⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. What would you do if you unexpectedly inherited a haunted house, complete with vengeful spirit, benevolent ghosts, and a centuries-old curse?
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…
MY THOUGHTS
It’s a bit wild to be gaslighted in your own home by ghosts, but Sonya took it all in stride and made peace with her inheritance. The plot with the curse and the ghosts was chilling and utterly captivating. I particularly enjoyed the flashbacks to the past. The ghostly activity got quite scary at one point and if this was a movie, I wouldn’t be watching it. I wouldn’t call this horror, but definitely hair-raising.
Sonya was a bit generic, in that it was difficult to define her personality other than she’s hardworking, resilient, and pleasant. I really liked Trey and especially Chloe, who was a very colourful character. Sonya and Trey fit well together, but between them meeting and becoming involved, I felt like there was some chemistry missing.
I hate cliffhangers and this one left me breathless and a bit bereft. I definitely want to finish this trilogy. Oh, does that mean I will have to survive one more tense non-ending?
This is the book for you if you like ghosts and thrilling suspense.
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.
Genre: Romance, Suspense
Published: November 21, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy
I have this book to read because I love Nora Roberts. I am, however, not a fan of cliffhangers, Ghost stories are hit or miss for me, but it sounds like this is a good one. Only time will tell. Nice review Rolé,
Hope you like it.
I’m glad to hear Roberts is still writing winners!
I’ve actually never read a Nora book. I do like that she’s got these trilogies, rather than jumping into a huge series (like her Robb stuff). Now I just have to pick one and give it a go.
I’ve been reading her books for many, many years and I like most of them. She has done a lot of those trilogies. If you look on Goodreads you’ll see them all. I especially liked the Bride Quartet Series. She’s also written a few romantic suspense stand-alones that are really good. One of the first one I read was the Circe Trilogy, that’s more fantasy/paranormal. I loved it. Hope you find one you like and maybe get hooked too?
Wonderful review Rolé! It’s been a while since I read a book by this author.
Thanks!
This sounds like something that I would really like. I might have to pick up a copy for myself.
I loved this and knew the trilogy would mean 2 cliffies, so I was ok going in.
I realized it was part of a trilogy after I started reading it and knowing Nora Roberts I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Glad you enjoyed this, too, Rolé💜 We’ve a long wait for that cliffhanger.
Maybe by then I’d have forgotten the pain of this one.
Inheriting a haunted house is my life goal, haha. Definitely going to have to read this one, especially if it’s from Nora.
Hope you like it.
I loved this one, but was surprised by that cliffhanger ending. I thought my copy got cut off by mistake, but nope. I don’t see any info on the next book yet either.
LOL. Yeah, I guess we have a bit of a wait ahead of us.
I don’t read a lot of Nora Roberts, although I have read one and enjoyed it. This one does sound good! Great review!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2023/11/02/e-galley-review-christmas-cupid-by-ilsa-madden-mills/
Thanks!