Member Reviews
What a great sequel!
This picks up immediately following the cliffhanger in The Inheritance. We get to see Sonya and Owen go through the Mirror and see one of the brides stories. This installment has a lot more of the supernatural occurrences and many more visits through the Mirror. I loved every time Sonya went through the Mirror. They were always great scenes that added depth to the family history and filled in knowledge gaps that will hopefully prove helpful in defeating Dobbs.
A few things that I particularly enjoyed were seeing more of Sonya, Cleo, Trey, and Owen becoming a little family with all their animals. It was really special whenever the 4 of them were together. Owen and Cleo in particular had some funny banter and I’m glad they finally took the next step. The party planning and execution of “The Event” was great and I enjoyed getting to see more of Sonya and Cleo’s families. I hope we see more of them all in the futures! I also liked seeing Sonya’s ex and him getting some well deserved karma and I’m expecting he will make another appearance in the next book where Trey will finally get to meet him.
However, as with the first book, I did get a little bored during parts of this. I felt like there wasn’t much balance- it was either super entertaining Mirror scenes, ghost shenanigans, or relationship building or very boring explanations of the day to day of their work days and cooking meals that I wouldn’t have missed if there had been less of those moments.
All in all this was everything that Nora Roberts does best and I feel like a classic already. I am going to be eagerly awaiting the third book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.
The second book in this series picks up shortly after the first one ended. Readers see life in the manor continue as the characters reveal more of themselves. A second romance develops (as expected) between Cleo and Owen, and the romance between Sonya and Trey deepens. The other residents of the manor reveal themselves and share more about their lives through various supernatural means. And, of course, Hester Dobbs continues her attempts to drive them from the house with evil events. Wrapped around the supernatural elements, Roberts tells a story of four adults who work hard for in their chosen careers and are connected to each other in normal human ways. All of them face challenges and come through stronger. This sequel continues to add more to the overall story as well as the subplots for many of the seven lost brides. I appreciate the cliffhanger ending and look forward to the third book - though the wait will seem long.
This book did not disappoint! The only disappointing thing was waiting for this one to come out and now waiting for the 3rd in the series!
Nora Roberts does it again.
Sonya and Cleo are the perfect friends. Trey and Owen are the perfect friends. Together they make the perfect group of friends. Add Clover the ghost and her choice of music and you have a great group!
Thank you to Nora Roberts, St. Martin’s Publishing Group, and to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
This series reminds me so much of why I love Roberts's work!! SO SO GOOD! I love the romance, the family, the witchery, the history....just everything about this book and this series! It's going to be an unreal wait for book number 3 in the Lost Brides!! Sonya and Cleo or the perfect balance of best friends, as are Trey and Owen! I've falling in love with each of the ghosts, sans Dobbs!! Highly recommend!!
As with the first book in this series, I was entertained, enjoyed the characters and was interested to find out more in terms of the past history involving the main character’s ancestors. This type of storyline is still not something I’m particularly interested in and probably never will be. Ghosts and paranormal activities just aren’t that interesting to me so I’m still a bit on the fence as to whether or not I’ll read the next book.
I received this book from the publisher for free. However, the opinions in this review are strictly my own.
I really like the first book in this series but have totally fallen in love with this second book. The characters have developed amazingly and the story line is good.
Sonya and Cleo continue to deal with the haunting in The Poole Manor, in Poole Bay, Maine.
Between the 7 dead brides and them appearing to Sonya to show her how they died, the friendly servants and children and the crazy witch, the ghosts have been busy around the manor.
Trey and Owen have become a bigger part of the picture and Pye, the cat has been added to the mix.
I have really enjoyed the story and can't wait for the 3rd book in the series.
Such a good second book. The middle of a trilogy usually feels like filler or weighed down with too much info. This one does a nice job keeping you reeled in and invested in what happens to Sonya, Cleo, Trey, and Owen. Not too much of a spoiler, but another animal joins the ranks of the clan. There are also romantic developments, lots of family sightings, The Event, and an update on the Ryder account. There were several laugh out loud quips in this installment. The musical references were amazing, so varied and spot on. I found myself wishing to know how it all ends and being aware that the last book comes out next year. Thank you to Net Galley and the author for an advanced reader's copy.
I love Nora Roberts and especially her trilogy books. I feel like I really get to know the characters and can’t wait for the next book to come out. This book is no different! The Mirror is the second book in the Lost Brides trilogy. You really need to read the first book since this book begins where the first book left off. I really liked the mystery in this book with the haunted house and ghosts. I did feel like this book had less romance than her other books, but I didn’t mind. This book is longer than the first book in the trilogy, but it is a fast read. I can’t wait for the final installment!
Nora Roberts is hands down my favorite author. I especially love her trilogies and I love that this one is so different. There is some romance but the primary focus is the ghost story and the intricately woven history of the manor and its prior inhabitants. This is about a mission to save all of the spirits in the manor as well as defeat Hester Dobbs.
More is found out in this second installment about the stories behind the 7 brides. I love that there is a lot of growth in the main character, Sonya, in this book. We also get a closer look at the families behind the 4 primary characters. Nora took great care to flush out the families of the past and present to bring you further into the story in this book. Sonya's growth through book 2 is going to be huge in the fight that is being set up for in book 3.
I did feel like the first installment was better than the second because there was more action in that book. There is a cliffhanger in this one too but I wasn't as much on the edge of my seat as I was in the first book. You do need to read the first book before you read this one. You won't be sorry as The Inheritance is such a great book.
I anxiously await the final book in the series as I know it will be as good as the first if not even better!
I want to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review the ARC of The Mirror by Nora Roberts. The first book in the trilogy is Inheritance. Think it is important to read it first. I really liked The Mirror and can’t wait for the next one!
“Since those grand doors opened in 1794, a Poole has walked those halls.”
Dobbs, the wicked ghost, is still there. Sonya is determined to recover the rings of the dead wives and bring peace and love to the manor house of her ancestors. Meanwhile, the good ghosts continue to play music, to make her bed and lay out her clothes!
This book is spooky fun!
The Mirror publishes November 19,2024.
This is the second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy by Nora Roberts. When I read the first book, I could not wait to find out what happened next. It was worth the wait. Nora Roberts does an amazing job of developing all of the characters and pulling you into their world. As I was reading, it was like I was right there seeing it all and listening in on their conversations. This book expands on the story and you get to learn more about the brides that were murdered and the curse that is on the family. Sonya MacTavish has inherited the family mansion and all of its history and ghosts. Occasionally, a mirror appears that shows her more about the family's history and the brides that died. Sonya, along with her friends and cousin are trying to break the curse on the family. They have to find the wedding rings that the witch stole from the brides after she murdered them. Nora does a great job of building the tension and suspense along with showing the determination and strength of Sonya and her friends. This story moves along smoothly. I am anxiously waiting for the third and final book in the trilogy. These are books that stay with you for a while and have you trying to figure out ways that Sonya can break the curse or wondering what will happen next. This is definitely a book I will read again.
3.5/5
I can't believe I'm giving a Nora Roberts' book anything less than a 5 star review but...I'm very disappointed in this book. It's well written and while I liked the additional details in the book, the plot barely moved forward. This seemed like this should've been a plot for a standalone novel but she had to do a trilogy so they split it apart and then had to fill in a lot of details.
Like don't get me wrong the book is enjoyable but we didn't learn anything that we didn't already know and the romance side plot of Cleo's was barely shown at all. I've read a lot of Nora Roberts' trilogies and she usually gives all characters a fleshed-out story but in this one where she only has 4 characters they're barely there at all.
Overall, I would consider this a novella for additional information not an actual book.
I loved reading the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy and I couldn’t wait for the next book to come out. Unfortunately, The Mirror wasn’t what I had hoped for. The four main characters are likeable, as are their extended families. It just has endless discussions constantly repeated to enlighten the characters who hadn’t been present for the supernatural goings-on to be brought up to speed. And did we have to have each meal’s menu described? The witch Hester Dobbs’ character is nicely portrayed and at times quite scary. I loved all the ‘friendly’ ghost characters and how they helped maintain the mansion. I can’t wait for the third book to come out and see how the story continues.
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Nora Robert’s second Lost Bride Trilogy book, and my only complaint is that I still have to wait a year and a half now for the final one! This continues the story from the first book and I was just as invested in the characters and the mystery. It’s a relatively fast and easy read, and truly, I can’t wait for the final installment to find out how it all ends.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advance copy.
Pub date: November 19, 2024
This book picks up where the first book “The Inheritance” leaves off, so be sure to read that before picking this one up. Nora Robert’s is a favorite author. She brings the plot and characters to life every single time. I loved this book because it’s a perfect blend of mystery, paranormal suspense, and romance. Although it’s a longer book, it’s really a quick read because of how good it is. I’m looking forward to the third book of the trilogy! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!
The Mirror is the second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy, and starts where book 1 (The Inheritance) leaves off.
I always get so excited when I have a new Nora Roberts book to read, and especially so when it’s part of a trilogy. She is the master of writing great trilogies. This book has the perfect mix of mystery, paranormal encounters, and romance. I’m so enjoying watching the relationship between Sonya and Trey, and now Cleo and Owen.
I read it so fast because I was enjoying it so much and just wanted to see how it ended, that I read it a second time so I could pay attention to all the details!
Definitely a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the second book of the Lost Bride Trilogy. On the coast of Maine, a mansion awaited the new owner. Sonya MacTavish learns of her inheritance and the family she never knew. She moves to the mansion along with her best friend. This mansion has secrets. It is haunted and the ghosts begin sharing the tragic circumstances surrounding the home. Brides who marry in the mansion meet tragic ends. A mysterious ghost steals the wedding ring from their finger as they die. For Sonya, peace will only return if she can find the missing wedding rings. How will she ever accomplish this? Using an enchanted mirror, Sonya can see each bride's death but doesn't see how to save them. Where would a malevolent ghost hide the brides' rings?
Book Two of the series focuses on Sonya's efforts to understand the brides and the curse better. She has discovered the ghost's identity, what caused her to haunt the house, and her ongoing motivation. Nora Roberts never disappoints! She deftly weaves the supernatural into Sonya's discovery of her ancestry. The angry ghost and her connection to the family are clever. As in any Nora Roberts novel, there is romance - a little spicy, a little sweet. The well-developed haunting is enchanting and will keep readers entertained throughout the book. For readers who have previously enjoyed Roberts's supernatural series, this will be a welcome addition to their reading list and library.
The Mirror -The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 2 by Nora Roberts
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Wow, was excited to receive the second book in this trilogy, but was so disappointed when I read it. The first book, Inheritance had a great deal of world building but included a good bit of action. I found 'The Mirror' to be a repetitive and somewhat boring. I really didn't want to read about planning a party from everyone's point of view, or how long it took to paint a painting or build a boat. This series should have been two books, not three.
The Mirror picks starts where we ended in book 1 Inheritance. Sonya and Cleo are living in the house and thriving while learning how to deal Dobb's and her tantrums throughout the house. They have a kinship with the ghost and along with Trey and Collin they won't let Hester Dobb's run them off. While planning a huge open house party for all their family, friends and community both ladies have business they are working on while dealing with doors slamming, screams throughout the night and storms blowing open doors while they are sleeping. Doesn't help the mirrors are appearing and Sonya finds herself walking through them without being able to stop herself.
I love this story the romance and tragedy are all mixed together but the brides are amazing and you feel so much for all of them. I can't wait for the next story.
This is book 2 in the trilogy, so it picks up where book 1 ended. Sonya and Cleo are both living at the manor with Trey and Owen visiting quite often. We also learn more about Sonya’s other relatives and more about the ghosts inhabiting the manor. I don’t want to say more so the surprise isn’t ruined. Another great book!