Face the Fire (Three Sisters Island Book 3)

In the conclusion to her acclaimed Three Sisters Island trilogy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts masterfully evokes the quaint charm of New England, weaving a spellbinding tale of true love—and sheer magic… Mia Devlin knows what it’s like to love with your whole heart—and then watch your love walk away. Years ago, she and Sam Logan shared an incredible bond built on passion, legend, and fate. But then one day he fled Three Sisters Island, leaving her lost in memories of the magic they shared—and determined to live on her own… As the new owner of the island’s only hotel, Sam has returned to Three Sisters with hopes of winning back Mia’s affections. He is puzzled when she greets him with icy indifference—for the chemistry between them is still sizzling and true. Angry, hurt, and deeply confused, Mia refuses to admit that a desire for Sam still burns in her heart. But she’ll need his help—and his powers—to face her greatest, most terrifying challenge. And as the deadline for breaking a centuries-old curse draws near, they must take the first step toward destiny—and come together to turn back the dark… Don’t miss the other books in the Three Sisters Island trilogy Dance Upon the Air Heaven and Earth

Amazon.com Review

Setting: Three Sisters Island Sensuality: 7 A stunningly beautiful, powerful witch who possesses the gift of Fire, Mia Devlin locked her heart away when Sam Logan rejected her youthful love and left Three Sisters Island. Eleven years later, Sam returns to the island to claim Mia and take over his family business, the Magick Inn. Passion still burns between them, but Mia refuses to trust the man who once tore her life apart, leaving her grieving and alone. It's imperative that they find a way to resolve their thorny, complicated relationship for time is running out and the deadline for breaking a centuries-old curse is near. Mia has the steadfast aid of her two sisters of the heart, powerful witches that rule Air and Earth, but without Sam's help, even Mia's powers may not be enough to keep her alive until the deadline. And unless Mia makes the right choice about her heart and Sam, evil may win in the final confrontation, destroying all their lives and Three Sisters Island as well. Face the Fire is the third and last book in bestselling author Nora Roberts's trilogy of witches, magic, and an age-old curse that began with Dance upon the Air and Heaven and Earth. This novel boasts a vivid seaside setting, sympathetic characters, and enough details about the practice of magic to intrigue the most cynical of readers. This is Roberts at her best. Don't miss it. --Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly

The final installment in Roberts's Three Sisters trilogy (after Heaven and Earth), which is set on a New England island called Three Sisters, lacks the compelling emotional drama that has won her such a loyal readership. After being abandoned by her lover 12 years before, white witch Mia Devlin has developed a charming bookstore and cafe, a spectacular garden and a close circle of friends, all of whom share her involvement in the Craft. Only an age-old curse mars Mia's idyllic existence and threatens the future of the island itself. Then her former flame, Sam Logan himself a witch returns to the island, determined to win Mia back. The paranormal elements that tastefully flavored a number of Roberts's earlier titles is a bland additive here, creating the book's only suspense and filling scene after scene with discussions and manifestations of magic. Those who don't believe in spells, charms or paranormal wolves may find it hard to enjoy this story and the hokey chanting that comes with it ( No one who passes now need fear. You can do no more harm here ). As always, Roberts's prose is gracefully styled, and her storytelling is deft despite the weak material. But with perfect jobs, perfect homes, perfect hair and the force of the Craft behind them, Mia and company are barely human enough to move the reader's heart. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The final work in Roberts's trilogy of magical witches takes place on a New England island called the Three Sisters. Mia Devlin has established a comfortable life for herself running a bookstore/cafe and working in her elaborate garden and has slowly healed herself after being dumped by her lover. But wait! As is the way with romance novels, the rich Sam Logan returns after an absence of more than a decade. He is now a man of great power and magic (in more ways than one), and Mia must resolve their thorny relationship before a centuries-old curse destroys her along with her sisters and her island. Roberts is a consistently good storyteller, and this series is particularly satisfying, with its vividly described setting and interesting characters. Sandra Burr, a veteran reader, gives a superior performance. Recommended for libraries that collect romantic suspense.Barbara Perkins, Irving P.L., TXCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Roberts' fans will be dismayed to see the popular Three Sisters Island trilogy draw to an end. It's Mia's turn for love, but her mystical connection to the ancestor who died after losing the love of her selkie mate has hardened her heart against romance, as has Sam Logon, whom she loved as a girl and who broke her heart when he left. Now he's back and has great plans for the Magick Inn and for winning back Mia's affection, but danger in the form of the evil manifestation of a wolf stalks her and all that she loves. Three witches, along with Sam, who has his own magic, will have to combine their unique strengths to vanquish the evil. Readers will relate to the beautiful, red-haired Mia, who "loved being surrounded by books. . . She loved the smell and the texture and the look of them. And the surprises uncovered when she flipped one open at random and saw the play of words on paper." Diana Tixier HeraldCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The New Yorker

“America’s favorite writer.”

RT Book Reviews

“The power and excitement of this book is a guaranteed crowd pleaser and a wonderful wrap-up to a most engaging series.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Face the Fire:From across the street, he studied Café Book. He should have known Mia would have taken what had been a neglected building and turned it into something lovely, elegant, and productive. The front window held a display of books and potted spring flowers scattered around a lawn chair. Two of her deepest loves, he mused. Books and flowers. She’d used them both in a way that suggested it was time to take a break from the yard work, sit down and enjoy the fruits of the labor with a ride in a story.He stood where he was, hands in his pockets, until he realized he was procrastinating. There was little more turbulent than Mia Devlin in full temper. He expected her to lash out at him in blistering fury the minute she laid eyes on him again.And who could blame her?Then again, he thought with a grin, there was little more arousing than Mia Devlin in full temper. It would be…;entertaining to strike words with her again. Just as it would be satisfying to soothe that temper away.He crossed the street and opened the door to Café Book. Lulu was behind the counter. He’d have recognized her anywhere. The tiny woman with a gnome’s face almost swallowed up by silver-framed glasses had, essentially, raised Mia.Because Lulu was ringing up a customer’s purchases, he had a moment to look around the store. The ceiling was pricked with lights for a starry effect and made the prospect of browsing through books a festive one. A cozy seating area was arranged in front of a fireplace with a hearth, scrubbed and polished, used as a haven for more spring flowers.Glossy blue shelves held books—an impressive array, he reflected as he wandered through, and as eclectic as he would have expected of the proprietor. No one would ever accuse Mia of having a one-track mind. His lips quirked as he saw that other shelves held ritual candles, Tarot cards, runes, statues of faeries, wizards, dragons. An attractive arrangement of another of Mia’s interests, he thought. He’d have expected nothing else there, either.He plucked a tumbling stone of rose quartz from a bowl, rubbed it between his fingers for good luck. Though he knew better. Before he could replace it, he felt a blast of frigid air. Smiling easily, he turned to face Lulu.“Always knew you’d come back. Bad pennies always turn up.”This was his first barrier, the dragon at the gate. “Hello, Lu.”“Don’t you hello-Lu me, Sam Logan.” She sniffed, skimmed her gaze over him. Sniffed a second time. “You buying that or do I call the sheriff and have you hauled in for shoplifting?”He laid the stone back in the bowl. “How is Zack?”“Ask him yourself, I don’t have time to waste on you.” Though he had her by a foot in height, she stepped forward, jabbed her finger at him, and made him feel twelve years old again. “What the hell do you want?”“To see home. To see Mia.”“Why don’t you do everybody a favor and go back to where you’ve been gallivanting these past years? New York City, Paris, and oo-la-la. We’ve all done fine without you taking up space on the Sisters.”“Apparently.” He gave the store another casual look. He wasn’t offended. A dragon, in his mind, was meant to be devoted to its princess. In his memory, Lulu had always been up to the job. “Nice place. I hear the café’s particularly good. And that Zack’s new wife runs it.”“Your hearing’s just fine. So listen up. Go on and get.”Not offended, no, but his eyes turned edgy, the green in them deepening. “I came to see Mia.”“She’s busy. I’ll tell her you stopped by.”“No, you won’t,” he said quietly. “But she’ll know in any case.”Even as he spoke, he heard the sound of heels on wood. It could have been a dozen women, descending the curving steps in high heels. But he knew. As his heart stumbled in his chest, he stepped around the bookshelves and saw her just as she made the last turn.And the look, that one look at her, sliced him into a thousand pieces.The princess, he thought, had become the queen.

From AudioFile

The third and last book in the Three Sisters Island trilogy will please Nora Roberts's fans. Well written and well crafted, FACE THE FIRE continues the story of the imaginary island off the New England coast, which Mia Devlin and her friends are sworn to protect from harm. An ancient curse will doom the island unless Mia can face her past and accept the help she needs to face down and triumph over evil. The problem is that the man offering the help is the man who left her--and the island--years ago. Sandra Burr creates subtly different voices and accents for the different characters. Her pacing is excellent, and she conveys just the right amount of expression and emotion to make listening a light and thoroughly enjoyable experience. J.D.P. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About the Author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

News