One Salem Witch

by Rachel Renee

In the late 1600’s, Salem, Massachusetts is home to Abigail “Beloved” Benham, who hails from a long line of healers. Following in her family’s footsteps, Beloved believes she is doing God’s work as she concocts remedies to treat the sick, and help the needy.Amidst a sudden plague of uncertainty, hysterical whispers of “witches” circle throughout Salem. Abigail struggles to keep her trade a secret while attempting to decide whom her heart desires. The one she once trusted may no longer be worthy, while a new face has something to prove.With her heart torn between two men, amongst a society fighting evils both seen and unseen, Abigail must decide if she should save herself or her countrymen. Will she become the next victim of the Salem Witch Trials, or will justice prevail in time to escape the noose?A deeply suspenseful tale, One Salem Witch promises to take you back in time to experience the grief and pains of those who suffered this American witch hunt, and discover the overwhelming desire it took to escape persecution.

Genres: Witches, Historical Fiction, Autumn, Book Club

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2021

About the author

Rachel Renee, born and raised in and around Cincinnati, Ohio, finds herself residing with her family in the suburb of Loveland. After completing a degree in psychology and racking up thousands of dollars in debt, she decided to become a stay at home mom and homeschool her children, all the while working on her writing career. While she is not using her degree in the secular world she uses it on a daily basis, psychoanalyzing her husband of nearly 20 years and two children (15 and 12), her 2 dogs, and her life as a writer and teacher. Just like Rachel enjoys reading books from many different genres, she also enjoys writing different genres as well.
Stay tuned as Rachel continues her journey!

Reviews

[Shannon Mangicaro]

Read for hours this evening because I just couldn’t put it down! I love when that happens with a book☺️ Best book I have read about the Salem Witch Trials!

[Kristin]

Great fall salem witch read! 4.5+.

[Sarah Patenaude]

4.5

[Mckenzie Goguen]

The epilogue honestly is what bumped me from 4.5 stars to 5. Really good story

[Katie]

I struggled through a few chapters, but I could no longer stand the misspelled/misused words, garbled syntax, and nonsensical sentence structure. The author should strongly consider hiring an editor and then republishing this book.

[Joanne]

3.5 rounded to 4. Well researched on the history of the Salem Witch Trials. Story was great, character building was well done, Noble became my favourite character, Tobias my least. I had some displeasure with the editing.

[Grace Lynch]

A beautiful story about a healer accused of witch craft. And the town too blind to hear non spectator evidence.

In a world so new, not all the laws have been built, painful mistakes wrap a village up in thoughts of the devil and witches.

As people carried diseases from Europe to the new world, and old religion as well, this proved we weren’t fully equipped to see plants and healers for their worth. Relying on translations of old testaments to create a worth of ideals, we had yet to decide for ourselves.

Puritans carried fear of paganism, and acting in poor faith toward others who fled old countries to escape persecution. With everyone building a new life, what is right, or wrong?

You may recognize some characters as they are drawn from real life Salem witch trials. However, we are regaled with new ones to fall in love with.

[Debi Bailey]

Amazing Read!

I love Rachel's books, whatever the genre, so I knew that this book would be good. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to get... Was it historical, romance, suspense, horror? Actually you could say yes to all of that. I was so sucked into Abigail Beloved's story and so anxious to find out what was going to happen next!!! This book was so enlightening and eye opening as to the atrocities of the "Salem Witch Hunts". I was obviously aware, like most people, but wasn't REALLY aware! Just a super read that I learned much from as well. Great job Rachel!!!❤❤❤

[Samantha Waldow]

This book was different in what i normally read. The beginning was a little slow but it's just setting the scene that is about to happen. Once ot started going it will suck you in. Abigail is a healer. She uses recipes that have been pasted down and also uses new ones she has been working on. Even from a young age she has always helped her mom with the healing. Whispers start about Abigail and her helping the sick. People are starting to be rounded up and labeled a witch. A must read to see how it will all go down.

[Stacy]

This was great to read right before Halloween! My favorite thing about historical fiction is when I feel as if I've been transported to another time and place, and get a real sense of what it would feel like to be a person living in those times. This book just did that. I loved learning more about the Salem Witch Trials by walking in Abigail's shoes. I absolutely loved the characters of Beloved, Abram, and Noble (and even the cat, Gus!), and especially the sweet relationships between them. I hope that Rachel Renee will give us more historical fiction to enjoy!

[Cattie Whaley]

A dark time in our history

Imagine living in a time when you could be accused of being a witch because you knew how to treat illnesses with herbal remedies. Well, it did happen and this is a story from that time. Abram and his Beloved just want to live a peaceful live tending their farm and growing the herbs that Beloved uses to make her tinctures. She helps so many with her ointments and remedies but as things are starting to happen in Salem, the word witch is being thrown around. This is their story. A little slow at times but otherwise a good read

[Alison Davis]

I really enjoyed this version of the Salem witch trials and the detailed writing made you feel as if you were living in these times as you are reading it off the page. Abigail "Beloved" is a great character and I couldn't get enough of her and her life. I was so glad she got her happily ever after and not with Tobias. He definitely wasn't the one for her. I recommend this book for lovers of this genre.

[Shelly Wygant]

Abigail “Beloved” Benham has seen her mother heal others in her life and she follows in her mom's footsteps. She believes she is helping others.

Why i thought this was a great read
- Great characters, good and bad
- Great character development
- Seeing true love when Noble stands by Abigail after she is accused of witchcraft
- The history of the witch trials
- So much angst and so many emotions.
- Happiness and heartbreak
- Family and friends that come together to support Abigail

[Deborah S. Kay-Bashaw]

Wonderful

I’ve always liked a good witch tale & I’ve always been a historical fiction fan so this was the best of both worlds. As I don’t like to give spoilers all I want to say is THANK YOU to the author for writing such a beautiful & thoughtful book.

The Salem Witch Trials were a terrible part of American history but this was a beautiful look at what one woman’s story might have been.

[Lori Caprio Tate]

This was not my normal kind of read but I found the story to be captivating and suspenseful. The story was woven so intricately that I could not stop reading. Swept back in time to a period that had a sense of mystery about it we are held in tranced with the characters as they try to overcome obstacles that are thrown their way.

[Everette]

I truly enjoyed this book start to finish. I loved Beloved (Abigail) as a main character and found her familiar relationships sweet. I also did find the back-and-forth between loving Tobias and giving him up intriguing. Noble was a brilliant and endearing surprise to the story. Overall, very well written book and characters.

[JoAnna Koller]

This was a beautifully written historical fiction dating back to the times of the Salem witch trials. Simply bc of context, we can see that the author spent a lot of time researching this era. It is a great representation of the time, and a story of love and redemption.

[Georgena D Kirby]

Good story and something to ponder.

I loved the story and found a lot of history woven in between the love. I went through some feelings as well as tears, knowing the nature of the subject. But a great love story of parents , friends, and parners.

[Lori Owens]

Historical fiction books during the time of the Salem Witch trials are extremely interesting to me.

This book had a different conclusion than most which I loved because I was really dreading the ending.

And the author did a fabulous job changing my mind about Noble.

Highly recommend.

[Christie]

Rachel Renee dazzles with her first historical fiction novel. There’s love, magic, suspense, and a page-turning story guaranteed to make you stay up late to find out how it all ends!

[Marsha]

This is a historical fiction based around the Salem Witch trails. The book is enjoyable read with likable characters and an interesting story.

[Bookish]

If you've ever been interested in witches or the Salem Witch trials here's a book for you. I liked the historical setting and the characters. A bit lengthy but still a good read.

[Laura]

really engaging and dramatic storyline with good characters that'll keep you reading! it's my first book by the author but definitely worth the read!

[Renee Brown]

I love historical fiction and this did not disappoint!

[Maureen Murphy]

loved this

What a good story
A lot of history too I like stories that have history to them very well written

[Hannah Snowberger]

4.5 ⭐️ picked this up before an upcoming trip to Boston/Salem and I was surprised by how much I liked it! Got me in the mood for fall

[Taylor Melendez]

Oh my GOODNESS. I ate this up! I couldn’t put this one down. It was short, so easy to read, and completely captivating.

[Susan]

This was a great read. 4.5 ⭐️

[Sally]

This was...fine?
the beginning was slow, things picked up during the actual witch trials but none of it was new. and the ending felt unrealistic to say the least.

[Nicole Blankenship]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! This was a perfect October read. Super quick and hard to put down!