A Witch's Lament (The Salem Witches Book 1) - Kindle edition by Walker, Cathy. Paranormal Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

As part of my focus to find a few new authors via NetGalley in 2021, I perused the list and selected two books for January. One of them was A Witch's Lament, the first Salem Witches book, by Cathy Walker. The description sounded great and I enjoy reading about Salem, so it was a quick decision. I find this time period fascinating, and if the plot and characters are refreshing and pop, I usually love books on this subject matter. It started well, but it didn't fully immerse me. I also realized it was published in 2015--not an upcoming publication, which is normally okay--but I had been looking for a new release. Totally my fault! Nonetheless, let's chat a bit more about my thoughts.Skye bought one of the last remaining houses from the Salem Witch Trial period in history. This was on a whim when she was writing a column about B&Bs in the area. She comes from a family of witches, and without telling anyone, she changes her life and starts anew. During her first night, a storm knocks out the power, and she inadvertently discovers a skeleton. When the police arrive, the lead, Jerome, realizes it's his mother, who's been missing for 30 years. Talk about coincidence, except it's not... there are powers working behind the scenes to bring the past forward. The book focuses on who killed Jerome's mother, as well as what's happening to Skye's parents who are in trouble, and whether or not Skye's powers are strong enough to survive history.There is a lot going on in this book, and some of it is really good and strong. I enjoyed the connections between the past and the present. I like all the supporting characters and mystery surrounding what happened thirty years ago. And the town of Salem, as always, is very intriguing. At the same time, the majority of the book is very descriptive, often flowery, and focused more on ethereal elements and ideas rather than concrete actions. This comes with the territory, I agree... but I wanted more balance in terms of Skye's interaction with characters, more real and focused. I found myself skimming a few sections just to understand what was happening.Maybe as a reader I prefer a different style, or I was hoping it had more investigation or genealogical aspects to the tale. The discovery of the skeleton scene was excellent, and the solstice event was cool. Watching Jerome protect Skye, and Matthew vie for her attention, had lots of merit. It was just missing that extra punch to really draw me in. If you love reading about witches and what happens in the air when they cast a spell or how people feel about them, this will be an excellent read. If you're looking for a complex plot with tons of red herrings and discoveries about who is connected to whom from the Salem Witch Trials, or what happened in the house/town since then with these families, or tangible events, this probably isn't the right book.That said, the author can clearly write. It was just a different tone and style that I'd hoped, so I wasn't as connected as I usually am. I end up with about 3.25 stars and depending on the plot of the author's other books, I'd consider reading them again. I will look to see what happens in this series too.

Salem, MA is one of my favorite places to visit. So as soon as I read that this story is based from there, I just had to read it. This book did not disappoint. It's mysteriously thrilling. Ir was great to see Skye and Jerome grow into their powers and come together. I loved that it was based with actual history. Can't wait to read what comes next.

Well crafted, suspenseful, captivating! I believe the author accomplished what any good storywriter sets out to do. She transported me, the reader, out of the humdrum of reality into a unique world where I could escape my everyday problems. My senses were reeling with the delightful words that expressed tension and the gamut of emotions.I don't usually read fantasies; I read historical fiction and coming-of-age stories. But this one drew me in with the descriptive language, and I was at once immersed in a story I could not put down such were the cliff hangers. I guess one could consider it to be historical fiction. Even though I don't have knowledge of the Salem Witch trials, I know it was based on them. I bet the author did a fair amount of research in order to portray believable characters that knew how to practice their craft.This is also a story of love, mercy, forgiveness, and coming to terms with your past.Brilliant! Thank you, Cathy.

Witches. What can I say but that they always fascinate me...fantasies that they are. Some of my maternal ancestors lived in Salem before and during the time of the trials ...so Salem is n added bonus in a book about witches for me.This book held my interest; well paced with a bevy of interestingly designed characters there was nothing I did not enjoy.Light reading? Yes, surely! Entertaining and easy reading? Yes! Just what I needed as a fun diversion while Covid lockdowns continue for awhile longer. I am looking forward to reading Book 2.

From the first paragraph, I was hooked. I didn’t want to put the book down, and it’s one of those books that took more time because I wanted to read every word. I didn’t want to miss anything!Skye Temple has purchased a house in Salem, Mass, having been drawn to the house. On a whim. Having returned to town to pick up the keys, where she meets a few townspeople, she learns that she’s purchased Sarah Good’s house, one of the women who was hanged during the Salem witch trials.While she knows she has powers, she has no idea to the extent of those powers. She has promised her mother that she would never use her powers without her mother’s presence. While Skye doesn’t count buying a house without her mother’s knowledge as breaking that promise, when she starts having strange visions, unlike ever before and then finds a woman’s skeleton behind a secret door in her library that she instinctively went to, she realizes she could be in danger. Only now, she can’t seem to make contact with her mother.Each chapter is a page turner, with a cast of witching characters. Why not? We’re in Salem, after all. While I thought I knew who the villain was early on, I kept changing my mind as events unfolded. I’m known to go to the end of a book to read the ending and then analyze the writing as I finish a book, but not this time. I wanted to be surprised.If I were able, I’d be giving this book more than the five I’m allowed. Well done!