Heart Mate

I recently completed reading the first book in the Celta's Heartmates series by Robin D. Owens. Heart Mate is a wonderful paranormal romance taking place in a futuristic world where psychic gifts are honored and encouraged. As we read the book we find that Celta is a planet that was settled by humans from Earth several centuries ago after having left to find a place where they could live in peace with their abilities. These first settlers are known in the story as First Families.

The main character in Heart Mate is Rand T'Ash who is a descendant of one of the First Families and has powerful psychic gifts. He is also a master jeweler and creates magic with stones. Tragically his family was murdered when he was only six years old, leaving him the only survivor of his noble line. We learn a little of what his life was like as a young boy having to survive in hiding and the emotional scars that taunt him in manhood. T'Ash is lonely and desires a wife but not just any woman will do. He subscribes to the old belief of the Heart Mate and creates a piece of special jewelry called a Heart Gift. Legend says that only the giver and the true soul mate will be able to see the real image within the gift. That is how he will know his mate and she will know him. He figures it will be that easy...she sees the image and she is his forever.

Danith Mallow is from a lower class on Celta and has spent a lifetime of feeling that she has no special gifts and was also orphaned at a young age. She isn't really impressed with the nobility of Celta and wants a simple life surrounded by things and people that she loves. She is a real fan of the jewelry that T'Ash makes and has visited his shop on many occasions to purchase what she can afford on her meager wages. When she sees the image, T'Ash's special image, she is both drawn to it and repulsed at the same time.

Zanth, the cat belonging to T'Ash is also his familiar. They can communicate telepathically. He is an integral part of the story and adds several humorous lines within the plot. His cat perspective and desires can be quite hysterical at times but he also aids his Fam and recognizes the mate for her special nature too. Seems he is always sticking his paw where it shouldn't be and sometimes where it needs to be.

The love story that unfolds is really good. Owens takes the basic concepts of romance and love and weaves them into a fantasy world of the future. Her message along with other authors of romance is that love doesn't necessarily come easy, even when it is meant to be. The magic of love can not be hurried along with magic spells but has to happen in its own way, its own time. I really enjoyed this book and would rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

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