Simple question: Who is Penelope? Simple answer: Penelope can be the name for any woman who has ventured into the world of adult dating and has stories that are good and bad. Or she can be any woman who has stories, fiascos and triumphs, to relate to her friend Penelope. At some point we're either the friend who has the dating experiences or the gal pal we call up after a dating experience. In essence-we're all Penelopes.Dating as an adult can be a somewhat perilous experience. I mean, come on, we're not teenagers simply thrilled to be going out with that "cute guy from English Lit" even though we know we're smarter than he is, have better manners, and are dreaming of a college-bound future to an Ivy League school whereas his aspirations are simply to get a job with the DPW in his local town. Nope, those days are-thankfully-behind us but as we go into our twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond, dating becomes more interesting and-alas more challenging.Dating life has now gone from giggling teenage angst and the exciting but terrifying possibility of maybe "going all the way" to adult women contemplating whether a guy is worthy of being the one who will scratch her proverbial sexual itch. The mantra for going on an adult date today is similar to what Mel Brooks said in the movie The Twelve Chairs, "Hope for the best, expect the worst." Heaven help us, that's so true.Dating someone new can be fraught with issues that we never even think of, let alone expect to happen. From having a very pregnant woman stalk you because you're dating her boyfriend and the father of her unborn baby, to going on what you thought was a romantic retreat only to find out the guy is into extreme bondage. From women who knowingly allow themselves to fall in love with the wrong man and suffer the heartbreak and pain when it ends, to women who are the target of scamming Lotharios and luckily realized it in time. The women in this book have many tales from the "dark side" to tell each other. See Penelope? Perils.So to all the dating Penelopes out there, have a good read, a good laugh, and nod your head sagely if you see yourself and your dating experience in this book.Just promise yourself one thing-don't give up on dating You never know when a good guy will show up in your life. Kristen Houghton