i ordered this book based on the cover photo and the subtitle, 'perfect paper piecing.' i expected techniques for using, creating, or adapting patterns for paper foundation piecing--how to determine the order of piecing when creating your own foundations, what changes to make in traditional blocks, if any, for foundation piecing, that sort of thing.
instead, this is a book of quilt patterns designed by the authors that are paper pieced. there is a short introductory section on the authors' method of paper piecing, along with very brief suggestions about color, threads and quilting. no quilting patterns are included. although the paper piecers i know or i have read recommend smaller needles for piercing the paper, the authors of this book list larger needles in the one paragraph that mentions them. their instructions for removing the foundations seem to suggest doing so before fully assembling the quilt top, another departure from most of what i have read or been told. they do not suggest removing paper from one side of a seam to cut down on layers, or dampening the paper for easier removal.
the patterns are contemporary, lively, and mostly attractive. there are a couple of patterns i would consider making, so i will probably keep the book, though i am still debating that. the quilts i really like, however, are in the gallery section and i haven't checked the cd-rom to see if the patterns for those quilts are included because the cd is in a sealed envelope that would have to be removed for use and i doubt amazon would refund the purchase price if i opened the envelope.
at least one of the projects shows a lack of precision in matching points and seams that is surprising in a paper pieced design--one of the purposes of paper piecing is precision in matching points.
i would not recommend this book to someone who has not already done foundation piecing, since it contains a limited amount of advice. i would recommend any of carol doak's books on paper piecing, since they address the technique more thoroughly.
this is a book to buy if you want to make the authors' quilts. it is not an instruction or reference book.