Se las? noaptea, primul roman al lui Rudyard Kipling, a fost scris ?n 1890, la solicitarea unei reviste populare ?n epoc?, Lippincott’s Magazine. La dou?zeci ?i cinci de ani, Kipling era deja un scriitor de succes. Poemele, povestirile ?i reportajele pe care le publicase despre India ?i creaser? o reputa?ie rapid? ?n insula britanic. Totu?i, Se las? noaptea a fost primit cu r?ceal? de critica vremii, iar de-a lungul timpu lui i s-au repro?at c?r?ii tot felul de lucruri – cruzimea, caracterul melodramatic sau construc?ia implauzibil?. Dar, la fel de bine, toate acestea pot fi v?zute ?i altfel: cruzimea era profetic?; melodrama – inerent?; construc?ia fusese inspirat? de ?nt?mpl?ri reale. De?i romancierul Kipling nu a ajuns s? ?l egaleze pe poet ?i pe povestitor (motiv pentru care a ?i abandonat genul la treizeci ?i cinci de ani – v?rst? la care-?i public? ultimul roman), romanele sale nu i-au pierdut niciodat? cititorii, fiind reeditate f?r? ?ntrerupere (?i chiar ecranizate, cum s-a ?nt?mplat ?n repetate r?nduri cu Se las? noaptea).Romanul acesta ocup? un loc special ?ntre scrierile lui Kipling prin cantitatea de autobiografie ?ncorporat?. ?nceputul este inspirat de copil?ria traumatizant? a micului Rudyard, crescut de ni?te rude ale tat?lui – bigo?i care se foloseau de Biblie ca de un instrument de tortur?. Pe doamna Jannett, personaj desprins parc? din galeria de sadici ai lui Charles Dickens, Kipling o cunoscuse foarte bine ?n persoana doamnei Holloway – femeia care ?i crescuse (?i Kipling, ?i sora lui, Alice, vor l?sa pagini de amintiri despre acest subiect). Apoi, orbirea personajului central al romanului, pictorul Dick Heldar, este un ecou al spaimei lui Kipling ?nsu?i c? ?i-ar putea pierde vederea (ochii slabi l-au sup?rat toat? via?a; unul dintre critici chiar a g?sit ?n miopia scriitorului o explica?ie pentru reaua lui orientare politic? – sprijinirea militarismului ?i a colonialismului). ?ns??i Maisie, prietena din copil?rie pe care Dick o re?nt?lne?te peste ani ?n cea?a londonez?, iubind-o f?r? speran??, este inspirat? dintr-un personaj real – pictori?a Flo Garrard. Kipling o cunoscuse pe Flo ?n adolescen??, ?n 1880, la familia Holloway. Se ?ndr?gostise de aceast? fat? cu aspect androgin, sofisticat ?i bogat.La terminarea colegiului, ?n 1882, Kipling pleac? ?n India (unde va sta ?apte ani), dar Flo, care i-a devenit un fel de logodnic, r?m?ne ?n Europa. Rela?ia nu rezist? din cauza indolen?ei fetei, care nu se obose?te s?-i scrie scrisorile pe care el le a?teapt?. Totu?i, cei doi se re?nt?lnesc la ?ntoarcerea lui Kipling ?n Anglia – ?n condi?ii asem?n?toare celor descrise ?n roman. Dar, de?i Kipling o curteaz? asiduu, se love?te de indiferen?a lui Flo, care, de fapt, nu este atras? de b?rba?i. De?i biografii lui Kipling nu l?muresc dac? Flo i-ar fi m?rturisit lui Rudyard orientarea lesbian?, cert este c? – ?n succesiunea rapid? – rela?ia se rupe din nou, Kipling cade prad? unei depresii ?i apoi ?ncepe s? scrie romanul Se las noaptea.

Prima Ballerina Darcey Bussell takes you on a captivating journey to a faraway land of ballet and magic, the wonderful world of Enchantia! The first of a sparkly new series for all young girls who dream of being a ballerina, or simply love to dance… Delphie’s greatest dream is to become a ballerina, and she can't quite believe it when she is invited to join the new ballet school. But there's more to Madame Zarakova's than it at first seems and with the help of some very special ballet shoes, Delphie finds herself spinning into a whole new world…

Printr-un ciudat vicleug al sentimentului, i se prea c nu simte nici o dorin de a o revedea. Imaginea pe care i-o pstra n minte i ndestula gndurile. Prezena ei mai degrab l nelinitea dect si-o dorea. La ce bun sa revad ea o fiin obinuit A-i vorbi ba de una, ba de alta i se prea cu neputin. André ar fi preferat ca ea s rmn departe de el. Absena ei l scutea s-i mrturiseasc iubirea. De altfel, ce vorbe s fi gsit ndeajuns de nflcrate i apoi, i-ar rde n nas! L-ar lua peste picior!“

Pentru c-l iubesc pe Lucien, l iubesc cu o dragoste ce nu va pieri dect odat cu mine. Iar dumneavoastr ai crezut c inima mea era de vnzare! Ce mult trebuie s m dispreuii! Resping cu groaz acest trg ruinos. l iubesc pe Lucien. l iubii i dumneavoastr. Foarte bine: s aleag! i acum cred c nu mai avem ce s ne spunem.n loc s plece, fiica milionarului ngenunche, apoi ngim cu un glas pe care lacrimile l fceau i mai de neneles.l iubesc i, dac el nu m iubete, am s mor! Fie-i mil!“

Olivia drops in to see her neighbour, Ethan Sherbourne to deliver a Christmas card…but ends up staying for the festive season to help him look after a tiny abandoned baby! Ethan and Olivia are the perfect couple – but is Ethan the baby’s father? And if so, is he free to get involved with Olivia?

Shelly Hansen was horrified when Great Aunt Milly's infamous wedding dress arrived. Family legend said she'd marry the next man she met. So when she ran into handsome Mark Brady, Shelly told herself - and him - that she wasn't interested. But then she started seeing him everywhere…

Part of the Mills & Boon 100th Birthday Collection After a disastrous first day Talie Calhoun is sure her sexy new boss, Jude Radcliffe, will hate her forever – they’re complete opposites! Jude is married to his work, while Talie believes life is for living. Her real job will be to persuade Jude to live life to the full – with her!

Part of the Mills & Boon 100th Birthday Collection A forbidding, regal date... A life of duty and protocol has made King Daniel of Voltavia seem aloof. So when Lizzie Boothe is assigned the task of trying to secure an interview with him, she is anxious about the forthcoming encounter. But after one kiss she can sense that underneath his cool exterior lies a passionate man. A man who is falling in love with Lizzie despite his best intentions…

Rafael de Mendez always knew that Kit was the woman he wanted to marry. But after he suffers from memory loss, their relationship is tested as they try to rebuild what they once had. And can he ever forget that she should have been his brother’s bride?

Part of the Mills & Boon 100th Birthday Collection Loveday West was thrilled when Dr. Andrew Fforde offered her a job as his temporary receptionist. She hadn’t expected to fall in love with him – but he was just so handsome and charming! But was her place in his life as temporary as her contract?

When Poppy sent the tall, dark and handsome Santino Aragone a valentine’s card to cheer him up, Santino responded by making love to her. Suddenly, Poppy was expecting her boss’s baby, and he was determined to put a ring on her finger…

Part of the Mills & Boon 100th Birthday Collection Mary Crandell had been shattered by the end of her marriage, but for the sake of her children she was determined to put herself back on track… and the arrival of caring, compassionate policeman Matt Clark in her life gave her the strength and inspiration she needed.

Wasn't it madness to marry his secretary to provide his baby daughter with a mother? Jane, Mark's secretary, didn't think so. She'd been secretly in love with Mark since she'd started working with him. But she wanted their marriage to be for love – not convenience…

A short story sequel to the bestselling romcom You Had Me At Hello! In You Had Me At Hello, the one who got away came back… but what happened next? Together, apart and then back together again, Rachel and Ben had a rollercoaster ride to get here. But now happily in love and partners in crime once more, it feels like it’s all been worth it. But when a face from the past reappears, misunderstandings come between them once more. Can they hold on to their happy ever after?

How did Audrey Griffin–a blacksmith by trade– become a wine hostess? Sure, she's all about "seizing the day," but she's a tomboy, not a booth bunny. Granted, her makeover has transformed her into a hottie–but when you're working with a straitlaced Aussie god like vintner Shane Preston, a little fashion goes a long way! Unfortunately, no-strings-attached doesn't work for Shane. Something about Audrey makes him want more from their fiery attraction–despite the fact that "commitment" leaves Audrey shakier than a horse on Rollerblades. Is she balking at love…or simply biding her time?

May the Best Man Win…the Maid of Honor? Lassiter Media millionaire Matt Hollis never let a woman stand between him and his career. But now Matt's best friend is marrying the Lassiter heiress–and her insufferable maid of honor has stolen Matt's heart. Kayla Prince is way more than this skilled negotiator bargained for. But Kayla's conflicted. The man left her in the lurch for his L.A. gig; now he wants her back? Fool her once, shame on Matt, fool her twice…well, actually, this second chance feels like the real thing. But a fateful night is about to put that feeling to the ultimate test…. Beauty and the Best Man is a DYNASTIES: THE LASSITERS prequel novella. The story continues in The Black Sheep's Inheritance by USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child, only from Harlequin Desire!

Returning home to Blossom Valley was the last thing millionaire David Blaze wanted to do, but his family must come first. And seeing widow Kayla Jaffrey, as beautiful as ever, caused David to wonder if maybe they were being given a chance to rewrite history…this time together…

36 Hours Serial As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever…. The Parent Plan Part 2 Cassidy has been angry and hostile ever since Vicki's accident, blaming Karen for working at the hospital while Vicki needed her. It's causing a rift in their marriage that gets bigger every day. Karen can't face the loneliness anymore of being with a man too frozen inside to love. Is a separation the only way out? And if Karen and Cassidy try to solve their problems apart, how can they ever get back together? The story concludes in The Parent Plan Part 3.

36 Hours Serial As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever…. Partners in Crime Part 2 Jack Stryker's investigation into Olivia Stuart's death leads straight to Josie. He'll have to do his job–even if it means arresting the woman he hasn't been able to get out of his mind since their night together. Josie can't believe Jack thinks she could murder her friend. If he were suspected of murder she would believe in him, no matter how damning the evidence. She'll trust her heart over her head any day. How can a relationship survive when two lovers are on opposite sides of the law? The story concludes in Partners in Crime Part 3.

36 Hours Serial As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever…. Marriage by Contract Part 3 For Bethany Kent, life has never been more perfect. She has a beautiful baby and a gorgeous, accomplished husband. Despite the marriage of convenience start to their life together, she and Tony are falling in love. But then Christopher's birth mother returns and wants her son back. If Bethany does what is right and gives up Christopher, will she lose Tony, as well? Don't miss the next book in the continuing story of Grand Springs in Partners in Crime by Alicia Scott.

"So, Miss Lange with an e, will you take the job?" Ruby Lange might be unconventional, but her struggle to find the ideal career isn't from lack of trying! Now the latest option is "traveling nanny"–so she takes a deep breath, packs her vintage suitcase and heads for Italy. Ruby's new boss, architect Max Martin, may be utterly gorgeous, but he's far too buttoned up for her liking! Yet traveling around Venice together, Ruby discovers that the man who took a risk on her is masking a huge heart–he just needs a reason to trust it again….