Nora Roberts delivers again with immersive storytelling, strong characters, and a setting that makes you want to drop everything and move there. Inheritance kicks off with a dark, gothic prologue that suggests something spooky is coming… but while ghosts are definitely present, this isn’t horror. It’s more of a slow-unraveling mystery wrapped in family secrets, creative ambition, and a house with way too many dead people.

The haunted mansion in Maine is a total dream—waterfront, sprawling, creaky, charming, a little eerie—and the kind of place that makes you want to open a business and start fresh. Watching Sonya and Cleo create with so much focus and fire honestly made me want to refocus on my own projects.

And Trey... The lawyer. Golden retriever energy in a three piece suit.

If I had one gripe, it’s the pacing. It felt a little long especially by the last 1/3 and then ends right in the middle of the action. Like, mid-cliffhanger. Luckily I already have Book Two ready. But even with that, I stayed hooked the whole time. I just need a breather before I start book 2.

It’s got just enough ghost to keep things interesting, but it’s really about inheritance in every sense what we’re given, what we uncover, and what we choose to build for ourselves.

Thank you to NetGalley & The publisher for a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

First of all thank you to MacMillan Audio & Netgalley for the approval of this audiobook. I could not put this book down. This was an incredibly suspenseful story that had me hooked from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the narrator for this audiobook & I thought she portrayed the characters wonderfully & was able to tell the story thoroughly. This was gripping, fast paced & entertaining. I can't wait to read the other books in this series.

Content Guide:
🤬 Regular use of strong language and frequent mild to moderate language.
🌶️ Three open-door sex scenes and some sex references.
🗡️ Descriptions of an assault with serious injuries. Some scary ghost interactions with mild injuries.
🍺 Regular alcohol use. References to tobacco use. No drugs.
TW: Infidelity, sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, grief.

Cliffhanger ending!
I got the creepy chills while listening. This book is really good on audio, it sucked me in from the beginning. My only complaint is that sometimes the male voices were hard to differentiate between characters.
I really enjoyed the family/wedding drama and the character development. The mystery behind the lost brides keeps you engaged and guessing. I am surprised by the fondness I feel for some of the ghost characters. Makes me think maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to live in a haunted house. 😆 But then there are plenty of scary/creepy moments too! I am eager to know what happens next in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Nora Robert’s and I must say I was impressed. The writing was superb and I was hooked from the beginning. The characters are great and I love the haunted manor. This had scary movie vibes without being too scary. That ending was rough and I wanted to immediately pick up the next book.

The narrator was fantastic and I enjoyed the performance. Brittany Presley is becoming one of my favorite narrators for sure.

a 5 because how could i be left with such a crazy clifhanger. i loved being able to listen to this as well as have the script to follow. Nora roberts does not disappoint and at this point I am just sad I have not read a series of hers in a while. She captivates me with her top female characters always attached to some supernatural sprinkled with romaticism.

Nora knows how to weave a story fr. The way she makes all the characters so likable & builds up the suspense- We were either drinking wine w/ the girlies or hiding under my sheets lmfao pls.

The intro hooked me so fast- The unity behind the drama. I come from a family of mostly all women, so the way we’d all be rioting too lol!! Cleo is a real one & probably my fave!! Their friendship throughout this was the best- ride or dies fr. And the house?! I’m so jealous, I love me an antique.

Trey was the sweetest & I love a small town romance!! *I can’t help but feel there’s something he’s not telling her though… Just my intuition. Owen is a sweetie too, I can’t wait to see their relationships grow. My fave was when he wanted to buy Cleo’s painting like 🥹🤍 love himmm.

Overall, the premise has me so hooked like, I need to know more!! I’m so curious to see how this story unfolds + the ending?! Definitely not what I was expecting at all… ‘Cause wdym?! 🪞 I need to run to book 2 immediately.
*Also, Yoda is such a good boy!! As a Star Wars fan, I love the name & he just sounds like the sweetest, such a protector lol!! Brittany Presley was so amazing- I love her Cleo voice 🤍

I love Nora Roberts’ trilogies, and this one does not disappoint! The romance is not rushed, the haunted house is more fun than scary, and the characters are likable. Plus, I just really enjoyed the storyline! We were introduced to the couple that will be the focus of book two, but not book three.

The dialogue style is similar to what she uses for Eve Dallas in her In Death series. It’s the shorter banter that would be used between good friends and fits the story. The ending set up well for the second book.

The audio narrator is fantastic!

Much thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

I first heard of Nora Roberts because my mom spent most of my childhood with one of her books in hand so when I saw this new romance x paranormal setting by her I had to try it out! And boy am I glad I did. This was my first novel by her and the way she weaved together a dark paranormal curse with a sweet romance and found family was amazing. (I blew through nearly 60% of it in a few days) I just couldn’t put it down! Especially listening to the audio, the narrator Brittany Pressley does a wonderful job painting the eery coast of Maine setting while seamlessly switching in between characters. Truly she brought Nora’s words to life! If you’re interested in reading her work I think this would be a great series to start with and perfect for fall! Like come on, a secret inheritance and a beautiful haunted manor cursed by an evil witch? Yes please!

Sonya was such an insightful and brave fmc, I loved the way she wouldn’t let what happened to her get her down. Also her best friend Cleo was an absolute riot. I loved their friendship and the way they both would do anything for one another. Tre was also just a walking green flag of a guy and their romance was nice happy sprinkle into the darker/scarier aspects of this book. This book does end on a cliffhanger (a big one at that) so be warned! I already need to know what happens next myself, book #2 “The Mirror” of The Lost Bride Trilogy is available now and the last book releases this November! Can’t wait! 🤍👰🏻‍♀️💍

Lastly big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The narrator did an excellent job. The writing was solid. The story wasn’t my cup of tea (cutesy romance and ghost story), but that’s just me. Possibly for that reason, I felt it was far too long.

This book solidifies my love affair with all things Nora Robert’s. There’s romance, thrills and mystery… atmosphere and it blends so seamlessly. This is book 1 of the trilogy,and although I’ve read book 2 before this- now it makes me want to re read it.
Sonya,reeling from a betrayal,moves suddenly to Maine. A new home,new town, huge manor filled with surprises- she carefully navigates her way through it all. Enter Trey- the handsome lawyer who as a family friend,helps her navigate the process. There’s a mystery in the manor- and a curse….and Sonya must figure it out, before she’s the next victim! I loved this- it had spice,and was such a good read!

4.5 ⭐️

This wasn’t my typical genre, but I ended up loving the book! I figured since Nora Roberts is one of the most popular authors ever that the writing would be good, and it really was. I loved the way she wove the stories of the past brides into the current timeline via Sonya’s dreams. This is such a good book 1 for a trilogy, with tons of potential for the plot still left open, but without purposely adding in plot holes that we have to wait on answers to.

All of the characters feel thoroughly fleshed out. Sonya is hardworking, personable, and has such a curious nature. Trey is caring and honest. Cleo is the best friend that every woman needs, immediately jumping in to fight alongside Sonya when she needs help. The town residents as a whole are truly delightful side characters.

The ghosts in the manor are so much fun in how they interact with Sonya and the house. As a certified scaredy-cat, I expected this book to freak me out a bit; thankfully it wasn’t creepy and I was completely fine. That said, there is a less than zero percent chance I would sleep in the manor myself, no matter how helpful the ghost-maid is lol.

Brittany Pressley was fantastic on the audiobook narration. She conveyed Sonya’s emotions perfectly, and her range of voices and accents for all of the characters was super impressive. I’ve only listened to a few of her other books, but I won’t hesitate to get a book performed by her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! I’ll be finishing the trilogy without a doubt, because that cliffhanger was pretty brutal. I’ve already got book 2 ready to go, and will be eagerly awaiting the release of book 3 in November. This may be my first Nora Roberts series, but it definitely won’t be my last!

My first time reading A Nora’s book and it won’t be the last. I usually don’t read this type of stories but I was really surprised of how much I enjoyed this book.

The book has its dark elements, scary moments and a sprinkling of romance it was a perfect combination. The story did drag a little but it overcompensated with that ending.

The concept of a hunted mansion and a curse that needs to be broken was really appealing to me. I really want to know what happened to all these ghosts and I want to see this cursed be broken. I will definitely continue this series because I definitely need to know what happens next. I’m invested in this story.

This was my first Nora Robert’s book. And I can see my mistakes!! I loved this book! It has everything I wanted and more. The friendship, love interest, mystery, some frights, and laughs. I can’t wait to get started on the next book

Nora Roberts is an auto-read for me, and Inheritance lived up to my expectations!

Sonia is trying to get her life back on track after walking in on her cheating ex and cousin. When she learns she's inherited a manor house from an unknown uncle, Sonia jumps at the chance to start over in a new place. However, she gets more than she bargains she's approached by spirits who live in the house, including past brides who were killed on their wedding nights by a vengeful spirit who's sworn retribution against all Poole brides.

The audiobook's narration, performed by Brittany Pressley, is engaging and well-executed.

I hadn't read the story when it first came out but I'm so glad I took the chance to read it now (because it was Listen Now on Netgalley).

I loved the characters and this story. I love that Sonya doesn't let a negativity in her personal life bring her down. She pivots and takes a chance on a very different life path, both in her living arrangements and her work situation. The romance in this feels very natural and I adore the way Trey shows he cares for Sonya. The secondary characters in this are fantastic as well. A favorite aspect for me is the progression of the relationship between all the characters. I love the way this author builds 'found family' among the characters in her stories.

This is well written, very engaging and I could not read fast enough!

A huge manor, a secret inheritance, ghosts, and a wicked witch….

Could you ask for anything better?

Nora Roberts was my first romance read. She was my first read that mixed in fantasy. She will forever be my favorite author to read or listen to, but the story of Lost Bride Manner has become one of my favorites. The secrets, the magic, and the suspense are perfectly interwoven through this story to give you all you could want in a Nora Roberts book.

To top it all off, Brittany Pressley’s narration is perfect for these characters. I admit that it can be hard for me listening to a book with just one narrator, but Pressley was so good that she will be in the top of my female narrator list. I enjoyed her version of the characters and loved how she portrayed Clio. That Louisiana accent is not an easy one to replicate, and she did it so well.

If you’re looking for a good listen that will keep you entertained and that is hard to pause, The Inheritance will give you that and more.

Something about a Nora Roberts book will do it for me 👏EVERY👏TIME👏

I love how she is able to weave the magical through the reality of the story and blend the two seamlessly! I loved how the relationships developed between Sonya and her “house guests”. I found it so special how they kind of worked out a routine and lived together so harmoniously. I felt that this first book did a good job of setting up the plot, relationships, and storyline for the two last installments. I also felt the narrator for this book did an exceptional job, especially taking on both the male and female voices.

This book had me captivated from the very beginning and effortlessly kept my attention. I will definitely be picking up book 2 after that cliffhanger!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Author Nora Roberts, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I started and finished this book all in about 24 hours! I loved how the main plot is just completely filled with mysterious information and it makes you not want to put down the book.
I was hoping Sonya discovers all the rings before the book ended. The realized I was already 80% done with the book and yet nothing happened and thats how you can tell how engulfed I was in the story line. Imagine my surprise when I saw it is a trilogy!! I will definitely be recommending this book for anyone who wants a quick mystery adventure.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy exchange for an honest review!

In 1806, Astrid Poole lies dead on her wedding day - a ring missing, a marriage nipped in the bud, and a happiness lost. Two hundred years later, another wedding day ends before it can begin - as Sonia MacTavish calls off her wedding and tries to pick up the pieces of the life she pictured for herself, a mystery, a legacy, and a hidden family tree will draw her out of the cramped streets of Boston into the adventure spanning several lifetimes. Armed with the knowledge of an uncle she never knew of, an inheritance beyond her wildest imagination, and the help of her new small town neighbors (including the handsome young lawyer who helps her find her footing at her new sprawling estate), Sonya does her best to get settled in. But the house has a mind of its own and a story to tell, and amid the bumps in the night and strange occurrences at every turn, Sonya may find herself head over heart over heels as the lost brides walk down the aisle of time to tell their stories once more.

I've never read a Nora Roberts book before, and was pretty intrigued by the premise of this book - the idea of a contemporary mystery with a haunted house component seemed up my alley, and I also loved the idea of there being a very preternatural/supernatural infusion with a spooky, scenic New England setting. If I had to compare this book to something, I would say it was very much like reading or listening to a Hallmark movie, with a splash of Netflix sprinkled in for the spooky bits. I felt like I knew what I was getting into with each chapter, the descriptions and overall vibes/setting were pretty cozy and really made me want to take a coastal vacation, and the characters, while sometimes falling a tad flat in terms of development, were distinct, played their roles, and generally felt very comfortable and familiar, in the way only a Hallmark-type movie can. There was some action, some romance, some personal development, some growing pains, and some supernatural "Haunting of Hill House" (with less jump scares), and it was overall an engaging time.

I listened to this audiobook while doing a major cross-country drive and enjoyed settling into the story, and felt like the pacing and interest points were enough to keep my attention without falling over into the stressful or uncomfortable side of a spooky mystery, and there was enough explanation and reminders of family lines, plot points, etc. where I didn't need to take a break to gather my thoughts or refer to a character list. It was a comfortable read between some other books with heavier subject matter, and I am interested enough to follow the story into the next two books. I feel like I am probably not the target demographic for a Nora Roberts book after finishing this title, but it was a nice step out of what I would consider my primary reads (modern/contemporary romance, YA, fantasy/romantasy, non-fiction), and I wouldn't be opposed to picking up more of her books if I needed a break again or was looking for something that I would read during a beach or lake trip.

Book one in #thelostbridetrilogy “Inheritance,” had me completely enchanted from the very first page. A perfect spooky season read, ‘The Lost Bride Trilogy’ combines mystery, ghosts, a haunted manor, multi-generations of found family, friendships, strong, intelligent female and male characters, and a supporting cast that will have you moving to the coast of Maine.

Quirky friendly ghosts, one dangerous, evil spirit who will leave you chilled, a couple of dogs, a little art, some woodwork, graphic design, lawyerly wisdom, and a beautifully described setting, both interior and exterior, will thoroughly bewitch.

I loved this book from start to finish but will warn you that #inheritance ends on a cliff hanger! And oh what a cliff hanger! If you have yet to start the series, now is the perfect time because books one and two are already out with book three, “The Seven Rings” following November 19, 2025 so you won’t have to wait long to find out what happens next! I listened to the audiobook and loved narrator Brittney Pressley who is an audiobook genius in how she brings the different characters to life. I also appreciated the introduction by Nora Roberts explaining her inspirations for, and connections to, the story.

Atmospherically spellbinding, this is a series you won’t want to miss!