My goodness, this woman knows how to write a story. When I finished The Inheritance, the first in this series, I literally gasped. The ending instantly made me want this book. I was thrilled to receive a copy and it definitely delivered. We pick right up where the first book left off in a grand, old house on the coast of Maine. I don't want to give too much away but I can say that this book absolutely levels up the vibes in the first book. There is magical realism, found family, adorable pets, strong women, dishy men who support them, and a mystery behind it all. I loved getting lost in its pages and can't wait to see how it all comes together in the next book. There are scenes that made me laugh and ones that broke my heart. I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere of the story and cannot wait to return. This book could probably stand on its own, but it would be much improved if you read the first book to see how everyone came together. I highly recommend you try it out!

Huge thank you to #macmillanauduo #MacAudio2024 #StMartinsPress and @netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Nora Roberts is just ultimate comfort food for me. Book two in The Lost Bride Trilogy didn’t disappoint. The audio was great and I easily lost myself in the story! I can’t wait for book 3!
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Terrific characters but it is important to read The Inheritance first. I think the first book really set the scene for the series and this second book really begins the story. I love the strong bond between Sonya and her best friend Cleo. It also seems that the two guys in their lives have the same strong bond. The resident ghost, Dobbs, is really kicking up a racket but Sonya and Cleo are no longer frightened by her, just determined to get her out of the manor. They have been filling the manor with love, light and music and Dobbs really hates that. The romance between Sonya and Trey and Cleo and Owen is heating up and I am very anxious to read the fina l book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Mirror by Nora Roberts is the second book in The Lost Bride Trilogy. You do need to read The Inheritance before beginning The Mirror. The Mirror picks up where The Inheritance left off. I have been reading Nora Roberts’ book since I was a teenager (I read her first book when I was twelve), and The Mirror felt like it was written by a different individual. The story focuses more on food than it does on the curse and evil entity in the house. I know how to cook a pot roast. I do not need the process described step by step (this is not a cookbook). Sonia and Cleo plan meals, shop for the ingredients, cook meals and desserts, create a garden, work, paint, and plan a party. Of course, they spend time with the gentlemen in their lives, Trey and Owen. Let us not forget the pets. The pets need to be fed, let in and out, and bathed (I find it amusing that the cat is named Pyewacket). The story moves at a snail’s pace plus there are repetitive details. If something happens to Sonia, she needs to tell Cleo, and then Owen, and so forth. There is no action (the dogs did more than the people). The plot does not move forward (not a bit in the four hundred and fifty some pages). I know that if I lived in a haunted manor with an evil squatter on the third floor, I would be searching for answers (not planning a party). The story lacked suspense, chemistry, and eeriness (I was never freaked out by the banging doors and such). The Mirror seemed an unnecessary addition to the trilogy (I bet the story could have been told in one book). The writing is out of character for Nora Roberts. It is a shame that the book does not live up to its intriguing premise. I am hoping the action and suspense will appear in the final book of the trilogy (fingers crossed) as well as the long-awaited answers.

I am loving this new series. All of the characters are likable and I am enjoying the building relationship between each couple. It has been interesting to learn about each bride as they search for the rings to break the curse. Looking forward to the final book!

The Mirror:⁣
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Thank you @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 and @stmartinspress for my gifted copies!⁣
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“Here’s to the staff of Lost Bride Manor. They take loyalty to a whole new level.”⁣
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There are books that you just fall into the story and can truly help you forget where you are. The Lost Bride trilogy by Nora Roberts does that. I’ve fallen in love with this manor and all its occupants. I forget I’m not in Maine, but in hot as hell Georgia. I get so wrapped in Sonya and Cleo, I forget they aren’t real people.⁣
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The audio is once again phenomenal. I will never have a bad thing to say about Brittany Pressley and she knocked this one out of the part just like she did with Inheritance. Absolutely stunning audio. ⁣
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The love I have for all the brides in this story is unreal. I want justice for all of them, but I also want to know their full stories. I loved getting to know them a bit more in this book. The envelope was definitely pushed, and I’m so excited to see what happens in the final installment.⁣
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Out tomorrow, 11/19.⁣
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QOTD: Besides a book (loooool), what are you hoping you’ll find under the tree this Christmas?

Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of reading full series, especially those that aren't complete yet, and I will admit that the wait for this second installment about killed me. However, in a plot twist of my own, I have fallen in love with this particular series, which is very unusual in more ways than one. First off, I REALLY don't do scary, but what I love about these books is that they're more spooky than scary. And yet, because there are ghosts involved, now I feel like I can brag that I, too, can read horror😂! Secondly, I'm not a big romance fan, and yet, the characters are so darn endearing that it just works for me (I especially love the non-human figures (dogs, not ghosts). Finally, I have a hard time suspending disbelief, and yet, the story truly kept me engaged from beginning to end.

I have only one gripe, which is that the storyline wasn't propelled forward as much as I'd have liked in this sequel. I was looking forward to getting a bit closer to the resolution and honestly didn't need as much superfluous detail as was provided. So I'll really be interested to see how Ms. Roberts will wrap it up in the final book.

Never having read Nora Roberts' books prior to this series, I must admit, I'm definitely a fan. Her stories are whimsical, and her characters are loveable!

I'm so grateful to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this gifted review e-copy. It was quite an adventure.

I love this trilogy and can't wait for the next! It's hard to give more information beyond the description without spoilers, so let's just say that it's made of many of the things I love best! A cozy big, haunted, house on the Maine coast - likeable characters making their way through hauntings, romance, and life - spooky, supernatural happenings.... This is a slow, detailed character driven mystery/love story/gothic tale, but that makes me love it even more. I love getting to know these characters and seeing how they experience and deal with everything that's going on. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy!

I was excited to read about these characters again so soon (I just read the first one a week ago in preparation for this one), but now I have to wait impatiently for more! Though this one was not quite as fast-paced for me, I still really enjoyed it. The characters and storyline continue to grow and stay interesting. I look forward to the next one and what will become of Sonya and her ghosts.

The Mirror by Nora Roberts is the second novel in the Lost Brides trilogy about a curse and a majestic (haunted) Victorian house on the Maine coast. Sonya MacTavish must live there for three years to gain her inheritance. She has no intentions of leaving. Sonya, along with her best friend, cousin and new boyfriend, are working to undo the curse. Another addictive installment filled with danger, swoons and friendship.
For this trilogy it is necessary to read The Inheritance, book one of the Lost Brides trilogy first. Nora Roberts builds on the story arc of the curse, characters and house in each book. The book blends mystery, paranormal elements and slow-burn romances throughout the trilogy.

In the first book we met Sonya MacTavish, who recently ended her engagement and discovers she has an unknown uncle who has bequeathed her an inheritance. Collin Poole has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast. The will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Having nothing to lose, she moves into the house and the tale that unfolds hooked me from the strange happens in the home to the views. The house is cursed and every bride who has lived there has died on their wedding day with the ring on their finger ripped away.

The Mirror picks up right where The Inheritance ended. Sonya is settling into the home and ready to make it her own, along with Cleo, her best friend and pup. She has made friends, discovered a family she didn’t know she had and time walked. There are two slow-burning romances, one with Sonya and Oliver and another between Cleo and Sonya’s cousin Owen.

While the books have a strong romantic thread, the house and story of Hester Dobbs’ a malevolent spirit that haunts the home, along with ghosts like Clover & Jack held me captive. Servants, family and the brides all walk the halls and Hester rings bells, slams doors and wreaks havoc. With this second book, we learn more about how the curse was spun and what happened to each bride. Sonya claims the home with dinner parties and gardening as they work to undo what Hester has done.

I absolutely love some ghosts like Jack, the young boy who plays with pups and Clover, who sends music messages to everyone’s phone. Angry spirit or not, I would love to live in this haunted old Victorian by the sea. It was delightful seeing both Cleo and Sonya flourish in their businesses as Sonya’s relationship with Oliver grew stronger and Cleo and Owen’s romance heated.

We are left with a cliffhanger as expected, since this is the middle book. I cannot wait to read the conclusion. Fans of paranormal romances, small-town romances with hauntings and mystery will want to begin this trilogy.

Starting right where the last book left off (definitely read BK 1 first) Sonya and Owen have just walked through the mirror and into the past.

From beginning to end this book was full of love and magic. Nora Roberts has an amazing ability to suck you into whatever world she is writing and make you fall for every character, except of course the bad guy or in this case evil witch who cursed an entire family line. The setting is beautiful, I love the romance between Sonya and Trey, and the banter between all the characters is so good!

I can't wait to see how this trilogy is going to end!!

“A murdered bride, the first of seven doomed, would—in all innocence—carry the curse that haunted the manor. Generation by generation, it passed its shadow to the next, and the next, through the rage of a jealous witch.“

I always love Nora Roberts’ books. But, I especially enjoy her romances that have paranormal elements the most. A few of her trilogies will forever touch my heart and The Lost Bride Trilogy is definitely one of them! I love the descriptions of the manor and the land surrounding it. I like to tell myself that I would love to live in a house with ghosts that play music to keep me company and choose my clothes and clean the house. But I seriously doubt I could handle everything that Hester Dobbs has been throwing at Sonya, Cleo, Trey, and Owen. The friendship between Cleo and Sonya is just amazing and I love that Cleo didn’t have to think twice when Sonya needed her. I love how the family on Sonya’s dad’s side just accepted her, no jealousy, no fighting over the manor. They just accepted that this cousin they didn’t know existed now owns the home. Granted, it could partially be that they’re afraid to live in the manor as they’ve heard the stories their whole lives. The Mirror picks up immediately after Owen and Sonya’s adventure into the mirror and I love the “through the looking glass” vibes it gives. Owen’s willingness to go with her says a lot about who he is and I am loving how protective he is of his new found cousin and her best friend. I love all of the ghosts that have made an appearance, except of course, Hester. And she is just despicable. I can’t wait to see her taken down in book 3.

Oh! Book #2 did exactly what this reader wanted - fed the fire that started in the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy! More of Sonya and Cleo, and that wicked witch Hester!!!!

Bring on #3, Please!

*A sincere thank you to Nora Roberts, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

I was excited to get back to Sonya and Poole’s Bay! The manor is as much as a character as Sonya is. She and Cleo are finding their groove and getting settled. They want friends and family to experience the house so they plan a lavish party! And one spirit is not okay with that. And boy, can Dobbs throw a tantrum! But the girls have mostly figured out how to ignore the evil spirit. They focus on the good spirits in the house and those ghosts are lovely! I enjoyed Sonya and Cleo’s relationships with Trey and Owen. I loved how they all embraced the house, ghosts and all! I couldn’t read this book fast enough!

The Mirror by Nora Roberts
The Lost Bride trilogy, book #2. Thriller, horror. Paranormal with a malevolent ghost. Should be read in series order. Cliffhanger.
Sonya MacTavish has inherited a haunted Victorian house on the coast of Maine. An antique mirror draws Sonya and shows her over and over the death of a bride and the stolen gold rings. Sonya and her housemates need to figure out how to break the curse and get rid of the malicious ghost.

🎧 I alternated reading between an ebook and an audiobook. The narration was done by Brittany Pressley who gives a marvelous performance with distinct voices for the main characters as well as several secondary as well. The difference between Sonya and Cleo alone is staggering and hard to believe it’s just one narrator. Add in the men and ghosts plus tracking emotions and tension, it’s a major acting achievement. I did speed up the playback to 1.5 to more closely match reading and conversation levels.

My main issue with the audiobook verses the ebook is the sheer number of timelines, brides and their stories and keeping track of who’s who. I’m glad I had both formats to help follow along with the brides and ghosts.

I loved all the popular music references. Mostly the music reflected the brides from decades ago but a lot was the preferences of the four main characters staying in the house. Nothing was current, or if it was, I missed the references.

The cat and dog were friends! It was awesome. Plus they were trained to go outside together and take care of business. They also helped to protect the household from the ghosts with warning growls and barking. Distinct personalities!

This book helped in getting to know Sonya and Cleo in depth with families and significant others and made it clear they are keeping the house theirs and are not going to let the ghost drive them away. If they can just figure out how.
It is a cliffhanger as expected.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the third book in this trilogy.

After the abrupt cliffhanger in the Inheritance, this story picked right up where the previous one ended.

The characters are well written, and the storyline and plot kept me reading. This book was a bit different from the first, but I enjoyed the details from the brides and grooms in the past, their love stories and eventually the catastrophes. Hester Dobbs has focused on the manor at all costs for one hundred years and continues to cause daily disturbances, some just to cause fear and others to cause harm. I love the manor as much as Sonya does but being woken up every night at 3:00 AM, would not work well for me!

I loved that Sonya and her cousin Owen could go through a mirror and see times in the past and learn more about their ancestors. Sonya and Cleo have been friends for many years and their families are close. Then to add on Trey and Owen as friends and more, is especially interesting with their special talents, easy friendships and amazing families. Sonya and Cleo have found a place that is unlike their previous busy city lives but love the small town, the manor, pets, and more.

Ms. Roberts always writes characters that are talented, gorgeous, strong and smart but have also dealt with real life issues.

It’s difficult to wait a year between the books but the stories are well worth the wait! I highly recommend this trilogy.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this new work.

I didn’t enjoy this second installment in the series as much as the first - you really get dropped back into the story where it left off and it’s quite an abrupt reintroduction. The plot felt a bit repetitive and I wish it would have moved on from certain aspects quicker. However I am a diehard Nora Roberts lover and will absolutely read the third installment when it comes out and perhaps it’ll help shift the pacing a bit. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I dove into this second book of the series hot on the heels of finishing the first book, The Inheritance. I would definitely recommend reading The Inheritance first as it gives you context about Sonya MacTavish and how she came to inherit Poole Manor. Also, it’s an amazing read. Nora Roberts has a way of making her characters come to life and building strong relationships between them that breathe life in the plot. In this book, the relationships between Sonya and Trey, as well as Cleo and Owen, continue to deepen and grow as they band together to stop Hester Dobbs, the vicious ghost who haunts the manor. I absolutely cannot wait for the third book of the series to come out.

The Mirror is book 2 in The Lost Bride Trilogy by Nora Roberts. I would recommend reading book 1, The Inheritence before reading book 2, as The Mirror starts out right where The Inheritence ends, and if you have not read book 1 you will not have the back story.

Sonya MacTavish has inherited a manor house on the coast of Maine. She has to live in the house for three years in order to inherit it all. The only issue, the manor is more than haunted. Most of the ghosts are benign and somewhat helpful, like Molly who does housework, there is however a malignant spirit, Hester Dodds, a witch who killed the 1st Poole bride in the early 19th cerntury on her wedding day. Hannah then committed suicide on the cliffs below the manor house and has haunted the manor ever since, however not content with just haunting the house, she has killed subsequent Poole brides on their wedding days and stolen their wedding rings. The Mirror in the title is a mirror that allows Sonya to view the past and the different ways the brides have been killed. She is able to see and interact with Hester’s ghost as well. With the help of her best friend and roomate Cleo, her cousin Owen and her love interest Trey, Sonya hopes to find the missing wedding rings and stop Hester once and for all.

This was a great follow up to the 1st novel and I look forward to the third book and the completion of The Lost Bride trilogy.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.