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.


Heaven and Earth   February 26, 2008
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Ripley Todd is a deputy on Three Sisters, and also a reluctant witch. Nell, Ripley, and Mia are witches that descended from the original three sisters on the island. Eager for some independence and privacy, she plans to rent Mia's cottage, but is upset to learn it is already rented to MacAllister Booke. Ripley is further irritated to find out he is there to do research about witchcraft.

While Ripley is attracted to Mac, she will have to let go of some of her hostilities and past hurt to let him in. With the visions, dreams, and paranormal events that happen when they are together, it is evident they are connected. Ripley will need the help of her sisters to survive the threat that awaits her.

This is Ripley's story of the three and while she is integral, I wasn't very fond of her character. She is abrasive and harsh to everyone. She did grow on me as the story went on.




Should be 6stars....   November 28, 2001
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Amazing, I've been reading Roberts for years and this so far has been the best trilogy every. I'm not a mystery lover but these two books had me captivated. I counted the days for this second book to be released adn bought it the first morning it was released at 7:30am and finished it the next day. I don't know when number 3 comes out but I simply can't wait.


More than I Expected   December 3, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I'm one of those readers who was a little disappointed by the first book, Dance Upon the Air, in this trilogy. You have noticed it didn't keep me from buying the second installment of the series and I'm so glad I did. Heaven and Earth is a great story with romance, suspense, and the supernatural. The story flows as we are pulled into Ripley's story, catch up on Nell, and are given hints on Mia's past and things to come.

Ripley Todd is the deputy on Three Sister Island where her brother Zack is the sheriff. She doesn't embrace her heritage of witchcraft like Nell, her brother's wife, or Mia, her childhood friend. In fact, Ripley goes to extreme lengths to pretend it doesn't exist. Now she's feeling like something of a third wheel. Zack and Nell survived a near death attack by Nell's former husband and have married. While Ripley is close to both, she doesn't feel she needs to be living in the same house with the newlyweds. There aren't many places to rent on the small island. Against her better judgement, Ripley goes to Mia to see about renting a small cottage she owns. To her shock, Mia has rented the cottage out to Dr. MacAllister Brooke, a paranormal researcher.

While Nell and Mia have consented to helping Dr. "Mac" Brooke with his research, Ripley wants nothing to do with him. However, we don't always get what we want out of life and Ripley finds the one person who can reach her soul. The story revolves around Ripley coming to terms with herself and how evil can strike when we least expect it.

I really like the way Nora Roberts developed the characters in this story. Ripley is a strong woman who is not afraid to confront any physical danger that she can see and touch. She will do anything to protect those that she loves. However, Ripley's weak point is not being able to accept what she is and having to confront the fact she can be emotionally dependent on another and still be strong.

Mac is one of my all time favorite Roberts' heroes. First off, he's a geek pure and simple. He can't remember where he puts things and is always losing something, goes into a daze and forgets time when he is researching, and can't remember where simple places are like the local pizza place. Don't get me wrong, he's all man and the perfect hero. He's gorgeous and falls head over heels for Ripley. Nothing she does will make him back off. He knows what he has found with Ripley and fights to keep it.

Nora Roberts has a winner with Heaven and Earth. It has all the elements of a hit and will keep you glued to the story. A short glimpse is given to Mia's story out next called Face the Fire the last book in this trilogy. Just like the rest of you "Noraholics" in the world, I'll be eagerly be waiting for the next one.


Good, even for Nora Roberts   January 20, 2002
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

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.