INHERITANCE is the opening installment in Nora Roberts’ Lost Bride Trilogy, an updated classic gothic romance that begins in Poole’s Bay, Maine, in 1806. A woman is murdered on her wedding day in the Victorian manor that her family owns, creating a generations-long curse that kills a total of seven brides occupying that very same house.

In the present day, Sonya MacTavish finds her fiancé and her cousin in bed together. She kicks them out and cancels her wedding. The would-be groom is not pleased that his plans have been foiled and sets out to wreak havoc on Sonya at the graphic design firm where they work. Looking for a fresh start, she decides to start her own company and make a new life for herself.

"[Roberts'] novels are well known for...quintessential battles, and this one has it all --- a haunted house, a curse, secrets to uncover and a cast of characters who are sure to charm."

Before Sonya can get her feet under her, a lawyer shows up on her doorstep with completely unexpected news. She is stunned to learn that she is an heiress. An uncle she never knew left her a centuries-old Victorian manor on the coast of Maine, along with most of his estate. But there’s a catch. To claim her inheritance, Sonya will have to live in the house for three years. This could be just the adventure she needs and maybe even the stuff dreams are made of. She decides to move her new business there as well. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Upon her arrival, Sonya meets Trey Doyle, a handsome young lawyer who works for the firm handling her uncle’s estate. He takes the time to show her around and explain the history of the Poole family. Sonya is eager to learn all she can about her mysterious relatives, especially the truth about her father’s past. She finds the mansion intriguing but is unprepared for the unusual occurrences that soon take place. Her clothes seem to have put themselves away, the dishes wash themselves, and a fire starts in the fireplace when no one is in the room. What is going on here?

Despite these unsettling incidents, Sonya soon starts to feels at home. Her business flourishes, and she even gets a dog. Trey becomes a good friend and close companion, not to mention a trusted source of information on the Pooles. But as Sonya digs deeper into her family’s past, she begins to dream about the seven murdered brides. Paintings and other items begin to appear in unexpected places around the manor. The ghosts seem to be friendly, except for one. What is the truth behind this curse? Can it be broken? And at what cost? Sonya is determined to find out.

Nora Roberts has crafted another story with a practical-minded female protagonist who is strong enough to grapple with the good and evil in the Poole family legacy. Her novels are well known for these quintessential battles, and this one has it all --- a haunted house, a curse, secrets to uncover and a cast of characters who are sure to charm. This reviewer can’t wait to read the next book in the series.