The Mirror by Nora Roberts – a Review

The Mirror by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

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Description:
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.

 

 

Review:

The Mirror by Nora Roberts is the 2nd book in her The Lost Bride Trilogy. The Mirror picks up immediately after the ending of the first book, Inheritance. Sonya MacTavish, our heroine, begins to settle into her daily life with her best friend Cleo; as they both adjust to the ghosts of brides, as well as the evil murderer Hester Dobb, who murdered all 7 brides.

Trey and Sonya are even more romantic now, as their relationship become more serious.   Cleo and Owen also became a couple; especially with all four of them constantly together. The Lost Bride Manor includes many deaths, with all the brides killed on their wedding day, centuries ago.  Now in present time, Sonya is determined to find a way stop Dobbs, and find all the missing rings from each bride, to force the end of the curse.  Other than Dobbs, the other ghosts are always helpful with both Sonya and Cleo; one sings songs, someone else makes the beds, cleans the kitchen, and even a young boy ghost, loves to play with Sonya’s dog.  Dobbs was always causing temper tantrums, with slamming doors, loud noises, her evil laughter and flying objects.

Sonya will learn more about the history of each bride, especially when she gets to enter into the mirror, finding herself decades in the past, witnessing live the happy days of each bride, before it ends in tragedy at the murderous hands of Dobbs.  Sonya also got to see Dobbs ripping off each of the wedding rings from each of the brides.

Sonya and Cleo were both strong and independent women; I loved their friendship, as they were always, they’re for each other.  I also loved both Trey and Owen, as they made wonderful couples, with the men both sweet and supportive. I adored the dogs that played a major part of the story, with Yoda, Mookie, Jones and Pye, Cleo’s kitten who became part of the group.   

The Mirror was another fantastic addition to this trilogy, with suspense, paranormal, romance, ghosts, supernatural, and an evil murderer. The Mirror was so very well written by Nora Roberts.  I loved the book, and cannot wait for the final book in the Lost Bride series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Inheritance by Nora Roberts – a Review

Inheritance by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…

Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.

Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…

 

 

Review:

Inheritance by Nora Roberts is the first book in her new trilogy, The Lost Bride. I am a big fan of anything by Nora Roberts/JD Robb, and I was excited to start the first book in her new The Lost Bride trilogy, since I always love her trilogies. Inheritance does not disappoint, as it was a fantastic read.

The story starts in the past, in 1806, taking place in Maine, with Astrid Poole, preparing for her wedding ceremony, when a jealous woman stabs her to death; stealing her wedding ring. We will learn from the present, that this evil woman put a curse on all future brides of the Poole family.

In the present time, we meet our heroine, Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish, who is engaged, and discovers her fiancé and cousin having sex, and breaks up the with her fiancé, and gets her mother to cancel all wedding plans. With her life falling apart, Sonya receives a call from a lawyer, telling her that her uncle (whom she did not know about) has left everything to her, including a Victorian mansion in Maine.  Sonya, as well as her mother, are surprised that her late father, who was adopted had a twin, Collin Poole.

Sonya decides to move to Maine and the estate, to start her life over, and knows the stipulation that she must live there for at least three years.  She learns quickly from the lawyer, that the history of this house is haunted; with lost brides. Sonya is happy, as she loves the mansion, and in a short time she gets used to some of the ghosts, whom she doesn’t see, but they play fun catching songs, rearrange their clothes, put away dishes and shopping bags, make the beds, etc. But one of them does not want her there, and make sounds such as doors slamming. Sonya begins to learn that the spirit of the lost bride needs her help to stop the curse.

Fortunately, Sonya is not alone, as she has made friends, especially helping some businesses to create and set up their computer sites. Her best friend, Cleo will soon move in with her, and Sonya becomes close to Trey, her lawyer’s son, and they soon become lovers.  Owen will join the three of them, in helping solve the mystery.  Anna, Bree, and many others are all fantastic and wonderful secondary characters. I enjoyed the friendship, camaraderie, support from all the characters who were all very likable.  Besides Sonya, Trey, I loved Cleo, who was such a great friend, and very supportive.  I also loved Yoda and Mookie, who were the cutest dogs.

Inheritance was a fantastic addicting start to a fantasy, gothic, historical story that kept my attention from start to finish. Sonya was terrific heroine, as was Cleo, both being strong and courageous; and a wonderful friendship. As we get closer to the end, Sonya dreams of many of the deceased brides and how they died by the hand of the evil witch.  Because of the wonderful main characters, the story was a fantastic read.  I do not want to say too much more, as it will ruin it for you.

Inheritance was very well written by Nora Roberts, which is no surprise, and I have always loved her trilogies, and can’t wait for the next two books.  There is however, a cliffhanger at the end; leaving us hanging and anxiously waiting for the next book.  I highly recommend that you read The Lost Bride series, and read the first book, Inheritance.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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