Ballantine Books

In the late 1930s, civil war grips Spain. When General Franco and his Fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the French border. Among them is Roser, a pregnant young widow, who finds her life intertwined with that of Victor Dalmau, an army doctor and the brother of her deceased love. In order to survive, the two must unite in a marriage neither of them desires. Together with two thousand other refugees, Roser and Victor embark on the SS Winnipeg, a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda, to Chile: "the long petal of sea and wine and snow." As unlikely partners, the couple embraces exile as the rest of Europe erupts in world war. Starting over on a new continent, they face trial after trial, but they will also find joy as they patiently await the day when they might go home. Through it all, their hope of returning to Spain keeps them going. Destined to witness the battle between freedom and repression as it plays out across the world, Roser and Victor will find that home might have been closer than they thought all along. A masterful work of historical fiction about hope, exile, and belonging, A Long Petal of the Sea shows Isabel Allende at the height of her powers.

Instagram artist Mari Andrew's Getting There, the guided companion to New York Times bestselling Am I There Yet?, will help you record your journey to adulthood with words and doodles. If there's anyone who knows the trials and tribulations of becoming an adult, it's Mari Andrew. Her Instagram illustrations that garner the most engagement focus on heartbreak, career changes, and self-discovery. This guided journal captures those universal themes and prompts you to document your own path to adulthood. Explore and reflect upon important moments in your life with Mari's imaginative prompts and searching questions as your guide.

The Star Wars Trilogy: Star Wars; The Empire Strikes Back; Return of the Jedi.

Nothing brings people together like sharing a good giggle. And according to doctors and researchers, telling jokes is linked to higher intelligence, creativity, sociability, empathy, and self-esteem in kids. That's why the folks at Wee Society created this artfully designed book of jokes and pictures. Inside the over-sized volume are tips for just-right joke telling, a spot for recording people's reactions, and a riddle to illustrate. It's perfect for little comedians to practice their funny stuff. Ideal for the holidays, for parents who laugh with their kids, and happy occasions of all kinds, this is a joyful book that kids will read over and over again!

Start To Finish Eric Lax 17,00 € Na sklade In this fascinating insight into the artistic process, longtime Woody Allen biographer Eric Lax follows the legendary director through the making of a movie--from start to finish. Charting the production of Allen's forty-sixth directorial feature, Irrational Man--starring Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone--from inception to premier, Lax takes us onto the set and behind the scenes, revealing the intimate details of Allen's filmmaking. We see the screenplay being shaped, the scenes being prepared, and the actors, cinematographers, editors, and other participants at work. We hear Allen's colleagues speak candidly about working with him, and Allen speaking with equal openness about his career. An unprecedented insight into one of the foremost filmmakers of our time, Start to Finish is sure to delight not only movie buffs and Allen fans, but everyone who has marveled at the magic of the movies.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - J. R. Ward returns with an all-new tale of paranormal passion in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. The Black Dagger Brotherhood continues to train the best of the best to join them in the deadly battle against the Lessening Society. Among the new recruits, Axe proves to be a cunning and vicious fighter--and also a loner isolated because of personal tragedy. When an aristocratic female needs a bodyguard, Axe takes the job, though he's unprepared for the animal attraction that flares between him and the one he is sworn to protect. For Elise, who lost her first cousin to a grisly murder, Axe's dangerous appeal is enticing--and possibly a distraction from her grief. But as they delve deeper into her cousin's death, and their physical connection grows into so much more, Axe fears that the secrets he keeps and his tortured conscience will tear them apart. Rhage, the Brother with the biggest heart, knows all about self-punishing, and he wants to help Axe reach his full potential. But when an unexpected arrival threatens Rhage and Mary's new family, he finds himself back in the trenches again, fighting against a destiny that will destroy all he holds most dear. As Axe's past becomes known, and fate seems to be turning against Rhage, both males must reach deep--and pray that love, rather than anger, will be their lantern in the darkness. Praise for Blood Vow "Sharp, sexy, and funny."--New York Journal of Books "Nonstop action, steamy sexual tension . . . and absorbing characters."--BookPage "Packed with quietly gut-wrenching emotions, healing and sacrifice."--Under the Covers Praise for J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series "Utterly absorbing."--Angela Knight "To die for . . . I love this series!"--Suzanne Brockmann

Star Wars Trilogy

“An act of literary enchantment . . . [Anne] Tyler remains among the best chroniclers of family life this country has ever produced.”—The Washington Post “It was a beautiful, breezy, yellow-and-green afternoon. . . . ” This is how Abby Whitshank always describes the day she fell in love with Red in July 1959. The Whitshanks are one of those families that radiate an indefinable kind of specialness, but like all families, their stories reveal only part of the picture: Abby and Red and their four grown children have accumulated not only tender moments, laughter, and celebrations, but also jealousies, disappointments, and carefully guarded secrets. From Red’s parents, newly arrived in Baltimore in the 1920s, to the grandchildren carrying the Whitshank legacy boisterously into the twenty-first century, here are four generations of lives unfolding in and around the sprawling, lovingly worn house that has always been their anchor. Praise for A Spool of Blue Thread “Quintessential Anne Tyler, as well as quintessential American comedy . . . [She] has a knack for turning sitcom situations into something far deeper and more moving.”—The New York Times Book Review “Well-crafted, utterly absorbing and compelling . . . probably the best novel you will read all year.”—Chicago Tribune “By the end of this deeply beguiling novel, we come to know a reality entirely different from the one at the start.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “A miracle of sorts . . . tender, touching and funny . . . [an] understated masterpiece.”—Associated Press “Vintage Anne Tyler . . . [The Whitshanks are] rendered with such immediacy and texture that they might be our next-door neighbors.”—Los Angeles Times “Magic . . . You imagine these characters carrying on, muddling through, enduring the necessary sorrows and quiet joys of their lives somewhere beyond the page.”—The Seattle Times “The sort of novel that’s hard to disentangle yourself from. Warm, charming and emotionally radiant, it surely must be counted as among Tyler’s best.”—The Miami Herald “Exploring [the] dichotomy—the imperfections that reside within a polished exterior—is Tyler’s specialty, and her latest generation-spanning work accomplishes just that, masterfully and monumentally.”—Elle “Among her finest . . . There’s no novelist today who writes more insightfully (and often humorously) than Tyler does about the fictions and frictions of family life.”—The Baltimore Sun “Deeply moving . . . Tyler’s innate sense of warmth and good humor permeates the novel.”—The Dallas Morning News “The story of any family is told through the prism of time. And no storyteller compares to Tyler to when it comes to unspooling those tales.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Paula McLain is considered the new star of historical fiction, and for good reason. Fans of The Paris Wife will be captivated by Circling the Sun, which . . . is both beautifully written and utterly engrossing.”—Ann Patchett, Country Living Paula McLain, author of the phenomenal bestseller The Paris Wife, now returns with her keenly anticipated new novel, transporting readers to colonial Kenya in the 1920s. Circling the Sun brings to life a fearless and captivating woman—Beryl Markham, a record-setting aviator caught up in a passionate love triangle with safari hunter Denys Finch Hatton and Karen Blixen, who as Isak Dinesen wrote the classic memoir Out of Africa. Brought to Kenya from England as a child and then abandoned by her mother, Beryl is raised by both her father and the native Kipsigis tribe who share his estate. Her unconventional upbringing transforms Beryl into a bold young woman with a fierce love of all things wild and an inherent understanding of nature’s delicate balance. But even the wild child must grow up, and when everything Beryl knows and trusts dissolves, she is catapulted into a string of disastrous relationships. Beryl forges her own path as a horse trainer, and her uncommon style attracts the eye of the Happy Valley set, a decadent, bohemian community of European expats who also live and love by their own set of rules. But it’s the ruggedly charismatic Denys Finch Hatton who ultimately helps Beryl navigate the uncharted territory of her own heart. The intensity of their love reveals Beryl’s truest self and her fate: to fly. Set against the majestic landscape of early-twentieth-century Africa, McLain’s powerful tale reveals the extraordinary adventures of a woman before her time, the exhilaration of freedom and its cost, and the tenacity of the human spirit. Praise for Circling the Sun “Paula McLain cements herself as the writer of historical fictional memoir with Circling the Sun, giving vivid voice to Beryl Markham, a singular, extraordinary woman. In McLain’s confident hands, Markham crackles to life.”—Jodi Picoult, author of Leaving Time “Enchanting . . . A worthy heir to Dinesen, McLain will keep you from eating, sleeping, or checking your e-mail—though you might put these pages down just long enough to order airplane tickets to Nairobi. . . . Like Africa as it’s so gorgeously depicted here, this novel will never let you go.”—The Boston Globe “Richly textured . . . McLain has created a voice that is lush and intricate to evoke a character who is enviably brave and independent.”—NPR “McLain succeeds in bringing the past to life, and by the last pages, readers will hate to say goodbye to such an irresistible narrator.”—Miami Herald “Markham is a novelist’s dream. . . . McLain riffs on the facts, creating a wonderful portrait of a complex woman who lived—defiantly—on her own terms.”—People (book of the week) “Paula McLain has such a gift for bringing characters to life. I loved discovering the singular Beryl Markham, a rebel in her own time, and a heroine for ours.”—Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You “McLain’s eloquent evocation of Beryl’s daring life reminds us that independent women have always been among us, moving at their own speed.”—O: The Oprah Magazine From the Hardcover edition.

"NEW YORK TIMES "BESTSELLER Jude Deveraux s eagerly awaited third novel in her blockbuster Nantucket Brides trilogy continues the spellbinding saga of the Montgomery-Taggerts, set on an island steeped in beauty and unforgettable romance. Life is anything but perfect for Hallie Hartley, a young physical therapist who has given up nearly everything even her love life for her beautiful blonde stepsister, Shelly. Though Shelly s acting career has never taken off, she has certainly perfected the crocodile tears to get what she wants which all too often means Hallie s boyfriends. When Hallie arrives home early from work one fateful day, she makes two startling discoveries that will turn her life upside down: Not only has a mysterious relative left Hallie a house on Nantucket, but Shelly has been trying to steal it. Desperate to put her troubles behind her, Hallie impulsively flies to Nantucket. New trouble, however, has already settled into Hallie s guest room in the form of her newest client. Hallie is told that wealthy, young James Taggert has injured his leg in a skiing accident. Assuming that the devastatingly handsome man has led a charmed life, Hallie is surprised by Jamie at every turn throughout his recovery. His attentions draw her out of her shell but he has a dark secret, and is tormented by nightmares that only her presence can keep at bay. She suspects there s more to his injury than he s letting on. On this gorgeous island rich in history, magic is everywhere, even in Hallie s own backyard. As Jamie s relatives arrive for a wedding gala, something wonderfully unusual is in the air. There s an aura of romance enhanced by a pair of matchmaking ghosts and a colorful island legend. In their own little corner of the world, Jamie and Hallie unravel the timeless secrets of their own hearts, and a very special story of True Love destined to last forever after. Praise for "Ever After" "" Wondrous . . . a lovely tale of love, healing and hope. " Fresh Fiction" A sweet, idyllic love story . . . a romance in the most classic sense. " RT Book Reviews" "" Filled with family, friends, ghosts and the magic love, "Ever After" is sure to please longtime fans of Deveraux, as well as new readers. "BookPage" "" [A] sexy, lighthearted romp. " Kirkus Reviews" "" Thoroughly enjoyable. " Publishers Weekly "(starred review) Praise for Jude Deveraux "" A new Jude Deveraux novel means a very late night turning the pages straight through to the delicious end. Susan Elizabeth Phillips "True Love" "True Love, "with its star-crossed lovers and twisty plot, evokes everything that makes Nantucket so special the history, the atmosphere, the secrets, and the magic. Susan Wiggs Destined to be an instant romance classic . . . will haunt you long after you read it. "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" "For All Time" Deveraux takes us to a place where dreams are made. . . . Apage-turning time-travel romance that captures your imagination from the start and keeps hold till the very last page. " Fresh Fiction " A beautifully written story with a refreshing old-romance feel . . . Fans of Deveraux will be delighted. " RT Book Reviews""