Just Meh. Clara was incredibly vapid and it was really irritating. She is so shallow, she has been in love for 18 years with someone who was equally superficial and a bully. I mean Clara thought Richard was clever and amusing for taunting his disabled older brother! I just felt I was unable to respect her at all. ( )

With This Curse is a very nice Gothic historical in the style of Victoria Holt. Set in the Victorian era, it centers around Clara, a talented seamstress who has overcome a lost love and difficult past to find success working for an actress. One day and face from the past arrives and asks her to pretend to be his wife for a short while to appease his dying father. Clara only remembers Atticus as the lame twin (he had a clubfoot) of her lost love, and refuses. But the next thing she knows, her actress employer is leaving the stage to get married and a vindictive former employer has made Atticus' offer her only choice. So it's off to his family estate, a place she thought she'd never see again, to play gentlewoman for his awful father. It soon becomes obvious that Atticus wants Clara, or does he really want his "ward", a young girl just out of the schoolroom that he foists on Clara with little notice. And now someone is leaving her threatening notes and her father-in-law is becoming increasingly angry at the world, his son, and at Clara. Whatever is she going to do?

One of the best things about this book is that the author can write, DeWees' style is superb (especially compared to most modern romances) and her pacing excellent. She did reveal some plot points earlier than I expected—normally in this genre I don't expect the actual truth until the second-to-last chapter or so. You really get to feel for Clara, forced into something she doesn't really want to do and then quickly finding herself in over her head, as well as for poor Atticus perpetually stuck in the shadows of his able-bodied younger twin. A modern book that has the feel of a mid-century Gothic classic. I can highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in the Gothic suspense genre, well-written romances, or good historical dramas. ( )

It has been a long time since I've read a good Victorian gothic mystery. Amanda deWees far exceeded my expectations in 'With this Curse.' If I could make the 5 stars extra shiny in gold I would. I loved this book so much.
It has everything you would expect from the genre; a dark old mansion with strange inhabitants, an overall atmosphere of menace, a mystery, danger, love and betrayal. I was enthralled with the story from start to finish. I enjoyed the slow romance between Atticus and Clara. They are both great characters with a well developed history. Both are easy to relate to and I couldn't wait to see them get together. I really liked that their romance is taken in a sedate pace with more emphasis placed on their inner feelings rather than the two getting their kit off at the first opportunity. It is for these reasons that this book will suit most people, especially anyone who prefers romance/mystery to be plot driven and without the smut.
The threat of the curse looming over the household created a dark atmosphere in the story and it contributed to the gothic feel of the novel without making it oppressive and heavy.
The narrator, Elizabeth Klett, did a brilliant job of reading the story and performing the voices of the various characters. She has a lovely tone of voice, easy to listen to and you soon find yourself lost in the story, not concentrating on or being distracted by her narration.
I didn't want this story to end and I was quite sad when it was over! I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Clara and Atticus and they stayed with me long after I had finished it.
Luckily there's a sequel, 'Cursed Once More,' which I immediately delved into. ( )

This is a great book for people who love gothic novels! Creepy, engaging, and an all-around fun read. If you're a big reader of gothics, the plot will be fairly transparent, but when you're reading for the romance and the ambiance... it's perfect. I was so engrossed while reading outside that I ended up with a pretty nasty sunburn! ( )