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| Virtual Book Tour October 20-November 28, 2025 |
Synopsis: *Hall Ways Note: remember "haunting" has more than one definition
An eerie suspense novel, in which a grieving woman takes a job at an isolated mansion only to become wrapped up in the curse that seems to have befallen its eccentric owner.
Emily Grace has endured the worst loss imaginable. But can she survive a remote manor haunted by more than just memories . . .?
Drowning in grief, Emily Grace has lost everything: her home, her friends, her career. Only one lifeline remains—a job working for an eccentric millionaire. Along with his wife, he’s been building a mansion on a secluded island surrounded by a harsh and unforgiving sea. But when the millionaire's wife disappears under mysterious circumstances, Emily Grace is hired to finish the project.
Locals believe the house is cursed, but their warnings go unheeded as Emily Grace works to rebuild her life. After what she’s been through, nothing can scare her—except perhaps the attention of a handsome man offering more than friendship. And yet, there’s something strange about this solitary fortress. Accidents. Mishaps. Ghostly whispers through the surrounding forest. Footsteps when she’s completely alone . . .
Is there truly a curse or is the ethereal specter in the window an omen of something more sinister?
The Haunting of Emily Grace Trailer:
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“Haunting: having qualities (such as sadness or beauty) that linger in the memory: not easily forgotten” – Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Twelfth Edition
Before
starting The Haunting of Emily Grace, remember, "haunting" has
more than one definition, and this novel is not about the spooky meaning.
Knowing that going in made all the difference for me and made reading The
Haunting of Emily Grace a page-turning pleasure.
What
the story is about is that a woman haunted by her grief gets entangled
in mysterious goings-on in a small, coastal town. Had I been constantly waiting
for an otherworldly encounter, I’d have been sorely disappointed; and honestly,
author Elena Taylor’s tale is eminently more fascinating.
The
Pacific Northwest setting is perfect for The Haunting of Emily Grace because
the landscape is so dramatic and eerily atmospheric. Taylor adds to the
creepy ambiance by referencing the natural phenomenon of breathing forests that
truly seems unnatural. Taylor teases
otherworldly presences throughout the novel, but the mood is conveyed primarily
because of her writing skills.
“I don’t need to borrow his tragedy when I’m so firmly ensconced in my own.”
Ah,
the writing. Taylor’s prose leans toward literary and lyrical as she creates
evocative scenes and moods. A malaise hovers over the main character, Emily
Grace, and combined with the weight of her despair, the temperament of Mother
Nature, and the mystery enshrouding a place called, “The End of the World,” The
Haunting of Emily Grace is compelling Gothic suspense. In fact, I read it
in one sitting, which is something I haven’t done for many years. It was a joy
to read Elena Taylor’s carefully-crafted sentences.
There
were a couple of things I found questionable, plot-wise, and some confusing
parts that tripped me up here and there, but the caliber of the writing kept me
engaged – until about the last ten percent of the book. At that point, there were reactions
and actions that didn’t ring true, and the resolution was one huge, rushed
info-dump, which was jolting after the stellar storytelling before it. Given
the novel is less than three hundred pages, there was room to give readers more,
keeping aligned with the style and expectation set with the rest of the book.
Despite
my quibbles, the ending is apropos, satisfying, and even provides a glimmer of hope,
promising brighter days for Emily Grace. The Haunting of Emily Grace is
a book I’ll recommend as it truly is an escape into an engrossing world. I'll be seeking out other titles by this author.
Author Bio:
Elena Taylor spent several years working in theater as a playwright, director, designer, and educator before turning her storytelling skills to novels. Her first series, the Eddie Shoes Mysteries, written under Elena Hartwell, introduced a quirky mother/daughter crime fighting duo.
With the Sheriff Bet Rivers Mysteries, Elena returned to her dramatic roots to bring readers more serious and atmospheric novels. Set in her beloved Washington State, Elena uses her connection to the environment to produce tense and suspenseful investigations for a lone sheriff in an isolated community. The third in the series, Kill to Keep, launches summer 2026.
The Haunting of Emily Grace is Elena’s first standalone suspense novel.
Her favorite place to be is at Paradise, the property where she lives, south of Spokane, Washington, with her equines, dogs, cats, and hubby.
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