It pains me so much to say this, but I think I'm going to DNF this series. I love Nora Roberts and I want to like this series so much more than I actually do. The gothic vibes are perfect, the magical realism is captivating, and I even like the main character. But the plot/pacing is severely lacking for me. Book one had way too much build-up, for really only one major plot point to happen. It ended on a cliffhanger so I was really eager to continue thinking that the second book would really pick up the pace after the "world-building" of the first, but it just really didn't. I feel like this story didn't need to be a trilogy. It could have been a thick standalone fantasy horror and it would've been perfect like that. I don't know how something with such an amazing premise and atmosphere could end up being so boring but, alas, here we are, and it's tragic for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I read The Mirror immediately after finishing Inheritance, the first in the series. And at first, I was all in. I loved the building of the relationships, the focus on the women's work, the pets, etc. But by about 50% in I realized I still had no idea if they were any closer to actually resolving the big issue the series focuses on. We spent so much time focusing on the planning and execution of an event that then was over within 1-2 pages with no real impact on the actual story.

I didn't not like this, I just wanted more.

I love Nora Roberts and am loving this series. The Mirror started off out the cliffhanger and gave us a further insight into the dynamics of family and friendship. Loved that Cleo got to participate a little more in the story and the ghosts started telling us more of their tales. I LOVE Clover!! Great read and can't wait to continue.

I’m loving this trilogy. This was a great second installment where we learn more about the curse and the ghosts. Definitely recommend reading the first book before reading “The Mirror”. I can’t wait for the third book to come out!

The Mirror!!!

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of The Mirror, book two in The Lost Bride trilogy!

Nora Robert’s has done it again!

To say I am enjoyed this series is an understatement! This Series is unforgettable!

I absolutely Loved book two “The Mirror”! Sonya’s journey is a little frightening and mysterious and you are drawn into this story line.

This book was original and hooked me from page one! This was a page turner with lots of twists and turns!

I could not turn the pages fast enough!

Well done Nora Robert’s! You’re like a fine wine, you just keep getting better!

I gave this book 5 stars!

No spoilers with my review!

This is the second in Nora Roberts' Lost Brides paranormal trilogy. I'm not going to give a synopsis, just my rating, and I enjoyed the continuation of Sonya's story. A surprise inheritance, a haunted mansion, an enchanted mirror, a mingling of past and present... love it! Ms Roberts continues to give clues but, like most "second" books, there aren't answers, yet. I enjoyed the setting and getting to know the characters more, which is a strength of this author. It's a good lead in to the third and final book, which I hope is coming soon
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Having read the first installment of this trilogy, I was looking forward to this second installment and getting some answers to the saga of the evil witch Dobbs and the seven dead Poole brides.

Sadly, I got no answers. Zero. Nothing. Zilch. The story this time did not move along at all. Oh, there is a lot happening; they have dogs that they have to let out, and back in, and back out, and back in. And then our heroine's roomie gets a cat, who she lets out, and back in, and back out, and back in. There are many romantic interludes between our heroine and her new boyfriend, who, even though they are both in their late twenties? early thirties? calls her 'cutie', which made my skin crawl every time I read it. Then they plan a big party at the manor to host the towns folk and open the manor up for viewing. There are long stretches where our intrepid quartet of friends sit around planning for the party, discussing food for the party, flowers for the party, tables and chairs for the party. And in-between, the two couples (Sonya and Trey and Cleo and Owen) are constantly talking about making dinner, having dinner, bringing dinner, going out to dinner, going to someone's house for dinner, etc. ad nauseum.

What I'm trying to say is, there literally is nothing relevant to the original story going on in this sequel. The ghosts are all there (and are actually more interesting than the alive people) but nothing really revelatory happens. Those who love Nora Roberts will love this book. It has a lot of schmaltz but very little else.

Oh, and as for The Mirror of the title, it only appears a few times, and nothing especially revelatory happens, except, well, it just shows up sometimes and Sonya goes through it, watches past hapenings, and then she comes back.

Nora Roberts takes you on a mesmorizing journey through the mirror. This haunting book takes you into a centuries-old curse that weaves together elements of romance, mystery, and the supernatural. The story revolves around Sonya MacTavish and the Poole family. Sonya, who unexpectedly inherits a grand Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine. After moving in and experiencing more than one paranormal occurrence, her friend Cleo moves in with her. They discover the amazing spirits inhabit the mansion. However, one spirit haunts the mansion and all the Poole brides that have once lived there. There is a blending of the present with the past that leads Sonya to experience vivid dreams and sleep walking that transports her to a bygone era. She begins to witness the tragic events of each Poole brides tragic death and the curse Hestor Dodd's has placed on each bride while stealing her wedding band. Sonya, with the help of her friends, Cleo, Trey, and Owen, is determined to unravel the mystery and free the spirits in the house. This mansion with its ghostly occupants is a character within the story, too. They add complexity to the story, each with their own secrets and talents to take care of the house and the people in the house.
This is the second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy, and it begins to give more clues and stories about the Poole Brides and the curse that keeps them restricted to the mansion. Sonya, however, is finding her own strength and resilience. She is driven by her curiosity and compassion as she dives deeper into her families history and begins to learn just how amazing family and friends can be, whether living or spectral.
The Mirror is a mystery and romance rolled up in one hauntingly beautiful tale. Oh geez, I can't wait to see what Nora Roberts has in store for us with the last book in the trilogy.

.The Mirror continues The Lost Bride Trilogy, set in a coastal Maine manor haunted by a vengeful witch's curse on several generations of brides. In the first book, Inheritance, Sonya inherits the manor from an unknown uncle and uncovers its dark history. In The Mirror, she discovers a portal to the past, revealing the tragic fates of brides on their wedding days. As the next in line to lift the curse, Sonya, along with her boyfriend Trey, friend Cleo, and cousin Owen, embarks on a challenging journey.

Roberts blends the paranormal with everyday life, displaying Cleo's artistic growth, Sonya developing graphic arts business, and the evolving romances within the group. The presence of kind-hearted ghosts adds depth to the story. The Mirror builds on the first book and ends with many unanswered questions, leaving readers eager for the trilogy's conclusion. This is such a great sequel and I would recommend the entire series to Nora Roberts fans and those who enjoy romance with a bit of the paranormal. It would be helpful to first read Inheritance, since The Mirror is a continuation and would not work well as a stand-alone story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Marten’s Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This author is one that I’m always excited to read, and I was anxious to read this latest. I was glad to be back in this world and to catch up with Sonya, Cleo, Trey, and Owen, and this started right where the first one left off. I enjoyed myself quite a bit in this world, but I must say that this is less a paranormal ghost story, and more of a learning about their history, family, found family, settling in a new place, letting go of the past, and a whole bunch of other things. Paranormal takes a backseat for most of this book. Now, it's still written wonderfully just like all this author’s books, and I did quite enjoy myself as I found I could barely look up from the pages, and I devoured it very quickly. I just wish there was a little more paranormal. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I’ve been a fan of Nora Roberts for years. I loved the first book in this series, but this one dragged on a bit to me. The characters are great, dead and alive, but there’s just so much unnecessary detail. We don’t need to know every move everyone makes. I don’t necessarily care what time the dogs are let out and what time someone has a coke. The dialogue feels a little awkward to me as well. All that said, I do like the story and I do plan to finish out the series when the last book is released. I

Nora Roberts' paranormal stories are exceptionally well written, and I loved reading this second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy. Emotions run high in this tale of a haunted mansion, ghosts, time travel, the eternal love of generations of brides and the hate of one evil ghost. Sonya MacTavish, who has inherited this mansion as a direct descendent of the original owner, has to deal with all of this if she is to survive. I thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of an advance copy of this book. This was a riveting story, and will be best understood if the series is read in order.

Great Continuation of The Lost Bride Trilogy

This is NOT a stand alone book, rather it is book 2 in a three part series. The story begins at the exact place the first book ended. As a result, those who did not read INHERITANCE will be confused as to what is happening. For those who did enjoy the first book, this one is a joy to read.

There are two major threads that carry the plot forward. One is Sonya’s quest to start her own independent advertizing agency after having been unjustly fired from the firm in Boston where she had worked. Sonya MacTavish and her best friend and best friend, Cleo Fabares live and work in Lost Brides Manor which Sonya inherited from her uncle’s estate. While Sony lays the groundwork for her business, Cleo is busy painting.

The second thread, of course, is learning the fate of the all of the Poole brides who died in this house on their wedding day. Integral to this is the unwelcome, witchy occupant of the Gold Room: the malevolent ghost Dobbs. Dobbs plays havoc with the nighttime in hopes of driving the women out. Along the way they discover Dobbs’s Achilles Heel: she feeds of fear. The answer to that is laughter and joy. Toward that end, a huge blowout party is planned that will make Dobbs none too happy.

I loved the author’s ability to climb into the head of her characters and superbly share the world from their experience. In this case, the view is day-to-day life of an ordinary woman trying to get a foothold on life and a career while dealing with the machinations of an angry ghost.

I loved this book and anxiously await the final chapter in this trilogy! I have to thank NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and enjoy this book!

The Mirror is the second novel in The Lost Brides trilogy by Nora Roberts. As a trilogy, you will have to have and read The Inheritance, to fully appreciate The Mirror and the ongoing storyline.

Like all Nora Roberts books, irrespective of the genre she is writing, the love of family, friends and a deep core of loyalty always shines through the storyline.

The characters tell the story whilst 'sharing' parts of themselves along the way, and this is what is the absolute best of all of this author's work, character development, characters and their dialogue.

Through 'The Mirror,' Sonya learns many more things about her Poole heritage and those that have come and gone before her and is most definitely continuing her quest to serve up some justice for historic tragedies that have befallen her ancestors.

As Sonya and her bestie, Cleo, carve out new lives for themselves in a new town, there is acceptance of the quirky goings on as well as the 'darker' aspects of living in the manor.

This acceptance and resilience makes for a compelling read that offers the reader the opportunity to be part of 'the family' as new treasures and tragedies are uncovered.

I am all in and can't wait until next year when Sonya and her crew, a mixture of the two and four legged variety, return to break the curse which has dogged the manor for so many generations.

𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
2.5 🌟
-
The Mirror by Nora Roberts is book two in the lost bride trilogy.
This book picks up where it left off in book one the inheritance. I was excited for book two because I felt like we were going to get some more answers about the seven bride. Well, that didn't happen, we basically received zero answers and repeated the same things that happen in book one. I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. Hopefully, book three gives us the answers we want.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Nov.19
Thank you, Netgalley, and St. Martin Press for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.

#bookreview #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #TheMirror #NoraRoberts

Well, she did it again. Way to leave us hanging…again. This book has it all. Romance, suspense, mystery, a villain and of course the good guys. As we start the story, the cliff hanger from the first books is revealed. But what waits around the corner for our people? Will we discover the rings and what they symbolize? Hmm, not quite yet, but there is lots of action in this one with the bad ghost Hester and of course all the good ghosts. I especially love that Sonya meets her grandmother that looks younger than she does. This is the second in a trilogy and I can’t wait for the final and last installment to find out how they reclaim the mansion and what happens with all the resident “ghosts”.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review with ARC. Looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy.

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.

Another brilliant piece of the trilogy, and again (like the first), I regret reading this before the whole series is out! (I'm half joking!) We learn more about the seven brides, have more fun with Sonja and Cleo, get a little more of Trey. Wonderful characters, amazing emotional moments throughout the whole book, and all that while leaving the resolution for the final book. I can't wait!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely loved it. I typically adore Nora's books, but the last one I read (Nightwork) was disappointing for me. I was a little hesitant going into this one, but I thought it was great.

This series is so cliff-hanger-y! ACK! In all seriousness, I've really enjoyed both books in this series so far, and I am really excited to see what happens next. The concept is so unique, and so very Nora Roberts, that it all just fits. It's great!

I read the first book and was so happy to get this one to have the big cliffhanger resolved which it did immediately. I love Nora Roberts series and this one is at the top of my list so far. I absolutely cannot wait for the book 3 to come out. I will be buying this book on publishing day and rereading, as it was that good. Thanks Netgalley.