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Heaven & Earth
by Nora Roberts
Earth must stand firm and face down her demons, while being flexible enough to accept love.
The legend of the Three Sisters returns in the follow-up to Dance Upon The Air -– Heaven & Earth. The first book chronicled Nell Channing's escape from her abusive husband and the blooming romance between her and Three Sisters Island Sheriff Zach Todd. The three descendants of the sisters for whom the island was named had to band together to expel the evil that had taken over Nell's ex. Of the three women, Mia Devlin is a most experienced and powerful witch; Nell is powerful, but still learning; and Ripley had turned her back on magic altogether (until she was forced to use it to save Nell).
The second book deals with Ripley's indifference to her gift. She's a tough-as-nails tomboy who would much rather swim in the ocean than spend time honing her magical ability. After the first novel, when Ripley's older brother got together with Nell Channing, Ripley was forced to live with the sickeningly in love couple. Swallowing her pride and a history of hurt, Ripley reluctantly asks Mia to rent out the cottage she'd formerly rented to Nell. Although Mia would love to hold something like this over Ripley's head, the cottage had already been rented to paranormal researcher Dr. Mac Booke.
Dr. Booke convinces Mia and Nell to let him interview them and to measure their magical ability. Any attempt to drag Ripley into the mix is met with hostility and loathing. Eventually, Ripley gives in physically to Mac's advances, but refuses to help him out magically. An old enemy resurfaces -– stronger than the last time -– and Ripley has to overcome her pride and fear to defeat him.
While some may call this the least-disciplined of the Three Sisters novels, with a large build-up to an only mildly exciting ending, the heroine of the piece is the most interesting of the three sisters' descendants. Her relationship with the bumbling Dr. Booke is more heartwarming and interesting than the other two books in the series. Ripley is difficult, Ripley is annoying, Ripley is frustrating, but Ripley is also the most human and relatable.
Title: Heaven & Earth
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Jove
ISBN: 0515132020
Review written by: Tracy Elledge
Reviewer's Rating:9
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
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