I live in Western Australia. I write Chick Lit and Women's Fiction stories centred around love.
<p><b>The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.</b><br /> <br />One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, <i>Learning to Breathe Fire </i>combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. <br /> <br />The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. <br /> <br />In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out. </p>
<span style="text-decoration:underline;">From <em>Tiffany's Bookshelf</em></span><div><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">Millie is a woman with a plan. She works two jobs to save her money, so that she can buy and run a bed and breakfast resort in Indonesia. There is no room in the plan for romance, particularly if that romance involves a boorish rugby playing womanizer. Yet, one cannot choose who one loves, not even in Millie's case. So, the question is, what happens to all her plans? <br /><br />This was such a cute little romance. I absolutely adored Millie's character, though she had a lot more patience than I would have. I love the description of the women in the book, and could easily see them featured in their own "Sex in the City" type of movie. These woman made me chuckle numerous times, and I really felt like another girl in their group. Brilliant character development all the way around. As far as Sam goes, he is the man I want to hate, and just cannot, which I suspect is how Millie felt as well. <br />I liked the little secrets that are woven into the storyline. Some of them I suspected, while others I had no clue. But all in all the story flowed nicely, and I loved the resolution at the end. <br />I have preached on numerous occasions on why I disliked romance novels in the past. It is books like this one that converted me into a romance reader. I love when a romance novel hints at sexiness, flirts with naughtiness, but steers away from out and out erotica. I think that is way more romantic and sexy, and this book fits into that category nicely. A contemporary romance that simply smolders without the smut. </span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">from <em>Jolene's Mumbo Jumbo</em></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">L. A .Dale, Perth author, mother and self-confessed rugby fanatic has been my latest bed partner. By that I mean I have been snuggling up in my bed after a crazy day of child-wrangling, with her latest novel `The Taming of the Bastard.' <br />And what a hoot we've had! <br />I've got to be honest. I haven't lusted after a fictional literary character with quite so much gusto since having my head buried in the Twilight books. (Robert Pattinson wasn't a patch on the Edward Cullen in my head, let me tell you!) <br />Sam Brockton, is not only exudes charm, charisma and a super hot body, he is also riddled with annoying bad habits and character flaws which make him wholly believable, and somehow even more attractive. He had me drooling on my keyboard on more than one occasion anyway, whilst at other times I would have quite liked to poke both of his eyes out! <br />L.A Dale captures the rugby social culture and its unspoken rules of male bonding and immaturity with hilarious accuracy. <br />So if you are partial to Chick Lit and are on the lookout for something to make you laugh out loud, then you really can't go past this book. </span><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;"><em><br /></em></span></div>