The first volume in the beloved novelist Marie-Claire Blais’ prize-winning novel cycle — acclaimed as one of the greatest undertakings in modern Quebec fiction — reissued in a handsome A List edition, featuring an introduction by Lisa Moore. Originally published in 1995 under the title Soifs, the first novel in Marie-Claire Blais’ masterful series won the Governor General’s Award for French Fiction and was hailed by critics around the world as a tour de force, comparing Blais to such literary greats as Virginia Woolf, Dante, Sophocles, and Shakespeare. In this dazzling rendering, These Festive Nights, celebrated translator Sheila Fischman brings Blais’ novel to life for English-speaking readers. A sun-drenched paradise in the Gulf of Mexico surrounded by the glimmering blue sea; Renata is convalescing on this island poised between two worlds: between great wealth and extreme poverty, between the past and an uncertain future, between the beauty of the world and the horrors of history. During her time here, Renata becomes tormented by thirst — for justice, for pleasure, for intoxication — while all around her, festivities are going on in joint celebration of the birth of baby Vincent and the end of the twentieth century. Over the course of three days and three nights a flock of characters assembles — an entire spectrum of humanity is depicted in the grip of doubt and suffering. In this swirling, baroque fresco, Marie-Claire Blais captures the essence of our apocalyptic age, rendering it in powerfully evocative prose.

Christmas cheer and romance are sweet any time of year! This gift set of eight diverse holiday-themed love stories is loaded with hunks and honeys, cops and crooks, love at first sights and second chances, and a few surprise youngsters out to trick Mommy. Snuggle up and let six of The Authors’ Billboard New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors entertain you with romance from sweet to spicy from locations around the world. Mimi Barbour – Loveable Christmas Angel: Christmas in Hawaii! How lucky can a girl get? Or so Leilani thinks... Susanne Matthews – Holiday Magic: Is there enough magic left in Christmas to help them overcome the past? Taylor Lee – Special Ops and Cops Christmas: What could be more perfect than a Christmas wedding? Ask the terrorists who plan to keep ‘Happily Ever After’ from happening? Taylor Lee – Blue Christmas: Even Blue Christmases can be Red HOT! Susan Jean Ricci – Because We’re Snowflakes: After an accidental meeting on Christmas Eve, Rosie and Magoo are about to discover if their mutual attraction supports a future despite their diverse, cultural traditions. Rachelle Ayala – A Father for Christmas: A homeless veteran meets a single mother whose daughter asks Santa for an unusual gift. Rachelle Ayala – Deck the Hearts: Can Holly’s jolly Christmas spirit help Grinchy Gordon Gills save the town of Christmas Creek? Dani Haviland – A Stingray Christmas: Love had nothing to do with it…at first.

The second volume in the beloved novelist Marie-Claire Blais’s prize-winning novel cycle — acclaimed as one of the greatest undertakings in modern Quebec fiction — reissued in a handsome A List edition. Originally published in 2001, Thunder and Light is the second volume in Marie-Claire Blais’s prize-winning Soifs series, hailed as one of the greatest undertakings in modern Quebec fiction. Powered by its characters’ gripping exploration of the world’s dark corners, the novel is a teeming microcosm in which boundaries collapse and the extremes and contradictions that animate our times are reconciled. Blais locks us directly into the consciousness of her characters, many of whom we met in her previous novel, These Festive Nights, and many that she derives from actual news stories: Jessica, a seven-year-old attempting to beat the world record as the youngest pilot to cross the continent; Nathanaël, a teenager on death row for killing his favourite teacher; Our Lady of the Bags, a modern-day Joan of Arc who lives among Manhattan’s skyscrapers and follows the voices in her head; and Caroline and Jean-Mathieu, aging artists who are fighting to come together again. One character’s thoughts or actions have consequences for another 3,000 miles away who is a complete stranger to the first. This is an intricate house of cards, delicately but expertly constructed, that shocks us in its perversity and familiarity, ultimately finding hope and redemption in the most human and basic forms of art.

'This is such a perfect read for the time of year' - JENNY COLGAN 'Combines love, crime, friendship and family with the very best festive spirit. One Christmas Night is a heartfelt page-turner I will find hard to forget.' - AJ PEARCE, bsetselling author of Dear Mrs. Bird Nine lives. One street. And a secret behind every door. Christmas is ruined on Newbury Street, Norwich. Presents have been going missing from resident's homes. There are rumours going around that it's one of their own who's been stealing from the neighbours. Festive spirit is being replaced with suspicion and the inhabitants of Newbury Street don't know who to trust. The police presence isn't helping matters, especially when they all have something to hide. But Christmas is a time for miracles... and if they open themselves up to hope and look out for each other, they might discover the biggest miracle of all. An uplifting novel about love, friendship, connection and community, for readers who love Joanna Cannon, Ruth Hogan and Libby Page. 'Tender, beautifully-written and full of magic and mystery' - Emma Flint

Experience the events of the first Christmas night with this stunning board book written in the beloved style of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." "'Twas the very first Christmas when all through the town, not a creature was stirring--there was not a sound." This beautiful retelling of the birth of Jesus celebrates that fateful night in Bethlehem so long ago. The story begins with Mary and Joseph's arrival in Bethlehem and continues through Christ's birth, the angels' appearance to the shepherds, and the wise men's visit. Simple, elegant verses are brought to life with lush oil paintings, creating an enchanting reading experience for littles and their loved ones.

Victorian Days and Punk Rock Nights is a thoughtful and easy read into the mind of the author. Plagued with intriguing despair and soulful love, it is a poetic journey into music, humor, and spiritual insight from a Wiccan point of view. Plainly, its mad thoughts let loose on paper. Ladyaslan paces up and down the creaking floorboards of the dark side of your mind and reveals what has been hidden in the mysterious closet in your imagination. Welcome to Victorian Days and Punk Rock Nights.

Unexpectedly homeless for the festive season and exhausted from transforming the penthouse of the hotel where she works into a dazzling winter wonderland, chambermaid Evie Anderson secretly sleeps over. Woken by an outrageously sensual kiss, Evie feels her body come alive...until she realises her seducer is Rio Zacarelli, her dangerously attractive new boss! This Christmas, it’s imperative that Rio’s reputation appear spotless — but innocently enticing Evie is a temptation he can’t resist! Their scorching chemistry leads to twelve nights of endless pleasure. But will it last once the decorations come down?