I love all of Robin Owen's books especially Celta. This is Tinne Holly's story and once again it was a great read.

Robin Owens seems to do a very good job in providing different heros and heroines in each of her books. T'Ash, Tinne Holly, and T-Willow for example are as variant in personality as men can be and yet each make terrific heros.

This book ran in a different vein from the ones before, but thay all have to one point or another. This was a book of healing; man, woman, dog, house, and maybe even cat to a degree; all need to heal, gain hope, and go on.

I enjoyed it a great deal.

This novel is set in an alternate world of fantasy & magic. The leading man, T--, is depresessed because he is going through a divorce. The leading lady, L--, is escaping an abusive marraige and also going through a divorce. T-- knows (mystically) that L-- is his perfect wife, but neither is ready to start something new.

As a Romance, "Heart Fate" is falls flat (1-star). Their feelings for each other are tepid and uninspired. It just didn't convey enjoyment and passion. Their romantic conflict (of the "why didn't you tell me" variety) was stupid given the rules of their society (you're never supposed to tell someone this, so why is L-- upset?)

However, as a divorce drama and light hearted adventure, "Heart Fate" provides decent entertainment (3-stars). The strongest plotline was L--'s story of escaping her abusive marraige and finding herself. 2nd best were sub-plots that showed us more about the intelligent magical houses -- these were fun! 3rd best were T--'s feelings and growth following his divorce. And there are a few other non-romantic sub-plots that are a fun surprise.

Overall, "Heart Fate" is a pleasant enough read if you're in the mood for light entertainment.

Robin Owens' Celta series explores different ways that love can heal personal and social traumas, with a good dose of humor and fantasy. Her telepathic animal companions ("Fams") add delightful points of view to the narrative. Heart Fate brings together Lahsin, a "good girl" betrayed by sexual and domestic abuse, and Tinne, a "man of action" trying to cope with the heart-wrenching failure of divorce. Owens does a wonderful job showing each growing to understand, accept and master those pains and passions. It is not the sweetest of the series, but probably the best written. My only caveat is that this would be a difficult entry into the series; there's rather a lot of backstory from the previous novels.
Music is important to Celtans, and until someone composes a soundtrack for Celta (as Heather Alexander did for Steve Barnes' Lion's Blood with Insh'Allah, The Music of "Lion's Blood"), I'd like to recommend Finisterres and A Traveler's Dream: Celtic Explorations to accompany your wine or coffee as this book is savored.

There are certain things Robin does well in all of her Heart books, and certain things she does better than any other author.

Her ability to give animals and objects real personality is wonderful to read. Each fam-pet and resident house have a unique personality, but one that suits them perfectly.

Owen's feel for animal identity and speech is dead on. An abused dog would be wary, untrusting, guarded. Slow to trust, but once he does: adoring and loving...

The resident identities are some of the best writing of any of the Heart Books, and TQ's birth and growth are amazing. A house with hurt feelings? A house striving to build a personality? Vulnerable and delightful, TQ's very youth embues the story with a certain freshness and delight. It's like watching a baby take his first step, dropping your child off on his first day of school, TQ's growth is magical. The best part is you can relive it all again simply by re-reading...

The book is not perfect. Tinne and Lahsin seemed for most of the story to be victim's. Introspective, afraid, wounded. We've gotten used to strong Heart Females. These ladies fight.

Lahsin reminds us too much what real life is like. That sometimes you need to steal away to lick your wounds and heal.

And Tinne, once he's discovered what T'Ash has done to Lashin, doesn't act like we'd expect either. Where was the rage? Tinne one of the best fighters on the planet doesn't confront T'Ash. Doesn't declare war on the family. Doesn't bring the matter before council. Doesn't act.

It doesn't seem to fit Tinne's personality to let T'Ash's actions pass, too leave Lashin feeling afraid and trapped in Healing Grove. It's not what we've come to expect of Heart Mates.

I don't know why this book received low rating that it did. I truly did enjoy this book. Yes it isn't as romantic as the other ones but it still doesn't make it a bad book. I was able to relate fully to both of the main characters in the book.

For all the people that said that Tinne's character was weak or off due to him mourning the loss of his wife, I say that you're wrong. He was mourning the loss of the life he had. He finally got to grieve for the child that he loss and for not being able to make his wife happy after that loss. He was grieving for the not being able to protect his heartmate at all. So I fully understand his character and emotions through out this book.

As for Lashin all I can say is that I am proud of her. She knew that she couldn't stay in that farce of a marriage and that she had to go some place where she would be able to grow. Lashin and Tinne needed each other for comfort and companship. They each needed to know what their strengths were and what they are capable of withstanding (emotionally, mentally, and physically). And last but not least I am sooo glad that there wasn't that much communication and dialouge with the Fams. I love TQ, the baby lisp was too cute!!!!

To take the heat off of his older brother Holm, Tinne chose to marry Genista. He had no hope of his heartmate, since he'd learned she'd been married to someone else. But, a broken vow of honor by his parents drew a curse over the household, causing the death of Tinne and Genista's child and the demise of their marriage.

When Lahsin Burdock was sold as a wife, three years before she was an adult, to T'Yew (who was three times her age), Tinne had hoped the man would cherish her as he would have himself, were he free to claim his heartmate at adulthood. That was not to be. T'Yew raped her repeatedly (told but not shown in detail), beat her, berated her, and allowed others in his household to abuse and berate her...all in hopes that he would have control of Lahsin and her flair when she matured...and in hopes that she would bear a son for him.

Much of this is rehash of other books in the series. At the opening of Heart Fate, Lahsin has decided to escape T'Yew's estate before she undergoes her second passage to unlock her flair...and before he can cap her flair with suppressing cuffs. Though the sentient residence isn't willing to let her go, Lahsin shatters all of its defensive spells and runs for her life...to First Grove and Balm Heal, a magical garden that only admits those desperate and in need of healing.

Tinne, on the other hand, is informed by Genista that she wants a divorce. Though commoners sometimes divorce, the nobility never has. Though Tinne knows the scandal of the first noble divorce ever on Celta will stain the family for generations, he feels it would be dishonorable to hold Genista to a marriage that is harming them both. Though the testing is intensive and intrusive, he agrees to it and releases her.

It isn't until the aftermath of his divorce ritual that he learns his heartmate is missing and sets out to track her down. Tinne is devastated by the loss of his child and the divorce, traumatized by several other events in his life/the series. Lahsin is devastated by the cruelty shown her by T'Yew. Neither of them wants a new relationship, but Tinne determines to teach Lahsin to defend herself and to help her survive her second passage, so she might repudiate her marriage to T'Yew and be free from harm. But, are heartmates ever that simple?

We're back to Celta, and it feels like only yesterday that I was reading in this world. As always, Robin Owens' writing is vivid, lush and nearly tactile.

Her characters always have a dark edge, and these characters are no exception to the rule. Their pain is stark and heartfelt. The only complaint I have about the characters is how quickly Lahsin made her final decision to accept Tinne. Other than that, right on the money for me.

As usual, the Fams were a joy! It's a great time when you get to see Fams interact with each other and play one-upmanship. This book gives a great dose of that, with Tinne's catFam (Ilexa) and Lahsin's dogFam (Strother) trading barbs. Anyone who owns animals will appreciate the Fam's personalities. I tend to share cute-Fam stories with my kids, as I read.

Robin makes you cry...and makes you laugh so hard you'll startle your own Fams with the outburst. It's a wild ride of emotion and situation.

Like all the books in the series, it's a keeper and a re-read. It's not my favorite, but Robin's characters are all so wonderful, you'll enjoy the glimpses of them in future books. Can't wait to see whose story we get next!

HEART FATE is one of those stories that you want to go a bit faster, but wouldn't have missed at all. I really think the author never thought she would have to write this book, but more of the series were ordered because readers like you and me, can't get enough of Celta. She made it abit hard on herself by letting one of our favorite characters get married even thou he had a heartmate. I think she has handled it in a very positive way and therefore made the story pass alittle slower than we would like. Not only must she free Tinne, but she must free his heartmate also. One of the major laws of Celta is that he must not tell her he is her heartmate. Also, coming off a divorce he never wanted or expected has not allowed an honorable man to plan ahead. Each character has many and varied personel issues to face before they will be ready to embark on a new romantic path.

Tinne Holly has been a stedfast husband to Genista, even thorough the loss of a child. She has not been able to emerge from the pain of the loss or the blame she has for his parents. They had not honored a "vow of honor" and bad times had come upon the Holly household. Tinne is stunned when she asks for a divorce. Something unheard of in the higher houses of Celta. Tinne had forsaken the bond of his heartmate because he knew she was married. As far as he knows she is still married at this time.

Lahsin was forced to marry GreatLord Yew, when she was only 14. She has endured three years of abuse and horror, but now as she approaches her 2nd Passage to free her flair, she has the oppertunity to void her marriage. Because she was underage and is still only approaching maturity she can disavow him before three people and she will be free. She will become an adult when her flair manifests after her passage. Taking a chance for freedom she fights her way out of Yew Residence.

Tinne immediately sets out to find her and help her in any way, but he is not ready to embrace the "heartbond". He is still feeling dead inside and after failing Genista has no hope that he might be able to open his heart again. He is not allowed to tell her that he is her heartmate and he really has no desire to do so right away. He does find her and become her friend.

Lahsin has no one but she meets a mongrel dog in the hidden "Balmheal" estate. The site of the first healing grove on Celta. The grove only allows hurting, needy people into the grove. It is hidden and unseen by most of Celta. She and the dog find the Residence and interact with the lonely, crotchetty house. Lord Yew is desperately looking for her and offering a great reward.

The story is slow in places but the beauty and flair of Celta are very evident. This is a place that is very familiar to fans and we enjoy every visit. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to Robin Owens fans.

I just love the world of Celta, the magical Flair, the Wiccan-ish culture and the promise of a bond with the perfect mate, a Heartmate.

Heart Fate has some very emotional moments, for Lashin, whose married life was a nightmare, and for Tinne Holly (brother to Holm from Heart Duel (Celta's HeartMates, Book 3)) who honorably accepted that he'd lost the chance to pursue his Heartmate and found another woman to marry. But both Tinne and Lashin are now free from those marriages - Lashin repudiates her marriage at the same time as Tinne's wife divorces him. I was probably struck most by the powerful portrayal of Tinne's suffering magnified by his wife's rejection and the emotionally grueling divorce testing which forced him to relive loss their love and dredged up his anguish at the death of his child-to-be and his inability to reach his wife past their shared grief. Lashin too is emotionally damaged as she flees her horrific marriage and struggles to overcome the memories of victimization at the hands of her abusive, rapacious husband and his evil spawn. Her emotional ordeal is less concentrated but inspires sympathy and anger at the hopeless helplessness she had to endure.

After the last book I was worried that the series was going to succumb to the "formula trap" that plagues many long running series, but Heart Fate while sharing the world, and featuring some old favorite characters in cameo roles, brings together the HeartMates Tinne and Lashin in a much different way than in the previous books. Instead of an emphasis on an instant physical connection, there was a tentative reaching out as the damaged pair meet and share the sanctuary of First Grove which is granted to only the wounded and shattered of body, heart or spirit. They slowly begin to form a relationship, first with just the barest hint of trust as Tinne approaches the skittish Lashin and shows her not all men are evil. Next they grow into friendship and a caring that sparks an attraction that smolders until Lashin is willing to explore a healthy passion with Tinne and then finally both accept the risk to their newly mended souls to trust the bond that they share in order to accept the reward of love that is the gift among Heartmates.

So even though Heart Fate was less romance-y than the previous books, I enjoyed the story, the relationships with friends and family, and watching both Tinne and Lashin grow into stronger more emotionally healthy HeartMates. Also fun was the mutual taming between Lashin and her dangerous looking fam-dog-to-be and Tinne's more typical relationship with his fam-cat. And, characters in their own right, the Balm-Heal residence fit in with the damaged soul theme and the young Turquoise House, which was well on the way to becoming a self-aware residence, was entertaining and provided some lighter moments amid all of the serious goings on. So merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again when Owen's continues with the next of three books in the series.

I just love the world of Celta, the magical Flair, the Wiccan-ish culture and the promise of a bond with the perfect mate, a Heartmate.

Heart Fate has some very emotional moments for both Tinne Holly (brother to Holm from Heart Duel (Celta's HeartMates, Book 3)) who married another woman after his HeartMate, Lashin, wed and was therefore lost to the honorable Tinne. But both are now free from those marriages, Lashin repudiates her marriage at the same time as Tinne's wife divorces him. I was probably struck most by powerful portrayal Tinne's suffering through his wife's rejection and the emotionally grueling divorce testing which forced him to relive loss their love and dredged up his anguish at the death of his child-to-be and his inability to reach his wife past their shared grief. Lashin's memories of victimization at the hands of her abusive, rapacious husband and his evil spawn are less concentrated but inspire sympathy and anger at the hopeless helplessness she had to endure.

After the last book I was worried that the series was going to succumb to the "formula trap" that plagues many long running series, but Heart Fate while sharing the world, and featuring some old favorite characters in cameo roles, brings together the HeartMates Tinne and Lashin in a much different way than in the previous books. Instead of an emphasis on an instant physical connection, there was a tentative reaching out as the damaged pair meet and share the sanctuary of First Grove which is granted to only the wounded and shattered of body, heart or spirit. They slowly begin to form a relationship, first with just the barest hint of trust as Tinne approaches the skittish Lashin and shows her not all men are evil. Next they grow into friendship and a caring that sparks an attraction that smolders until Lashin is willing to explore a healthy passion with Tinne and then finally both accept the risk to their newly mended souls to trust the bond that they share in order to accept the reward of love that is the gift among Heartmates.

So even though Heart Fate was less romance-y than the previous books, I enjoyed the story, the relationships and the watching both Tinne and Lashin grow into stronger more emotionally healthy HeartMates. Also always fun was the mutual taming between Lashin and her dangerous looking fam-dog-to-be. And characters in their own right, the Balm-Heal residence fit in with the damaged soul theme and the young Turquoise House, which was well on the way to becoming a self-aware residence, was entertaining and provided some lighter moments amid all of the serious goings on. So merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again when Owen's continues with the next of three books in the series.

I just love the world of Celta, the magical Flair, the Wiccan-ish culture and the promise of a bond with the perfect mate, a Heartmate.

Heart Fate has some very emotional moments for both Tinne Holly (brother to Holm from Heart Duel (Celta's HeartMates, Book 3)) who married another woman after his HeartMate, Lashin, wed and was therefore lost to the honorable Tinne. But both are now free from those marriages, Lashin repudiates her marriage at the same time as Tinne's wife divorces him. I was probably struck most by powerful portrayal Tinne's suffering through his wife's rejection and the emotionally grueling divorce testing which forced him to relive loss their love and dredged up his anguish at the death of his child-to-be and his inability to reach his wife past their shared grief. Lashin's memories of victimization at the hands of her abusive, rapacious husband and his evil spawn are less concentrated but inspire sympathy and anger at the hopeless helplessness she had to endure.

After the last book I was worried that the series was going to succumb to the "formula trap" that plagues many long running series, but Heart Fate while sharing the world, and characters - to reward fans following the series some old favorites have cameos - brings together the HeartMates in a much different way than in the previous books. Instead of an emphasis on an instant physical connection, there was the gentleness of two damaged people reaching out tentatively as Tinne and Lashin seek healing for their shattered lives and hearts. They slowly begin to form a relationship, first with just the barest hint of trust. Next they grow into friendship and a caring that sparks an attraction that smolders into passion until Tinne and then finally Lashin are both willing to chance their newly mended souls and trust the bond that they share enough to accept the love that is the gift among Heartmates.

So even though Heart Fate was less romance-y than the previous books, I enjoyed the story, the relationships and the watching both Tinne and Lashin grow into stronger more emotionally healthy HeartMates. Also always fun was the mutual taming between Lashin and her dangerous looking fam-dog-to-be. And characters in their own right, the Balm-Heal residence fit in with the damaged soul theme and the young Turquoise House, which was well on the way to becoming a self-aware residence, was entertaining and provided some lighter moments amid all of the serious goings on. So merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again when Owen's continues with the next of three books in the series.

In Druida City Lahsin Yew and Tinne Holly belong together, but both know that will not happen. When she was fourteen years old, she was forced to marry an abusive older GrandLord T'Yew; Tinne knowing he cannot wed his heartmate marries Genista.

However, to his shock and that of the nobility as there is no precedent, Genista is going to divorce Tinne. Three years into her marriage from hell, Lashin is entering her second Flair passage that will proclaim her as an adult; that is if she lives. She plans to divorce her odious mate, but first hides from him knowing he will kill her before she completes the passage. Tinne risks what is left of his reputation by vowing to keep his heartmate safe; though he fears once she survives passage she will be upset to learn he is her heartmate.

Although somewhat similar in tone to the previous Heart tale, the tangled relationships of the heartmates to others make for a much deeper compassionate and fresh entry. Readers will feel for the star crossed heartmates but fate in terms of her dictatorial father and her abusive husband make their mating impossible. Although T-Yew has no seemingly redeeming qualities, Robin D. Owens provides a suburb romantic fantasy filled with heart.

Harriet Klausner

I agree with Leigh about this book, and that's the rating I was giving this book as I was reading it.

The wonderful sexual tension between the heartmates and interesting heroines with careers and vocations was missing here. The past stories in this line seemed pretty equal between the hero and the heroine, but not this one.

Authors that write several books in a series don't always hit it right each time, even bestselling authors.

Still, if you are a fan of this series you will still want to read it just to return to this unique world. (Don't you wish we had flair?) These stories are by no means finished, as the author has sold three more. Just please give us more fam time (#1 is still my favorite because of Zanith).

I would like other Robin Owen readers of previous books to comment their opinions.

Tinne story line grabbed my attention with the first mention that he had married someone other then his heart mate. I had hope that we would get his story, and was excited when I heard about Heart Fate.

Maybe in my mind I built up too much anticipation or this series has just run it course.

The story opens with Tinne's heart mate(Lahsin) running away from her husband. She is about to go through her second passage, marking her as an adult, and she has the right to repudiate her husband. Then we find out that Tinne's wife wants a divorce. They suffered a lost that severely damaged their marriage, and Genista doesn't want to live apart, but wants all ties broken.

The rest of the story is about both Tinne & Lahsin recovering from bad marriages. Neither wants a relationship right now, but Tinne feels an obligation to protect his heart mate.

The story was very readable, and kept me turning the pages. However, it wasn't really a romantic story. There is a lot of angst about their previous hurts, and broken relationships and not enough about the passion between the two couples. Neither seem to feel the need or desire for each other until the very end. Quite different from T'ash story and his need for his heart mate.