Forget about counting calories--the title has both "French" and "desserts" in it, for Pete's sake! You won't find any low-fat silliness in Jill O'Connor's latest masterpiece, and you won't care a bit. From extravagant honey madeleines, profiteroles, and almond macaroons to classics like chocolate mousse, meringues, and warm apple crepes, the recipes in this book will produce fantastic results for the novice and expert alike. The detailed, easy-to-follow instructions take you effortlessly through each step of even the most complicated recipes, and O'Connor's technique tips, such as "Fearless Folding" and "Mastering Meringue," offer the extra guidance so many of us need. Entertaining lessons, such as "How the Madeleine Got Its Hump," and first-hand descriptions of an American dessert hound in Paris give Simple French Desserts added charm. Photographs are sparse, but the ones shown are guaranteed to send your imagination soaring. As O'Connor herself puts it, "Let the bacchanal begin!" --Melissa Asher