Dance Upon the Air

I can’t talk about contemporary books without mentioning the genre’s Queen, Nora Roberts. She’s the first romance author I ever read, and I have to say, Dance Upon Air really touched my “90s teenager” soul. Why, you ask?

Well, there was this exceptional time when everything New Age and witchy was in, and everyone listened to Enya, and mooned over Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock in Practical Magic. Ha! Roberts’ Three Sister’s Island series is all that in book form.

Think remote island, three women in the throes of finding love and themselves, with a magical and suspense-filled witchy subplot… show more.

First, I’m a huge Nora Roberts fan and the Three Sisters Island Trilogy is one series that I have read many times. I love the strength of the female characters, their connection to each other, and the passion to do what is right, no matter the challenges they must face. They’re stronger together and form their family and support system. The love each woman finds in each book only cements their connections not just to each other but also they find a home.

Your choices do not have to be your downfall. The love inside you can be your savior. To have a connection with another is a bond that will keep us whole. It could be family, friends, or a lover. Never let another tell you what you can and cannot do. 

I found that the bond of a found family can be the strongest bond of all. To be accepted for who or what you truly are can be the salvation we need.

I‘m cheating a bit here and recommending the trilogy. Nora Roberts is a storyteller par excellence and this trilogy from early in her career pre-curses (see what I did there?) the fantastic tales she will pen later. The trilogy is about three sisters—witches, of course, and their quaint New England hometown. Romance is only part of these stories, but if you like romance, you’ll be happy. Magic and curses abound, all tied up neatly in three books by Queen Nora. 

Women who have to struggle to survive always make for a good story. There’s nothing that makes me want to cheer more than watching a woman realize just how strong and resilient she is. When Nell Channing arrives on Three Sisters Island, she is as fragile as a baby bird. It’s obvious she has lots of secrets and she’s very careful to keep parts of herself hidden from everyone. After getting a job at a local bookstore/cafe, Nell begins to thrive and local sheriff Zack Todd is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I recommend this book… show more.