Kindle Edition Amazon Vera Jane Cook Musa Publishing Category:  Fantasy Publisher: Musa Publishing ISBN-10:  B006PIYOXA Type: Fiction Pages: 367 Copyright: dec. 23, 2011 ISBN-13: 9781619370241 Annabel Horton is hanged on Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts, during the infamous witch trials, but she does not die, at least not in the way we understand dying. Lost to time, stealing the flesh of those that the devil favors, she struggles to protect her family from the insidious evil that follows her. From the Salem Witch trials through the Nineteenth Century and beyond, Annabel Horton is pursued by the devil’s disciple, Urban Grandier, the demonic priest from the incident at Loudon. She must take the bodies of those that the devil favors to protect her family. She must uncover the motive behind the illusive Ursula/Louis Bossidan, the scandalous cross-dresser who is pursuing her beautiful granddaughter, and she must learn, being one of God’s most powerful witches, how to use her power. But will it be enough to save her husband from Urbain’s fiery inferno? Will it be enough to save her children from demons greater than themselves? Read on, you will learn more….. Excerpt When I am not in the form of flesh, I live in the confines of shadow. The psychics of your dimension have said that I can be seen floating between the kiss of dusk and the evening moon. Yes, some of you can actually see me, though you are unaware of what I am. You usually ignore me because I vanish so quickly. I simply blend into the surface of your world and disappear, into objects, into trees, into the soft fur of a sleeping squirrel, into anything that will have me. Before I begin my tale, you must know this: I can also blend into a human body. I can steal your flesh if I choose. But before you judge me, you must understand my loneliness. You have no idea how desperately I desire the physical senses you so cavalierly take for granted. But please, do not fear me. I will not harm the innocent. Hear me out before you cast any stones. There are secrets in my tale worth knowing. The snap of my neck appears to have granted me immortality as a captured soul, doomed to live over and over again in stolen flesh and blood. Therefore, I take bodies in exchange for my freedom. I want you to understand that if I were to ever choose your flesh, I would mean you no harm. I would simply borrow the luxury of your language and take comfort in the pleasure of your warm, beating heart. The process of my abduction is painless. You see, the earth holds time. When I consume a body all I do is absorb time. It is quite simple. My soul moves out of one perception and into another. Let me reassure you that though I can take any one of you, I prefer the flesh of those whom the devil favors, and I do not have to go very far to consume the devil’s own.

Beautifully woven tale! February 22, 2012 By Delphina

The story weaving in this book astonished me. I was really expecting the book to be very different than it was. I guess I had preconceived notions because I read so many para type books. This book, however, is unlike anything I have ever read. It was a cross between a family saga, historical fiction, horror and paranormal. That does not even do it justice, but it had elements from them all.

I loved how the author had "time travel" but did not allow themselves to get sucked into the normal time travel traps. The way the characters moved through time allowed the story to really develop and to be reveled in a very intriguing way. I never really knew what was going to come next, but as a new scene developed you knew it made perfect sense.

None of the characters were completely "good", which made the plot twists very interesting. They were flawed people, just like we are all flawed. There were times when I simply did not like some of the characters. I love it when read a book and actually care about the characters, even if it is in an "I can not believe you are doing this" kind of way.

There is some true darkness in this book. There was the "evil" of the book, which you expect to be evil, but there was also some human darkness. You know children were being treated horribly during different parts of the book, but you never get in depth descriptions of it. This added to the horror of it. That being said, if this is an issue that is too difficult for you, this may not be the book for you.

I am hoping that there will be a sequel to this book. I really would like to find out what happens next.


Stunning novel January 13, 2012

Where do I start?

This novel is amazing: beautifully written, gripping, and un-putdownable (I nearly overran my journey to work via London Underground several times).

Vera Jane Cook has created a timeless character in Annabel Horton - literally. Destined for her soul to pass through time dimensions and to constantly face her demons, Annabel must save her extended family from the Devil's clutches. When I say extended, I mean close relatives, extended by several hundred years!

Running at about 137,000 words it is never tedious. It is, however, sometimes a complex matter to keep up with the family tree, but it is well worth bearing with.

At times heartfelt, always verging on the dramatic, Vera Jane Cook's novel is a masterpiece. When reading this you may find yourself questioning time and reality, but I doubt you'll question the abilities of this author. Five very large stars.


Excellent. Dark, deep, and intelligent. June 1, 2012 By Ralph Hartman

Fashion a rope with threads of theology, philosophy, quantum entanglement; twist in vision and memory, then knot a noose and hang from it a young Salem witch. If ever, life and death, space and time, meet in single point, it will be as Annabel Horton foretells. This is a generous and intricate story. It takes hold and insists you read one more page, one more chapter... Gives the Mayfair Witches some serious competition. Highly recommended.