With wit and wisdom, the bibliophile's Ebert & Roeper recommend more than 600 books based on what women care about most. Between the Covers is organized around their wide-ranging curiosity—about themselves, friends and family, the larger world—and their concerns, from health to sex to managing their finances. With such sections as “Babes We Love” (Role Models Real and Imagined), “The Babe Inside” (Focusing on Body and Soul), and “Love, Sex & Second Chances,” this unique collection of fiction and nonfiction reflects how women really read. We’ve all lamented, “So many books, so little time,” etc., etc. But choosing what to recommend and read has gotten easier with the proliferation of what-to-read-and-why books aimed both at the professional readers’ advisor and the voracious bibliophile constantly on the lookout for the next great read. Book critics, friends, and bicoastal book bloggers, Hammond and Heltzel offer their unique take on the genre, organizing their thematically sorted recommendations into 55 lists of 10 books each that address issues that will appeal to women readers of any age, background, or frame of mind. They suggest diverse fiction and nonfiction books that explore themes relevant to various stages of life, from “tapping your inner artist” to “digging up family roots.” Some choices are obvious (Amy Tan on mother-daughter relationships); others are obscure (Veronica Buckley’s biography of the queen of Sweden). And the best are gems that are frequently overlooked, particularly well-known authors’ earlier works that have been eclipsed by their popular best-sellers. Succinct, honest, and cannily in-tune, the Book Babes entertainingly deliver sure bets for good reads. --Carol Haggas Booklist , 11/1/08 “Hammond and Heltzel offer their unique take on the genre…address[ing] issues that will appeal to women readers of any age, background, or frame of mind…Succinct, honest, and cannily in-tune, the Book Babes entertainingly deliver sure bets for good reads.”  Library Journal  Xpress Review, 10/22/08 “Will appeal to bluestockings of every ilk. The authors’ bibliophilia is infectious, and all readers will benefit from their expert advice.”   St. Petersburg Times , 10/19/08 “Has appeal beyond the chick-lit set…A smart, reader-friendly compilation.”  Bookmarks , 12/08 “We’re long-time fans of Hammond and Heltzel…Now they’ve poured their considerable knowledge into one book…It’s a smart, funny overview of contemporary literature—take a look."  Seattle Times , 11/7 “Move over, Nancy Pearl, for Book Babes' faves…These ladies are no slouches in the literary department…[they] are quite serious about the books…A lively mix of works, guaranteed to keep you up reading way past your bedtime.”  Irene Levine,  Huffington Post , 11/4/08 “Should be a reference book on every woman’s bookshelf.”  Elle magazine , 12/08 “A nifty catalog of some 600 fiction and nonfiction titles…irresistibly grouped.”  Willamette Week , 11/5/08 “You really should read:  Between the Covers …Inventive, genre-defying lists.”  Shelf Awareness , November 2008 “Authors [have] witty and intelligent criteria…Part of the fun in  Between the Covers  is their exuberance; part is in discovering the unexpected.” Deseret News , 11/23/08 “Don’t be fooled by the clever title. The volume is really a compilation of book recommendations on topics of interest to women—and it’s not a guide to romance novels.”  Better TV, November 2008 “Book club members, we have found your bible.” Internet Review of Books, Holiday 2008 Issue “Wise and witty flash-reviews of more than 400 books, both recent and classic…This book is not only a wonderful resource for the reading woman—a place to go to when wondering, ‘What shall I read next?’—but also a satisfying read in its own right. I plan to send one to every reading woman on my Christmas list.”  AthenasBookshelf.com “Hammond and Heltzel are two smart, well-read chicks who offer up the altar of the great read stacked to the celestial ceiling with memoirs and fiction for all sensibilities…a wonderful gift for book lovers for Christmas.”  Chicago Magazine , 12/08 “A new chick-lit reference tome.”  Minneapolis Star Tribune , 12/9/08 “Contains a plethora of suggestions…The next time you're in that odd state of not knowing what to read next, check out this book…A useful, quick guide…Recommendations are written with so much verve and personality that you get a feel for each title…You'll trust their opinions and wish they'd show up at your next book club meeting, maybe with a nice bottle of wine. They'd be knowledgeable, and they'd be fun.”  Margo Hammond , longtime book editor for the St. Petersburg Times and past president of the Southern Book Critics Circle, lives in Florida. Ellen Heltzel , a member of the National Book Critics Circle board, has written for the Washington Post , USA Today , and the Chicago Tribune . She lives in Portland, Oregon. New Mint Condition Dispatch same day for order r