Book Review: "Heaven and Earth" by Nora Roberts

By Amanda Linsmeier

The second in the Three Sisters Island Trilogy by Nora Roberts, Heaven and Earth is a novel of bravery and the triumph of good over evil. Deputy Ripley Todd returns to star as the tough, wise-cracking witch who resents her powers. She wants nothing to do with magic or the centuries-old legend that now threatens to destroy her and test the skills of not only her but her “sisters”: Nell, who overcame the dark power in book one and Mia, who has yet to be tested. When Mac Brooke, a paranormal researcher, shows up on the island to research its history and to interview Mia, a well-known witch, he rubs Ripley the wrong way. But despite the fact that he’s into “freak shows” and magical things—things Ripley wants nothing to do with—she’s definitely attracted to him. And that really pisses her off. What begins as annoyance, moves into affection and then even deeper. And throughout this emotionally trying time, Ripley is struggling with an even bigger dilemma. Should she use her magic to help break the curse? What if she’s not strong enough? What if she can’t control it? What if ends up destroying her, just as it did in the past?

Although I was drawn into this second book, I admit it was not as good as the first, simply because I didn’t care for the main character. I thought Ripley was too hard, too tough, too difficult to relate to. I didn’t find her chemistry with Mac to be as realistic or moving as in the previous book with Nell and Zack. I did enjoy the twist to the darkness that haunts them all, the villain who it becomes but overall, this book didn’t thrill me as much as the first. I have a feeling the third will be my favorite because already Mia, the last witch, is the most interesting to me. I guess I’ll just have to wait and find out if I’m right.