By the Dark of Her Eyes by Cameron MacElvee is a paranormal thriller with a sexy romance tucked inside. Come for the ghosts, stay for the spice.
After the tragic deaths of her husband and son, Brenna Taylor relocates to Arizona to take possession of a failed and rotting citrus grove. Among the two hundred acres sits a small decrepit farmhouse that hasn’t been occupied in years. Built a century ago, its history is intertwined with death, betrayal, and hate. Brenna’s decided to refurbish the farmhouse and have it declared a historic residence. She’s looking for something that might help alleviate the guilt and anger plaguing her night and day.
Her presence in the house has awakened an evil energy attached to the land. Brenna recognizes it as she’s carried that same darkness most of her life. Somebody died in that farmhouse, a child went missing in the grove, and there won’t be peace until Brenna helps right these wrongs.
Alejandra Santana is the contractor hired to survey Brenna’s property. There’s an immediate bond between the two women. Alex becomes Brenna’s rock. It’s with her help that Brenna has the fortitude to solve a decades old murder mystery and help the agonized spirits find peace.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
There’s so much about this book that I like. MacElvee not only gave Brenna a poignant and devastating backstory, but she also created a rich history that supports the paranormal plot. The tragic events of the past are rooted in racial discrimination. The author deftly shows how Mexican immigrants face those same injustices today. The author draws on the deep religious and spiritual beliefs found in Mexican culture and that brings authenticity to this story and characters.
Brenna and Alex make a great couple. Brenna discovers she’s stronger than she believes, and Alex’s support is part of how she gets there. I appreciated the way Alex’s entire extended family adopts Brenna and gives her the unconditional love that’s been missing from her life. All of this allows Brenna to move through the guilt and shame that’s been plaguing her from the first pages of the book.
Cons And Heads Up
None
The Conclusion
By the Dark of Her Eyes has just enough tension to keep you glued to the pages, but it’s not so scary you’ll need to sleep with the lights on. I love a good fright. Add in a love story that feels authentic, and it’s a winning combination. I enjoyed the way MacElvee drew parallels between Brenna and the entity trapped in this world. It’s that type of thing that made this book feel close to plausible. I recommend checking out this book.
Excerpt from By the Dark of Her Eyes by Cameron MacElvee
After locking up and getting back into the van, Brenna turned her vehicle around to head back toward the entry road as Cassie began to chatter about the restaurant she wanted to take her to Saturday afternoon for lunch. Brenna nodded while she navigated the road, but she wasn’t listening. Instead, she watched in her rearview mirror as the house retreated in the background. She wondered what she’d heard—or thought she’d heard—at the top of the stairs, what she’d seen, or thought she’d seen in the window. However, by the time she’d said good-bye to Cassie, driven down the highway, and turned onto the freeway heading back to hotel, she’d managed to convince herself her unexpected excitement over meeting the beautiful Alex Santana had knocked her off her guard, had momentarily made her forget her rational mind. And Cassie’s absurd story had simply wrestled with her imagination. She didn’t believe in ghosts, she told herself once again. In truth, she believed in very little anymore.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781626398344
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
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