This year marks 100 years of Mills and Boon, the famous romance book publishers.

Now a subsidiary of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., the company has grown to become the UK’s undisputed market leader in romance fiction publishing, with a wide following and readership.

Mills and Boon describes its founding back in 1908 :

Since two dashing young entrepreneurs — Gerald Mills and Charles Boon — launched the company in 1908 with just a modest £1,000 [$2000], millions of women across the globe have been entranced by their books, reaching into their handbags or to their bookshelves to spend a few hours transported into a fantasy world of intrigue, danger, passion and romance.

Such is the strength of the brand that in 1982, a Mills and Boon book was added to a time capsule in the grounds of Castle Howard, Yorkshire, to mark the 60th anniversary of the BBC. The capsule contained ‘vital clues of life in 1982 of generations to come’. Also, in 1997 the Oxford English Dictionary added ‘Mills & Boon’ to its esteemed canon — meaning, ‘romantic story book’.

Mills & Boon’s army of dedicated readers know that once they pick a brightly coloured paperback, they will be taken on an easy, thrilling read - with a guaranteed happy ending. Alan Boon, one of the masterminds behind the stylised romances, once declared that the books “could take the place of Valium” - because they are so well known for their restorative quality.

If you want to know how the company grew into such an epic success story, read it on the M&B website.

Looking last-minute for that perfect gift for that special someone in your life? How about a sensual gift basket for the two of you?

Start with a bottle of your favorite wine, the one you like to share. Add some imported cheeses and specialty crackers or fresh bread from the bakery. A romatntic CD to set the mood (as long as you remember to bring something to play it on). For after your repast, include items for a romantic encounter. Warming massage oil, and aromatherapy oils will add to the romantic atmosphere. Make a reservation in an upscale hotel. A room with a jacuzzi is an excellent choice.

For a list of armoatherapy essential oils and their properties, go here. You’d be surprised to learn what common and inexpensive oils have aphrodisiac qualities.

Put a little thought and romance into your gift basket and make the holiday special for both of you.

Thanksgiving is a time of year for warm feelings - thankfulness, devotion and even romance.

Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich is probably the only adult romance novel set at this holiday time. The main character, Megan, has given up on men after three failed engagements. She moves to Colonial Williamsburg to start over and live her man-free lifestyle but the local pediatrician “Pat”, a skirt-eating bunny and a babysitting job seemed destined to change her mind about romance.