ZoesArtCraftandLife: Welcoming Meredith Allard and her book - Down Salem Way

Today I'm welcoming Meredith Allard and her book - Down Salem Way (The Loving Husband Series) - to my blog as part of the blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club (founded by Mary Anne Yarde)

I'm delighted to share an excerpt with you all but first I will introduce the book and the series.

Down Salem Way

How would you deal with the madness of the Salem witch hunts?

In 1690, James Wentworth arrives in Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his father, John, hoping to continue the success of John’s mercantile business. While in Salem, James falls in love with Elizabeth Jones, a farmer’s daughter. Though they are virtually strangers when they marry, the love between James and Elizabeth grows quickly into a passion that will transcend time.

But something evil lurks down Salem way. Soon many in Salem, town and village, are accused of practicing witchcraft and sending their shapes to harm others. Despite the madness surrounding them, James and Elizabeth are determined to continue the peaceful, loving life they have created together. Will their love for one another carry them through the most difficult challenge of all?

Publication Date: June 2019

Publisher: Copperfield Press

Page Length: 352 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

You can purchase a copy of this book and all of the books in the series via these links -

Down Salem Way: https://books2read.com/u/4XQdqL

Her Dear and Loving Husband: https://books2read.com/u/49NXzk

Her Loving Husband’s Curse: https://books2read.com/u/baZ576

Her Loving Husband’s Return: https://books2read.com/u/31l5vD

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Down-Salem-Loving-Husband-Book-ebook/dp/B07QPBFYRP

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Down-Salem-Loving-Husband-Book-ebook/dp/B07QPBFYRPd

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Down-Salem-Loving-Husband-Book-ebook/dp/B07QPBFYRP

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Salem-Loving-Husband-Book-ebook/dp/B07QPBFYRP

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/down-salem-way-meredith-allard/1134064819?ean=2940160988214

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/down-salem-way

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/down-salem-way/id1484383282

Now for the excerpt -

From the Diary of James John Wentworth

2 February 1691, Wednesday

“Would you like a lesson?” I asked.

“Aye,” Lizzie said. “Thank you.”

I took the Bible from the shelf in the Great Room and opened to a random page, John 8:7. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” I said.

“Indeed,” said Lizzie.

Lizzie has progressed well in her reading. And quickly too. I believe our nightly lessons help bond us more quickly than we might have otherwise since our readings prompt long discussions where we learn much about each other. After we read the rest of the passage together, I did the impossible: I cajoled my wife into reading aloud on her own.

“No one has such a lovely voice as you,” I said.

Lizzie laughed. “You think your sweet tongue shall convince me to read alone? When you are such a learned man?” She turned away, her cheeks flushed.

“But you know how I love listening to you speak. Tis like hearing a serenata by Alessandro Stradella.”

“Who?”

I reached for our favorite volume of poetry. “Tis time, Lizzie. Read to me.”

Lizzie turned the book in her hands, over and over. Finally, she nodded. She tentatively opened the book. “What would you like to hear?”

“You know.”

Lizzie’s smile rivals the brightest sunshine. She opened to the page, exhaled, and read, haltingly, with pauses, some from a struggle to sound out or recall the words, some from embarrassment that she read alone. After the first two lines, her voice grew in confidence.

She knew what I wanted to hear.

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay;

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Lizzie closed the book. “Tis true, you know.”

“What is?” I asked.

“This poem, To My Dear and Loving Husband. Tis as though everything I feel for you has been written here, by this woman, a magistrate’s wife I’ll never meet. You are…” Lizzie blushed, hot along her jaw. I touched her cheek and lifted her head so I could see into her eyes. “If ever man were loved by wife, then thee. That is how…”

“Tis all right, Lizzie. You can tell me anything.”

“That is how I feel about you. You are my dear and loving husband, James Wentworth.”

I knelt before Lizzie, pressing her hand to my lips.

“I knew the moment I saw you over the supper table that you were the one for me. I cannot imagine waking up every morning for the rest of my life without looking into your beautiful eyes. I cannot imagine walking through this world without knowing that you were here waiting for me. I cannot imagine having the strength to breathe without you. You are my dear and loving wife, Elizabeth Wentworth. And I love you. I shall never leave you. Ever.”

I swept my wife into my arms and carried her away.

Meredith Allard

Meredith Allard is the author of the bestselling paranormal historical Loving Husband Trilogy. Her sweet Victorian romance, When It Rained at Hembry Castle, was named a best historical novel by IndieReader. Her nonfiction book, Painting the Past: A Guide for Writing Historical Fiction, was named a #1 New Release in Authorship and Creativity Self-Help by Amazon. When she isn’t writing she’s teaching writing, and she has taught writing to students ages five to 75. She loves books, cats, and coffee, though not always in that order. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit Meredith online at www.meredithallard.com.

You can connect with Meredith Allard via these platforms -

Website: www.meredithallard.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeredithallard

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-allard-0a8a5821/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/meredithallard

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meredith-allard

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Meredith-Allard/e/B000APN2C8

You can learn more about the author and the books by visiting the other blogs on the tour.