I loved this book. So far the series has grabbed me. Sonya has inherited a large manor from an Uncle she did not know she had. The continues the story from "The Inheritance". Seven brides have died in this manor on their wedding day. It seems Sonya may be the only person who can rectify this wrong. An evil witch cursed the brides and the manor. Her presence is still in the home. Her spirit is not the only ghost their, all the brides and others who died there are still around. Many of them have made themselves know by laying out clothes, cleaning up, playing music, etc. At times, Sonya walks through a mirror and sees what really happened to the people who used to live there. She must return the stolen wedding rings in order to break the curse. The ghosts help as do her friends, Cleo, Trey, and her cousin Owen. Sonya is still learning so there is no resolution, but bit by bit she and her friends gain more understanding into each of the brides as well as the witch.

This was very engrossing. Great story-telling. The plot is unique with the curse and the brides. The writing style is easy to read and I like all the characters except the obvious, the witch!

Dear The Mirror,
You were not a good story, or a bad story. You just fell into the typical second book in a trilogy trap. You were a connection between the beginning and the end of the story arc. The story did move forward, but you were somewhat flat and repetitive, without much momentum. I am glad that I read you, and I will be finishing the List Bride Trilogy, you were a bit "meh" for me.

Thank you St. Martins Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Short review as this was probably 2.5 stars for me.

Old manors and ghosts, tell me more - this is how I felt when I got the book from the Read Now section. I will admit I got it without knowing it was the second in a trilogy.

Something I did enjoy was the relationship between characters, especially the friendship between Sonya and Cloe. The wakes in the middle of the night were interesting. The anticipation of what would happen each time made me feel slightly anxious.

In general, I didn't mind The Mirror; however, I found it to be somewhat repetitive. Throughout the book, the mention of each bride's passing, how it happened, and all of the everyday routines between characters became a bit boring and slowed down the story.

As mentioned, 2.5 stars for me but I will round up to 3 for NetGalley/GoodReads.

The writing in this is beautiful but I am left feeling very confused at 50% in. I’m not convinced I understand. For right now this is a DNFFN. (Did not finish for now.)

Overall the writing is beautifully done but the story isn’t working for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in return for an honest review.

In The Mirror we continue to follow Sonya’s journey at the manor and trying to help the brides. The story continues to flow beautifully and you pick up right where you were left. I love seeing all the happy with all the sad and cannot wait to see how the story ends. Sonya and Cleo’s friendship is magical and I love seeing the love interests develop more. Definitely recommend this series!

It’s incredible how Nora Roberts can craft a gothic story involving a murderous ghost witch yet somehow make the novel a relaxing read! “The Mirror” is the second installment in the Lost Bride trilogy, and as the middle book faces challenges. The mystery has already been introduced in the first book but it cannot be resolved until the last book. What instead happens is The Mirror becomes a device to further unfurl all the mysteries of the Poole family, which our protagonist Sonya must uncover. I really liked the whole cast of characters especially the core four: Sonya, Cleo, Trey, and Owen. Not to mention all their pets! Another way this book was enjoyable was how Sonya’s routines were detailed. Her work played a big part in her life and it is written as a daily routine of productivity balanced with a rich personal life. That was relaxing to read and made a good contrast to the more fantastical elements of the story. I am really looking forward to the last book but I found “The Mirror” incredibly satisfying on its own.

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
I've been a huge Nora Roberts fan for years. This story was a bit boring and just could not get into it.
I'm sad to say that I skimmed through some chapters and then gave up.

The Mirror was a strong follow-up to Inheritance where we get more backstory and information about the murdered brides. One thing I really love about Nora's books (and that was really well done in this book) is the character and relationship development. She really does the work to make sure her characters come through ~just so~. Sonya and Cleo's friendship continues to shine and the burgeoning relationships with the male main characters are so well done. I can't wait for the next installment and to see how this trilogy will be wrapped up!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Mirror
By: Nora Roberts
Publisher: St Martin’s Press
Pub Date: 11/19/2024

The Mirror is the second book in the Lost Bride series. It picks up right where we left off in book one with Sonya at her newly inherited very HAUNTED mansion in Maine. As Sonya and her bff Cleo continue to settle in they get along great with the ghosts who take their duties very seriously. All expect the one ghost who has murdered all 7 of the brides that died in the Manson. She’s very unhappy and spends a great deal of time trying to scare the girls away. They need to find a way to get rid of her for good.
This was so compelling kept me going till it was over. Can’t wait for book 3 to come out in November.
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If you’re at all into old houses filled with history and perhaps a few ghosts, Nora Robert’s Lost Bride trilogy needs to be on your tbr! The Mirror is Book 2 and I’m still completely captivated by this 3-part story Roberts is weaving.

Book 2 has even more of a paranormal/magical realism aspect than book 1. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’ll keep it a little vague and just say we get to know more about the house, its history, and its former occupants throughout previous generations.

I’ve loved learning about the 7 lost brides of the manor throughout the first two books. It’s a fun historical fiction twist when we get glimpses of the manor, clothes, and music from the past.

The romance between Sonya and Trey continues to blossom in book 2. And perhaps a second romance also begins in this one. 👀 The romance that happens alongside the mystery plot is very sweet, and mostly serves to move the characters’ stories forward and establish the present-day timeline.

Getting to know Sonya and Cleo and their beautiful friendship, as well as Trey and his family, and their sweet little town, has been so much fun. I can’t wait for Book 3!

I really enjoyed this follow up to Inheritance. I thought this was a great continuation to the story. I liked that it went deeper into the stories of the brides.

The only thing I didn’t like: the cliffhanger! Because I need the next book like right now! I’m excited to find out what is going to happen next.

Nora Roberts is a must read author for me.

The second in the Lost Bride trilogy did not disappoint. If you read it before reading the first one you will still be able to follow along, Nora does such a great job weaving the basis of the story into this one, even if you missed the first or can't remember something. I love revisiting the characters again and love the growth of the story and how the bonds between each other and the ghosts grow closer.
You will learn more about the brides and about the underlying story in this book. The heart and humor in this book is A+! Can't wait for the next one!

A spellbinding story that blends romance, mystery, and supernatural elements. I was hooked from the beginning by the atmospheric setting and the richly woven plot. The characters are complex which adds depth to the narrative. I look forward to to the next installment.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Mirror continues where Inheritance ended. Sonya MacTavish has learned a lot more about the house she inherited from her father's twin. She's now settled into the house with her best friend, Cleo, who, as an artist, can also work from anywhere.

They have spent time learning to coexist with the house's ghost population and the insane cruel witch who has been killing the brides over the past two centuries. Sonya and Cleo resolve that the witch will not force them out. Instead, they plan to end her reign of terror.

I will try in this review to not give away any spoilers but I will speak of what is moving forward. Sonya has learned there is a mirror that calls to her and, when it does, it is difficult to resist. Going through the mirror takes her to moments in the past dealing with the witch and/or the brides. Only those with Poole blood can move through the mirror. Cleo tries to note when Sonya goes through and notifies their friends who can help if there is an issue.

Sonya's graphic design business is growing with word-of-mouth referrals. She's also working on a proposal for a large company. Meanwhile, Cleo is working on several projects and yet still finds time to do the art that touches her heart. This book is filled with strong, competent women and the men are the kind of men we all hope to meet in our lives.

The more Sonya learns about the brides who were killed by the witch, the more resolved she becomes to put an end to the curse. As she learns about a bride, a painting usually appears in the closet of what is now Cleo's art studio. The paintings seem to be either by Collin Poole or Sonya's father. How that could be they don't know, but the style of the paintings indicates the work was done by one or the other.

A haunted house. A curse needing to be lifted. A lovely home on the coast of Maine. There's also a wonderful group of characters I wouldn't mind meeting in person, living in a type of small community most people would wish to find for themselves. So, there's so much more reason to rid the house of its evil resident and free themselves to fully enjoy the life they are creating for themselves.

Whew!! What a ride! So many deaths. So much sadness. My heart hurts every time she went through the mirror. November can’t get her fast enough. I know nothing can change the past but that evil needs to be stopped.

Nora Roberts delivers an absolutely astounding follow up to “The Inheritance” in “The Mirror”. It perfectly picks up where the last book leaves off, which I always love when reading series’ or interconnected stand alone books. While this book’s pacing did feel a bit slow at times, it is still an intriguing story to read relating to the supernatural (ghosts) in a non-horror/thriller way. Nora Roberts fans will enjoy this continuation of The Lost Bride Trilogy!

I loved this book but I unfortunately did not have the time to write the review it deserves when I finished.

As the second book in the lost brides trilogy, you don’t need to have read the first one, Inheritance, to follow along. Robert’s does a great job of recapping the plot and characters from the first book, although reading Inheritance first would be a bonus. I enjoyed the fast pace of this story and the interactions between Sonya, Cleo, and the witch Dobos. Clearly some strong vibes and they took her on. Some humor, some romance, some hope that evil will not win out. I love the magical quality of the ghosts who reside in the manor and take care of Sonya and Cleo and show their appreciation for the mutual love of the manor. As Sonya and Cleo take back more ownership of the manor each day, the anger of the witch ramps up. Creative strategy of the mirror being a portal and how all the ghosts are linked to Sonya. I look forward to the conclusion of this story, to see how Sonya and her friends will vanquish Dobbs and retrieve the seven rings. Great story, well written, as always expected by Nora Robert’s. Many thanks to #netgalley, #themirror, #noraroberts for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have always loved Nora Roberts books and her trilo9ies are classic. The Mirror by Nora Roberts is the 2nd in a series about brides that are killed in a mansion. It does not work well as a stand alone novel due to much of the relationships and background is in the first book The Inheritance and while the author does give background it is confusing and difficult to keep track of everyone. The Mirror is presents a mix of mundane daily routines, interpersonal dynamics, and a lingering mystery involving a cursed past. At its core, the book seems to be more about the small, repetitive details of life than a thrilling narrative. The story follows the protagonist Sonya as she navigates a series of seemingly insignificant events – waking up, letting the cat and dog out, making breakfast, and then repeating the process the next day. Along the way, the book introduces us to various characters and their interactions, like Sonya, Trey, Cleo, and others, but the plot itself struggles to gain momentum.

One of the more frustrating aspects of The Mirror is the lack of clear development in the primary storyline involving the cursed lost brides and the antagonist, Hester Dobbs. Though the book gives glimpses of the dark past and a powerful curse, Hester’s tantrums and behavior fail to create the tension and intrigue one might expect from such a villain. Instead, her actions feel repetitive, and her sinister history is overshadowed by the mundane events of the characters’ lives.

Additionally, the nickname for Sonya, such as "Son" from Cleo, was confusing at first and detracted from the reading experience. I found myself questioning who was being referred to and why the characters couldn’t communicate more clearly. It took awhile to keep it straight and not wonder who's son they were talking about. These small details, while they may have been intended to highlight the relationships between the characters, instead added unnecessary confusion.

What was also disappointing was the sense of urgency or stakes in the book. Hester Dobbs, despite her murderous history, is portrayed as a nuisance rather than a true threat. The repetitive, almost “gibberish” nature of the day-to-day scenes drowns out any suspense, and by the time I expected the mystery to unfold, the tension had already dissipated.

While The Mirror offers a unique portrayal of daily life and the mundane activities that define our routines, it ultimately lacks the excitement and drama that I had hoped for, given the premise. The characters are likable enough, but their interactions never rise to the level of gripping storytelling. If you’re looking for a fast-paced mystery or a story with deeper character development, this may leave you wanting more.

A good suspenseful follow-up of the first book. The story plot continues to grow and draw you in. The characters continue to grow, and the story continues with its twists and turns.

A great suspense and ghost story!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.