This story is part of a trilogy and should be read in order as the first book introduces all the characters and the main plot of the manor and the history with the brides. I'll share after reading the first book about Sonya who inherits the manor and learns about a family she didn't know that I was highly looking forward to this second one. I recall getting chills reading the first book with the ghostly interactions and surprises that happened. With that said, I was a little concerned because of all the information in book one such as the story behind 4 of the 7 brides along with Sonya's move professionally to start her own web design co. after an incident with her ex fiance. How much could be relayed in the next book given how much was included in the first one? That book ended on a cliffhanger with Sonya going through a mirror so of course I was looking forward to this next one.

Nora Roberts is great with detail and there's much of it in this second book and at times I felt was too much. This second one has a few events which are the main themes(IMO) and involve returning characters of Cleo, Sonya's best friend; Trey, Sonya's love interest and finally Owen, Sonya's Poole cousin/Trey's friend and one more description that's a possible spoiler so wont' share it. I felt this book spent more time in the present between this group and what was going on in their daily lives. Yes we do delve into the past and a few questions get answered but definitely there's still quite a few that hopefully will get answered in book 3. I feel the first book grabbed me more because of the history/present interactions although I get why limited information would be shared in this second book since a third one is forthcoming. I felt like all the questions I had at the end of the first book are still there so anxiously awaiting the final installment.

I received an advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"The Mirror" picks up right where "Inheritance" left off. I can't reveal much about the plot, but I can summarize "Inheritance." Sonja's life unravels when she finds her fiancé with her bridesmaid cousin. She cancels the wedding, deals with job drama, and inherits a haunted mansion, Lost Bride Manor, from an unknown uncle. Amid friendly ghosts, one malevolent spirit wants her gone. The book offers mystery, romance, and strong friendships.

Nora’s portrayal of the everyday is magical, providing rich character development. Sonja, her best friend Cleo, love interest Trey, and newfound cousin Owen form a wonderful inner circle. Cleo, Owen, and Sonja are the perfect team, while the fur babies and ghosts add a special touch.

Nora's prologues set the tone beautifully, and this one was no exception—musical, moody, and whimsical. The ending left me desperate for the next book, a testament to Nora's captivating storytelling. "Inheritance" was one of my favorite books of 2023, ending on a major cliffhanger.

I'm so grateful that I received an ARC of "The Mirror". Thank you NetGalley!

Another hit! This series is so great. I love that it is not the same trilogy formula the author usually uses. The focus on just the 4 MC's is great. I can't wait to see how it all ends.

In this stunning sequel to Inheritance, Nora Roberts returns readers to the story of Sonya MacTavish, the jilted bride who inherited a Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine. This book is full of Gothic detail to delight fans of the series, and readers will feel chills as Sonya comes to terms with the strange noises she hears and realizes they are far more than just her imagination playing tricks on her. The mirror of the title allows Sonya to glide into the past to confront the centuries-old curse that continues to haunt her. The Lost Bride Trilogy combines contemporary romance and suspense with historical mystery, and Roberts finds a winning combination. The final book will likely resolve the threads left hanging, as Sonya continues to confront the supernatural. The writing is full of atmosphere! Fans of romance and ghost stories will devour this series!

Nora Roberts’ The Mirror is the captivating second installment in the Lost Bride Trilogy, following Sonya MacTavish as she uncovers the secrets of the Victorian mansion she inherited on the coast of Maine. As Sonya navigates the supernatural mysteries of the estate, she becomes entangled with an antique mirror that reveals dark family secrets and the haunting past of a bride murdered on her wedding day. Roberts expertly weaves a tale of suspense, romance, and friendship, bringing to life a cast of characters that are both enchanting and relatable. The novel explores themes of love, redemption, and the supernatural, leaving readers eager for the trilogy’s conclusion. Through rich character development and an intriguing plot, The Mirror enchants with its blend of the mundane and the magical, making it a must-read for fans of mystery and romance.

Another great book in The Lost Bride Trilogy by Nora Roberts. This s not a stand alone and the reader needs to read The Inheritance book one in the series first. We are swept right up in the tale of Sonya MacTavish who inherits a mansion off the coast of Maine. She finds out quickly it is haunted and is quickly swept into the search for the seven stolen wedding rings of the Brides that died at the Mansion. Her best friend moves in and together they are terrorized by the witch that originally cursed the house and the brides. Great story with all the elements that any reader is looking for. I. can’t wait for book three in the series. Great story great escapism.

This was SO good! Nora Roberts always writes her characters so well that you feel like you know them. How will I make it until the last book in the trilogy comes out?

This second book in the trilogy was engaging. I appreciate that it picks up where the first one left off from a different perspective. It feels like visiting friends. I do feel the storyline moved a little slower than I expected. At the end of this book, I still don’t know that the characters have any clue on how to approach the task of getting the rings back. I hope it doesn’t mean for a third book that rushes to finish.

𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌

The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 2) : Nora Roberts

Format: eBook (NetGalley)
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: November 18, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the 2nd book in the Lost Bride Trilogy, and it picks up right where The Inheritance left off. It resolves the cliffhanger from Book 1, but leaves many things open to interpretation.

The book follows main characters, Sonya and Cleo after they move into Poole Manor which Sonya inherited in Book 1. We found out in book 1 that the manor is haunted by people that have lived and died in it. One of these people is Hester Dobbs, and her sole purpose is to scare off anyone that plans on making the manor their home. Sonya and Cleo are determined to get rid of her and live happy lives in their new home. They also have the help of Trey Doyle and Owen Poole. They are the love interests of Sonya and Cleo. In this book we learn more about both of them, and get to see the romance blossom.

If you have plans to read this book, then I highly recommend you begin with the Inheritance first. If not, you’ll be totally lost when you start The Mirror.

Nora Roberts does such a great job intertwining the spooky paranormal part of this book with the romance. I also love how descriptive she is in every part of this book. It made me feel like I was right there with the characters. She also makes you love each character more throughout the book. Receiving this ARC was a complete dream! I grew up watching my grandmother read Nora Roberts’ books and now I love them just as much myself. I feel in love with this series in Book 1 and was so excited when I got this advanced copy. It did not disappoint, and I can’t wait for the book to come out so I can buy a copy!

Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Nora Roberts for this ARC!

#TheMirror #NoraRoberts #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #Romance #Paranormal #Spooky #HauntedHouse #Romantasy #Fantasy #Bookstagram #BookReviews #BookLover

The Mirror is book 2 in Nora Roberts’ paranormal mystery/romance Lost Bride trilogy which follows Sonya MacTavish, a young woman whose life is upended when (in the span of a few months) she breaks off an engagement with a cheating fiancé, quits her graphic design job, starts her own business, discovers she has a long lost uncle who left her a mansion in Maine (and a lot of money), and moves to the aforementioned mansion (a stipulation of her inheritance) which is both haunted and cursed (a bride in each generation is doomed to die in the manor either on her wedding day or in the year following). As Sonya settles into her new life and becomes more familiar with her newfound family, she becomes determined to break the curse. The Mirror picks up where Inheritance left off—with the discovery of a mirror that allows Sonya to see when/how the curse struck her ancestors and hopefully to give her insight into how to stop it.

There is a lot to like about the world Roberts has created here—a spooky yet charming manor filled mostly with friendly and helpful spirits that make the house almost sentient, charming family (both by birth and found), and a worthy love interest (though I’d argue that the romance is not really the focus here—it’s really a subplot). I will say that while I really enjoyed Inheritance, The Mirror didn’t quite live up to my book 2 expectations. I expected it to move the plot along more than it did- at times it felt a bit repetitive and most of the action/development happened at the very beginning and then at the end. I wonder whether this could have worked as a duology instead. Despite this, I am still invested in the overall storyline and looking forward to seeing how it all ends.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I devoured this read! I absolutely loved all the extra facts that came with this sequel. There was so much we didn’t know but now have a lot more information and knowledge. I’m a firm believer that the more you know and experience you gain in knowing the enemy. The characters get that in this book. I’m so thrilled we get more with Cleo and her family. They are all ready to fight for what they want and believe in. I can’t wait for the next!!! Well done Nora!

Another fantastic book by Nora Roberts. This picks right up where Inheritance left off. I really liked this book and will be suggesting it to friends and family. Thank #Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this awesome from the queen herself #Noraroberts

Nora Roberts knows how to write a ghost story with a little romance. This is the second installment of The Lost Bride trilogy and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait for the final book.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Was habe ich mich auf den zweiten Teil in der Lost Bride - Trilogie gefreut! Ich fand den ersten Teil unglaublich einnehmend – siehe: Inheritance – und bin vor dem Lesen davon ausgegangen, dass auch der Mittelteil der Trilogie mein Herz begeistern würde. Und ja, ich fand den Liebesroman mit Fantasieanteil insgesamt unterhaltsam und gut, an das erste Buch der Reihe reicht er aber nicht heran.

Das erste und das letzte Drittel des Romans wirkten auf mich spannend und einnehmend, im mittleren Drittel gab es für meine Geschmack aber ein paar unnötige Längen. Ja, es war interessant und wichtig mehr über den Fluch und seine Opfer zu lernen, etwas kürzer hätte man das aber schon anlegen können.

Ich fand es schön und teils berührend zu sehen, wie Sonya und ihre beste Freundin Cleo in ihrer neuen Heimat Fuß gefasst haben und gelernt haben, mit den Eigenheiten des Hauses zu leben. Und ja, auch die beiden Liebesgeschichten haben mir gut gefallen.

So gut 20-30 Seiten weniger hätten der der Geschichte im Mittelteil meinem Empfinden nach gut getan. So fühlten sich ein paar Szenen wie Wiederholungen aus vorherigen Kapiteln an.

Beim Lesen bin ich zudem etwas darüber gestolpert, dass Alkohol im Leben von den Hauptcharakteren einen wichtigen Stellenwert einnimmt. In recht vielen Szenen gab es zum Essen oder Entspannen Wein, Bier oder auch mal Whiskey. Als jemand, der selbst nicht trinkt, kam mir das doch schon etwas übertrieben vor. Warum immer wieder ausdrücklich erwähnt werden musste, dass es mal wieder Alkohol gab, habe ich nicht verstanden.

Richtig geärgert habe ich mich über eine Szene, in der eine Nebenfigur trotz Schwangerschaft ein Glas Wein in der Woche trinkt. Denn das wäre ja ok und erlaubt. Mit dieser Aussage wird impliziert, dass sie von jemandem (Frauen:ärztin?) das OK für dieses Verhalten bekommen hat.

Bedenkt man, dass in bestimmten Phasen einer Schwangerschaft schon ein sehr geringer Alkoholkonsum fatale Auswirkungen auf den Fötus haben kann, finde ich solche Aussagen grob fahrlässig. Dieser gefährliche Schwachsinn bleibt am Ende noch bei werdenden Müttern hängen und kann zu dramatischen Konsequenzen führen.

Fakt ist, dass es nach Stand der Wissenschaft (2024) keine Belege dafür gibt, dass eine bestimmte Menge an Alkohol in einer Schwangerschaft als ungefährlich eingestuft werden kann. Der Aussage, dass ein Glas Alkohol in der Woche ok ist, fehlt die wissenschaftliche Basis (ich habe es extra noch mal nachgelesen!). Offizielle Empfehlung ist seit Jahren, in der Schwangerschaft komplett auf Alkohol zu verzichten. Und liegt keine Alkoholsucht der werdenden Mutter vor, ist das meiner Meinung nach auch absolut nicht zu viel verlangt. So viel sollte einem die Gesundheit des eigenen Kindes doch wert sein!

Ich fand diese Passage im Roman wirklich sehr ärgerlich, solche Fehlinformationen sollte man nicht verbreiten!

Die letzen Kapitel des Romans fand ich wiederum stark. Es war spannend und mitreißend zu sehen, wie nah freudige und herzzereißende Erlebnisse in Sonyas Leben und dem ihren Vorfahren beieinander lagen.

Nach den letzten Seiten im Roman blickt man mit Schrecken auf die böse Energie im Haus und ist etwas ratlos, wie sie besiegt werden soll.

Das Finale der Buchreihe sollte spannend und dramatisch werden, ich freue mich schon darauf.

🖤🖤🖤🖤

Für wen?

Wer spannende Liebesromane mit Fantasy - Anteil mag, dem kann ich das Buch und die Trilogie ans Herz legen. Fangt auf jeden Fall mit dem ersten Teil an, denn die Bücher bauen aufeinander auf.

As always, Nora Roberts writes a story that wraps itself around your heart and mind. Family, both the one you’re born into and the one you find along the way, will get you through anything life throws at you, even an age old curse.

Prefacing this with: my apologies in advance for being a giant Debby Downer, but I am beyond frustrated with this trilogy so it's rant o'clock.

I do not understand how I am now 2 books into this trilogy and still nothing of note has happened. The first book thoroughly bored me the entire way through. I mean, it SHOULD be something I love. Romantasy, with an animal companion, and not-horror ghosts. That is most everything I love in one book. But I was LITERALLY falling asleep all the way through book 1 (and I mean genuinely. I am not the sort of person that can fall asleep on a whim--that book may as well have been a sleeping pill though). That said, at the end of book 1, something finally happened and it ended on a huge cliffhanger and I was like alright, maybe books 2 and 3 will be where all the action are.

Unfortunately, I was incredibly incorrect. I feel like this book served no purpose. Nothing of note happened. Nothing was resolved. It was just more of the same bland storyline from book 1, and then left you waiting for book 3. It was almost 500 pages. How are there no answers or any new interesting plotpoints for 450+ pages??? At this point, I have lost whatever care I had left, so I guess whatever the conclusion is in book 3, I'll never know. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars.

This is the second book in the Lost Bride trilogy. It picks up exactly where the last book leaves you. And I enjoyed the characters and the story. It just left me wanting a bit more development in the plot.

I can’t wait to see how this trilogy ends, but I feel like this book had a serious case of middle book syndrome.

Also. I think I’m genuinely more invested in Cleo and Owen than Sonya and Trey, so I wish we had more scenes of just them.

It’s still got good elements, just let me wanting a bit more!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Mirror by Nora Roberts
This was a 2.5 star.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc! I was excited to read it having been waiting to find out what was going to happen next at Lost Bride.

This story resumes where the last one ends. The first half was enjoyable as we get more creepy encounters with our resident evil ghost as well as glimpses of the past that allow us to learn more about the inhabitants of this haunted home.

Sadly, it begins to get a bit slow and redundant. I didn't feel like much happened to really add to the movement of the story. I feel like I could have DNF'd and still would be fine for the next book.

I will still read the next book because I want to see how they beat this crazy ghost and give the murdered brides some peace.

Troupes: romantic suspense
Spice 1/5
Plot 4/5
Pace 2/5
Character Personality 3.5/5
Character Growth 3.5/5
Writing Style 3/5
World Building 5/5

After reading "The Inheritance" with its cliffhanger ending, I eagerly awaited the second book in the Lost Brides Trilogy. Book Two, "The Mirror," takes up exactly where the first book ended. It's largely a plot about good fighting evil. Sonya McTavish, related through her father to the Poole family, and her friends, Cleo, Trey, and Owen, spend most of this book trying to come up with a strategy to defeat the witch, Hester Dobbs. She put a spell on all the Poole family brides, causing them to die on their wedding day. Then Hester collects their wedding rings. In order to stop this curse, Sonya must steal the seven rings from Hester the witch.

Sonya is aided in her life at Poole Manor by ghosts of the past, both staff and former inhabitants. She frequently crosses through a mirror and sees the past world of the various Poole brides. She's particularly drawn to Astrid Poole. The portraits of the former Poole brides mysteriously appear every so often. These magical elements make the story intriguing.

Occasionally, I felt like this middle volume of the trilogy was a bit repetitive and didn't make much progress toward coming up with a plan to defeat Hester. However, the characters are interesting and draw me into the story, and the romance angle is done beautifully. I'll await the third book to see the inevitable ending. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read this book for an honest review.

When Sonya MacTavish was told she inherited a grand estate from an uncle she never even heard of, she was mystified but also curious. As she settles in at the estate and finds a new life in this tiny Maine town, Sonya finds a centuries old curse that has haunted her family and it's up to her as well as her friends to figure out the mystery of the Lost Brides before it ends in blood, danger and more. But when she dreams of a mirror that comes true in the daylight hours, Sonya knows she needs to follow her instincts if she is to find all the lost brides and end the curse that has haunted her family for ages.



My Review:

When I finished book 1 in this exciting new trilogy by Nora Roberts, The Inheritance, I found myself captivated by characters and a storyline that drew me in by chapter two and kept me glued to the pages for hours until the very last page was read and done. THE MIRROR continues where book one left off and the readers continue alongside Sonya, her love, Trey and friends and new found family as they try to figure out what happened to the Lost Brides and how to beat a witch who is determined to take what she wants regardless of who dies in the end. What got to me in book two was how seamless it continues right where book one left off and Segway into something that if I am honest, made me even more excited to continue Sonya, Trey and friends stories here. So much twists and turns that made me gasp in delight, thrills and more as I continued reading immediately after I finished The Inheritance.

THE MIRROR is one book that is as good if not more so than book one, The Inheritance. Ms. Roberts delivers another stand out book in her second book in The Lost Brides Trilogy and I for one can not recommend this trilogy enough. I'm always excited to see what this author can come up with her trilogies and I'm not disappointed at all every single time.

If you haven't read The Inheritance, than I highly recommend you start there as book two, THE MIRROR continues immediately after that book ends. If you love romantic suspense, found family, small town charm and more then I urge you to grab this trilogy immediately as this is an author who knows how to weave a story around her readers and now I am eager to see how this all ends in book three (coming in 2025).