Three Sisters Island Trilogy
Three Sisters Island trilogy, which I consider my favorite of Nora Roberts’s trilogies. The basis behind this the story begins in June 1692, when the Salem witch trials are in full stem, many innocent women were hanged. The legend goes that three women, who were in fact witches, cast a spell to distant themselves and form a piece of protected land where they could not be harmed and that each of their ancestors and descendants will have the gift and it will be a magical time when all three are gathered in the same spot, the three sisters reunited once again. The series takes place in modern times.
“Dance Upon Air” – Book #1
Nell Channing is running away from an abusive life, changing her name from Helen Remington. She finds herself drawn to a quaint village on Three Sisters Island. It is on this island that she meets Mia, who is a witch, one of the true descendants of the original witches. She runs a book store/café, and Nell, who is a great cook, asks Mia for a job in the café. Mia immediately takes Nell under her wing and knows immediately, that Nell is running from something.
Mia knows she is part of the legend, and has been waiting for the other two to come forth for their destiny. Mia’s childhood friend, Ripley, has refused to acknowledge she is a witch and she and Mia have had a split in their friendship because of this. Nell, though determined not to get involved, falls for Sheriff Zach Todd and becomes close to his sister Ripley (she is a Deputy), who is the 2nd sister (witch) of the three descendants. In a short time, Nell will learn that she is in fact the third witch, and is drawn into the legend and the witchcraft. She learns about herself and her powers slowly and with much trepidation. It is through her relationships with Mia, Ripley and Zach that Nell truly learns about herself. Zach after coming to terms with Nell’s secrets, gradually helps Nell overcome her fear to face Evan Remington, the husband she ran away from, who is indeed evil, and sets in motion for her to get divorced and enable her to marry him. However, Remington is not about to let Nell go easily. The ending is very exciting, with a lot of action, as Nell and Zach are in danger from a man who is evilly obsessed and only the power and magic of the three witches together can save them. Love this book, loved all the characters, the village and mostly adored Nell and Zach. The camaraderie between Mia, Ripley and Nell is what makes this series so great. Next on the agenda is Ripley Todd and “Heaven and Earth”.
“Heaven and Earth” – Book #2
Deputy Sheriff Ripley Todd loves her home, Three Sisters Island and its people, but rejects the legend that she is expected, as a descendant of one of the witches in the 17th century, to help save the island. Ripley knows the truth, but refuses to openly acknowledge this, as she fears to embrace her powers, since she does not have control of those powers and will harm someone.
Mackenzie Booke (Mac), a paranormal scholar, loves everything supernatural, and he has come to the island to investigate the curse that threatens to destroy it. He is also very rich. Mac is instantly attracted to Ripley, as she is to him. But once she finds out who he is and what he wants, she backs away. Both Mia and Nell welcome Mac, and have willingly worked with him to understand the curse and the coming danger. Ripley allows her attraction to Mac to become involved in a “short term fling”, thinking once he gets his story, he will leave. Mac did not expect Ripley to be so headstrong, feisty, and so adamant against him getting involved in the curse and in dealing with Mia or Nell. Mac, finds he is falling in love with Ripley, and encourages her to embrace her gifts, as well as let Mia teach her how to control her power. She must eventually choose whether to use her powers to try to save the island that she has promised to protect
It was very emotional to watch Ripley come to terms with her gift, and to make peace with Mia. Even after all these years, the two of them still cared deeply for each other. Slowly, things were beginning to loosen up between them, as Nell kept trying to bring them together. Ripley and Mac finally allowed their love for another take control, and not let anything stop them. The end was very exciting, emotional, and heart pounding, as Ripley with the help of her sisters, and Mac, came through to keep the circle intact and await the final battle for Mia. This turned out to be my favorite of the three stories, mainly because I loved Ripley and adored Mac. They were without a doubt, my favorite couple. Moving on to Mia and “Face the Fire”.
“Face the Fire” – Book #3
Mia Devlin is the most powerful witch on the island, no charm or spell can keep her from having to deal with Sam Logan reentering her life eleven years after he devastated her, and broke her heart.
Sam returns, having bought his family’s hotel and he plans to stay on the island. He also wants to win Mia back into his life, and take back what he threw away in his youth. But Mia has moved on and reconciled the pain of losing him, she is not willing to forgive and forget. His reappearance rattles Mia’s careful control at a most dangerous time. But the ties between Sam and Mia are stronger than her will, as over time, and with Sam eventually winning over Zach, Nell, Mac and even Ripley to help him regain Mia’s love. It was a funny scene watching Ripley see Sam for the first time in 11 years, and run to punch him in the face….fortunately Zach stopped her. One of the most emotional scenes in this series was when Ripley finally explains to Mia why she pulled away. How she felt every emotion (empath) that Mia was feeling after Sam had left her. She couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t handle the pain, and most of all could not control her powers. She explained how she almost killed Zach accidentally drawing on lightening. To see them hug each other crying, and Nell coming into it also crying was one of the best emotional scenes ever.
Sam begins his campaign even as Mia faces a deadlier test than her two sisters have recently gone through. Sam, who is also a witch (water), also tries to get Mac to help him find out everything about the threat, and to help Mia in the upcoming final battle. The evil force continually is growing stronger and attacks those close to Mia, including almost losing Lola. Even at the end, the evil force tries to stop each of Mia’s sisters and Sam, to stop them so that they would not there to help her in the final battle.
Mia, with the love of Sam, can thwart the curse only if she trusts him with her heart and soul, and expresses her love for him. However, she cannot totally trust him and fears he will leave her again, and she is not sure she could recover. She remains determined to fight the curse alone, even if she sacrifices her life. Sam, with help from the others, suspect Mia will try something, and he put things in motion to help Mia, without her knowledge. But it is Mia, who must resolve her feelings and make a final choice before she can save the island. In the end, Mia stood firm against evil, and with the help of Sam and her sisters, the island was saved, and evil was destroyed.
Three Sisters Island Trilogy was a wonderful read. Each of the books had great couples, and wonderful romances. The love and friendship between Mia, Ripley and Nell was wonderful to see and be part of. Each book was very exciting, with heart pounding endings. Thank you, Nora Roberts for your wonderful writing.
Barb
