Inheritance
Nora Roberts
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my goodness it was Fantastic!!! I couldn't put it down. It was soooo fun. I can't wait for #2 in the series. You will fall in love with the Characters & their story. Be sure to read it! Great Great book. I loved it!!

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 jumped at the chance of receiving an advanced copy of Inheritance by Nora Roberts. Reading one of her novels feels like having a story told by a captivating and enchanting old friend. There are parts of this novel that may seem familiar to others she has written and yet this tale remains refreshing and new and that is the real magic of her storytelling.

Sonya MacTavish seems to be living the life of her dreams; wonderful career, wonderful fiancé, wonderful life…and that may just be too many wonderfuls. It all comes crashing down when Sonya finds her fiancé in her bed with her cousin! This part of the story was hilarious and Sonya handles it with spunk and righteous anger. Her best friend Cleo and her mother are both there to help her kick her ex to the curb and it had all the elements of a girl power win. Sonya leaves the graphic design company she worked at and begins a freelance career on her own. As she struggles to make ends meet, a lawyer shows up at her doorstep to enlighten her about an uncle that left her a mysterious manor and fortune in Maine. Ok, this part of the plot did feel a little cliché, but I was already on the Sonya fan train and went with it.

This is where the thriller of the Lost Bride Trilogy really kicks off. Seven brides died before or early in their marriages in the Victorian manor under nefarious circumstances. One bride for every generation, most of which leaving Poole men bereft. Recently discovering her relationship to her uncle Collin Poole, her father’s unknown twin, Sonya moves to the cliffside house to take up residence and inherit her legacy. Upon her initial visit she meets Trey, young lawyer whose firm handles the estate, and a new romance begins. In between the typical and not so typical hauntings, Sonya begins to understand the curse of the brides and seeks a way to remedy it.

What I loved: the relationship between Sonya and Cleo was really fun. The lighthearted hauntings with music and the dogs were adorable. I also enjoyed how the story unraveled with Sonya’s sleep walking into the scenes of the deaths of the brides.

What I didn’t love: Sonya’s relationship with Trey happened far too quickly. I felt like we had just met him and all of a sudden, they were in a full-fledged romantic relationship and each other’s forever emergency contacts. Also, the cliffhanger…but no one likes one of these and this one is a doozy.

I listened to the audio production of Inheritance and this added to the charm of the story. Brittany Pressley does an amazing job bringing depth to the female and male characters with the added bonus of well-done accents. I cannot wait for book two in this trilogy.

I am a fan of Nora Roberts and this book did not disappoint. In fact, it caught my attention from the beginning.

Sonya MacTavis is planning for a wedding that is overwhelming her that is more what her fiancé wants that what she wants. She cancels and appointment with the florist and comes home to find her fiancé and her cousin in bed together. Sonya kicks her finance out and he turns vindictive.

Sonya's friend, Cleo is there for her when things go awry and is a wonderful friend and confidant. Sonya is also very close with her mother, Winter. They support Sonya.

Sonya decides to quit her job, which her fiancé also works at. She goes makes the decision to strike out on her own as a graphic artist.

It turns out that her late father had a twin and when he died, he left her his mansion in Maine with the understanding she must live there for 3 years. The Doyle lawyers work with Sonya to describe and inform her that all the upkeep is set up in a trust they administer. The youngest Doyle is Trey and he and Sonya form a bond.

This book is full of mystery, romance, spirits, paranormal and a curse.

4.5/5

I was originally very excited when i was given the opportunity to receive an Advanced Reader copy for this novel by Nora Roberts. In fact this was the highest profile book i have ever gotten an opportunity to review, Unfortunately that excitement has been greatly hampered by St. Martin Press unwillingness to address the racists and xenophobic remarks made by an employee at Wednesday books. As the parent company of Wednesday St. Martin's press has a responsibility to address this situation. As such I will be submitting this as my review until a time at which action is taken to address this extremely harmful behavior. While I enjoyed my time with this audiobook I do not currently feel comfortable submitting that review or producing any content for St. Martin's Press until they take the time to address this situation.

I have always been a huge Nora Roberts fan, but she kind of lost me years ago with some of her paranormal books. I was sucked in by this sweet, benign looking cover, but it is another paranormal (ghosts) fiction. But since Ms. Roberts writes anything and everything well, it worked for me.

I love that most of the ghosts are friendly, helpful, and even have a sense of humor. I would love a ghostly maid or a playful ghost to keep my dog entertained. Come on down!!! There is, of course, the dark, terrifying witch also

What I wasn't expecting was the big, BIG cliffhanger at the end. Personally, I will probably not remember the characters by the time the next one comes out. That won't keep me from reading it, though!

I went back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook. The narration by Brittany Pressley was fantastic. She did a great job with the different voices, and the narration was a pleasure to listen to.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Sonya has just caught her fiancé cheating on her with her cousin. Needless to say, this did not go over well. But, because her fiancé is not a very nice man, Sonya has quit her job as a graphic designer. She has decided to do freelance work. So, when a strange man comes to her door and informs her that her uncle, which she has no idea existed, has died and left her an old manor on the coast of Maine, Sonya decides fate has stepped in to give her a change of scenery. Little does Sonya know, this house has a few residents already living there.

Y’all know I love Nora Roberts! I have been so excited to read this book. Even if it wasn’t a 5 star read…I thoroughly enjoyed it! The only reason for the 4 star review is that the story is a bit long and could have been shortened by quite a few pages. Just my opinion. But, as usual, Roberts has an amazing array of characters! And y’all! I want to live in this house, even with all the ghosts. (Y’all know I love ghosts stories!)

The narrator, Brittany Pressley, is a true joy to listen to! I have listened to quite a few books that she has narrated and I have enjoyed almost every one!

Need a good ghost story with great characters and an amazing setting…. THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Sonya Mactavish has been left an inheritance that includes a manor on the coast of Maine by an uncle she didn’t know existed and it couldn’t have come at a better time. She recently walked in on her fiancé sleeping with her cousin which resulted in her quitting her job where her ex also works.
Sonya is immediately in love with the manor when she arrives, but it soon becomes obvious that not only has she inherited a home, but a centuries old curse along with it.

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How did I get to be in my mid thirties without reading a Nora Roberts novel?! I was fully immersed in this book and Sonya’s life. Sonya was such a likable character and her and Cleo are seriously friendship goals! The haunted house, the blooming relationship with a local hottie and that cliff hanger ending- all of it was just so well done! I can’t wait for the next one!!

While I did trade for a physical copy of this for my collection, I was also given an ALC through Netgalley so a HUGE thanks to @netgalley, @macmillan.audio and @norarobertsauthor for allowing me to listen early!

Read if you like:
👻Haunted houses
👯‍♀️Female friendship
🏘Small town
🐶Dogs
💪🏻Strong FMC

Thank you to St.Martins Press for my complimentary arc and to MacMillan audio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Inheritance was a mostly fun, yet still spooky read. If I had known there would be so many ghosts I would have read this one in October. But never fear, it’s not set during October, so it’s a perfect fall read.

While most of the ghosts are friendly, there is one big bad ghost whom I would never want to meet. Going in with an open mind, I really enjoyed this one. The ghosts help Sonya settle in to her inherited haunted house and hopefully, in return, she will be able to solve the mystery and return their rings.

The romance between Sonya and Trey happened very quickly. Maybe this is all part of the family curse ? I am scared she will become of the lost brides herself. I do feel better knowing she has someone to look after her. But in the back of mind is a little whisper of him not being on the up and up. Hopefully I am wrong !

I enjoyed pairing the audiobook with the physical arc. The narrators did a fantastic job with differentiating all the different voices and accents. Thankfully the really spooky ghosts doesn’t have many speaking parts.

Perfect if you enjoy:
Ghosts friendly (and not)
Twin mind speak
Time travel
Haunted houses

I enjoyed all the characters and I am curious as to what is going to happen in the next two books. The ending of this one left me wanting for more.

Thank you for the Arc.

I enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator was great and never lost my attention.

I enjoyed this gothic/paranormal romance. Need the next book already.

Sonya finds herself living in a mansion that was left to her by a relative she didn’t know she had.
Finding herself, discovering the mansion secrets.

The book ends on a cliffhanger so I will be reading again to refresh when the 2nd book comes.

Inheritance, the first book of the Lost Bride’s Trilogy is right up my ally. It is a mashup of romance, suspense, some paranormal activity and a mystery two centuries in the making. In a glorious gothic mansion that just oozes “I’m haunted vibes”, the story starts to take shape on the curse that lives in this house and all the people it has affected. Our heroine is the last person in a family line who has a chance to break the curse and not end up dead herself.

Sonya was planning her wedding until she found her fiancé in bed with another woman. Her future plans may have been destroyed and everything she was working for thrown up in the air when a bombshell shows up in the form of an inheritance from an uncle she never knew she had. Her father’s twin has passed away and left her a gorgeous historical house next to the sea. The catch? Well, there are a few. She must live in the house for three years to fully inherit, it might be a teensy bit haunted and Sonya is the last of her line with a chance to break the curse.

I enjoyed this story. It takes some time to develop as we are getting everything set up for the trilogy. Discovering the history of the house and some of the ghosts in it fascinated me. I also loved how Sonya finally came to accept the haunting; she is a practical person and in her normal world the idea was ridiculous. But there are just some things that cannot be denied and the entities in the house are one of them. The romance is cute as Sonya and the son of the lawyer handling her inheritance, Trey, spend some time together and feel those first inklings of something between them. Over the course of a few months, they have some time to settle into the beginnings of their relationship.

There are some other great characters in this sleepy little town. I love the small town feel of this gothic style romance. Cleo was so much fun; she has been Sonya’s best friend for such a long time but unlike the straight laced Sonya, Cleo feels the haunting in the house immediately and is enchanted by it. She is ready to join her friend in this new experience as Sonya wanders through the discovery of details of the curse that has affected so many generations of this family.

The town, the burgeoning loves and of course, the ghost mystery, drew me in and as the story really started to pick up speed towards the end I was on the edge of my seat. The disappointment was only that this installment of the story was coming to an end and I would have to wait with the rest of the readers for what comes next as the entire trilogy looks devoted to solving this mystery. I think we may get a few more romances than just Sonya and Trey as things look promising for Cleo in the love department too. I for one am super excited with that ending to see what else Nora Roberts has in store for us. I will definitely be looking into some of her catalog for the other works she has in the fantasy romance vein.

Narration:
Brittany Pressley is a prolific narrator with over 500 titles under her belt and it shows. She has cadence, volume, emotion and diction down pat. All of the characters are distinct and all of them feel so real. I know I enjoy when a narrator helps bring the characters to life. Brittany did a great job and I found myself drawn into every word of the story. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

Nora Roberts never disappoints and this book is no exception. From the first page to the last I could not stop listening to this story! Sonya is a character you are immediately drawn to and want the best for her. When Sonya inherits a mysterious manor, the story is on a roll! I loved Trey and his family who help guide Sonya as she navigates all of the mysterious events in the manor. I am not a fan of the cliff hanger ending when it will be a long wait for the next book. Of course, I'll be listening/reading it as soon as possible. I loved the narrator and she added to the enjoyment of the book.

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.

𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦 #1
𝐁𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏𝟏.𝟐𝟏.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝒫𝓊𝒷 𝒟𝒶𝓎!

This starts like many romance novels - Sonya finds her fiance in bed with another woman. But from there, it becomes a haunting, atmospheric, and romantic tale.

Sonya finds out she has inherited a large mansion right on the coast of Maine from an uncle she never knew she had. As much as Sonya sees the beautiful house and location as a fresh start, the mansion has a sordid past and is haunted by the spirits of the “lost brides.”

I adored Trey, the young, handsome lawyer, how he helped Sonya settle into the mansion, and, of course, watching him and Sonya skirt the attraction between them. The mystery of the lost brides was woven in perfectly. It started in 1806 on that fateful wedding day; now, the curse has lasted for generations. Someone is trying to scare Sonya, while others are trying to give her clues on how to break the curse.

I loved this story! It is a ghost story, but it is also a mystery with fun and romantic elements. I will warn you - I actually screamed at the ending. It’s so good, but you will be begging for book two!


Thank you @stmartinspress for a gifted copy. Thank you @macmillan.audio for a complimentary audiobook.

Roberts continues to captivate readers everywhere. From epic romance to heartbreaking revelations, The Inheritance is a masterful telling of family secrets that grabs the attention from start to finish. Escape into a tale of life, love and family.

I admit it took me a little while to get into this book. The prologue is a bit of a gruesome start. The first chapter in which Sonya learns her fiancé is not a stand up guy didn’t help to draw me in. But once we learn about a mansion in Maine and Sonya arrives to live there, I was fully engaged.
The characters come alive, even the ghosts.
I am intrigued by this curse and Sonya being the one who needs to break it. And I was aghast at where the author chooses to end the tale. I know another is coming, but since this book is barely released it will be a long wait.
The narrator is great. I enjoyed listening.
Thanks to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to start a new series by Nora Roberts. I recommend it.

So let me preface this by stating, I started Inheritance by Nora Roberts right after finishing Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. I didn't know what would break my book hangover so I dove in, and pop---Inheritance not only fixed my book hangover but drug me out of the reading slump I could feel into. But that cliffhanger Nora, that was not nice!

Sonya MacTavish is a graphic artist planning for her wedding when she walks in on her fiance and her cousin. Single and reeling from this revelation, Sonya is hit with anyone shocker when she finds out that not only did her father have a twin he'd never met but he also recently passed and left her a house she must live in in order to inherit. The twist, the house is haunted.

A mixture of tracing family roots, settling into a new town, possibly meeting the person you're meant to be with and ghosts turned Inheritance into a homerun. Inheritance is going to be a trilogy and I'm going to need books two and three to come out immediately.

Thank you for the gifted ALC!

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.

You really can't go wrong with a Nora Roberts novel, and Inheritance was no exception. It was a fun and unique mix of haunting mystery and romance. It was a quick listen, thanks to excellent narration. I thoroughly enjoyed this read! Thanks to the publisher for an advanced reader/audio copy of this book.

I L O V E Nora Roberts books, and this one was phenomenal!!

It is the first of a trilogy, as many of her bride books are series, but this one has an additional twist, right from the get go. The brides referenced are all Lost Brides...in that they didn't live long after the wedding itself. (Some dating back to the 1800's)

The book is told through the eyes of Sonya, who is a graphic designer, and is engaged to be married...until she isn't. Through no fault of her own...but her fiancé is a hound, and she is done with him. (More on that as you read the book...)

We meet her family and friends, and see that she is surrounded by love and support. BUT... she worked with her fiancé, and now feels it is going to be very difficult in the office...and, she is not wrong.

Add to this a huge surprise that her Dad had a twin brother, who her entire family knew nothing about, and he has left her his mansion in Maine...with the stipulation that she must live there for 3 years in order to inherit it.

We go through her initially seeing the house, meeting the lawyers involved with her Uncle's will, and setting up her business all over again in Maine...

Additionally, add to this that everyone in the area is aware that the house is known to be haunted... everyone that is except Sonya. But she comes to realize this soon enough.

In Nora's own hysterical way, she will make you LOL while you are reading, cringe in fright (also as you are reading), and then add in some steamy love scenes to top it all off! I chuckled (LOL) I can't even tell you how many times in this book! So funny!! 🤣🤣

Oh, and did I mention…there are dogs! 🐾🐾

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this wonderful masterpiece and the first book of the Lost Brides Trilogy... Just not sure how I am going to be able to wait for the next two books to come out!!! =0

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which releases tomorrow, November 21st.

#Inheritance by #NoraRoberts

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Happy Reading!!