FROM AMERICA
"Once I started reading
Against the Tide, I hated to put it down. Margaret was
truly an inspiration. How I pray I could have the kind of
faith she had. Thomas and Agnes kept the story moving.
I loved reading about Galloway, Newtown and Drumjargon.
My grandmother was born in Scotland. Later she came to
America, but she died before I was born. Reading about
Margaret Wilson has stirred my interest to talk with my mother
about Grandmother. I know Grandmother loved the Lord, but
I would like to know more about her.
After I finished the book (and reading about bannocks), I got up
on a Sunday morning and made scones.
Keep writing."
—
Mabel B. (New York)
LPN, grandmother, and avid reader
FROM SCOTLAND
"Thank you for the wonderful
box of books! I have given out several to friends who love
the Covenanters or whom I thought could become lovers of the
Covenanters. My sister who is a believer said to me after
reading your book, 'I don't know what I would die for regarding
my faith.' It has caused her to think more deeply about
that. I let Hayley, a 15-year old girl in our church, read
MY copy. She was so appreciative that I lent it to her.
It really has made an impact on her thinking. Her mother
spent last Saturday in bed all day until she finished it!
She said she had planned on a 'short lye-in', but couldn't put
the book down until she turned the last page at 3 P.M. She
was glad she'd read it at home because she cried so hard in
several places. She told me about different happenings in
the book that touched her heart and made her think about her
life.
I have given a copy to a
young woman who leads the teens. She will evaluate it to
see how we can use it with the youth in our church, i.e.
discussion groups, to challenge their faith, etc. I have
my precious copy; the minister's wife has one (they have 6
kids-3 of whom I hope will read it) and another young woman from
U.S. who works at the church and the youth has a copy.
I had not thought of your
book as a witnessing tool, but Hope, it REALLY is. Thank
you so much for your generosity to me and to the people of
Scotland. The Lord will do wonderful things with the book,
and they have already begun."
—
Susan Knodel, Airdrie
Pastor’s wife
FROM AMERICA
"I read Against the Tide
while we had a week of rest and I couldn’t put it down. It
is very inspiring to remember those who have suffered before us
and who even gave their lives for God. I will have our
girls read it when they are a bit older. I love reading
them stories about people of faith from history. It
inspires them and gives them focus and courage to face our
sinful world with hope and faith! Keep on loving and serving God
and making Him known!"
—
Liz Z. (New York)
(Mother of two girls ages 5 and 6)
FROM AMERICA
"I just finished your book
Against the Tide. The ending was probably the best.
Let me rephrase that. It was the best ending I have ever
read. I loved how you made Margaret stand right up to that
soldier and tell him to let her go. It really showed her
courage."
—
Alyssa K. (New York)
6th grade
FROM AMERICA
"What an enjoyable read!
The book is spellbinding. Once I started reading, I
couldn't put it down. My sister Betti read it and loved
it. Then I loaned it to a friend who loaned it to another
friend. The book is still being passed around. When
I get it back, I want to read it again. Be sure to let me
know when you next novel comes out."
—
Doris M. (New York & Florida)
Retired Supervisor in Sheriff's Office
FROM AMERICA
"Last fall I bought a
copy of Against the Tide at Wildroot Bookstore.
Intending to give it to my sister for Christmas, I read it
first. I was so impressed by the reading that I did a book
review for my church during our sharing time. I bought a
second copy for the church library. You are now part of
Rhema Fellowship's library in Lowville.
The book intrigued me since I
grew up in the Presbyterian church and have some Scottish roots.
I would not relegate it to the young adult section. It's
got much inspiration for people of any age wanting to see
Christian faith lived out to the end!"
—
Heidi H. (New York)
At Home Childcare Provider
FROM AMERICA
"I just finished reading (in
tears, I might add) Against the Tide. Greatly
inspired by this young woman's faith and determination, I am
compelled to pray for my own country, upcoming elections, and a
mighty revival in our churches. May we be found faithful
to the end."
—
Connie S. (New York)
Christian Day School Teacher (Middle Grades)
FROM AMERICA
"Your wonderful book is a
glorious story, written as if you were truly there at the period
of the "Killing Times." We will be giving copies to our
grand-daughters and recommending it to our many friends as well
as presenting it to our church (Reformed Presbyterian Church -
RPCNA). Our denomination is directly descended from the
Brethren of whom you wrote. Thank you so much for the
compassionate, and, historically accurate account of those times
which have faded from most peoples minds in this age."
—
Don P. (New York)
Ruling Elder
Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America
FROM AMERICA
"As I completed the book, I
felt I was in the presence of greatness—the
author, Margaret and Widow M'Lauchlan. My applause!"
—
Dudley D. (New York)
Retired pastor / photographer / writer
FROM SCOTLAND
"I have read your book
and enjoyed every part of it. I will treasure it."
—
Etta MacKay (Broxburn)
Retired fishmonger
FROM SCOTLAND
"Let me congratulate you from
Wigtown on your book. You have been careful and sensitive in the
way you have presented the person of Margaret Wilson and her
tragic death. It is delicately done, and for our Margaret’s sake
I am grateful to you. The lives of other people are not to
be 'used' for our purposes and you have been wonderfully guided
in that sense. May the story capture the interest of many
and speak to them in a real way.
It is always risky for
someone of another land to tell such a tale. It was VERY
necessary that you do it in a way that the youth for whom you
intended to be your main readership could relate to, not being
so Scottish that they couldn’t have understood what on earth you
were talking about. Your glossary will help them with
'haud yer wheest!' and other such 'bits' you laced in 'for the
Scottish feel,' but your story wasn't weighed down under the
sense of 'the foreign' for them. Very nicely done.
Nobody from here could have
written the tale for an American readership successfully, for
there would be too much said that would have been taken for
granted as understood. You, having studied in earnest but
come from 'the other land', had to make a bridge between two
cultures and two differing uses of the same language very
consciously, and you worked on it painstakingly. Bits that
any Scots might consider are more American than Scottish in
feel, or Americans find 'peculiarly Scots' are merely necessary
victims within your carefully worked out balance between
understandings, speech and styles of the two countries. It
was heroic of you to do that!
May God’s blessing be on your
work as it now finds its readers, and on you for your commitment
to a worthy task."
—
Donna Brewster (Wigtown)
Author, Second Daughter
FROM SCOTLAND
"Sheena and I were extremely
impressed with your book. Your writing is excellent and will
prove a first class read for the age range which you sought to
reach. There were numerous historical facts which we
gleaned that we had never heard before. My earlier
knowledge of the Covenanters was patchy. Now I feel better
informed. You did a massive amount of research to achieve
the quality of story told in this book, and where you have used
your imagination you have been superb. Heartiest
congratulations are due you and I know the book will be a great
success as it deserves to be. Your use of the old Scotch
tongue was first class."
—
Phil Leadbetter
(Perth)
Retired bank manager
FROM AMERICA
"I finished the book at 1:45
in the morning. I couldn't put it down!
I appreciated the list of
characters and the glossary. I referred to them often."
—
Judy S.
(Pennsylvania)
Retired band director
FROM AMERICA
"Your marvelous book is an
easy read and filled with enough action that I was left with
anticipation as to what the next chapter would bring. And
what a surprise ending! I wasn't expecting that."
—
Harris G.
(Indiana)
Retired banker
FROM AMERICA
"Thank you so much for keeping
this story alive. What a testimony and example Margaret
was. Very much like some of the 'Voices of the Martyrs'
stories. Margaret will stay in my mind forever, not only
because of the 'Margaret' lamp we have but also because of your
fleshing out the reality."
—
Carol E.
(Pennsylvania)
Widow of retired pastor
FROM AMERICA
"Everything about the book is
fabulously assembled. I especially liked the 'Who’s Who in
the Story' in the beginning. It makes it so much easier to
follow along with the characters right from the start! The
Author’s Note, Glossary, Time Line and end matter supply
additional material of interest and possibilities for extended
research. And the cover art is beautifully executed!
I appreciated the shorter chapters and their titles were well
chosen. Each chapter had an enticing ending leading me on to the
next one. The book was stuck to my fingers until I had
completed it. Knowing ahead of time how it ended made the
middle no less interesting."
—
Nancy M.
(Massachusetts)
Art teacher
FROM AMERICA
"I love a story brimming with
genuine conflict, and Against the Tide more than
delivers. Margaret Wilson is a heroine for the ages,
holding true to her convictions during one of the darkest
seasons in Scottish history. Set in Galloway, the corner
of the Lowlands nearest to my heart, Hope Marston's tale of
courage rings vibrantly true to time and place. Oh, that
we might all have the faith of this young woman, who was
determined to let God choose her future, whether for service or
for sacrifice."
—
Liz Curtis Higgs
(Kentucky)
Author, Thorn in My Heart
FROM SCOTLAND
"Against the Tide is
an excellent novel based on the real experiences of Margaret
Wilson, a young woman who was willing to suffer death for her
faith in seventeenth century Scotland. It was a time when
Covenanters faced death, torture or banishment for disagreeing
with King Charles II, and thousands of Scots suffered martyrdom
at this time for their adherence to Jesus Christ as head of the
church. Set in south-west Scotland against such a
backdrop, this book is true to the times. The story builds
up to a dramatic conclusion, one that grasps the reader’s
attention at the same time as the dragoons close in on the
heroine."
—
Dane Love
(Ayrshire)
Author, Scottish Covenanter Stories and Honorary
Secretary of the Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association
FROM ENGLAND
"Set in its true historical
context, Hope Marston's book deals masterfully with the anguish
and heart searching of a devout young woman, torn first by
loyalty to parents, family, friends and a lawful king; love for
her sweetheart, then the very personal question – who was King
of her conscience? She found her truth in King Jesus, for
whom she freely gave her life in the waters of the Solway
Firth."
—
Brian Orr
(Merseyside)
Author, A Layman's Guide to the Scottish Reformation
and member of the Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association
FROM AMERICA
"In our materialistic world,
it is startling and humbling to read about people who were
willing to sacrifice everything for their faith. Hope
Marston has brought the Scottish Covenanters to life: what they
stood for and fought for – and made them seem not-so-distant.
As a descendant of Scottish Covenanters myself, I could almost
hear my ancestors' voices in her story. I have stood in
the room at Dunnottar Castle where Covenanters were imprisoned,
trying to imagine what they went through, and I thank Hope for
helping me better understand their conviction, faith and
endurance."
—
Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
(Vermont)
Author, The Canada Geese Quilt and other children's
books
FROM AMERICA
"The difficult age of the
Scottish Covenanters comes startlingly to life in Against the
Tide. Hope Marston has captured all the drama and
adventure, tension and intrigue, courage and romance, faith and
endurance of those Killing Times when both the integrity
of the Gospel and the prospects of freedom were very much at
stake. She has spun for us a noble and memorable yarn."
—
George Grant, Ph.D.
(Franklin, Tennessee)
Pastor, Parish Presbyterian Church
