I haven't read this cute a book in a long time. It's so funny watching the male character Rand T. Ash trying his hardest to win his heartmate Danith and having no clue and I do mean 'no clue' as to how to do it. He spares no expense to win her, to no avail. She keeps telling him no. Ash has a cat who trys to help him win her. Actually the cat has more luck at it than Ash does.

I LOVE this book. It's cute, funny, heartbreaking. You feeling for Ash. Wishing you could help him get his HeartMate. Danith likes him-alot, but he scares her.

Will he win his HeartMate? Read the book. You won't regret it.

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Rereading...
Heart Mate is a strong start to the Celtan Heart Mates series.

The hero is a man of the highest class who grew up in the slums after his family and home were destroyed by enemies when he was six. The man be became has destroyed those enemies and rebuilt his home - now he wants a wife, a heartmate who will love him exclusively and help him establish the family and home he so desperately wants. Once he identifies Danith as his heartmate, he expects her to fall into his arms. Unfortunately for him, it doesn't happen...

The heroine wants a warm, uncomplicated husband who will give her the family she has always wanted. Someone cheerfully peacefully middle class like herself. Not some big and brooding noble with no social skills...

One of the charms of this series are the fams - intelligent, psychically gifted animals who can choose to bond with humans. Zanth is the hero's fam - a rough, tough feline brawler who came to the hero when he was a child in the slums. When he decides he wants the heroine also, she doesn't have a chance...

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.

Do not read the series out of 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)

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This is a new series for me. All about a different world. I'm looking forward to finding the others in the series.

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Well I have to say I started out loving this book and wanting to keep it because I'm a long time fan of SciFi. The FAMiliars are hilarious and made me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, this book became extremely repetative and I got bored about half way through. I did finish it and did like it, but... Anyway, read on...the second book wasn't as funny but I enjoyed it all the way through and the characters overlap and progress, so you do need to read them in order!
It's a fascinating premise and I am a sucker for romance. I must also point out that Robin's idea of good sex is lots of emotion and quick release. I could have sworn the author was a guy...but apparently not! So, most of the romantic mushy stuff will leave you rather...well, wanting more. Poor ladies! The men of Celta have no staying power!

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Rand and Danith are HeartMates! She doesn't know it! He can't tell her by law. She won't take his heartgift. He's getting frustrated and she's getting more and more aggravated!

Now ....man's best friends are dogs right? NOPE! A cat! The greatest cat...Zanth!! He helps her accept the gifts, bribes him for things, protects him and LOVES CHOCOLATE MOUSSE!!

This is a great beginning to a series!!

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2.5* (generously rounded up)
Rand T'Ash is a Lord of a GreatFamily (one of the First families) of the planet Celta. Celta was settled about 400 years ago and its inhabitants have various degrees of psychic/magical abilities (called Flairs here). T'Ash creates jewelry.
When T'Ash meets his HeartMate, he is excited. Except Danith, who is from a lower class (Miz- middle-class with limited magical ability), thinks he is playing a joke on her. She believes he placed a seduction spell on the piece of jewelry (called a HeartGift) he intends to gift his HeartMate. This begins there courtship (if that's what you want to call it). T'Ash is too pushy. Way too pushy.
It did take awhile to get into the story. Even then I wasn't totally feeling it. I wish some things could have been explained earlier; a prologue would have been helpful. At moments I felt I was missing some background. Many terms are guessable (like Flair= magic, Miz= lower class, Gallent = significant other)
I might have rolled my eyes when Danith discovered she had strong magical abilities. And learned all about them practically overnight. Oh, and she happened to be a rare Animal Healer. A strong Flair puts one in the Nobel class.
Zantih- T'Ash's cat familiar was the best thing about this book. I doubt I will read more in this series.

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I enjoy paranormal romances. This book did not disappoint. It did take a few chapters to get into the terminology that the author uses but once I did it was very enjoyable. Both characters have self esteem issues stemming from childhood. T'Ash is strong but his past gets in his way. I have already ordered the next 3 books of the series.

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My lack of enthusiasm for this book is 100% based on the world building. You're left to muddle through it and figure out ranks and locations and reasons for things all on your own. 25% interesting, 75% frustrating, 100% DNF.

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The magic system in this world is compelling. The world building excellent and anthropological. The character development superb. The heroine and the heroine always grow. And then there are the talking cats. I LOVE THE TALKING CATS! They are great comic relief.

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This was a fun book.

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Thia ia very sweet and good book. I very much recommend it.

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