More Than Words: Stories of Strength: Close Call / Built to Last / Find the Way

More Than Words: Stories of Strength: Close Call / Built to Last / Find the Way
Karen Harper

Susan Mallery

Carla Neggers

They're your neighbors, your aunts, your sisters and your best friends. 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.

Dear Reader,

Within these pages you will find three uplifting stories of courage. The stories, written by some of Harlequin’s most beloved authors, are fiction, but the women who inspired them are real. They are women who have dedicated their lives to helping others, and all are recipients of a Harlequin More Than Words award.

The Harlequin More Than Words program was established in 2004. Through the program Harlequin recognizes ordinary women for their extraordinary commitment to community and makes a $10,000 donation to the woman’s chosen charity. In addition, some of Harlequin’s most acclaimed authors donate their time and energy to writing fictional novellas inspired by the lives and work of our award recipients. The collected stories are published, with proceeds returning to the Harlequin More Than Words program.

Together with Carla Neggers, Susan Mallery and Karen Harper, I invite you to meet the Harlequin More Than Words award recipients highlighted in these pages. We hope their stories will inspire you to get involved in charitable activities in your community, or perhaps even with the charities you read about here. Together we can make a difference.

To learn more about the Harlequin More Than Words program or to nominate a woman you know for the Harlequin More Than Words award, please visit www.HarlequinMoreThanWords.com.

Sincerely,

Donna Hayes

Publisher and CEO

Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.

More Than Words

Stories of Strength

Carla Neggers

Susan Mallery

Karen Harper

CONTENTS

STORIES INSPIRED BY REAL-LIFE HEROINES

CLOSE CALL

by Carla Neggers

Inspired by Jan Richardson and Kathryn Babcock

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

BUILT TO LAST

by Susan Mallery

Inspired by Dena Wortzel

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

FIND THE WAY

by Karen Harper

Inspired by Gloria Gilbert Stoga

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

EPILOGUE

JAN RICHARDSON & KATHRYN BABCOCK

SHELTERNET