All three of the books in the "Sisters" trilogy are strong, beautifully written and captivating; often I didn't sleep until finishing one or the other of them. I have continued to read Nora Roberts and have found some of her books equally beautiful in terms of reflective prose, enchanting plot lines and always the possibilities; the suspension of disbelief often leaves the reader feeling like she, too, could own a bookstore, run a nursery or many of the myriad dreams we all have not (yet?) realized.

That said, I am currently reading one of the trilogies and about to put it down. The first time I came across the word "fisted" (as in "he fisted her hair in his hand) it was interesting. Now I am seeing it every four pages and I find it really distracting. Ms. Roberts is far too brilliant a writer to depend on wordplay alone; and when it becomes distracting, it is disconcerting as the characters then lose their individuality and become the same people over and over again.

However, I will re-read the "Sisters" books again in a year or two; they are, in my own opinion, the highest and best product of Ms. Robert's considerable skill.

I love anyting Nora Roberts writes. This one was a little slower moving, but was still a great read. Can't wait to finish the final part of the trilogy.

Face the Fire is actually a nice imaginative story. However, there is not enough Romance between Mia and Sam. As well, the witch/magical part of the story isn't fascinating enough for it to stand on its own. Instead it is just an entertaining read which is not super compelling but at least not annoying or frustrating.

It has to be said at the outset that Nora Roberts is not my kind of novelist. Browsing in a library, I would never idly pick her book up. They have bland, uninspiring covers and bland, forgettable titles - nothing to catch the eye. That said, I'm not sure that excuses the level of clichéd and crudely-handled writing apparent here.

I have problems with paranormal romance as a concept, but a good story is a good story, and I have been won over by good writing to many things I would never have willingly selected for myself. Not so here.

I don't read Nora's books, or anything like Nora's books, or indeed the sub-genre at all, and I still knew all the ins and outs of this one. Nora never surprises us with an odd slant or take, a new or refreshing approach, or any form of originality at all. Instead she plods along, throwing us stale idea after stale idea, writing by numbers, because, assumably, that's what her fans want.

We get crystals and crystal balls, herbs and spells, wands and brooms, and a feisty witch heroine who just happens to have magnificent red hair and green eyes. And this is intended for adults. Amazing. But it doesn't stop there. We have an arrogant, 'difficult' hero who's hurt her badly but is now repentant and, of course, completely overwhelmed by desire for her. There's female bonding, a warm protective mother figure, lots of food and pretty gardens, and a supernatural 'threat' as menacing as a pint of milk on an empty stomach.

I appreciate this is meant to be wish-fulfilment, but are readers really so easily fulfilled? And are their wishes as sad and hackneyed as this?

I don't know if this is a sadder testimony to lazy, tired writing or to readers who actively want this kind of perpetual feeding off your own vomit.

I feel it really merits 1 star but I give it 2 for the sheer kudos Nora deserves for both being able to write this stuff and then sell it. Now that's a skill. And quite the most depressing one I've seen on a long time.

Its been a long time since I've enjoyed a trilogy as much as I have the Three Sister's Island books. The third book finished out the story of these wonderfully different women and their special talents. It was so much fun to read all three that I hated to see it end. I could read this trilogy again. Something I don't do often. If your going to read one, plan on reading all three. You won't want to have just one.