As with the first book in this series, I was entertained, enjoyed the characters and was interested to find out more in terms of the past history involving the main character’s ancestors. This type of storyline is still not something I’m particularly interested in and probably never will be. Ghosts and paranormal activities just aren’t that interesting to me so I’m still a bit on the fence as to whether or not I’ll read the next book.

I received this book from the publisher for free. However, the opinions in this review are strictly my own.
I really like the first book in this series but have totally fallen in love with this second book. The characters have developed amazingly and the story line is good.
Sonya and Cleo continue to deal with the haunting in The Poole Manor, in Poole Bay, Maine.
Between the 7 dead brides and them appearing to Sonya to show her how they died, the friendly servants and children and the crazy witch, the ghosts have been busy around the manor.
Trey and Owen have become a bigger part of the picture and Pye, the cat has been added to the mix.
I have really enjoyed the story and can't wait for the 3rd book in the series.

Such a good second book. The middle of a trilogy usually feels like filler or weighed down with too much info. This one does a nice job keeping you reeled in and invested in what happens to Sonya, Cleo, Trey, and Owen. Not too much of a spoiler, but another animal joins the ranks of the clan. There are also romantic developments, lots of family sightings, The Event, and an update on the Ryder account. There were several laugh out loud quips in this installment. The musical references were amazing, so varied and spot on. I found myself wishing to know how it all ends and being aware that the last book comes out next year. Thank you to Net Galley and the author for an advanced reader's copy.

I love Nora Roberts and especially her trilogy books. I feel like I really get to know the characters and can’t wait for the next book to come out. This book is no different! The Mirror is the second book in the Lost Brides trilogy. You really need to read the first book since this book begins where the first book left off. I really liked the mystery in this book with the haunted house and ghosts. I did feel like this book had less romance than her other books, but I didn’t mind. This book is longer than the first book in the trilogy, but it is a fast read. I can’t wait for the final installment!

Nora Roberts is hands down my favorite author. I especially love her trilogies and I love that this one is so different. There is some romance but the primary focus is the ghost story and the intricately woven history of the manor and its prior inhabitants. This is about a mission to save all of the spirits in the manor as well as defeat Hester Dobbs.

More is found out in this second installment about the stories behind the 7 brides. I love that there is a lot of growth in the main character, Sonya, in this book. We also get a closer look at the families behind the 4 primary characters. Nora took great care to flush out the families of the past and present to bring you further into the story in this book. Sonya's growth through book 2 is going to be huge in the fight that is being set up for in book 3.

I did feel like the first installment was better than the second because there was more action in that book. There is a cliffhanger in this one too but I wasn't as much on the edge of my seat as I was in the first book. You do need to read the first book before you read this one. You won't be sorry as The Inheritance is such a great book.

I anxiously await the final book in the series as I know it will be as good as the first if not even better!

I want to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review the ARC of The Mirror by Nora Roberts. The first book in the trilogy is Inheritance. Think it is important to read it first. I really liked The Mirror and can’t wait for the next one!
“Since those grand doors opened in 1794, a Poole has walked those halls.”
Dobbs, the wicked ghost, is still there. Sonya is determined to recover the rings of the dead wives and bring peace and love to the manor house of her ancestors. Meanwhile, the good ghosts continue to play music, to make her bed and lay out her clothes!
This book is spooky fun!
The Mirror publishes November 19,2024.

This is the second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy by Nora Roberts. When I read the first book, I could not wait to find out what happened next. It was worth the wait. Nora Roberts does an amazing job of developing all of the characters and pulling you into their world. As I was reading, it was like I was right there seeing it all and listening in on their conversations. This book expands on the story and you get to learn more about the brides that were murdered and the curse that is on the family. Sonya MacTavish has inherited the family mansion and all of its history and ghosts. Occasionally, a mirror appears that shows her more about the family's history and the brides that died. Sonya, along with her friends and cousin are trying to break the curse on the family. They have to find the wedding rings that the witch stole from the brides after she murdered them. Nora does a great job of building the tension and suspense along with showing the determination and strength of Sonya and her friends. This story moves along smoothly. I am anxiously waiting for the third and final book in the trilogy. These are books that stay with you for a while and have you trying to figure out ways that Sonya can break the curse or wondering what will happen next. This is definitely a book I will read again.

3.5/5

I can't believe I'm giving a Nora Roberts' book anything less than a 5 star review but...I'm very disappointed in this book. It's well written and while I liked the additional details in the book, the plot barely moved forward. This seemed like this should've been a plot for a standalone novel but she had to do a trilogy so they split it apart and then had to fill in a lot of details.

Like don't get me wrong the book is enjoyable but we didn't learn anything that we didn't already know and the romance side plot of Cleo's was barely shown at all. I've read a lot of Nora Roberts' trilogies and she usually gives all characters a fleshed-out story but in this one where she only has 4 characters they're barely there at all.

Overall, I would consider this a novella for additional information not an actual book.

I loved reading the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy and I couldn’t wait for the next book to come out. Unfortunately, The Mirror wasn’t what I had hoped for. The four main characters are likeable, as are their extended families. It just has endless discussions constantly repeated to enlighten the characters who hadn’t been present for the supernatural goings-on to be brought up to speed. And did we have to have each meal’s menu described? The witch Hester Dobbs’ character is nicely portrayed and at times quite scary. I loved all the ‘friendly’ ghost characters and how they helped maintain the mansion. I can’t wait for the third book to come out and see how the story continues.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Nora Robert’s second Lost Bride Trilogy book, and my only complaint is that I still have to wait a year and a half now for the final one! This continues the story from the first book and I was just as invested in the characters and the mystery. It’s a relatively fast and easy read, and truly, I can’t wait for the final installment to find out how it all ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advance copy.

Pub date: November 19, 2024

This book picks up where the first book “The Inheritance” leaves off, so be sure to read that before picking this one up. Nora Robert’s is a favorite author. She brings the plot and characters to life every single time. I loved this book because it’s a perfect blend of mystery, paranormal suspense, and romance. Although it’s a longer book, it’s really a quick read because of how good it is. I’m looking forward to the third book of the trilogy! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

The Mirror is the second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy, and starts where book 1 (The Inheritance) leaves off.

I always get so excited when I have a new Nora Roberts book to read, and especially so when it’s part of a trilogy. She is the master of writing great trilogies. This book has the perfect mix of mystery, paranormal encounters, and romance. I’m so enjoying watching the relationship between Sonya and Trey, and now Cleo and Owen.

I read it so fast because I was enjoying it so much and just wanted to see how it ended, that I read it a second time so I could pay attention to all the details!

Definitely a must-read.

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

This is the second book in the second book of the Lost Bride Trilogy. On the coast of Maine, a mansion awaited the new owner. Sonya MacTavish learns of her inheritance and the family she never knew. She moves to the mansion along with her best friend. This mansion has secrets. It is haunted and the ghosts begin sharing the tragic circumstances surrounding the home. Brides who marry in the mansion meet tragic ends. A mysterious ghost steals the wedding ring from their finger as they die. For Sonya, peace will only return if she can find the missing wedding rings. How will she ever accomplish this? Using an enchanted mirror, Sonya can see each bride's death but doesn't see how to save them. Where would a malevolent ghost hide the brides' rings?

Book Two of the series focuses on Sonya's efforts to understand the brides and the curse better. She has discovered the ghost's identity, what caused her to haunt the house, and her ongoing motivation. Nora Roberts never disappoints! She deftly weaves the supernatural into Sonya's discovery of her ancestry. The angry ghost and her connection to the family are clever. As in any Nora Roberts novel, there is romance - a little spicy, a little sweet. The well-developed haunting is enchanting and will keep readers entertained throughout the book. For readers who have previously enjoyed Roberts's supernatural series, this will be a welcome addition to their reading list and library.

The Mirror -The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 2 by Nora Roberts

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, was excited to receive the second book in this trilogy, but was so disappointed when I read it. The first book, Inheritance had a great deal of world building but included a good bit of action. I found 'The Mirror' to be a repetitive and somewhat boring. I really didn't want to read about planning a party from everyone's point of view, or how long it took to paint a painting or build a boat. This series should have been two books, not three.

The Mirror picks starts where we ended in book 1 Inheritance. Sonya and Cleo are living in the house and thriving while learning how to deal Dobb's and her tantrums throughout the house. They have a kinship with the ghost and along with Trey and Collin they won't let Hester Dobb's run them off. While planning a huge open house party for all their family, friends and community both ladies have business they are working on while dealing with doors slamming, screams throughout the night and storms blowing open doors while they are sleeping. Doesn't help the mirrors are appearing and Sonya finds herself walking through them without being able to stop herself.

I love this story the romance and tragedy are all mixed together but the brides are amazing and you feel so much for all of them. I can't wait for the next story.

This is book 2 in the trilogy, so it picks up where book 1 ended. Sonya and Cleo are both living at the manor with Trey and Owen visiting quite often. We also learn more about Sonya’s other relatives and more about the ghosts inhabiting the manor. I don’t want to say more so the surprise isn’t ruined. Another great book!

This picks up where Inheritance left off quite literally after Sonya and Owen step into the mirror. From there we continue on their journey to break the curse and take back the brides' rings from Dobbs. I continue to enjoy the series. Nora is an auto buy author for me and her books are always like a warm hug to me. The Mirror is no different. Can't wait to read the finale.

Nora Roberts can be relied on for a consistently gripping blend of magical realism/fantasy and contemporary romance. The Mirror continues the Lost Bride trilogy as the second book in the series, bringing back Sonya, Cleo, Trey, Owen, and our resident ghosts. I devoured this book, just like I did the first one! I love the haunted mansion setting, with friendly ghosts (I need my own Molly) and one spooky witch who is out to get them all. That being said, the entire premise of why the family has been cursed compared to how many women have tragically died does feel very weak, tenuous, and disproportionate. I would've expected at least a bit more than "the original Poole slept with a witchy woman one single time and she then felt entitled to everything he had" but I guess it does the job? Overall a great continuation of the series, looking forward to the conclusion in book 3.

Inheritance was one of my favorite books of 2023, and it ended on a major cliffhanger. So when I was offered an advance digital copy of The Mirror, which was quite possibly my most anticipated read of 2024, I couldn’t hit the download button fast enough. And I loved every single page. There’s not a single thing I would change about The Mirror, except for the fact that I have to wait over a year to see how the story ends.

Thankfully, our story picks up exactly where Inheritance left off. Because of that, there’s not a ton I can say about the plot. What I can do is offer a brief synopsis of Inheritance. Our main character, Sonja, is watching her life unravel. Right after we meet her, she finds her fiancé in bed with one of her bridesmaids—who also happens to be her cousin. From there, she has to deal with throwing him out, cancelling the wedding, and drama at her job, as both she and the ex-fiancé work for the same graphic design firm. In the wake of all of this, an additional piece of drama completely upends her life. It turns out her deceased father was a twin, and that the uncle she never knew has left her Lost Bride Manor, a massive mansion on the coast. She takes a chance and moves in, only to find that the house isn’t empty. It’s insanely haunted. Most of the ghosts are helpful and friendly, but there’s one that will stop at nothing to drive Sonja away. There’s a mystery to solve, a romance to be had, and some truly fantastic friendships to be found within the book, as well.

There’s not a ton of forward momentum to the plot in The Mirror, but I didn’t care. It was never, ever boring. Nora weaves a spell in her portrayal of the everyday; even the mundane is magical in her hands. This is one of the best examples of a slice-of-life story I’ve read in recent years. It gives us a ton of character development in Sonja, as well as in her best friend Cleo, who I absolutely adore; Trey, Sonja’s love interest on of the steadiest, sweetest men in Nora’s vast back catalogue of romantic leads; and Owen, Trey’s best friend and Sonja’s cousin she didn’t know about until moving to the Manor. I love every single member of this inner circle of the cast with all my heart. They’re just a wonderful group, and I love the many bonds between them. (Also, can I just say that Cleo, Owen, and Cleo’s grandma are some of the most naturally, effortlessly sexy characters I’ve encountered in any book?) Then there are the other two main groups of characters: the pets, who all somehow resemble their humans in personality; and the ghosts, who are an eclectic and by-and-large charming bunch, with one glaring exception.

I’m not a big crier as I read, but I had to put this book down multiple times because I couldn’t see the words. Sometimes the tears were from sorrow, shared with one of the characters. But more, they were from sheer sweetness, from scenes that made my heart ache in the best of ways. Nora has a way of bringing out the emotions in me, and I’m not sure she’s ever exemplified that more than in the last 10% of this book.

Let’s talk about the bookends of the story: the prologue and the final chapter. Nora’s prologues are always exceptional. They plunge us into the tone and atmosphere of the story to come, but they’re also different stylistically than the rest of the book. This one in particular was musical, moody, darkly whimsical. I was instantly transported and drawn in. And then there’s the last chapter. That ending, man. What is up with Nora’s endings in recent years?! They leave you desperate for the next book. Which is all well and good when you actually have the next book in hand. But when you have to wait a year? It’s torture! But it’s torture of the best kind. It guarantees that I’ll be thinking about this book for months to come, and will be reading the last installment as soon as I can get my hands on it.

One of my dreams when I first started reviewing books in 2016 was to, someday, be able to read Nora Roberts books before they were published. It seemed like such a lofty goal to me, but she’s one of my absolute favorite authors, a favorite I share with my mom, my grandma, and my brother. If I could get anything out of reviewing books, that’s what I hoped for. Lo and behold, my dream has become reality. Every time I get one of her books early, it feels like the best Christmas ever. I’m so thankful to have gotten to read The Mirror early, and am even more thankful that I loved it so much. Nora Roberts is a master of her craft, and I can’t wait to see how she brings this story to a close in 2025!

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of The Mirror.

Book 2 in The Lost Bride Trilogy, we pick up right where we left off with Sonya and Owen going through the mirror. The step back in time to watch the unfortunate death of one of the brides.

Sonya continues to learn more about the "lost brides" of the Manor along with more history about the Manor. Hester Dobbs continues her antics as Sonya and Cleo prepare The Event, an open house at the Manor.

I felt book 2 was a little on the slow side but we learn more about the history of the brides and the manor. I'm looking forward to book 3!