by Nora Roberts
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 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…
Thoughts
I love a good mystery romance, and this one has a great start. Sonya faces heartbreak at the start, and she does her best to bounce back from it. Then, an intriguing past knocks on her door in the form of a lawyer.
Sonya discovers she has an uncle she has never met, Collin Poole, and he has left her the most interesting legacy: a majestic Victorian house in Maine. The house has a lengthy history, and Sonya begins discovering every bit of it. I always enjoyed how well Roberts spins a tale. This is the first book in a series and is heavy with setup and catchup. I love how Sonya manages her expectations and fights to move on from a situation that should have broken her at the start.
Stories and Book Talk 