The madness let loose on Salem Town was growing.  The death toll rising each day, and yet not one of the innocents murdered was what their pious accusers sought, not one was a witch.   It was with heavy hearts that the women known as Air, Earth and Fire cast their last spell on the mainland.  This night an island would be magically born, to rise up from the coast and spin itself into new life beyond the reach of the mad men, and crazed accusers.  This night the three would cast their circle, and create their own sanctuary where they could live free from fear following their beliefs and harm none.  Still, evil has many forms…

So begins Three Sisters Island Trilogy, my favorite Nora Roberts trilogy to date.  One that I re-read often, for I can identify with each of the main women characters so easily.

Nell Channing is on the run both away from the past and toward…here.  This island rising in the waters off the Massachusetts coast is sanctuary, freedom and a powerful sense of home.  Three Sisters Lighthouse, up there on the cliffs, had drawn her as no other painting ever had.  She had to see this place with her own eyes, and seeing she simply knew.  On this tiny scrap of land, far away from the life that died on another cliff, she could make her stand, create her own life anew.  She could stop running.

Dance Upon The Air introduces all of the characters within this trilogy.  Each character in the modern day story is somewhat represented by their counterpart in the legend of the creation of Three Sisters Island.  Three women and one man are modern day witches.  One who firmly believes that the legend is true and will come to pass unless the three come together once again to fight the ultimate evil that threatens both the life of the island and each individual witch as well.  One who once embraced her power and then by her own choice set it aside and now scoffs at anything relating to legend or hocus pocus.  One who doesn’t know she has power, and with innocent delight slowly learns and grows into the quietly powerful woman she was meant to be.  And one who left, walked away to save themselves from what destiny seemed to push them towards only to find that home truly is both a destination and a destiny fulfilled.

I strongly recommend this trilogy.  It builds book by book to a stunning conclusion.  Along the way, the characters come to life.  I enjoyed the way that although each book had it’s main “sister” and her own story, it also included every other character as they all went through this life experience together.  It truly is a great read, and I hope you’ll pick it up and discover the magic for yourself.

Dance Upon The Air  is available at Amazon and on Kindle.

Most people have a special shelf on their bookcase that is reserved for those books that have earned the title “Keeper”.

So, what you may ask is a “Keeper”?

Fair question.

There are some books that touch a special part of our reading hearts.  The characters are exciting, believable and we want to know more at the ending of the story.

These are the Keepers.  The books that a dedicated (addicted) reader would pick up to re-read over a newly published one sitting beside it.

This site is dedicated to the books (both new and old) that line my Keeper Bookshelves.

Truth is, that shelf keeps expanding.

Acheron  – A Dark-Hunter Novel –

I’ve waited for this book for a very long time.  Being a fan of  Sherrilyn Kenyon’s many series insures that on publication day I’ll be at the nearest bookstore.

Like millions of fans worldwide, I had been wanting Ash’s story.  He is a strong, compelling character and the more he was on the edges of stories the more I wanted, no even needed to understand him.

I was not in the least bit disappointed.  In fact, once I began reading Acheron I literally could not put it down.  I started it on a Saturday afternoon and stayed at it into the wee hours of Sunday morning when I turned the last page, fully and completely satisfied.

In the world of ancient gods and demi-gods, we of the modern world must trust the author to transport us to that reality, to take our hand and guide us through an unknown territory in a completely believable way.  I left my world and entered Ash’s.

In Acheron we actually have two stories.  We finally discover where Ash came from, what happened to him to mold him into the man he is in the modern day series.  And we have his modern day story, where finally Ash discovers his own unique soulmate.

I don’t want to give away any of the story.  Perhaps that’s unfair in this type of blog – but on this one I honestly feel to do so would take away from your own reading experience.

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I wish, I really wish that I could say I loved the middle and final books of this “one huge book” trilogy.

But I didn’t.

I had hopes at the first book but then… *sigh*

I have yet to write a “this is horrible, don’t waste your hard earned money” type of a review… but I would strongly suggest borrowing this series from your local public library.  Then if you don’t like it – it won’t hurt so much.

Diehard Eve Duncan fans will probably love this continuous story trilogy.  I called myself a diehard fan, once upon a time.

In my opinion, these three books minus the fluff fill-ins, the recapping of the previous book(s) – condensed into one hardback book would have been awesome, and told the story better.  Again, my opinion.

But I would have given that “condensed” novel high praises.

Evil rarely wears a twisted, ugly face.  Why give itself away too soon?

A kind, helpful face is not always what it appears to be either – evil can be found behind any face.

James Doane is not at all what he seems.  He shows an extraordinarily jovial, kind face to the world.  What he plans to do makes a mockery of that face.

Eve Duncan has spent years tracking down the man who kidnapped and killed her 5 year old daughter, Bonnie.  At long last, Bonnie’s killer has been dealt what he deserves.

Eve continues her forensic sculpting to help bring murdered, lost children that have been stolen back to their families.  When she works her magic on the skulls of unknown children closure of sort can finally be given to their waiting families.  It is her life work, it brings her purpose and comfort.

It also brought her to the attention of James Doane.

While Eve is a strong woman, strong willed some might add, she is surrounded by those who love her and see her as the center of their world.  Joe Quinn, former Navy SEAL, has stood beside Eve through her battle to find Bonnie.  He took the longest time to actually see Bonnie as Eve does, but he loves them both with a deep commitment that nothing can stand against.  Jane MacGuire came into Eve’s life during the search for Bonnie.  A street-wise kid, she was adopted by Eve and has named herself Eve’s guardian ever since.

Eve is one of the lucky ones.  She is surrounded by those that love her and would fight the demons of hell for her.  And they are about to go into battle.

James Doane has set into motion ways to separate Eve from her protectors.  Jane’s faithful dog, Toby has suddenly become ill.  The half wolf companion needs the special help that only one doctor can give to save his life.  And Jane will stop at nothing to be certain that Toby lives.

Pure luck sent Joe out of state – poison kept Jane at Toby’s side while he fights for his life.  Eve is alone.

A red pickup truck holding a burned skull and James Doane has made it’s way to Eve’s home in Georgia.  Soon she will be under the control of pure evil.

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And a very, very Happy Book Lovers Day to each and every one of you!

The 9th day of August, every single year, is officially National Book Lovers Day.

How cool is that?

Finally I’m rewarded for all those years of having my nose buried in a book.  (but, sadly, it’s not a paid holiday) — we should work on that fellow book lovers.

🙂

Books are my passion, my love affair,  have been and always will be, my friend.

They are my escape from my own troubles.  They teach me the basics of just about anything I could possibly need to know.  They transport me out of the now into the vast reaches of my imagination.

Each book is… personal.  Some I will love with a passion and revisit often, other are passing fancies and even those that I should have tossed on the trash pile (but couldn’t bring myself to actually do) have shown me what I don’t like.

I honestly cannot imagine my life without a book in my hand.  Yeah, really.

So Happy Book Lovers Day to all my fellow book devourers – go treat yourself to a new one…  just because.

Image courtesy of dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Oh how I wish I had spent the past six months beside a beautiful waterfall, relaxing, reading without a care in the world.

Unfortunately – life got crazy and nothing online got done.  Which is driving me even crazier than usual.

You will see a lot of reviews in the coming days – and few of them will be in the order that I read them.  But at least they will be up and running for others to see and read about.

Unlike a romance novel, life often gets in the way of the fun stuff.

I’ve decided to take the jump into some Reading Challenges this year.  I’ve no clue at all how well I’ll do, but that shouldn’t stop the fun of taking part in some enjoyable reading.

Who among us doesn’t love a good werewolf tale?  Or imagining that gorgeous man over there shifting into a magnificent big cat?  Some of my favorite stories include a furry male.

That made signing up for Parajunkee’s Shifter Challenge for 2014 such an easy decision.

Read 10 books by December 31, 2014 that have a shifter as the main or a supporting character.  Post a review on the Shifters review page – and just have fun.  How hard can that be?  🙂

Sound interesting?  Then click on the link in this post, or the Shifter’s Challenge badge in the sidebar and join in the fun.

I finally gave in.  I just can’t keep up with two separate book blogs.

I really thought that I could keep up with the reading, posting and such but – I’m just too scattered.  So I’ve combined my two book blogs into one:   Keeper Bookshelf.

You might see some posts where the novel has been out for awhile – but that’s okay.  I review books as I read them, and since many of my reading material comes from the library – I’m on the “hold” list a lot.

So, no matter when the book review shows up – I hope it helps you to decide if a novel is interesting enough for you.  That’s the important part.

(and hopefully, with only one blog to keep updated – the novels will be more current to their publication dates)