"A powerful, magical story."

HEAVEN AND EARTH is the second installment in Ms. Robert's Three Sisters Island trilogy. Three friends: Mia, Nell and Ripley- descendents of the original three witches who created the island over 300 years before- have found happiness and contentment on the island, but they know that trouble is headed their way. Something is coming that will threaten their lives and those of the people they love, and may even destroy the island itself. Each member of the trio must face her own test of courage and love in order to save them all. This is Ripley's story.

Ripley Todd and her brother Zack are the sheriffs on Three Sisters Island. Zack is married to Nell, who recently came to the island to escape an abusive and murderous husband. Ripley loves Nell like a sister and would do anything to protect her, including warning off a new visitor to the island, paranormal researcher Dr. MacAllister 'Mac' Booke, who has rented a cottage from Mia for the purpose of researching the paranormal activity on the island, and interviewing the 'witches' who live there. Ripley doesn't want him poking into their business, even though Nell and Mia are willing to share some of their knowledge with him. When Ripley seeks Mac out, she discovers that she is strangely drawn to this clumsy, geeky but oh so hunky absent minded professor, and in spite of the fact that she has sworn off magic and no longer practices it, sparks fly (literally) when they touch. Now Ripley has one more person she loves that she will have to protect from whatever is coming, and from herself.

HEAVEN AND EARTH was a worthy follow up to DANCE UPON THE AIR, the first story in this trilogy. Ripley and Mia continue to battle over Ripley's denial of her heritage and her power. Ripley hides her fear and vulnerability with an abrasive and combative attitude. She feels responsibility for the people she protects and it worries her. Mac is an appealingly boyish hero who loves gadgets and discovering new manifestations of the paranormal. He is clumsy, always misplaces his glasses and can never find a pencil and paper when he needs them, but he is also brilliant and intuitive, and will do whatever it takes to be there for the woman he loves. He takes Ripley's belligerence in stride and recognizes it for the emotional armor it is, and he is protective of the tender heart it hides.

The plot moves along nicely, incorporating the people and places we first encountered in DANCE UPON THE AIR, and giving the reader more insight as to what kind of an evil force these three (now five) are really up against. I am looking forward with great anticipation to the concluding installment of this trilogy.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted April 4, 2002

Summary

2002 RITA Finalist

Number one New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts has enchanted millions of readers with her moving, intimate tales of friendships made and hearts lost, of legends, lovers and longing. Now, in the second book in her bewitching Three Sisters Island trilogy, she returns to the haunting shores of New England-and to the lives of three passionate, powerful women....

Ripley Todd just wants to live a quiet, peaceful kind of life. Her job as a sheriff's deputy keeps her busy and happy, and she has no trouble finding men when she wants them-which, lately, isn't all that often. She's perfectly content, except for one thing: she has special powers that both frighten and confuse her-and though she tries hard to hide them, she can't get them under control....

Distraction soon arrives in the handsome form of MacAllister Booke-a researcher who's come to investigate the rumors of witchcraft that haunt Three Sisters Island. Right from the start, he knows there's something extraordinary about Ripley Todd. It's not just her blazing green eyes and her sultry smile. There's something else. Something he can detect, but she'll never admit. Fascinated by her struggle with her amazing abilities, he becomes determined to help her accept who she is-and find the courage to open her heart.

But before Ripley and Mac can dream of what lies in the future, they must confront the pain of the past. For Three Sisters shelters centuries of secrets-and a legacy of danger that plagues them still....