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

Check out all my upcoming reviews on Instagram @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or on Facebook @ #BookReviewsWithElaine

Happy Reading!!

Title: Inheritance (The Lost Bride Trilogy #1)

Release date: 11/21/23, read 11/19/23

Author: Nora Roberts-I read her Circle Trilogy and loved it.

Narrator: Brittany Pressley, Nora Roberts- Loved Cleo's accent, really brought out her character. Each bride revealed has a distinct voice of hopefulness that becomes tragedy. Even the ghosts' voices sounded old and sinister.

Run time: 13:51

POV: multiple with timelines from 1800's to current

Setting: Boston and Maine

Genre: Historical, Mystery, Romance

Tropes: family drama, haunted house, ghosts

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Quick summary: Sonya inherits the "Lost Bride" family manor that belonged to her long-lost uncle. She moves in to discover why her father never knew he had a twin brother and why they were separated.

Content warnings/triggers: murder

Characters: Main and Minor

Sonya MacTavish- 28, senior graphic designer. Parents Andrew (recently deceased) and Winter Poole. Just broke up w/ fiancé Brandon and quit her job that they both worked at - By Design.

Cleopatra Fabares/Cleo- Sonya's bff, agrees to move in w/ Sonya.

Oliver Doyle-lawyer who was Collin's bff. He promised to connect Sonya and give her the manor.

Trey Doyle-lawyer who greets Sonya when she arrives at the manor.

Anna Doyle-Oliver's daughter, hires Sonya to do her pottery website.


Review: I loved book #1 of this trilogy. It has a spooky Victorian mansion, ghosts, and family secrets. Sonya and later Cleo embrace the "ticks" of the manor. They both thrive artistically, painting and creating websites. I don't know what to think of the Doyles yet. I feel like they know a lot more than they revealed. Just remember this is book #1 so it ends on a cliffhanger.


Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio for this ARC & ALC 💜! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

My first Nora Roberts and I understand why she has a tight fan base with the way she pulls the reader in.
The first in the Lost Bride trilogy, the story starts in the early 1800s as a new bride is brutally murdered on her wedding night, vowing to never leave in her final breaths. Years later, Sonya is grieving the end of her engagement when she learns her late father had a secret twin who has just died and left his estate to her, including a grand home on the coast of Maine — with one condition: she must live there at least three years. Looking for a fresh start, she moves in but with odd happenings at all hours, it’s clear there are supernatural forces at play, including the murdered bride, and there’s a mystery to be solved. This is an interesting story with a great cliffhanger but much of it left me confused so I’m hoping that’s something that is cleared up more when the rest of the trilogy is released.
Brittany Pressley was an excellent narrator from level headed Sonya to her southern bestie Cleo and everyone in between.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is out 11/21.

I haven't read a Nora Roberts book for awhile and, wow, I'm hooked! A ghost story isn't usually top of my list, but this story is intertwined with a bit of mystery and romance, and the living's drama, that it makes the supernatural side believable and fit well into the storyline. As I read I wasn't sure if this mystery would wrap up in the first book and the rest of the trilogy would just be related stories, but it ended in a cliff hanger that really makes me dislike trilogies at the moment... because I have to wait for the next one to publish! Looking forward to enjoying the next book as much as the first. I'm also a fan of the narrator, she did an excellent job making each character's voice a bit different to fit their personalities and background, adding even further to the story.

"Inheritance" by Nora Roberts is Book #1 in "The Lost Bride Trilogy"!

Sonya MacTavish recently made several changes in her life. A break-up with her fiancé started the ball rolling, but she didn't stop there. She quit her job, opened her own Graphics design business, and moved from Boston to the Maine coast. It didn't all happen at once, but it sure felt like it.

Sonya believed the sight of finding her cheating fiancé in bed with her cousin was the biggest shock she'd ever have, but it wasn't. It was learning her late father had a twin he never knew about and finding herself as the heir to most of the estate of her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole.

Sonya learned her uncle's estate included a beautiful Victorian mansion, that according to the will, she must reside in for three years to receive her inheritance, hence the move to Poole's Bay, Maine. Trey, a young lawyer, greeted Sonya upon her arrival, gave her a tour of the mansion, and confirmed that yes, the house is indeed haunted. But only a little...

"Inheritance" is my first Nora Roberts read and its steeped in family history, secrets from the past to unravel, and a variety of entertaining ghosts in varying ages and levels of temperament, some are seen, most are not.

The pace is fast, holding my interest with a mixture of characters that complement each other right down to Sonya's best friend Cleo, and "The Boys", two adorable rescue dogs who are also besties. I loved that.

I found Nora Roberts easy writing style to be addictive and fluid, and an easy listen. The 13H 52M audiobook goes by quickly with Brittany Pressley's excellent voicing skills. Another stellar narration!

I don't know if I was expecting a cliffhanger but there it was and it's quite good. I'll be listening to the second book in "The Lost Bride Trilogy" and I highly recommend "Inheritance" to readers who enjoy a well-written haunted house story with entertaining characters, both alive and dead!

4⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Nora Roberts for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

Super addictive haunting & romance! 👰🩷👻

It was love at first sight seeing this gorgeous cover. I knew I had to read Nora Roberts' latest trilogy. I can say that "Inheritance" book one of The Lost Bride trilogy did not disappoint. Roberts expertly blends a centuries-old ghost story with contemporary romance that will keep you glued to the pages.

Sonya MacTavish is busy with her wedding planning but decides to cancel a meeting with her florist to get home early only to find the fiance in bed with her cousin! Of course, she calls off the wedding and throws the fiance out of her Boston home.

Shortly after Sonya receives shocking news that her late father had a twin brother who recently passed away and that she's the heir to his mansion in Maine.

The Lost Bride Trilogy will appeal to fans of gothic haunted houses, low-steam romance, family curses and secrets, whodunit mystery, and dual timeline paranormal fantasy. This is not spooky (yet) and I get many feel-good vibes from Sonya's BFF Cleo, the lawyer love interest, invisible residents of the mansion, and other secondary characters. This is almost five stars for me but the romance part got on too quickly without much chemistry or tension. I also find that things fall into places too conveniently for Sonya. I'd like to see some flaws and setbacks.

That being said, I am hooked from the first to the very last page. Do expect a massive cliffhanger ending that'll make you wish you wouldn't need to wait another year. Gaaah! I absolutely could not wait to read/listen to the second book.

Stellar performance audiobook, narrated by Brittany Pressley!

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!