Series Info/Source: This is the 2nd book in the Three Sisters Island trilogy. I borrowed this on ebook from my Library.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this book just as much as the first book in this series. This book follows Ripley (the sister of the male love interest from the first book) and the other deputy on Three Sisters Island. Ripley has a pretty big chip on her shoulder about using magic. When a man, MacAllister, comes to the island to investigate the supernatural and magical occurrences there, Ripley is dead set against him being there. However, Ripley and Mac seem to be strangely drawn to each other and when evil threatens the island again they may have to join forces to save the island they love.

I enjoyed this. Ripley is a lot more aggressive and comes off as immature at times, but she grows throughout the book. I enjoyed Mac a lot as a character, he was smart and patient in the face of Ripley's stubbornness and aggression. I also really enjoyed seeing all the characters from the last book again.

This series continues to have a cozy small town vibe while blending in danger, romance, and supernatural magic elements. It is fun and easy to read. It's a nice easy, escape read. This is my favorite type of format for a series. Each book features a different couple and story, but there is also a larger story that ties together all three books.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. If you are looking for a cozy, light read with small town vibes, romance, and magic I would definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading the final book in this series soon. This is my first Nora Roberts' series and I definitely plan on picking up some of her other series that have fantasy or sci-fi elements to them. ( )

Romance

���Another winner from Nora Roberts! The second book in the Three Sisters Island trilogy kept me reading late into the night. I remember greatly enjoying the first book in the series, and this one didn't let me down at all. I think the Three Sisters Island trilogy has to be my favorite of Roberts' series -- or at least of the ones I've read. I was impressed with her characterization. The hero and heroine were well developed, with original quirks and character traits that seemed quite believable to me. Although I thought the ending dragged a little and I was somewhat confused about what happened during the last couple of chapters, I greatly enjoyed this book and I look forward to wrapping up the story arc with Mia's installment. ( )

In the Three Sisters Island trilogy, the plot of Heaven and Earth turns away from Nell and directs its focus onto Sheriff's Deputy, Ripley Karen Todd. Before I go any further with the plot, I have to say there is always a popular formula to love and romance in bodice rippers: stubborn character refuses to accept second character's heartthrob's advances. However, handsome or beautiful second character is persistent. Very persistent with a charming veneer. Heaven and Earth is no different. Ripley is the stubborn one and newly arrived MacAllister Booke is persistent and charming. Be warned ladies, he also has a strong jaw. The problem lies in the fact MacAllister's life work is researching people of the strange ilk: shaman, vampire, ghost, brujo, necromancer, witch, lycanthrope, alien, psychic, and neo-druid all interest him. Ripley doesn't want to be researched. She doesn't even like being associated with weird. There were more than a few times I resisted the urge to roll my eyes after reading lines like this, "She caught the unmistakable scent of Nell's beef-and-barley soup and quickly decided it was that, and that alone, that was making her mouth water" (p 50). Yes, the hunky and irresistible MacAllister Booke was in Ripley's presence.
Having said all that, I appreciated the consistency from one novel to the next. Ripley is still locked in a battle of wills with Mia Devlin. Ripley still resents the fact that she, at heart, is a witch. She'll need to come to terms with this when Nell's ex-husband convinces a shady reporter to pay the residents of Three Sisters Island a visit. It takes an ominous turn from there.
A word of obvious warning: Heaven and Earth is a little dated. A $20 spot as a bribe wouldn't get you boo. These days a Benjamin is a good place to start. ( )

Work was boring again. Well, at least a good part of it was in the afternoon. The morning was spent breaking everything I touched, but that's another story.

I knew the first time I saw Nora Roberts book list that there was no way she could have written that many books, that fast and not trip over herself, creatively speaking. This is only the third trilogy of hers I've read, and admittedly, I've purposefully stuck to the paranormal stuff, but the renew, reuse, recycle mantra is very obvious already.

Before picking up Dance Upon the Air, I was already 2 out of 3 books into the Dark Witch Trilogy. But it wasn't until I picked up this one, Heaven and Earth that the three R's reared their heads. Creeping fog, evil in wolf form, red eyes, pentagram, good-marking-evil. It's all there with no apologies in both trilogies. Who knows? It might be in her other paranormal works too - I'm just assuming the Three Sisters Trilogy was the first.

Doesn't really matter, either way. I enjoyed the read more than enough to finish it. Even though it's a "romance" the romance isn't what I took away from it; I enjoyed NR's talented hand at writing relationships. Tight families, tighter friendships - she does both predictably and well. She excels at setting; Three Sister's Island and Cafe Book were both deliciously sketched out and brought to life. I enjoyed the spooky bent even though I felt like I'd already read it before.

There are worse ways to spend your time while getting paid. Much, much worse. ( )