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Celta's Heartmates #8
Heart Change
Signet D'Marigold's lonely life is shaken when a prophet reveals she is a catalyst for change. But to accept her new life-and the charge of the noble child Avellana-means embracing a danger that may be fatal for them both. Especially when Signet's attraction to her new bodyguard signals a secret enemy sworn to destroy them.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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January 21, 2014
Signet D’Marigold is the last of her line, living alone in her lovely sentient Residence. Her personal Flair is for cobbling, making shoes and boots, but what her main Flair is, no one knows. Not even the famous testing stones of T’Ash. Today is her 30th nameday, and she is just so lonely. The friend she made a few weeks ago has left Druida after some major changes in her life. As so many others before her. Signet really doesn’t know what to do anymore. She doesn’t think she can handle another disappointment it T’Ash cannot pinpoint her Flair. Then suddenly the young prophet Tinny T’Vine appears, and he knows what she is! Signet is a catalyst, and he desperately needs her services to guide his 5 year old HeartMate through her first Passage. Avellana Hazel tried to fly when she was three years old, which she could not, and has sustained brain damage from the fall out of a second story window. The Healers have done everything the can for her, and now only time will tell if Avellana will survive Passage.
The Hazel Family offers Signet a hefty fee if she can help their little girl survive. Vinnie’s visions are strong and true, and she is their only hope. But as she is living alone, they have also hired the services of the best fighter of Druida, and that is not a Holly, but Cratag Maytree, the head of the guards of T’Hawthorn. Cratag is not from Druida originally, but from a little village in Britain. After a lot of adventuring he wanted Family and a place he belongs, so he set out to find T’Hawthorn, the head of the Family where the Maytrees are a small branch off. He cares very much for HawthornHeir, the young Laev. Cratag is not happy with this job, that his Lord and Head of his Family can send him away that easily. Laev will soon go through his second Passage, and he wants to be there for him. But Cratag soon changes his mind when he meets Signet D’Marigold and the Marigold Residence.
Signet could not have foreseen how much her life would change in a single day. Her Flair is known, T’Ash is astonished by it, and vows he will find the right stone to test her. Her empty Residence is suddenly filled with a FamCat of her own, a man, and a very precocious little girl she loves at sight and Fams of their own. The Residence is also very happy with some more life within its walls. Signets free days are over, as Avellana loves living by a strict schedule. This young miniature adult really needs to be more a child.
Vinnie T’Vine also makes a habit of dropping in, and Cratag soon picks up a training schedule for himself and Laev and Vinnie. And when the first part of the Passage comes for Avellana, Signet is ready to help her. She has been practising with using her Flair now she knows what she should be able to do with it. She can see Flair, and can help the damaged Flair Avellana has to Heal, make new pathways for it. The Hazel Family is really grateful for her help.
Then one day, something horrible happens, and Avellana’s great Flair is revealed. She almost kills everyone in T’Ash Residence when it occurs, but of course she did not know what she was doing. And after that, accidents seem to happen way too often …
I loved this book. This time not a love story between one of the highest GreatLords or Ladies, but between a Commoner and a GentleLady. Cratag has so little Flair, his own Passages where over before he knew it, and he still doesn’t understand much about it, of about other things normal for the Nobility. The relationship between Cratag and Signet grows slowly, even when there is this attraction between them from the start, and even before. Cratag used to watch Signet during the Rituals where they both attended, dreaming perhaps a little about her. Signet soon feels he is her HeartMate, but is of course forbidden to tell him that. He has to come to her, accept their love, in his own time and of his own free will. He sees the different in their status as insurmountable, what does she ever need him for? And he refuses to be a kept man, and not contribute to their relationship, their Household.
There is a secondary storyline about Laev, and how he thinks he has found his HeartMate, but I think that is a scam, the girl is deceiving him just to marry a rich Lord. But well, a young man who thinks himself in love is stubborn and won’t listen to anybody.
I liked getting a closer look on Avellana and especially Vinnie, as he plays such an important part in all the previous books. But I loved Signet, how she is lonely but still an optimist, and her lovely Residence. She doesn’t care about status, she is just in love with Cratag and very happy with him. She takes care about Avellana and Vinnie as well. She is learning to come up for her self, to negotiate a good price for her services, to accept her own Flair and use it.
Cratag also is named in the previous books, a strong and silent and scarred hero. He is a true protector, and will do everything for the ones he loves. He struggles with his sense of self and worth, and I fell for this honourable man who wants nothing more than a Family of his own and a place to belong.
A great book, a lot happens in here, some storylines come together, some new ones are being introduced. Perhaps it took some focus away from the main romance, but I did like the slow pace, the time they took for each other, getting to know the other person, let their love grow.
And I am very curious about the couple in the next book, not a clue as to whom they will be. But I do know, I am going to enjoy the story very much, just like this one.
9,5 stars
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
The Hazel Family offers Signet a hefty fee if she can help their little girl survive. Vinnie’s visions are strong and true, and she is their only hope. But as she is living alone, they have also hired the services of the best fighter of Druida, and that is not a Holly, but Cratag Maytree, the head of the guards of T’Hawthorn. Cratag is not from Druida originally, but from a little village in Britain. After a lot of adventuring he wanted Family and a place he belongs, so he set out to find T’Hawthorn, the head of the Family where the Maytrees are a small branch off. He cares very much for HawthornHeir, the young Laev. Cratag is not happy with this job, that his Lord and Head of his Family can send him away that easily. Laev will soon go through his second Passage, and he wants to be there for him. But Cratag soon changes his mind when he meets Signet D’Marigold and the Marigold Residence.
Signet could not have foreseen how much her life would change in a single day. Her Flair is known, T’Ash is astonished by it, and vows he will find the right stone to test her. Her empty Residence is suddenly filled with a FamCat of her own, a man, and a very precocious little girl she loves at sight and Fams of their own. The Residence is also very happy with some more life within its walls. Signets free days are over, as Avellana loves living by a strict schedule. This young miniature adult really needs to be more a child.
Vinnie T’Vine also makes a habit of dropping in, and Cratag soon picks up a training schedule for himself and Laev and Vinnie. And when the first part of the Passage comes for Avellana, Signet is ready to help her. She has been practising with using her Flair now she knows what she should be able to do with it. She can see Flair, and can help the damaged Flair Avellana has to Heal, make new pathways for it. The Hazel Family is really grateful for her help.
Then one day, something horrible happens, and Avellana’s great Flair is revealed. She almost kills everyone in T’Ash Residence when it occurs, but of course she did not know what she was doing. And after that, accidents seem to happen way too often …
I loved this book. This time not a love story between one of the highest GreatLords or Ladies, but between a Commoner and a GentleLady. Cratag has so little Flair, his own Passages where over before he knew it, and he still doesn’t understand much about it, of about other things normal for the Nobility. The relationship between Cratag and Signet grows slowly, even when there is this attraction between them from the start, and even before. Cratag used to watch Signet during the Rituals where they both attended, dreaming perhaps a little about her. Signet soon feels he is her HeartMate, but is of course forbidden to tell him that. He has to come to her, accept their love, in his own time and of his own free will. He sees the different in their status as insurmountable, what does she ever need him for? And he refuses to be a kept man, and not contribute to their relationship, their Household.
There is a secondary storyline about Laev, and how he thinks he has found his HeartMate, but I think that is a scam, the girl is deceiving him just to marry a rich Lord. But well, a young man who thinks himself in love is stubborn and won’t listen to anybody.
I liked getting a closer look on Avellana and especially Vinnie, as he plays such an important part in all the previous books. But I loved Signet, how she is lonely but still an optimist, and her lovely Residence. She doesn’t care about status, she is just in love with Cratag and very happy with him. She takes care about Avellana and Vinnie as well. She is learning to come up for her self, to negotiate a good price for her services, to accept her own Flair and use it.
Cratag also is named in the previous books, a strong and silent and scarred hero. He is a true protector, and will do everything for the ones he loves. He struggles with his sense of self and worth, and I fell for this honourable man who wants nothing more than a Family of his own and a place to belong.
A great book, a lot happens in here, some storylines come together, some new ones are being introduced. Perhaps it took some focus away from the main romance, but I did like the slow pace, the time they took for each other, getting to know the other person, let their love grow.
And I am very curious about the couple in the next book, not a clue as to whom they will be. But I do know, I am going to enjoy the story very much, just like this one.
9,5 stars
© 2013 Reviews by Aurian
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
June 27, 2020
Content warning: Animals in peril, and one of the main characters has suicidal thoughts at the beginning of the book.
Signet D'Marigold believes she is doomed to be alone. Her parents died during her Third Passage, and none of her friends have ever stayed by her side or kept in touch for long. No one has ever been able to figure out what her Flair is, so she feels useless and lonely until the young prophet, Vinni T'Vine, tells her he's had a vision that her Flair can help his young brain-damaged HeartMate, Avellana Hazel, survive her First Passage.
Signet isn't the only person enlisted to help Avellana. Cratag Maytree, a personal guard for the T'Hawthorn Family, is hired to be Avellana's bodyguard. Cratag is secretly hurt to be hired out like this - he thought T'Hawthorn valued him more, and he'd prefer to be there for Laev Hawthorn's upcoming Passage. Still, he'll do as he's told, and he's certainly looking forward to spending time around Signet. He'd met her several times before and been attracted to her, but he's sure a beautiful and well-bred lady like her couldn't possibly feel the same about a man like him, a scarred outsider with little Flair.
The last time I read anything in this series was back in 2016: Heart Quest, which didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped but which is still one of my top favorites in the series, and Heart Dance, which I loathed. Rereading my review of Heart Dance reminded me of a lot of the things about Celtan society I've come to dislike, and I was glad that HeartGifts were barely mentioned in Heart Change.
I'd most recommend this book to people who are already fans of this series. Readers finally get a bit more progression in the Vinni and Avellana storyline. I admit, I both enjoy this aspect of the series and am put off by it. In this book, Vinni is 13 and Avellana is 7. They're friends, but everyone knows they're also HeartMates - it makes me a bit uncomfortable that their lives are mapped out so early. Also, yes, this series does eventually work up to a book where Vinni and Avellana are both adults and stars of their own romance. Heart Change is as far as I've gotten, and I'm not entirely sure I want to work my way up to a romance novel starring characters I know best as children.
Anyway, in this book readers finally got to see Avellana make it past her first Passage and learn what her Flair is. However, there was of course a primary romance story, and that involved Signet and Cratag. I liked the basic setup: Signet, the lonely heroine who wanted someone in her life who wouldn't abandon her and who wasn't quite the ethereal and untouchable princess that Cratag imagined her to be, and Cratag, the rough fighter who secretly yearned for a place where he could belong and be needed. Cratag had previously been attracted to her from afar but hadn't thought those feeling would ever be mutual.
I figured he and Signet would spend some time awkwardly circling each other before flirting a bit and then eventually ending up in bed. Instead, they were kissing within a day or two of living in the same house together, and the only thing that kept them from falling into bed right away was Avellana. Luckily for them, Avellana liked schedules and could mostly be convinced to stay away long enough for a sex scene to happen.
I really wish the romance had been paced more slowly. As it was, it felt like they were all over each other way too soon considering they both had abandonment issues, and the story began to drag. Cratag's sudden withdrawal near the end didn't make much sense, and then the resolution happened way too quickly and easily.
The storyline with Laev wasn't much better. The way Laev's supposed HeartMate and her family acted should have been a giant red flag, but the whole HeartMate thing seems to destroy some characters' brains. I see that Laev is the hero of Book 10, Heart Search, and the thought of reading his story is only slightly less unpleasant to me than the thought of reading Tinne Holly's (the guy whose HeartMate was married to a much older and abusive man when she was a child).
I don't know that this is a series I'm ever going to finish. I think I can make it through the one other book I own that I haven't yet read, but I doubt I'll ever make it to Vinni and Avellana's book. The aspects of this series that used to work for me are starting to get overshadowed by the stuff that doesn't - the slight cheesiness (the Marigold family tap dances in order to enter their HouseHeart) and the way the world is set up (certain characters use HeartGifts in ways that qualify as sexual assault, divorce is difficult to obtain even though it's apparently easy for unethical people to trap people into horrible marriages). Even the cats are hit or miss, although I do still love the Residences (sentient homes run by AI). Heart Change's cats were among the good ones - Beadle was a clumsy sweetie, and Du wasn't quite as haughty as most of the series' other Fams and had a backstory that made me want to give him a hug.
One final comment: I don't know who the person on the cover is supposed to be, but he isn't Cratag. It's mentioned several times that Cratag's hair is shaved close to his skull, and I don't think that tattoo is accurate either. Also, I doubt Cratag would be stupid enough to hold weapons like that, even if he was repeatedly dumb enough to leave Avellana alone despite having been hired to be her bodyguard.
Extras:
A character list, which was helpful, and a map, which I never even glanced at.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Signet D'Marigold believes she is doomed to be alone. Her parents died during her Third Passage, and none of her friends have ever stayed by her side or kept in touch for long. No one has ever been able to figure out what her Flair is, so she feels useless and lonely until the young prophet, Vinni T'Vine, tells her he's had a vision that her Flair can help his young brain-damaged HeartMate, Avellana Hazel, survive her First Passage.
Signet isn't the only person enlisted to help Avellana. Cratag Maytree, a personal guard for the T'Hawthorn Family, is hired to be Avellana's bodyguard. Cratag is secretly hurt to be hired out like this - he thought T'Hawthorn valued him more, and he'd prefer to be there for Laev Hawthorn's upcoming Passage. Still, he'll do as he's told, and he's certainly looking forward to spending time around Signet. He'd met her several times before and been attracted to her, but he's sure a beautiful and well-bred lady like her couldn't possibly feel the same about a man like him, a scarred outsider with little Flair.
The last time I read anything in this series was back in 2016: Heart Quest, which didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped but which is still one of my top favorites in the series, and Heart Dance, which I loathed. Rereading my review of Heart Dance reminded me of a lot of the things about Celtan society I've come to dislike, and I was glad that HeartGifts were barely mentioned in Heart Change.
I'd most recommend this book to people who are already fans of this series. Readers finally get a bit more progression in the Vinni and Avellana storyline. I admit, I both enjoy this aspect of the series and am put off by it. In this book, Vinni is 13 and Avellana is 7. They're friends, but everyone knows they're also HeartMates - it makes me a bit uncomfortable that their lives are mapped out so early. Also, yes, this series does eventually work up to a book where Vinni and Avellana are both adults and stars of their own romance. Heart Change is as far as I've gotten, and I'm not entirely sure I want to work my way up to a romance novel starring characters I know best as children.
Anyway, in this book readers finally got to see Avellana make it past her first Passage and learn what her Flair is. However, there was of course a primary romance story, and that involved Signet and Cratag. I liked the basic setup: Signet, the lonely heroine who wanted someone in her life who wouldn't abandon her and who wasn't quite the ethereal and untouchable princess that Cratag imagined her to be, and Cratag, the rough fighter who secretly yearned for a place where he could belong and be needed. Cratag had previously been attracted to her from afar but hadn't thought those feeling would ever be mutual.
I figured he and Signet would spend some time awkwardly circling each other before flirting a bit and then eventually ending up in bed. Instead, they were kissing within a day or two of living in the same house together, and the only thing that kept them from falling into bed right away was Avellana. Luckily for them, Avellana liked schedules and could mostly be convinced to stay away long enough for a sex scene to happen.
I really wish the romance had been paced more slowly. As it was, it felt like they were all over each other way too soon considering they both had abandonment issues, and the story began to drag. Cratag's sudden withdrawal near the end didn't make much sense, and then the resolution happened way too quickly and easily.
The storyline with Laev wasn't much better. The way Laev's supposed HeartMate and her family acted should have been a giant red flag, but the whole HeartMate thing seems to destroy some characters' brains. I see that Laev is the hero of Book 10, Heart Search, and the thought of reading his story is only slightly less unpleasant to me than the thought of reading Tinne Holly's (the guy whose HeartMate was married to a much older and abusive man when she was a child).
I don't know that this is a series I'm ever going to finish. I think I can make it through the one other book I own that I haven't yet read, but I doubt I'll ever make it to Vinni and Avellana's book. The aspects of this series that used to work for me are starting to get overshadowed by the stuff that doesn't - the slight cheesiness (the Marigold family tap dances in order to enter their HouseHeart) and the way the world is set up (certain characters use HeartGifts in ways that qualify as sexual assault, divorce is difficult to obtain even though it's apparently easy for unethical people to trap people into horrible marriages). Even the cats are hit or miss, although I do still love the Residences (sentient homes run by AI). Heart Change's cats were among the good ones - Beadle was a clumsy sweetie, and Du wasn't quite as haughty as most of the series' other Fams and had a backstory that made me want to give him a hug.
One final comment: I don't know who the person on the cover is supposed to be, but he isn't Cratag. It's mentioned several times that Cratag's hair is shaved close to his skull, and I don't think that tattoo is accurate either. Also, I doubt Cratag would be stupid enough to hold weapons like that, even if he was repeatedly dumb enough to leave Avellana alone despite having been hired to be her bodyguard.
Extras:
A character list, which was helpful, and a map, which I never even glanced at.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
December 26, 2018
3 1/2
Really cute, but I admit I wouldn't buy these books at full price. As I said lovely as romances, but nothing else. (Not a flaw, just my own tastes).
Really cute, but I admit I wouldn't buy these books at full price. As I said lovely as romances, but nothing else. (Not a flaw, just my own tastes).
November 4, 2009
A Change Of Heart Brings An End To Loneliness
Heart Change was a pleasant journey to a favorite world, the wicanish Celta, where magic takes the place of technology and where, if you are lucky, you'll find your perfect love - your Heartmate.
When Signet D'Marigold agrees to aid young seer Vinni's Heartmate, Avellina, through her "passage" - a passage which Vinni `sees' that Avellina will not survive with out Signet's help - Signet suddenly finds her lonely life changing for the better. Not only is Vinni able to finally help Signet identify her formerly unknown yet powerful talent of being a Catalyst who brings positive changes in the lives of those around her but also Signet suddenly finds her home filling up with her young charge and the body guard Vinnie also deems necessary for Avellina's survival - the scarred yet solid Cratag Maytree.
Both Signet and Cratag are pleasant characters and their relationship grows despite Signet's fear of abandonment and Cratag's issues as well. Missing between them is the insurmountable obstacle that many of the former Heartmate pairs have to overcome in order to be together. And since so much of the story is centered around Avellina's passage and bad luck, and with so many other characters having bits of the story, Signet and Cratag don't get a great deal of time alone in the spotlight. This means that they don't get to do a lot of the normal Heatmate things like exchanging Heart Gifts or sharing the Heart Bond.
Overall, Heart Change was a pleasant read with lots of Fams (magical pets), and pieces put into play for future stories, but with most of the focus and the peril not centered on Signet and Cratag, theirs was not one of the most memorable pairings in the series.
Heart Change was a pleasant journey to a favorite world, the wicanish Celta, where magic takes the place of technology and where, if you are lucky, you'll find your perfect love - your Heartmate.
When Signet D'Marigold agrees to aid young seer Vinni's Heartmate, Avellina, through her "passage" - a passage which Vinni `sees' that Avellina will not survive with out Signet's help - Signet suddenly finds her lonely life changing for the better. Not only is Vinni able to finally help Signet identify her formerly unknown yet powerful talent of being a Catalyst who brings positive changes in the lives of those around her but also Signet suddenly finds her home filling up with her young charge and the body guard Vinnie also deems necessary for Avellina's survival - the scarred yet solid Cratag Maytree.
Both Signet and Cratag are pleasant characters and their relationship grows despite Signet's fear of abandonment and Cratag's issues as well. Missing between them is the insurmountable obstacle that many of the former Heartmate pairs have to overcome in order to be together. And since so much of the story is centered around Avellina's passage and bad luck, and with so many other characters having bits of the story, Signet and Cratag don't get a great deal of time alone in the spotlight. This means that they don't get to do a lot of the normal Heatmate things like exchanging Heart Gifts or sharing the Heart Bond.
Overall, Heart Change was a pleasant read with lots of Fams (magical pets), and pieces put into play for future stories, but with most of the focus and the peril not centered on Signet and Cratag, theirs was not one of the most memorable pairings in the series.
October 10, 2017
I read the first 3 or 4 and then got this book at a used book fair so I jumped to #8. I don't really think I missed anything and was able to follow everything well. I really disliked Laev and how that whole story was handled but I really did like Signet and Cratag and Signet's Residence.
November 30, 2009
I've been a big fan of Robin D. Owens since I read Heart Mate four years ago--I've devoured all the books in the series since. She has great technique, her heroes and heroines are unique, and usually she doesn't fall into the rushed-love-story what-the-hey? crap that many romance novelists do. I also appreciate the excessively good world building on Celta that, to me, is incredibly believable and very creative.
I thought this book was not the best of the series, nor even the second best, but a worthy addition to it. The heroine's flair was interesting, and I was pleased that the hero did not have a crazy amount of flair but still managed to be bad-ass. Avellana's revealed flair was a surprise, and I thought that her characterization was super--Owens didn't seem to be patronizing seven-year-olds in writing her.
The love story was well developed, though the book ended quite abruptly. I think maybe Owens was playing with a different style of writing near the end, and it just hit so sudden that I was a bit surprised and kept clicking the "next page" button on my kindle, thinking it was freezing, until I realized that yes, that was the end. I did think that the external plot (protecting Avellana and the nefarious plot surrounding her) was a bit rushed and poorly explained, and also a tad anti-climatic in places, but overall it was a good, satisfying read with fun characters and great description.
If you haven't read the Heart Mate series, though, start from the beginning. It's worth it.
I thought this book was not the best of the series, nor even the second best, but a worthy addition to it. The heroine's flair was interesting, and I was pleased that the hero did not have a crazy amount of flair but still managed to be bad-ass. Avellana's revealed flair was a surprise, and I thought that her characterization was super--Owens didn't seem to be patronizing seven-year-olds in writing her.
The love story was well developed, though the book ended quite abruptly. I think maybe Owens was playing with a different style of writing near the end, and it just hit so sudden that I was a bit surprised and kept clicking the "next page" button on my kindle, thinking it was freezing, until I realized that yes, that was the end. I did think that the external plot (protecting Avellana and the nefarious plot surrounding her) was a bit rushed and poorly explained, and also a tad anti-climatic in places, but overall it was a good, satisfying read with fun characters and great description.
If you haven't read the Heart Mate series, though, start from the beginning. It's worth it.
May 12, 2013
Really have to point this out: what the HELL was the cover artist thinking?!?!?! Look at the way this guy is holding his blades. No one ever trained in combat, martial arts or warfare would hold a blade facing towards his body the way the one in the cover hunk's left hand is.
That said, it was NOT the half-assed cover that merited the one star. I think Ms. Owen's writing has run its course with me.
That said, it was NOT the half-assed cover that merited the one star. I think Ms. Owen's writing has run its course with me.
January 6, 2020
I enjoyed this trip into Celta, following Signet D’Marigold, and Warrior Cratag Maytree. Vinnie T’Vine has figured out Signet’s mysterious flair, and has prophesied that his heart mate Avellana can only survive if Signet is there to see her through her passage.
As always, things don’t always go so smoothly, but this enjoyable entry into the series features two series regulars (Vinnie and Cratag), and since Cratag is rather low in Flair, it provides a unique view of the Celtan world.
As always, things don’t always go so smoothly, but this enjoyable entry into the series features two series regulars (Vinnie and Cratag), and since Cratag is rather low in Flair, it provides a unique view of the Celtan world.
June 15, 2015
Very sweet romance, very twee fantasy world, very unsurprising villain. I remember why I read this series back in the day, and also remember why I stopped.
Read
February 4, 2018I understand that Signet's gift is to bring great change to those around her. However why do her friends leave when their lives are changed? Even if you find a spouse, a career, or move out of the city, you can still be friends.
How does Signet run the Residence all by herself? Other nobles have relatives and servants to contribute to the house spells, but she has lived alone for years and keeps the house beautiful and gracious. Why would her mother refer to her as an ugly duckling after D'Vine's visit? What was with Vinni almost knocking them off a cliff? You don't need foresight to know that running full force at someone standing on a precipice is going to end badly. And how did Flora fall off the bannister if she was in Avellana's lap and both the kids stopped safely? For that matter, can she heal as well as bring back? Doesn't do any good to bring a soul back to a broken body...
Laev was amazingly gullible. Nivea wasn't even hiding her avarice, and if they had just waited a few months her charm would have worn off. At least go see T'Willow for confirmation.
Fams are supposed to be rare and expensive, but I have yet to see anyone pay for one. And there seem to be quite a lot of stray fams available.
How does Signet run the Residence all by herself? Other nobles have relatives and servants to contribute to the house spells, but she has lived alone for years and keeps the house beautiful and gracious. Why would her mother refer to her as an ugly duckling after D'Vine's visit? What was with Vinni almost knocking them off a cliff? You don't need foresight to know that running full force at someone standing on a precipice is going to end badly. And how did Flora fall off the bannister if she was in Avellana's lap and both the kids stopped safely? For that matter, can she heal as well as bring back? Doesn't do any good to bring a soul back to a broken body...
Laev was amazingly gullible. Nivea wasn't even hiding her avarice, and if they had just waited a few months her charm would have worn off. At least go see T'Willow for confirmation.
Fams are supposed to be rare and expensive, but I have yet to see anyone pay for one. And there seem to be quite a lot of stray fams available.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2021
Read for the 2021 popsugar book challenge prompt #45. The book that’s been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time:
This book was added to my GR TBR list on Feb 26th 2012 and has remained there ever since. It probably would have remained there forever if not for this prompt.
This is the 8th book in the Celta series which I really liked way back when, and despite nearly a decade and over 1000 books read in between I actually did not have any problem remembering most of the characters and the Celta world which worked in the books favor.
The issue here is that just like 10 years ago the two main characters of this book are excruciatingly boring, completely uninteresting, and made this book as dull and dreadful as I expected ten years ago. I picked this book up earlier in the year when I first started the challenge and had to put it down again promising I would come back before 2022, and here we are….
The romance is dull, both MCs wallow and self pity the WHOLE TIME and it’s a pretty miserable read, so much so that I had to buy the audiobook and set it to 2x speed just to power through.
Will I read the next in the series? Maybe, but dear God I hope it’s a better couple.
This book was added to my GR TBR list on Feb 26th 2012 and has remained there ever since. It probably would have remained there forever if not for this prompt.
This is the 8th book in the Celta series which I really liked way back when, and despite nearly a decade and over 1000 books read in between I actually did not have any problem remembering most of the characters and the Celta world which worked in the books favor.
The issue here is that just like 10 years ago the two main characters of this book are excruciatingly boring, completely uninteresting, and made this book as dull and dreadful as I expected ten years ago. I picked this book up earlier in the year when I first started the challenge and had to put it down again promising I would come back before 2022, and here we are….
The romance is dull, both MCs wallow and self pity the WHOLE TIME and it’s a pretty miserable read, so much so that I had to buy the audiobook and set it to 2x speed just to power through.
Will I read the next in the series? Maybe, but dear God I hope it’s a better couple.
September 10, 2019
2019 bk. 289. Signet is lonely. She makes friends and they go away, she doesn't know her flair, all she has is her beautiful Residence. But then Vinnie dVine the prophet skids into her life - seeing what her flair is and demanding her help with his heartmate through her passages. Confirmed as the only Catalyst Flair in Celta, she takes on the challenge of Avellena and new dealings with the highest ranked of Celta. Cratag Maytree has always felt an outsider. He has worked as a warrior and guard and just as he is settling into to his distant kin's household, he is sent to Signet's side to protect the little girl. The two adults grow to love each other and to care for this child who is one minute miniature adult, the next very much a child who has disaster looming over her as each passage releases more of her flair. I most enjoyed the description of the Residence in this book (Residence's are sentient) and the growing sense of self worth in Signet.
December 1, 2019
The summary given with this book here on goodreads is pretty on target. How can a woman who has just discovered, by being told by another who should know these things, what her flair is, and a man without, or almost without, flair, survive and be successful in a flair obsessed society. Flair, or course is the magical powers that fuel most of the activity on the planet.
That they do, and managed to find the love of their loves in the process, is the story told over the almost 400 pages of the book. Lives are threatened, and saved, and happiness is lost and found and a whole new generation is affected by both of these people.
Once again, Robin D Owens has written a book that manages to use magic and science fiction to create a love story.
That they do, and managed to find the love of their loves in the process, is the story told over the almost 400 pages of the book. Lives are threatened, and saved, and happiness is lost and found and a whole new generation is affected by both of these people.
Once again, Robin D Owens has written a book that manages to use magic and science fiction to create a love story.
May 2, 2023
The tattoo on the cover says: earth, air, fire, water.
I've had this book for years and just now realized that the tattoos are words.
Okay, on with the book. I really enjoyed reading about a common man and a titled Lady and even liked that I knew these characters. This was more of a love story than the previous books, there wasn't as much action, and mystery or even real villains. However, even with that, I still liked it enough to give it a 4 stars. Not my favorite of the series (Heart Thief is) but, is does tie for second place.
I've had this book for years and just now realized that the tattoos are words.
Okay, on with the book. I really enjoyed reading about a common man and a titled Lady and even liked that I knew these characters. This was more of a love story than the previous books, there wasn't as much action, and mystery or even real villains. However, even with that, I still liked it enough to give it a 4 stars. Not my favorite of the series (Heart Thief is) but, is does tie for second place.
July 18, 2020
The Celta Heartmate series has some excellent world-building and intriguing basis for the concept of the culture and mystical powers of people and animals. I am a sucker for any books with psychic pets! This was my favorite of the books I've read in the series because we were given nice insight into the protagonists and their issues that created conflict.
While I have enjoyed many books in the series, and do want to continue finding out how the world evolves, most of the books for me suffer from telling rather than showing and many of the conflicts involve 'negative motivations' (i.e., "I'll never do that again because I've been hurt" or "I can't have a relationship with that person of a different social strata"). For psychic people these folks don't communicate with each other very well.
While I have enjoyed many books in the series, and do want to continue finding out how the world evolves, most of the books for me suffer from telling rather than showing and many of the conflicts involve 'negative motivations' (i.e., "I'll never do that again because I've been hurt" or "I can't have a relationship with that person of a different social strata"). For psychic people these folks don't communicate with each other very well.
July 17, 2020
Good book!
I love the Celta series. I couldn't put the book down. I love the idea of heartmates. The book has a good mix of Relatively light romance, magic (flair), dancing, and fighting. The cats were entertaining with their antics and of course their gifts of mice both alive and dead.
I love the Celta series. I couldn't put the book down. I love the idea of heartmates. The book has a good mix of Relatively light romance, magic (flair), dancing, and fighting. The cats were entertaining with their antics and of course their gifts of mice both alive and dead.
September 29, 2020
I love this series and loved this book in it. I couldn't put it down. I always have a number of pages I intend to read at a sitting and this book always got more than that. Highly recommend this book and the series for fans of romance and fantasy.
November 8, 2022
Full of action and growing love
Such a great story! Twists and turns, and familiar characters from this series! Funny and sad at times. Author must have cats--I love the dialog of the Fams!
Such a great story! Twists and turns, and familiar characters from this series! Funny and sad at times. Author must have cats--I love the dialog of the Fams!
April 15, 2023
This was much better then the last book, I like that we get more insight into Avellana and Vinni. I am very interested in Laev's story now after seeing him marry that bitch Sunflower! How dare she be so rude to Cratag!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2018
Review to be posted shortly
October 15, 2020
Celta's Heartmates #8
I still like the world building in this series and I'm still annoyed by the mistakes that the narrator makes… Enjoy!
Read:
October 14, 2020 – Audible Plus
I still like the world building in this series and I'm still annoyed by the mistakes that the narrator makes… Enjoy!
Read:
October 14, 2020 – Audible Plus
November 21, 2020
I liked this one it was also a bit different lol
Read
September 7, 20215/11/2010 Reread 1/8/19 ; 4/25/2021
April 14, 2024
I have just reread this book. It was worth it to read it the second time onto the next one.
July 20, 2014
Heart Change is the 8th book in Robin D. Owens' Celta's HeartMates series.
The HeartMate series books take place on the faraway planet of Celta - a place where nearly everyone has some form of psychic power - or Flair. Sometimes the Flair of two people resonate in a particular way to create the much valued HeartMate relationship. Celta is a world with a complex society of classes, including the sentient Residences in the Great Houses and the psychic FamPets (FamCat, FamDog, FamFox - you get the picture).
In Heart Change we meet a new protagonist, Signet D'Marigold. Signet is the last of the Marigold family and though she has great Flair, the type is unknown. Until the young teenage prophet Vinnie T'Vine barges into her life claiming she is a Catalyst and is the key to saving the life of a highly-Flaired noble child, Avellana Hazel. Vinnie arranges for Avellana to stay with Signet until it is clear that Avellana is out of psychic danger. But that's not the only thing Vinnie arranges. He also arranges for a series favorite - Hawthorne family guardsman, Cratag Maytee, to be loaned to Signet as a bodyguard for Avellana. Suddenly, the previously empty and lonely D'Marigold Residence is full of the energy of multiple people, the ring of children's laughter, and possibly even a blooming love between Signet and Cratag. That is, if they can both overcome not only issues in their past, but the danger facing them and their young charge.
I LOVE this series. Along with Jayne Castle's GhostHunter series, it's one of my favorite of all times. I'm very much looking forward to Book 9 of the series, Heart Journey, due to be released in August 2010.
Similar series:
Jayne Castle's Ghosthunter series
Patti O'Shea's Jarved 9 series
BTW, if you know of other books similar to these series, PLEASE let me know! I can't get enough!!
The HeartMate series books take place on the faraway planet of Celta - a place where nearly everyone has some form of psychic power - or Flair. Sometimes the Flair of two people resonate in a particular way to create the much valued HeartMate relationship. Celta is a world with a complex society of classes, including the sentient Residences in the Great Houses and the psychic FamPets (FamCat, FamDog, FamFox - you get the picture).
In Heart Change we meet a new protagonist, Signet D'Marigold. Signet is the last of the Marigold family and though she has great Flair, the type is unknown. Until the young teenage prophet Vinnie T'Vine barges into her life claiming she is a Catalyst and is the key to saving the life of a highly-Flaired noble child, Avellana Hazel. Vinnie arranges for Avellana to stay with Signet until it is clear that Avellana is out of psychic danger. But that's not the only thing Vinnie arranges. He also arranges for a series favorite - Hawthorne family guardsman, Cratag Maytee, to be loaned to Signet as a bodyguard for Avellana. Suddenly, the previously empty and lonely D'Marigold Residence is full of the energy of multiple people, the ring of children's laughter, and possibly even a blooming love between Signet and Cratag. That is, if they can both overcome not only issues in their past, but the danger facing them and their young charge.
I LOVE this series. Along with Jayne Castle's GhostHunter series, it's one of my favorite of all times. I'm very much looking forward to Book 9 of the series, Heart Journey, due to be released in August 2010.
Similar series:
Jayne Castle's Ghosthunter series
Patti O'Shea's Jarved 9 series
BTW, if you know of other books similar to these series, PLEASE let me know! I can't get enough!!
November 11, 2009
Book 8 in the Celta Heart Mates series is a good read, although if GR allowed half points I'd mark it a 4.5. The hero and heroine are pleasant and interesting - people you would like to know - but not as vividly drawn as earlier heroes and heroines. Much of their interaction is implied - we see it around the edges of the plot and while one or the other of them angsts about it inside their heads. The driver for the plot is the heroine and hero helping young people mature and embrace themselves. Avellana D'Hazel [Vinni T'Vine's Heartmate introduced in earlier books:] is being aided through her First Passage. Vinni is being helped towards independence and Laev is becoming an adult. Bonds are formed and strengthened between the adults and young people that will undoubtedly persist and contribute to future books.
Threads were laid down for new books. Although this is usually a good thing; the dangling thread for Laev and his obviously bad, bad, decision left me feeling uncomfortable with the ending. Rather like walking down a stair and thinking you have one more step and finding you've already reached the bottom...
One of the strengths of Robin Owens' writing is her believable world-building. She has crafted a fascinating, self-consistent world that she draws the reader into - background information always appears when needed and is never presented out of context. The characters have depth and you see their world, and their stories through their eyes.
It's much better to read them in order...
Celta Heart Mates series
1. Heart Mate (2001)
2. Heart Thief (2003)
3. Heart Duel (2004)
4. Heart Choice (2005)
5. Heart Quest (2006)
6. Heart Dance (2007)
7. Heart Fate (2008)
8. Heart Change (2009)
9. Heart Journey planned for 2010
Threads were laid down for new books. Although this is usually a good thing; the dangling thread for Laev and his obviously bad, bad, decision left me feeling uncomfortable with the ending. Rather like walking down a stair and thinking you have one more step and finding you've already reached the bottom...
One of the strengths of Robin Owens' writing is her believable world-building. She has crafted a fascinating, self-consistent world that she draws the reader into - background information always appears when needed and is never presented out of context. The characters have depth and you see their world, and their stories through their eyes.
It's much better to read them in order...
Celta Heart Mates series
1. Heart Mate (2001)
2. Heart Thief (2003)
3. Heart Duel (2004)
4. Heart Choice (2005)
5. Heart Quest (2006)
6. Heart Dance (2007)
7. Heart Fate (2008)
8. Heart Change (2009)
9. Heart Journey planned for 2010
March 28, 2013
I bought Heart Change spontaneously last weekend, and on Sunday I read it cover to cover. Heart Change is the sixth Celta book I’ve read, and definitely one of my favourites from the series so far. (I haven’t read the series in order– I think each book stands on its own quite well, though there will be references to events and people from other books).
As always with Celta books, I loved the rich worldbuilding, and enjoyed seeing a bit more of how all the families interact and/or are interconnected. My favourite aspect of Heart Change, though, was the progression of Signet’s and Cratag’s relationship. So often in romances there is *such* a fast progression of the relationship that you wonder, sometimes, what chance the couple really has for a stable longterm relationship after the book ends. But here, Signet and Cratag knew of each other, had met briefly at public events, had been attracted to each other, all before the story starts. So when the events of the story force them into close quarters with each other, their relationship moving to the next level feels very natural. They “date”, and have their ups and downs, and I very much enjoyed watching this progression of their relationship.
Overall, highly recommended to fans of the Celta series and fans of romance/ fantasy romance.
As always with Celta books, I loved the rich worldbuilding, and enjoyed seeing a bit more of how all the families interact and/or are interconnected. My favourite aspect of Heart Change, though, was the progression of Signet’s and Cratag’s relationship. So often in romances there is *such* a fast progression of the relationship that you wonder, sometimes, what chance the couple really has for a stable longterm relationship after the book ends. But here, Signet and Cratag knew of each other, had met briefly at public events, had been attracted to each other, all before the story starts. So when the events of the story force them into close quarters with each other, their relationship moving to the next level feels very natural. They “date”, and have their ups and downs, and I very much enjoyed watching this progression of their relationship.
Overall, highly recommended to fans of the Celta series and fans of romance/ fantasy romance.
January 7, 2012
Signet is the last of her house, with an unidentified Flair, and a very lonely existence. Cratag has very minor flair, and works as a guard for a GrandLord family. The young prophet Vinni T’Vine, sees that his Heatmate, Avellina will need Signet’s help to survive her passage and Cratag is asked to act as a guard for them.
This series has had some hits and some misses for me. The more recent ones have fallen a little more on the miss side, but I was always intrigued by the glimpses of Vinni T’Vine when he made appearances in the other stories. I mainly picked this book up because I was interested in what would happen to Vinni and his Heartmate Avellina. Along the way I really ended up enjoying Cratag and Signet. The book splits fairly equally between Vinni and Avellina and Signet and Cratag, so their story is less fleshed out than some of the other books. There is nothing particularly memorable about their romance but the overall setting is usually what makes these books enjoyable for me. There is the humor from the Fams, and glimpses of previous characters, and the setup for future characters. Overall, a nice visit to Celta.
This series has had some hits and some misses for me. The more recent ones have fallen a little more on the miss side, but I was always intrigued by the glimpses of Vinni T’Vine when he made appearances in the other stories. I mainly picked this book up because I was interested in what would happen to Vinni and his Heartmate Avellina. Along the way I really ended up enjoying Cratag and Signet. The book splits fairly equally between Vinni and Avellina and Signet and Cratag, so their story is less fleshed out than some of the other books. There is nothing particularly memorable about their romance but the overall setting is usually what makes these books enjoyable for me. There is the humor from the Fams, and glimpses of previous characters, and the setup for future characters. Overall, a nice visit to Celta.
June 16, 2012
I enjoyed this book, but it had one major flaw. The hero is supposed to be hired as a guard, and instead of doing his job, he was mooning over his love life like a lovesick teenage girl, practically picking apart a flower and sighing "she loves me; she loves me not" and while he's at it, the person he's supposed to be guarding gets snatched. Didn't he see "Man on Fire" or "the Bodyguard" or "In the Line of Fire"? Ok, it's another planet, they probably don't have cable. Except for the fact he was terrible at his job, I liked him. And I thought the author did a great job capturing Signet's loneliness; the idea that her Flair created her isolation was innovative and poignant. I loved the two kids; I'd like to read more about them. And I normally don't like cliffhangers but since Laev's story was secondary, I didn't mind so much. I loved the description of the house (can I move in too, pretty please?) and I thought it was very funny that the hero's cat is a fat klutz and the cats fight over dominance. The author has a good sense of humor. One teensy gripe-Danith gives birth, but the book doesn't say what gender. Quibbles aside, I will read more from this author.
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