Not quite what I was expecting. OK it was called The Curse so shouldn't have been too surprised. Romance side was minimal. Cursed farmhouse and weird happenings. It did hold my attention as I did have to know what was really going on and how it happened. In a way it was a bit of an anti climax at the end. I do like some of Ronica Black's stuff and that's why I requested this book but it's not really my kind of thing. The story was well written and did keep me till the end.

Lots of creep factor - woods forbidden to enter, town rumors about the Dillon family and land, isolated, shunned by community.
Diana escaped her hometown, never looking back. Now in debt, single mom to 11 yo Ryder, out of options, Diana packs them up to return. Skidding on her dad's private road, Diana and Ryder defend themselves against a blood thirsty good Samaritan.
Diana forced to recover in the hospital for weeks, Ryder goes home with her grandfather. This relationship becomes the driving point of the plot. I LOVED every minute. Their refusal to compromise, alpha mood fails to bend. So well captured.
I also loved Diana's rejection to define her interest in Mel - refusal to define her sexuality. Massive fan of this as I also refuse to define my sexuality - not a common theme in media or books.

Diana Dillon and Ryder, her eleven year old daughter, are moving to her father’s after some life setbacks. Ryder hasn’t even met her grandfather Frank before. Arriving on a snowy night they are attacked by a man who at first seems to be offering help. From the opening moments of the book I was gripped by the story. I’m not usually a fan of children in danger and it is kept to a minimum. While Diana recovers in the hospital, Ryder has to learn to live with Frank and follow his sometimes odd rules. In the meantime Deputy Melonie Defoe is trying to track down the assailant.

This is a quick moving horror/thriller. There is a smidge of a romance thrown in but it is not the focus of the story. Ryder is more at the center of the story as she, like Mel, is trying to figure out the mystery about Frank’s family land. The story has just the right amount of menacing and tension. And I was happy that the conclusion didn't have me looking eerily at the shadows in my room.

From the beginning strange things are happening as Diana and her daughter make their way to her fathers where they’ll be staying for awhile. Diana ends up in the hospital and her daughter is left with her father whom Ryder has never met. He’s a cantankerous old man with a deadly secret and he must keep Ryder safe,
Curious Ryder has decided to find out what the family farm is hiding even after she comes face to face with it.
Some crazy recluse or zombies? The fear is real and you won’t know until the end and you better be easy to run.

This is more of a suspense than romance, so if you’re looking for a good nail biter this is it.

Thank you #netgalley #boldstrokesbooks #thecurse for this ARC

"The Curse" by Alexandra Riley presents a captivating blend of mystery, romance, and supernatural elements that will resonate with your interest in intricate narratives and historical settings. Set in a small, enigmatic town, the story unfolds through well-developed, relatable characters that you will find endearing and complex. The central theme of a long-standing curse interwoven with a rich backstory fits well with your appreciation for the "two people with a lot of history" trope. Alexandra Riley's masterful storytelling ensures that each page is filled with suspense and emotional depth, making "The Curse" a compelling addition to your book collection