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The Lost Bride Trilogy #1
Inheritance
Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts―a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…
Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.
Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…
Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.
Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…
419 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 2023
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,750 books53.4k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,635 reviews
November 24, 2023
Super addictive haunting & romance! 👰🩷👻
It was love at first sight seeing this gorgeous cover. I knew I had to read Nora Roberts' latest trilogy. I can say that "Inheritance" book one of The Lost Bride trilogy did not disappoint. Roberts expertly blends a centuries-old ghost story with contemporary romance that will keep you glued to the pages.
Sonya MacTavish is busy with her wedding planning but decides to cancel a meeting with her florist to get home early only to find the fiance in bed with her cousin! Of course, she calls off the wedding and throws the fiance out of her Boston home.
Shortly after Sonya receives shocking news that her late father had a twin brother who recently passed away and that she's the heir to his mansion in Maine.
The Lost Bride Trilogy will appeal to fans of gothic haunted houses, low-steam romance, family curses and secrets, whodunit mystery, and dual timeline paranormal fantasy.
This is not spooky (yet) and I get many feel-good vibes from Sonya's BFF Cleo, the lawyer love interest, invisible residents of the mansion, and other secondary characters. This is almost five stars for me but the romance part got on too quickly without much chemistry or tension. I also find that things fall into places too conveniently for Sonya. I'd like to see some flaws and setbacks.
That being said, I am hooked from the first to the very last page. Do expect a massive cliffhanger ending that'll make you wish you wouldn't need to wait another year. Gaaah! I absolutely could not wait to read/listen to the second book.
A stellar audiobook performed by Brittany Pressley!
13H 52M
Published Nov 21, 2023!
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.
It was love at first sight seeing this gorgeous cover. I knew I had to read Nora Roberts' latest trilogy. I can say that "Inheritance" book one of The Lost Bride trilogy did not disappoint. Roberts expertly blends a centuries-old ghost story with contemporary romance that will keep you glued to the pages.
Sonya MacTavish is busy with her wedding planning but decides to cancel a meeting with her florist to get home early only to find the fiance in bed with her cousin! Of course, she calls off the wedding and throws the fiance out of her Boston home.
Shortly after Sonya receives shocking news that her late father had a twin brother who recently passed away and that she's the heir to his mansion in Maine.
The Lost Bride Trilogy will appeal to fans of gothic haunted houses, low-steam romance, family curses and secrets, whodunit mystery, and dual timeline paranormal fantasy.
This is not spooky (yet) and I get many feel-good vibes from Sonya's BFF Cleo, the lawyer love interest, invisible residents of the mansion, and other secondary characters. This is almost five stars for me but the romance part got on too quickly without much chemistry or tension. I also find that things fall into places too conveniently for Sonya. I'd like to see some flaws and setbacks.
That being said, I am hooked from the first to the very last page. Do expect a massive cliffhanger ending that'll make you wish you wouldn't need to wait another year. Gaaah! I absolutely could not wait to read/listen to the second book.
A stellar audiobook performed by Brittany Pressley!
13H 52M
Published Nov 21, 2023!
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.
February 17, 2024
Gothic mansion meets fantasy romance and mystery vibes: Nora Roberts introduces us to another intriguing and addictive trilogy, luring us in with a two-century-long mystery and spine-tingling ghost story vibes.
The tough and reliable heroine, Sonya, and the charming and kind-hearted hero, Trent, along with the supportive and original occult science lover, bestie Cleo, are brilliant characters. The eerie yet strong and sumptuous presence of the house, with its alluring setting and mesmerizing yet thrilling atmosphere, intrigues you to learn more about its secrets.
However, there were two things that didn't sit quite right with me. Firstly, the abrupt ending left me feeling like I crashed my car into a brick wall while going at full speed. The story cut off with a cliffhanger that I didn't see coming. At first, I even thought maybe the publishers forgot to send me the rest of the manuscript, but then I realized that the rest belongs to the second book, which I have to wait at least a year to read. It made me want to scream, but alas, that's the reality of it.
The other thing I didn't fully enjoy was the underdevelopment of the romance story between Sonya and Trent. While there was an obvious attraction, I didn't sense the chemistry or a slow-burn progression that would lead their friendship into an intimate relationship. One minute they were friends teasing each other, and the next they were in bed together. I would never say no to a second-chance romance with palpable chemistry.
Here's a glimpse into the plot of the first book in the 'Lost Bride Trilogy':
The book opens in the past, in 1806, in Maine, introducing Astrid Poole, a bride-to-be in her wedding gown, excitedly preparing for her wedding ceremony. However, a mysterious jealous woman, sworn to stop the wedding, stabs her to death and steals her wedding ring. Poor groom Colin finds his bleeding lover, whose last words were that she would never leave him.
We then move back to the present time to meet another bride-to-be, Sonya McTavish, who makes a last-minute decision to skip her meeting with the florist and return to her shared home with her fiancé. But a surprise awaits her that will change the course of her future: she finds her fiancé in bed with her cousin. After kicking them out, calling her best friend Cleo and her mother to cancel the wedding, and boxing up her ex's belongings, she thinks she can move on with her life. However, she didn't anticipate her ex's vindictive attacks in the workplace, which lead her to resign and work freelance as a graphic designer.
As she adjusts to her new freedom, a visit from the mysterious lawyer Deuce changes everything once again. Deuce reveals that he is the best friend of her father's twin brother, Colin Poole. Wait, her father has a brother? The shocking news about the twins' separation and adoption by different families comes as a cold shower. When she hears that Colin has also left a Victorian mansion in Maine to her, with the condition that she must live there for at least three years to fully inherit it, she can't say no to the offer of a fresh start.
However, she soon realizes that this offer comes with a catch. The beautiful mansion has invisible visitors who rearrange Sonya's belongings, play mood-inspired songs, leave undiscovered portraits, make her bed, and even leave drawers open. On top of that, she starts hearing piano sounds and banging on the door in the middle of the night.
Is she going mad, or are spirits lurking around the house? She soon realizes that the spirit of the lost bride needs her help with unfinished business, and fortunately, she's not alone in facing the mansion's curse. Deuce's charming and helpful lawyer son, Trey, becomes her lover, while her best friend Cleo agrees to move to the mansion to delve into the occult mystery. Her cousin Owen is also there to support her in unraveling the mystery.
Overall, it's a great start to a fantasy, gothic horror, and historical romance trilogy. I'm still reeling from the abrupt ending, but I eagerly look forward to reading the next installment in the near future, filled with excitement and high expectations.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this thrilling novel's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The tough and reliable heroine, Sonya, and the charming and kind-hearted hero, Trent, along with the supportive and original occult science lover, bestie Cleo, are brilliant characters. The eerie yet strong and sumptuous presence of the house, with its alluring setting and mesmerizing yet thrilling atmosphere, intrigues you to learn more about its secrets.
However, there were two things that didn't sit quite right with me. Firstly, the abrupt ending left me feeling like I crashed my car into a brick wall while going at full speed. The story cut off with a cliffhanger that I didn't see coming. At first, I even thought maybe the publishers forgot to send me the rest of the manuscript, but then I realized that the rest belongs to the second book, which I have to wait at least a year to read. It made me want to scream, but alas, that's the reality of it.
The other thing I didn't fully enjoy was the underdevelopment of the romance story between Sonya and Trent. While there was an obvious attraction, I didn't sense the chemistry or a slow-burn progression that would lead their friendship into an intimate relationship. One minute they were friends teasing each other, and the next they were in bed together. I would never say no to a second-chance romance with palpable chemistry.
Here's a glimpse into the plot of the first book in the 'Lost Bride Trilogy':
The book opens in the past, in 1806, in Maine, introducing Astrid Poole, a bride-to-be in her wedding gown, excitedly preparing for her wedding ceremony. However, a mysterious jealous woman, sworn to stop the wedding, stabs her to death and steals her wedding ring. Poor groom Colin finds his bleeding lover, whose last words were that she would never leave him.
We then move back to the present time to meet another bride-to-be, Sonya McTavish, who makes a last-minute decision to skip her meeting with the florist and return to her shared home with her fiancé. But a surprise awaits her that will change the course of her future: she finds her fiancé in bed with her cousin. After kicking them out, calling her best friend Cleo and her mother to cancel the wedding, and boxing up her ex's belongings, she thinks she can move on with her life. However, she didn't anticipate her ex's vindictive attacks in the workplace, which lead her to resign and work freelance as a graphic designer.
As she adjusts to her new freedom, a visit from the mysterious lawyer Deuce changes everything once again. Deuce reveals that he is the best friend of her father's twin brother, Colin Poole. Wait, her father has a brother? The shocking news about the twins' separation and adoption by different families comes as a cold shower. When she hears that Colin has also left a Victorian mansion in Maine to her, with the condition that she must live there for at least three years to fully inherit it, she can't say no to the offer of a fresh start.
However, she soon realizes that this offer comes with a catch. The beautiful mansion has invisible visitors who rearrange Sonya's belongings, play mood-inspired songs, leave undiscovered portraits, make her bed, and even leave drawers open. On top of that, she starts hearing piano sounds and banging on the door in the middle of the night.
Is she going mad, or are spirits lurking around the house? She soon realizes that the spirit of the lost bride needs her help with unfinished business, and fortunately, she's not alone in facing the mansion's curse. Deuce's charming and helpful lawyer son, Trey, becomes her lover, while her best friend Cleo agrees to move to the mansion to delve into the occult mystery. Her cousin Owen is also there to support her in unraveling the mystery.
Overall, it's a great start to a fantasy, gothic horror, and historical romance trilogy. I'm still reeling from the abrupt ending, but I eagerly look forward to reading the next installment in the near future, filled with excitement and high expectations.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this thrilling novel's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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December 27, 2023
Inheritance by Nora Roberts is Book #1 in The Lost Bride Trilogy!
Sonya MacTavish recently made several changes in her life. A break-up with her fiancé started the ball rolling, but she didn't stop there. She quit her job, opened her own Graphics design business, and moved from Boston to the Maine coast. It didn't all happen at once, but it sure felt like it.
Sonya believed the sight of finding her cheating fiancé in bed with her cousin was the biggest shock she'd ever have, but it wasn't. It was learning her late father had a twin he never knew about and finding herself as the heir to most of the estate of her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole.
Sonya learned her uncle's estate included a beautiful Victorian mansion, that according to the will, she must reside in for three years to receive her inheritance, hence the move to Poole's Bay, Maine. Trey, a young lawyer, greeted Sonya upon her arrival, gave her a tour of the mansion, and confirmed that yes, the house is indeed haunted. But only a little...
Inheritance is my first Nora Roberts read and its steeped in family history, secrets from the past to unravel, and a variety of entertaining ghosts in varying ages and levels of temperament, some are seen, most are not.
The pace is fast, holding my interest with a mixture of characters that complement each other right down to Sonya's best friend Cleo, and "The Boys", two adorable rescue dogs who are also besties. I loved that.
I found Nora Roberts easy writing style to be addictive and fluid, and an easy listen. The 13H 52M audiobook goes by quickly with Brittany Pressley's excellent voicing skills. Another stellar narration!
I don't know if I was expecting a cliffhanger but there it was and it's quite good. I'll be listening to the second book in The Lost Bride Trilogy and I highly recommend Inheritance to readers who enjoy a well-written haunted house story with entertaining characters, both alive and dead!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Nora Roberts for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Sonya MacTavish recently made several changes in her life. A break-up with her fiancé started the ball rolling, but she didn't stop there. She quit her job, opened her own Graphics design business, and moved from Boston to the Maine coast. It didn't all happen at once, but it sure felt like it.
Sonya believed the sight of finding her cheating fiancé in bed with her cousin was the biggest shock she'd ever have, but it wasn't. It was learning her late father had a twin he never knew about and finding herself as the heir to most of the estate of her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole.
Sonya learned her uncle's estate included a beautiful Victorian mansion, that according to the will, she must reside in for three years to receive her inheritance, hence the move to Poole's Bay, Maine. Trey, a young lawyer, greeted Sonya upon her arrival, gave her a tour of the mansion, and confirmed that yes, the house is indeed haunted. But only a little...
Inheritance is my first Nora Roberts read and its steeped in family history, secrets from the past to unravel, and a variety of entertaining ghosts in varying ages and levels of temperament, some are seen, most are not.
The pace is fast, holding my interest with a mixture of characters that complement each other right down to Sonya's best friend Cleo, and "The Boys", two adorable rescue dogs who are also besties. I loved that.
I found Nora Roberts easy writing style to be addictive and fluid, and an easy listen. The 13H 52M audiobook goes by quickly with Brittany Pressley's excellent voicing skills. Another stellar narration!
I don't know if I was expecting a cliffhanger but there it was and it's quite good. I'll be listening to the second book in The Lost Bride Trilogy and I highly recommend Inheritance to readers who enjoy a well-written haunted house story with entertaining characters, both alive and dead!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Nora Roberts for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
February 18, 2024
I was utterly spellbound!! Roberts checked all the boxes: a multi-generational tragedy in a haunted mansion, a supernatural mystery, and well-paced, clever writing; the atmosphere pulled me right in from the start; I felt like I was right there with the main characters in Lost Bride Manor. I could see the characters in my mind's eye; Roberts created well-drawn characters, and I enjoyed the sisterhood bond between Sonya and Cleo. It was refreshing to see two creative, independent, strong women I wanted to be their friend. That’s how to write a cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see what awaits Sonya and Owen on the other side. I paired the AEC with the ALC, narrated by Brittney Pressley, who did a fabulous job describing and bringing the characters to life, building the tension and suspense and making it palpable at times. I got chills down my spine.
I highly recommend this if you enjoy multigenerational family mystery to be solved by strong female characters and well developed secondary characters, a budding romance supernatural elements (ghosts, a family curse) interwoven into the plot with some humour if you’re not a fan of cliffhangers, I recommend you wait until the following two books in the series are published and read them consecutively.
I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press for the AEC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Also, the audiobook includes an Introduction by Nora Roberts; she explains her experience with spirits and talks of her grandmother and what inspired her to write Inheritance
The Title for the new instalment in The Lost Bride Trilogy is Mirror, and the expected Publication Date in Canada and the US is November 19, 2024
I highly recommend this if you enjoy multigenerational family mystery to be solved by strong female characters and well developed secondary characters, a budding romance supernatural elements (ghosts, a family curse) interwoven into the plot with some humour if you’re not a fan of cliffhangers, I recommend you wait until the following two books in the series are published and read them consecutively.
I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press for the AEC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Also, the audiobook includes an Introduction by Nora Roberts; she explains her experience with spirits and talks of her grandmother and what inspired her to write Inheritance
The Title for the new instalment in The Lost Bride Trilogy is Mirror, and the expected Publication Date in Canada and the US is November 19, 2024
September 18, 2023
The cost of Sonya's new life and finding out how to be happy? One fiance, the unearthing of family tragedies, and a leap of faith! Nora Robert's latest, Inheritance, is the first in her new series, The Lost Bride Trilogy, which takes family secrets to a new level!!
My hands down favorite part of this series is that the main character explores what she really wants vs. what she THINKS she's supposed to want. That's a big one for many of us as we get older -- if you don't know what really makes you happy, then you'll always feel a little lost to yourself.
THOUGHTS:
- Loved how female friendships/relationships are portrayed! From mothers and daughters to friends and female bosses etc. When they were good, they were really good!
- This Nora Roberts series is definitely dipping more into the fantasy/paranormal realm. If you loved any of her other books like The Dragon Heart Legacy series - you'll probably really like this one as well!
- Awesome cliffhanger! I read this super quickly because I wanted to know exactly who committed that initial crime, and while the cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more, I still felt like I got a few answers.
NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️/5 - Loved how the romance developed from that slow burn! (Closed door.)
**Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
My hands down favorite part of this series is that the main character explores what she really wants vs. what she THINKS she's supposed to want. That's a big one for many of us as we get older -- if you don't know what really makes you happy, then you'll always feel a little lost to yourself.
THOUGHTS:
- Loved how female friendships/relationships are portrayed! From mothers and daughters to friends and female bosses etc. When they were good, they were really good!
- This Nora Roberts series is definitely dipping more into the fantasy/paranormal realm. If you loved any of her other books like The Dragon Heart Legacy series - you'll probably really like this one as well!
- Awesome cliffhanger! I read this super quickly because I wanted to know exactly who committed that initial crime, and while the cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more, I still felt like I got a few answers.
NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️/5 - Loved how the romance developed from that slow burn! (Closed door.)
**Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
November 22, 2023
the setup…
Sonya MacTavish is a graphic artist who was living in Boston with her fiancé, planning her wedding and working at a company she loved. When she came home early and unexpectedly one afternoon, catching him “in flagrante delecto” with another woman, her life changed overnight. Not long after, Sonya is contacted by the lawyer for a man named Collin Poole, who is recently deceased and left her most of his estate in Maine. Unbeknownst to her or anyone else in her family, Collin was her deceased father’s twin brother (separated at birth). But, the estate has a caveat…she has to move to Maine and live in the mansion for three years in order to keep her inheritance. And that mansion? It comes fully stocked and occupied with a host of ghosts.
the heart of the story…
I’m really happy this is a trilogy because this first book takes its time to develop not only Sonya and the people that are now going to be important in her life but all those ethereal who occupy that estate and there are a lot of them! Sonya is clearly at the center of everything and is embracing not only her new relatives but their history and the legend of the lost brides. It’s a lot to track but things happen that help ingrain it all in your memory, at least it did for me. There are a host of mysteries to unlock and I’m already deeply hooked. And, there’s romance in the air as she’s already gained the attention of the lawyer’s son, Oliver (Trey) Doyle, III who is also an attorney. But it’s the ghosts in that house that provide comic relief, assistance and sometimes extreme fear. Their personalities are distinct and Sonya’s willingness to engage them is remarkable.
the narration…
Pressley is one of my favorites but she’s outdone herself here, providing a level of storytelling skills and voice distinctions that are utterly outstanding. I’ll be listening to the entire series.
the bottom line…
I’m in for the long haul, fully invested in these characters, their livelihoods and what’s keeping those ghosts tied to that mansion. Sonya, her best friend Chloe, her new beau Trey and new cousin Owen have already formed as a network committed to unraveling the secrets of the past and the one malevolent force who is determined to be deadly. Be forewarned that this ends rather dramatically, leaving me aching for the next chapter. I’m loving everything about this saga and while ghost stories aren’t normally my favorite storyline, these apparitions are something special.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Sonya MacTavish is a graphic artist who was living in Boston with her fiancé, planning her wedding and working at a company she loved. When she came home early and unexpectedly one afternoon, catching him “in flagrante delecto” with another woman, her life changed overnight. Not long after, Sonya is contacted by the lawyer for a man named Collin Poole, who is recently deceased and left her most of his estate in Maine. Unbeknownst to her or anyone else in her family, Collin was her deceased father’s twin brother (separated at birth). But, the estate has a caveat…she has to move to Maine and live in the mansion for three years in order to keep her inheritance. And that mansion? It comes fully stocked and occupied with a host of ghosts.
the heart of the story…
I’m really happy this is a trilogy because this first book takes its time to develop not only Sonya and the people that are now going to be important in her life but all those ethereal who occupy that estate and there are a lot of them! Sonya is clearly at the center of everything and is embracing not only her new relatives but their history and the legend of the lost brides. It’s a lot to track but things happen that help ingrain it all in your memory, at least it did for me. There are a host of mysteries to unlock and I’m already deeply hooked. And, there’s romance in the air as she’s already gained the attention of the lawyer’s son, Oliver (Trey) Doyle, III who is also an attorney. But it’s the ghosts in that house that provide comic relief, assistance and sometimes extreme fear. Their personalities are distinct and Sonya’s willingness to engage them is remarkable.
the narration…
Pressley is one of my favorites but she’s outdone herself here, providing a level of storytelling skills and voice distinctions that are utterly outstanding. I’ll be listening to the entire series.
the bottom line…
I’m in for the long haul, fully invested in these characters, their livelihoods and what’s keeping those ghosts tied to that mansion. Sonya, her best friend Chloe, her new beau Trey and new cousin Owen have already formed as a network committed to unraveling the secrets of the past and the one malevolent force who is determined to be deadly. Be forewarned that this ends rather dramatically, leaving me aching for the next chapter. I’m loving everything about this saga and while ghost stories aren’t normally my favorite storyline, these apparitions are something special.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
November 11, 2023
Please note that I received this via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
This was not good. The beginning was interesting and it just got more and more boring. Can Roberts still spin a tale, yes. But this was just not it. It reminded me a lot of her "In the Garden" trilogy, mixed with a bit of "Inn Boonsboro" trilogy. I don't mind the magical realism she does, but I think the ending with the whole [redacted] just does not cause me to want to read more of this.
"Inheritance" starts off with 28 year old Sonya MacTavish thinking about how in a few short weeks she is going to be getting married. I don't want to do spoilers in this review. But things occur and then Sonya finds out that she inherited a mansion in Maine from her late father's twin brother (that he never knew he had). There's a lot of convoluted explanation about this, but just go with it. Sonya decides to make a fresh start in Maine at the mansion and finds out that it comes with a history and several ghosts.
The writing was okay, but after a while I just did not care about the plot. We keep getting thrust back into past timelines with a "bride" and how she's killed by someone/something. The first book is just Sonya and her best friend Cleo trying to figure out how the brides died and why. And then some very lukewarm romantic interests that pop in the story.
The flow was just pretty awful. After a while it just felt painful. I wish that Roberts had a left a few "brides" story on the cutting room floor. Also I just did not buy the romance between Sony and [redacted]. There was no heat there at all. I just felt like after a while I was reading a very boring romantic mystery/thriller/etc. that wasn't giving me enough romance.
The first book ends on a cliffhanger. If you get aggravated by reading cliffhangers, I suggest that you just borrow this from a library and or wait until book two comes out so that you can read them back to back maybe.
This was not good. The beginning was interesting and it just got more and more boring. Can Roberts still spin a tale, yes. But this was just not it. It reminded me a lot of her "In the Garden" trilogy, mixed with a bit of "Inn Boonsboro" trilogy. I don't mind the magical realism she does, but I think the ending with the whole [redacted] just does not cause me to want to read more of this.
"Inheritance" starts off with 28 year old Sonya MacTavish thinking about how in a few short weeks she is going to be getting married. I don't want to do spoilers in this review. But things occur and then Sonya finds out that she inherited a mansion in Maine from her late father's twin brother (that he never knew he had). There's a lot of convoluted explanation about this, but just go with it. Sonya decides to make a fresh start in Maine at the mansion and finds out that it comes with a history and several ghosts.
The writing was okay, but after a while I just did not care about the plot. We keep getting thrust back into past timelines with a "bride" and how she's killed by someone/something. The first book is just Sonya and her best friend Cleo trying to figure out how the brides died and why. And then some very lukewarm romantic interests that pop in the story.
The flow was just pretty awful. After a while it just felt painful. I wish that Roberts had a left a few "brides" story on the cutting room floor. Also I just did not buy the romance between Sony and [redacted]. There was no heat there at all. I just felt like after a while I was reading a very boring romantic mystery/thriller/etc. that wasn't giving me enough romance.
The first book ends on a cliffhanger. If you get aggravated by reading cliffhangers, I suggest that you just borrow this from a library and or wait until book two comes out so that you can read them back to back maybe.
January 24, 2024
I liked the story for the most part, but found the book too long. There were pages and pages of uninteresting dialogue, too many descriptions of Sonya's work projects and a romance that was less than satisfying. One minute they were friends, next minute they were in bed ripping their clothes off of each other. Sigh. I don't see myself continuing with the trilogy, I just don't care enough to find out what happens.
February 2, 2024
4,5 stars
This was a really fantastic beginning to a wonderfully spooky romance. A perfect October read if you ask me!!
I've read some of the author's other trilogies in the past, her spooky, witchy, and ghostly ones, but I wasn't sure what to expect, since the author changed the way her trilogies are structured.
Inheritance is the beginning of a trilogy that is one continuous story, at least that's how it looks to me. And I must say it works!! The author gives the romantic relationships time to develop, the overall story to unfold in a timeframe that makes sense, since the backstory covers centuries.
The story grabbed me from the very beginning. Not just because it featured a beautiful old mansion with some very interesting inhabitants, but also because of the just wonderfully likeable characters. And the way friendships are being put in the foreground and celebrated.
Loved the camaraderie, the support, and most of all the group dynamic in this book.
The story has all the signature style and feel good moments I'm used to get from this author. The group getting together to work on problems, brainstorming, enjoying a dinner together and working on projects. It's so relatable. And also a joy to see this group of amazing characters enjoying each others company.
The sequel is going to go to the top of my 2024 reading list - can't wait for its release!
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
This was a really fantastic beginning to a wonderfully spooky romance. A perfect October read if you ask me!!
I've read some of the author's other trilogies in the past, her spooky, witchy, and ghostly ones, but I wasn't sure what to expect, since the author changed the way her trilogies are structured.
Inheritance is the beginning of a trilogy that is one continuous story, at least that's how it looks to me. And I must say it works!! The author gives the romantic relationships time to develop, the overall story to unfold in a timeframe that makes sense, since the backstory covers centuries.
The story grabbed me from the very beginning. Not just because it featured a beautiful old mansion with some very interesting inhabitants, but also because of the just wonderfully likeable characters. And the way friendships are being put in the foreground and celebrated.
Loved the camaraderie, the support, and most of all the group dynamic in this book.
The story has all the signature style and feel good moments I'm used to get from this author. The group getting together to work on problems, brainstorming, enjoying a dinner together and working on projects. It's so relatable. And also a joy to see this group of amazing characters enjoying each others company.
The sequel is going to go to the top of my 2024 reading list - can't wait for its release!
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
November 20, 2023
Happy release day tomorrow 11/21 🩷🩷
I'm having a hard time trying to rate this- I'm going to settle on 3.5 stars for now.
Inheritance, the first book of The Lost Bride trilogy starts in 1806 at Astrid Poole's wedding day. As she sits down in her bridal gown, overwhelmed with happiness, she is murdered, and her wedding ring is torn from her finger.
Flash forward in present day, graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is shocked and surprised when she walks into the home she shares with her fiancé to find him in the act of having an affair. She quickly calls off the wedding and breaks off the engagement.
Shortly after, she finds out that her late father had a twin brother that he never knew existed. Sonya's newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has died and left her almost everything, including a Victorian manor in Maine. His will stipulates that she must live in the house for at least three years. Now newly single after her broken engagement, Sonya agrees to move to the small coastal town and into the manor home.
As Sonya settles into her new life and home, she starts noticing small things, shadowy figures in windows, things being moved when she is sure she left them in another place. Music that turns on by itself. Fires being lit on their own.
It soon becomes clear to Sonya that not only has she inherited a gorgeous and sprawling manor home, but a centuries old curse that goes along with it.
I've been thinking about this book for a little while, trying to decide how I feel about it. I'm very new to Nora Roberts novels so I'm still a little unfamiliar with her style of writing.
I really enjoyed each and every one of the characters, they are so likable and well rounded- Roberts does such a fantastic job of breathing life into them and the writing flows so effortlessly, truly a captivating story teller.
Sonya, who is a truly fearless main character, Cleo who is a super supportive and amazing best friend, Trey - the sexy lawyer love interest and Yoda the cutest doggy sidekick.
Somewhere around 70-80% I really felt like this was going to be more of a cozy type of mystery because I wasn't exactly getting any spooky vibes, it's all all very standard- getting along with the ghosts of the manor. So I wouldn't say there's much to fear, it's all very charming actually- but with that, I found it lacking in the plot- there just wasn't much of anything happening at all.
Around 90% a lot starts to pop off, and while I wish I had a wee bit more closure in the first book - that or I had the second book handy because Roberts has set up the sequel perfectly with an abrupt cliffhanger that has me dying to know more.
I listened to an Audio ARC- I do want to say that the narrator Brittany Pressley did a spectacular job, was a pleasure to listen to and really brought the story to life.
⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆
Shaking things up with my current reads and starting this by the Queen Nora ⋆˚✿˖°
Many thanks to NetGalley, Nora Roberts and Macmillan Audio for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆
This ARC just popped up in my inbox-
I'm having a hard time trying to rate this- I'm going to settle on 3.5 stars for now.
Inheritance, the first book of The Lost Bride trilogy starts in 1806 at Astrid Poole's wedding day. As she sits down in her bridal gown, overwhelmed with happiness, she is murdered, and her wedding ring is torn from her finger.
Flash forward in present day, graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is shocked and surprised when she walks into the home she shares with her fiancé to find him in the act of having an affair. She quickly calls off the wedding and breaks off the engagement.
Shortly after, she finds out that her late father had a twin brother that he never knew existed. Sonya's newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has died and left her almost everything, including a Victorian manor in Maine. His will stipulates that she must live in the house for at least three years. Now newly single after her broken engagement, Sonya agrees to move to the small coastal town and into the manor home.
As Sonya settles into her new life and home, she starts noticing small things, shadowy figures in windows, things being moved when she is sure she left them in another place. Music that turns on by itself. Fires being lit on their own.
It soon becomes clear to Sonya that not only has she inherited a gorgeous and sprawling manor home, but a centuries old curse that goes along with it.
I've been thinking about this book for a little while, trying to decide how I feel about it. I'm very new to Nora Roberts novels so I'm still a little unfamiliar with her style of writing.
I really enjoyed each and every one of the characters, they are so likable and well rounded- Roberts does such a fantastic job of breathing life into them and the writing flows so effortlessly, truly a captivating story teller.
Sonya, who is a truly fearless main character, Cleo who is a super supportive and amazing best friend, Trey - the sexy lawyer love interest and Yoda the cutest doggy sidekick.
Somewhere around 70-80% I really felt like this was going to be more of a cozy type of mystery because I wasn't exactly getting any spooky vibes, it's all all very standard- getting along with the ghosts of the manor. So I wouldn't say there's much to fear, it's all very charming actually- but with that, I found it lacking in the plot- there just wasn't much of anything happening at all.
Around 90% a lot starts to pop off, and while I wish I had a wee bit more closure in the first book - that or I had the second book handy because Roberts has set up the sequel perfectly with an abrupt cliffhanger that has me dying to know more.
I listened to an Audio ARC- I do want to say that the narrator Brittany Pressley did a spectacular job, was a pleasure to listen to and really brought the story to life.
⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆
Shaking things up with my current reads and starting this by the Queen Nora ⋆˚✿˖°
Many thanks to NetGalley, Nora Roberts and Macmillan Audio for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆
This ARC just popped up in my inbox-
January 6, 2024
I found Inheritance to be creepy and romantic all at the same time!! I wouldn't expect creepy and romantic to go together so well but of course, Nora Roberts made them work wonderfully in this book. I love the old, haunted mansion vibes and the author did a great job bringing the mansion to life and making me feel like I was there. The storyline was intriguing and made you keep turning the pages!! I loved the growing relationship between Trey and Sonya. Looking forward to the next book in this series!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
December 28, 2023
I haven’t read a book by Nora Roberts in a very long while. Inheritance (The Lost Bride Trilogy, #1) was the perfect book for me to reacquaint myself with Nora Roberts’ writing and creative storytelling. I listened to the audiobook that was read by one of my favorite narrators, Brittany Pressley. Her performance was just as I had expected it would be. She really brought the story to life and made me want to listen to it way longer than I should have. The setting was perfect. Most of the story took place in a small quaint town in Maine. The descriptions of the village shops, the people, the opulent mansion and the stunning surrounding property was so easy to visualize even though I had never been to Maine. I enjoyed the characters Nora Roberts developed, the ghostly ones as well as the present day ones. Inheritance grabbed my attention immediately and kept it throughout the entire audiobook.
Sonya MacTavish lived in Boston, Massachusetts and she was a talented graphic artist. It had just been Sonya and her mother for quite a while ever since Sonya’s beloved father had passed away. Sonya and her mother were close but both missed her father’s presence and his influence on their lives. Sonya had recently gotten engaged to another graphic artist who worked at the same company that she worked for. Her days and weeks were busy trying to complete the plans for her wedding. It seemed that Sonya and her fiancé had different ideas about what they wanted, though. Sonya wanted a simple and small wedding but her fiancé wanted a big, lavish one. Their idea of the perfect house differed greatly as well. Sonya gravitated towards historic homes with lots of character and charm and her fiancé desired one that was modern and showy. It seemed like Sonya was always yielding to her fiancé’s desires and not her own. Then one day, Sonya decided to cancel an appointment she had made to check on their wedding invitations and went home to the house they bought together instead. To her surprise and shock, Sonya walked in on her fiancé while he was in their bed with her very own cousin. Was it fate that brought Sonya home early that day? Apparently, Sonya was not as in love with her fiancé as she had thought. When she called off the wedding, Sonya was not as brokenhearted as she would have thought she would have been. The only thing that might have felt awkward was that they both still worked at the same place and would have to see each other every day. Sonya decided to handle that in a mature, rational and professional way. Her fiancé had other ideas. He made it so uncomfortable for Sonya that eventually she left the company and decided to go out on her own.
One day, after giving up her position in the company she loved to work at, a lawyer showed up at her door and relayed the most surprising and shocking information to Sonya. Her deceased father had had a twin brother. They had been separated as infants and grew up apart from one another and never knew that the other existed until very recently. Sonya’s Uncle Collin, her father’s twin brother, had left the family estate to Sonya. It was located in Maine. The only stipulation that the will made was that she had to live there for three years before she could contemplate selling the estate. After Sonya had time to make sense of everything, she decided that she would move to Maine and live in the family home. She would soon discover that she was not alone in the mansion. Sonya soon realized that she shared the mansion with not one but with many ghosts. She soon learned about the Legend of the Lost Brides.
As Sonya settled into life at the mansion, she delved into the history of her newly acquired family. The daily and nightly activities of her unseen inhabitants became expected and soon Sonya was able to identify or at least suspect who they had been. Slowly, Sonya started to take an interest in the many mysteries that lingered within the walls of the mansion. With the help of Trey (Oliver III), the lawyer’s son, her best friend Chloe and her newly found cousin, Owen the three sleuths tried and slowly peeled back the layers of time and intrigue to discover the answers they so desperately sought to unravel. How could they help break the curse that surrounded the legend of the lost brides?
I can’t wait for the next book in this trilogy to be published. The characters, both ghostly and alive, were perfect and so believable. I loved the descriptions of the quaint town, its shops and colorful and engaging shop owners. With the help and encouragement from Trey, Chloe and Owen will Sonya be able to unravel and discover the secrets that have plagued the mansion for generations? Nora Roberts chose to end Inheritance with a spectacular cliff hanger. It was brilliant but abrupt in that it left me wanting to read the second book immediately which I knew I couldn’t. I will have to wait patiently until it is published. Inheritance was not my usual genre but it worked for me. I found it extremely hard to tear myself away from listening to it. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Inheritance by Nora Roberts and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Inheritance by Nora Roberts through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sonya MacTavish lived in Boston, Massachusetts and she was a talented graphic artist. It had just been Sonya and her mother for quite a while ever since Sonya’s beloved father had passed away. Sonya and her mother were close but both missed her father’s presence and his influence on their lives. Sonya had recently gotten engaged to another graphic artist who worked at the same company that she worked for. Her days and weeks were busy trying to complete the plans for her wedding. It seemed that Sonya and her fiancé had different ideas about what they wanted, though. Sonya wanted a simple and small wedding but her fiancé wanted a big, lavish one. Their idea of the perfect house differed greatly as well. Sonya gravitated towards historic homes with lots of character and charm and her fiancé desired one that was modern and showy. It seemed like Sonya was always yielding to her fiancé’s desires and not her own. Then one day, Sonya decided to cancel an appointment she had made to check on their wedding invitations and went home to the house they bought together instead. To her surprise and shock, Sonya walked in on her fiancé while he was in their bed with her very own cousin. Was it fate that brought Sonya home early that day? Apparently, Sonya was not as in love with her fiancé as she had thought. When she called off the wedding, Sonya was not as brokenhearted as she would have thought she would have been. The only thing that might have felt awkward was that they both still worked at the same place and would have to see each other every day. Sonya decided to handle that in a mature, rational and professional way. Her fiancé had other ideas. He made it so uncomfortable for Sonya that eventually she left the company and decided to go out on her own.
One day, after giving up her position in the company she loved to work at, a lawyer showed up at her door and relayed the most surprising and shocking information to Sonya. Her deceased father had had a twin brother. They had been separated as infants and grew up apart from one another and never knew that the other existed until very recently. Sonya’s Uncle Collin, her father’s twin brother, had left the family estate to Sonya. It was located in Maine. The only stipulation that the will made was that she had to live there for three years before she could contemplate selling the estate. After Sonya had time to make sense of everything, she decided that she would move to Maine and live in the family home. She would soon discover that she was not alone in the mansion. Sonya soon realized that she shared the mansion with not one but with many ghosts. She soon learned about the Legend of the Lost Brides.
As Sonya settled into life at the mansion, she delved into the history of her newly acquired family. The daily and nightly activities of her unseen inhabitants became expected and soon Sonya was able to identify or at least suspect who they had been. Slowly, Sonya started to take an interest in the many mysteries that lingered within the walls of the mansion. With the help of Trey (Oliver III), the lawyer’s son, her best friend Chloe and her newly found cousin, Owen the three sleuths tried and slowly peeled back the layers of time and intrigue to discover the answers they so desperately sought to unravel. How could they help break the curse that surrounded the legend of the lost brides?
I can’t wait for the next book in this trilogy to be published. The characters, both ghostly and alive, were perfect and so believable. I loved the descriptions of the quaint town, its shops and colorful and engaging shop owners. With the help and encouragement from Trey, Chloe and Owen will Sonya be able to unravel and discover the secrets that have plagued the mansion for generations? Nora Roberts chose to end Inheritance with a spectacular cliff hanger. It was brilliant but abrupt in that it left me wanting to read the second book immediately which I knew I couldn’t. I will have to wait patiently until it is published. Inheritance was not my usual genre but it worked for me. I found it extremely hard to tear myself away from listening to it. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Inheritance by Nora Roberts and highly recommend it.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Inheritance by Nora Roberts through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2023
Inheritance by Nora Roberts
The Lost Bride Trilogy, #1. Paranormal romance. Cliffhanger. Multiple timelines as historical bride experiences at death are played out.
Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that she has inherited a house from a relative no one knew existed. Given her recent problems with an ex finance, she accepts the inheritance and opportunity to move into the sprawling Victorian manor on the Maine coastline. And finds the talk about ghosts isn’t just local lore.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The narration is done by Brittany Pressley who does a marvelous job with distinctive voices for several different characters. This narrator has a significant back catalogue and this is the first for this author.
Emotions are clearly heard in the performance making the audiobook suspenseful and appealing. The performance also makes the story easy to follow as date changes with the appropriate timing, and hard hits on the years.
The storytelling is immediately engaging and gripping. The characters gain depth as the story progresses and we learn the history of the brides and the house. Just a little chilling with each ghost that appears although most seem to be friendly and welcoming. But not all.
Cliffhanger. Not even resolving a romance. There is no information on the author website yet as to when the remaining books will be published. I feel like shaking the cage doors! 📚
An author’s note is included that includes the inspiration for the story as well as some personal details. ❤️
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio.
The Lost Bride Trilogy, #1. Paranormal romance. Cliffhanger. Multiple timelines as historical bride experiences at death are played out.
Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that she has inherited a house from a relative no one knew existed. Given her recent problems with an ex finance, she accepts the inheritance and opportunity to move into the sprawling Victorian manor on the Maine coastline. And finds the talk about ghosts isn’t just local lore.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The narration is done by Brittany Pressley who does a marvelous job with distinctive voices for several different characters. This narrator has a significant back catalogue and this is the first for this author.
Emotions are clearly heard in the performance making the audiobook suspenseful and appealing. The performance also makes the story easy to follow as date changes with the appropriate timing, and hard hits on the years.
The storytelling is immediately engaging and gripping. The characters gain depth as the story progresses and we learn the history of the brides and the house. Just a little chilling with each ghost that appears although most seem to be friendly and welcoming. But not all.
Cliffhanger. Not even resolving a romance. There is no information on the author website yet as to when the remaining books will be published. I feel like shaking the cage doors! 📚
An author’s note is included that includes the inspiration for the story as well as some personal details. ❤️
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio.
January 23, 2024
Learn to cook (at nearly 30!), wine, walk the dog, wine, do some work, wine, I am amazing, wine, see my boyfriend, wine, ghost cleans a lot, wine, friend stays, she also thinks she’s amazing, wine. The end.
November 16, 2023
I'm such a fan of Nora Roberts's trilogies and was delighted to learn that her new Lost Bride book is indeed the first in a trilogy in the fantasy/paranormal genre. Even better, it's the tale of a Victorian mansion haunted by deceased brides who were murdered on their wedding day which is indicative of an intriguing mystery.
INHERITANCE is the story of graphic designer Sonya MacTavish and the subsequent events that occur when she learns that her deceased father had a twin brother she never knew of, and that uncle has left her a haunted mansion on the Maine Coast with the stipulation she live there for at least three years. Sonya is at loose ends having just broken up with her cheating fiancé who's making her life miserable at their mutual place of employment. Making a life altering decision, she travels to Maine where she can work freelance, meets with Trey the young lawyer handling the execution of her uncle's Last Will & Testament, and immediately falls in love with the stunning mansion even with all the strange occurrences. Trey is upfront about the house's history of dead brides and ghosts, but Sonya feels like she's finally found her place in the world and moves in. To say that things go bump in the night is an understatement, but Sonya takes it all in stride until she meets the one malevolent spirit who's tries to drive her away. By this point, she's made new friends, garnished new business and maybe, just maybe, found new love so she sets out to solve the puzzle of the missing brides and hopefully help the bride spirits cross over. Who were the brides? How did they die? Can she break the spell cast over the next bride before it's too late?
Nora Roberts signature style of writing is evident in INHERITANCE with well-developed characters, an intriguing plot line and mystery to be solved. The gothic setting with a haunted mansion harboring spirits and years of secrets takes on a lead role like another character as tension builds with the escalation of the fury of the bad spirit. Sonya is a strong, reliable female lead, and support characters like Trey and best friend Cleo round out a great cast. The tone is eerie, and the pace increases steadily as Sonya draws closer to uncovering the truth of the past murders. While I enjoyed Sonya and Trey as a couple, their mutual attraction falls a bit flat in my opinion, but I'm thinking that will be rectified in books two and three. Being the first book of a trilogy, one can expect that this book ends on a cliffhanger, but I wasn't prepared for how huge a cliffhanger it would be as it literally stops in the middle of a major event leaving readers clamoring for the next book.
INHERITANCE is an intriguing, highly atmospheric fantasy mystery that's impossible to put down. Roberts's creativity in plot lines never ceases to amaze me as does the inclusion of a strong, tenacious female lead interacting with and supporting other females. The author is a master at incorporating past history of characters, their ancestors and setting in rendering a unique, highly entertaining mystery complete with ghosts and spirits and things that go bump in the night. I can't wait to see where the author takes these characters in the next two books of the Lost Brides trilogy. Highly recommended to fans of Roberts and readers who enjoy the fantasy genre.
3.5 Stars. Many thanks to St. Martins Press for an arc of this title which is scheduled for release on Nov. 21, 2023. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
INHERITANCE is the story of graphic designer Sonya MacTavish and the subsequent events that occur when she learns that her deceased father had a twin brother she never knew of, and that uncle has left her a haunted mansion on the Maine Coast with the stipulation she live there for at least three years. Sonya is at loose ends having just broken up with her cheating fiancé who's making her life miserable at their mutual place of employment. Making a life altering decision, she travels to Maine where she can work freelance, meets with Trey the young lawyer handling the execution of her uncle's Last Will & Testament, and immediately falls in love with the stunning mansion even with all the strange occurrences. Trey is upfront about the house's history of dead brides and ghosts, but Sonya feels like she's finally found her place in the world and moves in. To say that things go bump in the night is an understatement, but Sonya takes it all in stride until she meets the one malevolent spirit who's tries to drive her away. By this point, she's made new friends, garnished new business and maybe, just maybe, found new love so she sets out to solve the puzzle of the missing brides and hopefully help the bride spirits cross over. Who were the brides? How did they die? Can she break the spell cast over the next bride before it's too late?
Nora Roberts signature style of writing is evident in INHERITANCE with well-developed characters, an intriguing plot line and mystery to be solved. The gothic setting with a haunted mansion harboring spirits and years of secrets takes on a lead role like another character as tension builds with the escalation of the fury of the bad spirit. Sonya is a strong, reliable female lead, and support characters like Trey and best friend Cleo round out a great cast. The tone is eerie, and the pace increases steadily as Sonya draws closer to uncovering the truth of the past murders. While I enjoyed Sonya and Trey as a couple, their mutual attraction falls a bit flat in my opinion, but I'm thinking that will be rectified in books two and three. Being the first book of a trilogy, one can expect that this book ends on a cliffhanger, but I wasn't prepared for how huge a cliffhanger it would be as it literally stops in the middle of a major event leaving readers clamoring for the next book.
INHERITANCE is an intriguing, highly atmospheric fantasy mystery that's impossible to put down. Roberts's creativity in plot lines never ceases to amaze me as does the inclusion of a strong, tenacious female lead interacting with and supporting other females. The author is a master at incorporating past history of characters, their ancestors and setting in rendering a unique, highly entertaining mystery complete with ghosts and spirits and things that go bump in the night. I can't wait to see where the author takes these characters in the next two books of the Lost Brides trilogy. Highly recommended to fans of Roberts and readers who enjoy the fantasy genre.
3.5 Stars. Many thanks to St. Martins Press for an arc of this title which is scheduled for release on Nov. 21, 2023. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
January 2, 2024
"Houses need people, don't you think? Or they're just walls."
Such classic Nora Roberts writing in this book. From the first page to the last I could feel her signature of love through family and friendship, I could feel the joy writing has always brought her. It's been so long since her romance plot has taken a backseat, and I forgot how much I enjoyed when the suspenseful side of her writing pops out.
I was on the edge of my seat for so much of this, it was hard to put down. Hard to not look over my shoulder. I love a good ghost story, but I love a Nora ghost story more. The betrayal, the clues, the ticking clock, the kindness and love in a house haunted by memories... it was stunning to be a part of. She constantly brings to life stories of fiction and makes them feel so real with the mundane activities that are constantly inside of them. To go from a ghost DJ to the simplicity of cleaning a house, making it into a home. Recipes, and the making of them.
I get so lost in the reality of it all, I find such joy in it.
When you've read as many Nora books as I have, you tend to find patterns, small things that never change. One thing I have always wished for from Nora is a change in the male attitude. They tend to be forward, and domineering, which often works in a romance novel for so many reasons. I always wanted something softer, something more realistic, something more kind.
I got that and more in Trey. He was sweet in a believable and recognizable way. Special because he gives space, but understanding in a way that he'll be there if you call for no reason other than you're scared. I loved getting to know him through Sonya, I loved that there was texting. Real texting. The kind that isn't just a passing thought, but a conversation that never ends.
Nora worked the younger generation into this so well that I forgot, as I often do, that she's been doing this longer than some of the newer romance authors have been alive. She keeps up with trends, and she writes stories like this. The ones I never want to end.
The only reason this was four instead of five stars was because it was so much exposition. I can't wait to see what happens next, especially after such an epic ending. She's really starting to catch onto cliff hangers and how we readers love them.
Such classic Nora Roberts writing in this book. From the first page to the last I could feel her signature of love through family and friendship, I could feel the joy writing has always brought her. It's been so long since her romance plot has taken a backseat, and I forgot how much I enjoyed when the suspenseful side of her writing pops out.
I was on the edge of my seat for so much of this, it was hard to put down. Hard to not look over my shoulder. I love a good ghost story, but I love a Nora ghost story more. The betrayal, the clues, the ticking clock, the kindness and love in a house haunted by memories... it was stunning to be a part of. She constantly brings to life stories of fiction and makes them feel so real with the mundane activities that are constantly inside of them. To go from a ghost DJ to the simplicity of cleaning a house, making it into a home. Recipes, and the making of them.
I get so lost in the reality of it all, I find such joy in it.
When you've read as many Nora books as I have, you tend to find patterns, small things that never change. One thing I have always wished for from Nora is a change in the male attitude. They tend to be forward, and domineering, which often works in a romance novel for so many reasons. I always wanted something softer, something more realistic, something more kind.
I got that and more in Trey. He was sweet in a believable and recognizable way. Special because he gives space, but understanding in a way that he'll be there if you call for no reason other than you're scared. I loved getting to know him through Sonya, I loved that there was texting. Real texting. The kind that isn't just a passing thought, but a conversation that never ends.
Nora worked the younger generation into this so well that I forgot, as I often do, that she's been doing this longer than some of the newer romance authors have been alive. She keeps up with trends, and she writes stories like this. The ones I never want to end.
The only reason this was four instead of five stars was because it was so much exposition. I can't wait to see what happens next, especially after such an epic ending. She's really starting to catch onto cliff hangers and how we readers love them.
November 26, 2023
Sonya MacTavish's world was suddenly turned upside down when she caught her soon-to-be husband cheating, leaving her heart shattered. She decided to start afresh by quitting her job and leaving the past behind. Fortunately, she inherited a stunning Victorian house from her uncle soon after, which was the perfect opportunity to start fresh. However, Sonya soon began to notice strange occurrences in the house, which made her wonder if it was haunted. She also questioned why her uncle had left the house to her.
I initially enjoyed the beginning of the story, but as it continued, I found it to be quite average. The plot lacked excitement. It didn't have the impact I was hoping for and some parts became repetitive. Overall, the story had potential however, it fell short of my expectations.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Roberts, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I initially enjoyed the beginning of the story, but as it continued, I found it to be quite average. The plot lacked excitement. It didn't have the impact I was hoping for and some parts became repetitive. Overall, the story had potential however, it fell short of my expectations.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Roberts, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Read
May 4, 2024DNF/Skim Finish
I just couldn’t get into this one.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I just couldn’t get into this one.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 7, 2023
Omg… super trippy, super fabulous!
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I have read similar stories over the past few years but was looking forward to the Roberts twist and it does not disappoint.
The plot and storyline are addicting. I had a tough time putting it down, and frankly, absorbed this baby as fast as I could!
The creative way the author blends in the family history, the unique mystery surrounding the family home, and the ancestors are imaginative and intriguing. I love that she does not try to make this into a horror or necessarily a scary story, but more thriller style. Roberts adds wit and humor to lighten it up a bit too.
The characters are a wonderful blend that brings interest and a growing romance is a sweet diversion from the activities of the day and night.
Since this is book one of a trilogy, expect the cliffhanger, and she definitely leaves us hanging. Ack! Having to wait for the next installment is always a drag, but Inheritance is a fabulous read full of ghost stories, creepy dreams, and eeriness that only Roberts and her unique gift of storytelling can deliver.
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/inheritance-...
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I have read similar stories over the past few years but was looking forward to the Roberts twist and it does not disappoint.
The plot and storyline are addicting. I had a tough time putting it down, and frankly, absorbed this baby as fast as I could!
The creative way the author blends in the family history, the unique mystery surrounding the family home, and the ancestors are imaginative and intriguing. I love that she does not try to make this into a horror or necessarily a scary story, but more thriller style. Roberts adds wit and humor to lighten it up a bit too.
The characters are a wonderful blend that brings interest and a growing romance is a sweet diversion from the activities of the day and night.
Since this is book one of a trilogy, expect the cliffhanger, and she definitely leaves us hanging. Ack! Having to wait for the next installment is always a drag, but Inheritance is a fabulous read full of ghost stories, creepy dreams, and eeriness that only Roberts and her unique gift of storytelling can deliver.
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/inheritance-...
February 24, 2024
Wow! First- and remind yourself as you read The Inheritance by Nora Roberts, that this is part one of a series. Remind you sled!
Twisty plot, creative, magic and a haunted mansion with multiple ghosts! Highly recommend!
Nora Roberts has created a new series, The Lost Bride Trilogy. Inheritance is the first in the series and captures my interest right away. I really love the intensity of the mystery where we see past and present lead toward Sonya claiming her inheritance in Maine. I am actually planning on being in Maine this summer, so the setting and location also peaked my interest. Roberts shows the reader the beauty and serenity found in a peaceful area while she builds the tension of a confrontation between the killer and Sonya to come.
Sonya and Trey have good chemistry. I like that much of the novel is about Sonya figuring out what is right for her. The ghosts brings in a bit of supernatural, which I feel Roberts handled perfectly. With just the right note of disbelief and suspense.
Overall, well written and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!
Twisty plot, creative, magic and a haunted mansion with multiple ghosts! Highly recommend!
Nora Roberts has created a new series, The Lost Bride Trilogy. Inheritance is the first in the series and captures my interest right away. I really love the intensity of the mystery where we see past and present lead toward Sonya claiming her inheritance in Maine. I am actually planning on being in Maine this summer, so the setting and location also peaked my interest. Roberts shows the reader the beauty and serenity found in a peaceful area while she builds the tension of a confrontation between the killer and Sonya to come.
Sonya and Trey have good chemistry. I like that much of the novel is about Sonya figuring out what is right for her. The ghosts brings in a bit of supernatural, which I feel Roberts handled perfectly. With just the right note of disbelief and suspense.
Overall, well written and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!
November 27, 2023
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed a number of trilogies and quartets by the super-talented Nora Roberts. Based on Inheritance, book one of her new Lost Bride Trilogy, this one is going to be up there with my other favorites. Roberts manages to write stories with supernatural elements that just seem so real/realistic/possible. I don’t know how she does it.
Sonya moves from Boston to a small town in Maine after breaking things off with her cheating fiancé. She has inherited a house from a relative she knew nothing of, and it’s haunted. For real. The extensive family history includes a lot of tragic deaths, all of new brides. Creepy! They even call the house Lost Bride Manor. Most of the ghosts are pretty nice, even helpful. One of them makes up her bed and cleans up after Sonya, which Sonya found off-putting at first and then started to really appreciate! Another one plays songs on Sonya’s iPad with appropriate themes at several points in the story. I *loved* that! There’s even a little boy who teaches her dog to do tricks. Of course, there’s one really malevolent one, and she is pretty scary.
Even though the book is fairly long at 432 pages (or 14 hours of audio), it never felt long. Since this is the start of a trilogy, I didn’t expect things to get all wrapped up neatly at the end, but I was a bit shocked at the major cliffhanger Inheritance ended on. So if you hate cliffhanger endings, you may have to wait for book two. But that would be a shame because Inheritance is a great story.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Brittany Pressley, who did a wonderful job with all the voices and accents.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Sonya moves from Boston to a small town in Maine after breaking things off with her cheating fiancé. She has inherited a house from a relative she knew nothing of, and it’s haunted. For real. The extensive family history includes a lot of tragic deaths, all of new brides. Creepy! They even call the house Lost Bride Manor. Most of the ghosts are pretty nice, even helpful. One of them makes up her bed and cleans up after Sonya, which Sonya found off-putting at first and then started to really appreciate! Another one plays songs on Sonya’s iPad with appropriate themes at several points in the story. I *loved* that! There’s even a little boy who teaches her dog to do tricks. Of course, there’s one really malevolent one, and she is pretty scary.
Even though the book is fairly long at 432 pages (or 14 hours of audio), it never felt long. Since this is the start of a trilogy, I didn’t expect things to get all wrapped up neatly at the end, but I was a bit shocked at the major cliffhanger Inheritance ended on. So if you hate cliffhanger endings, you may have to wait for book two. But that would be a shame because Inheritance is a great story.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Brittany Pressley, who did a wonderful job with all the voices and accents.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
January 11, 2024
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
INHERITANCE (The Lost Bride Trilogy Book #1) by Nora Roberts is a wonderful ghost story that pulls you in immediately. The problem for my review is defining it. It is not a straight romance because you do not get the HEA in this book, but you do get a contemporary romance subplot and there are plenty of love stories told throughout the discovery of the family’s history. It is a historical suspense/thriller as well as a contemporary suspense/thriller. It also can be considered women’s fiction with the strong friendship between the main female characters and prominent secondary female characters. This story is all of the above.
Like every one of Nora Roberts books I have read, the characters all come to life and are memorable. Her storytelling and pacing are always engaging, and I find I always finish her books in only one or two sittings which is what happened with this book. This book has a lot of character development necessary to bring the lost brides to life and set up the background for the mystery/suspense plot. The only reason I did not give it a full 5-star rating (4.5 gets rounded up on the review sites anyway) is because it ends on a giant cliffhanger…and I do mean giant. This is a personal pet peeve for me and yes, I do realize it is a trilogy, but there is not even a partial wrap-up. And then, the next book in the trilogy does not come out for ten more months. Not one, but ten! AAGH!
The setting is a gothic historical Victorian mansion called Lost Brides Manor in small town Maine which has a ghost maid who cleans everything and one of the brides communicates with a wonderful playlist of songs for every occasion that always left me laughing. The witch ghost is menacing, and I am looking forward to her being banished. Since Sonya is a graphic designer and Cleo is an illustrator, both can work from the mansion, and it is through their jobs that they meet and interact with the town’s business owners and occupants. The dog that Sonya rescues, and the dogs of the male main characters, Trey and Owen are a great addition for a dog lover like me.
I do highly recommend this multi-generational family mystery/suspense/thriller with paranormal/supernatural ghosts, strong female characters, and developing romances even though it is killing me to wait for the next two books in the trilogy.
RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
INHERITANCE (The Lost Bride Trilogy Book #1) by Nora Roberts is a wonderful ghost story that pulls you in immediately. The problem for my review is defining it. It is not a straight romance because you do not get the HEA in this book, but you do get a contemporary romance subplot and there are plenty of love stories told throughout the discovery of the family’s history. It is a historical suspense/thriller as well as a contemporary suspense/thriller. It also can be considered women’s fiction with the strong friendship between the main female characters and prominent secondary female characters. This story is all of the above.
Like every one of Nora Roberts books I have read, the characters all come to life and are memorable. Her storytelling and pacing are always engaging, and I find I always finish her books in only one or two sittings which is what happened with this book. This book has a lot of character development necessary to bring the lost brides to life and set up the background for the mystery/suspense plot. The only reason I did not give it a full 5-star rating (4.5 gets rounded up on the review sites anyway) is because it ends on a giant cliffhanger…and I do mean giant. This is a personal pet peeve for me and yes, I do realize it is a trilogy, but there is not even a partial wrap-up. And then, the next book in the trilogy does not come out for ten more months. Not one, but ten! AAGH!
The setting is a gothic historical Victorian mansion called Lost Brides Manor in small town Maine which has a ghost maid who cleans everything and one of the brides communicates with a wonderful playlist of songs for every occasion that always left me laughing. The witch ghost is menacing, and I am looking forward to her being banished. Since Sonya is a graphic designer and Cleo is an illustrator, both can work from the mansion, and it is through their jobs that they meet and interact with the town’s business owners and occupants. The dog that Sonya rescues, and the dogs of the male main characters, Trey and Owen are a great addition for a dog lover like me.
I do highly recommend this multi-generational family mystery/suspense/thriller with paranormal/supernatural ghosts, strong female characters, and developing romances even though it is killing me to wait for the next two books in the trilogy.
October 9, 2023
Nora Roberts is a very talented and prolific author with over 225 romance books under her belt as both Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb. Absolutely amazing! This book is awesome!
Description:
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…
Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.
Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…
My Thoughts:
The characters are perfect for their parts in this one. The ghosts have distinct personalities. The plot is exciting and moves at a fast pace. I couldn't put the book down. The brides are tragic, each and every one. I liked that the deceased brides are trying to help Sonia solve the mystery. Sonia, the lead heroine is both courageous and relatable. I enjoyed her friendship with her best friend Cleo. The romance was enjoyable, but I feel it's just getting started. I have to admit to being devestated at the end - there really is no end because it is a definite cliffhanger. I thought maybe I had an issue with my download and was missing a chapter or two, but no - it was just cut off and I was so disappointed I couldn't find out what happened. I sure hope I can remember the story when the second book comes out and that I don't miss it. I really should have learned by now not to read trilogies until all the books are available, but I just can't resist. Waiting impatiently for the next installment in the series. Highly recommended - don't miss this one!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on November 21, 2023.
Description:
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…
Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.
Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…
My Thoughts:
The characters are perfect for their parts in this one. The ghosts have distinct personalities. The plot is exciting and moves at a fast pace. I couldn't put the book down. The brides are tragic, each and every one. I liked that the deceased brides are trying to help Sonia solve the mystery. Sonia, the lead heroine is both courageous and relatable. I enjoyed her friendship with her best friend Cleo. The romance was enjoyable, but I feel it's just getting started. I have to admit to being devestated at the end - there really is no end because it is a definite cliffhanger. I thought maybe I had an issue with my download and was missing a chapter or two, but no - it was just cut off and I was so disappointed I couldn't find out what happened. I sure hope I can remember the story when the second book comes out and that I don't miss it. I really should have learned by now not to read trilogies until all the books are available, but I just can't resist. Waiting impatiently for the next installment in the series. Highly recommended - don't miss this one!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on November 21, 2023.
July 12, 2023
Inheritance is the first book in Nora' Roberts new Lost Bride Trilogy.
Our main character, a newly single Sonya finds out that she has inherited a large house in Maine from her father's twin. And it's haunted. Sonya packs up her life and moves in.
I want to start my review by saying that I am a die hard Nora Roberts fan. I have literally read everything she has written, so i was REALLy eager to start this new trilogy.
And I was SO SO disappointed.
Other than the business with finding out her fiance was cheating, there is literally nothing interesting going in this book. Everything is...perfect. She gets over the fiance quickly. When he tries to sabotage her at work, its resolved quickly. The house, the family, her best friend, her setting out to work on her own, new clients, new boyfriend, even cooking for the first time...perfect.
The romance, was so...bland. No heat, i swear it was like watching paint dry wondering if they would ever get together. I love a good slow burn. But this was not that. Usually, this author does an excellent job building up the relationship and sharing what both of our characters are thinking. This book, it was mainly one sided and with both of them, there was never any real build up. One minute they were friendly, the next in bed.
Now the ghost story. Now this part of the book was interesting. I felt like it could have moved us along faster, but it was still interesting nonetheless. BUT I will say her formula is usually to at least tie off one loose end in the first book leaving you wanting more. But this one ends in a cliffhanger that didn't resolve the romance OR the ghost plot.
Soooo, iIhate hate HATE to do it, but I must give this one 2 stars. Sigh. I don't even know if i will bother with the next one.
Our main character, a newly single Sonya finds out that she has inherited a large house in Maine from her father's twin. And it's haunted. Sonya packs up her life and moves in.
I want to start my review by saying that I am a die hard Nora Roberts fan. I have literally read everything she has written, so i was REALLy eager to start this new trilogy.
And I was SO SO disappointed.
Other than the business with finding out her fiance was cheating, there is literally nothing interesting going in this book. Everything is...perfect. She gets over the fiance quickly. When he tries to sabotage her at work, its resolved quickly. The house, the family, her best friend, her setting out to work on her own, new clients, new boyfriend, even cooking for the first time...perfect.
The romance, was so...bland. No heat, i swear it was like watching paint dry wondering if they would ever get together. I love a good slow burn. But this was not that. Usually, this author does an excellent job building up the relationship and sharing what both of our characters are thinking. This book, it was mainly one sided and with both of them, there was never any real build up. One minute they were friendly, the next in bed.
Now the ghost story. Now this part of the book was interesting. I felt like it could have moved us along faster, but it was still interesting nonetheless. BUT I will say her formula is usually to at least tie off one loose end in the first book leaving you wanting more. But this one ends in a cliffhanger that didn't resolve the romance OR the ghost plot.
Soooo, iIhate hate HATE to do it, but I must give this one 2 stars. Sigh. I don't even know if i will bother with the next one.
November 26, 2023
I'm a fan of Nora Roberts mystery and thriller novels so I was intrigued with the idea of reading a sci-fi /fantasy novel from her. That was a mistake.
The novel started out well enough and the paranormal events didn't bother me at first. But after a while, the ghost business started to get annoying. Especially when the pop music is suddenly being played through Sonya's (the main character) iPad and to which the music was to match the mood or situation Sonya was in. i.e. Pretty Woman being played after Sonya dons an outfit that made her look stunning. And the pop up music scenes kept repeating itself without an end in sight. It was cute at first, but then it just got too repetitive and "old."
I can't imagine how the narrative could be stretched out into a trilogy. And I don't intend to find out. A one star DNF at 54%
I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The novel started out well enough and the paranormal events didn't bother me at first. But after a while, the ghost business started to get annoying. Especially when the pop music is suddenly being played through Sonya's (the main character) iPad and to which the music was to match the mood or situation Sonya was in. i.e. Pretty Woman being played after Sonya dons an outfit that made her look stunning. And the pop up music scenes kept repeating itself without an end in sight. It was cute at first, but then it just got too repetitive and "old."
I can't imagine how the narrative could be stretched out into a trilogy. And I don't intend to find out. A one star DNF at 54%
I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 21, 2023
Ooooh! This one has a gothic vibe to it, and I am soooo intrigued. But sadly, this isn't a gothic. But it is a ghost story with some really talented and helpful ghost and one really nasty witch ghost. To say that the Lost Bride Manor is haunted would be a gross understatement. I'd say it is overrun with the undeparted. I don't care for the vampire/werewolf paranormal, but I do like a good ghost tale and this one is very good. I just have two problems with this book. The first is NR's use of sentence fragments like we are supposed to know what she means. I found that annoying. The second is that I feel she keeps her readers at an emotional distance from the characters, especially the hero and heroine. I didn't feel a real connection there and I didn't feel the terror with some of the things that happened I thought I should have. Since this is the first book of the trilogy it did a great job of setting up the story, but resolved nothing, which was disappointing. It also ended with a cliffhanger, also disappointing.
Sonya MacTavish, a successful graphic designer, has had her world rocked. She caught her fiancé in bed with her cousin and since she worked in the same company, awkward, she decided to go to freelance work. On closer inspection of her emotions, the fiancé was no big loss, they didn't seem to want the same things. Then her world is rocked again with a visit from an attorney from Maine which changed everything she thought she knew about her father's family and made her an heiress.
Since Boston held bad memories and a new start was promised, Sonya is off to Poole's Bay, Maine and the Lost Bride's Manor with a host of ghostly inhabitants. Now Sonya will have to unravel the family mystery and attempt to end the family curse. Lucky for her she will have help because she has surrounded herself with people who support her and want to see her stay in Poole's Bay. That includes, her best friend, Cleo, who moved from Boston to be with her. The son of the estate attorney, also an attorney, Trey, who finds himself drawn to her strength. Her rescue dog, Yoda, who is small but fearless. With a team like that how can she not stay and fight the evil witch ghost who has plagued her family for generations.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Sonya MacTavish, a successful graphic designer, has had her world rocked. She caught her fiancé in bed with her cousin and since she worked in the same company, awkward, she decided to go to freelance work. On closer inspection of her emotions, the fiancé was no big loss, they didn't seem to want the same things. Then her world is rocked again with a visit from an attorney from Maine which changed everything she thought she knew about her father's family and made her an heiress.
Since Boston held bad memories and a new start was promised, Sonya is off to Poole's Bay, Maine and the Lost Bride's Manor with a host of ghostly inhabitants. Now Sonya will have to unravel the family mystery and attempt to end the family curse. Lucky for her she will have help because she has surrounded herself with people who support her and want to see her stay in Poole's Bay. That includes, her best friend, Cleo, who moved from Boston to be with her. The son of the estate attorney, also an attorney, Trey, who finds himself drawn to her strength. Her rescue dog, Yoda, who is small but fearless. With a team like that how can she not stay and fight the evil witch ghost who has plagued her family for generations.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
November 20, 2023
I absolutely love curling up with Roberts’s paranormal trilogies. While her books follow a formula, she brings fresh stories and new couples to hook me every time. In Inheritance we meet Boston graphic designer, Sonya MacTavish, whose world turns upside down and sideways again. I will let you discover what happens to her, because things get better when she learns her late father had a twin and he’s left her a Victorian house on the Maine coast! Why doesn’t this happen to me?
Of course, there are rules. She needs to live in residence for at least three years, but the estate is well provided for. Did I mention the house is haunted? I loved the mansion and all that we discovered inside. Well, all but what is on the third floor creating a fuss.
The suspenseful story about the Poole Bride curse, and the haunting happens alone, made me giddy and eager to read more. Then we have a dashing lawyer and his a loveable dog, a charming coastal town and a bestie who will pick up and move with you. The ghosts…. Let me tell you I need a few of them to pack their bags and come here. I promise to treat them well.
I loved the story from beginning to end and cannot wait to see how Sonya and her friends will break the curse. Of course, Roberts left off with a cliffhanger that has me counting the days until next November.
Fans of paranormal romance, ghosts, curses and swoon-worthy good guy romances will want to scoop this up. Seriously, grab some hot cocoa, start a fire and enjoy!
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Of course, there are rules. She needs to live in residence for at least three years, but the estate is well provided for. Did I mention the house is haunted? I loved the mansion and all that we discovered inside. Well, all but what is on the third floor creating a fuss.
The suspenseful story about the Poole Bride curse, and the haunting happens alone, made me giddy and eager to read more. Then we have a dashing lawyer and his a loveable dog, a charming coastal town and a bestie who will pick up and move with you. The ghosts…. Let me tell you I need a few of them to pack their bags and come here. I promise to treat them well.
I loved the story from beginning to end and cannot wait to see how Sonya and her friends will break the curse. Of course, Roberts left off with a cliffhanger that has me counting the days until next November.
Fans of paranormal romance, ghosts, curses and swoon-worthy good guy romances will want to scoop this up. Seriously, grab some hot cocoa, start a fire and enjoy!
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 19, 2023
Women's Fiction
Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy, #1
Publication date : November 21, 2023
Inheritance is a story about family, friendships and romance but there is also centuries old curse that follow residence of a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast. Now a graphic designer Sonya MacTavish has inherited the house from her dead uncle she had never heard of. She's about to learn more about her father's ancestry but also about the mysterious house and it's tragic history.
What started off with a shocking opening - our heroine Sonya discovering her soon-to-be husband having sex with her cousin in their bed, which then lead to cancelled wedding and her loosing her job she loved because of that jerk - ended on a flat and sort of dragged out note. I like that Sonya throw out that cheating bast*rd but from there things took fairytale quality.
I don’t believe in the supernatural goings on but I enjoy reading the ghost stories when they are written in believable way. Not this one. I felt I was reading a fairytale, no connection with real life and struggles women go through. And it was so unrealistic The romance was lukewarm, I did not feel any chemistry or connection. It was just convenient and supposed to happen.
While reading I could not help but think that this story could have been easily edited down by an hour or more without losing anything significant from its content. When book one was so drawn out I don't know what author will come up with for book 2 and book 3???
I've started to dislike authors who write series that are stretched into trilogy and this series is filled up with lots of superfluous stuff and nonsense. This story had the worst open ending possible. I really prefer standup series, a'la Susan Elizabeth Phillips or fantasy series like Marissa Meyer wrote where something was constantly happening and you couldn't read fast enough to find out what will happen next to the characters. But this story felt like filler for final book 3. Perhaps I should just read book 3 when it comes out sometime in 2025??
Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy, #1
Publication date : November 21, 2023
Inheritance is a story about family, friendships and romance but there is also centuries old curse that follow residence of a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast. Now a graphic designer Sonya MacTavish has inherited the house from her dead uncle she had never heard of. She's about to learn more about her father's ancestry but also about the mysterious house and it's tragic history.
What started off with a shocking opening - our heroine Sonya discovering her soon-to-be husband having sex with her cousin in their bed, which then lead to cancelled wedding and her loosing her job she loved because of that jerk - ended on a flat and sort of dragged out note. I like that Sonya throw out that cheating bast*rd but from there things took fairytale quality.
I don’t believe in the supernatural goings on but I enjoy reading the ghost stories when they are written in believable way. Not this one. I felt I was reading a fairytale, no connection with real life and struggles women go through. And it was so unrealistic The romance was lukewarm, I did not feel any chemistry or connection. It was just convenient and supposed to happen.
While reading I could not help but think that this story could have been easily edited down by an hour or more without losing anything significant from its content. When book one was so drawn out I don't know what author will come up with for book 2 and book 3???
I've started to dislike authors who write series that are stretched into trilogy and this series is filled up with lots of superfluous stuff and nonsense. This story had the worst open ending possible. I really prefer standup series, a'la Susan Elizabeth Phillips or fantasy series like Marissa Meyer wrote where something was constantly happening and you couldn't read fast enough to find out what will happen next to the characters. But this story felt like filler for final book 3. Perhaps I should just read book 3 when it comes out sometime in 2025??
November 27, 2023
4.5 Stars
Loved Inheritance! Sonya’s story grabbed me from the start, with her ruined engagement, to how she came to inherit the historic mansion on the coast of Maine. It sounded so gorgeous, with its grand library, breathtaking views of the ocean and a widow’s walk! It’d be hard to refuse even with the ghosts that seem to inhabit the place. Sonya finds out there’s a tragic history, the brides in her family have died soon after marrying. A dark presence laid a curse down long ago that needs to be broken.
Nora Roberts weaved a captivating tale complete with characters to love and hate. Parts were spooky with unexplained happenings in the mansion, but Sonya had backup and support with her best friend, Cleo, her mother, and the hunky lawyer, Trey. They all are on board with investigating the past and eliminating any threat to the future.
The story stopped at an interesting part, and I was surprised. At first thought that maybe my copy was cut short, but then figured out it was a to-be-continued/cliffhanger sort of ending. I eagerly await the next installment!
Brittany Pressley, one of my favorite narrators, performed each character with a distinct voice, some with accents, and delivered with emotion that brought the characters to life! I completely recommend the audio version! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Loved Inheritance! Sonya’s story grabbed me from the start, with her ruined engagement, to how she came to inherit the historic mansion on the coast of Maine. It sounded so gorgeous, with its grand library, breathtaking views of the ocean and a widow’s walk! It’d be hard to refuse even with the ghosts that seem to inhabit the place. Sonya finds out there’s a tragic history, the brides in her family have died soon after marrying. A dark presence laid a curse down long ago that needs to be broken.
Nora Roberts weaved a captivating tale complete with characters to love and hate. Parts were spooky with unexplained happenings in the mansion, but Sonya had backup and support with her best friend, Cleo, her mother, and the hunky lawyer, Trey. They all are on board with investigating the past and eliminating any threat to the future.
The story stopped at an interesting part, and I was surprised. At first thought that maybe my copy was cut short, but then figured out it was a to-be-continued/cliffhanger sort of ending. I eagerly await the next installment!
Brittany Pressley, one of my favorite narrators, performed each character with a distinct voice, some with accents, and delivered with emotion that brought the characters to life! I completely recommend the audio version! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2023
Um, this was terrible. It could have been great, like the Key, In The Garden, and Boonsboro trilogies. Nora knows how to write great paranormal/romance. This is now the third book of hers in a row that I hated (following the last Dragon Heart book and Identity).
Sonya is planning a wedding to a jerk who is all about getting his own way, until she cancels the florist and comes home to find him in bed with her cousin. She immediately stops loving him. Kicks him out, packs his stuff, moves on. They work in the same graphic design firm and he harasses her but too subtly for her to prove, so she quits to go freelance. Her bosses give her an account to take with her because they feel bad. (this doesn't happen in real life) Her freelancing is almost immediately successful, and then after a visit from a lawyer she finds out she's inherited a literal manor in Maine from an uncle she didn't know existed. But don't worry, he's set up a trust to take care of all the financials. She just has to live in the house. So sure, she moves from Boston to Maine. Oh, but the house is haunted.
Let's cut to the chase. Nice lawyer (Deuce) has a family law firm with his dad (Ace) and son (Trey). Sonya and Trey hit it off and at some point in the last third of the book start sleeping together. There's no chemistry. It's just convenient for them to start dating.
*Side note: Ace is in his 70s or 80s and he's gross. When he meets Sonya at the office, he tells her he likes to take "pretty girls" to lunch. It's 2023, someone clue Gramps in that we don't say sh*t like this to women anymore.
Sonya immediately starts getting graphic design clients in her new town and is hugely successful. She never cooked before but makes a perfect pot roast for the Ace/Deuce/Trey family (what are they going to call Oliver IV, I wonder?) followed by a perfect scallop and linguine dinner for her mother, who comes to visit. A ghost maid cleans up after her, doing dishes, making the bed, polishing the whole house. Sure, the house is haunted by multiple dead brides and the witch who killed them and stole her rings, but overall Sonya has it made. Her ghost grandmother is constantly playing songs on her iTunes to fit any situation - which, honestly, the constant song references became incredibly annoying after the first five times. She adopts a perfect rescue dog who plays fetch with a little boy ghost and never ever makes a mess. Oh and then her old bosses give her the opportunity to pitch another perfect client she'd previously worked with.
Are you tired of reading this review? That's what reading the book felt like. Too many subplots, not enough forward progress. Just Sonya designing brilliant websites in her amazing two story library. I haven't even mentioned her perfect best friend, Cleo, who also leaves Boston to move in since she can be a successful illustrator from anywhere. Other than the mean witch who stole the dead brides' wedding rings (which Sonya is supposed to get back but we have no idea how), lives in a room on the third floor, and makes a ruckus from time to time, there's no real adversity or danger. Then the damn book ends on a cliffhanger.
What even is the point of this storyline?
Sonya is planning a wedding to a jerk who is all about getting his own way, until she cancels the florist and comes home to find him in bed with her cousin. She immediately stops loving him. Kicks him out, packs his stuff, moves on. They work in the same graphic design firm and he harasses her but too subtly for her to prove, so she quits to go freelance. Her bosses give her an account to take with her because they feel bad. (this doesn't happen in real life) Her freelancing is almost immediately successful, and then after a visit from a lawyer she finds out she's inherited a literal manor in Maine from an uncle she didn't know existed. But don't worry, he's set up a trust to take care of all the financials. She just has to live in the house. So sure, she moves from Boston to Maine. Oh, but the house is haunted.
Let's cut to the chase. Nice lawyer (Deuce) has a family law firm with his dad (Ace) and son (Trey). Sonya and Trey hit it off and at some point in the last third of the book start sleeping together. There's no chemistry. It's just convenient for them to start dating.
*Side note: Ace is in his 70s or 80s and he's gross. When he meets Sonya at the office, he tells her he likes to take "pretty girls" to lunch. It's 2023, someone clue Gramps in that we don't say sh*t like this to women anymore.
Sonya immediately starts getting graphic design clients in her new town and is hugely successful. She never cooked before but makes a perfect pot roast for the Ace/Deuce/Trey family (what are they going to call Oliver IV, I wonder?) followed by a perfect scallop and linguine dinner for her mother, who comes to visit. A ghost maid cleans up after her, doing dishes, making the bed, polishing the whole house. Sure, the house is haunted by multiple dead brides and the witch who killed them and stole her rings, but overall Sonya has it made. Her ghost grandmother is constantly playing songs on her iTunes to fit any situation - which, honestly, the constant song references became incredibly annoying after the first five times. She adopts a perfect rescue dog who plays fetch with a little boy ghost and never ever makes a mess. Oh and then her old bosses give her the opportunity to pitch another perfect client she'd previously worked with.
Are you tired of reading this review? That's what reading the book felt like. Too many subplots, not enough forward progress. Just Sonya designing brilliant websites in her amazing two story library. I haven't even mentioned her perfect best friend, Cleo, who also leaves Boston to move in since she can be a successful illustrator from anywhere. Other than the mean witch who stole the dead brides' wedding rings (which Sonya is supposed to get back but we have no idea how), lives in a room on the third floor, and makes a ruckus from time to time, there's no real adversity or danger. Then the damn book ends on a cliffhanger.
What even is the point of this storyline?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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