Customer Reviews

Heartmate

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

HeartMate won two PEARLS from the Writerspace Paranormal Romance Readers Group: one for Best Fantasy/Magical Book of 2001 and one for Best New Author of 2001, plus an Honorable Mention for Best Futuristic of 2001. Add these to the four stars that Romantic Times Magazine gave to HeartMate and this gets a five star rating for a wonderful new magical world of romance.

Rand T'Ash and Danith Mallow are two strong-willed individuals who are each struggling with their own unique magical/Psi abilities and all the ups and downs associated with being from two different social classes. Rand can't quite understand why Danith doesn't readily accept the love which fate has predestined for them. He must learn the hard way that love from the heart is stronger than any bond fate or magic might provide.

Nothing comes easy for the inhabitants of Celta, a trend which lends itself to more tales from this fantasy world where not everyone is capable of magic but where everyone is vulnerable to the power of love. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Rand T'Tash looked all his life for his HeartMate, his own true love with whom he could start a family. In preparation, he created something spectacular and priceless from deep within his soul -- HeartGift. The HeartGift is something that a mate gives to his one true love as a gift, something that only the one true love can see.

Danith was a common, plain nobody, hidden in the world of nothingness. She couldn't see the true love before her -- the person who could heal her aching heart and complete her inside and out.

Rand and Danith find each other with the help of a familiar with a taste for luxuries and a magical cat called Princess. When Rand tries to give Danith the HeartGift, she rejects it and then it is stolen which is tricky since it should not have been able to have been seen to anyone else but them.

HEARTMATE was a marvelous, refreshing romance and Robin D. Owens should be commended. It was futuristic, magical, filled with love and set up for more books to come which is all my favorite things. I'm hoping for a sequel or more!

In the delirium of his third Passage when he gained mastery of his psi powers, T'Ash created a HeartGift that binds him to his future HeartMate. He had fashioned a necklace that lacked his current level of graceful craftsmanship, but that holds his creative, carnal energy. The fine jewel in the center is a large roseamber pendant with an inner flaw that takes a different appearance to each person who views it. Only T'Ash and his HeartMate can see the true image captured within. The necklace will attract and affect only his HeartMate.

Danith Mallow prefers the charming and whimsical over the expensive and gilt laden. She comes to the jewelry shop because she's drawn to T'Ash's most sensual and original creations. But the stunning necklace that T'Ash holds out to her at once attracts and repulses her. Overwhelmed by her responses to it, she believes he's cast a filthy seduction spell in an effort to win a common woman to his bed. It leaves her feeling cheapened and oddly betrayed.

A Null, someone unaffected by psi gifts, steals the necklace from the counter before T'Ash can convince Danith to take it. Worse, an heir to another Great House calls in his debt of honor, forcing T'Ash to focus on another task rather than searching for the necklace and winning his HeartMate. Now his once serene life is suddenly in a shambles. He had believed pursuing his HeartMate would be simple, easy. Instead, the task becomes incredibly complicated and confusing.

Danith wants a family, marriage to a simple man, and a peaceful life, not a nobleman with Flair and dubious intentions. T'Ash, the man who once moved in Downwind circles, and now in rich noble circles, is too different than Danith, too intense and too alone. She's an average woman of common birth and was raised in an orphanage. She's learned to accept that there are many things she cannot have, like an extraordinary psi gift, and T'Ash only reminds her of her insignificance. Danith's fears result in a habit of refusing T'Ash, of disbelieving his words and running from him. Yet their destiny drives T'Ash to face her rejection again and again, even though his inept attempts at courtship only seem to infuriate her.

Accompanied by his familiar, Zanth, T'Ash will steal the heart of readers with his inept wooing of his HeartMate and his fear of sharing his inner self. His incredible abilities balance a carefully protected vulnerability that makes him endearing to readers. Zanth's attitude about life, that "Life is good," as he stalks sewer rats and arranges jewels also provides excellent amusement. Indeed, author Robin Owens' world of Celta that includes psi gifts and familiars who communicate telepathically is delicious. Rich with humor and nuance, presenting danger on multiple levels while remaining utterly irresistible, HEARTMATE will capture readers' hearts, and leaving them hoping for a sequel. Very highly recommended.

I understand this is the first for this author, but not the last I hope. It is a great book and held my attention from the beginning. I love books that are different and with an sense of humor as well as believable characters. Robin Owens has both in this book. The fantasy and magic are something else I enjoy. The author uses all of these elements in the story to their best advantage. I cared about about TAsh and about Danith. I can see more stories coming from this book with Holly and his brother for instance. Perhaps also Danith's best friend could have her own love story. She has no flair and can't have children, in this world both are a huge handicape. It would take a special man for her. Please continue writing and could you hurry, I am almost done with this one and want a new one soon. thanks dj

I'm an avowed (and avid) Fantasy and Romance reader. This means I've 'seen it all' and 'read it all'...*yawn* Ho Hum. But, I was incredibly surprised by this book!! It was a new and innovative world with a great twist in the caste system of society. The use of magic (always a welcome addition!) is not restricted to the high and mighty or necessarily a 'birthright'. I enjoyed the 'Equal Opportunity' way this book was written. It flowed. It moved gracefully and was brash when it should have been. The introduction of a telepathic cat species into Robin D. Owens' world was wonderful. For those of you who are catless, trust ne...this is what they are really like! I would have liked to see more...well, of *everything*! I gave it a 4 out of 5 because I thought the end was rushed - You get the feeling that she didn't know how to end a story. I'm hoping it was rushed because there is more planned for the 3 of them or more in this universe!

Robin D. Owens demonstrates she has a strong voice and is endowed with magical imagery. I finished a similar Offworld tale by another writer, one with potential, but the lack of imagery crippled the book. The writer failed to 'see' the world she created, failed to root in sound logic the things that happened. She 'decided' things would happen, not because it was a natural extension of the special world and the characters. That is NOT the case with HEARTMATE. Owens paints a special world, grounded solidly because of her logic and imagery.

In her tale of the world of Celta, a settlement by Earth space explorers, it's ruled by the thirteen royal houses of the
Twenty-five first families that settled this new planet. They had left Earth, because they were different, they were gifted with "Flair" meaning they were witches and warlocks. They have various powers and these have developed over the centuries, amplified by Celta.

This tales centers on Rand Ash, now called T'Ash. At six years old, his family was destroyed in a fire set by a rival house, planning on ending the whole house of Ash. He escaped, after watching his two older brothers, father and mother die, as his world went up in flames. Downwind - the slums of Celta - offered him shelter. As a grown man, he left behind the harsh life there, and hunts down those who killed his family. Then he rebuilt the GreatHouse of Ash.

His vibrant flair centers on gems, so he is a master jeweler. He and his Fam, familiar Zanth - a large tomcat that has magical powers and can talk telepathically to T'Ash - are respected among the GreatHouses. Only life is hollow for T'ash. He needs his HeartMate. People can marry on Celta as they please, but the ultimate in marriages is one with your HeartMate, a match to you in every way.

Using a scrying bowl and special divining dice, T'ash learns his HeartMate is a woman named Danith Mallow. She often comes to his jewellery store and makes small purchases. He is very pleased by what he can scry about this woman. However, Zanth has to pass his own inspection before he concurs. He begins turning up on Danith's doorstep to see if this woman is worthy of his FamMan. Zanth tells T'ash Danith is special, her Flair aura is pink, unheard of in the Ruling Houses of Celta, and that she is destined to be a great animal healer.

T'ash immediately tries to woo her in his inept fashion, showering her and her cat Pansy, who prefers to be called Princess, with jewels and flowers. Instead of winning his HeartMate, he frightens her. She feels she is a nobody. Raised in an orphanage and deemed to have no Flair, she is content, secure in her common world. Only T'ash is relentless, and changes her whole life. These changes are not welcomed but fought against as she fears him and his powers overwhelming her. She cannot possible be the HeartMate to this powerful lord.

Owens created a vivid world of Celta, she uses her "Flair" of imagery to bring the magical realm to you with gentle, strong and emotional characters. She takes the pagan roots of the Lord and Lady, brings them to her new world, and remakes them into the foundation for the wonderful tale. Zanth is especially well done. The tomcat FAM that loves jewellery, is good at fighting, and has his own way of doing things. You feel for poor Danith, her whole life nearly overwhelmed by this powerful lord, and yet you take T'Ash into your heart as well. A man with the ability to do anything he pleases, yet is so inept in wooing the lady of his heart.

It just does not get any better than this. Heart Thief the sequel (which I love even more) and Heart Duel follow. Most especially impressive to know this was her first novel, even more impress that she shows she can do it again and again.

This book is lots of fun to read. The world created is so rich in detail, that I can see, hear and smell it. I enjoyed the stubborn hero and heroine as they grew into people worthy of great love. The secondary characters are also three-dimensional -- I adored Zanth - the telepathic cat. I am sure that my cats often think the same way.

This book has it all. It made me laugh out loud at times, while other times I felt frustrated by the characters' actions and still other times I felt like crying.
I recommend this book highly!

In Druida City, Celta, Rand T'Ash, a renowned jeweler, is lonely until his psi power, the Flair, informs him that "Today you will meet your HEARTMATE". Suddenly his adrenaline flows to extreme levels as Rand anxiously awaits the arrival at his shop the Phoenix of whom he has dreamed of forever. As he anxiously awaits her arrival, Rand pulls out of his safe his HeartGift, a special necklace for his beloved.

However, instead of falling into his arms as he has fantasized, Danith Mallow seems frightened of the over eager and clearly ardent Rand with his brooding sensual dark looks at her. She flees his shop and while he falls into in self-pity, someone steals his HeartGift. Now Rand must show the patience of Job (minor anachronism) while courting his reluctant beloved and seeking the stolen necklace that symbolizes everything he cherishes in life.

HEARTMATE is a jocular fantasy romance with a touch of mystery that showcases Robin D Owens' ability to combine the varying elements into an entertaining novel that engages fans of all three genres. The lead couple is a delightful duo and his familiar Zanth (don't even go there) adds humor and feline advice to the mix. The amusing one-sitting story line works on all levels as readers from the different genres will want Ms. Owens to return to Celta for more tales of heartmates.

Harriet Klausner

It is amazing to think this is a first book from Owens. Her storyteller's ability is strong, her use of humour done with flair, her adapting ancient Celt lore into a whole new world is done with strong imagination. It is obvious there will be more
"Heart" tale from the world of Celta, where there are gifted people who are blessed with Fams (familiars). Anyone who loves kitties will enough this tale that is so original.

I cannot wait for Heart Thief! One of the best books I have ever read, so I hope there will be many more visits to Celta!

Are you a fan of Dara Joy or Jayne Castle? Then you'll absolutely love Robin D. Owens' HeartMate. Just imagine a planet settled by descendants of a Celtic society, people with powers that were feared and misunderstood on earth. Generations later, a woman raised in an orphanage hopes the greatest power of all, love, can win her wild Lord while he, of noble lineage but a rough past, fights to win the hand of his HeartMate. Although this is a fantasy, Ms. Owens has created believable characters who will leave you wanting more. For comic relief, Ms. Owens knows you can never go wrong with a cat...and what a cat!