2013 - Burton Book Review - Leafing through history

Dec 27, 2013

The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley

BurtonReview Friday, December 27, 2013

A mysterious castle and spooky characters enchant the reader.. The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley Sourcebooks reissue Jan 2014 (originally published 1995) Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for this review Burton Book Review Rating:Glittery forbidden fruit 4.5 stars Chinon-chateau of legend,...

Dec 23, 2013

Burton Book Review's Best Reads of 2013

BurtonReview Monday, December 23, 2013

Although I read fewer books this year than last, I feel I have read some wonderful reads still. These were given five stars as I tend to write reviews soon after reading, and if I really feel like I loved the book and totally enjoyed the experience, I gave it five stars. There is no order to this list, plus this list...

Dec 21, 2013

Upcoming Group Read Announcement

BurtonReview Saturday, December 21, 2013

I wanted to give others the opportunity to participate in an upcoming Group Read we are having over at Goodreads for a popular author, Jean Plaidy aka Victoria Holt. On December 26, 2013 we are scheduled to start reading The Courts of Love at the forum and anyone can join in. These are loosely formatted: there is not...

Dec 12, 2013

December and TBR Challenge Failure

BurtonReview Thursday, December 12, 2013

It's almost Christmas so I figured it was time to check in here on the blog and say Merry Christmas! I have been doing some reading behind the scenes, but unfortunately they are all for a February post date.. so the blog will seem bare till then. I had taken some time off so that I could squeeze in some review reads and...

Nov 12, 2013

Under A Texas Sky by Dorothy Garlock

BurtonReview Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Under A Texas Sky by Dorothy Garlock Grand Central Publishing, August 2013 $30.00, hb, 370pp Review copy provided by the publisher for review in the November 2013 Historical Novel Society magazine which really ended up just being an online exclusive anyway. Burton Book Review Rating: 3 stars Growing up poor...

Nov 6, 2013

On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin

BurtonReview Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Fantastic war time details fused with light romance On Distant Shores (Wings of the Nightingale #2) by Sarah Sundin Revell, August 2013 Inspirational/Historical Romance 426pp paperback Burton Book Review Rating: five stars for fabulous prose Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A comfortable...

Nov 3, 2013

The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow

BurtonReview Sunday, November 03, 2013

Very emotive, provocative and worthy of my five stars The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow Historical Fiction/Biblical Crown Publishers orig.2005, edition shown is 2007 hc edition Personally bought copy Burton Book Review Rating: 5 stars Raised like sisters, Mariamne and Salome are indulged with riches, position,...

Oct 15, 2013

Return to Me by Lynn Austin (The Restoration Chronicles #1)

BurtonReview Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Fantastic biblical fiction that propels to the top of my favorites list! Return to Me by Lynn Austin (The Restoration Chronicles #1) Biblical Fiction Bethany House, 2013 Paperback 459 pages Review copy provided by Litfuse in exchange for this honest review Burton Book Review Rating: FIVE STARS, NEW FAVORITE...

Oct 11, 2013

Life in the fast lane

BurtonReview Friday, October 11, 2013

the 2013 version of Big Tex! Hey fellow readers! Can I really say that any longer? WHY YES.. I am still reading, but just not caught up too much in the whole review biz thing, thank the Lord! After a full year of stressing the fact that I am no longer accepting review copies, it has finally come to fruition where I...

Oct 3, 2013

Fired Up (Trouble in Texas #2) by Mary Connealy

BurtonReview Thursday, October 03, 2013

Romance and charm in this fun novel! Fired Up (Trouble in Texas #2) by Mary Connealy Bethany House, September 2013 Review copy provided by the publisher Burton Book Review Rating: 4.5 stars Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the...

Sep 12, 2013

Death and the Courtesan (Arabella Beaumont Mystery #1) by Pamela Christie

BurtonReview Thursday, September 12, 2013

Unique light hearted bawdy entertainment Death and the Courtesan (Arabella Beaumont Mystery #1) by Pamela Christie Kensington Mystery, June 2013, $15.00 Paperback 229pp Historical Romance/Somewhat inspirational Review copy provided by the publisher for review in the August 2013 Historical Novel Society...

Sep 7, 2013

The Demon Lover by Victoria Holt

BurtonReview Saturday, September 07, 2013

bodice ripper material? or gothic romance? or psycho madness? or all? The Demon Lover by Victoria Holt First published 1982 Personal reading copy Burton Book Review Rating: 3 to 3.5 stars When Kate Collison, to help her ailing father, completes his portrait of the powerful Baron de Centeville, her only thought...

Aug 28, 2013

Darke London by Coleen Kwan

BurtonReview Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Great cringe-worthy storytelling Darke London by Coleen Kwan Samhain Publishing, 2013 Review copy provided for free in exchange for this review at Library Journal Burton Book Review Rating:Great fun! Four stars! The only way to save her life is to resurrect the dead...Julian Darke was only a newborn when he was abandoned...

Aug 20, 2013

Love At Any Cost by Julie Lessman

BurtonReview Tuesday, August 20, 2013

or at the cost of faith.. Love At Any Cost (The Heart of San Francisco #1) by Julie Lessman Christian Historical Romance Revell, April 1 2013 Review copy provided by the publisher for review in the August 2013 Historical Novel Society magazine Burton Book Review Rating: 3 stars From the author: "My intent...

Aug 15, 2013

Katherine by Anya Seton

BurtonReview Thursday, August 15, 2013

Classic storytelling Katherine by Anya Seton Medieval hist-fic Originally published early fifies Source is a personal copy/not for review purposes Burton Book Review Rating: 4.5 stars Synopsis: This classic romance novel tells the true story of the love affair that changed history—that of Katherine Swynford...

Aug 11, 2013

Dark Road Home by Elizabeth Ludwig

BurtonReview Sunday, August 11, 2013

Enchanting historical mystery Dark Road Home by Elizabeth Ludwig Bethany House, 2013 Historical Romantic Suspense/Christian Fiction Review copy via publisher Burton Book Review Rating: 4.5 stars Synopsis: Ana Kavanagh’s only memories of home are of fire and pain. As a girl she was the only survivor...

Aug 5, 2013

The Lion of Justice by Jean Plaidy

BurtonReview Monday, August 05, 2013

(Snooooozzer!)The Lion of Justice by Jean PlaidyPublished circa 1975Norman Trilogy series, book 2Summary:"The death of the Conqueror left three sons to inherit his power and his wealth. Normandy for Robert, England for Rufus and for Henry, the youngest, five thousand pounds of silver.....The three were natural rivals....

Jul 22, 2013

The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick

BurtonReview Monday, July 22, 2013

Another amazing historical from my favorite medieval storyteller The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick Sphere, June 20, 2013 Hardcover 478 pages Source: Bought from an Amazon seller after I scoured the internet for an hour looking for an available copy when it came out in the UK.. I read and devoured it immediately...

Jul 21, 2013

July!

BurtonReview Sunday, July 21, 2013

Where have I been this whole month of July, you ask? Or did you not even notice that I was absent? It's been a wind tunnel of changes!!! As expected with any career move, priorities have shifted as my life has taken a new direction. At my previous full time job, I had spent the last four months...