 |
Alina Bacca's relocation to Castlegrove, Texas, was supposed to be uneventful: studying for her master's in theology at Abilene Christian University; getting free room and board from her brother Shane; doing some general soul searching while contemplating her faith and beliefs. Essentially, it was to be a do-over from the failed life she had had in Chicago. The last thing she expected was getting tangled up in a love triangle with her new neighbor, Jordan, and an old fling from the past, Galen. But something else from Alina's past has followed her to Abilene, something menacing that puts Alina's beliefs to the test. Between Alina's newly-awakened desires and her struggling reconciliation with her past, a dark temptation lurks nearby, putting her at risk.
The author's book is a horror novel with a sprinkling of spiritual, psychological, and possibly supernatural elements. Alina is an intelligent and mature character who seems to relish control in most aspects of her life. However, her new relationships with Galen and Jordan seem to chip away at that control, leading to Alina also opening up and being more relaxed in other everyday encounters. While Alina's graduate studies focus on theology, the material she's encountering in the real world seems to be testing her beliefs, as Alina feels she is haunted by her deceased fiancée, all while testing the waters with the two new men in her life. Alina's blossoming relationships contrasted with her previous relationship with Ethan almost serve as a commentary on grief, sexuality, and the concept of moving on.