I would like to welcome Kiki Howell to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by Kiki Howell. Please be sure and check out Kiki Howell's novel Hidden Salem. Check out my review of Hidden Salem. Oh and be sure you enter the giveaway before you leave.
Book Title: Hidden Salem
Author: Kiki Howell
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Mitchell Morris Publishing Inc
ISBN: 9781937629281
Number of pages: 332
Cover Artist: Tara at Fantasia Frog Designs
BOOK TRAILER
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PURCHASE
Hidden Salem
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Hidden Salem
Intuition alone brought Makayla to Salem, Ma in search of a story, but her research has her confronting more than she bargained for. With her empathic gifts stronger in Witch City, she physically suffers, landing her literally unconscious in the arms of both Noah Ayers, local cop and Dylan Baines, local history teacher. Yet, it is Lauri, a witch who owns a local shop, who teaches Makayla about who she is and what she can do.
Unfortunately for all of them, Makayla also stumbles upon a coven in the woods practicing a dark magic ritual. Now they are after her, threatening her life and the lives of those she has quickly come to care about. Immersed in things she never expected, like an old legend and necromancy due to residual hauntings, the race is on to stay safe from the coven and protect her heart from a certain sexy cop.
But, is Lauri correct in thinking Makayla might just have encountered the only real witch in Salem in 1692? And, do they share the same bloodline?
REVIEWS
Hidden Salem
"Richly vivid and captivatingly engrossing, Hidden Salem is a mesmerizing tale that blends an eerie historical past with a rather terrifying present. Kiki Howell brings the fascination of the witches of Salem - both past and present - to a brilliant level, adding liberal doses of sensuous love, suspense and murder to provide a hard-to-put-down, provocative and memorable story that you don't want to miss." ~ April Pohren, Cafe of Dreams Book Reviews
"Kiki Howell spins a tale that will bewitch your heart and leave you wanting more." ~ Misty Rayburn - Top Shelf Book Reviews
"I really enjoyed reading Hidden Salem. You see a lot of books about the Salem Witch Hunt. This one is really different and I just really loved the characters and how they interact with each other. I enjoyed this paranormal. Had the right amount of suspense and love interest." ~Crystal, Romancing the Book
MY REVIEW
Hidden Salem
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I was given a copy of Hidden Salem from the author for a review via Bewitching Book Tours.
Makayla goes to Salem, MA hunting a story so she can write her book. Upon arriving in Salem she meets two very good looking men. She literally passes out in both of their arms but not at the same time of course. One of the guys is a local cop, Noah Ayers and the other guy is Dylan Baines, the local history teacher.
Dylan is very nice and offers to help Makayla with her research for her book. Dylan knows a lot about the history of the Salem witches. Makayla likes Dylan but she is more attractive to Noah and has stronger, different feelings for Noah than she does for Dylan. Makayla is not completely honest with Noah or Dylan about who or what she really is. She has always been afraid to let anyone in on her secrets except for her best friend "Neeece". She is afraid that they will think she is crazy.
She meets Lauri a local witch who owns a local witch shop. It is Lauri that teaches Makayla about who and what she is. Lauri helps Makayla to understand more about the things that she can do. Makayla's mother died when she was young and never told Makayla anything about who she was. She never had any family that she knew of to teach her about her gifts.
I have read a lot of books about witches and ones about Salem witches. But I have never read a book that was anywhere near like Hidden Salem. Hidden Salem was unique in the way that it actually portrayed the witches. I mean that a lot of people could or maybe even can do the things that Makayla does. They just don't know what they are doing. They never realized why they can do what they do or even know that they have done anything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor's degree in English. She then followed in a Master's program in Creative Writing.
She has now had over thirty stories published between eleven different publishers. She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder.
AUTHOR LINKS
Hidden Salem Bewitching Book Tour Giveaway
Kiki has four pieces of jewelry purchased from The Official Witch Shoppe in Salem, MA which was still open when she visited Salem in August 2010. Each week, throughout the month tour, a winner will be chosen from one of the tour stops.
All who enter will also be put into a final drawing for a $25.00 Gift Card from the winner's choice of several retailers from Barnes & Noble to Starbucks (list will be provided to winner).
Open to US Shipping
Want to know more about the four pieces of jewelry and the store they came from?
Here's A Little Information From Front Page of The Official Witch Shoppe Online Shopping
The Official Witch Shoppe (formerly The Cat, The Crow and The Crown), owned and operated by Rev. Laurie Cabot H.Ps. , opened in November 2010 at 63R Wharf St. in Salem, MA. (closed in October, 2010)
Laurie Cabot opened her first store ("The Witch Shop") and the very first Witch Shop in America in 1970. Laurie established her Witch Shop initially for the purpose of educating people that magic (or Majick as it is known in the Cabot Tradition) is real, beneficial and exists and that Witchcraft is not devil worship or evil. Ultimately her first shop and her subsequent stores have supplied Magical people and Witches of all traditions with all the tools and supplies required to perform their own Majick.
Why is Laurie Cabot known as the "Official Witch of Salem"?
In the mid 1970's, Governor Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts, bestowed upon Laurie Cabot the state's Patriot Award.
The proclamation is signed by the Governor and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and it reads:
"I proclaim Laurie Cabot the Official Witch of Salem for her work with children with special needs."
Laurie's first official duty as a state Patriot residing in Salem, was to greet a delegation of artists who were visiting the city from China. The artists had been invited to the United States to display their art at the Boston Museum of Science, and were the first such group of artists to be invited to America after relations with China had been established by President Nixon.
While this certainly was a compliment to Laurie Cabot, it was and is today a symbol of hope for all Witches who do good works on behalf of their community and nation. Equally as important, it serves as a testament that Witches have a place in America today and are recognized as practicing a legitimate and honorable religion which shows a path of dedication for the good of all. This was the first time in history that a high standing politician openly recognized a Witch for their good works.
Product Descriptions From Website:
Fancy Silvertone Anklet:
This delicate silvertone anklet has been decorated with an array of bells, chains, and flowers to create a piece of jewelry that will perfectly accent your ankle and ring out musically with every step you take. Measuring approximately 10" long, each anklet will vary slightly in size.
3 DZi Bead Bracelet
To Tibetans and other Himalayan peoples, the dZi is a "precious jewel of supernatural origin" with great power to protect its wearer from disaster. "Pure" dZi beads (based on Tibetan tradition) are regarded as the most valuable and desirable variety. To qualify as pure, a bead must be genuine etched agate and lie within a certain range of styles. It should also have a sharply delineated pattern, symmetrical shape, strong color, glossy surface, and no flaws. The nine-eyed dZi is a pure dZi with the most highly desired pattern. Etched agate beads not considered pure are called chung dZi, or "less important dZi." This adjustable necklace expands to a maxium of 10" in diameter.
Celtic Heart Earrings
Centered on the tangled knots of a Celtic knot, each layer of these fantastic earrings displays a new heart, wrapping around the first and the knot within, becoming at last a beautiful, full sized heart design, without beginning and without end. Made of fine, lead-free pewter each earring hangs approximately 2" long from a French hook, with the hearts being about 3/4" wide.
Flower Locket
Experience your favorite scent all day when you wear it in our pretty, practical lockets. Saturate a blotter pad (included) with an essential oil or perfume of choice, and place it in the locket - portable aromatherapy! Pewter locket with flower design is double-sided on black satin cord, and measure 1 1/2" long by 1" wide. Comes with five 3/4" blotter pads, refills also available.
Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.
TOUR SCHEDULE
October 15 Guest blog Jen McConnel
October 16 Promo Doctor's Notes
October 18 Guest blog and review Donna’s Blog Home
October 22 Guest blog P.W. Creighton Mondays as part of the Paranormal Perceptions
October 26 Guest blog Ex Libris
October 28 Guest blog and review For The Love of Reading
October 29 Review Not Now...Mommy's Reading
October 30 Promo SMARTMOUTHTEXAN
October 30 review Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
October 31 Guest blog and review On the Broomstick
October 31 Promo Sapphyria's Book Reviews
October 31 Promo and Review The Avid Reader
November 1 Guest blog Butterfly-o-Meter Books
November 5 Guest blog My Guilty Obsession
November 6 review Darkest Addictions Book Reviews
November 7 Interview JeanzBookReadNReview
November 8 Guest blog A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books
November 8 Promo and review Starry Night Reviews
November 9 Interview Ilusions of Intimacy
November 10 Promo (review) Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books
November 11 Promo Paranormal Cravings
November 12 review Stephanie Nordkap
4 comments:
Thanks for having me! And, I'm so glad you enjoyed the story :)
Hidden Salem sounds like a great read. Thanks for introducing this author to me. I also want to thank Kiki Howell for this awesome giveaway opportunity!
sandywolters(dot)author(at)gmail(dot)com
I am happy that I was given the opportunity to read Hidden Salem and host you on The Avid Reader. Thank you.
Thanks Sandy for stopping by and entering the giveaway. Yes, Hidden Salem is a very good read. It is different than other books about the Salem witches.
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