Sharon Reeves

All I want for Christmas...is to pretend the holidays do not exist. That should be my tagline for life. Another year with no one to kiss under the mistletoe. Of course, it doesn’t help that after my last epic breakup, I hopped into the sack with the one man I should’ve avoided. My arch-rival, Dean Pritchard. Despite the fact that he didn't bother calling after our night together, I can't get him out of my head. I am so on the naughty list. But when a snowstorm traps us in an elevator, I can't avoid my work crush any longer.

As a teenager and young man, Justin Lee felt deeply torn. Nicknamed "God Boy" by his peers, he knew that he was called to a life in the evangelical Christian ministry. But Lee harbored a secret: He also knew that he was gay. In this groundbreaking book, Lee recalls the events - his coming out to his parents, his experiences with the "ex-gay" movement, and his in-depth study of the Bible - that led him, eventually, to self-acceptance. But more than just a memoir, Torn provides insightful, practical guidance for all committed Christians who wonder how to relate to gay friends or family members - or who struggle with their own sexuality.

Maxon James understands me in a way others can’t. For as long as I can remember, he’s vowed that one day he would claim my wild, rebel heart. God knows I wanted him to try. I wanted the life he promised me in his lyrics. But his assurances couldn’t change the past, and the infamous mafia blood in my veins guarantees my heart can’t be claimed. Somewhere along the way, I slipped. I let myself believe we could have it all. Now a dark, menacing shadow hovers between us, mocking us for daring to hope for a normal future.

There are moments in our lives that can change the course we’re on. I believe when faced with those moments, we should take the unknown path. The night I stumbled into a burlesque club in downtown Los Angeles, I took one of those paths and changed my life. I found a home I’d never had with my own parents. I found a confidence I’d never known as a prima ballerina. I found my passion. And it inadvertently led me back to the one moment I’d let slip away - to him. To a love so pure and whole and carnal, I thought it could withstand anything.

Maci Price isn't really into relationships. Having four very protective older brothers has always made having a boyfriend very difficult anyway. But her friend is set on finding her the right guy—and thinks the mysterious Connor Green is the perfect pick. Connor Green is trying to find himself again. He loved, then lost, and it's time for him to pick up the pieces. His brooding is making his friends crazy, but Maci, who has grown up into a gorgeous and incredibly sexy woman, is about to break the spell.

The Merrick family is known for loving deep. So when Cecelia Merrick was murdered, it marked the Merricks in a way none of them recovered from. Both Cecelia's children found love. Both turned their backs on it. But Garrett "Merry" Merrick knew in his soul: The woman he divorced years ago was the one for him. Until the night when Cher took Garrett's back, and things changed. The Merrick family loves deep. They also protect fiercely. And with his eyes finally open, Garrett sees the woman who truly is for him, and he goes after her.

From the balcony of his house, Mike Haines can see the quiet, commonplace beauty of the Holliday farm. But what he remembers is the little sister of his high school girlfriend, Dusty, who grew up there. As a teen, Dusty had gone off the rails, but when she was a kid, she was sweet, she was funny, and she had a special bond with Mike. But after high school, she took off, and Mike never saw her again.

Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave. It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to become Southern California’s first giraffes. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow.

The one guy she can't have is the one she can't forget. Liam Quinn is one of the biggest movie stars in the world...and the only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved. After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancée are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. The only trouble is, when late-night rehearsals bring Elissa and Liam together, the line between what is and what could have been gets blurred.

Cassie swore she'd never forgive Ethan for breaking her heart when they were in acting school years ago. He was her one great love, and when he refused to love her back, a part of her died forever...or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he's determined to win her back. Finally he's able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago...but can she believe him? Has he really changed, and what makes this time different from all his other broken promises?