I've just finished reading Heaven and Earth, and quite frankly I loved it. It is rare that you find such a strong wilful woman who isn't blond and beautiful and delicate. This is a woman ruled by her emotions, which is where her powers lay. The story picks up very well from the last book, and basically I love Ripley's character. The book is enchanting and a great read it contains one of Roberts's main talents of combining suspense and humour, which is actually quite rare in books. I was impressed with the way it stood alone (although I did read Dancing in the Air first). I think it's defiantly a gem and look forward to reading the next book (Facing the Fire) and I also look forward to seeing other strong minded, confident heroines in future books!