Don't be misled by the title. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss isn't actually about the history of love. The novel is about a book called "The History of Love", or rather, it is about a teenage girl's search for its author. After Alma Singer's father passes away, her mother sinks into a realm of loneliness. With her mother content to remain there with just her books and her children, Alma sets out on a mission to restore her mother to the world social interactions. Alma's pursuit of potential suitors for her mother leads her to track down the aged Leo Gursky who, as a younger man in love, wrote the book with which her mother is now consumed. Recommended by Kathy from Kansas. Thanks, Kathy!

Lest it be thought that I went overboard with the Valentine's theme this month, I thought that I would include something a little different to round out the newsletter. Poker: Bets, Bluffs and Bad Beats by A. Alvarez is an entertaining look inside the word of high stakes poker, its history, language and culture. Know the odds. Know yourself. Be able to read your opponents. Master the art of bluffing. Play aggressively, but not foolishly. Never whine. Be able to walk away when it isn't your night. These are the things that it takes to become a good poker player. But what about the greats - those that compete in the World Championship of Poker? To compete at that level, one has to also play flawlessly and fearlessly - two things that only few are capable of with millions of dollars at stake. Full of personal anecdotes, poker lore, film references, photos and jargon, Poker gives one a sense of the high-pressure, adrenaline-filled world inhabited by master players. Recommended by Phil from Kansas. Thanks, Phil!

   Feeling housebound with all of the snow and cold this winter? Stay with us any Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before March 15th, get $50 off your 3-night stay. For reservations .