Hi A_programmer,
The following URL lists a number of reference texts for frequency sythesizers:
http://www.am1.us/references.htmEveryone learns in a different fashion, but if you would like a text that provides a good intuitive explanation, you might peruse the text by Dan Wolaver entitled "Phase-Locked Loop Circuit Design". It is the last reference listed on the above URL.
There are also a number of tutorials available in Acrobat format at National Semiconductor and Motorola that may be of interest.
good luck!
Shawn