Burroughs Books

TASTE A HAPPIER REALITY
The Utopian fantasy is reinvented for the 21st Century
in this dazzling
collection of short stories detailing
the eternal life and times of the
denizens of Bullford, a place beyond our recycled human psyche
filled with laughter, hope, and eccentric wisdom.
Written and brilliantly illustrated
by international artist Melissa Henry.
A generous portion of food for hungry minds.

"A remarkable and revealing piece
of work."
(Professor Ronald Comer,
Princeton University).

Just have to say: I adore "THE NOBLE SOCIETY". These very unusual stories put me in a wonderful funny mood.

These "adult fairy tales from another dimention " have a quality characteristics of the best literature: they shimmer.You will get something different from them upon each new reading.

A wonderful exploration of human and social behavior. By brilliantly setting her stories in an imaginary place inhabited by unusual people, Melissa Henry provides readers with an endless stream of provocative insights about the potential and limitations of the human psyche. A remarkable and revealing piece of work.

This was a real surprise. I bought this because of the beautiful cover and the interior art plates, but the stories -- they really are "Adult fairy tales from another dimension!" -- totally captivated me. Set in a society that seems to exist in an altogether different time and space from our reality, the stories that comprise "The Noble Society" offer entertaining, amusing and beautifully written little parables about money, war, eternal youth and other contemporary obsessions. It's a little bit science fiction, a little bit fantasy, some sociology and a dollop of satire. Tasty indeed!

"I have never told this story nor shall mortal man see this manuscript until I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average human mind will not believe what it can not grasp......"

Written in 1912 this book is well written for its time and has intrigued countless generations of readers. I get the feeling that this story is being told over a campfire.

Captain Carter is telling the story form memory as an old man of his adventures here on earth and on the planet of Barsoom (Mars). There are encounters with many strain creatures, situations, and yes even a "Princess of Mars."

This is a part is a series by the writer that brought us "Tarzan." The intro to the book alone will capture your imagination.

It can never be said that Edgar Rice Burroughs lacked for imagination. Best known as the creator of Tarzan, before the King of the Apes was born ERB wrote this first adventure of John Carter, a Southern gent who emigrated to the wild west, only to find himself, by mysterious means, transported to Mars. There, John Carter finds himself amid great green, four-armed, 14-foot aliens, savage beasts, forbidding landscapes, ancient civilizations, and damsels in distress. The book is fast-paced, adventurous, and never dull. While written in a bit of an antique vocabularly, it is still wildly accessible and has lost none of its charm. John Carter is a true hero in the old selse of the word - undaunted, able, and always honorable; his enemies are nothing if not sinister, his perfect opposites. I heartily recommend this work both to fans of science fiction and fantasy, as well as those who have newly come either to the genre or to ERB himself. It will no doubt leave you thirsty for the additional installments (which are also worth reading).

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) was a prodigy of imagination. He started his writer career quite late; his first work was published in 1912. From that point on a ceaseless flow of imaginary worlds & heroes poured from his pen: John Carter of Mars, Carson Napier of Venus, David Innes and Abner Perry on Pellucidar at Earth's center and the most famous of them all Tarzan of the Apes.
As many reviewers of this and other ERB stories point out, do not expect "politically correct" tales, they are the product of a society still torn by racial prejudices.

"Princess of Mars" is an astounding piece of fantasy. First story of ERB to be published it contains the seeds of lots of sci-fi and Fantasy novels to come in the following years. Also we may detect some traits of Tarzan in John Carter character.
It's a pleasure to read so "fresh" adventures depicting a whole planet culture, ecology, interaction between different races, monsters, and inventions far ahead of ERB real world, as "rifles with explosive bullets guided by wireless sensors".

It amazes me how ERB can master in a rather short text (for our standards); a high paced action story. Even if this book is more than 90 years old, you will enjoy it from the first to the last page and possibly continue reading all Carter's series.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

There's no question that "A Princess Of Mars"--the first in the eleven book series--is brilliant. In fact, the first three volumes of ERB's Mars are arguably the best. (By "Thuvia, Maid Of Mars" and "Chessmen Of Mars" the series starts to drag a little bit, but "Llana Of Gathol" and "Synthetic Men Of Mars" are superb!)

One piece of advice: Skip John Seelye's bitingly pretentious "introduction".

If this is your first ERB Mars experience, enjoy your sojourn on the Red Planet! Adventure and Romance await!

--Robert Carter

In this--Edgar Rice Burroughs' first tale of life on Mars (Barsoom to its inhabitants)--we see a brilliantly conceived world featuring titanic green monsters and gorgeous red princesses battling forever across a dying landscape. From the opening set in the American southwest to the deserted cities on Mars to great battles between balkanized nations, this is brilliant adventure fiction. John Carter, the hero, is just standard enough in the pulp vein for readers to identify with him, even as his agelessness and ability to defy Death make him truly intriguing. Even though Dejah Thoris--the princess from whom the novel takes its title--really does very little, her beauty and intelligence are more than enough to convince any man to do as Carter does to make her love him. All this fantastic adventure in a wonderful dream-world leaves the reader panting for more after the last page has been turned. Fortunately Burroughs delivered. I can not recommend this work more highly.

It's a great book like the rest of the series! Buy it

Swords of Mars is one of my favorites of the Martian Tales. Although late in the series, it has all the elements that made Burroughs a classic in the field:

1.
It is a John Carter novel. He is still the best character in the series.

2.
It does not suffer from the same artifacts of serialization that you see in some of the other Mars books. The chapters flow together very nicely without too many inconsistencies or abrupt breaks.

3.
It manages to deal with the political aspect of life on Barsoom while staying smaller. I enjoy the more intimate focus on John Carter more than I do the more epic sweeps of some of the other books.

Recommended for fans of the series. People new to the series should really at least read A Princess of Mars series. However, if you have read that one and are skipping around, this would be a good one to skip around to.

This was about number eight in the Martian Series and the story continues. With this book, Burroughs has John Carter fighting and trying to put an end to the practice of assissination on Mars. Like the rest of the Mars Series, the action is non stop. While I will grant you that ERB has certainly used a formula (Dejah Thoris is captured again and John Carter must rescue), it is never-the-less an effective formula. These books of course are sort of the grand-daddy of much of the Fantasy Fiction of today. Please keep in mind when they were written and do enjoy the style and syntax. This was some of the best pulp fiction coming out in the early part of the last century. Read and enjoy. Recommend highly.

After being relegated to the background for the previous four Martian novels, "Swords of Mars" brings John Carter back to the forefront as he vows to bring an end to the Assassins Guild and travels to one of Barsoom's moons. Carter shows up at Edgar Rice Burroughs' cabin in the mountains of Arizona and relates this tale, which ERB then serializes as the eighth Martian story in six issues of "The Blue-Book Magazine" in 1934-35. Carter has created a secret organization of super assassins to strike back against the powerful guild of assassins, which is headquartered in the city of Zodanga, and goes to the city undercover to infiltrate their ranks. As the first step in an attempt to overthrow Ur Jan, the head of the assassins, Carter pretends to be a panthan and becomes the body guard of Fal Sivas, an inventor. Eventually, as he gets closer to his goal, Carter has to go to Thuria, one of the moons of Mars.

For the most part "Swords of Mars" is one of the most intimate novels in the series, by which I simply mean that it does not have the gigantic armies of variously colored Barsoomians and thousands of air ships arrayed in battle. The first half of the novel is basically a spy story, while the second half find Burroughs indulging in one of his imaginative flights of fancy. Of course, it is not an ERB Martian novel if Carter's beloved Dejah Thoris, princess of Helium, does not need to be rescued. Just because ERB sticks to his pulp fiction formula does not distract from the fact he was a master of the form. This is an above average Burroughs yarn and while it is a step below his best Martian tales, such as "The Chessmen of Mars," it is still a compelling tale. Best of all, John Carter is back front and center. I wound rate this novel as a 4.5, but I will round up for Carter's return.

Besides "A Princess of Mars," I think it is clear that "Swrods of Mars" is one of the primary inspirations for John Norman's Gor series, which was one of the best series that followed in the footsteps of ERB's Martian seres. Note: The first letters of the first words in the preface and twenty-four chapters from an acrostic message: "TO FLORENCE WITH ALL MY LOVE ED." The reference is to Florence Gilbert, ERB's second wife, whom he married in 1935.

"Swords of Mars" is the 8th of 11 John Carter of Mars books that Edgar Rice Burroughs gave to the world. It first appeared serially in the "Blue Book Magazine" in six parts, from November 1934 to April 1935, and is one of the best in the Carter series. For the first time since book 3, "The Warlord of Mars," Carter himself takes center stage, rather than making a brief cameo appearance, and his return as the lead character is perhaps the best single element of this book. This time around, Carter goes to the Barsoomian city of Zodanga to put an end to the assassins guild that is thriving there. In the first half of the novel, Carter goes undercover to infiltrate this Murder Inc.-type of organization, and this segment is extremely tense and exciting. In the second half, Carter's wife, Dejah Thoris, in what to any reader of this series must come as an instance of Dejah vu (sorry...couldn't resist!), is abducted again, and Carter follows her kidnappers to one of the Martian moons, using one of that planet's first spaceships. His subsequent adventures on the moon propel the reader into the realm of pure fantasy. Both parts of the novel are as fun as can be, although very much different in tone.
This novel features very few of the inconsistencies--both internal and with other books in the series--that mar every previous Carter novel. There are some, however. For example, the great Scarlet Tower of Greater Helium is referred to in this book, whereas in previous novels, this tower was referred to as being in Lesser Helium, and besides which, was destroyed in book 5, "The Chessmen of Mars." More of a problem in the current volume are the book's implausibilities. For example, Carter & company jump out of their spaceship on that Martian moon, without bothering to check on the moon's breathable air. Fortunately, the air is just fine, thank you, although Burroughs makes nothing of this...surprising, given the pains he had taken in previous books to explain the breathable air on Mars itself. The invisibility-inducing hypnosis that the moon people use against Carter is a bit much to buy, but that's alright; it's all in good fun. But Burroughs' theory that a person who lands on this 7-mile-wide moon would be the same relative size that he would be on Mars--in other words, that he would shrink in proportion to the planetoid's mass; his so-called "compensatory adjustment of masses"--is, as Carter puts it, "preposterous," though, as it turns out, such is the case in the book. Like I said, it's all in good fun. And this book IS as fun as they get.
Oh...one other nice touch. As pointed out in the ERB List, a fine Burroughs Website, if you take the first letter of each first word of each chapter in this book, you will find a secret message that Burroughs incorporated for his new bride. A nice touch.

These two novels in my opinion were the best in all of the 22 book series. Tarzan goes from fighting germans to fighting prehistoric people and animals in a lost land. How does it get any better than that? And the Jane thing is cool! A must read for ultimate action/adventure readers.

It is commonly agreed among ERB fans that Tarzan the Untamed and Tarzan the Terrible are two of the best books of the series. They make a pair that complete a whole story, but can be read separately as well. The only thing I wanted to add to the discussion is the fact that Tarzan the Terrible is the ONLY novel in which the lost land of Pal-ul-don appears. This land was greatly expanded and mined to completion in the 1950's Dell Tarzan comics. So, if you were a fan of that old Dell Tarzan, at least Tarzan the Terrible deserves a reading. As mentioned by others, these two stories are filled with action and adventure and, I believe, would find a readership among kids today if only the books were carried by more book stores.

These are two of the best Tarzan novels, filled with everything that Burroughs does best: action, mystery, romance, lost cities... TARZAN THE TERRIBLE is the direct sequel to TARZAN THE UNTAMED, and anyone who has read these books will want to get a copy of Philip Jose Farmer's THE DARK HEART OF TIME: A TARZAN NOVEL, which takes place chronologically in between these two amazing books.

These two stories are, in my humble opinion, the two best works of ERB in the Tarzan series. Very nice plot twists (as opposed to the rather contrived ones later on) and a great deal of background into the settings (example: the Ho-don and Waz-don dialect dictionary in Tarzan the Terrible)make these two "must own" books.

If you're looking for a great way to while away some time or, even better, find a good book for a young reader - I urge you to strongly buy this book!

These are two of the best books ERB wrote in the series. Although "Tarzan of the Apes" is the undisputed best novel of the series, quite possibly a literary masterpiece, these two have even more adventure, action, and clever plot twists than the original. I think "Tarzan the Terrible" is an overall better read, but the final few chapters of "Tarzan the Untamed", in Xuja, city of the mad, is my favorite part of the entire series. I enjoyed it better than Opar, Ashair, or any of the other lost cities ERB created. I wish he had set the entire novel there. If you're an adventure or Tarzan fan you can't miss these two stories. They're the 7th and 8th books in the series and still have aspects of Tarzan being fresh in his creator's mind. The latter books are all good, but they remind me alot of another series, my favorite, the Gor series by John Norman. The first books are outstanding, but the series begin to get repetitive as though the authors used up all their good ideas and are recycling them with different but similiar settings and characters and the storylines follow much of the same course as the previous ones. The only negative thing I can say about the Tarzan series, if indeed you even consider this negative, is that coincidence seems to play much too big of a role. Everyone in the story will somehow end up in the same place at the same time no matter what they've been through and where they've been. But I guess that's what helps make them enjoyable. It all works out. If you like the Tarzan series I recommend two other books by Edgar Rice Burroughs: "The Outlaw of Torn", a medieval tale and "I Am a Barbarian", a tale of the mad Roman emperor Caligula. I also recommend the Gor series by John Norman(the ones with Tarl Cabot in them anyway) and anything by Robert E. Howard.

It's no mystery why this book is so well liked. Ms. Skelton has a nice blend of dialogue and narrative and knows how to keep readers turning the page. Plus, it has a natural rhythm for reading aloud either to your children or in a story-time setting.The characters in this story are believable and, most importantly, likable. This is an impressive first book and I'mlooking forward to reading the next one in the series, Bitsy and the Mystery at Amelia Island

Who of us can't remember what it feels like as a child to really, really want to follow our curiosity, even if it meant becoming caught up in a scary experience? That delicious, irresistible attraction is what Bitsy and the Mystery at Tybee Island offers young readers and their parents. Bitsy and her cousin, Matt, turn an otherwise normal family beach vacation into a chilling, chase-in-the-dark, pirate treasure, "dead body" thriller. After tagging along on this adventure, you will want to visit the Tybee Island lighthouse and historic fort where some of the action takes place.

Parents, watch for your children to put this book down and grab your chance to read it. You will love the lively dialogue Skelton uses to portray Bitsy's feisty, endearing character. You'll appreciate the lessons your child can learn from choices Bitsy makes and their consequences.

Better yet-read this book together!

I love a mystery, and always have. I started reading them when I was a kid. Thankfully, we have a new generation of children's mystery authors like Vonda Skelton who can bring the enjoyment of mysteries to a new generation of children.

Bitsy is a 12-year-old girl from a poor but very loving family, who finds mystery and adventure while on vacation at Tybee Island, Georgia. This is a good myster, and a great story -- very memorable and authentic characters. Very much reminescent of Gertrude Chandler Warner's "The Boxcar Children" books.

The Tybee Island atmosphere is dead-on -- I have explored all of these places with my own grandchildren, including climbing the 178 steps to the top of the lighthouse.

As a long-time mystery fan who first got hooked on Nancy Drew, it's a kick to find a new mystery series suitable for young people. But unlike the cookie-cutter Carolyn Keene books, the first Bitsy mystery takes a more well-rounded, down-to-earth approach as it introduces kids to the (in my opinion) best genre of all. Skelton's twelve-year-old tomboy character, Bitsy Burroughs, isn't a glamorous blonde paper doll with her very own blue roadster; Bitsy's family lives on the edge. Her father drives a bread truck and dreams of striking it rich with unlikely scheme after scheme. Her long-suffering mother is pregnant with baby number four, and the budget is so tight, the family endures a steady diet of fatback and stale honey buns, culled from the bread company's discards. Nonetheless, the Burroughses are a loving family, who pray together, forgive one another and manage to find humor in their situation. When a windfall gives them a chance to spend some time at a cabin on Georgia's Tybee Island, feisty Bitsy and her cousin Matt take the opportunity to explore and quickly become involved with a legend of secrets, pirate treasure and maybe even murder. All the elements of a good mystery are here: abundant clues, red herrings, mistaken identity and, of course, peril for Bitsy and Matt. Children are sure to enjoy the twists and turns of the plot and will find the end highly satisfying. It's a good writer who can turn out an entertaining, positive book for children without being saccarine, and Vonda Skelton is very good. Bitsy is a character who demands a sequel.

What happens when you wish upon a blue moon? Magical romance, that's what!

Read 15 heartwarming stories by 15 talented authors. Each story can stand on it's own and you can read them in any order. Pay special attention to the story "Blue Moon Magic" by the late Anne Marie Bradley. All of the stories in this anthology are great; my favorite is "When Mules Rush In" by Jacquie Rogers.

Even if you don't believe in the magic of the blue moon... once you read Blue Moon Enchantment you will find yourself wishing upon the blue moon, too.

This is a companion book to Blue Moon Magic. If you like this book you will love No Law Against Love, Faery Special Romances, and Cat O' Nine Tales. Many of the authors in these books have either been nominated for or won several awards, including ParaNormal Romance's P.E.A.R.L. Award.

I received my copies of Blue Moon Magic and Blue Moon Enchantment only a few days ago. These anthologies have a flavor of romance to everyone's liking. The short stories travel a vast measure of time and genres. You'll definitely find the story of your heart in these books, and enjoy the others during the search.

Under the Faery Blue Moon--Dawn Thompson--At last, fans of Ms. Thompson and her melodious style have the sequel to "Belle of the Blue Moon Ball", where we met the mischievous Puck and his accomplice Oberon. The two are still up to their elbows in magical mayhem, only this time Queen Tatiana is on to them. Can they complete their mission and still manage to placate the queen? Ms. Thompson will delight fans with this lighthearted romp through London, especially with the aftermath of the havoc wreaked on the Blue Moon Ball (which begins in the Blue Moon Magic anthology)! Be on the lookout for her other award-winning books, "The Ravencliff Bride", "The Waterlord" and "The Falcon's Bride".

The Anti-Kissing League--Leanne Burroughs--Set in 1909, Georgia, Millicent Baker is captivated by the handsome new stranger in town, Geoffrey Standish. Though he wants no serious commitments, he cannot overlook the genuine goodness and beauty in Millie. With a curmudgeonly anti-kissing league trying to dry up all the love, a fateful wish on the Blue moon has a tough job to see to! Abounding with hilarious and heart melting scenarios, Ms. Burroughs's latest is a pure delight to read. Geoff was a great hero, one I took much pleasure in with his forthright witticisms. Also available from Burroughs: "Highland Wishes" and "Her Highland Rogue".

Leap of Faith--Jill & Julia--Marcella Richards has it all--a wonderful career, money and the best home Chicago has to offer. But all of it is a meaningless without the man she hoped to share it with. Her wish on a Blue Moon summons the gnomette, Lola, who gives her the chance to find happiness with Drew again...by traveling back in time. Joint efforts by Jill and Julia bring to readers a quirky tale of love left in the hands of a miniature wish granter. Marcella must make some serious decisions if she's to have the life her heart wants and her crossroads is not an easy one. A delightful tale of love that has been given a second chance.

When Mules Rush In--Jacquie Rogers--Willow Jones is in hiding from high society Boston life. As former debutant Eleanor Winthrop-Douglas, she's worth a fortune--the bane of her existence. Luke Tyson has been hired by one of her more unscrupulous suitors to retrieve her. What he doesn't realize is Willow is the woman for him. Fortunately, he has the help of his trusty mule, Merlin. And just what is up with Willow's reigning chicken, DeborahAnne? Plenty is afoot, and much of it is the four-legged variety! The Old West meets some very special blue moon magic in this cleverly done story by Rogers. A very unique spin on the sorcerer Merlin lends her tale a witty and otherworldly flavor.

The Star Traveler--Victoria Houseman--Haley Stone grieves for her mother and a reminder about tales of the Blue moon take her outside one night to make a wish. Donovan de Lyon is from a long line of Star Travelers, a race dedicated to fulfilling wishes of happiness across the universe. Though he will take over as Master Star Traveler soon, he thinks only to make his family happy even though it is not his wish. With Earth's Blue Moon coming, he's off to fulfill wishes there and hears Haley's. In fulfilling his duties, will Donovan find his own happiness with a giving and beautiful woman? Ms. Houseman's tale of love transcending the stars is one to cherish in this wonderful collection of stories. The concept behind her view of the Blue Moon is refreshingly unique and filled with an interesting race of people that I would love to hear more about.

Sentimental Journey--Judith Laik--On the eve of her sweetheart's deployment, 1942 in Tacoma, Washington, Eve Larson is desperate to seal their love. When Howard leaves without the intimate embraces she hoped for, Eve feels an increasingly foreboding sense of doubt. Three years later, after reports of his plane going down in a bombing raid, Eve lives life day to day. At a friend's reminder, she makes a wish on the Blue moon for her beloved and the moon's magic works a miracle of the heart. Ms. Laik's tale spun a wistful urge to see these lovers reunited and the poignant touches throughout kept my interest till the very sweet end. A delightful read!

A Blue Vacation--Michelle Scaplen--Brenda is plain tired of being overlooked and underappreciated. When an opportunity comes to go on a tropical vacation a coworker's expense, she takes life by the horns and goes. A new do and new clothes and she's on her way to enjoying herself for once. But when her gorgeous coworker shows up too, will the sparks they set off last? Nick is pleasantly surprised by a woman he'd never noticed before and he's not about to let her go. Nick is a wonderful man, one that will surprise readers too with his instinctive caring for the talented and underappreciated Brenda. A pleasing tale of love that was right under their noses.

Blue Moon Magic--Anne Marie Bradley--Claire Jacobs quits her interior design job in New York and takes on one in Key West at Hotel Castle. Built by a mysterious Lord Archer in 1886, Claire feels a connection to the ancient stones and realizes she has dreamed of it since childhood. As strange dreams of a heartbroken and sensual man invade her sleep, Claire sets out to discover what it is about Hotel Castle that has her in its grasp. What she finds is the hope of a love so deep, it may have withstood the ultimate test. Enduring hearts mark this enchanting story by author Bradley. The magical pull of the castle had me in its thrall, almost as if I walked the old towers and corridors myself. Add to that a gripping mystique surrounding Lord Archer, and "Blue Moon Magic" makes for a heart melting time of a read. Bradley's contribution is a stellar addition, one not to be missed.

Kissing Lessons--Sherrie Holmes--The vibrant and voluptuous Millicent Fairweather accosts Viscount Selkirk from out of the blue one day. Thinking him a servant in the lord's home, she presses the man to aid her in gaining the lord's interest. Her Blue Moon wish is well on its way to becoming true and with this "gardeners" help, she'll have her man in no time. Ms. Holmes pens one of the most lighthearted and humorous reads of the book. Their interactions are genuinely amusing and it was hard to look away from whether or not the young lady would be able to resist the dashing gardener/lord. Big ups to Ms. Holmes for a thoroughly delightful tale!

Muses in the Moonlight--Patty Howell--Calli Winson is a woman haunted by unknown past. She visits Allenvale, PA in hopes of bringing some clarity to a life she never had with her real parents. Atop a moonlit mountain she meets Jacob Isaacs, a sexy and intriguing preacher. He sees something in the forlorn beauty, and his intuitive abilities draw out the naturally caring person that she is. When the story of her lost family sparks an idea, Jacob personally goes about solving the mystery. Author Howell has penned a classic tale of love and heartwarming reunion. A very nostalgic feel permeates the story, one that reached straight to the heart of this reader. I daresay we might have the makings of a future Nora Roberts or Barbara Delinsky. Much of the dialogue had me smiling, a good sign of an excellent read. Looking forward to many more from Ms. Howell!

Blue Moon Reunion--Gerri Bowen--Piper has awaited the return of her love, Sir Robin, for many years. In the meantime, cruel and untrustworthy men take her home. It comes as no surprise when she thinks Robin amongst that group of knaves. He too harbors deep resentments towards her and vows revenge. When he returns to aid in thwarting another siege on her home, Robin must figure out who was behind his imprisonment. Could it really be the bold and courageous Piper? Author Bowen whisks readers back to a time of lords and ladies and the hardships endured for home and hearth. An air of suspenseful mystery surrounds the pair and I was pleased at the amount of exceptional plot and characters thriving here. Looking forward to many more such tales from Ms. Bowen!

A Wish Times Three--Jean Van Arsdall--Kathleen McDowell is caring for her niece Siena while her sister and brother-in-law are out of town. A chance meeting with her niece's substitute teacher, Dr. Kevin Collins, sparks a chemistry she'd not expected and a round of more meetings that must be fate. As their relationship grows, Kathleen must learn to let go of a past love and use the power of wishes and the Blue Moon to get her there. Kevin's gentle persistence in pursuing Kathleen was heartwarming to read. His knowledge of the Blue Moon was a clever and resourceful insight into helping Kathleen move past the hurdle that was keeping her from living life to the fullest. A very sweet, very satisfying read from Ms. Van Arsdall!

Moondance--Kemberlee Shortland--Blanaid and Ronan have been good friends for quite some time now and as the forlorn beauty despairs of finding love, Ronan can no longer resist revealing his true feelings. Rearing from confusion, Blanaid knows not what to think now of the man that has always been here for her--as a friend. When she realizes her true feelings, will she be in time to prove to him how very worthy he really is? Love often resides right under our noses...if we know how to see it. Author Shortland writes a tale of love that is not so very far if we are just willing to reach for it. A wonderful story filled with pent-up passion and discovery of love.

Beneath the Velvet Blue Moon--Candace Gold--Nadine Stone meets Michael Greene during her family's annual lake vacation. It's the kind of young love filled with promise and all the means to see it through. Though they are inseparable, and make plans to meet each other again at the lake next year, a horrible tragedy forever changes Nadine and she loses contact with him. Years later, she remembers her promise made on a Blue Moon and though she knows it's time to finally move on, she can't resist one last lake trip. Will she discover there what her heart has been pining for? Ms. Gold reminds us of how hectic life can get, how it can tear us from our dreams if we let it. Told in first person, this is a timeless tale of love that will not be forgotten.

Devil in Spurs--DeborahAnne MacGillivray--Desdein Deshaunt is hell bent on vengeance and must see to the rescue of his brother. A pampered lord by day, and a devil of a rouge by night, he will use whatever means necessary, even his enemy's daughter, Lady Ashlyn. What he does not count on though is the lady's spirit and fortitude, nor her caring that will not let him give into his mad plans. Though he means to see his dastardly plans through, will he turn and face what she dares to reveal to him? Author MacGillivray is an enchanting weaver of breathless tales. Her versatility is certainly appreciated and readers will find more to enjoy in her other books such as "A Restless Knight" and "The Invasion of Falgannon Isle". Don't forget to check out her other short story, "Rider in the Storm", in the Blue Moon Magic anthology.


Highland Press brings together once again a beautiful collection of love found with the aid of the magical Blue Moon. Add it with its companion Blue Moon Magic and readers are all set for many wonderful hours of love, passion and heartwarming characters.

Under the Faery Blue Moon by Dawn Thompson
Set in the Regency era. In the previous companion book "Blue Moon Magic", Puck and Oberon had caused chaos at a Blue Moon Ball. The pair had slipped something into the claret bowl in hopes of bringing a pair of humans together in love. Instead, the targeted pair were the only two who did NOT drink it. All the other humans are now lusting after each other and doing all sorts of things in the garden. It is up to Tatiana, Queen of the Faeries, to straighten it all out.

The Anti-Kissing League by Leanne Burroughs
Set in 1909. Geoffrey Standish left New York to spend the summer in Georgia and help his Aunt Ida Mae and Uncle Henry on their farm. The town had sunned Geoff's parents long ago, so he really did not want to be in the small backwater town. However, had he not come to Georgia, he would never have met Millie.

Leap of Faith by Jill and Julia
Marcella Richards is the best Chicago attorney around and over due for a much needed vacation. As usual, the only thing she can think of is Drew. He was the man she had hoped to marry eight years ago, but lost instead. While her thoughts dwelled on the past, Marcella makes a wish on the blue moon. However, she never expects to see a doll-sized gnomette appear and offer to send her back in time for a second chance at love.

When Mules Rush In by Jacquie Rogers
Set in 1882. Merlin was once King Arthur's advisor and sorcerer. But the days of old were over and considered only to be myths. Merlin still believes in the Auld Ways: do no harm and mentor his human. Merlin chooses to keep the form of a mule while he resides in Wyoming. The human Merlin mentors is Luke Tyson, a gambler and womanizer. But the stubborn mule is about to open Luke's eyes to a special lady named Willow.

The Star Traveler by Victoria Houseman
Set in South Carolina at the end of June, 2007. Dr. Hayley Stone specialized in fertility treatments. When her mother fell ill, Hayley quit everything to be with and care for her. Now her mother has passed away and Hayley feels adrift. Alice, an old friend of the family, tells Hayley about a legend which states that the night of the blue moon brings the Star Traveler, one who grants wishes of true love to those who truly believe and deserve it... Donovan de Lyon is a Star Traveler and everyone in his family seems to be urging him to find his special woman. But Donovan only wants everyone to stay out of his love life. In the meantime, Earth is having a blue moon, which means he has a busy night of magical work ahead of him. As Donovan approaches Earth, his spaceship's main computer (Rachel) decides to meddle in his love life too.

Sentimental Journey by Judith Laik
Back in 1942, Eve Larson kissed her military fiancé, Howard, goodbye and held her fear at bay when he shipped out. His plane ended up going down during a bombing raid. Three years later, Eve is a teacher and summer vacation has just begun. Unable to let go of her love for Howard, she intends to spend the summer months tending to her garden. While out during the blue moon, she wishes for Howard to return to her.

A Blue Vacation by Michelle Scaplen
Brenda Blake is an office data entry clerk who has not had a vacation in over four years. Then one morning Nick, a head salesman, and Tori, the slinky secretary, have an argument and break up. The couple had planned to spend time in the Bahamas in the near future. Tori gives her ticket to Brenda, who gladly accepts. So with a funky new haircut and determined to enjoy herself, Brenda is off to the Caribbean. However, Brenda never expects to find Nick as a roommate!

Blue Moon Magic by Ann Marie Bradley
Interior designer Claire Jacobs leaves her dead end job and accepts an offer in Key West, Florida. Upon the beach sets a lovely mansion fashioned after an 1886 European country castle. Claire's job is to give "Hotel Castle" a face lift and transform it into a twenty-first century luxury resort. Fred, the manager, informs Claire about Lord Archer, the earl who had the place built for his fiancée long ago, only for her to mysteriously disappear a week before they were to wed. The earl died shortly afterward. Folks say that Lord Archer now haunts the castle. Rob Archer, the owner of the hotel, was indisposed and would not be able to meet with Claire, but gave her free reign over the place. That night Claire strolled the beach under the blue moon and finds a man's ring...

Kissing Lessons by Sherrie Holmes
Abigail Fairweather is the daughter of the late Baron Fairweather. The wild, adventurous lady made a wish on the blue moon involving Viscount Selkirk. Later she is thrown off her velocipede (bike) while riding and toppled down a hill to land upon a strange, but very handsome man. Abigail assumes him to be Lord Selkirk's gardener and asks him to help her make the blue moon wish come true. However, the gardener is really the viscount and he has some surprises in store for her.

Muses in the Moonlight by Patty Howell
As a child Calli Winson was abandoned. She was raised in Allenvale by a wonderful, loving couple. But Calli always wondered why she had been abandoned. Now grown, Calli is an anthropologist at the Smithsonian in Maryland. Her adopted parents died ten years prior and she returns to Allenvale, Pennsylvania, to place flowers on their graves. Overwhelmed with emotions one night, Calli yells at the blue moon. That is how she meet Jacob Isaacs, a pastor at a local church. He offers her a friendly ear and they spend a long time talking. As they part, Jacob makes a wish.

Blue Moon Reunion by Gerri Bowen
Lady Piper of Auban has always been told to be careful what she wishes for. Piper is not sure what she would wish for in a man though. There has been three men in her life. The first was Sir Robin of Escewiche. But he ended up abandoning her. He was followed by two others who were cruel. If Piper ever wished for a man, it would be one like Robin, but he would not abandon her...Robin never abandoned Piper. He is currently a prisoner, chained in a dungeon. During all his horrible days he believes Piper to be the cause of his imprisonment. He wants nothing more than to have his revenge. During the next blue moon, Robin makes his wish.

A Wish Times Three by Jeanne Van Arsdall
Kathleen is an author with a looming deadline. Yet when her sister asks for her to care for Siena while she and her husband go to England for awhile, Kathleen still agrees. Siena is seven-years-old. Her teacher is out on maternity leave. The substitute is Dr. Kevin Collins, an archeologist. After a few accidental meetings between Kathleen, Siena, and Kevin, the little girl invites Kevin over for lasagna. It just so happens that the blue moon is approaching. Siena and Kevin have their wishes ready. But Kathleen is hesitant.

Moondance by Kemberlee Shortland
Set in Ireland. Ronan moved into the area a year ago and fell in love with Blánaid on sight. However, Blánaid has only ever thought of him as a friend. Ronan had once overheard Blánaid and one of her friends discussing what they looked for in a man, so Ronan knows that he is nothing like the one she dreams of. Yet as Blánaid and he watch the sun set one evening, Ronan takes a chance and kisses her.

Beneath the Velvet Blue Moon by Candace Gold
Nadine Stone and her parents spent summers at Lake Flint. At the age of nineteen, Nadine met Michael Greene. Under the light of the blue moon, they promised to meet each other next year in the same place. But Nadine loses her cellular phone, which had Michael's phone number on it, and then her parents died in a car wreck. Nadine was unable to return to Lake Flint as she'd promised and Michael never contacted her. If they were to ever see each other again, it would take a miracle.

Devil in Spurs by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Desdein Deshaunt has waited twenty long years to get his revenge. Back then the Earl Whitmore and Viscount Kildorne murdered his father, but it could not be proven. By day Desdein is a horse breeder. While with the Ton he masquerades as a titled fop, the Marquis de Fournier. But during the deep night hours, he is the notorious highwayman known as the "Devil in Spurs". All was going well until his younger brother, Jeremy, did something rash and got arrested by Edward Findlater (Viscount Kildorne) who is currently the local area's magistrate. To rescue Jeremy, the Devil in Spurs kidnaps Lady Ashlyn and sends her magistrate father a note of ransom. Problem is that Desdein is attracted to his hostage, as well as her mangy old tabby cat, Cyril. Worse, Ashlyn reveals to him that her father believes her to be worthless and will not agree to bargain with the Devil.

***** This is the second book in the Blue Moon anthology series. The first, titled "Blue Moon Magic", was released only a few months ago and is still selling wildly. I predict that this companion book will do as well. Short stories are even harder to write than full length novels and this anthology has FIFTEEN magical tales by various authors. If you want some sweet dreams, read one of two of these stories just before bed. Terrific! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

"Cows Are Freaky" is an amazing chronicle of people and events that represent a defined era in American culture. The fact that these stories are true gives the book a foundation of history to stand on. To say that this work could seem like fiction is an understatement. When reality is more bazaar than fiction, one has to wonder what kind of drugs were these people traking that made them into storybook characters. Where do you find a Prop. a Chervil, a Buzzy Flashback but in comic books and works of fiction, not totally in the world we inhabit.
"Cows Are Freaky" is a book of an odyssy that comes full circle, like birth and death, and in the middle, leads us on a wondrous tale of the times, maybe even a "flashback."
Besides, you can pick it up and start reading anywhere as there's no set beginning or end, no consistent story, just dope crazed heroes rushing up to the edge of consciousness and peering into a void they did not understand, but that led them to take risks with there lives and act with abandon, like only youth can.
This record of that time stands as a marker, a benchmark of freedom of action and fearlessness that led to a loss of innocence which, to this day, has kept some from becoming part of the community and who still hold themselves apart with this badge that says, "I was there." If reality is for people who can't handle drugs, then "Cows Are Freaky" is "unreal" as we used to say. Far out!

love it! when i read this book i feel transported back to the 60s/70s. this would have been a time when i was a baby and i wonder if my parents have similar stories.
i love reading names of places i have visited or am fondly familiar with. my mind wanders to these places and gives me the sensation of an out of body experience.
are the storytellers someone i may know now, incognito? this will always be a wonder....

this is an excellent compilation of stories about hippies and their adventures. i highly recommend it.

What was it like in the sixties? Have you ever wondered this? Even if you lived through the sixties. A collection of stories, some sad, some weird, some gross, and some crazy. This book will take you back. The stories are anywhere from a few lines long to a few pages. A truly amazing book, that not only will you enjoy, but will force on your friends to enjoy

Typical Burroghs story. Straightforward, predictable, two dimentional characters, but still alot of fun and an entertaining read.
But the price, 19.95? This is in the public domaine. Legally. I don't care to read from the screen and would much rather have a book, I'd pay five dollars. At twenty, I'd just download it.

Royalty, intrigue, romance, swordfighting, religion, jealousy, honor. This book has everything, it is one of my all time favorite reads. I've never read any series by Burroughs (Tarzan, Mars, etc), but after reading two of his stand-alones (this one and "I Am A Barbarian") I think I am hooked. His writing style is wonderful, it often makes me laugh out loud while reading. If you can't think of the last time a book made you do that, give Edgar a go!

This has been, honestly, the first and only book that I have read of Burroughs' works -- the title was a real "stand-out" among the Tarzan books and such. It stands on its own.

Here, in this book, Burroughs demonstrates a real mastery of the stuff of knightdom, castles, and the technical stuff of medieval realms. Yet, remarkable while that truly is, it is really secondary in this absolutely superb, dramatic, hard but marvelous tale of Prince Richard -- young, naieve, unknowing in his childhood -- and DuVac -- vile, but masterful at swordsmanship and revenge.

Woven with what might be termed as some romanticism, yet not weakening the tale upon it, Burroughs portrays the life and character of Prince Richard and of all the persons whom he encountered -- including one Father Claude, a rural minister with a patient and knowing heart. With every character, there is a sense of depth and earnest person, such that I cannot imagine that many authors would be able, quite, to write-in with a tale.

The accounts of the large battles, in later chapters, are nothing sensational, and not so excessively detailed, by yet they are dramatic. The individual skirmishes, between Norman, the Outlaw of Torn and those so chanced to happen across his path -- there is more of Burroushs' mastery at work. I would barely do it justice, if endeavoring to describe more of it, myself.

Here, by Burroughs' own hand, is one great work of fiction, of real human imagination, and of the life and heart of one Prince Richard, loosed into the wilds of one tottering old England.

I will admit that the ending was shorter than I'd hoped it would be. Yet, the tale, before the ending, was more than enough to leave me without any want for criticsm of it. Burroughs, himself, must have been a masterpiece of a person. This tale is superb -- I'd found myself compelled to finish it, in one sitting.

Of what I have seen, honestly, I would have to admit that no "modern" drama even barely compares to it. I mean not to be excessive in praising it, either. It really is one marvelous work.

I read this book in the 70s and it left it's impression on me ever since. This is a great Medieval adventure story concerning Norman, the Outlaw of Torn. The book tells the tale of the best swordsman in the world, a Frenchman who is enslaved to an English King. The Frenchman despises the King so much that he thinks up the ultimate revenge. He will steal the King's infant son Norman, and train him to be the second best sword in the world and let him kill his own father. He succeeds in the kidnapping and the child grows to manhood learning everything the Frenchman can teach him. The plans go awry as Norman befriends a Monk in the woods who teaches him Chivalry.It has been said before, but this would make a great motion picture. There is a sword fight in the book that goes on for nearly 5 pages and is one of the most exciting passages in literature that I ever read. I guess this book has been overshadowed by Burrough's more famous creations, John Carter and Tarzan, but should not be overlooked for someone looking for a great read.

'Recipe for Love' is a great anthology filled with many wonderful stories and recipes. I rarely ever have time to sit down and read a novel, so it was great to read a story completely in one setting. I loved the theme and all of the stories are enjoyable, but my personal favorites were 'Birthday Blues', 'Suspicious Minds' and 'The Man Has a Sweet Tooth'.

SUSPICIOUS MINDS - Leanne Burroughs - With her whole world coming down around her Darcy Sanders knew she had to keep it together, for the tiny babe her sister Janna's death had left in her care. With baby Emma's dad a casualty of the Iraq war and now her mom's death, Auntie Darcy was all the babe had left. On top of that Darcy had promised Janna to keep her dream restaurant Beale Street alive -- only Darcy had no idea how to cook. More than anything, Darcy needed someone to lean on and when Ross Grayson, owner of the building, stopped by to fix a minor problem, he became more than just Mr. Fix-it, but a stalwart friend with an impressive shoulder to lean on.

Burroughs starts this impressive anthology off to a great start with her SUSPECIOUS MINDS story. In combining all the elements needed for an emotional, passionate story, with a wee dram of humor in special moments when lines from Elvis Presley songs would mysteriously pop out of a spooky juke box at the precise moment needed to keep everyone on track. Darcy had an immense amount of stress to deal with including a broken heart for trusting the wrong man. Only Ross knew she was perfection personified, from the first moment he met her and wanted nothing more than to lift the world off her shoulders and her pert little body into his bed for the rest of his life. A truly delicious start to this anthology with a bonus recipe at the end of this story for Butterscotch Squares looking awfully yummy too!

A SPAGHETTI KIND OF LOVE - Michelle McGinnis - Dave Cipelli and Meggin had a brief romance, but when it got too comfortable, Dave called it off. Meggin after crying her eyes out for over a month was finally free of the big dumb lug and ready to start living life on her own, and part of that way to new life was to take up cooking classes.

Mama Mia, or better yet Great Grandma Carmella's red sauce; you have to admit if the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, shouldn't women have equal rights too? Well it wasn't just for Dave's grandmother's sauce recipe, but I loved the pure honesty of how Dave went about showing and telling Meggin how much she meant to him and how he wanted their future to progress. This one was short, sweet story complete with a beautifully romantic declaration of love.

A HEART'S HUNGER - Anne Elizabeth - Carolyn left to pursue her dreams leaving behind the only family she had and a plethora of angry friends. In San Francisco she achieved career advancement and financial success, but for all her success, true happiness eludes her. With a missive from Aunt Polly to visit she returns home and along with best gal pal Tina, she recalled old memories and news of those left behind while putting together a family dinner. Special were the memories and updates on Bennett, the boy she'd left behind, made her realize what was truly missing in her life.

Memories are like stealthy fun loving puppies, biting you on your heels to remind you to remember what is best not forgotten. The author uses this vehicle with Carolyn and her friend Tina as she and her best friend chat over shared memories as well as sharing the chores of putting together a family meal. The reader sees how no matter how much Carolyn wanted to forget her roots, they were always there, especially when every prospective male she met was measured up against Bennett and they all fell short of expectation. This was a sweet story, with a lovely romance stirred into the pot.

KISSING KATE - Jaquelin Lorin - When Nick Ballard surprisingly showed up at the Minerva / Ballard family gathering, Kate suspected that his grandmother had a hand in it. After leaving ten years ago, abruptly letting Kate know he wasn't interested, her sixteen year old heart had broken. Now he was back, successful and gorgeous as ever and Kate wasn't about to let him trample her heart again.

While this is a very common plot line where the boy runs away from home to seek fame and fortune leaving behind a trail of broken hearts, the authors puts a very sentimental and heart tugging emotional spin on it to reveal facts of the true reasons why Nick left and what events led him to stay away. She revealed Kate's inner turmoil over still loving him so much, in such a way that this reader shed tears as if I were the one left behind who didn't want to get hurt again. This was a perfectly lovely story, and I can't wait to try out Kate's `peach cobbler' recipe!

BIRTHDAY BLUES - Amy Blizzard - Claudia Mackay fought her way to her front door while almost being run over by children hanging dearly onto birthday balloons when she remembered it was her birthday too. It was also a day she'd like to forget, but her best friend Dawn wasn't about to let her. Dawn had sent her a private chef to cook her up a special birthday dinner. Unfortunately, she neglected to tell him that Claudia was a vegetarian; or was her friend trying to cook something else up besides Claudia's dinner?

This was a very sweet, witty and clever story. Claudia was an extremely up-tight and suspicious woman who was surprised at her door by a very handsome dude who could have been a molester or burglar and her reactions to him were completely plausible. Nick, the chef, wasn't quite sure what he'd gotten himself into by doing a favor for her friend Dawn but when Claudia let her air down, he was ready to prepare any dish she wanted. The dialogs were yummy as is the recipe for Sweet N Simple Fruit Salad.

CLAM CHOWDER FOR SAMANTHA'S SOUL - by Jill and Julia - It was not the most auspicious event when Mitch Whitaker met Samantha and he accused her of stealing clams, from HIS private beach. It also didn't help that he assumed she was just another one of his playboy neighbor's gold-digging lovers. It would take several more insults added to injury before `Lola' a `gnome chick' set him straight and on the right path to redeeming himself.

Well, I'm not sure about the recipe for `Whitaker's Clam Chowder' recipe at the end of this delightful short story, but the story itself was mighty tasty. Admittedly, Mitch acted like a real ass when he assumed all the wrong things about Samantha, but thankfully the introduction of a delightful wise-cracking gnome-chick by the name of Lola, gave him the inspiration to save his butt and not let Samantha, the next best thing to ice cream get away!

THE TROUBLE WITH BELGIAN WAFFLES - Kristi Ahlers - Since the divinely handsome detective Drake Hunter moved into the apartment across the hall, Claire had made several attempts to cook up something wonderful as a housewarming gift. This was not a great idea - Claire was a disaster in the kitchen! Knowing it was now or never, Claire bought a food basket and screwed up her courage to knock on the door to see if the way to a man's heart was really through his stomach.

I so enjoyed this story! Not only was the author able to make you laugh out loud with Claire's disastrous attempts in the culinary arts, but you had to love her klutziness as well. Detective Drake definitely noticed his neighbor, obviously not for her culinary talents, but as one very sexy looking young woman he would really like to taste. The pacing was just right in this, the dialogs were lovely and the obvious attraction both felt for one another was `smoking' - just like Claire's attempts at cooking! Loved the proposal and had a tear in my eye. Superb!

KEEPING HANNAH SAFE - Billie Warren Chai -
If you never learned how to cook like our heroine, then it's a good thing you live next door to a fireman who turns out to more of a hero than one could imagine. Brian got turned on and off very quickly by Hannah, but after an initially bumpy start, he came through to save not only the day, but captured Hannah's heart.

In one short story this author managed to grab hold of your attention with a very funny kitchen disaster, spark it up with a wild attraction, toss in a twist or two with a little bit of suspense and have it all come together in one totally enjoyable and heady romance. Excellent characterizations and with so much going on in this tale, I'd love to have seen this as a full length story!

RECIPE FOR DISASTER - Bobbi Dumas - Chef Jason is on the cover of a popular magazine, declared the most eligible hot bachelor who mentions a special someone he's in love with. Sara has guilt enough over having inheriting half of the house Jason and she now share, but is she now screwing up his lovelife?

The author paints Jason as all that is kind, considerate and loving - anyone's ideal of a special person in their life. She also paints a complex guilt ridden heroine who has loved Jason from childhood and relished her summer vacations to visit. This was very good, sweet and emotionally touching story where the author explained and showed the guilt parents could load up on a young child. Thank goodness for happy and wonderfully romantic endings.

SOUP d'AMOUR - M.J. Sager - When an inheritance comes through giving Maximilian Conner Tristam a building; Conner - as he's known to friends - goes to check it out. What he did not expect to see was a thriving community center and at its head a woman whose very presence seemed a balm to his soul!

Both the Connor and Layla were very well defined and giving Layla a gift of sight where she immediately saw herself married and making love to this stranger made this short story all the more enjoyable. What Connor's matchmaking Uncle Leo couldn't do in his life was to arrange to have the two people he knew were soul-mates to get together once and for all after his death. Well-written, humorous and sensual with a wonderful recipe for my favorite soup!

SWEET SAUERKRAUT - Gerri Bowen - At a gathering at White's Nicholas, Viscount Wharnecliffe and his war-time comrades were discussing how Nick should find a wife with a large dowry, but that might be impossible when she found out he was raising five nephews, who were out of control. Discovering that Major Reese's sister Elizabeth (Beth) had a large dowry and loved to cook, Nick was tempted to make a proposal - sight unseen - before she laid eyes on his nephews, that is!

There's nothing more I like than a sweet Regency tale and though this was short and sweet it combined all the elements I look for in a historical read with humor and a little bit of silliness to toss in the pot. The idea of a Regency lady wanting to cook was clever and original. During that period, it was one thing to cook privately in the home, but to enter a contest where the judges would be from the upper echelons of society, now that is original! Very well done, but just can't say I have a fondness for sauerkraut, sweetened or otherwise!

THE MAN HAS A SWEET TOOTH - Diane Davis White - Sadie the Shady Angel and her mentor Pricilla are back into the swing of things to help two strangers make a match. How they take the two diverse personalities of sweets loving Joe Spellings and Leonora Cullpepper, a complete health food addict makes for a sweet tasting morsel of a story!

Bottom line on this story is that the author has a marvelous sense of humor and though not the leads in this story, the reader is definitely going to remember Sadie the Shady Angel and Pricilla as these two angels argue over how to get Joe and Leonora together! The dialogs are witty, and the sexual attraction is strong making the reader smile from start to finish and the recipe for Easy Raspberry Brownies sounds positively decadent!

THE PUMPKIN PIE MURDER - Victoria Houseman - As a detective in the Charleston, S.C. homicide department, Sara Stone was sent to question the owner of the bakery, where a supposedly mob hit had occurred. Sara had heard Silas Edwards was the baker of the stars for his incredible wedding cakes and petit fours, but what Sara wasn't expecting was to have him look as gorgeous as the creamy concoctions set out in his display cases!

Shall I say this was sweet, with all the beautifully described pastries that came in only second to this "love at first sight" story? Well, it was sweet, and the old cliché of `love at first sight' was beautifully played out under this author's well-written hand. Both characters were very well fleshed out and with a tad bit of humor added into the pot, you couldn't ask for more - except maybe one of Silas's pastries!

CHICKEN WHAT DU HELL - DeborahAnne MacGillivray - Remy (aka Royce Torqhill Remington Kinross, the 13th Marquis of Dunmoor and Seafeld) and his cat Bubba were not scoring points with the gifts Bubba was dropping off at their beautiful neighbor Catonia's house. Although Bubba, who kept bumping his head in adoration of Catonia's beautiful boob seemed to be getting a lot further along in the romance department than his master; Remy was bound and determined to change that right quick!

What a wonderful story Ms. MacGillivray submitted to end this beautiful collection of short stories all featuring some fabulous recipes. I absolutely adored Bubba the cat, whom Remy thought could have been a rogue in another life and been turned into a cat by a jealous witch - he seemed so human and was getting all those booby caresses! Remy when he turned on his Cajun accent was a sensual delight, with his wonderfully delicious `pick-up' lines. All the characters were well-developed and this short story was simmering with sensuality.

All in all, I don't think the reader will find a better compilation of mouth watering short romantic love stories than in RECIPE FOR LOVE! This is a highly recommended volume - perfect for beaches, doctor's offices, or anywhere you've a few minutes to read.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Suspicious Minds by Leanne Burroughs touch the heart in away all New Mothers can understand.and people who have Losted love ones.the the recipe as well.The story A Spaghetti kind of love well how can you go wrong with a story that has spagheetti in it's Title her Great Grandma red sauce looks super.A Heart's hunger is out standing Wonderful Pot Roast recipe. Kissing Kate is Super.A super Peach Cobbler recipe.Birthday Blues we all had that at one time the story just great.the recipe is so to the point Sweet'n Simple.Clam Chowder For the Soul a the story is fun the recipe look great.The Trouble with Belgian Waffles What a very unstanding lady in this story Cops and Firefigters lifes are most of the time in the air she show in this story how much and makes it fun the recipe for the Waffles super.Keeping Hannah Safe.Agood story the recipe looks out standing with is story. Recipe For Disaster very good story and recipe.Soup d' Amour,super stoy and the Cream of Mushroom Soup wonderful.OK this one I loved the title of Sweet Sauerkraut a sweet story great recipe.The Man Has A Swwet Tooth good story easy fun recipe.Yhe Pumpkin Pie Murder a very good story. Great Pumpkin Pie recipe.Cicken What Du Hell Bubba the Cat a hoot the story was so much fun just the best. THAT CAT IS TOTALLY COOL.

I enjoyed the entire book, Recipe For Love. The concept is so sweet and the recipes are just delightful. But one of the stories that really stood out for me was Anne Elizabeth's, A Heart's Hunger. It was like the wonderful pot roast recipe at the end of it - tasty and satisfying. You'll want to spend time with Carolyn and Bennett and all the characters of this heart warming story of coming full circle to find what's important.

Anne Elizabeth is a feast that can be savored over and over again. Enjoy her story and then try her recipe. I did and loved them both.

READ THIS FOR YER OWN GOOD...

READ THIS FOR YER OWN GOOD...

William Burroughs Jnr. was born to the predicament that all those in the wake of a formidable family history are. That is, one in which one must, to forge one's own identity, risk especially large strides to step from long familial shadows. Burroughs Jnr.'s ancestors cast not only long shadows, but contorted ones too. His great grandfather founded the Burroughs Adding Machine Company, the double-edged sword of inheritance then laid at the feet of subsequent generations; at age four his father, iconic hophead and avant-garde litterateur William S. Burroughs, accidentally shot his mother in the head during a drunken presentation of William Tell. (She died. Burroughs Snr. was charged with criminal imprudence and subsequently decamped for South America and Tangiers, the latter being where he wrote NAKED LUNCH, a love-it-or-hate-it binge of surreal imagery that has since assumed mythic proportion in counterculture lore.) By age eighteen he was under the care of his paternal grandparents in West Palm Beach, Florida - and injecting methamphetamine daily. It is here that we rendezvous with the narrative of SPEED.

Superficially the book recounts the 1966 trip to New York made by Burroughs Jnr. and his needle buddy, Chad ("His whole attitude was full of fear and I could see that right off, and I always respect scared people who know what they're up against.") Chad comes off as one or two shy of the full compliment ("We turned a corner and he kept on going straight and didn't answer when I called to him.") though as a sidekick I think he would have been without peer. Appropriately he provides the book's comic highlight, a bout of grand paranoia during which he makes the protestation familiar to anyone acquainted with that state of being: "Every direction I started to go, he'd say, `Oh, no! You're not getting me to go THAT way!'"

Accompanied only by their wits and an accommodating moral code ("I never rob anyone unless they die or go to jail which leaves me plenty of room, after all. I remember one time I boosted a guy that was only in a coma, and when he came to, the atmosphere was pretty strained for a while.") they accept hospitality where they can, occasionally with squares ("They wondered in stage whispers what was on my mind. I said, `Carnivorous albino badgers, the size of a boxcar,' and they shut up.") but mostly with fellow chemical crusaders, amiable folk who wished the trivial and mundane would let them be so that they could get down to the real business of transcending reality ("I got on the phone to another session across town and tried to get them to come over. But they were all in the midst of God and didn't feel like driving.")

Considering what must have been a fairly skewed appreciation of reality, his sensibilities nevertheless appear attuned to some degree. At a gas station he lingers to savour the phonetics of "Gargoyle Arctic Oil", and later falls to the spell of a prodigal jazz musician ("But one morning I woke up just as it was getting possible to see and he was talking through his horn real quiet and conversational, and I think I never heard a more healing sound. I wish I knew his name so you could watch out for him."). Still, he's not above it all so much as to be immune from a spot of arbitrary rumination ("I sat still for a long time thinking about cathedrals.") or the inevitable rush of hyper-self-awareness ("`On the way over, I got to thinking about my ape man heritage for some unknown reason and I felt pretty hairy by the time we arrived.")

Substance abuse and the law being mostly antagonistic fields of interest, it's not long before the fuzz show up ("I was standing there on the curb dreaming revolution when a cop came over and said to break it up, fella. There was only one of me, but I broke it up anyway and went down the street in a well-rounded way.") Inevitably Burroughs Jnr. is soon in the wrong apartment at the wrong time. A stint or two at the county hotel follow. Against the narrative of the street these passages betray a mind grateful for respite and reflection ("Up and down the tier, the Puerto Ricans were banging out Latin rhythms on bedposts and bars and singing popular love songs...I felt sleep catching up to me as Gestalt shifted and spaces between the bars floated free...It was complex now, maybe thirty captives in separate cells listened hard and patterned together as my cellmate's tears and prayers fell unconsciously into time. Every bit of light went out, shapes ran melting through the dark as the rhythm slowed and stopped, and the last I heard was the click of the hack's heels as he passed on the catwalk and the kid finished, `forgive me...'")

Mainlining a drug that narcoleptics use to stay awake doesn't bode well for the pursuit of slumber, and soon enough Burroughs Jnr. decides that for the sake of health, sanity, etc., a return to Florida is in order. At book's end, standing out front of the grandparent's house, he signs off in typically humble fashion ("Then I took a deep breath, smelling the jasmine, and I went inside.")

The prose is breezy, uncomplicated, a loose freeform arrangement that occupies the space a foot or two off the ground. Commas are applied sparingly, the effect being a pitter-patter rhythm that never slows for heavy discourse or pedantic application of fact. There's no danger of cutting yourself on any severe literary edgings here.

Highly recommended, but as the reader is often asked to meet the author half way, as it were, I'd hesitate to push this title upon anyone but those on amiable terms with the subject matter (though a passing interest may suffice).

William Burroughs Jnr. died in 1981, aged 35, of acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with micronodular cirrhosis.

****stars

_Speed_ was William S. Burrough's Jr.'s (not to be confused with his father, the "real" WSB) first novel. It's hard not to compare it to _The Basketball Diaries_ on the basis of some trivial and obvious similarities (_Speed_ is about the author's adolescent experiences as a methedrine addict in NYC) but he's going somewhere very different from where Carroll was going. His vision is colder and more distant than Carroll's, less sentimental. Yes, it IS possible to be less sentimental than Jim Carroll. WSB doesn't (didn't, i should say) write at all like his father; his prose is clean and spare, his characters are human, etc. Forget WSB sr. and Jim Carroll; WSB Jr. was enough of a writer to be considered on his own merits, which are significant. A very worthwhile book, as is its sucessor, _Kentucky Ham_. A third novel, _Pakriti Junction_, apparently was too fragmentary to print at the time of the author's death.