“Eyes” is a story of family conflicts set in Colorado in 1885. Unmarried at 28, Anne Wells is a disgrace to her rigidly conventional family. Cord Bennett is the black sheep of the Bennett clan. When these two misfits are found alone together, violence explodes. Can Anne and Cord use the freedom of being condemned for sins they didnât commit to make a life together in spite of their families?
*my review has spoilers*
I’ve been meaning to read this book since forever. Always putting if off or trying to find the right mood, I finally gave it a go and let me tell you I enjoyed the book so much. Third book from this author and it’s another 5-star read. The author gives the characters depth of intimacy along with it a beautiful, unlikely story that pulls you in right from the beginning.
I love historical western romances and I’m always looking for them. I’ve already read two books of the same genre from the same author and this book attracted me for the same reason. This is the story of two people who were forever the object of bully by their family/relatives, they overcame all the odds of every kind and found happiness as they deserve. There is prejudice, hatred, humiliation, crazed people and of course love.
“He suppressed every emotion. She suppressed none.”
Anne Wells has always been a proper young lady. A beauty who is stubborn, she was controlled her whole life by her strict, abusive father. Her father is angry on Anne’s refusal to marry – a man who is old and repulsive – but he is determined to see her married. She escapes when things become too much and enters the enemy territory unaware of the tragedy that would befall them.
Cord Bennett is a half breed whose father was white and mother an Indian. He has older half-siblings who love him but are wary of him for he has ‘savage’ tendensies. Considered as an outcast with no real friends he prefers to stay alone. Cord is unemotional and prefers to speak little.
“Two people who barely knew each other thrown together in violence and ugliness.”
Running away from the pressure of society and marriage to a repulsive man, Anne realised she has never felt free. Anne’s father was a mean, cruel and evil scum of society. When he caught Anne in Cord’s ranch he forces her to admit that Cord abused her, when she wouldn’t agree he smacks her. Cord who was always misunderstood expected to be accused to abusing Anne. Anne’s father forces Cord and Anne to marry, beat both of them and expects Anne to crawl back to him begging for forgiveness.
“When you’re ninety years old you’re going to wake up in the morning, and there I’ll be – with white hair and wrinkles – and you’ll still be stuck.”
Cord is hard, cold and indifferent. Anne doesn’t believe the gossips that’s been created of him being the devil. People call him aborigine savage. He can be silent but he is also gentle, kind and compassionate. An unfortunate circumstance brought them together but in a year they have realised things about each other. Anne comprehends that she prefers the ranch life, where she does the ordinary tasks than live a restrictive and boring life. Cord was hesitant to accept Anne believing she might leave him one day and it took him awhile when he began to grasp that his own life suited her perfectly and is not getting rid of her.
(pregnant Anne to Cord)
“How are you going to feel when I’m big and fat and not so much fun?”
“Don’t suppose I’d like it much permanently, but I think you’ll look kind of cuddly when you waddle.”
It’s a beautiful love story of a shunned and misunderstood man who was loved and believed. This story has affected me in many ways with so many emotions I’m incoherent in my review. This incredible strength of Cord and Anne is admired. They have little and they’re so happy with it. Anne’s father took a Hitler’s kind of end, I liked this part. He was a egoistic and prejudiced man who was hell bent on making Anne suffer.
This book is flawless. If you’re looking for good western historcal romance, I highly recommend this.
A beautifully told love story about two people who never felt like they belonged in the world.
Anne Wells is considered a spinster at 29 years old, after all this is 1885 Colorado and if you aren’t married by then there is obviously something wrong with you. Ending one engagement after four years and refusing to marry the man her father expects her to marry Anne is locked in her room until she becomes agreeable. Locked away with less and less food every day the only option she has is to flee. She escapes to a barn and plans to wait out the night and leave at first light, but Cord Bennett happens upon her first.
Cord Bennett the son of a wealthy rancher and a Cheyenne woman has been an outcast since he was born. Since almost killing his brother one night his own family fears him, the towns people believe he is of the devil, so he has learned to keep to his self. One morning upon finding Anne in his barn he offers one act of kindness and that act leaves him almost dead.
Anne has been a fighter since day one but as she falls in love with Cord more with every moment you really see her start to grow into the person she is always supposed to be. Cord keeps expecting Anne to leave, at first it is after winter then it is after the summer harvest. When it has been months Cord starts to finally believe that Anne just might stay.
This story is filled with drama from both Anne and Cord’s family as well as the towns people who can’t just accept the fact that they are happy together. As soon as you think they are going to be able to start to live their life their own way something else happens. Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold has been one of the most surprising books of 2020 for me. I didn’t expect to love it like I did, and it really touched me. It wasn’t a over the top love story with huge amounts of angst or romance. It just was a story about love. Simple.
A masterpiece! If you like romance this will be and exceptional read for you. If your passion is western romance, then you will be crying, furious and overjoyed in reading this story. Ellen O’Connell illustrates the craft of romance like no other. This story is stunning, frightening and beautiful.
I am awe if her writing and the story left me breathless and crying. Note: it has a HEA.
I have to say, this is one of the most BEAUTIFUL love stories I’ve read.
Cord (H), son of a white rancher & his Cheyenne 2nd wife, is one of the most stoic ostracized misunderstood heroes I’ve encountered. My heart flat out ACHED for this man, mistreated by virtually everyone his entire life due to his heritage, physically & verbally abused at the worst & ignored by his own family at best, & yet his bone deep determination, grit & fortitude shine from every page, and only occasionally does the internal rage, normally so well leashed, explode in truly frightening intensity. And again, throughout this entire book my heart ACHED for him. Would he never find acceptance? Peace? Much less love?
And Anne, despite the hate filled home in which she grew up, how her integrity, her honesty, her pluck, strength & grit shines through every page of this book. And my heart hurt for her as she tries to do what she feels is the right thing, be the type of woman she knows she wants to be, stand firm, strong & tall. An absolutely wonderful example (IMO) of an awesome woman determined to do the right thing. But will she ever find freedom? Escape from evil, hate & cruelty? Acceptance? Much less love?
I found the writing to be flawless, the writer’s touch light & deft even when detailing heinous & ugly scenes, she draws the reader deeper & deeper into her story & the lives of her characters so subtly, so gently you almost do not realize you’re no longer not in the plot. Some may feel this is too slow a burn but I didn’t. I found even at the end I wanted MORE of Cord & Anne, I yearned for Cord & Anne to be real. I could feel the hate Cord & Anne bore the brunt of, admired their strength, my heart warmed as they slowly continued their journey, & I so wanted MORE of them.
Do you want to tear up? Find hate for evil characters? Feel heartache for tortured & wounded H/h trying to find freedom & themselves? To feel the warmth of a sweet, gentle love that also burns deep, true & searing? To hope against hope for the H/h to reach their dreams?
READ THIS BOOK. Seriously. READ THIS BOOK.
I did.
And I will be again & again.
It is stellar, beautiful, satisfying & I cannot state just how delighted I am I found it.
Wonderful novel !
I have read this book four times. I love the people and the progression.
Wow words can express how much I enjoyed this book. Anne and Cord were amazing together. I loved how strong and brave they both were. Anna had such a cute, outgoing personality. Cord was the strong silent type but had a sweet side that he mostly only let Anne see. There was such a great build up to their relationship that it felt real. I will say that I wished for more blood when it came to the bad guys getting what was coming to them. I felt they got off the hook to easy. But that is just me. I’m bloodthirsty! I wanted Cord or Anne to get to kill them, and nothing else would have been good enough for me. I think Ellen O’Connell did such a good job of building up the town, characters, and relationships that I was total invested in, not just the main couple but their families as well. I am so glad I try this book!
This is a book I read over and over. The character development draws you in.