Dance Upon the Air is the newest book by Nora Roberts. It is the first book in her new series, the Three Sisters Island trilogy. The second book will be out later this year, and the third early next year. These books deal with supernatural forces such as witchcraft, so they are a little different. Roberts has dealt with supernatural ideas like cults, psychic ability, and witchcraft in other books so this is not new territory for her.

For anyone who doesn't know this, Nora Roberts and J. D. Robb, the author of the Eve Dallas books, are the same author. I became hooked on the Eve Dallas books just about a year ago and read them all within a few months - I would've gotten through them all faster, but I had to wait for my bookstore to get a few in stock. I finally ended up getting the last several books of the series from Amazon.com with a gift certificate I had. Since then, I have started reading everything by Nora Roberts that I can get my hands on. I all ready have several of her books, but I still have several to go. It can be hard to find some of her books because they are out of print now. In some ways this book is similar to her other books, the way the characters are developed, the writing style, and how you come to care about the characters - even the plot of this one is similar to a few other books by Roberts that I have read. I can't think of which ones at the moment - since I have read so many in a fairly short time, I tend to get the titles mixed up sometimes.

PLOT

The book begins with a short prologue set in Salem Massachusetts in 1692. This is the time of the Salem witch trials. Three women who are identified as Air, Earth, and Fire, meet secretly in the woods outside town. The three women look different. Air is blonde, Earth has brown hair, and Fire is a redhead. The three women are very upset because innocent women are being tried and hanged for being witches. They also fear for their safety. They cast a spell that breaks off a portion of the land, lifts it up and carries it into the ocean. This is how Three Sisters Island became.

The first chapter begins in the present day on Three Sister Island. Nell Channing has just arrived on the island. She has been on the move for six months. Two months before that, she faked her own death to escape her abusive husband, Evan - does this remind anyone else of Sleeping with the Enemy? Something about the island appeals to Nell, makes her feel like she would be safe there. She plans to stay at least a few days, hopefully longer if she can find a job. She explores a bookstore/cafe, the Bookstore Cafe, and lucks into a job as the cook. The current cook quit with only a few hours notice and Mia, the owner of the cafe, was willing to give Nell a chance. She also has a small house that she rents to Nell. Mia recognizes a connection between the two of them.

Nell begins to settle in. For the first time in months she felt truly safe and free from her past. She meets Zack Todd when he comes in for coffee. She is wary of him because he is the Sheriff - we find out later why she instinctively doesn't trust cops. A little later that day when the noon ferry arrives at the island, Nell and Mia both experience something strange at the same time. Nell has no idea what happened. Mia knows it means the three are on the island.

Nell feels at home on the island, but she is still keeping her distance from people. Ripley, Zack's sister and the only deputy on the island, returns from her vacation on the noon ferry. She felt the same strange thing. Ripley and Mia clash when they are together. Ripley makes a few comments about Mia in front of Nell, and Nell is quick to defend Mia. Nell sees Zack again, and feels and attraction to him, but she isn't going to act on it because she doesn't want to get involved with anyone. She does develop friendships once she feels a little more comfortable on the island. She makes all kinds of yummy goodies for the cafe, and ends up catering an anniversary party for a local couple. After the party, several other people contact her about catering things for them. This is the beginning of her own catering business.

Mia is a witch. Everyone on the island knows. Some people go to her for help. She casts spells that help them. Ripley thinks magic and witchcraft is a bunch of nonsense. She gets upset and irritated whenever Mia does a spell, or even brings the subject of magic up. Ripley and Mia use to be best friends, and Ripley practiced the craft too but she gave it up. She know considers it stupid and childish. Mia senses that Nell has a talent for the craft. Mia believes that three descendants of the three sisters are together on the island - herself, Ripley, and Nell. Ripley thinks that is a bunch of hooey. Mia tells Nell about the sisters and instructs Nell in the craft. Ripley get angry when Nell brings up the subject with her. Ripley doesn't want to hear anything about it from anyone.

Nell and Zack get to know each other and eventually become involved. Nell and Ripley become friends. Mia continues to instruct Nell, and even provokes Ripley into demonstrating her ability once. Mia, and even Ripley, sense that danger is coming to the island. They don't know when or what form. Mia suspects that is has to do with Nell's past because by that time, Nell had opened up a bit to her about her abusive husband. Zack and Ripley figure out early on that she had been abused by the way she acts, but they don't know the full story. Nell tells Zack a little about her past, but says she isn't going into details. That is fine with him, at least for then. Eventually, she tells him everything. A few of her revelations cause them to have an argument, but they work through that. To find out how everything works out - Nell and Zack's relationship, the danger Mia senses, Ripley's denial of her abilities in the craft - and to find out what I left out, you'll have to read the book.

**End of plot discussion**

This was a wonderful book. I love it. I was drawn into the story right from the beginning and didn't put it down until I finished it. I am impatient for the next two books in the series to come out. This book has laid a foundation for the next two books. Having read some of Nora Robert's other series, I am expecting Nell and Zack to pop up a bit in the next two books. I tend to really like books that have sequels so I can read more about characters I liked in other books.

This book was beautifully written. Roberts makes the reader feel for her characters and what they are going through. She is very descriptive when telling about the island, some of the things Nell learns from Mia, and when telling about all the goodies Nell cooks up. The characters are all well developed.

This is a romance with some suspense in it, and it is a bit predictable in what happens with Zack and Nell. Since this is a romance, there are sexual situations and encounters in the book. Anyone who is offend by those scenes, or just doesn't like to read them should avoid the book. It also deals with witchcraft. Some spells and things used for the craft are described in the book. I found those things to be very interesting. The things about witchcraft aren't the main focus of the book, and they only show up every so often. To really enjoy the book, you have to have an open mind concerning witchcraft. If you don't, well, this might not be the book for you.

CHARACTERS

I am just going to tell a little about the main characters in this book. There are lots of minor characters that show up here and there through out. Too many for me to remember and write about now, and many of them are only in a scene in the cafe ordering lunch or something like that.

Nell Chambers - She is the main character of this book. Several months before the book takes place, she faked her own death to get away from her abusive husband - read the book to find out exactly how she did that. After being on the move for about six months, she arrives at Three Sisters Island where she finally feels safe enough to stay. She got a job as cook at the Bookstore Cafe which ends up leading to her starting her own catering business. She makes friends on the island and even begins a relationship with Zack. She starts learning about the craft from Mia.

Zack Todd - He is the other main character in this book. He is the Sheriff of the island. He lives with his sister Ripley and his very friendly dog, Lucy. He is attracted to Nell and does his best to make her feel comfortable and safe around him. He figured out she had been in an abusive relationship. They become involved. He is a very kind, caring man who is willing to do whatever he has to to help Nell.

I say that Nell and Zack are the two main characters in this book, even though a few others are in it throughout, because this book really focuses in on the relationship between them.

Ripley Todd - She is Zack's sister and the deputy on the island. She doesn't get along with Mia who was once her best friend. Ripley use to practice the craft with Mia, but she gave it up several years before and now thinks it is stupid and childish. Ripley denies she has any talent or interest in the craft.

Mia Devlin - She is the owner of the Bookstore Cafe. She takes a chance and hires Nell as a cook. Mia is a witch and everyone in town knows. She teaches the craft to Nell and tries to get Ripley to stop denying her abilities.

This is a wonderful book about a woman starting a new life and discovering things about herself. This book is a beautiful story. It has romance, suspense, and elements of the supernatural in it. Anyone who likes Nora Roberts' books should really enjoy this book.

Three Sister's Island Books
Dance Upon the Air ~ Heaven & Earth ~ Face the Fire


Recommended: Yes