I really enjoyed this book. I love it when a book reminds me of what I forget in our everyday life and has a background lesson to be learned.This said here goes a short description of the book...Nora Roberts introduces readers to the idyllic town of Three Sisters Island.Reputedly conjured by a trio of sisters seeking to escape the Salem witch-hunts, the island remains a place of quiet refuge for one and all, including pretty Nell Channing who arrives in town afraid of her own shadow, with few possessions and no past. But the warm, sunny days and cool, windswept nights, as well as the loving concern of new friends--especially hunky sheriff Zack Todd--soon lure skittish Nell into a much-welcome fresh life. Nell's new boss, the captivatingly lovely bookstore owner Mia Devlin wonders from what or whom Nell is running. Mia treats Nell as she would a sister, which isn't too far off the mark, helping Nell discover and explore her inner resources while Zack's romantic attentions bring a rosy glow to Nell's cheeks and to her future. But something wicked this way comes… Will Nell be ready to face and conquer her past? Even with the love and support of Mia, Zack, and Zack's fellow police officer, his peppery, down-to-earth sister Ripley, Nell has the fight of her life--the fight for her life--on her hands.Nell is the woman that we all want to be. She has the will to take her life back from the hands of her "psycho" prince charming, the will and the courage to die and be reborn into a brand new woman with a hole new life, reinventing herself and reconstructing the pieces that were shatered along the way.I think that we all want a prince charming, someone that picks us up from our feet and offer us the everlasting happy end. But not all that shines is gold, is it?Nell stands against a battle to finally win over fear and transforming it into freedom.Our hero Zack is also worth the fight, a pacient man, trustworthy, and the perfect partner for our heroin.Love does happen and sometimes you do recognize your other half, you have to take the risk.This first book coach's us for the next two with Ripley and Miaplaying a secondary but important role in Nell's life.The big picture is that this is a very satisfying read, with a strong plot, that leaves you reconsidering that if our life was lived in a simplyer way we would be a lot happier.Bring on the next two !
I love this book. It was the first Nora Roberts novel I read and it got me hooked on her stuff.I enjoyed every aspect of the book. One of my favorite parts is the simple, sort of true-blue romance between Nell and Zach. So often in romance novels these days the hero is a super-alpha, or a dark and brooding alpha or a tragic alpha - which there's nothing wrong with, I love a good alpha male; it's just nice to get some variety once in a while. And that's what Zach is. He's just your normal, nice guy. Sure he's got a bit of alpha in him, but he's not dripping with testosterone. I like that. It's great to read about an everyday-type hero for a change. And I love the romance between him and Nell. It's sweet and tender and something you can honestly picture in your head. Their story is one that makes me smile while reading it.I also love Nell's overall story in this book. How she's managed to escape a terrible life and find a home for herself; somewhere where she belongs. Her transformation throughout the book is heartwarming to read. I'm a sucker for plucky heroines who turn their lives around against the odds.And my other favorite part of the book is the lore and magic. White witchcraft is fascinating to me. So it's fun to read it in a book. Roberts weaves an excellent tale for Three Sisters Island, all the more enhanced by a great cast of characters. The story may not be fraught with suspense, but it draws you in with its earthiness. All around, it's just a fun read; one of my favorites by Roberts and one that I like to reread from time to time.
Do You like book Dance Upon The Air (2001)?
I really enjoyed this book! Roberts does a great job of making you connect to the characters in the story very early, so that you are really invested in their lives and rooting for them almost from the first page.The magic aspect is well-written, with the introduction of the three "sisters" and their varying knowledge and participation in their abilities being quite different. There really is a character for almost anyone to connect to here. The characters of Nell, Mia and Ripley are totally different, but there is charm and humour in all three of them.The plot of this book, while predictable [once you know Nell's a battered wife hiding from her husband, you just KNOW he's going to find her] is still completely engrossing and moves at an inexorably intense pace. Roberts does her usual excellent job in ratcheting up the suspense and the closer you get to the end the more keyed up you are to find out how it will end. The story is a great set up for the next two books in this trilogy, and if you like the combination of magic and romance, I recommend this. It has all the right elements and was a terrific read!!
—Kristen
About half way through this book. It's a fantasy romance about a woman who escapes an abusive marriage and starts a new life across the country.She is very nervous, distrustful, and not interested in another relationship.The thing that is disturbing me is that the romantic interest seems to be following in the same steps as a typical abuser; he doesn't listen to her when she says she doesn't want to be touched, he violates her personal space even though it scares her, and other dick moves.Her husband started out nice, too, but slowly eroded her confidence and sense of self. The husband is a controlling jerk; with the hero- he's doing it for her own good. *Swoon*?The hero would probably work better in a story with out domestic violence as a central theme- as it is, I'm still not entirely sure he's not there to serve as an example for her to reject to show that she's grown and gained confidence enough not to be taken in again.(Unfortunately, other reviews of the book show that he is, indeed, supposed to be 'the one'.)It turned out ok, but not really interested in the two companion books in the series. It just didn't move me.
—Marniy
★★★★✩Well narrated by Sandra Burr. Nothing original here (I checked the date of first publication against the movie, Sleeping With the Enemy, and the movie came first). An abused woman fakes her death. Ms. Roberts has thrown in a curse and three sisters/witches who learn a little magic - then placed them on an island. Still, I enjoyed the characters and dialogue too much to give it anything less than 4 stars. The sheriff is the hunk in this one and I love a man in uniform. I’m looking forward to continuing the trilogy.
—Lisa Kay
