Review: A historical romance novel set during the Salem Witch Trials = recommended read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 22, 2013
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the blog tour organizer for review purposes. Many thanks to Sarah Ballance, Bewitching Book Tours and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.* * *Lydia Colson arrived in Salem Village a year before and serves as physician to the village. No one questioned the absence of her husband or the suddenness of her appearance. Henry Putnam was on his way to Salem Town to look for his missing older brother. Lydia encounters him on her way home one evening, having fallen off his horse and in need of care.A stranger in a married woman's cottage: to prevent gossip from spreading, Henry pretends to be Lydia's husband and the growing physical attraction between Lydia and Henry elevates their pretend marriage into a real one. But their marriage is tested when Lydia is accused of witchcraft and Henry must weigh in the balance his family's reputation and livelihood and his new wife's life.It's very rare to find a historical romance novel set during the Salem Witch Trials and this is the main reason why I requested to read Sarah Ballance's Her Wicked Sin. It's a very challenging period to write about because it was such a recognizable period in American History and there is always the danger of the Salem Witch stories overshadowing an author's own story -- but Sarah Ballance does a good job of keeping the story of Lydia and Henry in the foreground. Considering that this is a novella, Ballance delivers the full package.The author captures the very restrictive atmosphere of Salem during those times and the precariousness of every person's position: one hint of witchcraft, one tiny rumor is all it takes to destroy a person.Lydia came to Salem to escape her past and to start fresh but, what was once Lydia's safe haven becomes a place of distrust and fear -- and the final straw was the very malicious accusation of the Abbott children. We also see the defenselessness and the hopelessness of the accused "witch" -- Lydia was put in a very difficult position and every word she uttered was used against her. It really was a no-win situation.Where, then, is the love story? While their courtship and "marriage" happened very quickly, Henry's commitment is tested several times: the first is when he decides to inform his very wealthy, very well-connected family of his marriage to Lydia. The second was when Lydia was accused of witchery. Even though they've only known each other for a short while, Henry's faith in his wife was amazing: he listened, and accepted -- and didn't judge. His first instinct is always to help.My one small complaint is the resolution -- Lydia's ending was a bit rushed (and a bit too neat) but, more importantly, I hated, yes, HATED, the Abbot children and Goody Rebecca I really wanted to see them get their comeuppance but they get away with their misdeeds. I understand, however, that Ballance is remaining faithful to the historical period and no such justice was possible during that time. I am glad that Lydia and Henry get their happy ending (as happy as can be managed in such Puritan circumstances).