Publishers Weekly Bestseller Roberts (the Dragon Heart Legacy series) brings her talents to bear on a romantic ghost story—the first in the Lost Bride Trilogy—with more heartstring-tugs than scares. Boston graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is shocked to learn that a biological uncle she hadn’t known existed left her the family manor in coastal Maine. There’s a catch, however: the estate is “quite haunted,” and though many of the spirits are benevolent, one very much isn’t. Over the two centuries since the manor’s construction, seven new brides have died tragically in the house—and somehow linked to them all is Hester Dobbs, the first bride’s murderer. Along with her friends—including smoldering lawyer Trey—Sonya must piece together the full story and break the curse of the lost brides. While the plot mostly follows a standard haunted house template, Roberts’s strengths, as usual, are in the details: robust characters, vivid prose, settings familiar enough to be cozy but distinct enough to be memorable, and loyal dogs. It might not break fresh ground, but this will hit the spot for Roberts’s many fans. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (Nov.)

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Kirkus A woman inherits a haunted seaside mansion in Maine from a long-lost relative. Sonya MacTavish isn’t having the best year. After finding her fiance in bed with another woman, she wonders why she ignored so many obvious red flags about him. Sonya eventually leaves the Boston graphic design firm where they both worked after months of harassment and gaslighting, but she’s determined to succeed despite these setbacks. One day a lawyer appears at her door, revealing that her late father, who was adopted as a newborn, had a twin brother he never knew about. This uncle left her a large, rambling mansion in a small coastal town in Maine, but his will stipulates that she must live in the house for three years in order to claim her inheritance. Sonya’s innate stubbornness and strong survival instinct come in handy after discovering the house is haunted by a bevy of ghosts, collectively known as the lost brides. In 1806, a woman was murdered inside the house on her wedding day by a jealous witch, creating a curse so powerful it has lasted generations. A total of seven women have been killed by the curse; their ghosts are a benevolent presence in the house, but the witch’s angry, vengeful ghost also inhabits the place and tries to scare Sonya away. While sleeping, Sonya experiences the memories of the murdered brides and realizes that the ghosts are providing her with clues she can use to finally break the curse. Roberts is in fine form here. Her lush, ethereal world of ghosts and spirits is the perfect foil for Sonya’s down-to-earth, almost spartan manner. Another Roberts hallmark is on display: her continuing thematic exploration of how an individual defeats evil—not by acting alone, but by forming a community and harnessing its members’ strength and power for the coming battle. Exciting launch for Roberts’ new trilogy, which promises to explore the mystical power of women to do both good and evil. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Book list After kicking her cheating fiancé to the curb and subsequently leaving the Boston-based company for which they both worked, Sonya MacTavish is set to open her own graphic arts business when she receives a life-changing piece of news. Sonya’s late father had a twin brother no one in their family knew about until now. Collin Poole has recently passed and left Sonya a sizable inheritance, including Lost Bride Manor, the Poole family mansion on the coast of Maine. However, upon arriving in Poole’s Bay, Sonya discovers she is not only the new owner of an historic property but also of a house haunted by a legacy of seven lost brides, seven women who died on their wedding days. Romance queen Roberts takes all of the beloved elements of classic gothic romances, including a marvelously atmospheric old mansion as well as a spunky heroine starting over in life, then puts her own inventive spin on things. The first book in the Lost Bride trilogy, this features an incisively etched cast of characters and a spooktacular plot that will keep readers up long past their regular bedtimes.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: A multiplatform, multimedia advertising campaign and a one-day million-copy laydown ensure a hot start for Roberts’ latest.

From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

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