
the setup…
It’s been six months since Sonya MacTavish left her home in Boston and moved into the grand manor built by Arthur Poole in Poole’s Bay, Maine. Her best friend Cleo Fabares joined her and together they are not only living their best lives with new career directions, but are in relationships with two wonderful men, Oliver (Trey) Doyle and Owen Poole who is Sonya’s first cousin. Overshadowing the joy is a malevolent ghost named Hester Dobbs who cursed the manor when she killed Astrid Poole in 1806 and six brides thereafter. Dobbs also stole their wedding rings, which hold the key to breaking the curse.
the heart of the story…
I’d expected even more terrifying mischief from Dobbs but in true Nora Roberts fashion, she shifted to the light, immersing me in the new lives that Sonya & Cleo created for themselves. From their exploration of the manor and room redesigns, the discovery of other ethereal (but kindly) guests in the home to the successful expansion of their careers, it all felt like home. Trey and Owen are now permanent fixtures and I loved the romantic relationships and the friendships. But always in the background was the evil spirit they knew would bring the day of reckoning.
the narration…
Brittany Pressley is one of my most favorite narrators and she shines brightly here, managing to bring excellent distinctions to so many characters. And, her storytelling was off the charts.
the bottom line…
I’ve looked forward to this finale for a year and it didn’t disappoint. Personally, I loved the detailed elements related to their careers, the manor exploration and the friendly ghosts. The tension slowly built to that reckoning and it was bone chilling. I loved this trilogy with its spooky flavors and it must be read in order. It’s hard saying goodbye to these characters, sans Hester Dobbs, but it left me in a happy space.
Book Info
- Release Date: November 18, 2025
- Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy #3
- Narrator: Brittany Pressley
- Audio Length: 15 hours, 23 minutes
- Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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Robin read this trilogy and reviewed this one yesterday. Idk I’m not a big fan of ghosts.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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I don’t typically like ghost stories but this was special.
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Fab review, Jo, glad it lived up to your expectations!
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Thanks, Nicki💜
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It’s always bittersweet saying goodbye to characters at the end of a series, I’m glad it met your expectations
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Thanks, Sarah💜
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Wonderful review! I’m glad that you enjoyed this book and the rest of the series.
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Thank you, Jodie💜
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Wonderful review, Jo. I just got my hands on the audiobook and hope to listen to it this week. I’m glad you loved it as another review I read commented that it was too slow and overlong. I like you thoughts much better.
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Thank you, Carla💜 I’ve seen those reviews, too. The first two books were filled with the mayhem. This focused on the friendships and the relationships. I loved the change of pace, which made the climax even more exciting.
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