Stories of the Heart: What Amanda Wants / Small Packages / Worth the Risk

Blossom Street #2.5 (What Amanda Wants)

by Debbie Macomber, Brenda Novak, Meryl Sawyer

Even as you read these words, there are women just like you stepping up and making a difference in their communities, making our world a better place to live. Three such exceptional women have been selected as recipients of Harlequin's More Than Words award. To celebrate their accomplishments, three bestselling authors have written short stories inspired by these real-life heroines.

Debbie Macomber touches the heart in What Amanda Wants--a young woman's story of strength and courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Brenda Novak's Small Packages shows us how the love of a very special baby boy helps two people get past their pain and embrace a hopeful future...together.

Meryl Sawyer explores the importance of creating balance in our lives, stopping to smell the roses and making time to chase our dreams in Worth the Risk.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Short Stories, Contemporary Romance

ebook

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Monique Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read What Amanda Wants by Debbie Macomber since it ties in to the Blossom Street series. I enjoyed the touching story and am glad I learned something new about the difficulties teenagers with cancer face that are different from others. Sweet story and great update on Lydia's story from book 1.

[Deborah D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the preface by each author, giving us a glimpse of the cause or movement which inspired the story and a few details about the people behind it.

I preferred the first story (What Amanda Wants) - probably because the story fit so nicely in the Blossom Street world of Macomber's making. A visit with some old friends and little glimpses on a couple new ones? Teens and cancer - not a lightweight topic but well handled.

I had a little harder time appreciating Lexi in 'Worth the Risk' - I think there just wasn't enough time to get to know the driving factors in regard to her pushing her sister Amber to fit her own personal style of learning, committing and interests. I wished I could slap her upside the head a couple times in that very short story.

'Small Packages' was a heart-wrenching and bittersweet story.But what a neat organization to find a way toward healing.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read What Amanda Wants" at this time because I'm reading the Blossom Street series. This story goes with the series.

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Amanda Wants The Blossom Street #2.5 - I had read all of the Blossom Street series except this one so I had to grab this book to add this novella to my repertoire. The book is women authors writing about not-for-profit organizations that tie into the storylines. For Amanda’s storyline it involved Melissa’s Living Legacy Foundation in regards to teens living with cancer. Wonderfully written. (11/23/22-11/25/22)

Small Package by Brenda Novak was a good novella. Different and okay to be in this book series. I’m not sure I would believe the storyline happening the way it did, but that’s why stories are written. Not-for-profit organization: Tole Friends Memory Box Program - memory boxes for grieving mothers that have lost an infant through miscarriage or stillborn, their birth certificates, death certificates, footprints, wristband, crib card and other mementos of a tiny life. (11/25/22-11/26/22)

Worth the Risk by Meryl Sawyer was the last novella in the book. Again, a fairly good story, regarding another storyline for a not-for-profit organization called Recipe for Success - teaching children in schools about healthy foods, growing them in gardens, and taking care of the gardens, then eating the foods, preparing the foods to eat, etc. for healthy choices. (11/26/22 - 11/27/22)

The concept of this book and these novellas tying in the not-for-profit organizations is a wonderful concept and very rewarding to see the success of how it is helping hundreds of thousands of individuals around the country and the world. Brilliant and very fulfilling to see the rewards.

[JoAnn M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stories inspired by women who made a difference. What Amanda Wants is about a teenage girl who is stricken with leukemia. She just wants all her friends to treat her normally and also wants to help other teens with cancer.
Small Packages is about Noelle, a woman who volunteers to make memory boxes for parents grieving the loss of their newborn/stillborn children. In the course of her visits to the hospital, she meets up with single dad Harrison and they make a plan for his surviving child.
Worth the Risk is about Lexi, who volunteers in the culinary arts program at her little sister’s school. She meets chef Brad in the classroom, and they form a relationship. I liked how Lexi cared for her sister, only wishing her a better situation than that in which she was raised.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first story in this book, What Amanda Wants, by Debbie Macomber. It’s part of the Blossom Street series, which I’ve previously read.

This sweet story tells of Amanda, a teenager who has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in her young life. As she battles cancer through chemo, a bone marrow transplant, and radiation, you follow her and her friendships and how she inspires many to make a difference.

[Emma Inman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the Debbie portion of this book and it was a good reminder that when you go through hard hard times it shows you who your true friends are and who will still be there when the light starts to shine at the end of the tunnel. It also reminds you to focus on what’s important and try to brush off the less than important things or the things that won’t matter in 6 months.

[Danielle Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Brenda Novak’s Small Packages.

Extremely sweet and heartwarming story. It was a quick light-hearted read filled with the good stuff: Love, family and friends.

Definitely a great story for new and old fans of her work to pick up.

[Cathie McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small packages: Noelle takes a leap and tells Harrison that she'd like to adopt his newborn son. Harrison agrees to a trial period. Noelle has had a terrible loss. Now she gets another.

It moved to quickly at the end.

[Sparklin C Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Small Packages. This is by far my favorite book by Brenda. It takes. This was such a sad and heartwarming story. I just loved reading about Noelle/Harrison. The chooses they made all for baby, Jeremy.

[Bev Stegmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very heartwarming ❤️
Loved Brenda Novak’s Small Packages.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance.

[Joann M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved What Amanda wants

[Darcy Shetler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debbie’s story was great the other two got worse.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart felt stories. Good read

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of three short stories. This is listed at a Blossom Street 1.5 version, but I think that it really should be 2.5. It takes place after The Yarn Shoppe because of the change that the characters have already gone through.

Fun read and it is good that all stories revolve around charities.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Words: Stories of the Heart is an omnibus of three short stories dedicated to supporting causes of concern to women: What Amanda Wants by Debbie Macomber, Small Packages by Brenda Novak and Worth The Risk by Meryl Sawyer. What Amanda Wants promotes Melissa’s Living Legacy Teen Cancer Foundation in a touching story about a young woman who suffers a recurrence of her childhood cancer. Macomber fans will be delighted to know that some characters from the Blossom Street series play an important part. Small Packages promotes the Memory Box Artist Program. After artist and sculptor Noelle Kane’s baby was stillborn, she began participating in the Memory Box Program as a way to ease her own suffering and the suffering of others in her situation. Delivering a Memory Box to the hospital for a stillborn twin, she came across the now-widowed father, Dr Harrison Ferello with the remaining twin boy. Something made her give him her card, and when Harrison called her, she made a suggestion that seemed to solve all his problems. This is a heart-warming romance with an original plot and engaging characters. It deals with infant death, but also abusive relationships and absent fathers. Worth The Risk promotes the Recipe For Success Foundation. Lexi Morrison has a busy life: she’s studying to be a CPA, she runs City Seeds, providing baby vegetables to local restaurants, and she is trying to guide her younger sister into the best choices for her health (she has diabetes) and her life. The appearance of local restauranteur, Brad Westcott, challenges her on several levels: is his charisma going to distract Amber from her studies and adversely influence her food choices? Is he going to distract Lexi from her own goals? Is he Worth The Risk? A delightful romance with an emphasis on food.

[Debbie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. This book contains 3 stories, one of which is a Blossom Street series story which I am working my way through, it's book #2.5 (What Amanda Wants). In book one there was a girl with cancer; in the second there was spousal abuse, guilt, and accepting new love; and the third book about trust and a teen dealing with diabetes.

Each was good. It took me a while to read the book because I read the first novella early in the year in order to progress in the Blossom Street, and then put it off because I was not sure the book would count for my 52 books challenge. I decided at the end of April to just read it and then see if it would count and I found a place to count it.

Great characters. Great stories of trial and redemption.

Using this book for the The 52 Book Club 2023 Challenge prompt #16 Featuring one of the "seven deadly sins" - There are a number of the seven sins in the three stories. There is definitely wrath and maybe a bit of pride, greed, lust, and even some sloth.

[Brittney Gleiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how fast this was to read and the amazing background to what the 3 short stories were about. so amazing!

[April Suter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three short stores about people who are trying to make a difference.
What Amanda Wants by Debbie Macomber is a peak into A Good Yarn and Lydia has a connection to a teenager whose cancer has returned. (sounds familiar?)
Small Packages is a cute 'what if' story. What if you are raised by just your mom because the other parent chooses not to be a part of your life...and you find out now you will be a parent...and what if you are left with a child to raise...what choices to make?
Worth the Risk--Lexi is raising her sister on your own and it trying to help her make the right decisions about her schooling and cooking career.

377 pages

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains 3 novellas: What Amanda Wants by Debbie Macomber, Small Packages by Brenda Novak and Worth the Risk by Meryl Sawyer. What Amanda Wants is an uplifting story about a very difficult situation; Ms Macomber did a great job at writing an uplifting story and everything is resolved well. Small Packages has a little bit of the "uh-oh I have to get this resolved because I'm almost at my page limit" so the story suffers a little. Worth the Risk just seemed to end. I didn't feel like there was any resolution to the story at all.

[Ivy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate these books that are just a bunch of novellas. Any of the three stories could really have been improved by giving the author more that 100 pages of double spaced type. I never expect great literature from this type of book, but this one seemed particularly brainless. I like that each story dealt with a service organization and that some of the profits from the book will go to these organizations.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books contains three novellas. The idea behind the book is a fun raiser for three different real life organizations. Sales of the book go to help these organizations. So the idea is wonderful. The stories are surprising lacking. Especially Debbie Macomber's. I have read everyone of Debbie's books but this one is definitely the worse. If you are looking to support the causes the book and stories emphasize it is fine if you are looking for a good read-don't bother.

[Patricia Solla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What terrific heart warming stories. There are three stories from three different authors. First we get a real life description of a person and a charity they have established or are involved with working for a charity that the author has chosen to write about. Then we get a story based on something that relates to the charity. These were truely stories of the heart. I know there are other More Than Words Stores of ... I plan I finding and reading them too.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Macomber touches the heart in What Amanda Wants--a young woman's story of strength and courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Brenda Novak's Small Packages shows us how the love of a very special baby boy helps two people get past their pain and embrace a hopeful future...together.

Meryl Sawyer explores the importance of creating balance in our lives, stopping to smell the roses and making time to chase our dreams in Worth the Risk.

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these three heart warming short stories. I liked Macomber's story about teenagers with cancer but it didn't have any romance. My favorite was Novak's story about memory boxes for parents of a stillborn. Sawyer's story about importance of healthy eating was interesting and informative. Overall a very good book.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 stores that really touched the heart - 1 about a cancer survivor, 1 about a lady who lost a baby and a husband but gained another baby and husband, the last one about a sister who wanted more for her sister and they both found more.

[Gloria Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book which is really 3 short novellas. Each is designed to pay tribute to real women who have made a difference in their communities. The Macomber story follows Amanda and Annie from the Blossom Street Series. The characters from theother 2 stories were new to me.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading the Macomber one because it tied in with her Cedar Cove series. Enjoyed the other two stories and the organizations they've founded and promote.

[Katie Laporta]

A quick, feel good anthology.