Najnovšie - Beletria strana 211 z 500

You have to play to win in a game of life and death Danni had to grow up fast – as a girl, her mother left her alone and she had to raise herself, any way she could. Finding comfort and company in the pubs and clubs of her local streets, she could throw a dart before she was old enough to buy a drink. Hustling at darts was a way to earn a quid – but it also brought her to the attention of local gangster, Marco Reece. When Danni escapes Marco with a bag of money and a scar that means she won’t go near a dart again, she knows she’s lucky to be alive – and leaves behind everywhere and everyone she’s ever known. Only when she hears Marco has been sent down does she risk surfacing. Can Danni pull off one last hustle to set her up for good? One match to change everything. But the clock is ticking, and Danni is on dangerous ground. The arrows gave her a life – but they can take it away again too…

'[A] bright, beautiful, and absolutely addictive read.' NetGalley reviewer ? No one said fake dating was going to be easy… Two weeks ago, Lexi O’Reilly had her perfect job. Today, she’s being fired for seeing something she shouldn’t have. With a social media scandal waiting to drop, all she wants is to disappear until the storm has passed. Enter Tristan Martinelli, her brother’s best friend and oceanographer. With a deadline looming for his upcoming tv series, Tristan has run out of footage, money, and sponsorships to finish his series. All he wants is to wrap up his life’s work and meet his deadline. When the perfect job presents itself – a three-month stint at an exclusive private island resort with some of the best-preserved reefs in the world, where Lexi will run the hotel, and Tristan the dive centre – the only snag is that they must be a couple to apply. Despite knowing how she feels about Tristan, they make a deal to fake being engaged to apply for the job. Surely pretending to be in love with the man you’re already in love with should be easy, right? What to expect when the rules don’t apply… Brother’s best friendFake datingForced ProximityRemote island locationSpicy See why readers love Rules Don't Apply in Paradise 'This is a five-star romantic escape that checks every box. It is flirty, emotional, spicy, and filled with the kind of warmth that leaves you smiling long after the last page.' ? 'I devoured the book in one sitting because I just had to know what happened next.' ? 'Need a splash of summer to chase away those cold, gloomy winter days? 🌴? Then this is the book you’ll want on your January TBR!' ? 'The end was super unexpected and I was on my toes wanting to know what happened! I couldn't read it fast enough.'? 'Sophia writes amazing love stories that have you feeling all the emotions and leaves you feeling warm, fuzzy and happy that the characters get their happily ever after.' ? 'This was a fun, breezy, read, perfect escapism vibes.' ? 'Loved the plot and the storytelling and relatable, likable characters. Loved every single second reading it.'? 'What an exciting read, the tension and the banter were perfect!' ?

A brand new Golden Age cosy crime mystery from the multi-million-copy bestseller Faith Martin.‘Brilliant characters that leap off the page’ The Sun on Murder by CandlelightYorkshire, 1926. Gentleman ghost-hunter Arbuthnot ''Arbie'' Swift and his old friend Val arrive at Cleeves Lea Manor, looking forward to the promise of a lavish weekend party.The lady of the house, an avid reader of Arbie’s books, is eager to show him off to her distinguished guests. Amidst the festivities, Arbie is also tasked with investigating rumours of a ‘ghost train spitting fire’ for the third instalment of the increasingly popular (to Arbie’s great surprise) Gentleman’s Guide to Ghost-hunting.But when the guests start dying, Arbie instead finds himself thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. With time running out, will he and Val be able to uncover the trut? raise for the Val and Arbie Mysteries:‘Amuses and intrigues in equal measure’ Daily Mail‘A golden-age world with an energy that is totally contemporary’ J.M. Hall ‘A charming and clever take on a locked room murder’ Sarah Yarwood-Lovett ‘A wonderful Wodehousian world of intrigue and suspicion and a tricky puzzle to solve.’ Helena Dixon ‘All the ingredients of a classic mystery – engaging characters and an impossible crime. The story races along like a runaway locomotive… enormous fun.’ Orlando Murrin‘A beautiful written 1920’s murder mystery series full of fun, wit and red herrings’ Anita Davison''The perfect "country house" murder mystery. The book is terrific fun.'' Jane Bettany''We devoured this whoddunit in one sitting!'' Bella''With murder, intrigue, and ghostly happenings, this will satisfy cosy crime fans.'' Heat

'If I could give this 6 stars, I would' ? reader review Thirteen years. Three women. One annual sleepover. 13 February 2013. Alicia, Marnie and Hannah have their first Galentine’s Day sleepover. They’re eighteen, single, and the world is at their feet. Soon they’ll go their separate ways after college, but they promise that every year, they’ll have their sleepover. 13 February 2026. There are only two friends at the annual sleepover. Their friendships have been tested by life, by partying, breakdowns, and even by pregnancies. Are their best Galentine’s Days now behind them? Galentine’s Day is a love letter to female friendship, that celebrates messiness, real relationships, and growing up together. Readers are falling in love with this book! 'This is a book that will stay with me for years to come' ? 'A perfect feel-good read that sparkles with authenticity and heart' ? 'Perfectly captures the humor, challenges and joys of long-lasting female friendships' ? 'Real, raw and relevant' ? 'A truly touching book' ? 'I couldn't put it down' ?

A spicy retelling of Persephone and Hades and the first in the Dark Fates series, centering around Greek deities and Otherworlders, for fans of Sav R. Miller, Jaysea Lynn, and Katee Robert.Persephone, Goddess of Spring, struggles to meet the impossible demands of her overbearing, manipulative mother, Demeter. Sequestered to the Upper Realm, far from the politics and intrigues of Olympus, Persephone begins to crack under the pressure, sure that she will never be enough. But the Fates have other plans, and when Persephone meets Hades, brooding God of the Underworld, she finds that they may have more in common than she could have ever believed. He calls to the darkness dwelling deep inside of her with a kinder hand than any she''s ever known. Over secret rendezvous, the two connect and wild passions ignite. When Persephone''s very freedom is threatened by an arranged marriage, she must decide to either remain the obedient, subservient wallflower her mother forced her to be, or to stand on her own, embracing herself and the dark power inside of her in the Kingdom only Hades can offer. As Queen of the Underworld, Persephone blossoms into power far greater than any the Olympians have ever witnessed, but the scorned Goddess of the Harvest won''t make it easy for her to leave. Facing war and famine but aided by fellow Olympians Artemis, Hecate, Dionysus, and Hephaestus, Persephone and Hades fight for their freedom and their realm, until Zeus steps in with a devastating edict. In this irresistible, epic love story, the forbidden romance between an empowered Persephone and delectable Hades sets in motion a chain of events that will challenge the very fabric of Olympus. T.C. Kraven''s traditional debut Of Prophecies & Pomegranates is a steamy, tantalizing start to a series that champions kink dynamics and queer representation. Rich bonus features include: Gorgeous full-color artwork inside New chapters A guide to the deities of the Dark Fates series And more!

Sisters Alice and Annie have always been close but will a man come between the? nnie and Alice love their life working at the Beach Hotel together and each is thrilled to have finally found a sweetheart. Yet the path of true love never did run smooth and they soon find themselves facing conflict and strife. Could love come between them and the bond they shar? eanwhile, as men start to come home from the war, the women have to work out how to keep their jobs, although they are delighted to be back with their beaus. Soon, wedding bells ring out in Littlehampton. Will everything be made right in time for Christma? n unforgettable, emotional WW1 saga perfect for readers of Elaine Everest and Rowena Summers. Readers cannot get enough of the Beach Hotel series:'Oh wow this story wasamazing and heartfeltI hope there will be more in this series' Reader Review'Another brilliant book by this brilliant author.' Reader Review'Brilliant storyline, brilliant book. Couldn't put it down. Family saga at its best.' Reader Review'I loved this enchanting readcould not put it down.' Reader Review'Well, what a start to a new series! There are many secrets to be uncoveredI loved this book.' Reader Review'Had me turning the pages well into the night A five-star, well-written beach caper. A page turner from beginning to end.' Reader Review'Charmingthis book felt like an escapeThe story was heartwarming.' Reader Review'I thoroughly enjoyed this bookI'm glad there is more to come from the Beach Hotel.' Reader Review'I have enjoyed all three books in this series but this one was the best! I think that is because it is Helen's story and Helen is the very heart of the hotelI really enjoyed it.' Reader Review'The strong thread that runs through this series is friendship, that's exactly what Helen Bygrove needs when things get difficult! I know it was third in series but I'm sure there's room for a follow up! I live in hope.' Reader Review

Šestý svazek Spisů Jiřího Weila. Román Makanna, otec divů poprvé vyšel na přelomu zimy a jara 1946. Jiří Weil jej psal již v prvních letech okupace a Makanna měl vyjít v Jandově nakladatelství v roce 1941 pod jménem Weilova přítele Pavla Vyskočila. Konspirativní plán však zmařila nacistická správa: Vyskočil byl transportován do koncentračního tábora Mauthausen, kde byl poslední den roku 1941 zabit (když román vyšel, byl opatřen věnováním: „Památce Pavla Vyskočila ubitého v Mauthausenu, který chránil tuto knihu svým jménem“). Doslov pro první vydání napsal Pavel Eisner: „Viděl jsem tu knihu vznikat, byl jsem jeden z pěti šesti lidí, kteří věděli, kdo je jejím vlastním autorem, byl jsem svědkem, jak se v hrdinném tvůrčím náporu rodí z hladu, zimy, bídy, perzekuce, z úzkostí a trýzně, z životní opuštěnosti téměř naprosté. ¶ Ale přesto myslím, že nezkresluji svým úsudkem, když jí připisuji tolik kladů. Je to pořádný kus výpravné prózy, ukázněné, zvládnuté, sytě předmětné, plastické, s nejednou pasáží opravdu kutou. (...) Jeho výjevy ze středního asijského Orientu, přírodními sceneriemi počínajíc, mají vlastnost, která je povznáší nad ověření odborného znalce (ačkoli by, myslím, přitakal): přesvědčují. Z podkladu daného historickými zprávami o své postavě ústřední rozvinul autor dějovou fabuli volně, vždyť nešlo o žádnou biographie romancée. Pokud jde o tzv. prostředí, tedy to, čemu bych raději řekl nebe, vzduch, světlo, duše krajiny a krajin, dech a rytmus přírody, mohl se autor opřít o zážitky ze svého někdejšího pobytu ve středoasijské končině sovětského Ruska. Součtem toho všeho vznikl historický román orientální, nadaný velkou přitažlivostí obsahu, děje, podání. (...) Životní princip lži nelze obsáhnout rozumem. Proto není rozumového vysvětlení pro přepodivné zákruty, kterými probíhá cesta Makannova od dětských dnů ve vesnici Gaze u města Mervu až po ohnivou pec na hradě Sam. Tím nezahladitelněji se však vryjí v paměť závěrečné věty románu, ze kterých se ještě jednou, poslední postava za průvodem vyklizujícím scénu knihy, vynořuje zjev věčného otroka Fazla, ztělesněné zneužití člověka, ale i ztělesněná výstraha: Nejhorší způsob, jak čelit lži a zlu, je otroctví. ¶ Symfonií a epopejí lži vůdcovské bych nazval román Jiřího Weila.“ Román oceňovala i literární historička Růžena Grebeníčková, mj. napsala: „V románě Makanna, otec divů si Weil svou centrální otázku – jak rozlišit mezi klamným a neklamným, mezi iluzí, lží, podvodem, předstíráním, a mezi autentickou povahou věcí a lidí, když je pravé a falešné v normálním běžném zacházení přece k nerozeznání slito? – dosloví a, uvědomí, zformuluje a naplno otevře. Od té chvíle zůstane tematika svedení, pokušení, téma lžimesiášství latentně zázemím celé Weilovy tvorby. Problém falešného spasitelství, nepravé utopie, ideje, která svádí, zavádí, podrobuje si lidské životy, se nyní nadále neztrácí ani tam, kde ji autor modifikuje zdánlivě zcela jiným směrem. Ústřední téma se mu totiž stále prohlubuje a zřetelně přerůstá až k vydělení dvou sfér, v nichž se odvíjí život člověka, nebo též ke zjištění toho, co je vlastním lidským životem“ (Jiří Weil a normy české prózy po patnácti letech, Plamen č. 11/1963; přetištěno in R. G., Literatura a fiktivní světy I, ed. Michael Špirit, Praha, Český spisovatel 1995).

MRTVOLA NA HAUSBÓTU, OČI KRÁSNÉ DÍVKY A BEZDĚČNÝ DETEKTIV NA ÚTĚKU... Je mlhavé zářijové ráno roku 1962 a bezděčný detektiv Ota Fink – v civilu soustružník – se probouzí v kajutě opuštěného hausbótu u břehu Libeňského ostrova přímo vedle mrtvoly brutálně zavražděného muže. Neví, jak se tam dostal, ale jedním si je jist: že bude hlavním podezřelým z chladnokrevného zločinu. A tak se stává psancem. Nemá jinou možnost než vypátrat pachatele na vlastní pěst. Jeho odhodlání posiluje fakt, že mrtvého zná, a to ze společnosti karlínské trampské party Modravých stínů, k níž patří i krásná Dženy, která má na muže takřka nadpřirozený vliv. Navíc záhy dojde k další, neméně brutální vraždě, jejíž obětí se měl stát sám Ota. Proč pachatel zabíjí nohou od stolu? Jakou roli v celé historii hrají Modravé stíny? Je právě křehká Dženy bezprostřední příčinou krutých událostí? A není to všechno jen past na Otu, která měla sklapnout?

Rapunzel meets the myth of Psyche and Cupid in a standalone fantasy romance tale of love, survival and healing, as a mortal woman and a god unite to overcome deadly trials - and their own tortured pasts - in the climactic final installment of the Four Winds series. Min of Marles spends her days at the apothecary creating potions and poisons while being pushed around by her employer, Madame Clarisse. But this is no ordinary potion shop: it specialises in brews made with ingredients harvested from the immortal beings the madame keeps imprisoned. Eurus, the East Wind, is one such prisoner, tortured daily by Madame Clarisse. Haunted by his cries of pain, Min impulsively sets Eurus free, only to have him steal her away to his enchanted chateau on a remote island. Min is desperate for freedom while Eurus longs for revenge against old enemies. The two strike a deal: if Min brews a deadly poison for his foes, Eurus will let her go. The only catch? To confront Eurus' enemies, they must travel to the City of Gods - where he'll have to compete in a brutal tournament to get closer to his targets. Forced to work together despite mutual distrust, a powerful attraction grows between Min and Eurus. But with enemies on all sides and every reason to betray each other, will their fledgling love be enough to get them both out of the City of Gods alive?

Experience the timeless encouragement of the internationally bestselling Pillow Thoughts through this beautifully designed card deck of affirmations and reflections from celebrated author and poet Courtney Peppernell. Since its debut in 2017, Pillow Thoughts has captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world with its honest and relatable meditations on love, heartbreak, healing, and hope. In this new format, both affirmation and poetry lovers can experience its warmth in bite-sized moments throughout the year. Once Upon a Feeling: A Pillow Thoughts Affirmations Deck for Reflection and Healing offers readers 52 beautifully designed cards that feature new and exclusive illustrations from artist and longtime collaborator Justin Estcourt on one side and encouraging excerpts from the original poetry collection on the other. Following the lead of Pillow Thoughts, the cards are intentionally presented in six different themes so that you can always find exactly the inspiration you need. With focus on hope, love, happiness, acceptance, gratitude, and motivation, this deck is brimming with thoughtful affirmations and meditations that have been curated to meet you exactly where you are, no matter the day, month, or year. As Pillow Thoughts has proven to be a timeless fountain of comfort and healing, Once Upon a Feeling is sure to become a mainstay on your bedside stand, work desk, or coffee table, providing peaceful moments of reflections any time you need them.

From the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Weyward: FOUR SISTERS, SEPARATED BY HISTORY, BOUND BY THE SEA When Lucy arrives at her sister's house in a wild panic, she doesn't find the solace she's desperately seeking - only an abandoned house, in a town steeped in mystery. As Lucy searches for her sister, instead she uncovers tales of missing men. Stories of women drowned just off the coast two hundred years before. Rumours of their voices on the waves. Can the voices lead Lucy to her sister - or are they trying to pull them both under?

1951. A plane carrying an American general and 40 nuclear technicians makes an emergency landing off the coast of Ireland. When rescuers reach the spot, though, they find nothing - no life rafts, no bodies ... The West cannot afford to leave anyone with knowledge of atomic weapons in enemy hands, so it will be up to Buck and his friends to find the missing men, thanks to an experimental, high-altitude, Mach 3-capable aircraft: the Rapier...

We choose our own gods here. Karys Eska is a deathspeaker, locked into an irrevocable compact with Sabaster, a terrifying eldritch being—three-faced, hundred-winged, unforgiving—who has granted her the ability to communicate with the newly departed. She pays the rent by using her abilities to investigate suspicious deaths around the troubled city she calls home. When a job goes sideways and connects her to a dying stranger with some very dangerous secrets, her entire world is upended. Ferain is willing to pay a ludicrous sum of money for her help. To save him, Karys inadvertently binds him to her shadow, an act that may doom them both. If they want to survive, they will need to learn to trust one another. Together, they must journey to the heart of a faded empire, all the while haunted by arcane horrors, and the unquiet ghosts of their pasts. And all too soon, Karys knows her debts will come due.

'From the first chapter, I was hooked' ? reader review 'Spicy and heartwarming' ?reader review There’s a Winter Olympic medal on the line. But their toughest challenge is resisting each other… February 2026: the Italian Winter Olympics. The only thing on Sam Harrington’s mind is winning her first medal for snowboarding. Enter Finn Bradley. They've had a 'friends forever' pact for, well, forever, so Sam pushes her growing feelings aside and tries to focus on training. But when a major team sponsorship falls through, Sam needs to find funding, and fast. When they're told that pretending to be a couple will give them a better chance at finding sponsors, Sam and Finn agree to fake a relationship. They spend all their time together already, surely pretending to be a couple won't be a slippery slope… There's only one problem. Finn's secretly been in love with her for years, and this Olympic season, he's decided that as well as a medal, he wants to win Sam over. Chalet Girl meets Stephanie Archer in this spicy, fake dating, friends-to-lovers sports romance you need this Winter! Tropes: 👫 🥰 Friends-to-Lovers?😉Fake dating🌶? 🔥Spice Readers can't get enough of this spicy winter romance: 'Perfect for a winter read' ? 'This steamy winter romance has it all' ? 'A raunchy, feel-good story' ? 'Spicy and heartwarming' ?

'The greatest German novelist of the 20th century' Spectator 'A supremely gifted storyteller' New YorkerThree of the finest stories by a giant of European literature, collected in a beautiful editionThis triptych of stories represents some of the finest work by the great German master, Thomas Mann. From a classic early account of artistic formation, suffused with deep melancholy, to works that explore the complex social fractures of his time, this volume showcase the range of Mann's genius and his matchless understanding of character.In sparkling new translations by Lesley Chamberlain, these tales take us from a tense party in Weimar Berlin to a disturbing magician's performance in an Italian seaside town, probing the consolations and limitations of art with wit and profound irony.Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: timeless storytelling by icons of literature, hand picked from around the globe.Translated by Lesley ChamberlainThomas Mann (1875-1955) was perhaps Germany's most famous twentieth-century writer. Born to a merchant family in Lübeck, Mann was preparing to enter the family business when his father suddenly died and the business was liquidated. The Manns moved to Munich, where Mann began his literary career with the epic novel Buddenbrooks (1901), which was a huge success. Further novels and stories followed, including Death in Venice (1912) and The Magic Mountain (1924); five years following publication of the latter novel, Mann was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. When Hitler came to power, Mann fled to Switzerland, and from there he escaped to California at the outbreak of the Second World War. He is buried in Switzerland, where he spent his final years.

After yet another bloody battle, the Union Army organises a recruiting drive during which Blutch attempts to dissuade an obviously too young boy from signing up. To no avail, though, and before long the kid, Pucky, joins them as ... a drummer boy! While Chesterfield is tasked with looking after him, Pucky begins to practice his drumming - much to the displeasure of the troops, who are eager to get some rest before the major engagement looming on the horizon.

PREPARE TO BE HOOKED BY THE GRIPPING NEW THRILLER FROM LISA JEWELL.''Gripping. Shocking. Masterful.'' FREIDA McFADDEN‘Lisa Jewell is a stone-cold genius and Don’t Let Him In deserves to win mainstream literary prizes. Her best book yet. A PHENOMENAL achievement!’ MARIAN KEYES‘A twisty mosaic of a thriller’ GILLIAN McALLISTER''Utterly absorbing, fiendishly clever and all-consuming'' ANDREA MARA----------He’s the perfect man.He says he loves you.You think he might even be made for you.Before long he’s moved into your house – and into your heart.And then he leaves for days at a time. You don’t know where he’s gone or who he’s with.And you realise - if you looked back - you’d say to yourself:DON’T LET HIM IN.Don’t miss the new read-in-one-sitting Lisa Jewell novel; a cautionary story that could happen to you…__________Praise for Don''t Let Him In:''A masterclass in suspense . . . Lisa Jewell expertly draws together the strands of deceit with increasing menace, presenting us with one of the most chilling, unsettling villains I’ve encountered in a long time'' ALEX MICHAELIDES‘Reading a Lisa Jewell is like putting yourself inside a pressure cooker – one that you don’t really want to get out of. Nobody creates characters like she does – and in Nick she has created one of her darkest, twistiest yet’ JOJO MOYES''I inhaled it within 24 hours. Stunning, shocking, superb.'' LIZ NUGENT''Utterly brilliant'' MARK EDWARDS''A clever, multi-layered narrative full of unforgettable characters. You''ll be on the edge of your seat from the start and the story only gets more compelling as it goes on. Don''t bother making any plans until you''ve finished it!'' JANE CASEY''What a tour de force of plotting and tension-building . . . She is a genius'' SABINE DURRANT''Nobody - nobody - does this better than Jewell. She peoples her ingenious plots with true-to-life characters. Don’t Let Him In is the best book of Lisa Jewell’s career'' A.J. FINN''I devoured it in one breathless sitting. Utterly captivating, ingeniously plotted, unsettling, a tense jaw-dropping, rollercoaster ride that will keep you on your toes until the very last brilliant line. So bloody brilliant! A master of her craft'' MICHELLE McDONAGH

Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi''s political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef''s spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?

The powerful and evocative story of a young West Indian man's search for home in 1960s London - by the multi-award-winning author dubbed 'one of the literary giants of our time' (New York Times)**A Guardian book to look forward to in 2025**‘A masterful stylist writing at the top of his powers’ Anthony Joseph‘An engrossing, artfully constructed chronicle of lives tragically unfulfilled’ Mail on Sunday‘A remarkable achievement’ Washington Post‘A moving, accomplished study of the vulnerabilities carried and concealed by human beings on their journeys throughout the world’ Financial Times____________________________________________In the early Sixties, Victor ‘Lucky’ Johnson arrives in London from St Kitts, with dreams of becoming a journalist. Lucky soon finds work, first at an Irish pub in Notting Hill – then as a rent collector for unscrupulous slum landlord Peter Feldman. Shadowing Victor in London from his early struggles to the present day, Caryl Phillips paints a striking portrait of a flawed but vividly alive man grappling with the lifelong disillusionments of exile – and the uniquely complicated identity of the Windrush generation. ___________________________________________________Praise for Caryl Phillips‘One of Britain's pre-eminent writers’ Guardian‘One of the literary giants of our time’ New York Times‘Phillips is a linguistic and cultural virtuoso’ The Times