A review by turophile
With This Curse by Amanda DeWees

4.0

I picked up this book to follow along with the Smart Bitches book club. That didn’t happen due to a technology glitch, but still so happy I read it.

It’s classified as romantic suspense and described by some as gothic, though I did not find it nearly as scary or suspenseful as anticipated. (I thought the second book in this series fit the gothic theme much more).

Our heroine, Clara, was dismissed from her position as a made after falling in love with the master’s son Richard, whom she learns dies in the war a year or two later. She makes her way in the world, at a factory and then as a seamstress. Suddenly, Richard’s twin, Atticus, tracks her down and propositions her. He wants to make his father happy by marrying before the father passes away. Clara refuses at first, but when she loses her position and is black-balled by a former boss, she has little choice.

This decision involves returning to Greyhurst, the cursed manor, where she spent much of her upbringing. There she meets Atticus’ ward and his father. Being there brings back memories, good and bad of her romance with Richard.

Strange and dangerous events begin to unfold, including murder, kidnapping and attempted murder as we learn more about everyone’s deep secrets.

At times I found the foreshadowing a bit ham-handed, but did enjoy the book and the main characters. In fact, I immediately bought the next book in the series. 3.75/5