The first book in a new trilogy from best selling author Nora Roberts. I sat spellbound and on the edge of my seat. The book starts simply enough with Sonya MacTavish inheriting a historic Victorian house on the Coast of Maine. There is family connection that I’ll let the book explain but she must stay three years for it to be fully hers. Of course it comes with ghosts. Some ghosts I’d love to welcome to my home but the evil woman in black keeps you wondering what will happen next. Along with her comes a legend about a bride from every generation dying on their wedding day.

Side characters are great. Yoda, her adopted dog, Trey, a lawyer and love interest, his cousin Owen and her best friend Cleo are there to be her own Scooby Doo gang. Roberts writes wonderful friend speak and loving banter. I wish people could really say as much with as little words. Her writing and storytelling drew me further and further into the story. My only complaint is that I have to wait for the release of the next book to continue from the cliff hanging ending. I highly recommend this new trilogy. Thank you to st. Martin’s Press for the ARC via NetGalley and I’m leaving a voluntary review.

This first book in a new trilogy will have readers anxiously waiting for the next installments. This haunting ghost story revolves around an old house that Sonya just inherited and some family secrets that need to be revealed or no one will ever be safe in the house again. The perfect blend of romance, suspense and the paranormal, everything a reader could want on a chilly night, well maybe afternoon, since the dark might be too much after reading!

I have been reading Nora Roberts books since she first started writing and I always thoroughly enjoyed her books. However, the last 2 contemporary books I've read have been disappointing. Inheritance is a both a paranormal and romance novel but unfortunately was filled with many tropes; the cheating fiancee, an inheritance from an unknown relative and a mansion filled with ghosts.

I struggled through much of the book where the action just wasn't that interesting (I didn't much care about the many details of Sonya's job), although there were chapters that did capture my interest such as those about the previous brides. Most disappointing of all was the ending which leaves the reader in a cliff-hanger!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy!

Inheritance is best-selling romance author Nora Roberts’ first book in The Lost Bride Trilogy. It’s categorized as Science Fiction/Fantasy, but I would call it Romantic Suspense with supernatural elements. Roberts has a distinctive writing voice, and this story is more action-oriented than character development. While the main story is told in chronological order, some chapters go back in history to introduce the “lost brides”.

Inheritance begins in 1806 with newly married Astrid Grandville Poole sitting in her bridal dress during the reception, anticipating her wedding night. Within moments she is stabbed to death, and her wedding band is removed from her finger. Her last words are a promise to her beloved bridegroom, Collin, to never leave him.

The second chapter introduces 28-year-old graphic designer Sonya MacTavish, an unhappily engaged woman living in Boston. When she discovers her fiancé in bed with her cousin, she makes changes in her life. A few months later she is shocked when a Maine attorney informs her that her late artist father had a twin brother he never knew about, and she has a nice inheritance from this newly deceased uncle. The condition for her to accept the generous inheritance is that she must live at the family estate in Poole’s Bay, Maine for a minimum of three years. Sonya’s mom and ride-or-die best friend, Cleo, urge her to do a trial for three months at the estate. Sonya really wants to investigate why the boys were separated at birth and not told of each other’s existence.

When Sonya arrives at the ancestral home, she meets the handsome son of her uncle’s attorney, Oliver Doyle Jr. Sonya immediately likes Oliver “Trey” Doyle III, and he gives her a tour of the mansion. He tells her that the place is haunted. Within a few days Sonya finds objects moved, her bed made, and music spontaneously playing from her iPad but she puts it down to exhaustion. She is busy working on a project for Trey’s potter sister, Anna. Soon Sonya realizes that she has inherited a centuries-old curse along with the beautiful old house.

From the moment that Sonya meets Mr. Doyle Jr., the reader hopes that he has a son around Sonya’s age. There is never any doubt that Sonya and Trey will fall in love. Then the reader wants to put their best friends, Cleo and Owen, together. Of course the reader wants justice for the “lost brides” and Collin and his twin being separated at birth. One important note for potential readers: Inheritance ends without a conclusion so a reader has to wait on the sequel to get their happily-ever-after.

I really enjoyed reading Inheritance although I’m not a fan of ghost stories. Sonya was a likeable and engaging heroine, and I really liked her relationships with both her mom and Cleo. I think her ex-fiancé, Brandon, got off too easily for his misdeeds. Trey is the perfect hero, and I admired both his professional skills and his relationships with his parents and best friend, Owen Poole. While this story is at heart a romance, it’s also a celebration of family and friendships.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

From my blog: Always With a Book

I have been a fan of Nora Roberts for as long as I can remember, and while I have lately only been reading her stand-alone romantic suspense novels, I couldn’t resist requesting this one. This is the Nora Roberts I remember from years ago and I loved it…everything except that cliffhanger – but we’ll get to that in a minute.

This is the start of Nora Robert’s new Lost Bride trilogy and what an amazing start it is off to. It completely pulled me in from the beginning, sweeping me up in the world that only she is able to build. We have a mix of gothic vibes, a mystery and of course some romance and I could not be more invested in what is going on. Moving back and forth in time, we slowly get the history of the brides and what has happened to them, and I am loving that. The way this is being told to us, coming to Sonya, our main character in the present day, through dreams, is so fun, and while I don’t really tend to love the fantasy/paranormal elements that much, here it is completely working for me. Maybe because there is a mystery element to it, maybe because there is the gothic vibe, I’m not sure but I want more and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment in this trilogy, especially with the way this book ended…I mentioned there was that cliffhanger and this one was such a doozy! I totally didn’t see it coming and while it is shocking, it completely works for what has happened already.

I absolutely loved this one and will be counting the days until I can get my hands on the next installment of this trilogy. I need to know what this curse is that has haunted this house Sonya has inherited and I want more of these characters that I have already fallen in love with! And I suggest you give this one a try because I think you will love it, too!

I have chosen to withhold my review of Inheritance by Nora Roberts in accordance with the boycott of reviewing and platforming titles published under St. Martin’s Press and associated imprints. As a company, St. Martin’s Press has yet to meaningfully acknowledge and address the harm caused by a marketing employee who perpetuated Islamophobic sentiments against those of Palestinian descent specifically, and has a documented history of discriminating against readers of Arab heritage in general. As a reader, I refuse to participate, even passively, in perpetuating harm against my fellow readers in an activity all should be able to enjoy.

Once action is taken by St. Martin’s Press as a company to address the harm caused, I will upload my review of Inheritance by Nora Roberts.

Title: Inheritance
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy Book 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Inheritance" by Nora Roberts

My Sentiments:

If you are looking for a fantastic read...' Inheritance' will give it to you and more. The characters... Sonya, Cleo, Winter, and the Ghosts were all off the chart, being so well-developed. This all happens when Sonya has a broken engagement, then a new newfound family comes out, and then on a journey that will uncover secrets about her father's estranged twin.

Will Sonya be able to uncover the family mysteries along with this 'centuries-old curse and a good blend of romance?' The reader will get a blend of the supernatural, an intriguing paranormal twist, and a curse from all of this.

By the end...yes, we get a cliffhanger, so you will have to get books 2 and 3 to find out more...that is to come
from this good read.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for the ARC to read, enjoy, and honestly review.

I enjoy reading a Nora Roberts book occasionally. They often feel paint-by-numbers to me so I don't read them too frequently. This particular book was a bit of a slog for me. There's an interesting story here but it was buried under lots of monotonous details and painful dialogue.

The Lost Brides Trilogy begins with Sonya inheriting a house in Maine from a long lost uncle that she never knew. After a disastrous relationship situation and shake up in her job, she is eager for the opportunity. The only problem is the house is haunted with both benevolent, helpful ghosts and one that wants to destroy her.

This first book sets up the over-arching story of the lost brides and the journey that Sonya and company must go on to solve the mystery. It seems like it will eventually be a page turner of a book, but this installment was slow. The romance lacked chemistry, but I can see the promise of the romances to come in the series. As previously mentioned, the dialogue in NR books is rough. It seems so completely out of touch with how people actually speak to each other. Finally, this book ends on a huge cliff hanger. I would be aware of that fact going in. It's going to be another 2 years before this story is complete. I personally would just wait until they are all out to read all at once.

I'm giving this book 3 stars because I eventually believe that it will be a compelling trilogy. This book just was a bit of a drag with a lot of set up and a lackluster couple.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sonya MacTavish has just ended an engagement and began a new job freelancing when she learns that her father, who had been adopted, has a twin brother. Now both of the brothers have died and her father’s twin has left her a sizable inheritance.

But there is a catch to inheriting. She must live in the the large Victorian mansion for three years. And, the mansion is haunted. I feel I must clarify what haunted means. Some ghostly presence is a maid, making the beds and cleaning the kitchen. Another is playing music to fit the mood of the day. Another likes to play fetch with the dog and teach him tricks. But there is another ghostly presence who is a malevolent spirit and likes to stir things up.

The house has a history of brides dying on their wedding day or soon after. Sonya decides to learn about the history of the house and the family (her family) that have lived in the house for generations. Along with her best friend, Cleo and a couple of male friends, the four of them join forces to learn how to rid the house of the angry ghost.

I have to admit, I was loving this story and the haunted house, but the abrupt end was really frustrating. I hope Nora Roberts publishes the second of the trilogy soon because I am reading to keep reading!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to write an honest review and recommend this to like-minded readers.

Stunning cliffhanger! i loved these characters and the family secrets and the mystical element to the story. Great start to a new series and I cannot wait for the next one!.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Inheritance
Author: Nora Roberts
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: Nov. 21, 2023
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The story begins with our lead protagonist, Sonya, arriving at her Boston home unexpectedly and finding her fiancee in bed with her cousin. She kicks the fiancee to the curb. But Sonya’s luck turns later when she finds out that she is an heiress to a stunning Maine mansion with assets worth millions. The catch? Sonya must move to Maine and live in the house for three years to collect all the goods. Who would turn that down? There is only one little hitch: the mansion is seriously haunted….as in talking ghost haunted. There is a back story about a terrible jealous woman from the 1800s who murdered one bride and placed a curse on any bride in the house forever. When Sonya meets Trey, her attorney’s legal eagle son, fireworks commence, and he starts to help her fix her ghastly or ghostly issues. He’s grown up in the small Maine town, and Trey knows about the mansion’s curse. Of course, Sonja and Trey become romantic, and then…the book ends. I kept looking further to see if I missed something, but nope, it’s a three-part storyline, and I'm waiting to find out what happens to Sonya, who made a daring decision on the last page. OMG. I am a big fan of Nora Roberts novels, and I especially like her romantic love stories, but this is more of a science fiction, paranormal fiction. I was not expecting that. I’m a wee bit bummed to be left out in the cold at the end of the story, but we will all have to wait to see what transpires in Part Two. #ghost #friends #family #cold #death #life #love #future #rich #opportunity #puzzles #thingsThatGoBumpInTheNight #secludedMansion #ocean #TheInheritance @norarobertsauthor #paranormal #curse #hex #maine @stmartinspress @netgalley
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: November 21, 2023.
🌊

#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader #reader #reviewer

I thought this book was great. I loved the haunted house aspect and the fact that the house was inherited just added to the suspense for me. I thought the curse of the brides was a unique part of the story. I really enjoyed this story. I didn’t realize this was part of a series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and to Nora Roberts for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
@stmartinspress
@norarobertsauthor
@netgalley

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sonya is soon to be married and comes home to find her fiancé cheating on her. After ending this bad engagement she inherits a Victorian mansion from an Uncle she didn’t know she had. She decides to live there and realizes it’s haunted. Also it has been under a family curse for centuries!

I really enjoyed this book. This book was really different from books I’ve read in the past. I loved the paranormal aspects and characters. This is the 1st book of The Lost Bride Trilogy. I can’t wait to read the other books!

#read #netgalley #noraroberts #book #fantasy #romance #scifi #bride #lost #tbr #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #booknerds #fivestar

Inheritance by Nora Roberts
Pub Date: November 21, 2023
Genre: paranormal romance
Pages: 432
Dates read: 11/4 to 11/8
First book in the Lost Bride Trilogy
4.5 ⭐️

Thoughts:
Inheritance was classic Nora Roberts in the best way! It features magical elements, a haunted gothic house, a series of deaths that happen to brides in same family for generations, a strong woman trying to discover the truth surrounded by strong women and a handsome man in her life, and a handsome love interest. I loved it!!

Inheritance begins in 1806 with the first death of Astrid Poole on her wedding day. She is murdered by a jealous woman, and her wedding ring is taken straight off of her finger. She vows to never leave her husband, and she’s done just that.

Fast forward to modern-day Boston, and graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is engaged to a man she finds in bed with her cousin. After learning that an unknown uncle left her a sprawling gothic mansion in Maine, newly-single Sonya embarks on a new adventure. She’s warned that the house is haunted, but takes no stock in the warning until she arrives and benevolent and malevolent forces work in her life.

Trey, the friendly and handsome neighborhood lawyer, grew up in the house and helps Sonya as she adjusts to living in a home where a ghost plays random songs, a piano plays every morning at 3am, and someone puts out her clothes and puts away the dishes for her. More than inheriting the house, Sonya has inherited the legacy of the lost brides and the curse that was placed on her family back in 1806.

Sonya and her friends endeavor to find out exactly what happened and how to reverse the curse.

What I loved:
- the female relationships. Sonya’s best friend Cleo and her mother are great. I loved their personalities and how much they loved each other.
- The ending is a cliffhanger! I need the next book in the series ASAP!
- Trey was so sweet, and I enjoyed seeing his and Sonya’s love story evolve.
- The ghosts-good and bad. I can’t wait to see how the next book shows us more about what happened and connects Sonya’s dad’s past with her uncle’s.
- The found family vibes were great!
- The setting - I love a good gothic house novel, especially one set in beautiful Maine.

Inheritance reminded me of Midnight Bayou in its atmospheric setting, ghosts interacting with the main characters, and scary moments as the characters try to figure out what happened and how to help the ghosts. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good. I loved the main character and her friend and also the man who becomes her love interest. Sonja inherits a haunted mansion and after ending a bad engagement decides to move there. The bad witch has cast a spell on the house and all the brides there. If you do not like cliffhangers do not read this until the next one comes out. Turns out this is he first of a trilogy. I can’t wait until the next one comes out.

I have read 4 books by Nora Roberts this year - 2 were under her pseudonym J.D. Robb. I can honestly say that her books just get better and better. This one checked off so many boxes for me: romantic suspense, haunted house, great characters, an amazing story, and quite a few scares that I was not expecting. This is the first book in her "Lost Bride Trilogy," and I cannot wait for the next book!

Sonya MacTavish is a graphic designer planning her wedding, when she catches her fiance cheating on her. Her world is further turned upside-down when she discovers that an uncle she never knew she had leaves her a significant inheritance that includes a large manor house. Sonya quits her job to freelance and moves to Maine.

The backstory of this house is incredible. Multiple brides died as result of a curse, and this house is haunted. Nora Roberts weaves a story that has elements of historical fiction, horror, the paranormal, and of course romance. It is like nothing I have read by her before, and what an ending! The wait is going to be too long for books 2 and 3.

There is, as always, a great cast of characters. The Poole family, Sonya's best friend Cleo, her Mom Winter, Trey, and Oliver. There is also a small village full of great characters too. But make no mistake, the true main character of this story is Lost Bride Manor. It is a true haunted house, and Nora Roberts utilizes its size, corners, and rooms for maximum spookiness. I am not easily scared, and this book is unsettling in all of the best ways. There is so much more that I want to talk about here, but no spoilers allowed. This story is immersive, and you feel every feeling each character describes. This is a start to a wonderful new trilogy. Nora Robert delivers every time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book. Thank you also to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version as well - the narrator is incredible. This book releases on November 21st - pick it up!

Inheritance by Nora Roberts is the first book in The Lost Bride Trilogy

I'm an on and off fan of Ms. Roberts and this book is an excellent start to a trilogy. I normally like to wait for the entire series to be out when we know it's going to be a connected trilogy like this because the waiting just sucks. But it's too late now, and the additional books don't even have publishing dates, big sighs.

This is a story of finding your place and connections to the past. Uncovering family secrets and strength from those you love. There is a haunted manor house, a two hundred year old curse, and the determination of one woman to find the answers. It's a very interesting juxtaposition taking the very level-headed Sonya and putting her in the middle of a Gothic novel of the lost brides. Hold onto your suits cause things go bump in the night at the witching hour, and you're going to need to stay sharp for the journey.

Nora Roberts has been one of the authors who either is hit or miss with my reading. I love many of her books. I wasn't sure where this one would fall. Happily this one is a hit. While it didn't grab me at the beginning, I was pleasantly surprised to find the story intriguing enough to continue. Sonya MacTavish is stunned to find she has inherited a Victorian Mansion on a Maine coast from an Uncle she never knew she. It seems her father may not have known he had a brother either. Her life at a cross roads, Sonya decides a fresh start and a delve into her past might just be the ticket. When she arrives there, things are not as they seem. The mansion maybe a wee bit haunted. What is disturbing is that while some ghosts are there to help, one seems to be only there for hurting. Will Sonya be able to find out the truth behind the long ago murders? I love the characters within the story. The story did a great job of giving a solid foundation to the past and what lead us to where we are today. I look forward to the second book. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Sonya MacTavish inherits an estate from a relative that she never knew existed, but when she arrives, she finds there is much more to Lost Bride Manor than meets the eye…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inheritance was the first book in The Lost Bride Trilogy which included some light romance and featured an exquisite estate filled with history, heartbreak, and ghosts…

I really wanted to love this book, but was seriously disappointed in just about every aspect of the story. As a former avid Nora Roberts reader, I am not sure where it all went wrong. The mundane details of Sonya’s day-to-day schedule, or the repetitive nature of just about every part of the plot, my high hopes for this trilogy were unfortunately dashed pretty early on. And while the very last chapter of the book finally had some excitement looming, the cliffhanger left me disenchanted as I will not be continuing the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I need the next book and I need it now. Nora Roberts is the Queen of trilogies, and I don’t think this one is going to disappoint based on this first book in the series. Inheritance is everything you could hope for in a book. You have a giant haunted manor with nice ghosts and an evil one. You have Sonya, who inherited this manor, who has moved in and is learning to deal with the ghosts. Trey, Cleo, Owen, and all the other characters are great. I really can’t wait to read the next one. Just hate I have to wait a year.

Highly recommend!!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely