Member Reviews

Nora Roberts is like a warm, cozy blanket. I honestly haven't read most of her books. The ones that I have read have been really easy to get into. This one is about a gal who inherited an old haunted house. personally, the first door slam or things moving around I would’ve been out of there. But it was fun to read what brave people do.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest opinion

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Firstly, I want to thank Nora Roberts and Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I've been reading Nora Roberts novels since I was 9, when my grandma handed me one of her trade prints and said "here, read this. Just skip the naughty stuff."

I love how seamlessly Nora weaves supernatural elements into her novels. There is something so flawlessly casual with how she treats ghosts, witches, etc that makes their existence seem completely natural in the worlds she creates, and Inheritance is no different!

I don't want to spoil the plot, but I will say that the slow burn romance was worth the wait, and I can't wait to see what Roberts has instore for her readers next in this series. Just be prepared for the standard Roberts cliffy.

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Sonya MacTavish is not having the best week. Her engagement is over and so is her job. It has been a time of shocks, tears, and relief, and it is not over. When she finds out she has an uncle she never knew existed. Nor did her father before he died.

Now she will travel to the Maine coast to a house with a lot of secrets. And maybe ghosts.

The lawyer at the manor finally tells her that yes, the house is rather haunted. Things begin to happen quickly as things are rearranged and things from her father are hanging in the house. What is the secret the house is holding on to?

Sonya will find out about the first lost bride, Astrid, and the curse that is still in effect.

I loved this story. The paranormal and a lost bride? Yes, please.

NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press, November 05, 2023

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A murdered bride, a mansion overlooking the stormy Atlantic Ocean, and a young heiress who gets more than she bargains for. The premise for Nora Roberts’s new mystery is one that sounds familiar, that is until you reach the Victorian house on the Maine coast with our protagonist, Sonya McTavish, and things go bump in the night. If only she wasn’t committed to living there for three years.

Trey, a handsome young lawyer, introduces Sonya to the manor and offers to help her get settled. He also tells her about the history behind a beautiful painting in the foyer depicting the first bride of the manor and her tragic death, along with rumors of her ghost who still resides in the house.

When unexplained items are moved, doors open and close, and lights flicker, Sonya is thrown into the midst of a decades-old mystery.

A great start to a new paranormal suspense series!

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Nora Roberts, famously known for her romance novels, took a unique approach in her first trilogy book by combining romance with paranormal activity. The result was a perfect combination that hooked me from start to finish. The characters, especially Sonya, were incredibly realistic, and their personalities shone through on every page. Despite being labeled as a horror/mystery, I didn't find it scary at all, thanks to the warm and engaging characters. The story itself had me on the edge of my seat, with several questions that kept me guessing until the very end. And speaking of the end, the cliffhanger had me eagerly anticipating the next installment. If you're looking for a novel that offers mystery, horror, and romance, all wrapped up in one engaging package, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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4/5 Stars

I have read a few trilogies by Nora Roberts and have always appreciated the way she spins her magic. Her character development was spot on, and I really like all four of the leads for different reasons. This author gives us strong female characters which is so refreshing when so many current books out present these women as unsure, lacking confidence and questioning every decision they make and everything they do. Not with Sonya and Cleo, they are empowered right from the start! Add in a couple of spirits such as DJ Clover and Housekeeper Molly and you've got a great crew. Bonus with a few loveable dogs and a boy who plays catch.

The story does progress at a slower speed than I would have liked, and I knocked a star off as it cannot be read as a one off. Most trilogies use the next book to address another issue or couple but in Inheritance, the reader is left with a cliffhanger and no closure at all. I'll be watching for Book 2 in order to complete the scene I was left hanging in, searching wildly for another page or two.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are authentically my own.

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I was lucky and recieved an advanced copy of this book.

This is the first book in a series and it had me hooked in the first chapter. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

If you love stories about finding love and a little curse on a whole family this book is for you.

I am eagerly waiting on the next one.

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Inheritance is the first book in best selling author Nora Roberts’ new The Lost Bride Trilogy and it will delight her fans. The book begins with the tale of an 19th century bride ruthlessly murdered before her marriage can be consummated and then moves into the present day where the protagonist, Sonya MacTavish, is forced to call off her own wedding due to her groom’s infidelity. When she learns that her late father had a long lost twin who has left her a Victorian mansion on the Maine coast, she jumps at the chance to make a new start. She soon discovers, however, that the house is haunted by the ghosts of her family’s past. With the help of a new love interest, Sonya will try to solve the mystery of the Lost Brides, seven women who were killed or met an untimely death while living in the house.

This book has all the makings of a Gothic romance, and I found the setting and legends which punctuate the modern day narrative captivating. It is part ghost story, part romance, part fantasy-suspense, but despite containing some of my favorite story elements, the book lacked true passion. Although I was interested in reading the story, I never felt scared or moved by the emotions of the main character who seemed to easily recover from life-shattering events with little struggle. The story ends with a cliffhanger which will keep fans interested for the second installment in the series.

This was an easy and fun read though I would have enjoyed more tension and feeling in the modern-day narrative. If you have ever dreamed of a spooky mansion on the east coast and a generational curse, then this just might be the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

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Nora Roberts works her magic once again in “Inheritance”. Readers will be sucked into the story from the beginning and be left breathless for more after reading the final page. The characters are well drawn and the story moves at a steady pace. While this book is similar in style to some of Nora Roberts’ previous series, there is enough dissimilarities and new elements that readers will be eager to keep reading. This book is a part of a series so it does end on a cliffhanger.

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After reading Nora Roberts for almost forty years, once again, I am hooked on a new trilogy: The Lost Brides.
Sonya's world is turned upside down when she inherits a haunted manor in Maine. There is the evil woman in black, some good ghosts, and new friends, new work, and a dog. How many brides die on their wedding day? What about the other ghosts? What is the meaning of seven rings? Where are they? What about the dreams?
Get started on this new triology and you will be wanting books two and three asap!

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If you're looking for a paranormal mystery read with some romance elements that are part of a series, this book is for you.

1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered.

Present: Graphic Designer and bride-to-be, Sonya McTavish, finds her fiancé in bed with her cousin. a surprise that will change the course of her future. She 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. 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.

Overall it was ok, The story was a little slow and long for my liking and I didn't fully enjoy the underdevelopment of the romance between Sonya and Trent. Ghost story, fantasy-suspense romance, a Gothic-spooky mansion, a twisty plot, and a cliffhanger ending.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, all opinions are my own.

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“Inheritance” by Nora Roberts is the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy. It follows Sonya MacTavish, a graphic designer, who inherits a majestic Victorian on the coast of Maine from an uncle she never knew. After moving in, she discovers she has ghostly guests. All women in her family who have either died on their wedding day or within a year of being married. It’s up to Sonya to figure out why and to stop the curse so that maybe one day, she too, won’t be a lost bride.

I can honestly say I have never read a book where nothing bad happens to the main character. Besides finding out her fiancé cheated on her in the beginning of the book, nothing else happens to Sonya. She gets over the breakup within seconds, then gets presented with an amazing opportunity to live in an isolated mansion on the water. She quits her job and her bosses fall over themselves to help her start her own business. She clicks with every person she meets. She cooks for the first time and instantly she’s Gordon Ramsay. Her food is the best anyone has ever tasted. Every one wants to hire her to redo their website and all of her designs are absolutely amazing. It's all just perfectly boring.

The author did try to add some action by including ghosts in Sonya’s new house. But they’re all friendly—except one—the villain of the story who wasn’t scary at all. Every single day, Sonya’s ghosts plays music for her, makes her bed, starts the fireplace, washes the dishes, picks out her clothes, cleans the house, etc… Sonya is just the perfect character with the perfect life. She even gets with the perfect man. For majority of the book they’re friends then next second they’re in bed. It didn’t even flow right. I had to reread those couple of pages because I didn’t understand how that happened.

With all that said, I doubt I’ll be continuing this series. The story was way too slow for my liking. If I didn’t have to read this to write a review I’d have DNF from the beginning. I will say the characters were likable and the writing was done well. Fans of her work will most likely enjoy this more than I did.

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I thought this book would be right up my alley (magical realism, a mystery and Nora Roberts - yes please!), but I really struggled to get into the story. I ended up DNFing at 25%. I couldn’t connect to Sonya at all and the dialog felt very choppy and unnatural. I didn’t flow easily in my head while reading and kept taking me out of the story. I may try to finish this down the road, but for right now Inheritance wasn’t a fit for me.

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I loved this book but didn't realize it was book one in a trilogy so now I'm left hanging for awhile! It's an interesting story with history and mystery and engaging characters. Nora Roberts is a legend and hasn't lost her shine. Read and enjoy!

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I loved this book. I always hear things about Nora Roberts and was interested to get into my first Nora Roberts book.

I found the plot and setting to be interesting. It's similar to another book I've read recently except instead of ghosts, the other book had vampires. Very similar premise.

There were times that I felt the plot wasnt advancing fast enough. Considering how long this book was, I figured I'd get through all 7 scenarios but that wasnt the case.

It also came to a vague and very abrupt cliffhanger. Because I'm reading the ARC, it will take me even longer to find out what happens.

I'm interested in finding out what happens in book 2!

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I loved this book! I’m so disappointed that it ends in a cliffhanger. I had a hard time putting it down and kept thinking of it when I wasn’t reading it. It is done really well, especially for a ghost story. The characters are so real. I highly recommend. When’s the next book coming out? #Inheritance #NetGalley

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Wow. This is such a cool book. It ends on a huge cliffhanger.it’s a roller coaster ride for sure. Lots of twists and turns. It romantic suspense with lots of paranormal. The writing is awesome. The characters are rich in depth. I was totally engaged by the storyline and can’t wait for the next book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

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After an abrupt end to her engagement to a cheating jerk boyfriend, Sonya MacTavish decides to make some changes in her life. She quits her job, starts her own online business, and then inherits a centuries-old, sprawling mansion from an uncle she didn’t know existed. It turns out her father had a twin who bequeathed her the family’s Maine estate in his will, along with all of the ghosts living there. She has three years to decide if she can live in harmony with them, and she soon discovers they’re not all friendly. In fact, one of them is a murderer. As the story unfolds, strange sounds, visions and dreams occur, leaving clues for Sonya and the reader to follow, to uncover the truth and restore peace to the household. The whole estate is an antiquer’s dream, and Roberts’ descriptive imagery, characters and dialog bring each setting to life. Each ghost has a unique personality and makes their presence known in their own clever ways. This is an oddly fun who-done-it, spanning several generations of ill-fated brides.

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I read this story while being on vacation at the beach in Maine so it was cool to imagine the scene around me as the backdrop. It was easy to get lost in this story. Trey and Sonya were loveable and I applaud the "fade to black" love scenes - they were incredibly tasteful. The ghosts, the history, the sense of family - all wonderful! I can't wait to see what happens and I'm hoping Owen and Cleo may become an item.

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What the ever loving...I did not see the note about this being the first of a trilogy but that would not have stopped me from being sucked into this fabulous book. It is part fantasy, part ghost story, part mystery, and add in a little romance to keep it going and it is GREAT! Sonya finds out her father had a twin and she inherits a gothic mansion in Maine just when she is starting her life over after her fiance does her wrong and she is starting her career over freelancing and starting her own business. What she finds when she moves is a beautiful mansion but it is full of ghosts. Oh, this story held my enthralled from the beginning and now I am waiting impatiently for the next one! Ms Roberts you have done it again!

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