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More Than Words, Volume 7: An Anthology
Each and every one of us has the ability to effect change—to make our world a better place. The dedicated women selected as this year's recipients of Harlequin's More Than Words award have changed lives, one good deed at a time. To celebrate their accomplishments, some of our bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing stories inspired by these real-life heroines.
We hope More Than Words inspires you to get in touch with the real-life heroine living inside of you.
In Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman's dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it's never too late to form a loving family.
In Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the ded icated teacher who is the love of his life.
We hope More Than Words inspires you to get in touch with the real-life heroine living inside of you.
In Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman's dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it's never too late to form a loving family.
In Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the ded icated teacher who is the love of his life.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Carly Phillips
274 books9,904 followersNY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips is the queen of Alpha Heroes, at least according to The Harlequin Junkie Reviewer.. Carly married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her crazy dogs who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram pages. The author of over 75 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters and is now an empty nester. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as her first romance club pick. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 25, 2011
In Compassion Can’t Wait, author Carly Phillips writes about Julia Caldwell. Julia is a social worker for Caridad del Cobre. She works with Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation. Currently Julia is dealing with one particular family. The Cortez family. There are two twin boys and one of them has cancer. Julia wants to do someone for Michael, the twin who is healthy. Michael is into baseball. Julia has just the mentor for Michael.
The last time Kyle Hansen saw Julia, she broke his heart. Though, Kyle would do anything for Julia. Will these two sweethearts find their second chance at love?
In Donna Hill’s Someplace Like Home, Verna Scott runs Someplace Like Home. It is a facility that youth can come to get help, food, and shelter. While at a press conference, Verna is approached by Ronald Morris. Ronald is a guidance counselor. These two are dedicated to their work. The more time that they spend together, the hotter things start to heat up between them.
Finally in Jill Shalvis’s What the Heart Wants, Ellie Cahn is a teacher. She also helps teenage girls through Powerful and In Charge, a nonprofit program. While driving along, Elle’s care breaks down. As luck would have it, a old friend, Jack Buchanan shows up and helps Elle. Elle and Jack reconnect. Only this time they will become more than just friends.
More Than Words: Volume 7 features three brand new stories form some of your favorite authors, Carly Phillips, Donna Hill, and Jill Shalvis. As an added bonus you can read two additional stories from authors, Pamela Morsi and Meryl Sawyer at www.harlequinmorethanwords.com
What I like most about these books is that the stories are inspired by real life heroes that have created foundations or other charitable companies that give back to not only their communities but other sin need as well. While, I did like all the stories, I did not have a favorite. They were all alright. Though, there was something about Kyle and Julia that made me fall for them. It might have been the lost love thing. Verna and Ronald had some sparks. I did like Elle and Jack’s story, though there as some mention of violence in this story. It did not happen to Elle but to one of the guys that Elle was helping. It was great getting to learn about all the different charities and women. Valerie, Nancy, Victoria and Sasha do a nice thing for others in need.
The last time Kyle Hansen saw Julia, she broke his heart. Though, Kyle would do anything for Julia. Will these two sweethearts find their second chance at love?
In Donna Hill’s Someplace Like Home, Verna Scott runs Someplace Like Home. It is a facility that youth can come to get help, food, and shelter. While at a press conference, Verna is approached by Ronald Morris. Ronald is a guidance counselor. These two are dedicated to their work. The more time that they spend together, the hotter things start to heat up between them.
Finally in Jill Shalvis’s What the Heart Wants, Ellie Cahn is a teacher. She also helps teenage girls through Powerful and In Charge, a nonprofit program. While driving along, Elle’s care breaks down. As luck would have it, a old friend, Jack Buchanan shows up and helps Elle. Elle and Jack reconnect. Only this time they will become more than just friends.
More Than Words: Volume 7 features three brand new stories form some of your favorite authors, Carly Phillips, Donna Hill, and Jill Shalvis. As an added bonus you can read two additional stories from authors, Pamela Morsi and Meryl Sawyer at www.harlequinmorethanwords.com
What I like most about these books is that the stories are inspired by real life heroes that have created foundations or other charitable companies that give back to not only their communities but other sin need as well. While, I did like all the stories, I did not have a favorite. They were all alright. Though, there was something about Kyle and Julia that made me fall for them. It might have been the lost love thing. Verna and Ronald had some sparks. I did like Elle and Jack’s story, though there as some mention of violence in this story. It did not happen to Elle but to one of the guys that Elle was helping. It was great getting to learn about all the different charities and women. Valerie, Nancy, Victoria and Sasha do a nice thing for others in need.
March 22, 2013
Each and every one of us has the ability to effect change--to make our world a better place. The dedicated women selected as this year's recipients of Harlequin's More Than Words award have changed lives, one good deed at a time. To celebrate their accomplishments, some of our bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing stories inspired by these real-life heroines.
We hope More Than Words inspires you to get in touch with the real-life heroine living inside of you.
In Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman's dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it's never too late to form a loving family.
In Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the dedicated teacher who is the love of his life.
It is so very hard not to love a story when your favorite authors are writing it. Such a great book
of accomplishments. The characters are real. The stories are honest and hopeful. I give it a 5 star.
We hope More Than Words inspires you to get in touch with the real-life heroine living inside of you.
In Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman's dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it's never too late to form a loving family.
In Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the dedicated teacher who is the love of his life.
It is so very hard not to love a story when your favorite authors are writing it. Such a great book
of accomplishments. The characters are real. The stories are honest and hopeful. I give it a 5 star.
August 7, 2011
First of all, I love the idea of this book-stories about real life charitable organizations. Honestly, I really enjoyed reading the pages preceeding each story that told about the real life heroines who started up each charity, including how and why, more than the actual short stories.
Even though I liked reading the true inspiration blurbs, I thought the actual romance stories were slow and bland. I am a fan of short stories, so it wasn't the format that bothered me. I just felt like the stories were quickly written with hollow characters and not a lot of feeling.
I wasn't feeling any of the romance in the stories, so maybe if the authors had focused more on telling the other parts of the stories instead of the romances, it could have been a better book. The romances seemed forced and didn't seem to really tie together with the charities enough.
The book definitely has a great cause and I appreciated learning about the different charities. However I wasn't left with the warm, fuzzy feeling that I was expecting from this book.
book sent by publicist in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
Even though I liked reading the true inspiration blurbs, I thought the actual romance stories were slow and bland. I am a fan of short stories, so it wasn't the format that bothered me. I just felt like the stories were quickly written with hollow characters and not a lot of feeling.
I wasn't feeling any of the romance in the stories, so maybe if the authors had focused more on telling the other parts of the stories instead of the romances, it could have been a better book. The romances seemed forced and didn't seem to really tie together with the charities enough.
The book definitely has a great cause and I appreciated learning about the different charities. However I wasn't left with the warm, fuzzy feeling that I was expecting from this book.
book sent by publicist in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
January 10, 2014
I like the idea behind this and learned about some fantastic charities, but I found the actual stories lacking.
May 2, 2026
**MINOR SPOILERS**
I bought this book because one of the three stories was written by Jill Shalvis (whose books I like) and I liked her novella the best. I’ve written separate reviews for each of the three novellas. I think this was the first book/novella that I have read by Carly Phillips and I know it is the first for Donna Hill. I might read Carly Phillips again, but I probably would not read another by Donna Hill.
Compassion Can’t Wait Carly Phillips
In this novella, Julia and Kyle, two high school sweethearts meet again and realize that they still care for each other. When Julia was in high school, her sister died of a long term illness. As a result, she became a social worker. She is especially sensitive to the needs of children who are not sick but have to watch their siblings die, as she did. One of the siblings she meets is Michael who is a big fan of Kyle.
Kyle is a very successful pitcher in the MLB. He agrees to meet Michael and meets Julia again. Kyle had been tutored by Julia in high school and they eventually became friends and lovers. When he was drafted, he asked her to go with him, but she did not in order to stay with her sister.
In one spot, the author writes that Kyle never thought of her again. That is beyond unlikely and it probably should have said that he tried not to think of her again. Later in this novella, Julia distrusts that Kyle will be in touch with Michael when he returns from his road trip. She sees a parallel between Kyle leaving her and never being in touch and going on a road trip and never being in touch.
I agree with another reviewer that said that Kyle should have recognized better how his past actions would affect Julia now. He thought she should have trusted him but did not see how he had left her. Just because he was drafted did not mean that he had to completely cut himself out of her life when they were younger. He saw it as rejection and that was because of his difficult childhood.
The story had a good foundation but I thought the author should have delved a little deeper into Julia and Kyle’s emotions both in the past and present.
4 stars
Someplace Like Home Donna Hill
In this novella, Verna and Ronald meet at a conference where Verna is a speaker. She runs a home that allows children to be cared for while waiting for a foster home or to turn 18. She and Ronald are both dedicated and caring towards children. Ronald is a guidance counselor at a local high school. He begins volunteering at Verna’s home.
This book felt like it was more about the wonderful program being featured rather than the relationship between Verna and Ronald.
Verna makes a decision about something related to Ronald that I did not think was the right decision or at least did not have the right reasoning. The author explained why Verna made that decision and she later regrets it.
3 stars
What the Heart Wants by Jill Shalvis
Ellie was a bit of a wild child as a teenager and later turns her life around to help kids who were like her. At the beginning of the book, she meets an old high school friend, Jack, who has regrets that he had not been able to help her on a night when she was attacked but escaped.
Jack does not think he is good for Ellie but tries to care for her. He runs a martial arts studio that was inspired in part by Ellie’s attack. He volunteers to help Ellie run a class on defense for a group of troubled teenagers.
I liked Ellie’s character. She is very strong, caring, and funny. I like how she was an equal partner with Jack when he was determined to keep her at arms length. She took the attack that happened to her and used it as motivation to run a great program for troubled teens.
Though this is a novella, the relationship had depth. The author had a great ability to convey caring and intimacy and that was true in this story as well.
I recommend her writing and she is basically an auto buy for me.
5 stars
I bought this book because one of the three stories was written by Jill Shalvis (whose books I like) and I liked her novella the best. I’ve written separate reviews for each of the three novellas. I think this was the first book/novella that I have read by Carly Phillips and I know it is the first for Donna Hill. I might read Carly Phillips again, but I probably would not read another by Donna Hill.
Compassion Can’t Wait Carly Phillips
In this novella, Julia and Kyle, two high school sweethearts meet again and realize that they still care for each other. When Julia was in high school, her sister died of a long term illness. As a result, she became a social worker. She is especially sensitive to the needs of children who are not sick but have to watch their siblings die, as she did. One of the siblings she meets is Michael who is a big fan of Kyle.
Kyle is a very successful pitcher in the MLB. He agrees to meet Michael and meets Julia again. Kyle had been tutored by Julia in high school and they eventually became friends and lovers. When he was drafted, he asked her to go with him, but she did not in order to stay with her sister.
In one spot, the author writes that Kyle never thought of her again. That is beyond unlikely and it probably should have said that he tried not to think of her again. Later in this novella, Julia distrusts that Kyle will be in touch with Michael when he returns from his road trip. She sees a parallel between Kyle leaving her and never being in touch and going on a road trip and never being in touch.
I agree with another reviewer that said that Kyle should have recognized better how his past actions would affect Julia now. He thought she should have trusted him but did not see how he had left her. Just because he was drafted did not mean that he had to completely cut himself out of her life when they were younger. He saw it as rejection and that was because of his difficult childhood.
The story had a good foundation but I thought the author should have delved a little deeper into Julia and Kyle’s emotions both in the past and present.
4 stars
Someplace Like Home Donna Hill
In this novella, Verna and Ronald meet at a conference where Verna is a speaker. She runs a home that allows children to be cared for while waiting for a foster home or to turn 18. She and Ronald are both dedicated and caring towards children. Ronald is a guidance counselor at a local high school. He begins volunteering at Verna’s home.
This book felt like it was more about the wonderful program being featured rather than the relationship between Verna and Ronald.
Verna makes a decision about something related to Ronald that I did not think was the right decision or at least did not have the right reasoning. The author explained why Verna made that decision and she later regrets it.
3 stars
What the Heart Wants by Jill Shalvis
Ellie was a bit of a wild child as a teenager and later turns her life around to help kids who were like her. At the beginning of the book, she meets an old high school friend, Jack, who has regrets that he had not been able to help her on a night when she was attacked but escaped.
Jack does not think he is good for Ellie but tries to care for her. He runs a martial arts studio that was inspired in part by Ellie’s attack. He volunteers to help Ellie run a class on defense for a group of troubled teenagers.
I liked Ellie’s character. She is very strong, caring, and funny. I like how she was an equal partner with Jack when he was determined to keep her at arms length. She took the attack that happened to her and used it as motivation to run a great program for troubled teens.
Though this is a novella, the relationship had depth. The author had a great ability to convey caring and intimacy and that was true in this story as well.
I recommend her writing and she is basically an auto buy for me.
5 stars
September 27, 2020
* Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait-really enjoyed this story a lot
* Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home-a lot of build up to be extremely rushed at the end even for a short story. It would have been better had there been a few pages Epilogue 6-12 months later instead of rushing the story after a few weeks to wrap everything up in a bow.
* Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants-was good for a short story.
* Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home-a lot of build up to be extremely rushed at the end even for a short story. It would have been better had there been a few pages Epilogue 6-12 months later instead of rushing the story after a few weeks to wrap everything up in a bow.
* Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants-was good for a short story.
July 29, 2011
Each of the stories in this collection incorporates a real life heroine nominated through Harlequin's More Than Words program. The women nominated are ones who have done major things to help their community or bring awareness to vital programs. I really like the idea of the program and was excited to read the stories each author put forth.
In Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.
Kyle and Julia were childhood best friends and high school sweethearts. When Kyle gets called up to the minors right out of high school he wants Julia to go with him. Since her sister is sick with cancer and her family is being torn apart by it, she refuses. They lose contact after that. Kyle is hurt that Julia wouldn't go with him, and Julia is hurt that he'd take off without a word, knowing she couldn't leave her family.
Now Julia is a social worker who helps single parents families cover their expenses through the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation. One of her cases involves a set of twins - one is dying of cancer and the other has basically been abandoned by his mother while she deals with the sick one. The healthy son is a major fan of Kyle's - who's now a major league ball player - and she wants to set up a meeting between the two.
Between them, Kyle and Julia have a lot of baggage. Kyle grew up in a dirt poor home in less than ideal circumstances. Julia had the perfect family life until her sister became ill and she lost her parents to her sister's care. They relied on each other to fill in the gaps of their missing families. So when Kyle left Julia behind, it was more devastating to both of them than they could have imagined. Of the two, I think Julia had more reason to be angry than Kyle. Yes, he had the opportunity to follow his dream, but she was dealing with a sick sister and her family was falling apart.
Lucky for us, Kyle realized this almost immediately upon seeing Julia again. From there he just had to convince her that they were meant to be together. Their's was a sweet romance. I liked that, though they had history, they focused on the here and now as much as possible. The main conflict comes from Julia's trust issues and I thought Phillips handled it well for the page count.
Overall a sweet reunited lovers story.
4.5 out of 5
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman's dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it's never too late to form a loving family.
Verna was a social worker for a lot of years. When she realized she wasn't able to make a difference in that capacity any longer, she branched out and opened Someplace Like Home. The Home was a place where teenagers could come to reconcile with their families, or escape from them if needed. During a conference she was speaking at, Verna met Ronald, a high school counselor who wanted to donate his time to The Home.
Verna and Ronald are every attracted to each other. Verna holds back because of her commitment to The Home and because of her own past. When another complication crops up between them Verna's reaction pushes Ronald futher away. While I understood her reasons, I did struggle with the way she went about it. The fact that Verna and Ronald both suffered from it lessened my pain somewhat.
Overall this was a good entry in the collection. I think it had the potential to be darker and more emotional, but the page count didn't allow for full emotional impact. Even so, it was well done and I enjoyed reading not only the story, but about the charity that inspired it.
4 out of 5
In Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the dedicated teacher who is the love of his life.
Shalvis is always a favorite, as you know, but I think she does short stories extremely well. This was no exception. Jack and Ellie were good friends in high school. They lost touch afterward while Jack was in the military. Ellie is now a teacher who runs a program that teaches women how to be confident in themselves. Jack owns a martial arts studio and Ellie wants him to teach a self-defense class at her school.
It's obvious these two care for each other, but Jack holds himself responsible for something that happened to Ellie when they were younger. Ellie thinks that's ridiculous, but getting Jack to move on is proving tougher than she expected. I really liked how they were together. As I said, it was obvious they cared for each other. Their long-standing friendship really came through. I love friends-to-lovers themes.
Even more, I liked the parts that featured Ellie's school and her students. I thought Shalvis portrayed the teens well and did a good job of showcasing why programs like Ellie's - and the real life organization hers was modeled after, WET's - are really needed.
Overall a sweet romance with an excellent message behind it.
4.25 out of 5
This is an excellent collection of stories put together for charity. I really enjoyed all three. Learning about the different organizations these authors chose to spotlight was heartwarming.
Overall Grade: 4.25 out of 5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Holly.
In Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.
Kyle and Julia were childhood best friends and high school sweethearts. When Kyle gets called up to the minors right out of high school he wants Julia to go with him. Since her sister is sick with cancer and her family is being torn apart by it, she refuses. They lose contact after that. Kyle is hurt that Julia wouldn't go with him, and Julia is hurt that he'd take off without a word, knowing she couldn't leave her family.
Now Julia is a social worker who helps single parents families cover their expenses through the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation. One of her cases involves a set of twins - one is dying of cancer and the other has basically been abandoned by his mother while she deals with the sick one. The healthy son is a major fan of Kyle's - who's now a major league ball player - and she wants to set up a meeting between the two.
Between them, Kyle and Julia have a lot of baggage. Kyle grew up in a dirt poor home in less than ideal circumstances. Julia had the perfect family life until her sister became ill and she lost her parents to her sister's care. They relied on each other to fill in the gaps of their missing families. So when Kyle left Julia behind, it was more devastating to both of them than they could have imagined. Of the two, I think Julia had more reason to be angry than Kyle. Yes, he had the opportunity to follow his dream, but she was dealing with a sick sister and her family was falling apart.
Lucky for us, Kyle realized this almost immediately upon seeing Julia again. From there he just had to convince her that they were meant to be together. Their's was a sweet romance. I liked that, though they had history, they focused on the here and now as much as possible. The main conflict comes from Julia's trust issues and I thought Phillips handled it well for the page count.
Overall a sweet reunited lovers story.
4.5 out of 5
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman's dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it's never too late to form a loving family.
Verna was a social worker for a lot of years. When she realized she wasn't able to make a difference in that capacity any longer, she branched out and opened Someplace Like Home. The Home was a place where teenagers could come to reconcile with their families, or escape from them if needed. During a conference she was speaking at, Verna met Ronald, a high school counselor who wanted to donate his time to The Home.
Verna and Ronald are every attracted to each other. Verna holds back because of her commitment to The Home and because of her own past. When another complication crops up between them Verna's reaction pushes Ronald futher away. While I understood her reasons, I did struggle with the way she went about it. The fact that Verna and Ronald both suffered from it lessened my pain somewhat.
Overall this was a good entry in the collection. I think it had the potential to be darker and more emotional, but the page count didn't allow for full emotional impact. Even so, it was well done and I enjoyed reading not only the story, but about the charity that inspired it.
4 out of 5
In Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the dedicated teacher who is the love of his life.
Shalvis is always a favorite, as you know, but I think she does short stories extremely well. This was no exception. Jack and Ellie were good friends in high school. They lost touch afterward while Jack was in the military. Ellie is now a teacher who runs a program that teaches women how to be confident in themselves. Jack owns a martial arts studio and Ellie wants him to teach a self-defense class at her school.
It's obvious these two care for each other, but Jack holds himself responsible for something that happened to Ellie when they were younger. Ellie thinks that's ridiculous, but getting Jack to move on is proving tougher than she expected. I really liked how they were together. As I said, it was obvious they cared for each other. Their long-standing friendship really came through. I love friends-to-lovers themes.
Even more, I liked the parts that featured Ellie's school and her students. I thought Shalvis portrayed the teens well and did a good job of showcasing why programs like Ellie's - and the real life organization hers was modeled after, WET's - are really needed.
Overall a sweet romance with an excellent message behind it.
4.25 out of 5
This is an excellent collection of stories put together for charity. I really enjoyed all three. Learning about the different organizations these authors chose to spotlight was heartwarming.
Overall Grade: 4.25 out of 5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Holly.
July 1, 2011
More Than Words, Volume 7 is a collection of three fictional stories inspired by remarkable real-life heroines dedicated to helping children. Though short in length, each one had an uplifting message and a sweet romance. Here's a brief look at each one:
Carly Phillips' Compassion Can't Wait is the story of two long lost loves, a hospital social worker and a famous baseball player, coming together to help a young teen in need. This story was inspired by a charity called the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation. They provide financial assistance to single parents of seriously ill children so they can be with them in their time of need. What touched me the most about this story was that it focused on the healthy sibling of a sick child. When a parent has one child who is very sick, that child becomes the parent's center of attention and understandably so. This means that sometimes healthy siblings are pushed to the side when they too need attention. In Compassion Can't Wait, Julia and Kyle are able to give that to a teen whose brother has leukemia. This was an emotionally-charged story about compassion and forgiveness. I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home was inspired by the Family Reconnect Program in Toronto, an organization that works to reunite troubled youths with their families. Verna worked for Children's Services for many years, but left to start Someplace Like Home. Home is a special residence for troubled teens being shuffled through the foster care system, a sanctuary in an unsure world. Ronald is a high school guidance counselor who volunteers to help out. Verna and Ronald have an immediate attraction, but their relationship becomes rocky over a complex and emotional dilemma with one of Home's residents. Someplace Like Home was a touching story with a nice twist at the end. I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Jill Shalvis' What the Heart Wants is probably my favorite of the collection. It was a bit edgier, and I connected more with these characters. This story was inspired by the Women's Expressive Theatre in New York that has a program for empowering at-risk teenage girls. The main character Ellie benefited from this program when she was young, and now she runs her own organization for helping teenage girls. Ellie and Jack were friends in high school who lost touch when he left town years ago. Now he's back and running a self defense studio. It happens that Ellie needs someone to teach her girls self defense when threats are made. Enter Jack, the sexy bad boy who turned his life around. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ellie and Jack. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Carly Phillips' Compassion Can't Wait is the story of two long lost loves, a hospital social worker and a famous baseball player, coming together to help a young teen in need. This story was inspired by a charity called the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation. They provide financial assistance to single parents of seriously ill children so they can be with them in their time of need. What touched me the most about this story was that it focused on the healthy sibling of a sick child. When a parent has one child who is very sick, that child becomes the parent's center of attention and understandably so. This means that sometimes healthy siblings are pushed to the side when they too need attention. In Compassion Can't Wait, Julia and Kyle are able to give that to a teen whose brother has leukemia. This was an emotionally-charged story about compassion and forgiveness. I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home was inspired by the Family Reconnect Program in Toronto, an organization that works to reunite troubled youths with their families. Verna worked for Children's Services for many years, but left to start Someplace Like Home. Home is a special residence for troubled teens being shuffled through the foster care system, a sanctuary in an unsure world. Ronald is a high school guidance counselor who volunteers to help out. Verna and Ronald have an immediate attraction, but their relationship becomes rocky over a complex and emotional dilemma with one of Home's residents. Someplace Like Home was a touching story with a nice twist at the end. I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Jill Shalvis' What the Heart Wants is probably my favorite of the collection. It was a bit edgier, and I connected more with these characters. This story was inspired by the Women's Expressive Theatre in New York that has a program for empowering at-risk teenage girls. The main character Ellie benefited from this program when she was young, and now she runs her own organization for helping teenage girls. Ellie and Jack were friends in high school who lost touch when he left town years ago. Now he's back and running a self defense studio. It happens that Ellie needs someone to teach her girls self defense when threats are made. Enter Jack, the sexy bad boy who turned his life around. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ellie and Jack. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
August 8, 2011
Each centered around the beauty of compassion are the three short stories by Carly Phillips, Donna Hill and Jill Shalvis. Through the lives of characters going through harrowing events they each are able to find love and compassion. Walk into these lives and discover that love can be found even in the most difficult of times and circumstances.
What I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was something that others may not care for, the short story aspect. I’m often found reading novels that reach well over 400 pages and finishing them on a daily basis. It gets to be a little difficult on the eyes at times and so it’s nice to have the occasional short story thrown in between books to break things up a bit. Not only that, but when the stories are so well developed in such a short space it’s even better.
This book contains three stories: Compassion Can’t Wait, Someplace Like Home and What the Heart Wants. Each had a slightly different situation varying from reconnecting to the members of a family who are affected by a devastating disease of another to a story filled with making a family where you never expected to find one. Each has an underlying theme that’s opened in the book with information and ways you might be able to reach out, but in all honesty I didn’t feel like each novella was “preaching” to me. Every story was so well written that it had the perfect balance of message and romance. Overall though I’d say my favorite of the three was Carly Phillips Compassion Can’t Wait.
Readers in need of a set of short stories filled with a cast of complex characters, a message of hope and a bit of romance will absolutely love this installment of the More Than Words series. For me personally it was the perfect read between lengthy novels, I could quickly pick up one of the three short stories and count on not only an enjoyable experience but an uplifting one as well. Chick Lit readers will love the romance filled within the pages of Carly Phillips, Donna Hill & Jill Shalvis’s stories and will be left feeling uplifted by the hope & inspiration behind each story.
Originally reviewed and copyrighted at Chick Lit Reviews.
What I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was something that others may not care for, the short story aspect. I’m often found reading novels that reach well over 400 pages and finishing them on a daily basis. It gets to be a little difficult on the eyes at times and so it’s nice to have the occasional short story thrown in between books to break things up a bit. Not only that, but when the stories are so well developed in such a short space it’s even better.
This book contains three stories: Compassion Can’t Wait, Someplace Like Home and What the Heart Wants. Each had a slightly different situation varying from reconnecting to the members of a family who are affected by a devastating disease of another to a story filled with making a family where you never expected to find one. Each has an underlying theme that’s opened in the book with information and ways you might be able to reach out, but in all honesty I didn’t feel like each novella was “preaching” to me. Every story was so well written that it had the perfect balance of message and romance. Overall though I’d say my favorite of the three was Carly Phillips Compassion Can’t Wait.
Readers in need of a set of short stories filled with a cast of complex characters, a message of hope and a bit of romance will absolutely love this installment of the More Than Words series. For me personally it was the perfect read between lengthy novels, I could quickly pick up one of the three short stories and count on not only an enjoyable experience but an uplifting one as well. Chick Lit readers will love the romance filled within the pages of Carly Phillips, Donna Hill & Jill Shalvis’s stories and will be left feeling uplifted by the hope & inspiration behind each story.
Originally reviewed and copyrighted at Chick Lit Reviews.
June 15, 2012
"Compassion Can't Wait" by Carly Phillips: This is the RITA nominated story from this anthology. Phillips gets around the novella format by having her couple be high school sweethearts. So the emotional foundation was already there, they just had to get over the misunderstanding that separated them. I think it was a good novella. I wasn't left wanting more and I didn't feel like it was bursting at the seams. In addition, the organization, Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, was skillfully woven in. It was name-dropped a bunch of times, but it felt organic and not preachy. I was left with a lot of admiration for how the organization helps single parents care for their critically-ill children. I'd give "Compassion Can't Wait" four stars.
"Someplace like Home" by Donna Hill: I definitely wanted more from this one. I felt like it ended too quickly. I liked the premise of it and the slow way the hero (baseball player) & heroine drew together. It was also kinda nice to have a hero who was the nurturing type. However, in addition to the abrupt ending, there were also a few loose threads here and there. "Someplace like Home" gets three stars from me.
"What the Heart Wants" by Jill Shalvis: Shalvis is gradually becoming one of my must reads for contemporary authors. I'm kinda bummed this was so short because I loved Jack and I wanted to see more of him. There was only one short scene from his POV. Also, there were repeated allusions to something that happened to the heroine in her youth, but we never get the particulars. I suppose it's not really that big deal, but when the heroine finally mentions the 'horrific experience,' my curiosity went into overdrive. Stupid page limits and word counts. Still, four stars here as well.
Out of the three stories, I liked Shalvis's hero & heroine the best, but overall, I thought Phillips's story was the strongest.
"Someplace like Home" by Donna Hill: I definitely wanted more from this one. I felt like it ended too quickly. I liked the premise of it and the slow way the hero (baseball player) & heroine drew together. It was also kinda nice to have a hero who was the nurturing type. However, in addition to the abrupt ending, there were also a few loose threads here and there. "Someplace like Home" gets three stars from me.
"What the Heart Wants" by Jill Shalvis: Shalvis is gradually becoming one of my must reads for contemporary authors. I'm kinda bummed this was so short because I loved Jack and I wanted to see more of him. There was only one short scene from his POV. Also, there were repeated allusions to something that happened to the heroine in her youth, but we never get the particulars. I suppose it's not really that big deal, but when the heroine finally mentions the 'horrific experience,' my curiosity went into overdrive. Stupid page limits and word counts. Still, four stars here as well.
Out of the three stories, I liked Shalvis's hero & heroine the best, but overall, I thought Phillips's story was the strongest.
August 5, 2011
I don't usually read anthologies but I made an exception to More Than Words because I really liked the idea behind it. Each year real-life heroines (women who have gone above and beyond to help their communities and those in need) are chosen for the Harlequin More Than Words award. Each story in this book is inspired by and incorporates one of the award recipient and their organization.
Each story begins with a sort of foreword about the charitable organization and the woman (or women in the case of WET) which I really liked because I've never heard of them before and it was great learning about them. I thought all three authors did a good job incorporating the organization they were writing about. All three stories were heartwarming and lovely and uplifting but not preachy. All the heroines were going through hard times but were able to find love in unexpected circumstances and places. Two of the stories in this anthology are second-chance-at-love, which I really liked. I don't usually like reading short stories because I feel like there's usually not enough character and plot development. I had the some of the same issues here but for the most part I was happy to find that each were nicely paced, with enough emotion and sweet romance (some kissing and touching but everything else is fade-to-black) in the amount of pages (about a hundred each) they have.
I don't have a favorite as all three stories were equally enjoyable. I recommend this novel for everyone who loves a sweet romantic story that will uplift and inspire as well as sends out a great message.
**Reviewed by Michelle for Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks book blog.**
Each story begins with a sort of foreword about the charitable organization and the woman (or women in the case of WET) which I really liked because I've never heard of them before and it was great learning about them. I thought all three authors did a good job incorporating the organization they were writing about. All three stories were heartwarming and lovely and uplifting but not preachy. All the heroines were going through hard times but were able to find love in unexpected circumstances and places. Two of the stories in this anthology are second-chance-at-love, which I really liked. I don't usually like reading short stories because I feel like there's usually not enough character and plot development. I had the some of the same issues here but for the most part I was happy to find that each were nicely paced, with enough emotion and sweet romance (some kissing and touching but everything else is fade-to-black) in the amount of pages (about a hundred each) they have.
I don't have a favorite as all three stories were equally enjoyable. I recommend this novel for everyone who loves a sweet romantic story that will uplift and inspire as well as sends out a great message.
**Reviewed by Michelle for Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks book blog.**
May 2, 2011
I don't think I'll ever be too crazy about short stories but these were okay for a light read. I really found it interesting to read about organizations out there to help people that I had never even heard off. The three organizations featured in this book sound like incredibly organizations to help teenagers and single parents of terminally ill children. I was very impressed with them! I love that this series of books spreads the word about organizations like this anda the amazing women who run them.
May 24, 2013
This was a different and interesting read. There are 3 short stories. By Carly Phillips, Victoria ?, and Jill Shalvis. They are all about strong women based on organizations that help people, particularly teens. They are romances of a sort. I have come to love the writing of Carly Phillips and Jill Shalvis. These stories were very short but great. Well, worth reading. The characters in the other story were Verna and Ronald. *snort* I felt like I'd gone back in time. It was still a good story.
April 19, 2011
Three heart warming stories about Women and the power they have to achieve greatness. I was very touched by each story the authors wrote. I thought they did a great job on comparing the basis behind their stories to the Women honored by Harlequin. These novellas showcased the great causes the award receipts donate their time to each day. It truly opens your eyes to what others have done for others in this world, one step at a time.
March 17, 2013
I tried to like because the book was for a very good cause. The only story I was able to get through without wanting to hurl the book was Carly Phillips. Even though I read the entire story by Ms. Phillips it was not her best work.
I believe the reason that I had a hard time is that no one's romance seemed believable. I do applaud the fact that the book characters are based on real life heros that is the only reason I am giving it 2 stars.
I believe the reason that I had a hard time is that no one's romance seemed believable. I do applaud the fact that the book characters are based on real life heros that is the only reason I am giving it 2 stars.
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March 15, 2014Three stories whose main focus is not the romance but the charities and the heroines who work tirelessly in them. I enjoyed the first story the most "compassion can wait where the heroine childhood sweetheart comes back in her life, who now is a famous baseball player. i love that the story talks about the well child who feels alone while mom has to spend most of her time with his brother who has leukemia.
August 10, 2012
This book had three great stories all inspired by real life heroines. The stories were short in length but filled with lots of heart and meaning. I loved each of them. It was nice to step back and read stories that didn't have the same expected endings. These woman were inspirational and I'm glad we got a chance to hear their stories.
September 7, 2015
I just started this book. I really love Carly Phillips and think she is amazing. The story compassion can't wait tore at my heartstrings and I was crying when I read it. We really need to give more to these children who are dying and their siblings. This book made me want to learn more about Andre sober river of life foundation.
June 1, 2011
I really enjoyed these short stories from some of my favorite authors. All excellent stories based or inspired by real people who are heroins in the community. A fantastic selection for the beach, treadmill, or curled up on the couch it should come with a warning to pack tissues though.
July 2, 2014
Inspiring stories
I ran across this volume looking for works by my favorite authors. This series is so inspirational and it brings to life the wonderful work done by these great charitable organizations. I would put this series on my to buy list if I'm where you.
I ran across this volume looking for works by my favorite authors. This series is so inspirational and it brings to life the wonderful work done by these great charitable organizations. I would put this series on my to buy list if I'm where you.
April 3, 2011
Like it very much!
July 13, 2011
This is an excellent collection of stories put together for charity. I really enjoyed all three. Learning about the differnt organizations these authors chose to spotlight was heartwarming.
July 21, 2011
I bought this anthology to read Donna Hill's story. As with all her work, I loved it. Enjoyed the other stories as well. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
September 4, 2011
Only read Carly Phillips and Jill Shalvis's stories. Donna Hill's was a DNF.
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May 2, 2012"Compassion Can't Wait" by Carly Phillips in More Than Words, Vol. 7 is a 2012 RITA finalist in the Romance Novella category
December 24, 2016
Please see individual stories for review.
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