I have been reading Nora Roberts for years and she never disappoints. What can I say about the Inheritance... WOW! WOW! WOW!! OMG!... This sucks you in right from the start. Inheritance, the first book of The Lost Bride trilogy starts in 1806 at Astrid Poole's wedding day. Astrid is sitting down in her wedding dress and looking at her ring and thinking about her new husband when a women in black comes in and murders her and takes her wedding ring.
It then moves to present day to Sonya MacTavish, who is a graphic designer and is about to be married. When she returns home from doing errands for the wedding planning, she walks in on her fiancé in bed with her cousin. She throws them both to the curb with very little clothes on... Sonya and her ex-Fiancé both work a the same graphic design house but Sonya was going to be classy and just tell them that she called off the wedding and can't work with him. They then told her that he told them she was having a break down so she told them the truth. Sonya wanted to stay but he made it difficult because he destroyed her property, even if she couldn't prove it. Sonya decided to go out on her own and leave her current job. Sonya was doing well until a lawyer showed up at her door to tell her she had a long lost uncle that left her in the will and she would inherit a Manor in Maine. The only stipulation is, is that she must live there for 3 years. in order to inherit it completely. If she doesn't last she loses everything. Sonya has decided she had nothing to lose, she could work from anywhere and if it didn't work out she could move back home after 3 months. What could go wrong. Well no one told her it was very haunted. Sonya thought she was losing her mind when things started happening, things moved and strange sounds but nothing there. All 7 brides were murdered in the house and their rings taken. It is up to Sonya to find the rings. This book just draws you in and the very last page... WOW! WOW! WOW! I can't wait until the 2nd book comes out in 2024 to find out what happens next. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Anyone else surprised by the content of this Nora Roberts book?! This is so different than what she usually writes. Romance? Yeah, that's the same. Good writing? That's the same too. A cozy, small town romance equipped with GHOSTS that span over decades with a cliffhanger that makes you want to scream and curse the author?? Yeah that's new for her.
Having said that, I LOVED Inheritance. It's one of my favorite reads this year so far. I listened to the audio and read when I couldn't listen. The foreword by Nora herself made the story all that much more interesting to me. The narrator was really good and enthusiastic. I liked listening to it more than most.
Sonya is ready for her next chapter when a gothic, family owned mansion is dropped in her lap due to an uncle she didn't even know existed leaving it to her as an inheritance. There she finds that she's not alone in the home, or in life when a certain handsome man comes around.

I can't say enough good things about this and have already told so many people they need to scoop this book when it comes out. It's so so so good.
Thank you to Netgalley, Nora Roberts and MacMillen Audio for the chance to read this ARC. This opinion is mine alone and not promised to anyone for an advanced read.
BUY THIS BOOK. You wont regret it.

This is a great read, I definitely had a hard time putting this book down. Nora Roberts reminds us why we love her books with this one. I will be counting down until the next in the series comes out. It has such great characters - the people and the ghosts. It can get spooky at times, but not enough to make me stop reading it at night and I’m a scaredy cat when it comes to haunted things. It has a great friendship with the main character Sonya and her best friend Cleo. I love it when an author gives solid friendships to female characters, so many authors don't realize that we love to read about strong friendships as much as we do a romance. They are really fun to hang out with. It has and equally great slow moving romance with Sonya and Trey. You should definitely pick this one up to read.

Inheritance is the first in Nora Robert’s new The Lost Bride Trilogy. Sonya just got out of a serious relationship and as she is trying to find her footing in her life and her job, her world is flipped upside down when she finds out she has received an inheritance from her fathers twin brother that she never knew existed. Embracing this new path life has thrown at her, Sonya moves into the Victorian mansion on the Maine coast that was left to her. She quickly finds that not everything is as it seems in the house and she is not alone. The ghostly presences in the house leave Sonya with a mystery to figure out.

I was intrigued by the description of this book and it definitely did not disappoint! I loved this book and the characters in it from the very beginning and quickly found myself being pulled into their web. This was such a great story and I couldn’t put it down. Nora Roberts created such a great world in this book and in the house itself. I was very intrigued by the presences in the house and how they were able to interact with Sonya and her friends. My only complaint about this book it the quick cliffhanger at the end! I was so sad when it was over, I just wanted to see what would come next! Now I can’t wait to see where this story takes us in the next book. If you are interested in the otherworldly, a chemistry filled romance and history tied up into one, this book it one you need to check out!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

One-word review: Unputdownable
Emojis: 😡🤨🫨
Rating: 5 🌟s

My thoughts:
Nora Roberts has returned to the fantasy stories I fell in love with long ago - ones full of mystery, generations of family stories, and a setting that makes me drool. I couldn't have put Inheritance down if I tried, but why would I have wanted to do that?

I love the main character, Sonya, who knows what she's good at and isn't afraid to try something new. Even in the face of realizing her inherited house by the sea is full of ghosts, her confidence and determination are so easy to get behind and relate to. Most ghosts are helpful, but at least one is malevolent and quickly makes herself heard and felt. Still, Sonya’s determination keeps her there and makes her want to know more and solve the mystery that will hopefully bring peace to her new home.

I love the setting. I could just see it through the beautiful descriptions and excellent world-building. The romance feels authentic, but I would expect nothing less from Roberts, who I would consider an expert in book romances. Sonya and Trey complement each other so well, and he's the perfect mixture of calm and concern as the ghosts make themselves known.

I hated that Book 1 ended. I could have just kept reading and reading. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to books 2 and 3 in 2024 and 2025!

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.

Reading books by such a cornerstone in the romance genre is always such a delight. This first book in the new Lost Bride Trilogy was a great read for October, or as the days get shorter and darkness falls early.

I really loved how confident Sonya was in herself and her abilities, even if that comes off as really stubborn at times. And she was much braver than I would have been, the first ghostly encounter and I would have been out the door. I’m a bit of a fraidy cat, so I had to only read this book during the day. It wasn't super scary, but it did freak me out on occasion.

I thought Trey was a great cinnamon roll hero too. I liked how supportive he was.

There’s adorable dogs, a great BFF, a small town, and a house haunted by more than 1 ghost!

While these two do find a HFN, the book does end in a bit of a cliffhanger! I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Inheritance by Nora Roberts is the first book in her new trilogy, The Lost Bride. I am a big fan of anything by Nora Roberts/JD Robb, and I was excited to start the first book in her new The Lost Bride trilogy, since I always love her trilogies. Inheritance does not disappoint, as it was a fantastic read.
The story starts in the past, in 1806, taking place in Maine, with Astrid Poole, preparing for her wedding ceremony, when a jealous woman stabs her to death; stealing her wedding ring. We will learn from the present, that this evil woman put a curse on all future brides of the Poole family.

In the present time, we meet our heroine, Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish, who is engaged, and discovers her fiancé and cousin having sex, and breaks up the with her fiancé, and gets her mother to cancel all wedding plans. With her life falling apart, Sonya receives a call from a lawyer, telling her that her uncle (whom she did not know about) has left everything to her, including a Victorian mansion in Maine. Sonya, as well as her mother, are surprised that her late father, who was adopted had a twin, Collin Poole.

Sonya decides to move to Maine and the estate, to start her life over, and knows the stipulation that she must live there for at least three years. She learns quickly from the lawyer, that the history of this house is haunted; with lost brides. Sonya is happy, as she loves the mansion, and in a short time she gets used to some of the ghosts, whom she doesn’t see, but they play fun catching songs, rearrange their clothes, put away dishes and shopping bags, make the beds, etc. But one of them does not want her there, and make sounds such as doors slamming. Sonya begins to learn that the spirit of the lost bride needs her help to stop the curse.

Fortunately, Sonya is not alone, as she has made friends, especially helping some businesses to create and set up their computer sites. Her best friend, Cleo will soon move in with her, and Sonya becomes close to Trey, her lawyer’s son, and they soon become lovers. Owen will join the three of them, in helping solve the mystery. Anna, Bree, and many others are all fantastic and wonderful secondary characters. I enjoyed the friendship, camaraderie, support from all the characters who were all very likable. Besides Sonya, Trey, I loved Cleo, who was such a great friend, and very supportive. I also loved Yoda and Mookie, who were the cutest dogs.
Inheritance was a fantastic addicting start to a fantasy, gothic, historical story that kept my attention from start to finish. Sonya was terrific heroine, as was Cleo, both being strong and courageous; and a wonderful friendship. As we get closer to the end, Sonya dreams of many of the deceased brides and how they died by the hand of the evil witch. Because of the wonderful main characters, the story was a fantastic read. I do not want to say too much more, as it will ruin it for you.

Inheritance was very well written by Nora Roberts, which is no surprise, and I have always loved her trilogies, and can’t wait for the next two books. There is however, a cliffhanger at the end; leaving us hanging and anxiously waiting for the next book. I highly recommend that you read The Lost Bride series, and read the first book, Inheritance.

While it seems like a great thing to suddenly inherit a gothic mansion where you have a ghost cleaning up after you, there is a downside to this as Sonya finds out as she moves in. Trey is one of the lawyers in the group that are friends of the late owner as well as the lawyers for the estate. He is not as freaked out by the ghosts as Sonya is and sticks around to help her adjust. Sonya invites her best friend Cleo, who grew up in Louisiana, to move in with her. Add in Sonya's cousin Owen, who is also Trey's best friend, and you've got the group that is working to find the way to banish the mansion of the curse. This first book sets up the groundwork for the series and there are times when you aren't sure where the story is going. You need to remember this is a trilogy and that it will not wrap up until the third book, which means a cliffhanger. I'm not fond of them, but I can admit this is so well written that I'm definitely ready for the next one. Well written and great characters. The only downside is the wait for the next book.

Sonya inherits an old mansion with ghosts and a intriguing mystery. of brides and seven rings.
Good drama, suspense mystery and romance..
Kept my interest through out the story.
Can not wait for the next.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Inheritance was a fun, spooky romance that kept me interested from the first page to the last. When we meet Sonya, she’s in the middle of planning her wedding when events occur that cause her to call off her wedding. She soon learns that she’s inherited a house from her father’s unknown twin. When she moves to this mansion, she learns the haunted history of her ancestors.

Sonya was a great, strong character. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself and to do what made her happy. Her friends and family supported her unconditionally and I loved how she found her place in the walls of the Lost Bride Manor. Her relationship with Trey developed organically and I loved the easy friendship they had with one another.

The mystery and the spookiness of the story was so much fun. I was caught up in learning what had happened to each bride and the paranormal aspects of the novel were alternatively amusing and chilling.

Inheritance is the first part of a trilogy and it left us with a cliffhanger that will definitely make you want to read the next book in the series. I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

Sonya's life takes a dramatic turn when she suddenly finds herself single and without a job.  She also finds out she is the sole benefactor of her uncle's will, which is worth millions.  She's never met this man but is curious to find out more about that side of her family and agrees to move and take up residence in this huge house that was left to her.

This book was long, but there wasn't a dull moment.  It was packed with almost everything you can think of.  It had long lost relatives, mystery, ghosts, friendships, and romance.  The setting was in a huge mansion on the coast of Maine, and the house had a life of its own.  Literally, it interacted with the main characters in the form of ghosts communicating with the new occupants, hoping they would solve the mystery that's keeping them there.  The characters were interesting, and the romance was tasteful.  I love how it took you on a magical journey in a beautiful setting.  This is the first book in a trilogy, and the book stopped pretty abruptly on a cliffhanger.  I think this was a pretty decent work of fiction that would appeal to most people.  The only thing that was overwhelming was the length at over 400 pages.  There was a lot going on, but the plot still wasn't wrapped up at the end. I know it's a trilogy, but I was expecting more of a conclusion. 

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Netgalley shelf tells me I'm not authorized to read this book. If I can't read it I can't give a review.

Inheritance
Lost Brides Trilogy #1
Nora Roberts


Roberts first in her new fantasy trilogy, Inheritance, is an unputdownable read from Nora’s heroine Sonya walking in on her fiancé and cousin at the start to the OMG you didn’t just drop that ENORMOUS cliffhanger on us end. The plot is ingenious, a haunted manor, a curse and the kick butt protagonist that will NOT leave no matter what the unfriendly spirit wants. The characters are all fabulous both corporeal and ethereal but Sonya is the real star followed by Cleo and Trey as close seconds. Sonya is such a genuine character that the audience won’t have a choice but to fall in love with her and cheer her on as she fights against the evil spirit. Cleo is also fabulous and listening to the audio version will really bring her to life for listeners. Trey is also a great character, reliable and steadfast and of course there are the dogs that are icing on the plot cake. Okay so lets talk about the I did not see this coming end, Nora, WHY did you do this to us and will we have to wait a year for book 2 tell me it aint so.


After a bad breakup Sonya McTavish is looking for a new start but learning that her deceased father had a twin brother no one knew about and that on his death that uncle, Collin Poole has left her most of his estate including the family manor on the coast of Maine is quite the shock. Sonya is thinking about accepting her inheritance, but it comes with a warning, it’s haunted and a stipulation, she has to live there for three years for the inheritance to finalize.
Being a graphic designer Sonya can work anywhere and after conferring first with her uncle’s attorney, Oliver Doyle, then with her mom and her best friend Cleo Sonya decides to go for it. She wants to learn more of her father’s family history and why her father and brother never knew about each other. She falls in love with the large manor and the quaint town of Poole’s Bay and settles in along with her resident spirits including one that really doesn’t want her there.

Nora Roberts is a brilliant writer. This first in her Lost Bride Trilogy is very interesting and will immediately get you hooked. The characters of Sonya, Trey and others are uniquely designed and very entertaining. With her mix of the modern and the old it is a charming and page turning story. The setting is creative and gives the reader a lot to visualize as they read. Every turn of the page is a creative wonder. The story ends on cliffhanger that makes you eager to read the next installment in the trilogy. This is a book that should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

A classic Nora Roberts. The magic that Nora Roberts weaves is amazing.. I’m not sure how many books she’s written but she just seems to be getting better if that’s even possible. A haunted manor. Family secrets and 7 brides who died. Will Sonya be able to break the spell. I cannot wait for the next two books!!!!

Wow! I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I don’t usually read ghost stories and this was definitely an original story that kept me on edge. Sonya has inherited a haunted mansion. Loved the characters. I would have been so freaked out, loved how the author described everything. Most of the story was told in Sonya’s point of view and I wish that we got more of Trey’s. I did love the two of them together. I loved the music playlists and had some laughs. What a crazy ending and I can’t wait for the next book. Be warned, there’s three books and the next one is probably another cliffhanger too. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy and I highly recommend this book.

My Expectations:
Inheritance is book one of the Lost Bride trilogy, a new trilogy by Nora Roberts. Before reading, I did not read the blurb. Due to advertising and title, I gathered that there would be a big house and a bride who tragically died on her wedding day haunting said house.

I go into every Nora Roberts expecting strong female characters with fulfilling friendships and careers. I expect a strong male character who is comfortable with himself to enter the picture and be drawn in by the strong female lead. I expect the romance to be sweet and fun and uncomplicated. Due to this book featuring a ghost bride, I also expected plenty of connections to the past as the ghost’s story unfolded.

What I Loved:
In the opening of the book, we meet bride-to-be Sonya who is about to experience betrayal, but it is clear from the get-go that, in many ways, the betrayal will be a blessing in disguise. She called on those she loved (she was blessed there) and took her life back quite quickly. Just as she is getting a handle on things and adjusting to the changes, a lawyer shows up and informs her that she has a decision to make. Sonya is strong, smart, funny, and driven and every single one of those facets of her personality comes into play as she takes on her inheritance, a haunted manor full of history and mystery.

The haunted manor was scary as heck! A part of me wanted to shout “run far and fast” to Sonya at the first signs of paranormal activity, but she had been through a lot and she deserved what her inheritance was bringing to her - a flourishing career, family and friends, and space (and, yeah, money) to do what she wanted, how she wanted to do it. It made sense that she was standing her ground and staking her claim. In doing so, she opens herself up to the lives of those in the manor who have stories to share with her.

One thing I did love about the manor was the paranormal DJ. As far as paranormal events go, this one may be one I could see getting used to… maybe!

Sonya’s inheritance brings her the addition of steady and sweet Trey to her circle of those she can rely on. Trey and her best friend Cleo have an amazing sense of calm and their presence in her life further helps Sonya stand her ground; they get rattled when it is called for but they often serve as the rock Sonya needs to continue to stick and fight for those who it seems need her help.

The mystery is developing into a quest of sorts I think, and I enjoyed the groundwork book one lays throughout its unfolding as we become acquainted with Lost Bride Manor and its many secrets. The ghosts provide a balance of intrigue and unease - there are certainly more than a few suspenseful moments. I did not see the ending coming and am beyond curious about where book 2 will take us!

What I Didn’t Love:
As usual, there was not a single thing I disliked about this Nora Roberts read. I am so excited for a new trilogy and am more than ok waiting a bit to see where this story takes Sonya and gang.

3 Words I Would Use To Describe This Book To A Friend:
Haunting
Empowering
Enchanting

Final Thoughts/Recommendations:
This book did not fall short of any of my expectations. The female friendships were strong and nearly as intense as the romance. The romance is the supportive and wonderful romance that happens between two people who have made their mistakes and more than recognize a good thing when it is in front of them. The ghosts are haunting and enchanting and I am fully invested in their story and how Sonya’s inheriting Lost Bride Manor could pan out for them.

The Lost Bride Trilogy promises to be another fabulous trilogy by Nora Roberts!


Reviewed by Crystal / blog post live on 11/16/23

I honestly don't know exactly how to review this book. Did I like it, yes, did I think it was a little long, also yes. The story was good and I really enjoyed the characters, however, it also felt like nothing happened and then the story just ended with bam a cliffhanger which made me incredibly mad. Why didn't that happen sooner and what is going to happen next? Yes, I know this is a trilogy and yes, now I will have to read the next book to find out what happened, but man do I wish there had been a little more meat in this book and it been a two-book series instead of a trilogy if necessary.
Overall, I am interested in knowing what happens next so I look forward to the next book.

Final Score - 5 OMG, What Did She Walk Into Stars!!!

Just finished reading this book and I need a minute to get my thoughts together - this was an epic story that drew me in and didn't let me go for the past two days!

Gothic mansion ✔️
Hauntings ✔️
Long lost family ✔️
Epic mystery ✔️

Honestly, I hated myself for reading this one so fast. This gothic story is great for anyone looking for an escape; Just pace yourself while reading, cause once you are in it, YOU ARE ALL IN.

It all starts with a wedding day filled with joy, but ends with heartache when the bride is murdered, her wedding ring stolen, and curse is laid. But it does end there. Once a generation, this fate meets a bride in the Poole family, in a gothic mansion, which our heroine Sonya has just inherited. Factor in she's just found out she is long lost member of this family (as it seems somehow her father was separated from his twin shortly after their tragic birth).

There are mysteries to be solved here! Why were the twins separated? Why does this mansion house some many spirits? Why haven't they moved on? Why was the curse enacted?

I adored Sonya and her BFF Cleo. Trey (Oliver the 3rd), oh how I swooned the first time he was introduced. His BFF Owen is another swoon worthy character. This quartet together makes this book intriguing, addictive and lures us into the nearly two century mystery surrounding Owen and Sonya's family (did I forget to mention that these two have just discovered they're lost distance cousins?) and how to break a curse that has reeked havoc for this family.

Together this quartet sets about to break the curse and free Sonya (along with the rest of the Poole family) from the hauntings of the mansion, as well as set the spirits that roam within free. Should be no problem, but first she needs to find each of the seven rings stolen from each bride that was lost.

The story is left in a cliffhanger (which I did see coming). I would have liked to see an preview of what happened/what's to come. I think that would have made me feel a little more satisfied as to how it was left. I also would have loved more of build up to the Sonya/Try romance. I understand it was a slow burn, but wick was nearly out by the time they got there and once they did, it was all about the mystery of the house, the spirits and the lost brides. No real romance for me, so I expect in the other books they'll expand some on this (hopefully).

Overall, Nora Roberts has done it. She's sucked me back into her story telling and I don't want to ever surface. Ms. Roberts, it's been a while since I've read your books (trust me, I have a bunch on my selves & on my kindle) and it looks like I need to do some re-reads. STAT!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait for the next book in the series!