Review: Definite Must Read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 21, 2013
When I first got the blog tour invitation from Literary Nook for this tour I was eating lunch at work and asked my co-worker, "do I really want to read a historical romance set in Salem, MA during the Salem Witch Trials?" Her quick response was, "Heck yes!" I was skeptical, having never read a historical romance before but I am here to tell you that I am so glad that I did.  Sarah Ballance is an incredibly gifted writer.  She did such an amazing job of taking a story that most of us know well from school and weaving this romance inside of what we already know.The story follows Lydia or Goody Colson as the townspeople of Salem Village refer to her.  Lydia fled from Cambridge, MA after murdering her abusive husband.  While on her quest to put as much distance between her old life and any chance at a future, she learns the skills of being a midwife as well as the basics of being a physician.  She stumbles upon word that Salem Village is in need of a Physician suddenly, so she takes up residence there, in the sleepy Puritan town.  Now, before you sigh and wonder why I would read a historical romance set in Puritan times, let me tell you about Henry.  Oh Henry, dreamy, gorgeous, amazingly romantic for the time, Henry!  Lydia stumbles upon Henry one night in the woods all alone and offers him her aid as a physician.  She still keeps up the ruse that her husband is in the Shipping trade and is away on business so the good people will leave her be about being alone for such long periods of time.  Henry quickly sees through the ruse though and they form a quick bond between them that tells them without a doubt they can trust their secrets to one another.Henry's family comes from money.  They are very well off and most know of his family.  His Father has been pushing him to marry any of the hundreds of woman whom he deems of suitable breeding and level of wealth.  Henry can't bring himself to want to leave the woman who has tended to his injuries with such care even though the mere sight of him with her would bring shame on her in the village and cast her as an adulterer, an offense punishable by death.  Upon being called in the night suddenly to tend to the children of one of the wealthier families in Salem Village, Henry declares himself as Lydia's husband who has been away all this time.  Of course, no husband would return from such a long journey without reacquainting himself with his wife upon their marital bed.  The way they make love to one another and learn each other's bodies is steamy and delicious, but in a different way than we're used to in so many books these days.  It was refreshing to read something fresh and different after reading so many modern day erotic romances.  The way they explore each other almost feels taboo, sort of sinful, but it's absolutely breathtaking.I won't say much more because it would give the rest of the story away.  I will say that the rest of the story had me biting my nails, pulse racing, tears pricking my eyes and finally a very strong feeling of elation.  Pick this one up and give it a try!  My hats off to you Sarah Ballance!  I am not acquainted with the rest of your work but I will definitely be picking more of your works up in the future!ebook provided by Author for honest review with Blog Tour.