A desperate ruse with pizzas, a broken high heel and the most beautiful story ever told are just three steps toward healing the heart of book editor Jake Willis...and capturing it forever.

FAMILY FIRSTEveryone walks around with some version of war wounds, but Jack O'Brien has all of them. A shattered heart brought about by gut-wrenching tragedy, a scarred body from his tours of duty in Afghanistan, and a broken soul courtesy of his betrayals.Home, but not, he's estranged from the people he loves most, and he's clueless about how to make things right when he's still consumed by anger, agony, and self-hatred.Caroline Bonet has her own scars, all interna...

THE BEST KIND OF SURPRISEMaggie's past prevents her from becoming attached. For years, after each move, she's had to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.But, since she's been living across the hall from a handsome, caring widower and his precocious daughter, she might have to change her mind about living her life on the run.

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMASWhen Caleb Walker invades her space on the subway, Kate O'Malley thinks she's managed to toss him aside like an old pair of cowboy boots. When he reappears later dressed as a helluva sexy cowboy Santa, Kate realizes those boots hadn't walked far enough away. Added to her frustration at having him pop up everywhere in her life, she's been asked by her boss to edit a raunchy book. Kate doesn't do sex.Caleb Walker only wanted a sneak preview of the prim e...

In these two heartbreakingly poignant stories--SAM'S GIFT and AMY'S WISH--four deeply scarred editors and authors find solace and rebirth in the holiday season, proving romantic love can heal any wound, self-inflicted or otherwise.

STARTING OVERIt began with a very unmerry Christmas, or rather a very merry unChristmas. Or, rather, with the tragic events directly preceding. But Nell Sprigens vowed that her holiday trip to Baja would be the start of something new and not just an escape from something old. More tequila than was prudent, too-tall heels and a mountain of guilt all combined in a madcap whirlwind blur that knocked her off her feet and into the arms of a handsome savior, and soon she was almost naked...

Danger won't find Gilly in tiny Briarwood, Colorado. Right? Banking on her instincts is all she has left. Luke Hudson has secrets. Living a lie, he recognizes a kindred spirit in Gilly. What is she hiding quickly becomes how can he protect her when violence slams through her front door. Will truth ruin their fragile bond or will time run out before they have the chance to admit their love?

Bleu - L.P. MaxaOver the past few months Bleu and Maykin have become best friends. They hang out all the time, especially after Bleu punches a guy for trash-talking Maykin, and gets sentenced to community service at an animal shelter. Cuddling puppies leads to finally giving in to the attraction they've been avoiding. And becoming dog parents seals the deal. Forever.Burnover - Diane BenefielAfter a horrible year, including getting dumped days before her wedding, Eva d...

Proceeds will benefit the CDC's Emergency Fund.Sweet Daisy - When a doctor, who's had his own share of trauma, falls for his neighbor, he does everything he can to win over the sweet, skittish school teacher.An Unexpected Rescue - On a mission to clear out residents from the back country before a monster storm comes their way, a first responder encounters the quirkiest woman he's ever met who he can't keep away from.Marci's Co-Star - Magnets that repel would best de...

The Gift of UsWhen Mateo, the hot firefighter Juliette's been sort of flirting with, comes into her ER, she's certain he's about to steal her heart, and though she'll fight it, she has a feeling she's going to be more than okay with giving in.Brighton HolidaysWe return to Brighton to find Frank and Lee hatching a plan to stay home to have a quiet holiday season with the eight-year-old son only to find both sets of grandparents have a completely different idea about ...

An exploration of all the ways in which birds are social creatures—from breeding to nesting to babysittingIn The Social Lives of Birds, evolutionary biologist and author of Slow Birding Joan Strassmann examines what it means for birds of a feather to flock together. Some birds sleep together. Some join the foraging groups of other species. Some are only social during breeding season, forming nesting colonies in trees, cliffs, and sandbanks. Some a...

**'A tour-de-force survey of how birds live their lives - with all the drama, surprise, humour, sadness and amazement of any human soap-opera' - Stephen Moss, author of Ten Birds That Changed the World**'Utterly fascinating . . . Strassmann is the perfect guide to this world: an author as much fascinated by the science and research as she is motivated by the sheer joy and wonder of the birds themselves' - James Macdonald Lockhart, author of Ra...