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!“

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…

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?

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?

BDSM erotica writer Tiffany Reisz fractures the famous Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale in this sexy short story, a free prequel to THE SIREN (Mira Books, August 2012). Mistress Nora needs a vacation. She might be the one flogging the clients, but Kingsley, her sexy French boss, is the real sadist who rarely gives her a day off. They strike a backseat deal：Nora gets one month off and a trip to Europe if she can sneak into a rival BDSM club and get the dirt on the owner. But she’ll need more than her little red riding crop when she comes face to face with Brad Wolfe, the one man who stands between her and freedom. Only readers 18 and older please.

The wonderful seaside story from Jennifer Bohnet, perfect for fans of Fern Britton and Veronica Henry! One summer they’ll never forget… Meet Sabine, desperately fighting to save her little kiosk from closure whilst turning down her friend Owen’s proposals, time and time again. Cue Harriet, returning to Dartmouth after thirty years, haunted by the scandal that drove her away and shocked by a legacy that threatens her relationship with her journalist daughter. Enter Rachel, the mysterious newcomer who has an unexpected chemistry with a local widower, and who sets in motion a chain of events she could never have predicted… One thing’s for sure, as the autumn tide turns, there’ll be more than one secret laid bare!

One girl could change four lives forever… Mysterious Leila, who is on the road trip of a lifetime, has a habit of crashing into people’s worlds at the moment they need someone the most. There’s Hudson, who is willing to throw away his dreams for love. And Bree, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. Elliot who believes in happy endings… until his own goes off-*. And Sonia who worries that she’s lost her ability to love. Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. But Leila’s trip could help her discover something bigger — that sometimes, the only way to find what you’re looking for is to get lost along the way… Praise for Let's Get Lost 'Reminiscent of John Green’s Paper Towns' School Library Journal ‘Balances both the quirky fun and the harsh realities of adolescence’ Entertainment Weekly ‘Let's Get Lost is an absorbing, beautiful novel we all need in our lives. Phenomenal!’ Pretty Little Memoirs ‘A sweet tale with real heart – get in early before the rest of the reading world catches up’ Heat 'For readers of John Green' Fresh Fiction

Samantha knows what she wants from life – and she’s got it! 1.A loving family. OK, her Mum’s plan to marry her off to the world’s most metrosexual man might not be ideal… but it’s only because she cares! 2.A great job. Or at least: a job that leaves plenty of time to update Twitter and shop for designer bargains online… 3.A credit card, with a very generous limit. So generous that she’s just spent over $10,000 on an antique kimono… But suddenly Samantha’s charmed life starts to fall apart! From a hair-related fire to losing her job, Sam’s facing bad karma – and it all started when she bought that kimono… Sure, it’s ridiculous. How could a piece of silk ever bring bad luck? But it can! Because, whether Samantha likes it or not, someone wants to teach her a lesson: it’s what’s inside that counts. But will Samantha slow down long enough to listen?

Reset your diet for the New Year with this exclusive e-short from rising cookery star Elly Pear. Gone is pre*ive eating – here you will find eight delicious 5:2 recipes along with no-nonsense advice for both your fast days and feast days. This is the answer to all your New Year healthy eating resolutions. Since opening the hugely popular Pear Café nine years ago, Elly Pear has been on a quest for good food and new ideas. Having found real results sticking to the 5:2 way of eating, Elly shares some of her favourite, most exciting recipes for eating well and enjoying food on both fast days and feast days.

A sexy, sassy, summer read, perfect for fans of Rebecca Chance and Lindsey Kelk. CLIMB ON BOARD . . . When feisty Irish flight attendant Sinead Kennealy locks eyes with sexy Australian CEO Gabriel Anderson in First Class, sparks fly. But as they jet across the globe from Melbourne to London, it’s clear that they’re in for a turbulent journey . . . Stressed-out Gabriel doesn’t do relationships. And Sinead isn’t about to be fooled by another bad boy after escaping her stalker ex. Then a storm hits, causing the plane to land unexpectedly, and Sinead and Gabriel are thrown together in Singapore. The pressure rises as Sinead’s unhappy past threatens to catch up with her. But might Gabriel be the one to heal her heartbreak? If he could open up about his troubling secrets, maybe a relationship could actually get off the ground. Fasten your seatbelts – this WON’T be a smooth ride . . .

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?