THE MIRROR - Nora Roberts

#2 in The Lost Bride Trilogy

Compelling! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - 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.

Writing - 4.5 stars - As always, Roberts captures me right from the first page of her books. Since this is the second in a trilogy, we had a head start and were already familiar with the characters and the story. I'll admit to a bit of confusion at first since it's been a while since I read the first book, but I soon caught up and was captured all over again.

Characters - 5 stars - This is where the story shines for me. I absolutely love all four of the main characters. Well, five if you count the ghost Dobbs. Sonya and Cleo are best friends--very strong and independent women, supporting each other as they deal with the haunted nature of the manor. Not to mention being cheerleaders for each other's successful careers. Trey and Owen are fantastic heroes. Also strong and supportive, both are successful men who recognize the strength of their women, not talking down to them or making decisions for them, but just being there. Dobbs is the wicked witch who is trying to secure the manor for herself even though she died over 100 years ago. She's quite the terror and provides plenty of shivers. Secondary characters of Clover (another ghost), Winter (Sonya's mom), and various townsfolk provide extra interest and depth.

Title - 4 stars - Pretty self-explanatory. The mirror is the main method for a Poole descendant to travel to the past in the manor.

Cover - 4 stars - I love the contrast of the gold mirror against the black background. The bright flowers draw the eye, and the reflection of the blue ocean sets the scene. Very nice.

Overall - 4 stars - Although the last book ended with the mirror and this book began with it, it is not really the focus (as you might expect from the title). Yes, it's a path to see into the past, but it's not the only way to discover more about the history of the manor. The characters are where this book shone for me. Sonya and Cleo are strong, independent, successful women who are best friends, and both are determined to discover the manor's secrets and defeat the dark shadow living there. Trey and Owen are equally attractive, while also providing support and strength. And I was totally intrigued by the characters from the past (many of whom are "living" in the manor alongside the women), each with his or her own personality. The mystery and the quest are clear, but the as-yet-unknown method of getting to the solution is what compelled me to keep reading. Nora Roberts is always able to create people and situations that draw me in, and this book is no exception. I'm greatly looking forward to the third book of the trilogy.

This is book two in the Lost Bride Trilogy. It does pick up right where the last book, The Inheritance, ended. I definitely think you need to read the first book.
Antique mirror
Dreams
Supernatural elements
Centuries old curse
Mystery
Family secrets
The Mirror is a very deep haunted house story. We are left on another cliffhanger….book three should be interesting!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is not a stand alone novel. This is the second book in a trilogy. I had read the first one but it was so long ago that I didn't really remember it so I had a hard time following some of this novel. The story takes place in a house which has been inherited by Sonya. She moves in with her friend. The house comes with many characters (ghosts) that have lived there before and died there. Sonya must solve the puzzle as to how to break the curse which was put on by one of the ghosts. My three star rating is because it was hard to follow the story since I could not remember everything from the first book.

This is one of those books that before I recommend to a reader I ask how do you deal with cliffhangers. Because if you can't handle a nail biting edge cliffhanger, I recommend you get the book but put off reading it until you have the end of the Lost Bride Trilogy in hand.

"The Mirror" by Nora Roberts was full of dark magic and generational secrets and mystery. Good and evil battling through the years. Thank you NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Nora Roberts’ The Mirror, the latest installment in her [insert series name], continues to deliver on the rich world-building and compelling characters that fans have come to expect. I loved the first book and remain captivated by the overall premise of the series. Roberts has such a talent for crafting immersive settings and characters you genuinely care about, and that’s no different here.

That said, this installment felt a little slower than the usual Roberts pace. There were stretches where the story lingered with the characters—deepening relationships, emotions, and the world—but without moving the plot forward as much as I’d hoped. While I appreciate those moments of stillness, it occasionally made the book feel overly stagnant in parts.

That being said, I’m excited to see where the story goes next. The foundation Roberts has laid is strong, and it feels like the action is really picking up by the end of this book. I’m fully invested in these characters and look forward to continuing with the series as the stakes (and pace) seem ready to soar again. If you’re a fan of the series, The Mirror is still a worthwhile read that sets the stage for what’s to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This may just be my favorite Nora Roberts series that I’ve ever read. The first and second ones sucked you in and you couldn’t put them down.

This one picks right back up when Owen and Sonya had gone through the mirror. They quickly come back through the mirror after witnessing a scene and Cleo and Trey are waiting for them. Then throughout the entire book they work together to try to figure out how to stop Hester Dobbs.

I absolutely loved the cast of characters even the furry friends and the ghostly friends!

I absolutely can’t wait for the third book! 4/5 stars.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Mirror in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of Nora Roberts for as long as I can remember. I look forward to her new romantic suspense every year but this is more of the Nora Roberts I remember reading back in the day & I’m loving it!!!⁣

This is the 2nd book in her Lost Brides trilogy & it picks up right where the first book left off. Inheritance ended with quite the cliffhanger & you are definitely going to want to read that one before picking this new one up so you aren’t completely lost. I actually reread the last few chapters of Inheritance before starting this one just to make sure I was back in that mindset.⁣

It’s hard to say too much without spoiling either story, which I absolutely will not do. Just know that this second book continues to delve into the stories of the lost brides. It goes a little deeper than the last book, though doesn’t provide all the answers we need. That’s to come in the next book! ⁣

I also loved how this book focused on the relationships between all the characters in the present day. I’m always a fan of books that explore sisterhood, loyalty & love & that is exactly what this book does. And then there’s that paranormal element to the story that isn’t usually my cup of tea, but I can’t get enough of here. I mean, house helpers that clean & pick out your clothes? Where can I get some of those? And let’s not forget about Dobbs and all her outbursts!

Once again we end with another cliffhanger that left me wanting more. I will be counting down the days until the 3rd, & final, book in this trilogy is in my hands. So many questions & I hope all will be answered!

As soon as I got my hands on the ebook version I grabbed up the audio of the first one from the library to "re-listen" to it (it was the third time through and just as good) and then immediately started on The Mirror. It picks up right where The Inheritance leaves off so make sure you read that one first. Sonya has inherited a mansion in Maine from her father's brother (who their family didn't know of) and it just so happens to be haunted. Cleo, her bestie, has now moved in and together they are making it home. Trey, greeted her on arrival and they have only grown closer along with the rest of his family and it happens his best friend is her cousin, Owen. When Sonya decides to go through the mirror when they find it, Owen goes with her. Visions, ghosts, and visions and maybe some secrets that need to come out to break the curse on the mansion.

I cannot wait for the conclusion to this trilogy!

When I received the audio version I immediately listened to that and, WOW, I could not put it down. It was just a riveting as if I hadn't read the book in the recent few weeks.

The Inheritance was one of my favorite novels of last year and it was a long year to wait for book two, but definitely worth it. I love the characters and the story and everything about this book, well, except for Hester, but no one likes her. It will be another long year to wait for book 3.

Got this jobbie from St. Martin's Press and it is phenomenal! Continuing where we left off in The Inheritance, Sonya continues to battle the evil Hester Dobbs, who has cursed the brides of the Poole family in horrific ways.

I loved the first in The Lost Bride trilogy so I was excited to read the next installment. It picked right up where the first left off. I love Sonia, Trey, Chloe and Owen, as well as their group of pets. It moves kind of slow and while I enjoyed the ins and outs of their daily routines, I was left wanting a little more out of the mystery of the brides. Will definitely be reading book #3!

As always a Nora Roberts book doe not disappoint! The 2nd book to the series and it was fabulous! A haunted house,spirits and a love story!, highly highly recommend..

I loved the second installment and can't wait for the third book! Nora Roberts has always been the queen of romantic suspense but she knocked it out of the park with the supernatural elements.

This book was definitely slower paced than the first book as we get history of each of the bride's deaths. At times it felt tedious but I understand that it helped to give backstory. I appreciate that it picked up right after the first book left off and loved all the main characters. Their relationships were the best part of the book!

Many thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley.

Sandy M’s review of The Mirror (Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 2) by Nora Roberts
Paranormal Romance published by St. Martin’s Press 19 Nov 24

I wish I could wait the two to three years needed for Ms. Roberts to release any trilogy, all so I can read them back to back. Alas, I just can’t do it. I have to delve full force into any of her books as it hits the shelves. So now it’s another year before we get the final book in this series, and I’ll be like the rest of her fans, on pins and needles until I have it in hand to find out what happens with Sonya and Trey.


And as much I love the premise of seven brides dying on their wedding days, trying to locate their wedding rings to rid a home of the evil witch causing all the ruckus for Sonya and her family and friends, it is Trey and Sonya who really make these stories stand out. For me, anyway. Their relationship began slowly, though their attraction was immediate. I so enjoy their interactions in this series, and I hope it continues upward as it goes on. Knowing Ms. Roberts’ stories, I’m sure that will happen.

Of course, other than the romance, the mystery and evilness of the resident witch is right behind the love that assists in keeping the nastiness at bay. This time around we also get the mirror – a look into the past of each lost bride on the day of her death and the subsequent stealing of the wedding rings by said evil witch. We go along for the ride with Sonya as she travels through the mirror for more pieces of each puzzle, all hopefully culminating in answers and a solution we’ve been waiting for.

I’m also enjoying the new relationship between Owen, Sonya’s cousin, and Cleo, her best friend. It takes a bit on Cleo’s part not to jump right in, but once she does, having more love and fun added along the way is one way to antagonize witchy tantrums through the story. I also really like Trey’s father and grandfather, Deuce and Ace, and wish they had more scenes. Three generations with those names make me smile every time I think about them.

Of course, this book ends on a huge cliffhanger just as the first one did. Well worth it, though. Like I did with The Inheritance just before this book released, I’m going to reread this one before the last story is released next year. I’ve loved all of Ms. Roberts’ releases for a long time now, and this one just became a favorite, which is saying something, because all books of hers are that damned good.

4 Stars

Great continuation of the story! This book kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what is going to happen. I LOVE all of the paranormal elements. I can't wait for the 3rd book!!

Thank you to St. Martin's press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

4.5 Stars (since I read it with book one)
One Liner: I was lured into the haunted manor

Sonya MacTavish is actually a Poole and the only one who can break the centuries-old curse and free the lost brides in the manor.
One night, the elusive mirror appears, and Sonya walks through to watch a bride get killed and her ring stolen. The events seem to happen in a loop. Sonya and her friends have to find the rings soon, but that’s easier said than done.
The story comes mainly in Sonya’s third-person POV (with a few scenes from others’ POVs).

My Thoughts:
I continued with book two immediately after the previous one, so the cliffhanger lasted only a few seconds. My poor heart was saved, lol!
The story continues seamlessly as we get bits and pieces of new information. There’s progress on multiple levels but it is blended into routine. This makes it seem like the book has a lot of fluff with the same scenes (working, eating, meeting, etc.). It is necessary to create this buffer for the development to feel organic. Think of it as watching the episodes of your favorite serial. You get lured into their lives, watching them live a make-believe life on the screen with subtle developments. It’s the same here.
Hence, the pacing continues to be on the slower side. Again, I don’t mind. I love Molly, Clover, Jack, and the fur babies who enrich the narrative. Imagine a haunted house with built-in cleaning services, a DJ, a pet-sitter, and a spooky witch. Yeah, we can do without the last one but she’ll be there until they break the curse.
I absolutely love Clover. I liked her a lot in book one but here she is easily my favorite. Though I’m not into English music, the song titles were enough to see just how wonderful she was. We meet more side characters, and Imogene stands out with ease. I like Winter too (everyone needs a mom like her) but Imogene is a star. I hope we get to meet her in the next book again.
When I started Inheritance, I didn’t think it would become a new favorite (The Sign of Seven trilogy continues to be at the top). However, this one might reach there. I don’t think the year-long gap between the books would work. In fact, reading one and two back to back kept me inside the haunted manor for six+ days and made me a part of the story. A long break would diffuse that mood and may make this feel slow and repetitive.
I was prepared for a cliffhanger ending, so this didn’t shock me. Knowing the stakes, I know book three will have a lot of action and intense scenes. We also need to get more information about Hester-Pest. I’m curious to see what lay in her past.
There is romance but it is pretty much mild. From what I remember, her books have a little more spice. This one doesn’t. Not a complaint since the current stuff works well but I wouldn’t say no if the next book has an extra sprinkle of heat. ;)

To summarize, The Mirror is a great continuation of book one. It establishes the character arcs, sets a routine, and provides more details about the lost brides. Can I get the ARC for book three when it is available? Pretty please!
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you for the early copy of this very anticipated release. I’ve been a fan of Robert’s since I was a teen and I’d hangout with my nana reading. Her latest series is an interesting one. Our main character lives in a haunted house, but some of the ghosts are okay. This book gave off second book syndrome really bad. I liked the character development. But it just didn’t feel like anything major actually happened. I’ll read her grocery list though, five stars.

The Mirror kicks-off directly at the cliff hanger of Inheritance. The characters are well-written and I do love stories with haunted manors, especially coastal and even better in Maine. I enjoyed this book, however I’ve grown tired of installments in a series that just end without wrapping up some piece of the story. So, as a 3.5 rating, I dropped this down to a 3 star rating. I don’t like being pressured to purchase a follow-up book for a solid conclusion.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheMirror

The Mirror by Nora Roberts is the second book in The Lost Brides trilogy.

Sonja and Cleo are settling nicely into the Manor. They know they've got a challenge ahead to deal with Dobbs. Yet the keep getting more pieces of the past as the story of the manor unfolds.
We get to meet more of the Brides, which is heartbreaking. And Sonja, Trey, Owen and Cleo are determined to uncover how to break the curse and get rid of Dobbs so the Manor can have peace again.