Burton Books

By employing a non-traditional, storytelling technique making use of court records and transcriptions of taped interviews, Thomas Burton has told a documentary-like tale of people whose lives are as confusing and bizarre as any that Flannery O'Conner's fiction could have created. Glenn Summerford, a serpent-handling, Holiness preacher was accused of attempted murder, convicted, and sentenced to ninety-nine years in prison. His wife Darlene alleged that he forced her at gunpoint, while he was in a drunken rage, to put her hand into a box of poisonous snakes that Glenn kept at home for use in his church services. She was, according to medical attendants, bitten and hospitalized, but "the truth" of the matter is clouded from the outset. Some of those interviewed claim the whole court procedure was rigged in an attempt to rid Jackson County, Alabama, of Summerford and the practices of his congregation -- which church members sincerely believe is a way for them to show their obedience to the Word of God. Glenn's two wives, as well as his children by both women, all have differing accounts of what could have happened -- and for the motives of those involved.
No matter what the reality of the situation, Burton has tried to unravel, as Robert Browning did with his verse monologues in The Ring and the Book, the immensely complicated, and ultimately unfathomable mess that life can be for all of us, and the writer has done so in a highly entertaining and readable fashion.--Michael Davenport

Ever wonder what more there could possibly be after salvation? Tired of hearing the same old "baby's milk" on Sunday mornings? You MUST read this book. It is more than a book, it is the very information/revelation that you need to not only survive, but to conquer! Take my word for it, I'm the author's son and the contents of this book are what fueled the fire in me to continue and overcome. The information contained in this book will answer many questions that you have had and that, unfortunately, most Christians are not equipped to answer properly. A must read for any and all serious about their walk with God.

"Silver Bells" by Fern Michaels. Although a star, Hollywood has not been fun for Amy Lee, who wants to leave the glitter behind her and just go home. This Christmas she returns to Apple Valley, Pennsylvania where her high-school boyfriend Hank Anders greets her in a way that makes her want to stay forever in his arms.

"Dear Santa..." by JoAnn Ross. Mystery writer author Holly Berry has another reason to hate the holidays; a blizzard has left her stranded in Santa's Village, Washington at the lodge owned by Gabriel O'Halloran. He and his young matchmaking daughter give her a Christmas that makes her wish for more of their loving magic.

"Christmas Past" by Mary Burton. The letter she receives provides hints to the identity of a killer. Having had a violent abusive husband, photographer Nicole Piper knows she cannot pursue this alone so she turns to homicide detective David Ayden for help. The widow and the widower face danger to their lives and to their hearts as both find a second chance at love if they survive their sleuthing ordeal.

"A Mulberry Park Christmas" by Judy Duarte. Sugar Plum Lane residents know how to enliven the community for the Christmas season. However, this year Alyssa Ridgeway still reels from an ugly breakup and is not in the holiday mood until she runs into her first sweetheart, James MacGregor, who reminds her of the Christmas kiss past, present and future.

These four heartwarming holiday romances each contain strong lead characters, a sense of the season, and entertaining story lines.

Harriet Klausner

In these overlooked early stories, the great German Novelist Thomas Mann, best know for his novella Death in Venice, and his massive novel, Magic Mountain (set in Switzerland), experiments with the character of the sensitive (sometimes sickly) artist skittering on the outskirts, or being powerfully pulled in, to romantic and philosophical infatuation. Said to mark the introduction of psychology into romantic fiction, the stories (such as Fallen, 1898, and The Will to Happiness, 1896) were written in the so-called Gay Nineties (the 1890s)--the decade which took with it Oscar Wilde and Friedrich Nietzsche. In these short stories Mann is playful but works with a precociously masterful touch. His themes are romance, deception, and the limitations of previous literary convention. In one story a desirable actress turns out to be a prostitute, in another a homely woman admired for her mind turns down the artist after he changes his about her desirability,and in perhaps the most powerful story, a most desirable spouse is revealed to be the exact opposite--perhaps. Nietzsche's preoccupation with surfaces, the infinite artistic allure of deception, and the gulf separating the outside world from that of the human mind are deftly handled in these early stories by an acknowledged master of the fictional form.

*NOTE* These stories were originally released in individual, yet connected, ebooks. The reviews below were written for the ebooks, hence the references to the print release at the end of each.*

~Watch Me by Shelley Bradley~

Ballroom Dancing is Shanna's life. She will do anything to win the coveted championship - something that has so far eluded her. To that end, she has gone through so many partners she has been nicknamed the Bitch of the Ballroom. But the competitive gene runs strong in Shanna's family, and she is the only one that hasn't yet proved her skill with a trophy. She has given up everything for that goal, even to the exclusion of friendships or romance.

The moment Alejandro lays eyes on the beautiful dancer, he aims to change all of that. Determined to win her affection, he tries unsuccessfully to woo her, even purchasing all of her dances at a charity event.

But a blackmail scheme and a career-damaging sex tape place Shanna right where Alejandro wants her - in his very own club, Sneak Peek. In this playground for the sexually adventurous, Shanna sets out to trap a blackmailer even while Alejandro sets out to trap Shanna in his own web. He recognizes the exhibitionist tendencies she harbors and knows just how to reach this woman's deepest desires now that she is in his lair... Through it all, he will show Shanna that life is about more than just winning, and that love is the dearest prize of all.

If you have read many of my previous reviews, you have probably figured out already that Shelley Bradley, aka Shayla Black, is one of my very favorite authors. Well, there is good reason for that - her writing absolutely rocks! There seems to be no end to the worlds this author can dream up or the characters that speak to her. She can write sweet, she can write spicy, and she usually combines the two in a way that stirs both the loins and the heart with equal fervor.

With the current popularity of ABC's `Dancing With the Stars' show, Watch Me's setting in the midst of a professional Ballroom Dancing competition is as topical as it is romantic. While Alejandro may not be a professional dancer, he more than has what it takes to sweep Shanna off of her feet - a fact guaranteed to send the dancer with single-minded focus running in the opposite direction. But in the true style of the best romantic heroes, Alejandro does not let this dissuade him from the prize. He sees more in Shanna than the bitch she is purported her to be - he sees a woman afraid to love, a woman who has forgotten what living is all about, and he is determined to show her personally.

Shanna is a woman so focused on her goals, that she has left her life and even her very womanhood behind. With her career firmly in first place, all else takes a backseat, including romance, friendship and even just plain old fun. When she meets Alejandro, she knows to the depths of her soul he will be a distraction she can't afford, and fights her attraction to him with everything she has.

Watch Me is a wonderfully hot little romance story with a resounding moral lesson. Readers are reminded alongside Shanna that love and loyalty are the most important prizes of all, and to always keep your mind and your heart open.

Watch Me is connected to Jaci Burton's upcoming release, Show Me. The stories will be enhanced if you read them in order (Watch Me first and Show Me second) but each works very well as a standalone tale. Both stories release separately in eBook this month from Samhain Publishing, and will be released together in print in an anthology titled Sneak Peek in 2008.

~Show Me by Jaci Burton~

As heir to her father's holdings, and chairperson of her family's charitable foundations, Janine esteems reputation above all else. No matter what her innermost desires are, as a member of the public eye, she must always be above reproach lest she besmirch the Bartolino name and damage their organization.

When her friends drag her out for her thirtieth birthday, she has no idea they are going to Sneak Peek, an exclusive sex club. And she certainly wasn't prepared to meet a man like Del, who seems to see inside her darkest fantasies, but has no regard for reputation, at least not his own. But once she has a taste of what Del offers, she can't stay away, and soon she finds herself exploring the boundaries of exhibitionism with Del in ways she never before imagined.

Del has always had his choice of women. As the bachelor partner in Sneak Peek, he finds himself with more than ample opportunity to indulge his most hedonistic tendencies without reservation. Yet when he meets the reserved Janine, he is intrigued by releasing her from her inhibitions and unlocking the passions she has buried deep down inside...

Jaci Burton has swiftly moved up my list of favorite authors, and when I learned she was partnering with Shelley Bradley to write the Sneak Peek stories, I jumped at the chance to review these stories by two such talented writers. Burton's Show Me picks up where Bradley's Watch Me leaves off, and stars the supporting male character from the prior story, Phillipe "Del" Delacroix as well as seeing a return of Alejandro in a supporting role this time. Bradley and Burton work well together, connecting the two stories seamlessly.

Del is the epitome of the playboy/bad boy. Rich, successful, and with some very wild sexual predilections, he is the kind of man women love to try and tame - just a little bit. Getting to know his character, I found myself reminded of that line in one of Tim McGraw's songs more than once: "I may be a real bad boy, but baby, I'm a real good man." That describes Del perfectly. Del is wicked, tempting, and absolutely untamable, but when it comes down to it, he is definitely a good man. He shows his concern for Janine in everything he does, and still manages to push her limits sexually, fulfilling her wildest yearnings over and over again.

Janine is a woman caught between the woman she thinks she needs to be and the woman she really is. When her real world and her fantasies collide, she has to learn more than just how to let herself go - she has to learn to trust.

I won't be shy about saying it - I loved this story! Jaci Burton has penned a tale that is smoking hot, and also manages to be extremely romantic. I felt every emotion these characters felt, and was on the edge of my seat until I finished the last chapter.

Show Me is connected to Shelley Bradley's book, Watch Me. The stories will be enhanced if you read them in order (Watch Me first and Show Me second) but each works very well as a standalone tale. Both stories release separately in eBook this month from Samhain Publishing, and will be released together in print in an anthology titled Sneak Peek in 2008.

I read this book while I was at my Grandfather's house and have been looking for a copy ever since. It is a wonderful story about a young man who fights under George Washington in the French and Indian War. His parents were poor and when they died he went to live with some rich relatives whose daughter he fell in love with. It ends with a breath-taking battle to save his love and her mother from Indians. I would recomend this book to anyone!

I thought this was one of the best finds! My son does not like to read & he is 8. So I got this book since he loves Robin Hood men in tights & used the music to sing the verses of the Robin Hood tales. He loves it so well, he wants me to just read him the verses! I love all of Virginia Burtons work, but I find this one especially wonderful due to the theme of Robin Hood & the work that went into keeping the translation close to the original bards songs.

In the middle of the suffering and death in which we find ourselves, we can only live sanely by making to some degree and usually with no small effort the affirmation that life is meaningful after all, despite appearances. In the prime of life, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, a lovely, red-haired, affable woman, possessed of all the literary gifts of the Hawthornes, and the means to become rich and famous, put that all aside to don severe garb, assume the unappealing title of Mother Alphonse, and spend the rest of her life ministering to the cancerous and doomed poor. We all are doomed, but her affirmation was that even those written off as not worthy of further attention by the medical arts are equally as deserving of love and attention as the most prosperous and secure in the land. The book tries to capture her thought through her bringing up, the death of her father and sister, her marriage, the death of her son, the decline of her husband into alcoholism, their conversion to Catholicism, and the bright moment of her final decision to become Mother Alphonse. You will not come away from this book without altered thought. Somehow, the question of which religion she was doesn't seem to matter.

This is a very interesting book not only for gay people but also bisexual/heterosexual people. Of course I know it is an old volume written by 19c.sexologist Sir Richard Burton.However even now the value of it does not wither . I recommend the book.

This book shows illustrations of the words, prints the word in english on top of the flap, open up the flap and the spanish word is inside along with the pronounciation of the word.