Review: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

From the Back Cover:

Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?

If dealing with that weren't enough, Sam also comes face to face with a real live (well technically dead) ghost. A handsome, angry ghost who wants Sam to stop touching his stuff. But soon Sam discovers she is at the center of a centuries old curse affecting anyone with ties to the trials.

Sam must come to terms with the ghost and find a way to work with the Descendants to stop a deadly cycle that has been going on since the first accused witch was hanged. If any town should have learned its lesson, it's Salem. But history is about to repeat itself.

My Thoughts:

I was instantly intrigued by the description of How to Hang a Witch, tying the past to the present through the Salem Witch Trials, and when I realized the author is a descendant of Cotton Mather, I had to read it.

Samantha Mather is newly arrived in Salem after her stepmother was forced to sell their NYC apartment to pay her father's extensive medical bills. He has been in a coma for months, and Sam and Vivian have moved into his childhood home, a huge old house with secret rooms, now vacant after the death of a grandmother Sam never had the chance to meet. It's a big change for Sam, and things quickly go from bad to worse when she starts school and discovers that her last name makes her a pariah. Cotton Mather played an integral role in fanning the hysteria that gripped the Puritan community in the 1690s, and no one in Salem has forgotten it.

The Descendants, an elite group of kids descended from the townspeople executed during the witch trials, rule the school, and Cotton Mather's newly arrived descendant is now public enemy number one. The one bright spot is the cute boy next door, Jaxon, whose mother was best friends with Sam's dad in childhood. Jaxon tries to smooth things over for her at school, but the Descendants are determined to pin the strange things that have started happening in Salem since Sam's arrival on Sam. And when people start dying, Sam starts having visions, and the Descendants seem to know things about Sam they couldn't possibly know, she begins to wonder whether Jaxon really is on her side, or if he's part of history repeating itself.

Blog Tour Guest Post: Becoming George Washington by Stephen Yoch

Please join me in welcoming author Stephen Yoch to Let Them Read Books! Stephen is touring the blogosphere with his historical fiction debut, Becoming George Washington. He's here today with a guest post about one of Washington's mentors, Scottish rebel George Hume. Read on and enter to win a paperback copy of Becoming George Washington!

George Washington, action hero . . .

Long before Washington was the old man on the dollar bill, he was a fatherless boy with few resources and even less education. So how did he become the most famous person in American history?

Becoming George Washington tells the story of a young man with boundless energy, bravery, and passion, who grew from a fatherless boy into a self-confident leader. At the same time, he struggled to suppress both an awful temper and his love for a married woman, Sally Fairfax. A courageous war hero, Washington rose to the pinnacle of Virginia politics. His experiences as a young man allowed him, decades later, to lead the Revolution.

This compelling historical novel reveals the person behind the famous face and how he grew to become America’s leading Founding Father.

Did a Scottish Revolutionary Teach George Washington to be a Rebel?

By Stephen Yoch

Many know that George Washington’s first job was as a county surveyor in Virginia; in fact, at 17, he was one of Virginia’s youngest in the profession. But few know who instructed him how to master the complicated task of 18th-century surveying. The journal of George Hume supports a claim that he was the man who taught young Washington the trade of surveying.

In 1715, the first Jacobite Rebellion sought to restore James II and the ancient Stewart line to the Crown. Hume’s father, the Tenth Baron of Wedderburn, led his 17-year old son and other Scottsmen at the Battle of Sheriffmuir where they were defeated, captured, and then sent to Marshalsea Prison in London. Later, awaiting his fate. Lord Hume chose to forfeit all of his lands and titles to avoid the English axe, and his son was banished to the colonies.

Upon arrival in the New World, the highly educated young Hume, with the assistance of other Scottish expatriates, became a surveyor for Spotsylvania, Orange, and Frederick counties in Virginia. Sometime in 1747 or 1748, this failed revolutionary trained the young and impressionable Washington. A number of surveys in the Virginia Tidewater are signed: “George Hume, Surveyor: George Washington, Assistant Surveyor.” These surveys and the journals of George Hume support Hume acting as Washington’s instructor and mentor. Hume later recommended Washington as a surveyor of the newly formed Culpepper County in 1749.

We know that Hume and Washington greatly respected each other. Hume’s son, Captain Francis Hume, served under Washington during the Revolution and was an original member of the Society of Cincinnati. It is a remarkable coincidence that the greatest leader in American Revolution was taught by a failed and exiled Scottish rebel. It is certainly possible that, along with the knowledge of surveying, the early seeds of revolution were planted in young Washington by Hume.

Blog Tour Q&A with AshleyRose Sullivan, Author of Silver Tongue

Please join me in welcoming AshleyRose Sullivan to Let Them Read Books! AshleyRose is touring the blogosphere with her historical fantasy novel, Silver Tongue. I recently had the chance to ask AshleyRose a couple of questions about writing this delicious-sounding story. Read on and see what she has to say about creating an alternate history world.

The Colonies lost the Revolutionary War. Now it's 1839 and the North American continent is divided into three territories: New Britannia, Nueva Espana, and Nouvelle France where seventeen-year-old Claire Poissant lives. 

Claire has a magical way with words—literally. But a mystical power of persuasion isn't the only thing that makes her different. Half-French and half-Indian, Claire doesn't feel at home in either world. Maybe that's why she's bonded so tightly with her fellow outcasts and best friends: Phileas, a young man whose towering intellect and sexuality have always made him the target of bullies, and Sam, a descendant of George Washington who shares the disgraced general's terrible, secret curse. 

But when Sam's family is murdered, these bonds are tested and Claire's special ability is strained to its limits as the three hunt the men responsible into dangerous lands. Along the way they cross paths with P.T. Barnum, William Frankenstein and other characters from both history and fantasy as they learn the hard way that man is often the most horrific monster and that growing up sometimes means learning to let go of the things you hold most dear. 

Hi AshleyRose! Welcome to Let Them Read Books!

Can you tell us about your inspiration for Silver Tongue? 

At some point in the last few years I remember reading about the Revolutionary War and how George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware was such a huge turning point. Of course, there’s the famous Leutze painting. I remember looking at the painting and thinking, “What if he just fell in?”

That was sort of the jumping off point for my alternate history novel, Silver Tongue, which actually takes place about fifty years after the failed revolution. At the novel’s opening America has been split into British, French, and Spanish territories. French-Indian Claire Poissant and her friends live in the French territory but, when tragedy strikes, they set out on a dangerous mission across The Colonies.

Blog Tour Guest Post: Crow Hollow by Michael Wallace

Please join me in welcoming author Michael Wallace to Let Them Read Books! Michael is touring the blogosphere with his brand new novel, Crow Hollow, a historical mystery set in Colonial America during the aftermath of a period of conflict between the New England settlers and the Native Americans known as King Philip's War. read on for some insight into the war's impact on the colonies and enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Crow Hollow!

In 1676, an unlikely pair—a young Puritan widow and an English spy—journeys across a land where greed and treachery abound.

Prudence Cotton has recently lost her husband and is desperate to find her daughter, captured by the Nipmuk tribe during King Philip’s war. She’s convinced her daughter is alive but cannot track her into the wilderness alone. Help arrives in the form of James Bailey, an agent of the crown sent to Boston to investigate the murder of Prudence’s husband and to covertly cause a disturbance that would give the king just cause to install royal governors. After his partner is murdered, James needs help too. He strikes a deal with Prudence, and together they traverse the forbidding New England landscape looking for clues. What they confront in the wilderness—and what they discover about each other—could forever change their allegiances and alter their destinies.

Always Independent

by Michael Wallace

            Every American knows about the events of 1775, when American militia fired upon British troops in Concord and Lexington, beginning the process that would lead to the Declaration of Independence the following year and the defeat of General Cornwallis at Yorktown that finally secured American independence.

            What many people don’t realize is that the colonists of New England always considered themselves independent. The Mayflower Compact referred to the colonists as loyal subjects of King James, but it also gave itself complete power to determine its own laws and offices for self-governance. There was no provision for a royal governor or any other sort of control from England.

            The problem was, these supposedly independent colonists were still English through and through. They wanted autonomy from Crown and Parliament, but they were still embroiled in politics and religion back home. Hundreds returned to England to fight in the English Civil War in the struggle between the Puritan forces of Oliver Cromwell and the royalist opposition. When the French or the Dutch threatened, the colonists demanded full protection from the British Navy.

Book Blast: Letters to Kezia by Peni Jo Renner

Publication Date: January 14, 2015
iUniverse
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 208
Series: Book Two, The Puritan Chronicles
Genre: Historical Fiction



It is 1693 in Hereford, Connecticut, when Mary Case, the spinster daughter of a Puritan minister, finds herself hopelessly smitten by the roguish thief, Daniel Eames. Betrothed to a man she does not like or love, she is soon compelled to help Daniel escape from jail. Suddenly, she finds herself on the run, not only accused of being Daniel's accomplice, but also of murder. 

The fugitive pair soon finds solace-and a mutual attraction-among the escapee's Algonquin friends until two men from Daniel's dark past hunt them down. After Mary is captured and returned home to await trial, a tragedy takes the life of her younger sister, revealing a dark secret Mary's father has kept for months. But just as Mary learns she is pregnant, she makes a horrifying discovery about Daniel that changes everything and prompts her to develop an unlikely bond with his mother, Rebecca, who soon saves Mary from a shocking fate. It is not until years later that her daughter, Kezia, finally learns the truth about her biological father and family.

Letters to Kezia shares a courageous woman's journey through a Puritan life and beyond as she struggles with adversity and betrayal, and discovers that loyalty can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

Praise for Letters to Kezia

"In the tradition of author Peni Jo Renner’s gripping debut novel, Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames, Letters to Kezia recounts the tale of courageous, compassionate, and relatable Mary, whose connection to Rebecca and her family is unforeseen and profound. The reader is captivated at the very first page, as Letters to Kezia is a story of forbidden love, deep family secrets, intrigue, murder, and atonement. Another beautifully written triumph for this author, whose immense gift for story-telling transports the reader into each scene so deftly, one can almost smell the wood smoke and hear the crackling of the fire in the hearth." - Kelly Z. Conrad, award-winning author of Shaman 

"Peni Jo Renner enthralled readers with Puritan Witch, the ordeal of Rebecca Eames, who was condemned to hang from Salem’s gallows as a witch. Now the Eames saga continues as Peni uses her special brand of witchery to bring Mary Case and Daniel Eames to vivid life, and shows us just how much a young woman will risk for love. Letters to Kezia is a poignant, true-life tale from colonial New England’s heartland which will captivate you, and keep you guessing until the end." -JoAnn Butler, author of Rebel Puritan and The Reputed Wife

Spotlight: The Novels of Kathy Fischer-Brown

Please join Kathy Fischer-Brown as she tours the blogosphere with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours from October 6-November 30 for her Serpent’s Tooth trilogy – Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter, Courting the Devil, and The Partisan’s Wife – and her novel Winter Fire.

Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter (Book One, Serpents Tooth Trilogy)

Publication Date: June 13, 2012
Books We Love Ltd.
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction



 
As a child, Anne Fairfield dreams of the father she never knew, the hero who died fighting the French and their Indian allies in a land across the sea. Her mother’s stories, and fantasies of her own devising, sustain and nurture her through a poor and lonely existence. Until one winter night, a strange man comes to call, and the life she has known comes crashing down like shattered glass.

Forced to confront sordid truths, secrets and lies, the headstrong young woman begins to learn that, like generations of women ruled by their hearts, she is destined to follow in their footsteps.

Set against the backdrop of 18th century England, Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter is the first book in “The Serpent’s Tooth” trilogy, which follows Anne from the rural countryside, to London society and into the center of the American Revolution.

Praise for The Serpent's Tooth

4 Stars “Jane Austen showed us the gentle side of 19th century England; Kathy Fischer-Brown sets her work a century earlier and shows us how envy, revenge, and greed can work to effect long-term changes on one young woman…. The author does a wonderful job of showing all these complications clearly, with apt description, and I could easily see this series as a movie-maybe one day I will. So, if you are a fan of dark gothic themes, enjoy seeing the underbelly of British society and what goes on behind the scenes, as it were, I highly recommend you buy this trilogy.” — Long and Short Reviews

4 ½ Stars “...This is a dark novel that deals with the resentment and anger of a girl who has been misled and cannot seem to get past her grief …. While not a typical romance, this is a fascinating, complex story that I completely enjoyed. It is well written and entertained me with mystery, suspense, scandal, sinister characters and first love.” — Romantic Historical Lovers

Q&A with Paula Margulies, Author of Favorite Daughter, Part One

Please join me in welcoming author Paula Margulies to the blog! Paula is celebrating the release of her newest historical fiction novel, Favorite Daughter, Part One, a first-person retelling of the life story of the famous Native American legend, Pocahontas. Check out this Q&A with Paula and enter to win your own copy of the book!

Set in the time of the Jamestown settlement and the English explorer John Smith, Favorite Daughter, Part One recounts the story of Chief Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, as she prepares to take her place as one of our nation's earliest leading women. Pocahontas invites readers to experience her native world when strangers appear on the shores near her village. From forging a relationship with the charismatic Smith, to experiencing love for the first time and creating a role for herself in her father’s plans for peace, this young girl takes us on a poignant and harrowing journey through the turbulent events of her life. Eventually betrayed by all of the men she loves, Pocahontas matures into a heroine of tremendous nobility, courage, and heart. 

Told in first person, in a voice brimming with compassion and wisdom, Favorite Daughter, Part One provides a compelling look at the early days of one of the most remarkable legends in American history.

Editor’s Choice Award Winner, 21st Annual San Diego State University Writers’ Conference

Where and when do you write?

In my home office mostly, although I try to sneak away to artist residencies whenever my teaching and client work schedule will allow. I usually write on Sundays, but that all depends on how much life intrudes (and it does that often, believe me!).

Why did you write your book?

I’ve always been fascinated with the story of Pocahontas, and since so much of her history has been told to us by English explorers like John Smith, I decided that retelling her story, from her perspective, might make for an interesting read.

Blog Tour Review: The Lost Duchess by Jenny Barden

From the Back Cover:

Emme Fifield has fallen about as far as a gentlewoman can.

Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, her only hope of surviving the scandal that threatens to engulf her is to escape England for a fresh start in the new America where nobody has ever heard of the Duchess of Somerset.

Emme joins Kit Doonan's rag-tag band of idealists, desperados and misfits bound for Virginia. But such a voyage will be far from easy and Emme finds her attraction to the mysterious Doonan inconvenient to say the least.

As for Kit, the handsome mariner has spent years imprisoned by the Spanish, and living as an outlaw with a band of escaped slaves; he has his own inner demons to confront, and his own dark secrets to keep...

Ever since Sir Walter Raleigh's settlement in Virginia was abandoned in 1587 its fate has remained a mystery; The Lost Duchess explores what might have happened to the ill-starred Lost Colony of Roanoke.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love reading about early America (having grown up a hop, skip, and a jump from Jamestown, England's first permanent settlement in the New World), and Jenny Barden is an author I've been wanting to read, so I jumped at the chance to read her second novel, The Lost Duchess, which is a stand-alone follow-up to her first novel, Mistress of the Sea. The Lost Duchess tells the story of Emme Fifield, daughter of a baron, dutiful lady-in-waiting to a demanding Queen Elizabeth. Her world is turned upside down when she is compromised by a treasonous lord, but her future brightens when Sir Francis Drake returns to court with tales of the New World and a handsome mariner in tow, Kit Doonan, both of which ignite Emme's curiosity and desire for adventure. As the queen's favorite, Sir Walter Raleigh, pleads his case for a return to the new land of Virginia, named in the queen's honor, Emme finds herself swept up in the plans, a pawn for spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, who is keen to help England outwit Spain's plans for the New World. Traveling under an assumed identity with strict instructions of what to look for and what to report back to Walsingham, Emme sets out with Kit and a group of hearty souls prepared to make a new life in the New World, with no intention of ever actually going back to England.