Leave it to Nora Roberts to produce a truly mesmerizing adventure shaped like a haunted manor. Yes an adventure. With awesome discoveries, thrills, and chills, accompanied by an exquisite selection of music. Nora Roberts decided that her haunting characters needed body. Not the humankind, but spirit kind. And one of them transmits her message through to the living inhabitants of the bride’s manor with her song selection. Awesomely creative. Again this is Nora Roberts we are talking about here.
Sonya MacTavish inherited her uncle’s house, the lost bride’s manor. She never knew her uncle, in fact she didn’t know she had one. Her father didn’t know he had a brother. All this is the basis of THE MIRROR. Just what the heck was going on in the Poole family for the last century or so. It turns out quite a lot. Trey Doyle, a lawyer, oversaw the will for Sonya’s uncle Collin Poole. That’s when he met Sonya. And candidly was instantly smitten. I know old time word, but you will see it fits.
The stipulation is that Sonya stay in the manor two years. For many decades, the Poole family had forsaken the manor. As Sonya gets to know Poole Manor and its many inhabitants she will realize why the family had basically closed it up and lived their lives elsewhere. As in any good spooky story there is an evil spirit and Nora Roberts concocted a gem. The mirror is actually a conduit between the present and past, not to be handled lightly. Sonya and her band of friends and relatives will have to use all their resources to come out unscathed in this house that is holding onto many sad memories.
If you haven’t yet read INHERITANCE, book one in the series, my suggestion is that you should. It is excellent and introduces us to the world of lost brides. THE MIRROR is second in the Lost Brides Trilogy. Nora Roberts gives little hints into the background of THE MIRROR, but the series deserves to be read in its entirety from book one to the inevitable book number three. Personally can’t wait for the next installment in a story that has been absolutely riveting. The Lost Brides Trilogy is a testament to the talent of Nora Roberts whose eclectic variety of tales keeps her fans very entertained. As always the cast of characters will make you laugh, sign, grit your teeth and move you to unbelievable sadness. Keep in mind the greater part of that cast is of the ghost variety. All very well designed to capture your imagination and heart.

While I loved the first book in the series, "The Mirror" was a disappointment. The plot felt stagnant and didn’t add anything new or exciting to the storyline. It lacked the depth and intrigue that initially drew me in, and the pacing dragged, making it difficult to stay engaged.

Unfortunately, the book itself didn’t hold my interest, and it felt like a missed opportunity in what could have been an otherwise captivating trilogy. The character development and plot twists that made the first book so compelling were absent, leaving the story feeling flat.

Will I read the final book in this trilogy? Absolutely, because I still want to see how the story concludes. While this second installment didn't meet my expectations, I’m hopeful that the final book will bring the depth and excitement that was missing here.

(4.25 stars)
The Mirror is the second book in a planned trilogy, The Lost Bride Trilogy, and it picks up right where book one (Inheritance) ended - which was a real cliffhanger. This is one book where I think it’s important to have read Inheritance first, even though Roberts does a good job of filling in/refreshing the memory of the reader.

Roberts manages to write stories with supernatural elements that just seem so real/realistic/possible. I don’t know how she does it.

Sonya has moved from Boston to a small town on the Maine coast, after inheriting a house from an uncle she knew nothing of, and it’s haunted. For real. The extensive family history includes a lot of tragic deaths, all of new brides who got married in “Lost Bride Manor.” Most of the ghosts are pretty nice, even helpful. One of them makes up her bed and cleans up after Sonya and her friend Cleo, who has moved along with Sonya. Another one plays songs on Sonya’s iPad with appropriate themes at several points in the story. I *loved* that! There’s even a little boy who plays with her dog. Of course, there’s one really malevolent one, and she is pretty scary.

The love interest from the first book - Trey - is still around and the romance between him and Sonya is getting more serious. Cleo and Sonya’s cousin Owen are starting to be a couple as well. Sonya and Cleo are really becoming part of the Poole’s Bay community. There was a fair amount of the book that explored their activities that didn’t seem directly relevant to the plot, but perhaps those instances will become important in the third book. (Time spent going to the garden center and so forth.) I did find it a bit hard to keep all the community members straight and it was also hard to keep all the lost brides straight! Over the course of the book, we learn a lot more about some of the brides, through the mirror of the title. Clover's story was particularly sad, I thought.

This book also ends in a cliffhanger but this time around I wasn’t so surprised!

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was so convenient, as I finished up my reading on a road trip. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Brittany Pressley, who did a wonderful job as always with all the voices. My only thought was the Maine people didn’t really sound like Maine people.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I am on the edge of my seat looking forward to the next book! I couldn't stop listening/reading this and didn't want to put it down until I was done. I loved all the characters and the interludes in between chapters that went back to the past residents of the manor were well placed.

Ok, wow this book is fantastic. The characters & world building is so real & detailed. Just a few things to be aware of…this book starts immediately from the 1st one so if you haven’t read that in a while you should otherwise you’ll be lost. And 2nd, not much happens in finding the rings/getting rid of adobes. It’s all about the characters, spirits & manor. Can’t wait for the next. #TheMirror #NetGalley

This is the second book of Nora Robert's Lost Bride Trilogy. I read the first book, Inheritance, and really enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to diving into the second installment.

As for the book: I will admit that I was a little disappointed. This book felt like a lot of filler with not a lot of substance. There was so much repetition, that it became boring. When a ghostly incident occurred, the characters would then tell other characters all about it. And sometimes, those characters would then describe the event to another set of characters. While I like each of the characters in this series and I love the storyline, I grew tired of reading about the same situation three times and would often find myself skimming over large portions of dialog.

I still plan on reading the next book in this series and I would recommend it to someone who might be interested in a romance with a supernatural twist.

The Mirror is the second book in The Lost Bride Trilogy and this one picks up where the first book, The Inheritance left off. For me the pacing seemed to be slower than the other book and I struggled reading through it, though I still enjoyed it. The author wrote this one well and all of the characters are amazing. I can not wait for the next book in the series! Overall, this was a decent read that I enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of The Mirror by Nora Roberts.

The second book "The Mirror" in the Lost Bride Trilogy did not disappoint. I had the pleasure of reading the book and listening to the audiobook a week after I finished the book. Brittany Pressley's narration was excellent as always..
We start exactly where the 1st book ended at the Mirror, just like I expected. Sonja glides into the mirror and sees Brides from the past that have lived at the manor. She is trying to figure out how to help the bridge of the past while also living her life. This book delves much more into day to day life in the manor and Sonja learning about her relatives past and present. Additionally we see Cleo and Owen's relationship blossom as they help Sonja.

It was a great book but I would definitely suggest reading The Inheritance first.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arcs.

3.5 STARS

As other reviewers noted, this book starts at the same place that Inheritance ended - on the cliffhanger.

I am sorry to say that I expected this book to move the story forward, but I'm afraid that wasn't the case. Don't get me wrong; it was a good book, but it added little to the main plotline. We are still dealing with the seven brides, but we have done nothing about trying to find their rings if that is what actually needs to happen. Hester Dobbs, the evil witch, makes several appearances, which are the book's highlight. There is a lot of repetition and discussions about food and plenty of talk about the new cat ( and it just has to be something more than a cat to be trained that fast and easily!LOL!) and the dogs.

We hear mainly about Sonya and Cleo's mundane everyday activities, though we do find out if Sonya got the big job. They did have their "event," which was mundane with no surprises, which surprised me!

In my opinion, this book almost fell into the boring category, but enough exciting things happened to prevent that. I must say that I am thoroughly intrigued by the 'good' ghosts!

I AM looking forward to book three. I need to find out if/how the curse breaks and if Cleo will become one of the cursed!

*ARC was supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Publishing, the author, and NetGalley.

Readers will recall that the first book The Lost Bride trilogy by Nora Roberts ended on a helluva cliffhanger. Thankfully, the wait is over; you will step right back through the mirror with cousins Sonya and Owen and into the modern-day, haunted lives of the inhabitants of the family mansion.

As far as plotline is concerned, The Mirror follows the same one as The Inheritance--big surprise. The pacing needs some work; there are pages upon pages of decorating, day-to-day work, and party planning that are fine *if* in small increments. Alas, they are overwhelming sometimes. And boring. But Sonya and Cleo, her best-friend-turned-housemate continue with their paranormal search of Sonya's ancestors and their missing wedding rings. The menfolk have healthy roles, but not overly significant ones--in fact, I believe the dogs and the rescue cat get the same screen time as the romances that are happening between the two new couples.

Roberts added even more characters this go-around, new pets, more extended family. As always, she does a spectacular job of making each person very much a freestanding character, but one does wonder--were they all necessary? I have my doubts, but perhaps the third book will alter my opinion on that.

Overall, I can guarantee that The Mirror is not to be missed by Nora Roberts fans, especially ones that have read the first book in the trilogy. The gothic thing is very big right now, so I'm certain that there is also an audience here for fans of older Simone St. James or Darcy Coates.

Picking up right where The Inheritance left off, the mystery of the lost bride continues.

The quest to find the 7 rings is still in play. We see more of the romance and relationships in this book compared to book 1. I loved the continued spooky, haunted scenes as the team navigated unlocking more of the family history and history of the mansion.

Audiobook was excellent with the queen Brittany Pressley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 11/19.

Nora Roberts has been a much loved author for a lot of years and I have followed her for many of those years. I looked forward to reading a spooky tale by her at this time of year but this one really disappointed me. I found it to be a very slow read and one I did not look forward to continuing. It was too many words and not enough substance. The premise had promise but it just did not deliver. The places where the supernatural took place would get my interest and then boredom would set it. I just did not love this. Too much time was spent on taking the animals out. Why?


I wish to thank Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Mirror is the second book in Nora Robert’s Lost Bride Trilogy. I have been looking forward to this book since the end of the first one, Inheritance. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Matin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies in exchange for a honest review. I was lucky enough to receive this book in both ebook and eaudio which enhanced my reader experience. For the review, I listened to the audio and then used the ebook to follow along and to refer to. I found this the easiest because there are a lot of characters and genealogy, so it was nice to be able to refer to the print version to set things in my mind.
This book starts off right where the last one ended on a cliffhanger. I was pulled into the story right from the start. I was excited to learn more about Sonya’s ancestors and the backstory of the lost brides. I like that they started filling in some of the holes of the lost brides. The pacing was a little slow for my taste, with the day to day work and living stuff and party planning. I didn’t feel like this book moved the overall storyline ahead as much as I would have liked.
I enjoyed the narrator for the audiobook., Brittany Pressley. I thought I recognized her voice and found that she had also narrated a few of the David Baldacci audiobooks I have listened to.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the conclusion of the trilogy.

The Mirror is the second book in the List Bride trilogy by Nora Roberts. Readers should start either the first book- The Mirror.

This book picks up right where the first book left off. Sonya and Owen have gone through the mirror hoping to stop the evil witch who cursed the manor house that Sonya inherited and now inhabits.

This book, while interesting and fun, felt largely unnecessary. I think the point of this second book is to grow the characters and their relationships because not much else happened. It was good though- I love the characters and their stories. Looking forward to seeing some more action in the third book.

Thanks to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this earc

I just keep saying it. This book was unnecessary too long. First 50% could have been cut in half. We really don’t need day to day of exactly the same thing. We get. They work, eat and take care of their pets.
I enjoy the throw backs but they very much get lost in the repetition. I feel like there should have been more than just the “house” setting for all the scenes or the plot should have moved faster because two books into this, we still have no idea how Sonya will get all seven rings.

The Mirror picks up where the first book left off and plunges you right into the story. An old Victorian house on the coast of Maine, evil spirits, an ancient curse, and great characters make this a book you won't want to put down.

Love this series. Book 2 did not disappoint. It picks up right where book one ended and carried the story well enough for book three. The story did progress quite slowly and at some parts, repetitive. But it helped to carry the character development and navigate the curse to a more fuller and deeper level. Can’t wait for book three!!!

THE MIRROR is the second book in the Lost Brides trilogy. It begins within moments after the events of THE INHERITANCE. Sonya MacTavish has inherited Lost Brides Manor on the coast of Maine. She has also inherited the many ghosts who inhabit the house and the curse that has taken the lives of seven previous brides over the centuries.

Worst of all, Sonya has inherited an evil witch who has caused the deaths and left a curse in place. It is up to Sonya to break the curse if she can. She isn't alone. She has her best friend Cleo, her new boyfriend Trey, and Trey's best friend Owen who happens to be Sonya's cousin and Cleo's love interest.

This story concerns learning more about the curse and trying to defeat it and the evil witch by filling the house with happy memories. To that end, Sonya and Cleo determine to hold an open house for the town and call on their new friend Bree to organize it all. Both women are also busy with their own work too. Sonya is growing her design business by securing local clients and also trying to capture a large client that she worked with in her previous job. It happens that she is competing with her cheating ex for that new account. And Cleo is busy with her illustrating and fine art.

The story is filled with great relationships. Sonya and Cleo are quickly building a new circle of friends. And they are finding acceptance by Trey's family and Owen's too. I like the cute pets who have parts to play in this one from Sonya's new puppy Yoda to Cleo's new cat and Trey and Owen's dogs too.

The story was filled with great spooky elements as the witch - Hester Dobbs - tries all sorts of things to get Sonya and Cleo to leave the house. The appearing and disappearing mirror which transports Sonya, sometimes with Owen, to the past where she witnesses the deaths of the earlier brides adds another creepy element. Less creepy but still spooky is the bride who is Sonya's biological grandmother who responds to situations through various musical selections.

I chose to reread THE INHERITANCE before I began this one and found that it helped me get into the rhythm of this story and fill in the parts I had forgotten. I wouldn't suggest reading this one without having read THE INHERITANCE since the events so closely follow those of the first book. And the lack of resolution of the main storyline means this one ends on a cliffhanger as did the first book.

The second in the Lost Brides Trilogy starts where the first finished.
This is an amazing story of love with multiple weddings performed in Lost Brides Manor that explain the home’s name. Seven brides married, and very shortly after died under very frightening circumstances. We met Dobbs, the evil entity that occupies the house in the first book, she is still disrupting life in the second.
We have our usual cast of characters, Sonya the graphic designer who inherited the house. Cleo, her best friend/like sister who is an artist. Trey, a lawyer and frequent visitor to the house as a child, and Sonya’s lover. Owen, Sonya’s cousin who is very attracted to Cleo, he is a contractor.
Little by little the house ghosts have become family, of course except Dobbs. Ms. Robert’s always includes the most wonderful pets in her stories, and we have three dogs, and a cat who are very much part of the family.
Her characters are wonderful, with plenty of romance, suspense and things that go bump in the night. I can’t wait for the third book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this wonderful story. This my own personal review.

THE MIRROR is the second book in Author Nora Roberts The Lost Bride trilogy, picking up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of the first book INHERITANCE. By nature, a trilogy has an overall story arc that spans three books, and while the author does a fantastic job easing readers back into the storyline, I recommend reading book one before venturing into THE MIRROR.

Sonya MacTavish settles into daily life with best friend Cleo in the haunted Victorian mansion she inherited from her deceased uncle. As time passes, the women welcome and adjust to the daily activities of the friendly ghosts of brides who died tragically in the mansion on their wedding day at the hand of the evil entity holding court in the gold room - Hester Dobbs. While Hester's actions are disturbing, Sonya and Cleo, joined by companions Trey and Owen, manage to remain defiant in the face of her frequent temper tantrums complete with the slamming of doors, loud noises and flying objects. When a magic mirror Sonya has dreamed of appears before her, she's drawn to pass through it time and again, finding herself decades in the past witnessing firsthand the happiest day of each bride's life before it ended in heartbreaking tragedy at the murderous hands of Hester who claimed each of the seven brides' wedding rings. As the story progresses, readers learn more about the unique history of each bride and groom, their families, their secrets and how they interacted with the antagonist Hester who vowed to be the only lady of the manor. Readers also see the relationships between the main characters evolve in the present as they bond in friendship and love, together vowing to recover the seven stolen rings and banish the evil spirit from the mansion. Hester has other ideas.

THE MIRROR is an atmospheric story, highlighting Roberts extraordinary abilities at world-building with descriptive prose that lures readers into scenes via sight, smell, sound and touch. The author maintains a balance of regular, small-town life and the mystical aspects of this story while ramping up the action with elements of mystery and suspense. The story unfolds through past/present chapters as Sonya slips back and forth through the mirror allowing readers to witness the history of families as it occurred over several centuries while raising the stakes for the challenge facing the group in the present. The slower pace in the first half allows time for characters to develop personal and community relationships while interspersing escalating paranormal episodes throughout to steadily increase the tone of malice and danger in a race to the final scene that explodes off the page. Per Roberts signature style, the women are strong, devoted and fiercely independent, and the men are smart, talented and supportive. Together, they emit positive energy bringing light and love to the mansion as they form a formidable team but is it enough to defeat a centuries old evil entity out for revenge?

Author Nora Roberts is an expert at detailed, vivid world-building, often drawing on ancient family history and incorporating it into suspenseful storylines with strong characters. The power of love, family, friends and good over evil are frequent themes. The Lost Bride trilogy is a prime example of her skillful blending of fantasy, romance and suspense in such a setting with characters readers will develop relationships with. THE MIRROR is an intense, atmospheric, heartwarming yet creepy tale that's perfect for those who love stories that stretch their imagination. Highly recommended to fans of fantasy, romance, mystery and suspense with a touch of the paranormal.