HEART QUEST

Author: Robin D. Owens ISBN: 0425210847 9/2006 FUTURISTIC Publisher: BERKLEY SENSATION

Tucked away in the Druida City of Celta, Trif Clover knows she has a HeartMate. She wants him so badly she’s actually going door-to-door with her charmkey to find him. What she doesn’t know is that he has already found her. Guardsman Ilex Winterberry knows that Trif is his HeartMate, but fears that being twice her age, with a short life ahead of him, he will only scare her away. He yearns to be close to her—and she needs to be close to him. There’s a killer on the loose, stalking those with unstable Flair psi power like Trif’s. Facing his most difficult task yet, Ilex must reveal the truth of their destiny or else leave Trif in the grasp of a vicious murderer...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

HEART QUEST is the fifth book in one of my absolute favorite romance series, ever. I eagerly await each of the Celta books and am already wishing I had the next one in my hands.

Owens' spectacular world building continues with this story, and as always, she does an excellent job of setting up the next book in the series during the course of the current book. I'd tell you, this book can stand on its own merits, but to pick it up you really have to go back and start from the beginning. The series is that good!

In this book, continuing series character Black Ilex Winterberry, a forty-seven year old guardsman and the second son of a fading Family, gets his own heart mate. She is Trif Clover. Her large family connects her to much of the ruling class, so we have ample opportunity to check up on previous series characters. Owens is a master of characterization, so her Trif is every bit as immature, self-involved, and not understanding of consequences as we'd expect a well-loved twenty year old to be. Yes, she's annoying, but she's real!

There are compelling reasons for the heroic Ilex to stay away from his sexy HeartMate, just as there are reasons for Trif to chase him. In addition, a substantial mystery plot unfolds as Ilex chases murderous black magicians. HEART QUEST is a fabulous read as all the Celta books are. Buy them and enjoy!

Heather Hiestand