Heart Choice (Celta's HeartMates, Book 4) (edition 2005)

Heart Choice is the perfect title for it. Straif and Mitchella have some hard choices to make.

Straif Blackthorn is the last of his line--his entire family died from a disease that, due to a genetic disorder, they lack immunity to. He's spent his adult life searching the wilds of Celta for a cure, with no success.

Mitchella Clover's life was also changed because of disease. In a family known for its fertility, she's sterile.

When Straif hires Mitchella to renovate his Residence, on the advice of his new Fam, Drina, the attraction is immediate, but both know it can't go anywhere.

Then a distant cousin, unaffected by the genetic disorder, challenges Straif for head of the family, accusing him of neglect, and a series of escalating threats are made to Mitchella, and both of them have to determine what's most important to them.

Every time I get a new Celta story, I'm reminded again why I like them so much. Not only is there convincing world-building of a fascinating environment and system of magic, not only are there compelling characters and a happy-ever-after romantic ending, but the characters have real problems to overcome and life-altering decisions to make. And of course there are those Fams for insight & comic relief. ( )

I've been looking for Straif's story since he first showed up - in Mate, I think, but definitely in Thief. There's a lot more in this one about the way the culture works - the GrandLords/Ladys, GraceLords/Ladys, Nobles, etc. The double attack is interesting. The claimant was stupid to wait that long...particularly since there would have been irreversible damage to the estate in 'another season'. But Mitchella is exactly what Straif needed, in so many ways. Nuada's Sword may be able to do something in a later book about giving him his blood children, but for right now giving up his obsession is by far the best thing he could do. And the fact that that won't make the Blackthorns die out...hmmm, wonder if the other Blackthorn's children show any signs of the Blackthorn Flair? ( )

Every one has to choose their priorities in life and in Heart Choice, the hero proves himself all to human in his choices.

While I admire that love triumphs over all (and it wouldn't be a romance otherwise), I found the hero to be blinded by his ambitions. He was unable to recognize his heart mate, and even then he (briefly) contemplated not being with her.

Just leaves me with the impression that some men can be stupid, I mean human.... ( )

This has been sitting on my TBR shelf for ages and I have no idea why as I've liked all the other books in the series. The next one comes out in a few weeks, so it seemed like a good time to get into gear and read this one.

I'm glad I did. I like Celta and it's people and it was good to visit again. This novel isn't so much about the romance between Straif and Mitchella as it is about facing one's demons and discovering if love can overcome obsession or feed it.

Mitchella has already worked through her demons before the book begins - this one is about Straif as he deals with the loss of his family years ago and very slowly begins to learn that familes are built from love as much as if not more than blood.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and I'm glad there will be another one soon. ( )

Enjoyable read ( )