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The Line That Binds by J.M. Miller
4.0

The Line That Binds is an interesting start to what looks to be a creepy and super cool paranormal curse series. The story starts off in the past tense where we meet a man and a jilted woman, who casts a curse on the family and descendants of the man who wronged her. Then, we flash forward to the present where the current owner and family member of the house is losing her mind/memories and dying, supposedly from the curse. She gives the main house and most of the land to some of her estranged relatives. And she gives the other part of the land to the son of her longtime grounds keepers. Her niece, nephew and their father moved in and the story really begins.

The book is told in alternating point of view between the grandson of the grounds keeper- Ben and Aunt Genies Niece LJ. Ben's grandfather is really worried that LJ will be affected by the curse just like her aunt and he wants Ben to look out for her. And to keep her away from this well that somehow is connected to it all. I was super intrigued by the well, just like LJ. How could she not be. She moved into this huge old house and all over the place there are hand painted and number paintings of the same well. It would creep me out and intrigue me as well.

I loved the writing of the story and the concept of it. Even more, I loved Ben and LJ. The little dance that they did around each other, each holding back their feelings was beyond cute. Their flirting made my heart warm and put a smile on my face. What I wanted to see more of was the actual curse. It came up a lot in the beginning of the story, but then we kind of meandered along and we didn't find anything new about it until the end. We saw some effects that it was having on LJ, but other than that the curse plot line felt kind of slow. I want more on that creepy well! We only actually saw it in person once in the whole story! I hope there is more in the next book, because it has completely captured my attention.

The whole story is really well written and makes me long to read the next book to see what is going to happen. The characters will make an impact on you and their romance is very endearing. You will root for these two. The curse is teasing and will leave you wanting for more, but it is such a cool concept that it is just enough to whet your appetite. Bring on the second book!