Cirrus@Austlit

'“‘Oh! How adorable! I didn’t know you had a cat!’ she exclaimed. I am always surprised how many people make this observation. Why should His Holiness not have a cat? ‘If only she could speak,’ continued the actress. ‘I’m sure she’d have such wisdom to share.’ And so the seed was planted . . .

'I began to think that perhaps the time had come for me to write a book of my own—a book that would convey some of the wisdom I’ve learned sitting not at the feet of the Dalai Lama but even closer, on his lap. A book that would tell my own tale . . . how I was rescued from a fate too grisly to contemplate to become the constant companion of a man who is not only one of the world’s greatest spiritual leaders and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate but also a dab hand with a can opener.”

'Starving and pitiful, a mud-smeared kitten is rescued from the slums of New Delhi and transported to a life she could have never imagined. In a beautiful sanctuary overlooking the snow-capped Himalayas, she begins her new life as the Dalai Lama’s cat. Warmhearted, irreverent, and wise, this cat of many names opens a window to the inner sanctum of life in Dharamsala. A tiny spy observing the constant flow of private meetings between His Holiness and everyone from Hollywood celebrities to philanthropists to self-help authors, the Dalai Lama’s cat provides us with insights on how to find happiness and meaning in a busy, materialistic world. Her story will put a smile on the face of anyone who has been blessed by the kneading paws and bountiful purring of a cat.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Four officers of the Crown, aided by Bastion Club members and Cynsters alike, fight to bring down a dangerous enemy -- and win the loves of their lives.

'A bold, courageous, determined ex-officer of the Crown, Captain Rafe Carstairs is the final hope for thwarting the evil traitor known only as The Black Cobra.

'A roguish charmer but possessing inner steel, he races to complete his assignment against impossible odds -- a mission made suddenly more perilous by the proud English rose he must now protect from villainous hordes.

'As brave as she is beautiful, Loretta Michelmarch dares not trust the enigmatic stranger who guards a secret behind his rake′s smile -- though her heart insists she follow him into danger′s jaws.

'Thrown together by chance but united by fiery need, they draw strength from their shared passion -- as they embark upon the most breathtaking adventure of all.' (From the publisher's website.)

'Four officers of the Crown, aided by Bastion Club members and Cynsters alike, fight to bring down a dangerous enemy - and to win the loves of their lives.

'Logan Monteith′s mission got off to a shaky start. Wounded in battle, he jumped from his ship rather than risk losing the evidence that would bring down a traitor. As he recuperates in a tiny village, he finds his respect for the villagers grows - as does his fascination with his rescuer, Linnet Trevission. Unwilling to risk putting the village in greater danger by remaining, but unable to travel on his own, Logan reluctantly accepts Linnet′s offer of help.

'Linnet′s strength and wisdom have made her a respected leader at home. That′s why she knows she′ll be invaluable to Logan - if only he′ll let her in. Linnet has no doubt that Logan is the man for her. Her only battle now is convincing him that the connection they feel is real and everlasting - before it′s too late.' (From the publisher's website.)

'The men of the Bastion Club proved their bravery secretly fighting for their country. Now their leader faces that most dangerous mission of all: finding a bride.

'As the mysterious leader of the Bastion Club known as "Dalziel," Royce Varisey, tenth Duke of Wolverstone, served his country for decades, facing dangers untold. But as the holder of one of England's most august noble titles, he must now take on that gravest duty of all: marriage.

'Yet the young ladies the grand dames would have him consider are predictably boring. Far more tempting is his castle's willful and determinedly aloof chatelaine, Minerva Chesterton. Beneath her serene façade lies a woman of smoldering sensuality, one who will fill his days with comfort and his nights with sheer pleasure. Determined to claim her, he embarks on a seduction to prove his mastery over every inch of her body . . . and every piece of her heart.' (From HarperCollins website.)

'The storm led me to Padthaway. I could never resist the allure of dark swirling clouds, windswept leaves sweeping down cobbled lanes or a view of the sea stirring up its defiant nature. The sea possessed a power all of its own and this part of Cornwall, an isolated stretch of rocky cliff tops and unexplored beaches both enchanted and terrified me.

'It is not a lie to say I felt drawn out that day, led to a certain destiny...

'So begins this new mystery series featuring young Daphne du Maurier, headstrong, adventurous, and standing at the cusp of greatness.

'Walking on the cliffs in Cornwall, she stumbles upon the drowned body of a beautiful woman, dressed only in a nightgown, her hair strewn along the rocks, her eyes gazing up to the heavens. Daphne soon learns that the mysterious woman was engaged to marry Lord Hartley of Padthaway, an Elizabethan mansion full of intriguing secrets.

'As the daughter of the famous Sir Gerald du Maurier, Daphne is welcomed into the Hartley home, but when the drowning turns out to be murder, Daphne determines to get to the bottom of the mysteries of Padthaway--in part to find fresh inspiration for her writing, and in part because she cannot resist the allure of grand houses and long buried secrets.' (Publisher's blurb)