She wants nothing more than to see her clan the way it was when her father was still laird. But her uncle has other ideas. Ceana soon discovers that the only refuge to be found is in the last place she expects—the arms of her enemy. Luthais MacKay wants to be left alone. His only interest is training his prized hawks. He certainly doesn’t have time to listen to the petty squabbling of his clan when his father travels to Edinburgh and leaves him in charge. But when Luthais discovers a mysterious woman on his lands, he’s determined to unravel her secrets…one layer at a time. **This novella was previously published in the Kissing the Highlander anthology.**

    These are tales that can be read in their entirety in only a handful of minutes. The stories are submitted by dozens of authors who often set them in the larger worlds of their other books.Stories and Authors in the collection:Mistletoe Cowboy by Trish MilburnAn Ugly Sweater Christmas by Heather McGovernClose to Perfect by Suzanne FerrellTo Santa with Love by Lindsey BrookesA Perfect Party by Anna SugdenThe Miracle of the Child by Bridget HodderMistletoe Magic by D.B. SiedersOn This Christmas Day by Natalie J. DamschroderFashionably Late for Christmas by Tanya MichaelsA SEAL’s Proposal by Tawny WeberWhite Christmas Pizza by Donna MacMeansThe Christmas Before Hell Froze Over by Sally KilpatrickSnowflake by Monica McCabeAn Unexpected Guest by Beth PattilloNew Year’s Magic by Jody WallaceGiving Thanks by Jeanette GreyA Holiday Miracle by Michelle MonkouA Bluestone Christmas Homecoming by M.J. FredrickHaintsgiving by Maureen HardegreeAll She Wants for Christmas by Janice LynnThe Solstice Ball by Nancy NorthcottZombie of Good Cheer by Gretchen StullSnow and Ghosts by Nicki SalcedoA Candle in the Window by Dorien KellyIn Which Miss Gardella Receives Three Gifts by Colleen GleasonA Miracle for Molly by Trish Milburn

    It never falters. The electric tingle races through me, from head to toe. Until he breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless and wanting more. I thought fleeting weekends would be enough and it always was… until the distance threatened to tear us apart for good. This kiss may be the last kiss and every part of me hates that. For the first time since we started this, I’m all too aware that this may be the last time. No matter how much I want to lie to myself. How did we get this lost? More importantly, how can I have one more kiss?.

    and MacLaren Land Development, he is a success professionally, but his personal life is another matter.Following a divorce after a long, loveless marriage Heath spends his time with women who are beautiful and passionate, yet unable to provide what he longs for . . .. . . Heath has never experienced love even though he witnesses it every day between his younger brother, Jace, and wife, Caroline. He wants what they have yet spends his time with women too young to understand what drives him and too focused on themselves to be true companions.It’s been two years since Annie’s husband died, leaving her to build a new life. He was her soul-mate and confidante, she has no desire to find a replacement, yet longs for male friendship . . .. . . Annie’s closest friend in Fire Mountain, Caroline MacLaren, is determined to see Annie come out of her shell after almost two years of mourning. A chance meeting with Heath turns into an offer to be a part of the MacLaren Foundation Board and an opportunity for a life outside her home sanctuary which has also become her prison. The platonic friendship that builds between Annie and Heath points to a future where each may rely on the other without the bonds a romance would entail.However, without consciously seeking it, each yearns for more . . .. . . The MacLaren Development Company is booming with Heath at the helm. His meetings at a partner company with the young, beautiful marketing director, who makes no secret of her desire for him, are a temptation. But is she the type of woman he truly wants?. . . Annie’s acceptance of the deep, yet passionless, friendship with Heath sustains her, lulling her to believe it is all she needs. At least until Heath drops a bombshell, forcing Annie to realize that what she took for friendship is actually a deep, lasting love. One she doesn’t want to lose.Each must decide to settle, or fight for it all.Second Summer is the first book in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary novella series. Heartwarming stories of difficult choices, loyalty, and lasting romance. Watch for Hard Landing in the Spring of 2014.

    Megan wants to get her brother help. Neither was prepared for the electric chemistry from the enemy.While out in the desert, wealthy oil tycoon Gabe Hawke falls prey to a brazen theft. He’d joined the Marines to advance his tech skills and use them to build a premier computer technology company, but now his early prototypes are gone, and the thief remains at large. When Megan Maddox lost her mother, her world came to a grinding halt. Her brother became a virtual recluse, and the jewels left behind for her remained in his possession. But an attempt to retrieve those jewels and find a connection between her and her distant brother exposes unbelievable evidence about her brother’s true identity... as well as the dangers he faces.Desperate to keep her brother safe from harm, Megan turns to the one person who can help her. But when their worlds collide, and an unknown assailant surfaces, it exposes yet another unbelievable surprise – one that challenges her heart.This is a blending of Casino Royale and Mr. and Mrs. Smith with tons of romance to make you heart ache for a sexy hero of your own.While this story is a standalone novel that belongs to the Hawke Family Fortune, there are mentions of the Marshall Family Saga, the House of Morgan, the upcoming Brothers in Revenge novels, and even Princes of Avce characters and storylines are all intertwined in the same world.

    Unfortunately, as an unemployed debutante, she’s not exactly qualified to be leading an investigation. But help is at hand in the form of the handsome, former military man Jace Lance who happens to be the one who got her sister arrested in the first place. Jace thinks Emma is crazy for even considering working with him since he’s the one who stopped Joslyn from killing his former client. However, he can’t deny that the sexy southerner is in over her head when her tycoon cousins try to hire him to make sure Emma doesn’t find out the truth about what really caused her sister’s murderous actions. As they begin to uncover the truth together –and get to know each other intimately – it becomes clear that the more answers they get, the more danger Emma is in. Jace is determined to protect her, but how can he keep her safe when her whole family is in on the conspiracy?

    They do it for each other and can’t imagine being happier. But Jack has a past. Oh, Debra knows about it—and she’s curious. So when a friend from that past blows into town, Jack decides to give both himself and his wife a very special gift.This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

    This is not that kind of Christmas story. Well, there is kind of this big beastly creature in almost a blizzard, but that’s Tanner, the brutish muscle cake of a bodyguard that my father sends after me whenever I try to disappear. I hate Tanner except when he gets too close and then everything goes haywire a little, like the time he tracked me down in a remote Canadian motel with the snow falling outside and the heat rising inside. He tried to drag me back home for the holidays on this mega road trip, but things got weird and kinda strangely awesome, but that can’t happen because my father will literally kill us both. It’s that kind of Christmas story. *This novelette is a Christmas story featuring Tanner Hayes, the bodyguard from Scandal*

    It was all encompassing. I thought our love could withstand time and anything thrown our way. I was wrong. So wrong.I used to be happy. I used to be Juliette Weston when Dylan Somers filled my life with promises of love and a happy ever after. But when he took my heart and broke it into a million pieces, I became someone else entirely. In one afternoon, I lost my soul mate. I lost everything I knew myself to be. Three years later, the man who destroyed me is back. To assuage his guilt? To finish the job? It doesn’t matter… I won’t let him this time. I’m stronger. I’ve moved on. He won’t affect me. This is a story of love and betrayal. Pain and loss. Happiness and fate. It’s about finding your true destiny.This is our story.And it’s not for the faint of heart.

    The thought of being stranded in the middle of nowhere without so much as a scrap of makeup, and all for the general public’s entertainment, scares the life out of her. Charlie hasn’t even so much as been camping before, never mind existed without any creature comforts, and with food she has to catch and kill herself. Upon being introduced to ex-marine and survival expert Tyler Janson, the man who will be guiding her through all matters to do with surviving in the wild, she wonders if things might have started looking up.The problem is Tyler seems to think she’s about as pointless as a pedicure, and nothing she does gets his attention. But when their plane goes down in the middle of nowhere, something Charlie is sure is a set-up by the producers of the show, she is determined to show Tyler Janson exactly what she’s made of.

    The real problem for her lies in the fact that she can't get the fireman, the same man who rescued her, out of her mind and after a couple chance encounters, she can't get him out of her bed either. Reluctant to trust her heart to a man again, her efforts to push him away fail and when Misty's sister arrives and announces she's pregnant with Richard's child, Misty's life is once again turned upside down. It is the solace she finds in Aaron's arms and the all-consuming love she feels for him that helps her to realize that it's okay to forgive, forget, and trust again.

    Alpha male to the core, Blake’s idea of being a man leaves little room for emotional connection. He comes up with the perfect solution to the dreaded wedding: he’ll find a controllable date. He has everything planned to perfection. Samantha Jones agrees to spend the weekend with the hot boss. She’s attracted to him, but she’s sworn off men after her embarrassing recent break up. She’s determined to ignore the attraction and focus on business when he hands her an opportunity to be part of the biggest business pitch in Blake Genetics’ history. It could change everything. She’s not looking for love, she won’t jump off that cliff again. But she will take the chance to further her career. What neither of them expected was the weekend to take flight. Is this a risk they’re willing to see through to the end?

    To celebrate their accomplishments, bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing short stories inspired by their lives and work.This special eBook is yours at no charge because Harlequin is committed to celebrating women's efforts and supporting the causes that are meaningful to them. By sharing Rhonda Clemons' story, we hope to turn awareness into action and mobilize others to make a difference.To find out more or to nominate a woman you know, please visit HarlequinMoreThanWords.com.

    She is now a witness to a horrific crime involving some of America’s most influential men. She knows she must get away and can think of only one outsider that might help her—Will Ashton. The flame of their brief romance during their teenage years never completely died out, and now it is about to explode.Trouble at every turn, a feisty horse that refuses to race without a good luck kiss, and three old ladies hell-bent on playing match-maker turn this newly rekindled romance into a wild race to the finish. Can Will and McKenna cross the finish line together, and more importantly, alive?An Alternate Cover Edition can be found here.

    Who's getting married? Will we hear the patter of tiny feet? Are the sexytimes still awesome? This check-in focuses on everyone's favorite Hot in Chicago couple, Eli and Alexandra, but you can bet Gage steals the show!Forever in Fire contains spoilers for the entire Hot in Chicago series, so it’s best enjoyed after you’ve read the rest of those books and preferably, with a glass of wine!Previously published as a A Hot in Chicago Christmas Short.