Book Review – The Heretic’s Daughter

The Heretic’s Daughter
Written By: Kathleen Kent
Published By: Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group USA, New York, 2008, First Edition, 352 pages, hardcover
ISBN 978-0316024488

 

 

 

 

 

 
“The Heretic’s Daughter is a superbly-crafted story of one family’s segregation and persecution during the horrendous and abysmal time of the Salem Witch Trials.”

Product Description – From Amazon.com
“Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and wilful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha’s courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.
Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family’s deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution.”

The Heretic’s Daughter is a novel that I love! This work of historical fiction is a gift to the world. This story gives us such a candid and realistic taste of that terrible time in our world’s history. The characters are detailed, convincing and written with great care. The story flows beautifully with ideal momentum.
As I read this book, I felt so much anger towards all of the people who killed these innocent men, women and children. Dealing with a small pox epidemic, murderous raids from local Indian tribes as well as other hardships would have put strain on anyone, but I just felt so helpless and sad for Sarah, her family and the many other innocent people who died in this frenzied, fear-driven miasma. Friends and neighbours; even family members turning on one another for fear of their own lives or from greed and spite.
Written from the daughter’s perspective, this story pulls at your heart strings while steering clear of ‘fluffy’ sentimentality. It vividly describes the hardships and difficulties of their lives and the affects these changes have on the Carrier family.
I very highly recommend this book!!!

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (10 out of 10 Diamonds) – Absolutely LOVED it!!

 
Link to information about the Author:
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/hereticsdaughter/author.htm
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/

A special thanks to Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy.

To listen to an interview on Blog Talk Radio with Kathleen Kent, please click here.

Copyright ©  Book Reviews By Bobbie — Bobbie Crawford-McCoy

Interview with Elizabeth Hoyt…on Blog Talk Radio

A 30 minute long interview, with Bestselling Historical Romance author Elizabeth Hoyt. 

She talks about her latest book in ‘The Legend of Four Soldiers’ series TO SEDUCE A SINNER and other related topics.

Renee Supriano from Grand Central Publishing hosted the show. 
 
I called-in and asked Elizabeth Hoyt some questions! ;-)

Click here to listen to the Blog Talk Radio show with Elizabeth Hoyt.

If you would like to visit Elizabeth’s Website please follow this link.

 Make sure you tune in!

Book Review of ‘To Seduce A Sinner (ARC)’

Sunday, September 14, 2008 (ARC) – original post

To Seduce A Sinner,
Book 2 in the Legend of the Four Soldiers
Written By: Elizabeth Hoyt
Published By: Forever, an imprint of Hachette Book Group USA, Inc., New York, 2008, First Edition, 400 pages, paperback
ISBN 978-0446406925
(Available NOW!)

“To Seduce A Sinner is an emotional tale of bravery, love and sexual fulfillment”

Melisande Flemming decides that it’s high time to take matters into her own hands. She has been perfectly and desperately in love with Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale for as long as she could remember. Lady Emeline Gordon and Melisande has been best of friends since childhood and because Emeline’s property bordered on Lord Vale’s, Melisande witnessed her heart’s desire flirting with, seducing and romancing beautiful ladies throughout the years. He whispered sweet-nothings to exquisite looking women and was rumoured to be a marvellous lover. Through the passing years, Melisande stood quietly by while she watched possessively as Lord Vale became engaged to a Miss Mary Templeton.
Jasper Renshaw, better known to his peers as Lord Vale, couldn’t believe his bad luck. Who would have thought that he’d be thrown over by this lovely little heiress for a poor, untitled curate? While dealing with a terrible hangover and the rather distressing news of his broken engagement, Lord Vale had not heard Melisande quietly entering the room. Here was Melisande, a woman proposing to him in the vestry of the church, on the morning of what was to be his wedding to Miss Templeton. He could not have been more surprised by the question posed by the rather plain-looking friend of Emeline’s, then he was by his own very honest answer to her. Why not wed the Ms. Melisande Flemming? She seemed more then willing to marry him and was quite unwavering in her request. Very well then.

To Seduce A Sinner is a enchanting book which pairs up two of the most unlikely people in one of the most endearing ways possible; through the meeting of like-minds and the incredible persistence of enduring love. I found myself so entranced by the fragile, tender side of the very handsome and masculine Lord Vale. I was truly pleased by Melisande’s resolute acceptance of her new husband’s peculiarities and his strange behaviours. The love for her husband, her faith in his goodness and Jasper’s protectiveness and love for his wife, all coalesce to create a shining story of healing, love and desire.
I very highly recommend this book!! It follows To Taste Temptation By Elizabeth Hoyt very nicely and I’m so looking forward to reading To Beguile A Beast, the third book in the Legend of the Four Soldiers Series.

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (8 out of 10 Diamonds) – Thoroughly enjoyed it

 
Link to the Author’s Website:
http://elizabethhoyt.com/
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/index.aspx

A special thanks to Renee at Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy.

To listen to an interview on Blog Talk Radio with Elizabeth Hoyt please click here.

Book Review of ‘The Paper Bag Christmas’

The Paper Bag Christmas,
Written By: Kevin Alan Milne
Published By: Center Street, A division of Hachette Book Group Inc., USA, 2006, First Edition, 150 pages, hardcover
ISBN 978-1-59995-073-0

 

 

 

 

 

“The Paper Bag Christmas is a tear-jerker; a captivating Christmas story that will have a profound and lasting effect on everyone who reads it!”

The Alan brothers are like most other children their age when the Christmas Season comes around. Images of toys, gifts, candy canes and over-flowing stockings dance around in their heads and fill their youthful bodies with excitement and abandon. 
But Molar and Aaron are not very thrilled when their parents tell them it is time to go see Santa Clause at the local mall.
Santa A.K.A. Dr. Christoffer K. Ringle, MD lets them know that he has a very special job for them. Even though they are sceptical about having to dress up as Santa’s Elves, Molar and Aaron simply can not pass up the chance to “get everything they never wanted for Christmas” and agree to help. Doctor Ringle asks each boy to spend time with a special child in the pediatric oncology ward of the local hospital.
Aaron meets Madhu, a quick-talking boy in need of an organ transplant and Molar is asked to befriend a little 9 year old girl named Katrina. Katrina’s illness has left her scarred and too embarrassed show her face so she wears a paper bag over her head.
As Molar or ‘Mo’ and Aaron get to know many of the children in the cancer ward they develop friendships, enter the ‘Christmas Pagent’ and learn some important life lessons that they will never forget.

The Paper Bag Christmas is a wonderful story about the Holiday Season and it’s true meaning.  It’s not about any particular religion, or about gifts and presents, rather it is about sharing time and love with others in a selfless manner.
This story is an absolute gem! I loved the story and it flowed very nicely.  
The plot takes gentle twists and turns which are sad and beautiful at the same time. The characters are infinitely real and almost tangible.
Though the story is not overly long, it is packed with such a “powerful punch” that it is ABSOLUTELY worth reading, many times over.
This would be a wonderful gift for people of every age, gender and nationality.
I very highly recommend this book!!

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (10 out of 10 Diamonds) – Absolutely LOVED it!!

 

Link to the Author’s Website:
http://www.kevinamilne.com/
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/

A special thanks to Miriam at Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy.

To listen to an interview on Blog Talk Radio with Kevin Alan Milne please click here.

Book Review – Ace of Hearts

Ace of Hearts,
Written By: Jean Holloway
Published By: FireFly Publishing & Entertainment 2007, First Edition
252 pages
Softcover
ISBN 978-0-9774126-6-2

“Ace of Hearts is a sensual, erotic thriller that chills you to the bone; a captivating read that won’t disappoint!”

At the age of thirty-one, Detective Shevaughn Robinson is finally being promoted to the Homicide Division of the 23rd precinct in Portsborough, New York.
As a black, female detective in the police force in 1981, Shevaughn has to keep her ‘game face on’ at all times while being mindful of those who are waiting for her to slip up and confirm that a women ‘shouldn’t try to do a man’s job!’.
The night before she is officially a part of the Homicide Division, Shevaughn gets to investigate her first murder case.
The killer, soon to be known as “Ace of Hearts”, does atrocious things to the women he kills and leaves Shevaughn with a sense of impending doom.
He lovingly cleans up after each murder, selects only beautiful-looking women to kill and he becomes obsessed with Shevaughn’s dark beauty.
With no signs of forced entry into the homes, one has to speculate about what kind of man the “Ace of Hearts” really is.
With the aid of reporter Tony O’Brien and her new partner Detective Jared Benjamin, can Shevaughn catch the killer before he strikes again?

Ace of Hearts is a really superb book. As a rule, I’m not really ‘into’ thrillers so I was very surprised by how riveted and entertained I was, by “Ace of Hearts”.
Jean Holloway’s writing style grabbed me from page one and held on to the very end. I seriously didn’t want to put the book down until I had finished it!
I loved knowing who the killer was from very near the beginning of the book; I hate spending the whole time trying to figure out who the bad guys is.
Instead, I was able to watch as the main and supporting characters find clues and new bodies and all the while, reading dialogue from the killer himself. Such an excellent way to get readers intrigued and allows us into the thoughts and mind of the serial killer.
*** Very graphic sexual content ***
I really enjoyed “Ace of Hearts”. I highly recommend this book!! 

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (9 out of 10 Diamonds) – Loved it!

 
Link to the Author’s Website:
http://www.deckofcardz.com/
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.fireflypublishingent.com/index.htm

To listen to an interview on Blog Talk Radio with Jean Holloway please click here.