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Heaven and Earth (Three Sisters Island Trilogy)

Heaven and Earth (Three Sisters Island Trilogy)

List Price: $7.99
Your Price: $7.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Terrific Romance with a Dose of Paranormal
Review: In this, the second installment of the Three Sisters Island trilogy, Ms. Roberts has once again hit the jackpot in this clever mix of romance, wit, and witchcraft.

Deputy Ripley Todd was a little irritated. Outsider MacAllister Booke had just rented Mia Devlin's yellow cottage for the duration of his stay on Three Sisters Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. Bad enough that Ripley wanted to rent the cottage to escape her home and newlywed brother, Zack, and his likeable wife, Nell. But Mac is visiting to conduct research on witchcraft and its history on the island. As legend would have it, three witches who separated it from the mainland created Three Sisters Island. Nell, Ripley, and Mia are descendants of the original three, only Ripley shows great disdain for the power she was born with.

In a crafty mix of the paranormal complete with visions and dreams of the past, Ripley comes face to face with her ancestor and senses a dark force that could destroy all that she holds dear. As the romance between the bookish Mac and Ripley builds, she is forced to let down some of her tough gal defenses and learns to trust him and their love. And the steamy love scenes will melt the pages as Ripley's supernatural powers take her attraction to Mac to a whole new level. Only time will tell if Ripley will join forces with her fellow sisters, Mia and Nell, to bind together and repel the evil that threatens to destroy them as it did their predecessors.

Fascinating characters, a picturesque seaside town, and paranormal events form the foundation in this riveting read. Even the romance reader not enamored of the supernatural will find the allure in this latest from Ms. Roberts, who just keeps getting better and better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: She who's Earth!
Review: This was a superb book. I started teh trilogy with this book and i do not regret it at all. Roberts does a great job presenting love,compasion and justice in it's most elemental yet most powerful ways. Ripley is truly a heroine. She's very down to earth, and stubborn as a mule, but you really love her from the 1st moment, b/c she's real she feels and bleeds and loves with an intense immensity. Mac is a perfect hero. He's not the perfect "Stud" as in many romance novels, he's so very real, and yes he's handsome to the bone, but he's not perfect which makes him even more appealing. He forgets things all the time yet is so sensitive so smart. He doesnt feel threatened by Ripley's authority and respects her. He doesnt mind her taking control, but he's no fool. And the Magik in the novel was greatly presented. I've read many things from the Wiccan and kept myself informed with their rituals and way of life and i beleive that ROberts does a great job at portraying many real things inside the fantastic. In short, I loved this book, from the cover to the back! I would give it 100 stars if i could.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A page-turner, but not as good as the first novel!
Review: What can I say? Nora Roberts is the "Martha Stewart" of Romance Novels... And typically I love everything she writes... (Do you sense a 'but' coming?') If so, read on...

The latest installment of the 'three sisters' trilogy features the life of Deputy Ripley Todd. Deputy Todd, a skeptic, with a traumatic magic-related childhood experience, has refused to use her powers ever since. Enter the hero... Mac Booke. Mac is an 'absent-minded professor type' whose investigations into the paranormal has somehow landed him on Three Sister's Island.

As usual, Nora has the setting, the characters, and the culture of a small town down pat. Her main and side characters are endearing and engaging.. Particularly, her hero, Mac Booke.

But... In my opinion, her heroine, Ripley, just didn't seem to 'fit in' to a novel with a paranormal setting.

Ripley (okay, I kept thinking 'believe it or not') seems like she would be more at home in a novel with a small-town murder-mystery theme... Than as the third sister in a coven of witches.

While I suspect Nora, wanted us to feel sympathetic towards Rip for her reluctance to practice magick, instead I was frustrated by her pig-headedness. I found it hard to believe that someone like Mia wouldn't have given her a 'kick in the pants' or confronting her about her problem /ages/ ago.

My second problem with this novel was the villain. Bringing back the possessed ex-boyfriend from the first book was an unwelcome surprise. With so many challenges the girls might face, do we need to bring a possessed mental patient into the picture? This seemed heavy handed, even for Nora, who is quite notable for creating, exciting and believable villains.

Overall, the inclusion of Mac, and the return to 'three sisters island' made this book worth reading... But I had to deduct one star for the 'evil-ex-husband ™' and for the 'Ripley' character which I just could noth sympathize with.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Enjoyable read
Review: I have to admit, I've finally picked up a book with Nora Roberts name on it that I've enjoyed reading again. I was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen. Of the past few books I've read that were published with Roberts name on the book cover, this book sounded more like the Nora Roberts that I first enjoyed reading. Authors have things they say, expressions they hold, that stick with you. This book reminded me of NR that way. I didn't read the first book of this trilogy and now I'll have to do that. Overall, I felt the plot was lacking, but you have to give Roberts credit about her research. She's never lacking in that area when she writes about a certain subject. I'll give her credit there. I think Roberts can write romance like no other author I've read yet, but her plots and characters are starting to sound like replays, look like movie reruns and yeah, I've read about this rich person before. Some authors run the same character descriptions into the ground. Still, I found this book to be so much more of a better read than I've had by Roberts of late, that I have to say I'm going to go out and purchase the first book of this trilogy, and I'll buy the third one too. I have a bookcase full of Nora Roberts books and I'll add a few more. At least I'm getting enthused again.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nora Roberts Creates Earthy Magic
Review: Three Sisters is a small, rocky island off the coast of Massachusetts. Legend has it that the island was once a part of the mainland. Back in the late 1600s, during the Salem witch trials, three sisters, good witches all, known as Fire, Earth and Air, conjured the island and made it a haven against persecution. Unfortunately, the sisters did not fare as well as their island. All three were doomed by unfortunate relationships and a misuse of power. Before the last sister died she cast a spell to keep the island safe for 300 years. At that time she prophesied a reunion of three sisters, descendants of the original three, who would join together to redeem their ancestors, right the wrongs of the past and save their home from destruction.

Fast forward 300 years to Three Sisters Island. Ripley Todd is the town's deputy sheriff and she's an earthy, practical, no nonsense kinda gal - not at all the type one would peg for a witch. And make no mistake, Ripley is a witch although she tries very hard to deny her powers. Handsome, scholarly MacAllister Booke comes to the island to research the legend and to interview the one inhabitant he knows possesses magical powers - Mia Devlin, owner of the local bookstore cafe, and direct descendant of the original sisters. Booke has studied, recorded and witnessed the impossible for over 12 years. "He'd interviewed witches, ghosts, lycanthropes, alien abductees and psychics. Ninety-eight percent of them were delusional or con-artists. But the remaining two percent...well, that kept him going." Imagine his surprise when he discovered that Three Sisters Island is the home of three witches, all descending from the original line - Nell Channing Todd (Ripley's new sister-in-law), Ripley and Mia.

He is immediately attracted to Ripley, who goes out of her way to be disagreeable to him. She wants nothing to do with magic or with anyone who is interested in the supernatural. However, the island's 300-year anniversary is coming up and Ripley has to come to grips with the powers that terrify her if she is going to help break the centuries-old curse and save her beloved home. Dr. Booke, Mia and Nell are behind Ripley all the way as she learns to manage her energy and fear.

"Heaven and Earth" is Nora Roberts' second book in the Three Sisters trilogy. You don't have to read the first book to enjoy this one, although it is a delight to continue with the story of Nell, Mia and Ripley. Ripley is a more difficult character than the other two sisters. She is abrasive, stubborn and initially did not fit my image of a witch. However, once the story is underway and Ripley's frailties are exposed, she becomes quite believable as a woman and a sorceress. Ms. Roberts creates a wonderful relationship between Ripley and Mac, as well as between the three woman. I wish the source of evil, thrills, chills and suspense were more original, and not something/someone dredged up from book one. The plot works well enough as is, but the novel would have been so much better with a new villain. The novel still makes for a wonderful light read, perfect for a rainy evening.
JANA

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An interesting read but not her best.
Review: I think Nora Roberts best books are her trilogies. She has a great gift for describing and bringing to life the bond and love between family and friends. This trilogy is no exception as far as that, however, I felt that Heaven and Earth was a little weak in the plot department.

I will not go into the plot since others have already done so, all I will say is that the ending was a little weak and the villain was actually recycled from the first book ( Dance Upon the Air ) which I thought lacked imagination and while it's something that I would expect from other authors, it's just simply unnaceptable in a Roberts book. Also, the supernatural or paranormal, if you will, part of the story was at times a little hard to follow.
What I loved about the book was the family bond and the love between the three friends Ripley, Mia and Nell. Also the characters,especially Mac, were interesting and real even if the plot sometimes wasn't and it was also nice to see Nell and Zack, the characters from the first book. The romance between Ripley and Mac sizzled and I loved the fact that the tough Ripley wasn't so tough after all when she found herself in love with the adorably absent minded Mac. I think the characters save this book and the whole trilogy from mediocrity.

I recommend this book to fans of Roberts and for those who have read the first book in the trilogy since this one would probably be hard to follow otherwise. :)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good, even for Nora Roberts
Review: Yes, even by Ms. Roberts's standards, I was impressed and found that I like Heaven and Earth even better than Dance Upon the Air, the first in the Three Sisters Island trilogy.

In the second installment she doesn't only go in depth with the main characters, Ripley and Mac who are the love interest she focuses on, but she also brings out more in other characters, including Mia who will be the focus for the third installment. Ms. Roberts also involves more of the history of the island where everything is taking place, as well as the history of the sisters who began the island where the trilogy unfolds. There is even more detail on the magic that the three female characters (Mia, Ripley and Nell) possess.

And one of my favorite things about this book is that the hero isn't exactly one of those alpha male types. He's akward in some ways but it makes him so much more charming as a character.

I don't usually read all of Ms. Roberts work and in fact missed the last couple of series but this reading was very enjoyable and Nora Roberts fans will undoubtedly be pleased.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Weaker book then the first but still excellent.
Review: For a review to get 5 stars doesn't mean it's perfect, and of course this book is definitely not perfect. IN this book we're dealing with Ripley, the witch who doesn't want to admit that she is one. She battles her attraction to Mac, the hot "Indiana Jones" type paranormal scientist. Ripley is a fascinating character, who really comes alive in this book. In the first one she seemed more closed off and brooding. However the book is not without flaws, as Ripley becomes a stronger character in the next book, which is where Roberts made the mistake. If Ripley had grown as she did in the first part of the third book in the second instead, I think the book would have been that much more interesting. Oh well. A wonderful series none the less, on to the last book!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good, but no cigar
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I find the characters basically believable; I enjoy the elements of magic and wiccan references and in general the writing is excellent. On the other I feel as if her writing could be A LOT more, more depth, more intensity. I feel that as a writer she has much more potential than I have found in the few books of hers that I have read.

(...)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 2nd Book in a Wonderful Trilogy
Review: This a wonderful story. Nora Roberts is the master of the romance with suspense novels. She creates likable characters, and scenes that take no effort to picture due to her wonderful discription abilities. This story, like most of hers is fast paced and easy to read. It was almost impossible for me to put down as I followed the trials of Ripley Todd and that of her family. I can't wait to get the 3rd book in this trilogy as this one left me wanting more of the same.


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