The overview:

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 willful, 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. 

I sat in Bookman's and read the first few chapters which begin with letters from Martha to Sarah.  I was hooked.  I sat there and purchased the book from Amazon.com for .01 (yep, one penny) plus $3.99 shipping, so I paid $4 via Amazon vs. $7.50 at Bookman's.  I can't wait for it to get here!  Stay tuned...

Next Bookclub Pick! "The Hangman's Daughter" by Oliver Potzsch

Our next bookclub choice is The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch.  

"A historical thriller set in Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play in his small Bavarian town. Whispers and dark memories of witch trials and the women burned at the stake just seventy years earlier still haunt the streets of Schongau. When more children disappear and an orphan boy is found dead—marked by the same tattoo—the mounting hysteria threatens to erupt into chaos.

Before the unrest forces him to torture and execute the very woman who aided in the birth of his children, Jakob must unravel the truth. With the help of his clever daughter, Magdelena, and Simon, the university-educated son of the town’s physician, Jakob discovers that a devil is indeed loose in Schongau. But it may be too late to prevent bloodshed." 

Looking forward to reading it.  Update on The Explorer's Code by Kitty Pilgrim coming soon.

Want a REALLY great series to start reading? Here it is!!

I was sitting in my local Bookman's used bookstore waiting for my husband and kids and huddle amongst the Twilight series I saw the title of this book: Children of the Lamp. I had time to kill so I picked it up and did as I usually do; sat down and read the first chapter to see if it piqued my interest and it did!

The series center around John and Philippa Gaunt who are not only pretty well-to-do high society New Yorkers but they are also decendents from a long line of djinn, which is normally known as "genies". They are fraternal twins and together their powers are stronger. They end up going to spend time with their Uncle Nimrod (also a djinn), who teaches them to hone their powers. And it is just in time because he needs them to join him on a journey to solve an ancient mystery. We learn than djinn control the luck in the world, more so; the balance between good luck and bad luck. Should the scales tip towards bad...well...the outcome for us humans or mundanes as djinn call us, would be catastrophic. This book is filled with adventure, interesting bits of history, things to figure out and solve, and incredible characters.

The best part about this book is that while it sounds like juvenile fun, it mingles in aspects of history and ancient worlds that are creatively and almost believably intertwined into the story. I've hooked quite a few friends on this series. It's highly addictive and you'll buy the next book before you finish the first one!!! I guarantee it! One tip: commit to reading past Chapter 4 in Book One. You'll be glad you did!!!