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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 show more 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 show lessTags
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Face The Fire is the conclusion to Nora Roberts' Three Sisters trilogy about a trio of witches and inhabitants of an island (Three Sisters) off the coast of New England who are forced to battle a three-hundred-year-old curse or suffer the consequences. Mia, the island's bookstore owner, most powerful witch, and last to face the curse, must also deal with her harbored heartbreak over ex-boyfriend Sam, who returns to Three Sisters and back into her life.
This is one of a few Nora Roberts series I can read again and again, and have often done so. Face The Fire served as my first introduction to Ms. Roberts' work or romance literature in general and I immediately fell in love, even though it was the conclusion to the Three Sisters' Trilogy. show more I think I wanted to be Mia! I loved everything about her life, home, bookstore, looks, and powers. She's such a compelling character and it was easy to feel drawn in. Since I entered this world on the tail end of the trilogy, I also swooned over Sam's charm and personality, not knowing the true extent of his exact faults or the consequences of his actions from any brief mentions in Dance Upon The Air and Heaven And Earth.
This novel made me an instant Nora Roberts fan (if it wasn't obvious enough). I frantically sought the first two in this series (this is still my favorite) and anything with her name on the cover afterwards. I love the way she gives her characters such depth and allows you to embrace them wholly, flaws and all. In fact, in my first reading, I found it hard to believe the characters were less than perfect. Their frustrations and emotional turmoils seemed reasonable. Reading now, over a decade later, I can see small yet agonizing character traits that don't quite fit. However, it's still a romance novel so the drama needs to happen somehow, am I right?
What made me pick up the book in the first place was the magical aspect to the storyline. That alone made it feel as though I was reading any other book and not a story of a bare-chested fantasy man with perfect pecs and long, flowing hair holding a beautiful, voluptuous fantasy woman with equally long, flowing hair. Ms. Roberts has a talent of telling a story in such imaginative detail that I'm there for every second of it, without any part feeling forced for the sake of conflict or unrealistic to the point of losing my connection with it.
After reading the first two and re-reading the third again, I'm pleased that I read it first as I found it to be by far the most enjoyable. Nell and Zack's romance was cute and Ripley and Mac were adorably sexy in their story, but Mia and Sam downright sizzled! Face The Fire indeed! It is also still my favorite NR book, and my favorite of her trilogies (the Gallagher trilogy at a very close second). Highly recommend, but do read the trilogy in order. show less
This is one of a few Nora Roberts series I can read again and again, and have often done so. Face The Fire served as my first introduction to Ms. Roberts' work or romance literature in general and I immediately fell in love, even though it was the conclusion to the Three Sisters' Trilogy. show more I think I wanted to be Mia! I loved everything about her life, home, bookstore, looks, and powers. She's such a compelling character and it was easy to feel drawn in. Since I entered this world on the tail end of the trilogy, I also swooned over Sam's charm and personality, not knowing the true extent of his exact faults or the consequences of his actions from any brief mentions in Dance Upon The Air and Heaven And Earth.
This novel made me an instant Nora Roberts fan (if it wasn't obvious enough). I frantically sought the first two in this series (this is still my favorite) and anything with her name on the cover afterwards. I love the way she gives her characters such depth and allows you to embrace them wholly, flaws and all. In fact, in my first reading, I found it hard to believe the characters were less than perfect. Their frustrations and emotional turmoils seemed reasonable. Reading now, over a decade later, I can see small yet agonizing character traits that don't quite fit. However, it's still a romance novel so the drama needs to happen somehow, am I right?
What made me pick up the book in the first place was the magical aspect to the storyline. That alone made it feel as though I was reading any other book and not a story of a bare-chested fantasy man with perfect pecs and long, flowing hair holding a beautiful, voluptuous fantasy woman with equally long, flowing hair. Ms. Roberts has a talent of telling a story in such imaginative detail that I'm there for every second of it, without any part feeling forced for the sake of conflict or unrealistic to the point of losing my connection with it.
After reading the first two and re-reading the third again, I'm pleased that I read it first as I found it to be by far the most enjoyable. Nell and Zack's romance was cute and Ripley and Mac were adorably sexy in their story, but Mia and Sam downright sizzled! Face The Fire indeed! It is also still my favorite NR book, and my favorite of her trilogies (the Gallagher trilogy at a very close second). Highly recommend, but do read the trilogy in order. show less
Though this series as a whole is a favorite for me, Mia's (and Sam's) story is my pick of the three. While Mia, from the first book, has always come across as wise, sassy and fiercely protective of those she loves, it was in this book that we come to realize just how carefully she has constructed the protection around her own heart. Sam's return to the island not only serves to knock against the shield a time or two, but also, as a male witch, makes for an interesting perspective in their circle.
Everything the circle has fought for since Nell came to the island, everything fate has been leading to for three hundred years, has led to Mia's cliffs and a final showdown that will call everything they have against the growing dark. This is show more truly a book that doesn't let up until the final page, and despite the many, many times I've reread it, it's a joy each time. show less
Everything the circle has fought for since Nell came to the island, everything fate has been leading to for three hundred years, has led to Mia's cliffs and a final showdown that will call everything they have against the growing dark. This is show more truly a book that doesn't let up until the final page, and despite the many, many times I've reread it, it's a joy each time. show less
To recap the trilogy: Nell came to Three Sisters Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, looking to escape an abusive husband (a la Sleeping with the Enemy). She found a sisterhood of witches with Ripley and Mia and true love with Ripley's brother. In the second installment, Ripley, the witch with the biggest chip on her shoulder needed to chill out. She found true love with a witch researcher. In Face the Fire, it is Mia's turn to find her true love. The only problem is, her true love is someone who walked away from her many years ago, leaving deep scars and a toughened exterior. While I appreciated the fact Mia's story ran through the earlier installments, I was disappointment when she decided she could have a sexual relationship with show more long lost love, Sam. Like the other plots in the Three Sisters Island trilogy, there is an element of evil that must be vanquished before anyone can live happily ever after. show less
Series Info/Source: This is third (and final) book in the Three Sisters Island Trilogy. I borrowed this on ebook from the library.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book final book in the Three Sisters Island trilogy. There were some things I enjoyed more about this book and a couple things I enjoyed less about this book when compared to the first two
This is the book that finally follows Mia. When she was a young adult the love of her life, Sam, left the island...and now he is returning in hopes of winning back Mia's affections. Meanwhile the evil curse of the island is becoming much more aggressive and actively attacking both Mia and those she loves.
I continue to enjoy the cozy, small town community on Three Sisters Island and really love the show more relationship that these three witchy women develop. We get to see a lot more dark magic and witch magic in this book and things definitely get a bit more dire and dangerous than they were in the previous two books. I really enjoyed a lot of the dark magic around the curse and liked how that part of the story wrapped up.
I did however feel like this book was the most dated of the books in this series. Mia is a pretty girly girl and there is a lot of oh, boys will be boys, attitude that I rolled my eyes at. Sam is a very pushy guy and there was one sex scene in particular that was a bit violent for my liking....and having Mia say she liked it like that was pretty uncomfortable. I think Sam is by far the most alpha male in this series and I would have liked him to lean in to his magic a bit more. Also I never feel like we get a very satisfying explanation for why Sam was gone for 8 years. I guess this is all to say that I didn't really enjoy Sam and Mia as characters or their relationship as much as I enjoyed Nell and Ripley's stories.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this. It was both my favorite and least favorite book of the series depending on which aspect I think about. I liked the story around the curse and all the magic that was included. I did not like Mia and Sam and how they treated each other or how there was all of this "hee, hee, giggle, giggle I guess boys will just do these things". This is the first Nora Roberts series I have read and I liked it but didn't love it. A lot of the story feels a bit formulaic. I will probably read another series by her because she has so much out there. I am curious to see if all of her books follow the same types of patterns. show less
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book final book in the Three Sisters Island trilogy. There were some things I enjoyed more about this book and a couple things I enjoyed less about this book when compared to the first two
This is the book that finally follows Mia. When she was a young adult the love of her life, Sam, left the island...and now he is returning in hopes of winning back Mia's affections. Meanwhile the evil curse of the island is becoming much more aggressive and actively attacking both Mia and those she loves.
I continue to enjoy the cozy, small town community on Three Sisters Island and really love the show more relationship that these three witchy women develop. We get to see a lot more dark magic and witch magic in this book and things definitely get a bit more dire and dangerous than they were in the previous two books. I really enjoyed a lot of the dark magic around the curse and liked how that part of the story wrapped up.
I did however feel like this book was the most dated of the books in this series. Mia is a pretty girly girl and there is a lot of oh, boys will be boys, attitude that I rolled my eyes at. Sam is a very pushy guy and there was one sex scene in particular that was a bit violent for my liking....and having Mia say she liked it like that was pretty uncomfortable. I think Sam is by far the most alpha male in this series and I would have liked him to lean in to his magic a bit more. Also I never feel like we get a very satisfying explanation for why Sam was gone for 8 years. I guess this is all to say that I didn't really enjoy Sam and Mia as characters or their relationship as much as I enjoyed Nell and Ripley's stories.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this. It was both my favorite and least favorite book of the series depending on which aspect I think about. I liked the story around the curse and all the magic that was included. I did not like Mia and Sam and how they treated each other or how there was all of this "hee, hee, giggle, giggle I guess boys will just do these things". This is the first Nora Roberts series I have read and I liked it but didn't love it. A lot of the story feels a bit formulaic. I will probably read another series by her because she has so much out there. I am curious to see if all of her books follow the same types of patterns. show less
Too mushy for me. Plus, I hate the "I'll never let another man in my heart again!" trope. Codswallop. But the magic was fun.
Still, I gorged myself on the story, mostly all in one sitting, and while I feel the need to detox, I still can't say I disliked the read. NR's knows how to write a scene, a setting, a friendship. She knows how to reuse, renew and recycle story elements too, but even though I saw her doing it I still kept reading. Not sure if that's a compliment to her or a slam on me, but there it is.
I liken these books to Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches (on white bread). They aren't meant to sustain or nourish, but every now and again, they hit the spot.
Still, I gorged myself on the story, mostly all in one sitting, and while I feel the need to detox, I still can't say I disliked the read. NR's knows how to write a scene, a setting, a friendship. She knows how to reuse, renew and recycle story elements too, but even though I saw her doing it I still kept reading. Not sure if that's a compliment to her or a slam on me, but there it is.
I liken these books to Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches (on white bread). They aren't meant to sustain or nourish, but every now and again, they hit the spot.
This is, by far, my favourite of the trilogy. Mia is the sort of strong female character that I LOVE. I adore that she was strong enough to look inside herself, to realize what she needed to do, to recognize her own weaknesses. That she has a blindside when it came to Sam made her human and made me like her all the more. When Sam first entered the scene here, I was a little reluctant to accept him with powers, but I quickly came to the conclusion that Mia needed someone exactly like Sam; she couldn't have been paired with anyone less. Her relationship had to have been deeply woven within her being for her to accept it, and NR did a fantastic job of bringing that mystical part to life without being too cheesy. LOVED this one.
This is the final book in the series and we deal with the final part of the curse. Mia lost her love Sam logan 10 years ago, he left her broken hearted, but unlike her ancestor she found a way to survive the loss and may have even grown stronger despite it, Then Sam comes back to the island and she has to face not only her part of the curse, but her broken heart too. I thought this was a great conclusion to the trilogy. It did a great job of wrapping up all the storylines. I like how strong and independent Mia is. Sam has a lot to live up to earn her love in my opinion after the hurt he caused. I'm actually kinda on the fence about him, there were things I liked about his character, but at time I felt he should get thrown in the sea show more too. I think they were a good match ultimately though.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com show less
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com show less
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Author Information
1,121+ Works 434,420 Members
Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland on October 10, 1950. Her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published in 1981. Since then, she has written more than 200 novels. She writes romances under her own name including Montana Sky, Blue Smoke, Carolina Moon, The Search, Chasing Fire, The Witness, The Perfect Hope, Inner Harbor, Dark show more Witch, Shadow Spell, The Collector, The Villa, The Liar, The Obsession, and Shelter in Place. She writes crime novels under the pseudonym of J. D. Robb including the In Death series. She has been given the Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into their Hall of Fame. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Face the Fire
- Original publication date
- 2014-05-20
- People/Characters
- Mia Devlin; Sam Logan; Nell Channing Todd; Zack Todd; Ripley Todd Booke; MacAllister Booke (show all 7); Lulu
- Important places
- Three Sisters Island (Fictional); Massachusetts, USA
- Epigraph
- Ô amour ! Ô feu ! D'un seul long baiser,
Il a, jadis, aspiré mon âme entière
A travers mes lèvres ;
Comme le soleil levant boit la rosée.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
O love! O fire! once he drew
With one long kiss my whole soul through
My lips; as sunlight drinketh dew.
--Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Dedication
- To lovers, old and new.
- First words
- Elle avait le coeur brisé, au point que chaque instant de sa vie n'était qu'une souffrance.
Her heart was broken. The jagged shards of it stabbed at her soul until each hour, each moment, of what her life had become was a misery. - Last words*
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)En riant, il la souleva dans ses bras et tous deux virevoltèrent sous la voûte étoilée qui, cette nuit-là, brillait d'un éclat surnaturel.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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