About the Book
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…
Review
Sonya quickly finds herself loving the manor, haunted or not. She imagines living there much longer than the 3 months stipulated in the will. Only to do that, she has to convince her artistic friend, Cleo who being from New Orleans believes in the supernatural and curses. Clearly a curse is in place for seven brides destined to live in the manor have all died on their wedding day.
Not surprisingly, this tale is well-written with a combination of humor and wit, along with the witchy woman who has stolen all the brides' wedding bands, and suspense. In order to break the curse, Sonya needs to find all seven rings. As she and Cleo, along with Trey and his friend go through various room, set up the studio for Cleo where Uncle Collin had his studio, they discover paintings by Sonya's father. Even Sonya's mother is impressed by the manor and the paintings. Now, all that's left is finding the rest of the rings.
Although I am not usually drawn to the paranormal, the presentation of the ghosts, down to the little boy who plays catch with Sonya's dog, is well done. Now to move onto books 2 and 3 to find out how it ends! Yes, it is a cliffhanger.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
About the Author
Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place, Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print.
