Inheritance

Inheritance is the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy from Nora Roberts, and overall it's pretty engaging! There's a compelling paranormal mystery with a romantic sub-plot. I haven't read a Nora Roberts book in a while and I'd forgotten how "soapy" they can be. Cheating (and vindictive) ex-fiancé! Surprise inheritance from a mysterious uncle! Twins separated at birth! An inherited haunted mansion with a tragic history (and ghosts)! A handsome lawyer love interest who also happens to have a rescue dog! More rescue dogs! Lots of wine! It's a bit predictable in parts, but also enjoyably over-the-top in others. It's relatively fast-paced and Nora knows how to move the plot along, but I felt like it got repetitive after a while and could show more have been a slightly shorter book. I also would have preferred more from Trey's perspective, his character is superficially developed and their relationship feels bland and anticlimactic. (Trey is the requisite cookie cutter small-town dream guy who happens to be available and single.) I thought getting to know the backstory of the ghosts was interesting, and you could tell Nora enjoyed thinking them up and creating the phantom playlist.

Like I said above, it's been a while since I've read a Nora Roberts book and I picked this up as a nostalgia read because I *loved* her back in the 90s and early 2000s. (Plus, it's a trilogy and I do love a good multi-book story.) But in reading this book, I'm very aware that Nora Roberts (while still amazing) is not as young as she once was. It's there in the sedate dialogue and situations: these characters just don't feel like they're currently in their late 20s/early 30s, and there's a formality that makes them feel too settled and overly mature for their age. It's also there in some of the outdated attitudes: a focus on making sure you have makeup on for a man, comments about over-eating (and working off a heavy meal), sex without sexual health discussion or protection (which should not be de rigueur in a 21st century contemporary romance). Don't misunderstand me, she's still a great writer but I'm not sure the world of con-rom is fully suited to her anymore. I think she's finding her stride with paranormal stories though, and honestly I'd read any hist-rom written by her.

Because this is a trilogy, I'm glad that all 3 of the books are now published so I can read them all together! This first book set the groundwork for an engaging mystery that moves right along into the second book. These are *not* standalones, and this first book ends on a cliffhanger so you'll need to read the next two to find out what happens. I think this is best suited for readers who are fans of Nora Roberts and who like a good paranormal historical mystery with some romance on the side. This review is based on a complimentary copy of the book, all opinions are my own. show less

INHERITANCE is the first book in a new Nora Roberts fantasy series, and once again, Queen Nora does not disappoint. With INHERITANCE, she breaks from form to create a story that focuses on developing the characters and the backstory instead of focusing on the action. Plus, it ends with one hell of a cliffhanger.

Ms. Roberts never fails to impress me. She is such a prolific writer, but none of her stories are stale or repetitive. In INHERITANCE, she limits the supernatural aspect of the story to a haunted house, and what a house it is. The house is a character in its own right, courtesy of its resident ghosts. If you don't finish the novel wishing you had a ghost dj and a ghost housekeeper, this isn't the novel for you.

Ms. Roberts' show more novels are so compelling because she excels at creating characters that are so real. It doesn't matter that they are all beautiful or talented. They work hard, and any success they can claim is a result of their efforts so you can't hate them. They are so charismatic, and their network of friends and family is enviable. When she throws in a dog, and there is always a dog, you can't help but be willing to follow them anywhere. This holds true for INHERITANCE. Sonya and Trey are adorable. Sonya and her mom are even more so.

What surprised me most about INHERITANCE is that we are not any closer to solving the mystery at the end as we are at the beginning. In fact, the ending is so sudden that I thought I was missing pages. I was wracking my brain to think of another Roberts novel that ends with such a cliffhanger, and I could not think of one. I love that she changed her formula so much at this stage in her career. I am in awe of her abilities.

I consider any Nora Roberts novel to be a special treat, but INHERITANCE was even better than I imagined. I fell in love with Sonya and Trey. And that house! Ms. Roberts makes me reconsider living on the coast as long as it is in an old Victorian with a widow walk and wraparound porches. I can't wait to see what happens next! show less

“You will never have him,” she says. “Die a bride, and know he’ll come to me. He will come to me, or by your blood on my tongue, bride after bride will join you in death.”

And the curse begins. It will be up to Sonya MacTavish, a graphic designer who inherited the manor from her unknown uncle, Collin Poole, to solve the mystery and lift the curse.

Sonya had a bad breakup with a huge douche bag, and I love what her best friend, Cleo had to say:

“What do you want me to do?…Tell me what you want, and it’s done. Murder? Decapitation? Castration?”

I think we could all use a best friend like that. LOL

Sonya had been thinking about branching out on her own and now was the time. Would the ghosts of the manor be a help or a show more hindrance. Most of them are on her side, but there is always one, isn’t there? I would love to have some help around the house, and Sonya has her very own ghostly maid. She leaves her bedroom and comes back, the bed is made. She leaves the kitchen a mess, comes back and it is cleaned up. Forget to charge your phone, they have you covered. Even ghosts want a purpose.

Those around Sonya accept the ghosts, but Sonya hesitates.

The point of view flashes past to present and back again. We get all of their histories, ghosts and humans, and Sonya will need all the help she can get to break the curse. We have a combination of modern and gothic.

This light and fun mystery is full of surprises and I loved each and every one. The characters quickly won me over, ghosts and human alike…even the dogs have a place of honor. Cold pizza, I love it too, even for breakfast. Little things that I can relate to on a personal level add that little bit extra that I love so much. I had plenty of smiles to go along with the creepy.

The mirror…made me think of Charmed and Grimm. TV shows make it easy for me to visualize the action as it is happening.

NO NO NO a cliffhanger. So wrong!!!!! But I couldn’t put it down and I HAVE TO HAVE the next one, and the next one. I knew it was a trilogy going in and the story would not be told in one book, but when I came to the end, I wasn’t expecting it. That is how involved I was in the story. I foresee good things for the next two books and I can hardly wait to visit the manor again.

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This finished on quite a cliff-hanger and will probably not satisfy a lot of readers, this is one where you will need to read them in sequence and as a complete trilogy rather than as stand-alones. There are a couple of budding relationships in the story, including that between Sonya and her new house and her ghosts.
The story of the seven brides who died on or around their wedding day is interwoven into this story of Sonya and her finding herself after her marriage plans, and work plans were scuppered by her fiancé when she discovered him in a compromising position with her cousin. They work together and when she breaks it off suddenly she finds things aren't going well for her, her car is being keyed or the tyres going flat. When her show more work is deleted one day she decides to go solo. Then a lawyer turns up on her doorstep to tell her that her father had a brother, that this brother has willed her a house and that part of the conditions of ownership is that she has to live in it for a period of time. When she does she discovers some of the secrets, and the possibility of love...
Fairly predictable, this falls into Nora Robert's newer somewhat paranormal offerings. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next installment. show less

That's one hell of a cliffhanger!
I would be perfectly happy living in Lost Bride Manor. Just drop me off, thanks.

It's always easy to become engrossed in a Nora Robert's novel and Inheritance, the first book in The Lost Bride Trilogy, is no different.
I'd liken this story to the old Nancy Drew books I grew up loving, shrouded in mystery and just chilling enough to give me goosebumps.

The story is deeply character-driven with a lot of dialogue, you never have to wonder what anyone might be thinking. I adored Sonya right from the start. She's strong-willed and easy to like. Cleo, her best friend, is also fantastic and as the story progressed, I grew to love her more. As far as the romance goes, it felt like a more gradual, natural show more occurrence. Friendship developed while also exploring feelings, I appreciated that aspect. Can't have a Robert's novel without the romance. ;)

Overall, I adored this story and it felt like a refreshing but almost nostalgic take on the haunted manor ghost stories I've always been drawn to.

HUGE thank you to St Martin's Press for the ARC to read, enjoy, and honestly review. I think at this point, I'll read anything by Nora Roberts and love it. show less

After, probably thankfully, discovering her fiancée has been cheating on her, Sonya MacTavish is thrown for another loop when she finds out her father had a twin brother he never knew about. Not only that, but her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her everything in his will including the Poole family house - a beautiful Victorian manor on the coast of Maine. With her life already turned upside down by the cancellation of her impending wedding, Sonya takes this as an opportunity for a much needed change and to learn more about the family she never knew she had.

However, there's a catch. Sonya must live in the house for three years which may be difficult considering the house has some very interesting inhabitants. Namely, show more former generations of Poole brides who have all met a tragic death. Luckily, Sonya is not completely on her own. Her best friend Cleo and local lawyer (and Poole family friend) Trey are close at hand to help Sonya unravel the mysterious curse of the Lost Brides.

It's almost silly to review a Nora Roberts book at this point. Lady knows what she's doing with a story and even if some of the storylines feel repetitive to her previous books it's the fact that she's written so many and, truly, there are only so many tropes to go around.

Inheritance follows in the same vein of other newer Nora Roberts trilogies in that there's some kind of supernatural aspect running throughout. This time it's ghosts. Specifically ghosts of the cursed brides of the Poole family. I do like the idea of a haunted house and that house being haunted by the family that came before. If you think about it, aren't all houses haunted? If not literally then figuratively by everything - and everyone - that came before. It makes the title of the book "Inheritance" all the more relevant. Whether you believe it or not, the spaces that we inhabit as our homes have history - sometimes joyful, sometimes not - and those things carry.

I liked the premise and I thought that the supernatural aspect was full of just enough chills. It is a very slow and methodical build, however. I'd say this is mostly a set-up book. I'm hoping in the next ones we'll see a bit more action and forward momentum. I did like learning about all the twists and turns of the manor and getting a lot of good background information, but now I'm ready to really dig into the story especially with that very tantalizing ending.

Overall, another entertaining read in the Nora Roberts oeuvre. I think Nora Roberts is a great author in that you can pick up any book or start to a series from her and you are guaranteed that you'll enjoy the read even if this is the first book you've ever read from her. show less

Nora Roberts begins a trilogy set in a haunted house. The Prologue set in 1806 shows the death of the first bride and the beginnings of the curse that will take the life of six more brides who come to live at the manor.

Sonya MacTavish is surprised to learn that she has inherited an estate from the late father's unknown twin brother. The babies were separated at birth and her father put up for adoption. She is curious to know the circumstances that caused the babies to be separated.

The bequest comes at an interesting time in Sonya's life. She has recently ended her engagement to a co-worker who is now trashing her to fellow employees at the graphic design firm where they both work. She was going to keep the fact that she walked in on show more him in bed with her cousin quiet until he started saying that she changed her mind due to emotional stress. However, conditions where she works at a job she loves have become intolerable due to his harassment.

But Lost Brides Manor might not be a stress-free change. She has to move to a small town in Maine and live in the house for three years. Locals including her lawyers who were friends of her uncle Collin Poole all believe that the house is haunted. It isn't long before Sonya starts having encounters with ghosts herself. From sobbing and piano playing in the dead of night, to a ghost who uses Sonya's phone and tablet to provide timely music, to a ghost boy who plays with her new dog and a maid who makes her bed and keeps her house in immaculate condition to the ghost of the woman who killed and cursed the dead brides, Sonya is surrounded by ghosts.

Sonya isn't alone in trying to understand what is happening at the manor. Trey is the third Doyle in the local law office and provides a lot of help to Sonya. His father Deuce was Collin Poole's friend and Trey and his sister spent a lot of time in the house while he was growing up. He's had his own encounters with some of the ghosts. Trey is also the love interest in this story. And Sonya has her best friend Cleo to provide support too. Cleo was her college roommate and a fellow artist. She is also more open to the idea of ghosts than Sonya having a Cajun grandmother who instilled beliefs in spirits and demons.

This was an engaging story with many of Roberts' hallmarks. Both the female and male leads are strong, self-sufficient people with a circle of close friends. Neither looks to the other to fill in lacks in their own lives. Both are open to a relationship because they have seen good relationships all around them. Both Sonya and Trey are interesting people with strong opinions.

My one quibble with the story is that it felt particularly unfinished to me. Yes, I know it is the start of a trilogy, but neither the romance nor the curse reaches any sort of resolution. In fact, there is a definite cliffhanger of an ending that has me aching for the next book. show less