This thread is for romance reviews.

Seasoned author Jill Shalvis sets her newest contemporary romance in a small, sunny, and slightly sleepy airport near the Californian surf. Twenty-six-year-old Mel Anderson runs the North Beach airport in her boss, Sally’s, absence. In addition to keeping the customers satisfied, the employees content, and her charter business afloat, Mel must also keep hidden the fact that she doesn’t quite know Sally’s whereabouts. She’s handling it with a good deal of style, grace, and finesse, until a certain Australian someone from her past shows up asking questions she’s not sure she wants to know the answers to…

Bo Black first came to North Shore beach ten years ago when his father fell in love with the owner, Sally. After his father’s suspicious death, Bo buried his grief and enlisted in the army. Now that he’s been discharged, he has gone through his father’s belongings and found a deed to North Beach airport Sally seemingly gave his father. He has also found that his father’s expensive antique plane and a half-million dollars has gone missing. He has come to North Beach to track down his father’s money and beloved plane and collect on the deed. And if he can collect on some kisses from the sexy Mel Anderson, all the better. But Mel’s evading his questions and when she does answer she equivocates. What is Mel hiding? And where, exactly, is Sally?

As Bo and Mel spend more time together, both running the small airport and hunting for the elusive Sally, they begin to realize she was hiding more than they ever imagined. Nor did they ever imagine that they’d be able to move past their rocky beginning and fall in love.

Aussie Rules is a light and fun contemporary romance that’s perfect for the summer. Shalvis does a wonderful job of creating a realistic airport setting and populates the story with memorable secondary characters. Oftentimes contemporary romances have suspenseful subplots that detract from the main romance, but this fast-paced romance is thoroughly enjoyable, and the mystery surrounding Sally kept this reader intrigued until the end!

While Aussie Rules is a stand-alone novel, Jill Shalvis also has a new series planned revolving around a group of friends who run a luxurious jet service. The first in the series, Fly Me, will be published in April 2007.

Fly Me has been renamed to Smart & Sexy

Jill Shalvis takes a detour from her usual fare in her newest book, Out of This World, published by Kensington’s Brava imprint. Out of this World is different from Shalvis’ previous books in that this book is a paranormal romance and is told in the first person.

Rachel Bond has just inherited a bed and breakfast from her crazy great-aunt Gertrude. Aside from the fact that Rachel doesn’t know anything about running a B&B, this particular B&B is located in the wilds of Alaska. It’s accessible only by a tiny plane that comes once a week – luckily for Rachel, it’s making a special trip to pick her and best friend Kellan up at the end of the weekend. When they arrive to scope things out, they’re just planning on checking in and checking out. Unfortunately, within five minutes of landing Kel and Rach realize that everything isn’t as idyllic as they originally thought. They must hike miles to get to the main house, the cook isn’t worth her salt, and the guide gets lost with a map. In case things weren’t enough fun, on a hike with Axel, the hapless guide, both Kel and Rach get struck by lightning.

Getting struck by lightening, while a harrowing experience, appears to have its benefits. Rachel can now see through things – clothing included – and Kellan has Superman-level strength. All of a sudden, Rachel is hit with an onslaught of lustful feelings toward Kellan, and she can see (x-ray vision, remember) that he’s feeling similarly. While stuck in the wilds of Alaska, Rachel and Kellan must figure out the mystery surrounding this crazy B&B, as well as determine whether or not the feelings they have toward each other are a result of all of the weird things that have been happening to them or if they’re experiencing the real thing. And if they want to leave the B&B alive, they need to fight off bloodthirsty pirates. So much for a relaxing little weekend in Alaska.

Out of This World is a fun, fast read, perfect for those who like their paranormals light and without a lot of world building. The world in Out of This World is just like ours, except there are some crazy things that go on - and some people have special powers. Shalvis does a wonderful job of keeping Out of This World grounded just enough in the real world that fans of her usual fare should not be scared off by the paranormal label. My only complaint with this novel is that the ending seems to be slightly out of step with the rest of the story. What appears at the beginning to be a light, quirky and (mostly) contemporary romance veers off into a dark and violent arena near the end. The ending notwithstanding though, Out of This World is a thoroughly enjoyable read and it will leave fans wanting for another story set in this world.

Brava’s latest installment in the Bad Boys series promises to deliver to readers exactly what they’ve come to expect: three short and sexy stories from three very talented authors.

Lori Foster headlines this summer anthology with her sexy novella Luscious. Lucius Ryder, SWAT-team member and apartment building owner – nicknamed Luscious by his bevy of female tenants – has found himself in a sticky situation. Engaged in a standoff with a crazed man holding his own mother hostage, Lucius attempts to defuse the situation only to have a stray dog steal his thunder. Softy that he is, Lucius takes the dog home with him only to find out there’s something wrong with it – and his next door neighber Marci is the only one who can figure out what.

Bethany Churchill is spending some time at her twin sister, Marci’s apartment while she tries to get her life straightened out. After quitting her job and dumping her boyfriend, the only thing Bethany is looking for is a new place to live. She’s certainly not thinking about getting involved with the sexy landlord across the hall – who, incidentally, is the one person who can consistently tell Bethany and her sister apart.

Lucius has had his eye on Bethany for quite awhile, but has been waiting for the right moment to make his move. When he overhears Bethany proclaim that her favorite part of sex is “when it’s over,” he decides the time has come to set about proving her wrong.

It’s About Time is part of Erin McCarthy’s loosely connected Bowling Friends series. County prosecuter Trish Jones shows up at her neighborhood bar after being stood up for her date. Her bartender and friend, Joe, directs her to Caleb Vancouver’s side as he tries to drink himself, and his sorrows, under the table.

Caleb’s ex-wife is getting married tomorrow, and to add insult to injury, she’s marrying an old guy! It’s not that he still loves her, but it does something to a man’s ego when your wife leaves you for an older man. Caleb’s plan was to wash away his ex-wife’s memory with beer – until Trish plunked down next to him, determined to keep him company and raise his spirits.

Last call at the bar finds Caleb engrossed in a stimulating, if slightly drunken, conversation with Trish, who has declared him an adopted brother for the night. Trish can’t very well let Caleb drive drunk, so she takes his keys and takes him home with her. Too bad her newly “adopted brother” is pretty hot. And too big to fit on her couch. All of a sudden the thought of Caleb in her bed is starting to sound like a pretty good idea…

Amy Garvey rounds out Bad Boys of Summer with Wish You Were Here. Photographer Mackenzie Pruitt has just inherited a quaint beachfront cottage that has a somewhat run-down shed in the backyard. She envisions the shed as the perfect little work studio and hires carpenter Leo Dawson to make the necessary changes. Leo agrees to do the work on Mackenzie’s shed but draws the line at her idea to document the job in a photo essay. Living a quiet life, designed that way on purpose, there is no way that Leo is going to chance that Mackenzie’s proposed essay might end up published.

With some difficulty, Mackenzie accepts Leo’s demand to leave the camera alone while he’s around. Then she gets an altogether different idea. This time Mackenzie plans to have Leo spend the daylight hours turning the shed into a studio and spend the nighttime hours turning her on! But Leo’s got a big secret that he is sure will turn Mackenzie off if she finds out.

While none of the stories are centered on a particularly summery theme, the anthology as a whole still makes for a great beach read. Each story in this trio is short and to the point while managing not to skimp on the romance. Three hot and steamy stories, best read during hot and steamy days – these authors know how to deliver great romances!

Hell on Wheels is Karen Kelley’s fourth full-length novel that features characters in law enforcement.

Bounty hunter Cody Carlyle is good at her job and takes pleasure in tracking down bail jumpers and bringing them in to justice. Cody lives a solitary life and, with the exception of her strained relationship with her mother, she’s generally happy. She has always worked alone and is not looking to change that. But when fellow bounty hunter Josh Pierce offers to partner with Cody to bring in a high profile skip, she finds it hard to say no – and even harder to say no to some of his other, more sensual, ideas.

Josh Pierce works for the same agency as Cody; while hunting down skips, he has also been keeping his eye on Cody. He has seen the way she kicks butt first and takes names later, and Josh can’t help but be attracted to Cody’s strong but sexy outer shell. He is convinced that she’s hiding a soft center and decides the only way to find out if he’s right is to work as her partner to bring in an accused murderer. This way he’ll have a chance to work on gaining her trust – and hopefully her heart.

This character-driven story is fun without being silly and suspenseful without being somber; Karen Kelley strikes the perfect balance in all areas. Cody is a strong, complex heroine, and Josh is just the hero to compliment her. He stands up to her when she needs to be brought down a notch but is also strong for her when her weaknesses break through. Together they feed off of each other’s strengths to find success in both their professional and romantic lives.

Fans of Kelley’s work will enjoy this latest novel, while newcomers will find a strong, talented author in Karen Kelley.

Holly Hillbay is a private detective whose newest case requires joining the local book club, run by the sexy Wes Brockman, owner of Books on the Beach. Holly knows she has only joined the book club to get the info she needs for her client, but when Wes begins to focus his attentions on her, it gets harder to remember the reason for which she’s there.

However, when a dead body is discovered in the back room of the bookstore, Wes hires Holly to do some P.I. work for him. In the process, Holly digs up some interesting news about Wes himself. The bad news is Wes is not who he says he is; the even worse news is Holly is beginning to fall for him – whoever he is.

Jennifer Apodaca’s newest book is a spicy blend of romance and mystery. Holly is a tough-as-nails private investigator, and Wes is a nice complement. Together they uncover a mystery that’s bigger than they first thought. While the story seems to meander at bit in the middle, overall The Sex on the Beach Book Club is a quick read with memorable characters, a perfect beach read despite its wintry release date.

Lady Isabel Pelham is a widow, known among the ton as an extraordinarily skilled and devoted mistress. Gerard Faulkner, Marquess of Grayson, is a rake of the first order, with women falling over themselves to be chosen as his mistress of the month. In an effort to keep his mother from arranging the perfect (perfectly horrible) marriage for Gray, he convinces Isabel to join him in a marriage of convenience. That way both of them can continue on their amorous ways without having to answer to anyone but themselves. However, after receiving some devastating news, Gray takes to the county, leaving Isabel to wonder why he left and when, or even if, he’s ever coming back.

When Gray unexpectedly returns four years later, he’s not the man Isabel married. The old Gray was more interested in the season’s newest girls. This Gray is determined to make Isabel love him the way a wife should. And he’s willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve that goal.

Sylvia Day’s newest release from Brava is completely captivating. The minute I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Day weaves a thoroughly engrossing tale about two people who fall in love long after they’ve said their vows. Both Isabel and Gray are richly drawn characters, and the chemistry between them is electric. Gray’s determination to have Isabel love him the way he loves her makes him endearing yet vulnerable. The Stranger I Married was the first book I’ve read by Day, but it certainly won’t be the last.

Her next Brava release, Passion for the Game, will be published in May 2007.

Erin McCarthy’s newest release features all that she does best: full-bodied characters who speak in realistic ways and have hot sex.

Jamie Peters, on an outing with her roommates one day, makes the mistake of having her fortune told. The psychic predicts she will meet the man of her dreams in an accident involving food and a moving vehicle. Torn between wanting to scoff at the prediction and wondering if the psychic could possibly be right, Jamie continues on with her daily life - albeit with an eye open for a tall, handsome stranger carrying food. Months later, as she steps into a subway car, she collides with Jack Davidson, who is bringing a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs to his grandfather. Could this be fate?

Jack Davidson has a secret - several secrets, in fact, but the first one is that he has been following Jamie. Not in a stalker-ish kind of way; he’s just been keeping an eye on her. The organization she works for has requested a grant from his foundation, and during a routine investigation of the program he discovered that someone has been daytrading with funds “borrowed” from the organization. Jack has been following Jamie in an effort to find out who’s behind the quasi-embezzlement. When Jamie runs into Jack – literally – he feels compelled to maintain contact with her, if for nothing else than to proceed with his investigation. What Jack doesn’t count on, though, is Jamie being the most beautiful, lush, compassionate woman he’s ever laid eyes (or spilled food) on.

One dinner date turns into an all-night conversation which turns into early morning passion. Both Jamie and Jack think this might be the beginning of a great relationship – until Jamie finds out another one of Jack’s secrets.

From Jack’s crotchety old grandfather to Jamie’s cross-dressing psychic, this fast-paced romance features a cast of fun, well-drawn characters who the reader comes to love. Even though the conflict surrounding Jamie and Jack is based on a secret Jack kept, McCarthy does not drag this misunderstanding out. The couple discusses it and must decide how to proceed. The slightly suspenseful subplot is resolved with care and is well woven into the overall theme of the book. Erin McCarthy writes wonderful romance and can always be counted on for a great read.

Ariadne (Andy) McAllister is a stuntwoman in a family filled with stunt actors. After finishing up a grueling film, all Andy wants is to go on vacation somewhere she can lay out and have sex on the beach (literally and figuratively). Unfortunately, her family has a different idea of how she should spend her vacation. It seems her aunt (also a stuntwoman) went on a ladies’ retreat some time ago and never returned. Furthermore, a rich guest just met with her untimely death, and everyone is worried that something has happened to Andy’s aunt. Andy’s family insists that she go undercover to the retreat and try to find out what happened to her aunt.

Dillon Roth is recovering from a crippling accident when he is sent to Terra Bliss, a women-only retreat. His task is to go undercover as a ladies’ attendant (or slave, as the women like to call them) and investigate the death of a rich guest. Dillon is assigned to be Andy’s attendant. Together they discover that there’s a mutual attraction – but neither is who they say they are.

Who Wants to be a Sex Goddess? is like cotton candy for the brain – it’s good in the moment but upon reflection it lacks substance. The book is very silly; the jams Andy gets herself in are reminiscent of an “I Love Lucy” episode. Keeping in mind the cotton candy analogy, however, it’s entirely possible to enjoy this book for what it is: fun, frothy entertainment. Gemma Bruce is the pseudonym of a popular mystery writer, but here the mystery takes a backseat to the hot and steamy romance between Andy and Dillon. The question of Andy’s aunt’s disappearance is well done, though not particularly mysterious. Overall, Who Wants to be a Sex Goddess? is candy for the brain – if your brain deserves a candy break, this would be a great book to treat it with.

Shelley Bradley continues a storyline she set up in her January 2006 book Bound and Determined. As a favor to his brother-in-law, Mark Sullivan agrees to go undercover to help bust a money-laundering scheme in Las Vegas. What he doesn’t realize, however, is that his cover will have him working as a dancer in a ladies-only strip club.

Nicola DiStefano is the owner of Girl’s Night Out, the premier male strip club on the Vegas strip. She desperately needs to hire a new dancer, and once she lays eyes on Mark, she knows he’ll be perfect for the job. Big, blond, and bronze with dark green eyes – who could resist this Adonis? Certainly not Nicki.

Embarking on a sexual relationship, Nicki soon finds herself falling for Mark more and more. Mark feels similarly but grapples with the challenge of reconciling the Nicki he knows and has grown to care for with the idea of her being at the helm of a money-laundering scheme. Can Mark maintain his cover and figure out who’s working for the Mafia before he falls completely for Nicki?

Shelley Bradley has penned an exciting contemporary romance with suspenseful undertones. Strip Search is the sequel to Bound and Determined, and while the book mostly stands alone, there are certain portions, especially near the beginning, that could have benefited from more explanation or background. Additionally, as a result of a past relationship gone bad, Mark tends to think the absolute worst of Nicki at every turn, even when her actions don’t necessarily warrant such a vehement response. I found this behavior tiring, and as the story progressed Mark’s actions made me less sympathetic to his past. Aside from this, though, Strip Search is populated with well-drawn secondary characters, and the love scenes are particularly steamy. This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy their romance with a hint of suspense.

The Kissing Room
By Cheryl Anne Gardner
ISBN-10: 1411648846
ISBN-13: 978-1411648845
Trade paperback, 56 pages
Publication date: July 18, 2006
Lulu



Cheryl Anne Gardner's passionate first novella, The Kissing Room, is a vivid and compelling tale of love, loss, and renewal. In 56 short pages, Gardner immerses the reader in hopelessness, destroys all sense of security, then delivers the reader into the comfort of redemption and release. There is an incredible amount of impact in this thin wisp of a book.

Gardner's protagonist Merle has been fortunate enough to experience the bliss of true love, to coexist with a soul lover, to feel that depth of emotion in her husband, Jon. When it's all ripped away from her, she falls into the escape of self mutilation. Her dirty little secret is that she allows herself to be payment for the debt her late husband owed. She resigns herself to a life of abuse and despair. She's not expecting it, but her savior is on the horizon in the form of a vagabond that wanders into the pub she has made a home. Is she ready to realize all that she deserves or is Jon's debt eternal?

Set primarily in an Irish pub, what is most intriguing about The Kissing Room is the lack of physical description of the setting, but the clarity with which the reader is able to absorb the surroundings. The setting is created through exploration of the camaraderie and fellowship felt in those that frequent the pub scene. It is interrupted with the darker side effects of alcohol and gambling.

I have the most difficult time reviewing Cheryl Anne Gardner's work because she's just too damned good. Her stories have the ability to move me to tears. Her words are penned so eloquently, that by the time I close the book, any attempt I make of writing something of my own reads like a child's book report. I flounder, procrastinate, type and delete because nothing I can come up with does justice to Gardner's writing. Her works demand an emotional response, causing the reader to observe the human condition honestly and in its rawest sense. An author that can create this much impact is a rarity, but Gardner has the ability to evoke such intense compassion that readers are left craving for more. One taste will create a lifelong fan of Cheryl Anne Gardner's work.

Logos
By Cheryl Anne Gardner
ISBN-10: 1430302283
ISBN-13: 978-1430302285
Trade paperback, 56 pages
Publication date: November 27, 2006
Lulu


"Imagine if you will, a you that eternity could never possibly comprehend, trapped deep within walls of flesh-n-bone, but a mere shadow, the reflection of an infinite, abysmal darkness--forsaken, devoid, wretched, and wanton. That is the life of a Shadowleiche, my life, such as it is, lonely and desolate. Nevertheless, I have grown accustomed to the darkness; its thin veil of calm conceals the merciless wrath that I have set loose indiscriminately on the world for centuries."

Cheryl Anne Gardner introduces the character of Caliné in her second novella, Logos, with familiar eloquence. Caliné is somewhat of a damned otherworldly being, an agent of Chaos not really identifiable as anything typical of paranormal lore, but an immortal nonetheless: a Leiche. She traverses time, beginning her existence as a Roman slave, developing the powers she has been gifted, maturing into a young woman and creating a temporal reality within each era.

Caliné uses death as a means of salvation for people she encounters along the way, both noble and evil. Death becomes an alluring alternative to the struggles of life, whether her charges are cognizant of their expedited fate or not. No one is immune to her ministrations. The power of Chaos requires her denial of love lest she become a slave to it, which is a dangerous possibility in the presence of Lucius.

Logos is very similar to Gardner's first novella, The Kissing Room, in its depth and esoteric prose. The seductive style with which she writes is stimulating in an intellectual sense, but softened by emotion. Immersion into Gardner's macabre settings is inevitable for the reader. Another consistency among her works is the sense of desperation the reader will feel when they realize they are reading the last page and there are no more of Gardner's words to remain absorbed in. Reality takes hold and you realize you've become addicted to a new niche of literature, and the next fix can't come soon enough.

The Thin Wall
By Cheryl Anne Gardner
ISBN-10: 1430312564
ISBN-13: 978-1430312567
Trade paperback, 63 pages
November 9, 2007
Lulu.com


I doubt Cheryl Anne Gardner will have trouble finding an audience for her new novella, The Thin Wall. The deviant sexual lifestyles of the main characters practically guarantee a readership. They sure sold me on the idea. But, as with Gardner's previous three novellas, the depth and layers of meaning permeating the narrative make it a torrid mirror of the human soul.

Laleana and Julian discover each other as freshmen in college, alongside the Marquis de Sade. In middle age, the two are accustomed to impromptu sadomasochistic trysts. Their relationship has forged its own metaphoric bonds in addition to the physical ones they revel in. They find comfort in a small group of friends, each with their own extreme sexual identities. As the friends seek absolute release in romantic freedom, they cannot deny the basic human need for love and companionship.

There is so much wisdom and clarity packed into the novella that every single detail of the story plays a role in the self discovery of the characters. Each time I read the book, I uncover a new connection or layer of intensity that I missed during earlier enjoyment. I found myself relating most to Laleana, probably because of her passion for literature. "I loved them all equally, from the short story, to the poem, to the play, for nothing could touch me so deeply as a well-placed word."

Gardner explores the precarious boundaries between pleasure and pain. She forces the reader to view aspects of human nature that we may not be keen to own up to. Her characters are passionate and dramatic, with an obvious flair for the macabre. She writes with the eloquence of a literary master, uncovering the beauty that lies within the grotesque. The subtle prose that carries the reader will be the same that creates a lifelong connoisseur of Gardner's work.

Giveaway going on here.

Dark Maiden
By Norma Lehr
ISBN-10: 0809557800
ISBN-13: 978-0809557806
Trade Paperback, 224 pages
September 19, 2007
Juno Books
Reviewed for Front Street Reviews


To family and friends, Sheila appears to be a distraught mother in mourning. It's to be expected, since she has just lost her only son to SIDS, or crib death. But Sheila knows she has reason to be frantic; she saw the ghostly Asian woman who took her son's life. The woman took his soul.

Sheila's bleary awareness on her prescribed medications allows her husband Karl to move her out of their apartment and into a home in the country close to her only other surviving family member, her aunt Iris. Karl moves her more out of concern for his own freedom. He can't keep an eye on an unstable wife all day long and his indiscretions while Sheila was in the hospital may come back to haunt him if he stays in the city.

Moving away doesn't help Sheila. Her hallucinations increase. The Asian woman haunts her everywhere she goes, mysterious shadows follow, and a strange gray fox has been spotted hanging around the house. Plus, she can't escape the incredible attraction she has for one of her new neighbors, Chad. Chad is trying to open up a collapsed mine on the property, and for some reason, Sheila feels his success is imperative.

The shapeshifter that haunts Sheila will take its toll on everyone around her, causing death and destruction. No one is safe. An ancient force is determined to manifest in this world through the emotionally weakened young mother. The succubus needs a missing amulet to follow through with her desires, and she's using Sheila to get to it.

Dark Maiden is a new supernatural suspense novel from Norma Lehr, released in 2007. Chinese legend and earth magic meet in this fast paced story. It was obvious from the beginning that some characters would need to be eliminated for the story to work, and it was interesting to see how Lehr took care of that detail. There are so many characters, the reader only gets to know each person on a surface level. The ending is left wide open with the possibility of a sequel. It's a fun story, but I think Lehr, who has previously written children's ghost stories, would do well to break out of that writing style. With its short, choppy chapters and surface content, Dark Maiden is very similar to a young adult novel.

Buy *Divorced, Desperate and Delicious* by Christie Craig online

Divorced, Desperate and Delicious
Christie Craig
Leisure
Paperback
325 pages
November 2007
rated 4 of 5 possible stars

buy this book now or browse millions of other great products at amazon.com
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Even though it’s only February, divorced photographer Lacy Maguire has dressed up her dog and three cats in Christmas costumes to shoot a Christmas calendar. While taking a break from the holiday music and holly, her dog Fabio scampers out through the doggy door and starts barking furiously at something behind the shed. Wearing only an oversized tee-shirt (don’t ask), Lacy heads out to drag Fabio away from what she assumes is a wayward squirrel. What she finds instead is a cop on the lam who’s demanding to take refuge in her house.

Chase Kelly is not the man his partner, Zeke, wants everyone to believe he is. Zeke says Chase is a cop gone dirty – that he stole cocaine recovered from a drug bust and even killed people - but Chase is being set up; Zeke is really the dirty cop. His only chance to clear his name is to hide out until Zeke is convinced that the bullet which only grazed Chase’s shoulder actually killed him. As long as Zeke believes Chase is alive, no one is safe. But hiding out in Lacy’s house may turn out to be just as dangerous.

Divorced, Desperate and Delicious is a cabin romance meets romantic suspense, with a healthy dose of comedy thrown in for good measure. I loved the chemistry between Chase and Lacy, so much so that when the plot turned back to Zeke, I found myself skimming those sections just to get back to Chase and Lacy. Zeke is a crazy villain, and even at the end of the story I wasn’t clear on was what his motivation for setting Chase up. The only complaint I have about this story was that at times the dialogue seemed to suggest it was written by an aging housewife – I’ve never met someone in real life who uses words like ‘Jeepers’; that was enough to throw me out of the story. Despite this minor quibble, Divorced, Desperate and Delicious is a thoroughly fun read. I delighted in every minute of it, and I look forward to Christie Craig’s next novel.


Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com.