statue grant a wish for true love? But when a Christmas Nor’easter lands him in close quarters with local Annie Parker, they see magic at work in matters of the heart in New York Times bestselling author Susan Donovan’s “A Seaside Christmas.”In LuAnn McLane’s “Mistletoe on Main Street,” Clint isn’t sure how to rekindle his romance with high school sweetheart Ava—until his father bows out of playing Santa at the annual Cricket Creek holiday parade and Clint gets the chance to make this Christmas one to remember. And in Alexis Morgan’s “The Christmas Gift”, business is booming at Bridey Roke’s pastry shop. Everyone in town stops in to sample her holiday treats. But in her spare moments, she’s perfecting a special recipe to charm the handsome new neighbor—who has his own surprise gift for her come Christmas Eve!

    Dana Miller has been living for one thing: to see his killer caught and punished. She gave the police one month--and now Dana, a crack private investigator before she was married, is going after the murderer herself.Dark and enigmatic Rick Sanchez lives on the edge of the very streets he'd fought so hard to escape. Dana thinks he's concealing something about Ken's murder, but she needs his help to penetrate the violent, twilight world of the inner-city.Now Dana is descending into a treacherous realm, where a dangerous stranger's touch will awaken a passion she has never known. It's a perilous journey that will take her to the last place she wants to go, lead a killer to her door, and put her heart in the hands of a man who could be her worst enemy .. or her greatest salvation.