The Acadian Secret

Acadian Secret #1

by Tammy Lowe

Tween/YA Paranormal Action Adventure

Elisabeth London is keeping her new friends a secret from her parents. Not only do they live on the other side of the world in the Scottish Highlands, they lived more than three hundred and fifty years ago. Her mom and dad would never allow her to go gallivanting about seventeenth century Scotland. They won’t even let her go to the mall by herself yet.

Twelve-year-old Elisabeth is old enough to know there is no such thing as magic, but when her quartz crystal necklace has the power to transport her back and forth in time, she no longer knows what to think. The only thing she is certain of is that she loves spending carefree days with Quinton, the mischievous nephew of a highland warrior, and sassy little Fiona, a farmer’s daughter.

However, Elisabeth’s adventures take a deadly turn when she is charged with witchcraft. At a time and place in history when witch-hunts were common, those found guilty were executed, children included. Elisabeth must race to find her way back home, while trying to stay one step ahead of the witch-hunter determined to see her burned at the stake.
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Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Adventure

193 pages, ebook

First published April 3, 2013

About the author

An adventurer at heart, Tammy has explored ruins in Rome, Pompeii, and Istanbul (Constantinople) with historians and archaeologists.

She’s slept in the tower of a 15th century castle in Scotland, climbed down the cramped tunnels of Egyptian pyramids, sailed on a tiny raft down the Yulong River in rural China, dined at a Bedouin camp in the Arabian Desert, and escaped from head-hunters in the South Pacific.

I suppose one could say her own childhood wish of time traveling adventures came true…in a roundabout way.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book. It was a good mix of adventure, magic, fun, friendship and traces of potential romance. A time-travelling adventure layered with plots and sub-plots.
The main character is a girl named Elisabeth who is of current time and soon finds herself in Scotland, back in the 1600's! Yikes! What a change that must be. She soon learns it is connected to a necklace she bought. She meets makes some new friends and she teaches them about the future a bit by introducing them to 'modern' music, video games, chocolate, etc. Her problem is not everyone likes what she seems capable of doing ans think she is a witch.
Amongst this theme was another story, taking place in the late 1700's with young John who is determined to find and prove there is treasure on Oak island. This story-line kept alternating with Elisebeth's story. While I liked the history lesson here about the early excavations, we do not see how this ties in until the end. Where a certain man crosses both stories. Frankly, I do not think this line was needed. Just seemed like an odd filler. The only way I could fuller appreciate this is if the author does a sequel bringing this man to light more. We see him periodically but never seem to really learn much about him.
Some odd things I also noticed in the story is when Elisebeth beings a game from Quinton to play at first is sounds like a handheld game (DS, PSP, etc) but then it is referred to as a computer game a couple times. So I want to know what she brought. A laptop? Also, at one point she helps Fiona dye her hair using her mother's home dye kit. Now, Fiona's hair is black. But after just one dye and a quick jump in the local Lock, and she comes up from the water with golden blonde hair. Now, I have dyed my hair blonde from both auburn and brown. Never once did it go blond after just 1 home kit use. I want to know what brand that was. I want it!
The Scotland setting was well done, the voices, the clothing, the food, etc. Also the witch hunts and how those suspected of witchcraft were tested, Nicely done. The author did her homework. From the setting, to Oak Island. I was very impressed with that. Overall, 3 1/2 stars. If I see a second book come of this explaining Elisebeth and the 'mystery man' I will likely bump this up to 4 stars.

Special thanks to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book. The book was given in return for a fair and honest review.

[AnathemaDevice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant surprise. It mixed together several different ideas and themes and I felt it was worked together well. Also the book was engaging and as I was reading I wanted to know more and how it would all resolve. They are more than one setting in this novel and though it was simple to imagine a present day setting, it sometimes harder to present a setting in the past. I personally felt this was fine with this book, though sometimes I got confused and it may be difficult for younger people.

The characters where energetic and full of life. The main character wasnt stereotypical and at first I thought she seemed a bit too grown up and other times a bit babyish, but later I thought the author had created a pretty real 12 year old!!!! I didn't have a problem with the Scottish dialect (and I happen to be scottish) it flowed easily and I have read other contemporary scottish novels and I haven't a clue what they are saying!!! It was understandable and perfect for a ya novel. Maybe because I've been to places mentioned in the book, it makes more real to me and easy for me to imagine.

Overall this is an enjoyable book and leaves the reader happy. There were morals and lessons to be learned and I feel I have come through it with the characters in bit of a Disney way. The author has a great story telling talent and I look forward to reading her work in the future.

[Nyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of time travelling story lines and this book did not disappoint. There are two distinct stories in this book over three different time period, and enough history, legend and myth to keep anyone interested and wanting to learn more. I love the way Lowe blends the story together in an exciting, page turning adventure.

First we are introduced to John Smith, a 16 year old man living on the coast of Nova Scotia. He and his friends believe that they have discovered the buried treasure of Captain Kidd on Oak Island. Be introduced to the history and legend of Canada’s Oak Island in this compelling story of John Smith.

Elisabeth’s story, which is also the main story, takes the reader on an adventure. It all starts when her mother buys her a quartz crystal necklace unknowing that the necklace has magical powers. Powers that transport Elisabeth back in time to the 17th century. This is a time when witch trials were at their height. Elisabeth gets herself into trouble and is accused of being a witch. Her necklace is stolen and she can’t return home without it.

I loved how the characters were developed. The history, the myths and the magic bring this book together in a really exciting way. You're reading it because you love the characters and you need to know what happens to them, but you’re also learning some great history.

Find out more about me. Check out my blog www.nyxlive.net

[Diana Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Wild Rose Press for the chance to read The Acadian secret by Tammy Lowe. I picked this book because I have always been intrigued by the secrets of Oak Island. This book wasn't what I was expecting. There is two stories told in three timelines; 1795, sixteen-year-old John Smith, digs down into a mysterious pit on Oak Island sure he will find pirate treasure. In modern Nova Scotia, twelve-year-old Elisabeth London all of a sudden finds herself in 17th century Scotland. While these two young people have the adventure of their life, can they solve the secrets that they have found. This book is meant for middle school children.

[Olivia Gavilan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Series status: Stand-alone novel

Review:

• Characters: 3/5 – some characterization but no strong characters to love or hate.
• Premise: 5/5 – this was the best part of the book; the magic and science elements were well mixed and it has a slight twist on a typical theme.
• Plot: 3/5 – there were some holes, but overall it was good and held interest.
• Pacing: 3/5 – I never found myself wanting to put the book down but neither was I captivated at any point.
• Dialogue: 1/5 – the children spoke believably but the adults sounded fake and all the dialogue felt forced and unreal. The Scottish dialect was badly done in some places.
• Imagery: 2/5 – no real description of the Scottish Highlands, which should have been a high point in a time travel piece. There was more ‘tell’ than ‘show’, with a tendency to bash the reader over the head with description rather than demonstrate.
• Voice: 1/5 – the point of view is third person past tense, but the writing is stiff and juvenile resulting in no clear voice from any of the characters or a narrator.
• Romance:
• Amount:none
• Explicit scenes: none
• Love triangle: none
• Notes: The book is on the younger side of Young Adult, and I found it refreshing to read a story with no teenage angst and romance.
• Other: Short (193 pages in my .pdf format copy) almost a novella in length.

Other books I’ve read like The Acadian Secret:

With the time travel and Scottish Highlands it felt like a younger version of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander Series, with young protagonists and without the romance.

Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander is similarly a time travel book for younger readers.

Final thoughts: this book was decent but not great. A simple read suitable for younger readers. I wanted to see more details, more imagery, and more interaction to make you love the characters.

This review and others can also be found on my blog

[A.R. Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often I enjoy reading young adult books, and most often I have learned that they have better stories and characters. The Acadian Secret did not disappoint. Although written for younger audiences it was very well authored and enjoyable to read. It reminded me of a few of my favorites; a cross between, Riptide by Preston and Child, Jake Ransom series by James Rollins and Timeline by Michael Crichton. However it still stays original on its own.
A very pleasurable read and I definitely recommend it for not only young readers, but all avid readers of all ages.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woow, that was a really great book. It is time-tralling, only then different than all the other books, really original. Elisabeth is a lovely main character (only a bit younger then the books a normally read) and very understandeble (the decision is the end is heartbreaking). The story was so original, every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, something different happened!
I hope we'll see more books from this author!

[ThymeOperator · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book exchange for an honest review.

I had mixed feelings about this story. I think it was a superb idea, and I found the history woven into it fascinating. I appreciate it is written for a younger audience, perhaps ages 10-12 I'd say, but I'm a mother and I do like a good children's book.

I think the main thing preventing me from giving this book 5 stars is that it seemed to go by very quickly, and some ideas were not fully developed. For instance, there is a point where the little girl has an idea that something she has taken from her time traveling experience might help her in school one day...then the very next scene shows her using it in school. There was no build-up, which made it hard for me to care about that event.

Another point is there were quite a few anachronisms that were bugging me. For instance, there's mention of the Loch Ness Monster, but I'm not convinced they called it that back in the time this book is set. At another point, Fiona asks Elizabeth, 'Are you daft?' I believe this is modern slang and I don't know if this belongs in that era.

I also couldn't understand the connection between the supernatural beings (don't want to give too much away here) and the resolution to the story. At first we were led to believe they had some involvement in what was happening. Then at the end it transpired to be the work of someone else entirely. Yet the little girl was told to show gratitude to those beings...for what, exactly? What part did they play? None that I could see. I think either make their connection clearer or just leave them out of the book.

For me, the strongest element of this book was the parallel story about the boys digging for treasure. I found that fascinating, and it's what kept this story from simply being a rewrite of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'. It's what made it original. I loved this and the mystery character certainly had my attention by the end. I really wanted to know who he was and what was going on. I presume this means there's going to be a sequel, where this question gets answered? There was no indication at the end that there would be a second installment, but I sincerely hope there is because it's an interesting story, despite my comments above, and because there were so many unanswered questions.

So it's not perfect, but I definitely enjoyed it, and I would read book 2 (if it gets written!) to find out where this is going!

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have spent any time in the last odd decade watching a pair of brothers attempt to recover a treasure on a small island...then this book is for you! This is an amazing book that is an eye opener to the average reader. There has never been a time travel concept like the one used here. This book simply turns the tried-and-true time travel genre on its head. Kudos to the author for the incredible originality.

The story is multi-faceted and has enough tension to keep you glued to the pages. This book, at times, is a lovely coming of age with all the joy and fun that comes from that. There is also a dark edge that will grip the reader and keep one on edge.

Never one to give away anything about a book…but let me say if what the book says is true, there are going to be some very disappointed people associated with a certain dig. There are characters in this book who are loathe-worthy. The author deals with these in a wonderful fashion that had me clapping over those scenes.

A creative and fun book that will appeal to adventure fans. A book for fans of treasure hunting books. A book for fans of coming-of-age stories. An excellent book that sets the stage for the highly anticipated book two.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are all my own.

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Mr. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love time travel books and I was so happy to grab an advanced copy of this one. Super entertaining I loved that this is two stories in one that converge toward the end. There is a mysterious man who pops up in all the time lines but we don't know who he is until much later in the book.

Elisabeth lives in Nova Scotia but is drawn to a mysterious necklace in an antiques store and finds that it helps her travel through time. What starts out as fun quickly turns into something more menacing. For a 12 year old time travel is about sharing your modern tech with people who will be awed by it, however 17th century Scotland is full of superstitious people and witch hunters looking to make a buck.

John Smith is sure there is treasure hidden on an island off the coast of Nova Scotia. At 16 he and his friends start to dig, but their efforts are thwarted. After he buys the land he starts his search again, a search that will claim many lives and keep him busy well into old age.

I loved the characters and the way the story was woven together. I was much more intrigued by Elisabeths story but I do like how they finally converged. I'm looking forward to this story continuing and finding out more about the mysterious man.

[Kim Ligon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Lowe does a wonderful job of moving the reader from one place in time and space to another. The characters are well developed and quite believable. The story was very exciting and keeps the reader's interest to the last page. I hadn't realized Elisabeth's story was a cliff hanger. I hope we don't have a long wait for the next one. The only part of the story I am uncertain about is whether current electronics would work when time traveled back centuries. I am recommending this to my twelve year old great niece. I think she'll love it. I was provided a copy of this book via Netgalley in return for a fair review.

[Liliana Santos]

This was a very solid read! It has the right amount of everything: good relationships, nice adventures and reading flow, and the references to Anne of Green Gables definitely were a plus for me. Fiona´s letter at the end was also extremely sweet. Books that deal with time as a main focus can be a hit or miss, nonetheless, I feel like the author dealed well with it! I recommend this book to people looking for a thrill of adventure, the kind that reminds us of our worry free younger days. My thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Zelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tammy Lowe researches her subject thoroughly.
Her characters have depth and I feel as though I know them.
The plot makes this a page-turning, delightful read.
This series is addictive. I hope to see it in film.

[Jerry Jones-Florman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simmilarities to Gabaldon's Outlander series.

This is a goodbook, with a moral compass. Will look forward to the rest of the series. Definitely, for youmg adults.

[Marijoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love time travel books, so it does mean that I love this book. This is about family, friendship and adventure; I love how it took me back to my childhood, where I believed in fairies, castle, princesses and princes, well actually I still do.

So while reading this, I could picture out some scenery from Brave and yes princess Marida, well you can't blame me the setting was Scotland, gingers all the way. But no,our protagonist is a brunette, I love the story, I was just having a hard time making myself accustomed to the language being used here,I don't know if it some kind of words spoken with Scottish accent or whatnot. Another thing that kept me on the edge of my seat reading this was not only knowing where Elisabeth's crystal necklace will take her at the end but also what future awaits John Smith after digging the pit that they assume has hiding something for a lifetime. On the other hand, I also felt sad because this story showed the importance of family, because in Elisabeth's adventure she has to leave her family but it turned out that the people she was being with all along are no strangers to her at all.

The characters- Elisabeth London, well I love this girl, I couldn't blame a 12 year old girl like her,she just wants herself to be carried away with magic; at first it was all the way fun with her friend Fiona and Quinton, and then what made me admire this book even more is the fact that Elisabeth is more than just a 12 year old who loves magic. Fiona and Quinton have been good companions/friends for Elisabeth, no doubts for that. One of the characters that left an impact to me is Malcolm, I could actually picture him out with that skirt and realize how handsome he must have been.


So down to the story, I just couldn't really feel the aura of 16th century, I mean it wasn't hard to picture out how it was back then,I was just looking for more description or maybe contrasts of the future and the time where Elisabeth Traveled. But all in all I enjoyed the book I feel like I'm being a little girl again being told with stories before going to sleep. This read is a refreshment to me also since I've been reading lots of romantic and dystopic books these days.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free e copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

The Acadian Secret is a great mix of children's fantasy and historic fiction. I thought that the author did a fantastic job of weaving in fiction and historical facts. Being a mother, I do enjoy a good childrens book. This one is full of fun and friendship and kids will take something valuable away from it at the same time. Knowledge.
This story is about a young girl named Elisabeth. One night, while strolling down the street with her mother, she stops at an atique store and buys herself a lovely crystal necklace. Little does she know that this necklace will change her life. With the twirl of the stone, Elisabeth is able to magically transport herself between current day Novia Scotia and 17th Century Scotland. How amazing is that? While there, Elisabeth makes immeasurable friendships and finds herself immersed in immeasurable mischief.
I loved the characters that I encountered in this book. They were all so wonderful and played such a giant part in the success of Elisabeth's journey. From handsome and kind Malcolm, the laird of Castle Ealasaid to David Perrier the ratty and mysterious stranger that Elisabeth encounters on more than one occasion. The only character I couldn't quite form a connection with was John. Up until the end of the book I wasn't quite sure why he was even included in the novel. I still feel he could have been left out and it wouldn't have affected the story at all. It may even have made it less confusing.
The ending of this book is fantastic. Every question that you may be asking yourself throughout is answered and wrapped up in a nice neat package. I loved the afterwords, at the end of the book, where the author includes the actual facts from history to collaborate the book.
All in all, this was a great story and any child who enjoys a good mystery mixed with some historical accuracies and more than a touch of fantasy should definitely consider picking it up and giving it a read. You won't be disappointed, I wasn't!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Acadian Secret is a sweet time travel story that follows 12 year old Elisabeth as she ends up in 17th century Scotland. There she meets a small community and falls in love with them as a whole.

This is definitely geared toward a younger audience, but it doesn't take away from the entertainment factor of the book. My only real complaint is that Elisabeth foolishly left her videogame console behind with Quinton. That could drastically change things, I mean what if someone in the future found that buried somewhere? But alas, I understand she's 12 years old and probably doesn't think like that (I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have at that age.) Other than that though it was great fun!

I loved the characters, in particular Malcolm and Fiona. I was immediately able to relate Malcolm to men in my life. I have a close friend I've known for about 15 years and her dad is very similar to Malcolm. He's warming and friendly and as a child I loved him coaching my soccer teams. Malcolm seemed like that to me; the dad that all the kids loved, that all the parents felt comfortable leaving their children with because harm wouldn't come to them. Plus I loved his demeanor. He was by far the character I connected with the most.

I wish the bit with David and John hadn't taken so long to coalesce. Anytime their story I came up I got kind of bored with it because I couldn't see how it connected. I was happy to finally see the connection, but it took too long for me.

The witch hunter was particularly funny and also ridiculous. I kept picturing that scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail about the witch, because his "tests" were so ridiculous. If she floats in the ocean she's a witch. If a fly lands on her she's a witch. It was insane, and I think a very good portrayal of just how much people were willing to believe.

Overall it's a great story. I'm glad I read it and I think the ties to real historical elements were excellent!

[Loretta Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off this review by saying i'm probably biased about this book since I absolutely love the theme of fantasy, especially the theme of time-travelling. I was in the love with the premise of this book even before I read it and I was ecstatic when I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored the backdrop setting for this story, it alternates between Elizabeth a girl who lives in our current time who is whisked away to 17th century Scotland and John a boy who lives in the 18th century. The historical facts embedded in this novel was a nice surprise for me since I happen to be an avid history fan. This read was truly enjoyable for me.
The reason this book didn't garner 5 stars despite my gushing review was due a little discrepancies in the writing. There were many details that just confused me and were not very well explained. Also, the whole theme of time-travel is a very delicate and complex thing. The "science" behind it was a bit under-developed(being a Doctor Who fan, I can't help but be a bit harsh in this area). The author had the right ideas with this but the whole thing was just a bit off. Like for instance, when Elizabeth introduced things like chocolate, music, and computerized games to the 1600's! I for one would think, that the introduction of things that don't belong would cause more repercussions. But I DID love the fact that the townspeople of 17th century Scotland thought she was a witch.
All in all, I loved the book and would definitely read the sequel. I wish there were fewer unanswered questions at the end of the book but it does make for a nice cliffhanger and this was an amazing story with wonderful and lovable characters.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

First let me say that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Acadian Secret is a story about a 12 yr old girl, Elisabeth, who discovers she can travel through time. She awakens to find she is in Scotland in the 1600s. Elisabeth is accused of being a witch and must find a way to return to her own time. She meets many interesting characters along the way who all play a role in her future. These connections are left to the reader's imagination until the end of the book when Tammy Lowe reveals how each character played a role in Elisabeth's destiny & life.

The storyline intrigued me and I thought this would be a fun story to read with my 10 yr old niece while she's visiting during the summer. We both enjoyed the characters and the plot, both of which were well developed.
We continuously speculated about each person, what their role was, how it was they were connected to Elisabeth, and how/if she would be able to get back home. We thoroughly enjoyed the language of 1600 Scotland (as we did our own accents while reading). My niece enjoyed the story enough to want to continue reading in order to find what the answers to all our questions and to see if we were right about our guesses as to what was going to happen. In the end we were actually surprised by some of the connections the people in 1600 Scotland had with Elisabeth and what the treasure really was.

Tammy Lowe has written a great story and we look forward to seeing what she writes next.

I would definitely reccommend this book to any young reader who likes mystery stories & time traveling. Great story to read together with your reader.

[Belinda King · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved this book free in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I gave the book 3.5 stars.
The story flowed rather well. There was 3 stories going in 3 different timelines and I was finding it a little frustrating not understanding or able to link one of the timelines with the story. It all came together at the end though which I expected it would.

I found this story easy to read and I feel it would be good for children and YA. The book left me with some questions that were not answered and I don't know if there will be another book to answer them.

I enjoyed reading the Scottish accented words and it helped to make the story more real. I was a little surprised that the people Elisabeth lived with did not question her lack of accent or the fact that she was not just lost but very far away from her own home - like the other side of the world. But then given the audience this is a story that young people wouldn't question those type of things and accept it for what it is - a fairy tale story of make believe with magic and a belief of fairies.

I loved all the characters and the way they were introduced and developed made me feel I was there and I could picture that world in my mind. I liked how there was a little bit of history woven into this story. Along the way I kept thinking that something bad was going to happen and had to remind myself that it wasnt going to because of the age audience. I can see myself sitting with my children reading this to them and them being totally engrossed.

I do recommend this story as a good read.

[Sarez Tomoan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with an arc for an honest review so here goes
The language of the book didn't ring true in many aspects and I thought that perhaps the age group that it might be marketed at might struggle with the use of the scottish. The scottish also wasn't as spot on as it could have been as the word ye would have been used not you especially when teemed with the scottish terms. HOWEVER that is really a minor detail and many people could read this book without picking up on these minor discrepancies. There was three timelines in this book and it made it awkward in starting the book however it got easier. In regards to the story itself I found myself enjoying it. There were points when I thought that perhaps I might have been a bit old for this book and at some points I thought that I would have given it a 3.5 star rating but thanks to the ending I am happy to make it a 4 star rating. I love an author who can successfully incorporate real life history events into a novel and this book done exactly that! The author brought the whole story together with the end and it was a great ending, it was the ending that made me love this book! It was an enjoyable read and I am hoping to see more of these characters as there was a certain point which thought I might see a future story with Elisabeth and another character! I really hope so! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book by a great author!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for young adults and I would not recommend this book to anyone over the age of thirteen.
The book was interesting enough that you can somewhat get into the plot however the story has so many P.o.v switches it causes some confusion in the beginning but smooths out as the book progresses. I really liked the premise and im hoping that as the series develops the characters and plot also mature.
Synopses:
Elisabeth is a very timid young girl who lives a monotonous life, until the day her mother buys her a beautiful new necklace that she notices in a random store. This necklace she comes to find allows her to travel through time. She travels to Scotland of a time long past. Though her adjustment to Scotland of pre electricity age is not easy she manages to fall into love with the people who have opened their home up to her. Many things are about to make her life much more interesting. A witch hunter is roaming through Scotland and finds Elisabeth quite interesting. Soon she comes to Realize that all Gifts such as the necklace have consequences and responsibility attached to them. Will She have the courage to save Scotland, and herself?

[Purpinkrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this story in exchange for an honest review.

In this story we meet Elisabeth. A 12 year old girl, who is rubbish at sport. Whilst out shopping with her mum Elisabeth buys a crystal necklace. This is the start of Elisabeths adventure to another time and place. Elisabeth wakes up in the 16oo's in scotland, during the time of the witch hunts. Elisabeth meets fiona and Quinton and becomes fast friends. Once she learns how to use the crystal necklace she jumps between her own time and the past. Where she finds herself in the middle of a witch hunt.

There is also 2 other stories running along side this one. A story about a group of teenagers who dig on a haunted island for buried pirate treasure, and Elisabeths own time.

This story took me a while to get into. I was so confused when it was jumping between stories. its wasnt til the end that things slotted into place. I like the ending and that it could possibly leave the story open for another book.

This book is aimed at the young adult/teenage genre.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that is aimed at the teenage market, and although I'm very much beyond being a teenager I still enjoyed it!
I did get a little confused with the three timelines. I went into the book just expecting two timelines so when a third appeared I was rather confused about it. Unfortunately this confusion of mine did continue until the end of the book. I did find the third timeline rather unnecessary to the storyline and never quite figured out the reason behind it. There was also the usage of some modern words (such as okay) being used in the late 1700's/early 1800's timeline that also didn't ring quite true.
However all in all, I did enjoy this book and I think it was cleverly thought out. Also, it did introduce me to "The Money Pit" in Nova Scotia which previously I had known nothing about, which proved to be very interesting. I can't believe I've never heard about this before!!!

I can definitely recommend this book for lovers of time travel novels (especially teenagers!)

[Katharina Gerlach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for Upper Middle Grade readers.

I liked this book a lot. There was lots of Scottish atmosphere in it and the magical traveling system was cool. Although there seemed to happen little in the beginning, every scene set the stage for the big finale, and not a single scene is boring or unimportant. That's mastery of the craft.

The main character is likable and should appeal to many readers. Who wouldn't want to be able to jump into history without losing time in your own world? Her Scottish friends were just Scottish enough to be recognizable and not too much so to drive away readers who couldn't decipher s single one of Robert Burns' sentences.

And I learned something too. Since the UK is free from rabies, I had assumed that had always been the case. This story made me look this up, and I was surprised to find that they only recently managed to get the country rabies free (early 20th cent.).

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and had no trouble staying engaged. I love fantasy and time travel books especially when they have a plausible basis. I loved the characters finding them likable, intriguing and when appropriate annoying. The 3 overlapping storylines based in different time settings are woven together nicely and unravel the story really well. I did think that perhaps the language wasn't quite correct and perhaps that a YA would have trouble with understanding or interpreting this. I was left with a couple of questions which leaves me thinking there could be room for a sequel or spin-off so that we could see more of the characters we got to know, particularly David and Elisabeth, with David being immortal there should be plenty of content matter. Thankyou for the read I will certainly be adding Tammy Lowe to my reading list.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is set to follow Elisabeth, a 12 year old girl who stumbles across a necklace which allows her to travel back and forth to a fixed point in time. Not only is she able to travel back about 350 years from her current time but also from her home in Nova Scotia, Canada to the Scottish Highlands. The main plot follows her adventures as she discovers the difference of daily life in Scotland while there is another side plot which does not become clear until the end of the novel. A mystery seemed an excellent convention to keep the reader glued until the end, and certainly worked for me!

The target audience is set for young adults or teens, which makes it an easy read for adults that are interested in time travel or the fantasy genre. I am very curious to see more written from the author, as well to see how Elisabeth and John develop as characters.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read and kept me interested to see what will happen to Elisabeth when she travelled back in time. I found it was a good book for younger readers and will recommend it to my students.

I thought the friendship Elisabeth developed with Fiona and Quinton was sweet and the fun they had together was cool, epescially playing wasteball.

Of course the story also had a villian, Hubson. He was an interesting character and would of liked to learn more about him and his witch hunting ways.

The book did become predictable but I wont put to much detail in the review cos it will spoil it for other readers. But who didn't see the mean boy at school getting hit in the .......

The digging of the money pit looking for buried treasure was interesting and did confse me but it all fell into place at the end of the story.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book sitting in my inbox for almost a year now and I can honestly say that I don't know why I waited so long to read it. This is book unlike most of the YA books I've read recently as Elisabeth is able to travel between the past and the present with a necklace she acquired. But there was also another story line with a group of teenage boys seeking out pirate treasure in a completely different time period. As it jumped between the different time periods it did get kind of confusing but this book was well written and thought out. I would definitely read more of Tammy's books when I get the chance. Well worth it and a quick read as well!

RATING:

4.5 out of 5 stars

[Kay LaLone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tammy weaves a magical adventure in this story of Elisabeth London who goes on a grand adventure to the past. She meets people who become like family to her. But when bad things happen that threaten her return home, she knows she never wants to risk losing Mom and Dad. That would be too much for her heart to handle. Heart warming ending. If you like time travel books and learning about the past, this is a good, entertaining book to read. Thanks, Tammy, for a good read.