BUTTERFLY - Kathryn Harvey

The term "sweet revenge" could have been coined specifically for this novel, a Sidney Sheldon-esque tale of glamour and money and two very divergent personalities: the mysterious, ice-cold Los Angeles entrepreneur Beverly Garland, who owns one of the most fashionable and popular upscale men's clothing stores in Los Angeles (which has its own secrets) ... and Daniel Mackay, who came from poverty and desperation and his own passel of dirty secrets to become one of the nation's leading televangelists ... and soon-to-be presidential candidate.  Without giving too much away (and the wise reader won't even read blurbs about the book on Amazon, if you don't want potential spoilers revealed), Beverly's men's clothing shop has a lot more going on upstairs than it does downstairs, and the scandalous, sex-laced events of the novel all lead to a surprising, satisfying conclusion when Beverly and Daniel - who've met before - come face to face again.  Butterfly is the quintessential beach read, spawning two sequels and a legion of fans who would easily talk your ear off about the book (including me).  Addicting from beginning to end.  ****1/2