Much thanks to Nora Roberts, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to both read and listen to free ARCs of the ebook and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The premise checked a lot of boxes for me, as it did for Nora when she was brainstorming her next trilogy. Old haunted mansion, ghosts, spooks, a family curse, a witch, magic--yeah, I was down. And I wanted to love it! A few things bothered me, so I planned to give it four stars--then we reached the end. And the end is a problem.

Those few things that bothered me:

The cover is pretty, but it's misleading. It looks like a woman standing on tiptoe in ballet flats like a ballerina. The story has nothing to do with ballet, though, so now I wonder if it's supposed to be a bride circa a few hundred years back wearing slippers, because that's what high born women wore for shoes back then. That makes more sense, but shoes don't have anything to do with the story. Rings do, however, as does an old haunted mansion. So why weren't those utilized for the cover? Why not give it an appropriate gothic vibe?

The only beverage called by name was Coke, and all the characters liked it. Propaganda, much?

For all the strength Nora wanted to give her female characters, she also didn't approve of them going without makeup. It drove me insane. The girls had to doll up before going out, before company came over, when they got up in the morning. Even if they only put on a little, they weren't allowed to go without makeup, just at home, working. I hated it so much.

Sonya and Cleo were able to master difficult recipes the first time. Cleo was known to cook some, but Sonya made it known she could burn water, and yet she made a savory pot roast and--was it oysters? some kind of seafood--and knocked both out of the park first try. I call bullshit. It would have been much more relatable if she'd fubbed something.

Actually, on that point, both Sonya and Cleo were way too perfect. Granted, Sonya almost married a grade-A asshole, but otherwise she excelled at pretty much everything else. Moving quite a ways away from home? Piece of cake. Getting harassed at work, quitting and going freelance? No sweat. New house is blatantly haunted? Unnerving, but she rolled with it. Adopting a new dog? He's perfectly behaved. I didn't see Cleo mess up much either. And of course they were both can-do-no-wrong geniuses in their fields. Nora tried to give them girls-next-door vibes, but failed, and they became hard to relate to. Add that on top of a grand living situation they won't ever have to pay a dime for, and by the end I resented them more than I related to them.

Now for the bigger problem. This book had no plot whatsoever. Yes, there was plenty of the overarching plot for the trilogy, aka the brides and the curse, but this book did not have a self-contained narrative arc. Waaaayyyy too much time is spent detailing Sonya's work projects, which don't matter and which I couldn't give a flying rat's about. A self-contained plot could have involved the ex-fiance Brandon, but we never saw hide nor hair of him again. Sonya could have struggled going freelance at first, but no. She could have not been so certain about staying in the house and didn't make the decision to until the end of her three months were up. Nope. There wasn't even a full romantic arc--we all know she and Tre will end up together, but thoughts of permanence doesn't even cross anyone's minds. They didn't even say the L word. If conflicts were begun, they weren't carried forward, but most often whatcould have been conflicts became null because Sonya was so goddamned perfect at everything.

So overall, while the premise checks a lot of boxes for me, too, Nora, your execution fell very flat. Also toward the end you were head-hopping and it got annoying.

I always get so excited when a new Nora Roberts series is announced. I love her standalones. I love her J.D. Robb series, following murder cop Eve Dallas in the late 2050s and 2060s. But her trilogies and quartets are the stories I truly sink into the most. While I have loved her last couple of trilogies, where she was doing new and exciting things outside of her norm by going more fantasy-heavy, I was also excited to hear that she would be going back to her roots, so to speak, with her newest offering, The Lost Bride Trilogy. Firmly rooted in reality with a healthy dash of the supernatural, it’s a romance and a mystery and, if Inheritance is any indication, a compulsively rereadable story that is going to stick with readers long after they read the final pages.

In Inheritance we meet Sonya right as her life comes crashing down around her ears. She comes home to find her fiancé in bed with her cousin. To make matters worse, said (now former) fiancé works in the same office as Sonya and embarks upon making her life a living hell after she refuses to see reason and forgive him for “slipping.” But when a cliché in the form of a long lost, wealthy, recently deceased uncle falls in Sonya’s lap, leaving her his (their) family home, a mansion by the sea, Sonya embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. The house is perfect. And very, very haunted. But with the support of her wonderful mother, her best friend Cleo, and the new friends she makes in her new town, Sonya is determined to make this manor her home. Most of the ghosts are happy to have her. But one will stop at nothing to drive her out.

There is a very compelling mystery at the heart of the story, that of the Lost Brides of the manor. Seven brides have died in the house within the first year of their marriages, multiple on the actual day of their weddings. A bride per generation. The ghosts of brides and their killer reside in the house, alongside who knows how many others. And yet, most of these ghosts are fairly cheerful. My favorite is one who plays DJ, always playing just exactly the right song for the moment through Sonya’s phone or tablet. That addition brought me joy all the way through the book. As did the manor itself. It’s a house with a ton of character and charm and hidden depths, with just the right amount of creep factor. I could happily live in that library.

The characters here are wonderful, as always. I love the chemistry between our main character and her love interest. I love the family dynamics of Sonya and her mother, as well as those of the Doyle family of lawyers who brought Sonya to her new home. I adore the friendship between Sonya and Cleo, who won me over immediately as a fellow Louisiana native. And then there are the dogs. There are three dogs in this book, and all three are wonderful. Nora has a way with dogs, and hers always seem like characters in their own right.

What I didn’t love as much was the cliffhanger ending. Strangely, while the two stories have very little in common, Inheritance had almost exactly the same ending as The Awakening, book 1 of her last trilogy. It’s a striking ending, but it’s a frustrating place to wait for over a year until I can get the second installment in my hands. But other than that, there’s not a thing I would change about this book. It was absolutely fantastic, and I seriously cannot wait to find out what happens next.

Sonya MacTavish is happy in her job and engaged to be married--until she walks in on her fiance and her cousin having sex in her bed. As her life's plans are in an uproar, she is hit with another bombshell. Her late father, who was adopted, had a twin, and that twin has left Sonya a gorgeous estate in Maine. The only stipulation is that she has to live there for three years. Sonya ultimately decides to move to the estate and start over her life and her career. But the house has a history of "lost brides" and many ghostly inhabitants. And at least one of them does not want Sonya there.

This was just a wonderful reading/listening experience. The characters and the story drew me in right away. I was immediately transported to this haunted mansion and caught up in the legend of the lost brides. The spirits, some of them fun-loving and one of them definitely not, make this book unique. The narration by Brittany Pressley is spot on. Pressley does a great job of portraying the characters, human and spirit, in a captivating way.
My only slight critique is that the book ends on a cliffhanger. I hope Book 2 comes out soon because I want to read more of this story!

Nora Roberts has hit a homerun with this one, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical realism.

I received a free copy of the audiobook from MacMillan Audio via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Extremely slow. Extremely boring. Hours and hours too long. The narrator was quite good. Waste of my time. Not a fan at all. Nora Roberts doesn’t need my opinion or money, but. I have to wonder, who reads these books?? I’ll skip any further Inheritance books.

All I can say is wow! loved this author and tried this audio. The only disappointment in the book is that it ended and now I have to wait for the next book. Ghosts, mystery, romance and spooky happenings. Who could want more! Supporting characters are great and funny. I highly recommend this book and author. No spoilers- it is too good to give out.

**I received this book from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ooooh I love a good “spooky” gothic romance novel! This wasn’t really that spooky, but it had some entertaining creepy moments. I actually kind of wish there were some more ghostly scenes and it could have had some more spooky paranormal activity throughout the book.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters. They meshed very well with one another.

I was so bummed about the massive cliffhanger at the end of the book! This book has pretty much zero ending, so you have to read the next book to feel any sort of closure. I don’t mind reading a book that has an option to continue, but this was rough for me since I hate waiting. Lol

Some of the pace of this book was a little slow for me, but I loved the story!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book, soooky ghost element perfect for this time of year. This was my first book from this author so I wasn’t sure if i was going to enjoy her style or not and she kept me interested from start to finish. I am HIGHLY invested in this family now and I cannot wait for the 2nd book to come out so I can find out more information.

Thank you to netgally for sending me this book for my honest opinion.

Inheritance by Nora Roberts
Audio
I am pretty sure I’ve read most of Nora Roberts’ books, at least since the turn of the millennium (though not the J.D. Robb books!). You could call me a die-hard fan. However, I’d never listened to one before I was invited to do so through NetGalley for Inheritance.
I’m a skeptic when it comes to media…I want my books as books and my movies as movies. Audio books fall someplace in between for me, and I’ve become addicted to listening to novels when I drive or exercise.
All those caveats aside, I loved listening to Inheritance. It was fun to hear voices assigned to characters who would have always been distinct in my mind, but maybe not as vivid as these readers. Sonya, Cleo, and the residents of Poole’s Bay are easy to distinguish and adore. And then the ghosts! I won’t add spoilers, other than to say that no one writes mysterious magical beings like Nora Roberts. I was only sad when I realized Inheritance is the first book in a new trilogy, and I’ll have to wait a year or two to finish the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the chance to read this early and write this review. Nora’s fans won’t be disappointed, and newcomers will be delighted. The book is released November 21, 2023

I think my biggest issue with this book was the narrator. I wasn't a fan of their voice, but that's a me issue.

Wonderful!! Couldn't bring myself to put it (my ipods) down!!

'Inheritance" written by Nora Roberts and read by Brittany Pressley as the first book in the new trilogy, 'The Lost Brides' is a haunted, magical story where you will become fully immersed. Between love, loss and tragedy, this book is captivating and has something for everyone - romance, fantasy, suspense and mystery! I can't wait for the second book of the trilogy to be released!

While fantasy, this book is so well written that you feel as though you are walking beside Sonya MacTavish, a graphic designer, who is shocked to learn of an uncle who left her an inheritance filled with conditions and obstacles, including a Victorian manor in Maine that is haunted. She must live in the quaint coastal Maine town at the manor for at least three years. If she decides to stay, she will inherit far more than a house.

I've not read a Nora Roberts book in quite sometime and can't compare to her more recent books, but even if Nora Roberts didn't have the status that she has as an author, she would after writing this book!

The narration by Brittany Pressley couldn't have been done by anyone better. Her ability to change voices and her wide range of accents, provides the perfect narration. She seems to do this with ease and leaves the reader feeling as though you are participating in the conversations.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Macmillan Audio for an opportunity to listen to this early audio version in exchange for a review. All opinions and thoughts are those of my own.

A PERFECT #SpookySeason read, I am fully invested in this new paranormal romantic suspense trilogy from one of my all time fav authors, Nora Roberts. This book has a little bit of everything, haunted houses, family mysteries, curses, magical mirrors that are portals to the past, romance, found family, pet side kicks, etc. Fantastic on audio too narrated by my all-time fav narrator, Brittany Pressley. Fair warning the ending will leave you on the edge of your seat and dying for the next book! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Omg. I can’t wait for the next one to come out! I have to know what happens next! A little different from the usual Nora Roberts storylines, but a must read!

I never read Nora Roberts's trilogies until they are complete. I hate cliff hangers and like reading it all at once. However, when you are given an advance audio copy, you make exceptions :)

This is Nora Roberts at her finest. We have great characters, a fabulous setting, some mystery and some magic (ghosts in this case). I was hooked and it is going to be a long year waiting for book two!!

Sonya's life is in upheaval. She walked in on her finance having sex with her cousin just weeks before the wedding. To make it worse, she works with him! He makes her life utterly miserable and she decides to quit. Shortly after, a lawyer shows up on her doorstep telling her an uncle she never knew about left her a manor in Maine. The caveat, of course, is that she has to live there to inherit. Since she is at a crossroads, she decided to at least try it out. But she quickly realizes that she is not alone- she is sharing the home with the dead brides- seven of which have died in the manor all within a year of their wedding day.


I don't do fantasy/paranormal- unless it is by Nora Roberts. And I love them. This is no exception. The only negative thing I have to say is that I'm mad that I have to wait to find out what happens next!

Brittany Pressley narrates the audiobook. She always does a great job and she is well suited for this story.

A NORA ROBERTS MUST READ!

After a broken engagement Sonya inherits a historic family manner from a deceased uncle she never knew existed. But is that all she inherited? This is the first book in a trilogy and does a good job of setting up background information for the characters and story line.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator did a great job (hopefully the same narrator is used for the full trilogy). I really felt the characters emotions coming through as she read.

This book has it all! It will make you laugh with joy as Sonya and Cleo settle into the manner and have you jumping to noises around you as you read and fall in love with this new set of characters. And of course you get a nice dose of romance throughout. I have a couple ideas on who might be pairing up in book 2 or 3 and look forward to finding out if my hunches were correct. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

Shortly after breaking off her engagement and quitting her job, Sonia learns she has inherited the Poole family mansion and enough money, in trust, to pay for the up keep. It was left to her by her deceased father's twin brother, a twin brother no one knew existed because her father was given up.at birth.

The stipulation on the inheritance is that Sonia must live in the mansion for 40 weeks, every year, for the next three years. She soon finds out the mansion is haunted by everyone who lived and died there.

This is book one in a three part trilogy by Nora Roberts and she does magic perfectly. This book is just perfect. The only downside is now I have to wait for parts two and three. It's like The Discovery of Witches and Harry Potter all over again. Patience is not my middle name.

The characters are interesting, with just the right amount of bravery and curiosity. When Sonia's best friend, Cleo, moves in she adds an accomplice and added dimension to solving the murders.

I predict this book will bring in new readers to Nora Roberts vast publishing library.

#MacmillanAudio #NoraRoberts #BrittanyPresleyNarrator #SaintMartinsPress #Inheritance #2023 #SevenBrides #SevenMissingRings #HauntedMansion #Sonia #Trey

Audio Review: I loved the narrator Brittney Presley. She does such a great job with different voices, male and female. She also is very good at bringing personality and emotion to the characters and story. This is a fun ghost mystery but of course theres romance. I love Nora Roberts but I got a little bored with this one half way through. There’s a lot of redundancy with the the strange happenings around the house. After a while I needed more. But over all a decent story especially for this time of year in October!

📚 Book Review - Advanced Reader's Copy

📖 Inheritance
✍️ Nora Roberts
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I have no idea how I am going to be able to wait for book two in the series, I am obsessed with Lost Bride Manor and all of its inhabitants.

After catching her fiancee cheating on her with her cousin/bridesmaid the unexpected news that her father had a twin brother and that upon his passing he made his niece he never met his heir.

Sonya makes the jump and moves to the mysterious manor on the coast of Maine only to realize that she may not be as alone in her new home as she thought she would be. But luckily she starts making friends quickly, such as Trey and her new cousin Owen, followed by her best friend, Cleo, moving into the manor with her.

With a mysterious curse that impacts one descendant a generation it looks like Sonya may be the next one up.

On Sale 11.21.23

#BookReview #Bookstagram #ReadMoreBooks #BookLover #ReadWithSamiB #Inheritance #NoraRoberts #LostBridesTrilogy #NetGalley #MacmillanAudio @NetGalley @NoraRobertsAuthor @MacmillanAudio

What in the name of cliffhangers just happened?!!?! I found myself so focused on listening to what was escalating that I didn't even see that I was nearly done with the audio book and would be left waiting for more. Wow. I can't tell you the last time I read a Nora Roberts book but I am thrilled that I jumped back in with Inheritance. I love the storyline(s), the characters, the multiple directions it's going without being too distracting...but what I'd love more is the next book in the series! I'll definitely be waiting!

Thank you #noraroberts #netgalley and #MacMillanAudio for the absolute treat of getting to experience this book!

5⭐ (audio) The narrator for this book was phenomenal. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and it takes a lot to impress me. Brittany Pressley impressed me here. Wonderful storytelling!

4⭐ (story) Graphic designed Sonya MacTavish is surprised when she learns her late father had a twin brother he never new about, and that now she stands to inherit a majestic Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine. A mansion that is haunted and cursed to lose a bride every generation. There's a catch, though. If she wants her inheritance, she needs to live in the house for three years. And the damn thing really is haunted!

Y'all. Warning for a very abrupt cliffhanger. Seriously, if you hate those, come back when the next book(s) are out!

The romance part of this didn't feel very well developed to me, but I loved so many of the characters in this book. Sonya was fun. I loved her mom. Cleo was a total gem. (I want her as my best friend!) Clover and Mollie made me laugh. The dogs were the perfect distraction and plot driver. The mansion and the ghosts were freaky, but a lot of fun.

I really enjoyed this, and I'm kind of mad I have to wait so long for the next one! 😂😂😂 But that is seriously my only complaint. I definitely recommend this if you like paranormal ghost stories!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

‘Inheritance’ by Nora Roberts, the first book in her new ‘The Lost Brides’ trilogy, was freaking fantastic. Just so, so good. I was so immersed in the story—just vibing and loving it and ready to listen for 20 more hours—that I didn’t see the end coming and was jerked out of the story by the cliffhanger so abruptly that I audibly went “Hey!” when I realized it was over. 😂

I don’t usually start new series, I like to wait until they’re done to pick them up, but this sounded way too good to resist, and it far surpassed my expectations. I did not want ‘Inheritance’ to end—I honestly already want to do a re-read, lol. I’m very excited to follow along with the next two books.

‘Inheritance’ was perfectly atmospheric—everything you could ever want in a story with an old, haunted/cursed Victorian manor at its center—and so vividly written from settings to characters that I genuinely felt like I was standing there with Sonya, Trey, Cleo, and Owen (and of course the puppies).

I enjoyed every single second of this book, even the moments where the characters were just getting together and enjoying each other’s company. It was so entertaining, so nice, I could have read a book full of moments like that. The group dynamic, their chemistry, was really well done.

The romance was another thing that was really well done. I really liked the way it was paced in this book and that it will have time to really develop over the next few. The focus on female friendships and relationships, the way they were so positively (well, except for that one witch…) depicted, was also so great to see. I adored it.

Honestly, everything about this book was well developed, down to the most minute detail. The ghosts all had very developed and distinct personalities (the ghost DJ was my favorite), and even the house itself was full of character. All of this makes me love ‘Inheritance’ even more.

Tragic, charming, spooky, stirring, thrilling, humorous, magical, twisty, haunted, suspenseful and mysterious, with some definite gothic romance vibes, ‘Inheritance’ is the perfect book to curl up and get lost in during the colder months.

I listened to the audio of ‘Inheritance,’ narrated by Brittany Pressley, and was it fantastic. Pressley’s performance superbly captured the cozy whimsy and thrilling mystery of this book. I also really loved the introduction at the beginning, read by Nora herself. It was the perfect addition.

‘Inheritance’ is officially one of my top favorite Nora Roberts books, and that’s saying something with how much I still love ‘Midnight Bayou’ ten thousand years after first reading it.

If you too liked ‘Midnight Bayou’ and/or the ‘Dragon Heart’ series (another recent read for me that I loved), you’ll absolutely adore ‘Inheritance.’ It’s perfect for fantasy, romance, and paranormal fans.

Highly recommend this gloriously addictive story.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬-𝘺𝘰𝘶!). 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.