Member Reviews
I loved The Mirror by Nora Roberts! All of her books, but especially her trilogies, always fall into my favorite books of the year and this book didn't disappoint. This is the second book in the trilogy and was a continuation of the story that Roberts created last year. We continue learning more about Hester Dobbs while those living in the house seek to end her terror, once and for all. Sonya and Owen, being direct decedents, have the true "insider" look into what occurred with each of the rings that were taken from the brides. We also have the simmering romances building (or not so simmering!) which Roberts is a master in crafting the slow burn! I loved everything about this book and can't wait for the finale of this tale.
What is even better than reading this book was having the opportunity to listen to the audio version. The narrators did a fantastic job telling this story. As a listener, you get the chance to hear the emotion in the voices, feel the passion being expressed, and overall, I loved being able to hear the story being told aloud.
Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for an advance audio review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Although I enjoyed this book, it is the second in a series and I felt that having read the first would have enhanced my reading eperience with this book. I'm going back to read the earlier book and will revisit this one once I've read its' predecessor.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in excahnge for an honest review.
THE MIRROR was a very engaging story. I didn't read the first book so now I'm going to have to go back. Loved!
Thank you so my for gifted copy.
I cannot possibly give this book and audiobook enough stars. The second book of this trilogy is just as fantastic as the first book! I have read this author many many years but this trilogy is my favorite of them all.
In regards to the audiobook, the narrator is so great with the voices and how the book is read. It really comes to life!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this audiobook provided by NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of The Mirror by Nora Roberts.
Hmmm, where shall I begin. I was so excited for the second installment of this trilogy. I really enjoyed The Inheritance. Maybe I came into this book with higher-than-average hopes. I feel like this book was a filler book in the series. There was a lot of fluff. Lots of talk about food, wine and beer. Do I really care about andouille sausage? Nope, but I am glad you found it for your jambalaya recipe.
In this book Sonya goes back in time and visits the brides. She relives their happy moments and their deaths. It was fun to meet Sonya's and Cleo's family. I love the addition of the Cleo's cat. There is a lot of swearing and some spice.
Thank you for allowing me to listen to this book as an ARC.
I was so excited for this book to finally come out this year.. I loved the first book in the series and couldn't wait ro get my hands on the 2nd part. I also loved this one even though I felt that not as much happened as in the first one. The characters and protagonist developed much further which was great to see; and I was happy to see that the characters remained the same instead of throwing a ton of new ones into the mix. The storyline was well thought out and built upon the recent happenings, not leaving the story to imagination.
The narrators were the same as in the first one if I remember correctly. The story was easy to listen to and follow. The voices kept the reader's attention and easy to understand.
I am already excited for the 3rd book in this trilogy.. This one was a 4 🌟 read for me!
This is the second installment of the series and it picks up right where the first one left off. I listened to the first one too and the narrator is the same and does a wonderful job with this book as well. As soon as I started listening it felt like I was reconnecting with old friends in the characters.
This is a great series about a haunted manor and the stories of the ghosts and people who live there. I love how the narrator does the voices, the mystery of the manor, and the many suspenseful moments throughout the book. The ending does a great job of leaving you hanging on for the next one.
My only criticism is that this book felt like a "filler" - don't get me wrong - it was still good, but I felt like it lacked its own climax or major event. It seemed to me like this book was more of bridge between the first and third and that there were a lot of little things happening throughout but no overall big event of this book alone. It could very well have been the first 1/2 of the third book and not an independent. I am looking forward to reading the final book of the trilogy!
Thank you for this ARC. This narrator is wonderful and really captures the story well. A great 2nd in the trilogy after book 1. My only criticisms are that the encounters with the antagonist (no spoilers) were repetitive and some of the familial links got a bit confusing. Looking forward to book 3.
The Mirror picks up where The Inheritance left off. Sonya and Owen go through the mirror to see past events as if they were there when it happened.
Going through the mirror occurs multiple times. Each time fleshes out the history of the Poole family and the curse enacted by Hester Dobbs.
We really get a chance to know Sonya, Cleo, Trey and Owen. I enjoy the life they bring to Poole manor.
I enjoyed the narration.
This book really can’t act as a stand-alone because the events are intertwined and only faintly revisited in The Mirror.
I subtracted one star for more profanity than really seemed warranted. Content warning also includes sex and descriptions of violent deaths.
I am enjoying the Lost Bride stories. The characters have come alive. Note: the book ends on a cliffhanger. Hopefully, they will find a way to end the curse in book 3.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for livening up my days with a new Nora Roberts story.
After completing the second book in Nora Roberts' Lost Bride Trilogy series, I found it to be an engaging read overall, though I would rate it 3.5 stars. The Inheritance, the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy, captivated me with its suspenseful plot and endearing characters. However, The Mirror, the second installment, seemed to dwell excessively on mundane activities, such as Sonya and Cleo’s daily work schedule and break times, detracting from the story's overall pace.
I appreciated the presence of the charming dogs Yoda, Mookie, and Jones and Cleo’s rescue kitten, Pye. Sonya’s past-generation Poole family members' detailed backstories and the revelation of the curse's origins added depth to the narrative.
However, I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of progression in the main storyline involving the cursed lost brides and the antagonist, Hester Dobbs. Despite her murderous history, the repetitive nature of her behaviour diminished the sense of urgency in the plot.
Despite these criticisms, I plan to continue the series and explore the story further. While the book could have been more concise, I still hold Nora Roberts' work in high regard and look forward to seeing how the series concludes. I paired my e-ARC with the ALC for an immersive reading experience, and I commend Brittany Pressley for her excellent narration.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing the e-ARC and ALC for review purposes. My opinions are entirely my own.
This is book two of a trilogy and picks up right where book one ends. Continuing the story, we learn more about the seven brides and learn more about our living characters while their story expands. There seems to be a lot of repetition in this book and it ends on a cliffhanger but the story is overall, exciting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook of THE MIRROR by Nora Roberts.
THE MIRROR is the second book in Nora Robert's The Lost Bride trilogy, picking up right where book one left off. The series primarily follows Sonya, a young woman who's life is turned upside down when she learns that her late father had a twin brother who left her his family home. She picks up her life and moves in, finding that she's also inherited whole house full of ghosts, not all of whom are friendly.
There is one powerful ghost in the house and the curse that she put upon it and the brides who live there. Seven brides have lived and died tied to this house, but Sonya and her friends (old and new and even ghostly) are not going to be deterred from making this home theirs.
Book one left off on a bit of a cliffhanger, putting this book starting right off in the midst of the action. It took me just a bit to remember everything that happened in book one, but I settled back in pretty quickly. As with the first book, this book blends a lot of coziness with a few creepy moments thanks to the one malevolent force in the home. It wound up being a great mix for spooky season.
I love the quirkiness of this book, especially the ghostly resident who communicates through music, both new and old. I can imagine looking for song titles to suit the story was a fun part of the writing. As with most of Nora Roberts' books, there is also a lot of family and food and friendship at the book's core!
There were a few places in the story where things felt a little bit repetitive with the sort of slice of life moments, but I overall had a fantastic time with this book and I very much look forward to the final installment!
This is the perfect book to read for your November TBR! Thank you to the publisher and the author for this early listen.
This is a new to me author and it was just amazing!
Narrated by Brittany Pressley.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts continues the hauntingly spectacular Lost Bride Trilogy with book two, The Mirror.
When Sonya MacTavish inherits the huge Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine, she has no idea that the house is haunted. The footsteps she hears at night, the doors slamming, the music playing, are not figments of her imagination. In her dreams she sees glimpses of the past. In the present she finds portraits of brides. And when she has visions of an antique mirror, she is drawn to it, sensing it holds dark family secrets.
Then one night the mirror appears and Sonya glides through this looking glass, into the past—and sees a bride murdered on her wedding day, the circle of gold torn from her finger. It is a scene that will play out again and again—a centuries-old curse that must be broken—and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking the curse.
The Mirror is the second in the Lost Bride trilogy, and a fantastic follow-up to Inheritance! Nora's stories and like a warm hug.... Even when they're scary! đź‘»
The Mirror picks up right where Inheritance leaves off.
I can't say much about the plot without spoiling both book one and two, but it was wonderful!! It's a mix of fantasy, suspense, mystery, and romance with low-level steam (some on-page scenes but not overly graphic). It's romantic, haunting (good ghosts and bad), magical, and the nostalgia of a Nora Roberts book always gives me the warm and fuzzies.
The thing that always stands out to me about Nora's books is the sense of community, and The Lost Bride trilogy is no different. I loved taking this journey with Sonya as she integrates herself into this warm and welcoming Pools Bay community with Cleo, the world's best bestie. I also adore that Nora creates these strong, capable women that do not need men to save them. Lastly, I love the way she included both dark and light supernatural elements; it provided the perfect balance of cozy and creepy.
Brittany Pressley narration is brilliant. I've listened to MANY books narrated by Pressley, but these books might be her best. There's a very large cast of characters (dead and alive), and she solo narrates them all, changing voices for each one. Her Astrid Pool voice is spot on.
Loved loved loved. So grateful to Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy.
My review will be posted to my socials closer to pub day
Picking up seamlessly from where Inheritance left off, The Mirror immediately pulls readers back into Sonya’s journey, following her as she steps through the mirror. This second installment offers further exploration of the lost brides and the core characters—Sonya, Trey, Cleo, and Owen. The dual-timeline narrative adds depth and intrigue, skillfully weaving the past and present together in a way that enhances both the mystery and emotional stakes. I was completely immersed in the continuing story and found myself even more attached to the characters. The development of their relationships and individual arcs kept me engaged from start to finish. I can't wait to see how this series will conclude in the final book!
This audiobook is a captivating blend of romance and the supernatural, brought to life by a dynamic narration. The intricate plot and vivid world-building are immersive, though some parts may feel a bit slow. However, the charm of the characters and the overall magical atmosphere make it a delightful listen.
The Mirror, which is second in the Lost Bride Trilogy, picks up right where The Inheritance left off. I love that this is a 3 book series and each story has left me with unanswered question, that makes me look so forward to the next book! I enjoy that the author is able to blend in details from the prior story to refresh your memory, without making it feel repetitive.
I loved the characters! They were all so creatively written. The pace of this story has worked perfectly for me.
The fantasy aspect of the story is really unique, I also really enjoyed the romance and historical aspects.
I can't wait for the final installment!
The narration was fabulous! Brittany Pressley killed it as always!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the option to read early and review!
The perfect spooky vibes audio book to kick off autumn. Nora can spin a tale like no other and keep you wanting for more. Great narrator and fantastic book!
The Inheritance was my first Nora Roberts book, and immediately upon finishing it, I said it wouldn’t be my last. Luckily, the second book in the series is being released soon, and I was able to get access to this. While this is firmly a romance, there are heavy supernatural elements in the story and a mystery at its heart.
This book picks up right after the last one ends, thankfully addressing that major cliffhanger from the end of The Inheritance that had me sitting on the edge of my seat until I could get access to this one. Since about a year has passed between books, I did a quick audiobook reread of the first book to refresh myself on the story, and felt fully prepared to reimmerse myself in the world of Sonya MacTavish.
While the lost bride story is extremely gripping, I loved the characters in the story just as much. They’re characters that I’ve grown to know and love through the first book, but the connections between them deepen and change throughout this story. There’s also a continuation of the romance plot from book 1, and there’s even a new romance slowly developing over the course of this book. But I’d have to say that my favorite character in the series, so far, would have to be Clover. She’s one of those characters who we only visually see in a few scenes, but she has such a huge impact on Sonya and Cleo. I especially enjoyed her much-varied musical taste and how she could find a song to express her feelings about every situation.
The storyline is just as fantastic. While the romance plays a role throughout the series so far, it never overshadows the story and the mystery of how to break the curse. I also loved the developing romance between Cleo and her new love interest, as the two women get settled in the house. Also, the bond between Sonya and Cleo is realistic and wonderful. Their witty banter, and the way that they know each other so well reminds me of my own friendship with my college roommate, adding another layer of believability to their relationship.
I got so caught up in this story that it was the kind that I couldn’t put down, and I didn’t want to put down. However, I was torn between wanting to read fast and find out what happens, and drawing out my enjoyment of the story. Obviously, reading fast won out because I am not great with delayed gratification, and I have no regrets. Aside from the fact that I’m going to have to wait about a year for the final book, but there isn’t much I can do about that. This series would appeal to readers of romantasy, romance, fantasy, and horror-lite, as well as lovers of spooky stories, haunted houses, and spooky season reads all year round. Bonus points for Brittany Pressly narrating the audiobook, since she does an outstanding job.
I was sooo excited for this book as I loved “The Inheritance” and was ready to see where the cliffhanger left off. Unfortunately, this left me wanting more.
Although I love the characters, the storyline, and the paranormal aspect of the book, I felt like this book didn’t really progress the storyline at all… which is a big bummer! Learning more about the lost brides was really great, but it just felt like nothing new for a 400 page book.
Side note, I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator! She fit the story perfectly.
Thank you Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!