HFVBT Presents: Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames

9781491705933_COVER.indd
Publication Date: September 17, 2013
iUniverse
Formats: Ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

On a cold night in 1692, two young girls are caught up in the divining games of a slave woman-and then begin to act very strangely when the game goes wrong. Suddenly, Salem Village is turned upside down as everyone fears that witches may be involved. Six months later, as news of the girls’ strange behavior becomes known, fear and suspicion overwhelm a nearby farming community, pitting neighbors against neighbors and turning friends into enemies. When Rebecca Eames makes one careless utterance during a verbal attack on her family, she is falsely accused of witchcraft. After her fate is decided by three magistrates, Rebecca must endure a prison sentence during which she and her fellow captives have no choice but to valiantly struggle to find humanity and camaraderie among dire conditions. In this novel based on a true story, a woman wrongly imprisoned during the seventeenth-century witchcraft trials comes full circle where she must determine if she can somehow resume her life, despite all she has endured.

Praise for Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames

“Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames is a story of the fear, suspicion, and accusations as they permeate the surrounding communities. The narration was exquisite, really painting a picture in my head and bringing to life the language of the Puritans much better than it usually is done. I loved that it was based on a true story and that the story really expands on a piece of the darkest of American history. Such a cool read!” – Katelyn Hensel, Readers’ Favorite

“Elegantly written, meticulously researched, and historically accurate, the author’s work rings true. … Renner’s vast talent as a writer is enhanced by the fact that she’s telling the story of her own family, completely captivating from beginning to end.” – Kelly Z. Conrad, award-winning author of Shaman

“In the colonial-era tale Puritan Witch, the plight of Rebecca Eames and her family plays out against the backdrop of one of the most intriguing periods in American history.” – Julie Castillo, writer and editor

 

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My Thoughts
Puritan Witch:  The Redemption of Rebecca Eames is a beautifully rendered tale that while often hard to read, is equally as difficult to put down.
Authoress Peni Renner ushers readers into a Colonial America far removed from that which has been heralded as the bastion of burgeoning liberty.
Set in and around Salem, Massachusetts.  Puritan Witch tells the story of one woman's fight to save her life, dignity, and sanity, amid the chaos, lies, and hypocrisy of The Salem Witch Trials.

Goody Rebecca Eams is a lot of things.  She is a loving mother, grandmother, wife, and "a good Christian woman."  What Mrs. Eams is not however, is a pushover.
Fire, spirit, and an opinion are not welcome attributes in a woman of her ilk however, and a few choice ones, uttered in anger, will change her life forever.

Though the story told here begins as a story of one, its scope quickly broadens to encompass Rebecca's family, the people that she meets in prison, and the community as a whole.
The countless injustices brought to bear in the lives of Rebecca and countless others, make this a very emotionally taxing read.
Interlaced with the darkness, is the resiliency of the human spirit and love that trumps the evil done.

Rebecca proves to be the ultimate heroine by doing nothing more than simply living.
Is she afraid
Yes.
Does she make mistakes?
Yes.
Is she always right?
No, but she lives with dignity and grace...in a time when it is so easy to die.

Peni Renner has written a stellar work in Puritan Witch.  It is my sincerest hope that this is not the last of her creations.
 

About the Author

03_Peni Jo RennerPeni Renner is the author of “Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames”, an award-winning historical novel based on the true-life account of Peni’s 9th great grandmother. The book is Renner’s first published work, and follows Eames’ life and struggles in 1692 Massachusetts during the Salem Witchcraft Trials.
Writing historical fiction has always been a lifelong dream of mine. I was discouraged for many years after receiving multiple rejection slips, and turned to other creative outlets like crocheting, quilting and cross-stitch for many years. Then I met a 3rd cousin of mine online who is also into geneology and history. She told me we shared a common ancestor who was involved in the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692, and her story had never been told. My love of writing was rekindled and I began to research this ancestor, Rebecca Blake Eames. In August of 2012 I had the privilege of visiting her grave in Boxford, Massachusetts.
After months and months of research, writing, rewriting and revising, Puritan Witch came into being, featuring a lovely sketch done by my sister-in-law, Jane Sisk.
I have several other story ideas I am working on at the moment, all pertaining to interesting ancestors my 3rd cousin has introduced me to.

For more information please visit the Puritan Witch Facebook Page. You can also follow Peni Jo Renner on Twitter.

Virtual Tour & Book Blast Schedule

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Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
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