Series Review: Celta’s HeartMates by Robin D. Owens

Reviewer: Holly
HeartMate by Robin D. Owens
Series: Celta's Heartmates #1
Also in this series: Heart Fate, HeartMate, Heart Dance, Heart Journey, Heart Fire, Heart Legacy, Heart Change, Heart Sight (Celta's Heartmates), Heart Secret
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: 2006
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 340
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Series Rating:

All his life, Rand T'Ash has looked forward to meeting his HeartMate, with whom he could begin a family. Once a street tough, now a respected nobleman and artisan, he has crafted the perfect HeartGift, which, in the custom of the psychically gifted population of the planet Celta, is the way a man finds—and attracts—his wife…

Danith Mallow is irresistibly drawn to the magnificent necklace on display in T'Ash's shop, but she is wary of its creator, despite an overpowering attraction. In a world where everyone is defined by their psychic ability, Danith has little, placing her at the opposite end of the social spectrum from T'Ash. But T'Ash refuses to accept her rejection and sees it as a challenge instead. They are HeartMates, but can T'Ash persuade his beloved to accept her destiny by his side?

Last year I read and reviewed Heart Fate, book 7 in Robin D. Owens‘ Celta’s HeartMates series. It was the first book I read in the series and I adored it. I started glomming her backlist shortly after that, but held off on reading the rest of the books. Recently Azteclady reviewed Heart Mate, the first book, and it reminded me that I needed to catch up on the series.

I read these books, with the exception of Heart Dance (it didn’t load properly on my e-reader and I haven’t fixed it yet, so I skipped it and plan to go back to it later), back-to-back. Ames and I reviewed Heart Mate together, but I decided instead of reviewing each book in the series separately, I’d just review the remaining books lightning style in one post.

Read the full review here. I definitely enjoyed it, though there were parts that frustrated me. The world-building was fantastic and made me want to continue on with the series.

I loved Zanth, T’Ash’s Fam.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Reviewer: Holly
Heart Thief by Robin D. Owens
Series: Celta's Heartmates #2
Also in this series: Heart Fate, HeartMate, Heart Dance, Heart Journey, Heart Fire, Heart Legacy, Heart Change, Heart Sight (Celta's Heartmates), Heart Secret
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 3, 2003
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 331
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Series Rating:

Ruis Elder never asked for his unusual trait—the ability to neutralize others' psychic talents. Because of it, he has always been hated in his own homeland, destined to roam the harsh planet alone. But trouble finds him in front of the ruling Council—and face-to-face with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. There's only one problem: Ailim is on the opposite side of the bench...

Ailim has never before felt such passion coursing through her as she feels in Ruis' presence. And she never thought she would—at least not with a man so far beneath her station, a man who does not even have psychic powers. But even on the planet Celta, love is blind to such details. Separately, Ailim and Ruis must forgo their old lives. But together, they can take on the world...

I wasn’t sure about this book when I first started it. Ruis Elder is a Null, which means he has no magical Flair. I wasn’t sure how that would work in this world, but Owens pulled it off brilliantly.

I really loved both Ruis and Ailim. Their conflict – she is a Judge and he a Fugitive – was interesting and worked well. I really liked that the setting was something new. I especially liked that the council was taken down a peg or two in this book. It showed that they, too, are vulnerable.

Samaba was a great Fam, too. I literally laughed out loud at her antics.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Reviewer: Holly
Heart Duel by Robin D. Owens
Series: Celta's Heartmates #3
Also in this series: Heart Fate, HeartMate, Heart Dance, Heart Journey, Heart Fire, Heart Legacy, Heart Change, Heart Sight (Celta's Heartmates), Heart Secret
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: April 6, 2004
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 324
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Series Rating:

In HeartMate and Heart Thief, award-winning author Robin D. Owens built a world where psychic talents and desires of the heart flourish. Now, she returns to Celta with a story of star-crossed lovers...

Healer Lark Collinson hates the street dueling that is a way of life among the noble families on Celta--it was just such a skirmish that killed her Healer husband and left her a grieving widow. The last thing she wants is to love a man to whom fighting is a way of life--a man like the brashly confident Holm Holly.

All it takes is one brief touch for Holm to know that Lark is his HeartMate, though wooing her will be his greatest challenge. For not only does she despise everything he represents, but the long-standing feud between their families has exploded into even greater violence. Their destiny has been revealed...but at what cost to their own hearts?

Generally the characters capture me as much as the world they live in, but that wasn’t the case for the heroine of this book. Lark was selfish and bitter for 99% of this story. I didn’t connect with her and, to be totally honest, had a hard time even tolerating her for most of the story.

The fact that she hurt Holm again and again without thought was bad enough, but she was a Healer. It didn’t speak well of her, IMO, that she could be so callous in disregarding his feelings for her.

I did love Holm, though I think he took too much upon himself and should have let go of his guilt sooner than he did. Also? He should have held out longer against Lark in the end. She deserved more punishment than she got.

I really liked the additional conflict created because their families were enemies. Especially since it caused something major to happen to Holm’s father, T’Holly.

I liked both Meserv and Phyl, Holm and Lark’s Fams, but they didn’t stand out against some of the others.

Rating: 3 out of 5 (although I hated Lark, I thought the book had redeeming qualities)

Reviewer: Holly
Heart Choice by Robin D. Owens
Series: Celta's Heartmates #4
Also in this series: Heart Fate, HeartMate, Heart Dance, Heart Journey, Heart Fire, Heart Legacy, Heart Change, Heart Sight (Celta's Heartmates), Heart Secret
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: July 5, 2005
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 334
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Series Rating:

With her mystical Celta novels, RITA Award -- winning author Robin D. Owens built a world where psychic talents thrive and desires flourish. Now, she returns with a tale of heart, healing, and the meaning of family...

Due to a genetic disorder, Straif Blackthorn is the last of his line. Determined to rebuild his heritage and protect future generations of Blackthorns from the disease, he works tirelessly to find a cure. Nothing else matters to him...until meets Mitchella Clover...

But Mitchella is not a woman Straif can build a family with, for she is unable to bear children. Unwilling to let his bloodline fail, Straif refuses to pursue his feelings. Mitchella knows that a family is founded on love, not blood, but unless Straif sees this, they cannot be together, no matter how much they desire to be. Only when an unforeseen tragedy threatens to overshadow them do they realize what truly matters--and what they truly mean to each other...

I think the conflict in this book was one of the better of the series so far. I really wasn’t sure how they would resolve the main issue between them.

I really liked both Straif and Michella. I wasn’t sure about Mitchella going into this novel because I disliked her in the first book, but she really worked. Straif was wonderful, though I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to overcome his past for Mitchella.

Their romance was well written and the issues they were dealing with were real and heartbreaking.

I did not like Straif’s Fam, Drina. At all. Which is unfortunate because I’ve really enjoyed all the previous ones.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Reviewer: Holly
Heart Quest by Robin D. Owens
Series: Celta's Heartmates #5
Also in this series: Heart Fate, HeartMate, Heart Dance, Heart Journey, Heart Fire, Heart Legacy, Heart Change, Heart Sight (Celta's Heartmates), Heart Secret
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: September 5, 2006
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 336
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Series Rating:

Tucked away in the Druida City of Celta, Trif Clover knows she has a HeartMate. She wants him so badly she's actually going door-to-door with her charmkey to find him. What she doesn't know is that he has already found her. Guardsman Ilex Winterberry knows that Trif is his HeartMate, but fears that being twice her age, with a short life ahead of him, he will only scare her away. He yearns to be close to her--and she needs to be close to him. There's a killer on the loose, stalking those with unstable Flair psi power like Trif's. Facing his most difficult task yet, Ilex must reveal the truth of their destiny or else leave Trif in the grasp of a vicious murderer...

I liked that the characters in this novel were of the lower nobility. It was a nice change from the previous entries in the series.

I understood Ilex’s reason for wanting to keep Trif away from him, especially in the beginning. I really liked the way the story progressed and the overall arc of the romance.

Trif really matured as the story progressed. I loved the way she pushed for what she wanted.

I can’t remember the names of the Fams in this story, but I remember that Ilex’s is a fox and I really liked him. Trif’s Fam is a cat who decides she wants to get “painted” and she cracked me up.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Reviewer: Holly
Heart Dance by Robin D. Owens
Series: Celta's Heartmates #6
Also in this series: Heart Fate, HeartMate, Heart Dance, Heart Journey, Heart Fire, Heart Legacy, Heart Change, Heart Sight (Celta's Heartmates), Heart Secret
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: May 6, 2008
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 352
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Series Rating:

DuFleur Thyme is a scientist who�s secretly experimenting with time. She�ll allow no distractions from her work�not even from a HeartMate. Meanwhile, Saille T�Willow has sent his HeartGift out into the world in hopes of finding his HeartMate, who, it turns out, is DuFleur.

Still, DuFleur wants nothing to do with Saille, especially when she discovers that it was his grandmother who brought about her father�s ruin. Unfortunately, her body can�t help but submit to the passion he stirs within her. But when a scandal threatens Saille�s position as head of the family, will DuFleur stand by his side?

I loved Saille. I thought he was a strong, honorable man. He really stepped up and tried to fix all the problems left by his predecessor. I think I just liked him as a person. He was kind and loving, but also strong enough to stand up for himself and those he loved.

While I understood Dufleur’s reasons for pushing Saille away, I found it became tedious after awhile. It was obvious, even to her, that he loved her, yet she refused to trust him. That became very frustrating. I liked her on her own, I just didn’t care for her with Saille. I did like watching her grow as the story progressed though.

I liked both Myx, Saille’s Fam, and Fairyfoot, Dufleur’s Fam. I especially liked that Fairyfoot had to be taught some manners. She was far too smug for my tastes in the beginning.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Reviewer: Holly
Heart Fate by Robin D. Owens
Series: Celta's Heartmates #7
Also in this series: Heart Fate, HeartMate, Heart Dance, Heart Journey, Heart Fire, Heart Legacy, Heart Change, Heart Sight (Celta's Heartmates), Heart Secret
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: December 7, 2010
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 364
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Series Rating:

Wed to a wealthy older man when she was just a girl, Lahsin Yew runs away from her abusive home to find a new life. At seventeen, she's about to enter her Second Passage, when her Flair?and perhaps her HeartMate?will be revealed. Lahsin finds sanctuary in a secret garden, where she meets Tinne Holly. Though he is her HeartMate, he cannot tell her, and her troubled past prevents her from trusting any man. Pretending to find her by chance, Tinne helps her through her Second Passage. But when the truth is revealed, can she forgive his deception, and learn to trust in her destiny?

See the original review here. I wanted to do a re-read to see if it held up as well as I remember. It did.

I’d have to say this is probably my favorite of the series to date. I love that both characters have suffered greatly and aren’t ready to jump into anything. They both need time to mend and heal. Seeing their relationship grow is beautiful and lovely.

Lahsin bothered me more this time around at the end. Only at the end, though. I still understand her reasons for not wanting to rush into anything, but I felt she took too long about it.

I understood things more this time around, too, especially in regard to Tinne and the things he suffered in the past.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance, I’d highly recommend this one.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Overall I really enjoyed this series. The world is fantastic and the characters are interesting. Reading these is like being transported to another world…one I would love to live in.

Celta’s HeartMates

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