I could not lay this book down. Each page it just draws you in. The characters are so real. They mesh so well together. I love this book! Nora Roberts this is a first read for me but will not be my last. It ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the next book. Very warm, romance, suspense, trials, good has to win over the evil. I was given an advanced reader copy of this very well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

Great book! I usually don't car to read stories that have ghosts in them but I really enjoyed this book until THE END - can't wait for the next part.

Nora Robert’s new book is SO MUCH FUN! I need a ghost DJ and a ghost maid at my house! Nora has such a talent for writing intriguing romance that warms the heart and the brain!

Inheritance is Nora Roberts romance at its best. I couldn't put it down. Five stars!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It's been a while since I've read Nora Roberts, but I used to really enjoy her books and decided to give it a try. This was surprisingly different as there were supernatural aspects that I was not expecting, while the romance was much more of a secondary aspect, if not tertiary, which is not what I was expecting at all.. But given that, I have to say that the first half of the book still had me hooked. I really liked the main character, she was a strong woman and going through a lot of changes. But - without spoiling - the portrayal of her life was a bit too idealistic and simplistic, with things coming easily and everyone being friendly. So then during the second half of the book with more supernatural elements and things otherwise going smoothly for her, I was just not drawn in. It didn't feel realistic or multi-dimensional.

I got 50% done with this book and decided to not finish it, I might go back to it later, but it just wasn’t my style. I liked the story, it was just kind of slow for me. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just not what I like in a book. But the writing was good and the story was good. I like fast paced, action, twist and turns, etc.

Where to start...
I'm never disappointed when I sit down with a story by Nora. Ever.
The setting √
The characters √
The storylines √
The villain √

I love learning about each of these in the way only Nora can show with her words.

Well Done & I can't wait for the rest

This is only my second Nora Roberts book and I’m already a fan! Great writing, wonderful characters you can root for and an interesting story. This one has all the pieces parts - romance, surprise inheritance of a mansion no less from the main character’s deceased father’s twin that he never knew and top that off with ghosts. Some are friendly and some not so much. It’s definitely a page turner that ends with a huge cliffhanger of course. Thankfully this is only book 1 in a trilogy called The Lost Brides. Book 2 cannot come fast enough. Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks for the opportunity to read this book. It was definitely long and it started to feel even longer as I got through it. I think some of the repetitive daily tasks could have been streamlined because it was said many times she was competent at her job, we didn't need to repeat over and over.

While I loved the premise, I think in my head I thought that each book would change couples and not end in a massive cliffhanger. Also, another thing is that it felt really similar The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings; the breakup, the inheritance, the helpful ghost, the mystery that needs to be solved.

Also, there wasn't a living character that had a flaw, they were all perfect, everyone was beautiful and fit and helpful....ok, except for the ex...but otherwise, everyone was perfect.

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.

Oh my goodness. This book didn’t end. Although I love her writing, this would be one that you should save to binge when all three novels are finally released.

This is the first book in the Lost Brides Trilogy. I have to say that it did not disappoint!

What would you do if you found out that a relative you didn't know existed had died and given you their manor? Sonya MacTavish is now in that situation. Her late father had a twin brother that he had been separated from at birth. When Collin Poole passed, he gave Sonya his manor provided she live there full-time. She packs up her belongings and moves to Maine. The giant, gothic manor immediately feels like home, but there is a catch. As items mysteriously move and cabinets door open on their own, Sonya realizes she is not alone. And at 3 a.m. every night, the tolling of the grandfather clock and the myterious weeping greet her.

Over time, with the help of her best friend, Cleo, and her romantic partner, Trey, the three of them explore what's happening. There is an evil that lives in the house with Sonya and the friendly familiar ghosts. The cliffhanger at the end makes me wish the second novel was already out! This is definitely a series that I will recommend and purchase the book for my own library.

I received an advanced reader copy of Inheritance from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.

Inheritance by Nora Roberts

I’ve read Nora Roberts in the past and enjoyed her work but it has been years. So, I went into this story figuring that I would probably enjoy it.

I can honestly say that I more than enjoyed it. The female main character, Sonya, connected with me. She’s practical, resilient and determined. Our male lead, Trey, is calm, steadfast and downright unflappable. The romance is very slow-burn and a lot of time is spent world and character building… the house, the town, the story behind Sonya’s inheritance and our characters with their backgrounds…Sonya, Cleo, Trey and the other Doyles, Owen and the dogs and ghosts! I especially like and want the house-cleaning ghost!

But this is a ghost story first and foremost. All the past occupants seem to be trapped at Lost Bride Manor due to a curse from hundreds of years ago that was placed by a jilted witch. Seven brides from the past lost their lives in various ways due to the witches curse. It’s Sonya’s quest to break this curse on her ancestors otherwise one bride per generation is doomed to die at the manor.

Unfortunately, there is no resolution as this is a trilogy and we are left on a bit of a cliffhanger all around…. No curse broken, no romance conclusion, no mystery solved on how to find the missing rings. I’ve read Nora’s trilogies before and usually there is a resolution for one set of characters and the next book is about the next set of characters and there part in the overall conflict.

If I’d known there was really no ending to this book I probably would’ve waited until the next one was released because I feel like I’m right in the middle of the story but there are no more chapters.

That being said, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.

After her fiancé cheats, graphic/web designer Sonya MacTavish learns that she is heir to a historic Maine shipbuilding family’s seaside mansion and must live there 3 months before she can claim it. But, will the spirits who inhabit the house accept her?

This is candy for old-school Nora Roberts fans—romance, food, dogs, friends and family. I had to read the last pages over three times! First in a trilogy and can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Will come back and add to this. I loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this Stella’s book. What could be more fun than a smart woman who inherits a home on the coast of Maine from an uncle she didn’t know she had only to find it is also haunted. There are good and helpful ghosts and an angry ghost. Going back at least 100 years or more it is believed the house and any new bride are cursed. Every bride in the house dies within hours of marrying. It’s believed there is a curse that can only be broken by finding the wedding rings that Al have been stolen from all seven dead brides. This book ends on a cliffhanger so I hope Ms Roberts has been prolific in working on the next book in the trilogy!

Well holy shnike balls! What a wild freaking ride that was. I loved everything about this book. The great story and world building, the families and friendships being made, all the great characters. Totally ends on a cliff hanger, but that’s to be somewhat expected. No one does paranormal quite like Nora Roberts and I’m excited to see where this series takes me!

Thank you to Nora Roberts, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press, for this ARC. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

The first book in Nora Roberts' new series, The Lost Bride Trilogy, has definitely whetted my appetite for the next one in the series. Graphic artist Sonja has not only caught her fiancé in bed with her cousin just weeks before her wedding, but she has felt forced to leave the company where they both work after he spreads lies about her and even defaces her car. So when she learns she has inherited a mansion in Maine from her deceased father's identical twin brother, she sees it as a way to start a new life and her own business--even though neither she nor her father even knew he had a twin, and even though she's heard the house may be haunted.

And then there's the stipulation that she must live in the house for at least three years. Sonja is up to the challenge, but there's no doubt the house is actually haunted. Some of the spirits are friendly, but at least one is evil, wreaking havoc at every opportunity. In her dreams, Sonja begins to see each of the family's seven brides who have perished on their wedding day or shortly thereafter, and she starts to wonder how she can stop the deadly cycle before it reaches her own personal life.

There are many aspects to the story that I enjoyed, besides the chilling (though sometimes whimsical) goings-on in the house. Sonja's budding new career as her own boss is interesting, and her best friend, Cleo, is eccentric, creative, and highly supportive. Three generations of attorneys, including one with a particular appeal for Sonya, as well as various helpful and well-drawn members of her newfound family keep the action moving. And, of course, there's a cliffhanger at the end, which foretells the beginning of a new and dangerous phase of the story.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and submit an honest review of this book.

Oh my gosh! Excellence is too small a word for this wonderful, charming, chilling, and loving book! I couldn't put it down and loved the characters! I am flabbergasted that I have to wait so long for the next one I can't wait!
I have read Nora Roberts for years and look forward to her book releases. In this book we have all new wonderful characters. Sonya is a graphic designer who has been wronged by the man she planned to marry. It changed her life and she begins to build a new life. Sonya inherits a mansion on the Maine Coast from an uncle she didn't know existed, she is surprised her uncle was her father's twin separated at birth. The surprises continue with things that go bump in the night in the huge Victorian house, and the handsome lawyer who befriends her.
I don't know how I can wait for the next book when I have to wait till Nov. 21, 2023, for the Inheritance pub date! It is a must-read! Thank you NetGalley, and publishers St. Martins Press for this eARC I highly recommend this book!

4.5 Stars

Oh. My. Gosh.

Talk about a cliffhanger…
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First of all, this book reminded me of the Nora Roberts of old -the books that I fell in love with years ago when she used to release her trilogies of families. At first, I was afraid that this might be one of those books that was being re-released from years ago. It's not.

We are introduced to the female MC Sonya MacTavish. She is a present day graphics designer who finds out that she has more family than she had been previously aware of and that she is a descendant of the Poole family. Not only that, but she has just inherited a "Manor" on the coast of Maine that carries a couple of "requirements" to satisfy the terms of the will.

This book actually does some weird things time wise. We ping pong back and forth between "present day" and the "past" - which encompasses the time periods between the late 1800's and up until the current time line. Slowly, we are being shown the events in the past that have led up to this current timeline and we are finding out things at roughly the same time as our MC.

We are also introduced to the local family of attorneys (Ace, Deuce and Trey) that comprise a huge part of the story (Deuce was Collin's best friend from childhood and Trey is the current love interest). The setting is quaint, the people are interesting and the story is....well, unique.

It seems as though there is a curse that has been placed on the Poole family, specifically the brides, and things have been happening for centuries. The house is currently inhabited by several very different deceased inhabitants and to say the Manor is haunted would be a huge understatement.
The best friend Cleo is fun and probably going to be the focus of book 2.

While I am not a huge fan of cliffhangers, they do not usually bother me too much. Unfortunately though, this was more of a stoppage of the story than just a cliffhanger. There was no winding up of the storyline, in fact there was a massive buildup as things came to the climax and then....poof.....there were no more pages. Bummer.

So, yes I am hooked. Yes, this reminds me of the Nora Roberts of old. Yes, I am definitely going to continue on with this series and YES, I am bummed that this is an ARC so I have that much longer to wait for book 2. This book is not being released until November of 2023 and it is currently July. Yep, bummer.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Sonya MacTavish is standing in the shambles of her impending wedding and career when she learns of a long lost twin to her late father. The inheritance he leaves her in Maine is an old estate that requires that she live inside for several years. It's the perfect time for a change, it's the worst time for a change! She isn't sure what to do. When she arrives at the house she learns about it's haunted past but it is not until music plays sporadically and her things are moved before she begins to really wonder what did she inherit?
Fun start to a darling trilogy and a cute town with all the characters that you would love to know in real life! #STMartinsPress #Inheritance #NoraRoberts