Heart Fate

I was interested to see how the author would free the two characters from the relationships they were in during the previous books and was agreeably surprised by how well it was managed. It was believable and not too rushed. As a result the romance developed gradually but it worked well. ( )

Good. I like romances with one or both partners recovering from abuse - Lahsin definitely fits that pattern, and Tinne as well to some extent (not abuse, exactly, but a bad time related to his marriage). Tinne's marriage to a woman other than his HeartMate has been part of the story for several books now - I wondered what was going to happen to Genista, since she clearly didn't deserve to be cast off or killed. This end to his marriage was very rich - Genista's choice, the thorough testing of both partners, the pain both of them suffered both in the marriage and with its end. And that's just the background for the real story of this book...Lahsin's learning to trust happened awfully fast - but then, so did the dog's. The self-defense lessons were a good reason to keep them together. And the obstacles between them, unlike most of these stories, were entirely within - aside from T'Yew, and he was a minor bump back at the beginning. No class differences (or not major ones), no strong differences in Flair or age, no obsessions on either part - once they got over their internal, emotional problems they came together much more easily than most of the HeartMates we've read about. And TQ and BalmHeal Residence are being interesting, as is the dog. Not one of the best HeartMate stories, but good. ( )

http://totally2aymless.blogspot.com/2008/09/review-heart-fate.html ( )

One of my favorite authors but this one seemed a bit anemic. I just couldn't get into the characters, they didn't feel 3 dimensional. Even the fams lacked depth. ( )

Heart Fate - Robin D. Owens
Fantasy Romance; Celta, Book 7; 8/10
I found this latest book in Owens' Celtan series to be slow going. I wasn't quite sure if it was me, a flaw in the book or intentional. I have come to the conclusion that it was intentional. This is a slow, gentle book without the swifter more dramatic action of some of the others in the series. Both the main characters are wounded and this book is as much, or possible more, about their healing than it is about their romance. Lahsin is only 17 but was married to a brutish older man at fourteen. As the story begins she runs away, determined to escapse and make her own life. Tinne, the hero, is a little older and, as the story opens, forced to face up to the fact that his marriage is over. The two, HeartMates although only Tinne knows this, meet at a hidden, abandoned estate where both find a sanctuary and a chance to heal. They do so slowly, neither interested in another relationship but gradually discovering a precious friendship with the other. This is a romance as well, so it isn't a spoiler to say these two end up together, but for all that it was relatively quick I didn't find it rushed. It worked well for me, that their HeartMate bond pulled them together even as they were both cautious about another relationship. And in the end it is Lahsin that makes the decision for them, simply by choosing to follow her heart. But she had to do the work first be to in a position to do that, as did Tinne. So a quieter, slower addition to the series, but one I enjoyed. I do like these books and I'm glad to hear Owens has sold several more. ( )