Inheritance: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 1

4.7 | 25,768 ratings

Price: 17.71

Last update: 12-22-2024

About this item

This program features an author's note read by Nora Roberts, sharing her inspiration for The Lost Bride Trilogy and the incredible personal history behind these stories.

Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts—a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.

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 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…

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

Sheila M

Well-Crafted with Interesting Characters and a Clever Ghost Story

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024

FINAL DECISION: INHERITANCE by Nora Roberts is a spellbinding start to the Lost Bride Trilogy. It was impossible for me to put down. It is a supernatural romance and mystery centered around a multi-generational tragedy set in a haunted mansion, well-paced and cleverly written.

THE STORY: Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish's life takes an unexpected turn when she learns that her late father had a twin brother she never knew about. Her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast. The catch? She must live in the house for at least three years. As Sonya begins to unravel the secrets of her family's past, she discovers that she has inherited far more than just a house – she has also become the key to solving a centuries-old curse.

OPINION: I was absolutely captivated by this story from beginning to end. Roberts created a rich, atmospheric setting in Lost Bride Manor, and I felt as though I was right there with Sonya, experiencing ghostly happenings and unraveling the mystery alongside her. The characters are well-drawn and relatable, particularly the strong bond of sisterhood between Sonya and her best friend Cleo.

The supernatural elements are woven seamlessly into the plot, adding an extra layer of intrigue and suspense. The ghosts that inhabit Lost Bride Manor are not merely there for scares; they each have distinct personalities and roles to play in the unfolding story. From the helpful spirit who tidies up after Sonya to the malevolent presence on the third floor, these otherworldly characters are just as integral to the tale as their living counterparts.

I also really enjoyed the developing romances in this book -- yes, there are more than one. Roberts, as always, is amazing at her craft and after reading some rather unsatisfying books, it was great having such a well-written book to read. The story never drags, despite its length, and the cliffhanger ending left me desperately eager for the next installment. I can't wait to see what awaits Sonya and her newfound family as they continue to unravel the secrets of the past.

WORTH MENTIONING: The book ends on a cliffhanger, so if you prefer a more conclusive ending, you may want to wait until the following two books in the series are published and read them consecutively.

CONNECTED BOOKS: INHERITANCE is the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

Susan S. Mason

Intense, funny, emotional

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024

Wow! I couldn't put the book down once I started. Great story line. Really like the characters in the book. What a cliffhanger. Highly recommend the book. Can't wait for book two.

P. Blevins

Too bad it is a trilogy. Now I have to wait!!

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024

This is an exciting start to a great trilogy. I wait anxiously for the next book in the series to come out. That is the only problem with a new series. Otherwise, this book is excellent.
Sonja MacTavish is planning an elaborate wedding with Brandon. However, it seems that everything she wants, he doesn't. He wants the over-the-top wedding while she wants a small, cozy wedding. The stress gets to her so much that she skips a meeting with the florist and goes home to rest. Instead, she finds Brandon in bed with her own cousin! She immediately calls off the wedding and kicks them both out of the house. Her best friend Cleo comes over and she starts to cancel everything as she consoles Sonja.
Monday, she goes to work early to talk to her bosses. Since she and Brandon work at the same agency, she wants to assure her bosses that she still wants to work there; but she would like not to work on the same projects as Brandon. She will ignore him to keep the business office running smoothly. However, Brandon had already called to tell them that Sonja was stressing out and should probably take some time off. When the bosses agreed with Sonja, Brandon began a sneaky war against Sonja by starting rumors, telling customers she wasn't in, letting the air out of her tires, and erasing a completed program off her computer making her have to stay really late to redo it. It is causing problems at work, so Sonja decides to quit rather than cause the company problems. Her bosses are upset at her leaving; but think it is best. However, they do let her take one of the last clients she worked with so she could start her own business. They also highly recommend her when someone calls to check on her references.
Sonja decides to start up her own business and work from home. It will be hard work; but she thinks she can do it. The day she starts, she finds out that her father, who had been adopted, had been cruelly separated from his twin while his twin was raised by their biological family. Collins had found out about the separation and had searched diligently for his twin . Unfortunately, Sonja's father had died before his brother found him. When Collins died, he had left the family home and money to care for it to Sonja along with a small percent of the family business. He did stipulate that she must live in the home for three years to inherit it. After talking to her mother, Sonja decided to at least visit the family home and family in Maine before making a decision.
So, Sonja finds herself in a huge mansion in Maine to make her decision. The first thing she finds out is that the mansion is haunted! Can she and her friend Cleo learn to live with the ghosts and stay in the mansion? Is there any way to rid the mansion of the ghosts?

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