"Finally!! Straif Blackthornes long awaited tale!"

I have been waiting for Straif Blackthorne's story since Heartmate, the first of the Celta books from talented Robin D. Owens. There was something about this solitary man that called for his own story. I am delighted to see in this, the fourth book in the series his story, is finally realized.

Straif is the only descendent of his family line, years he has mourned this loss, years he has searched for the reason why. On Planet Celta family is everything. Ancient descendent from planet Earth, they value their lines, rites and traditions, and being the head of a first family carries great honor and responsibilities. Only Straif is the last Blackthorne. His ancient family estate has stood empty, unloved as he has journeyed hard and long trying to unriddle the curse that has plagued his family, but failed to claim him. Finally coming home to Druida City, he hires Mitchella Clover to bring alive the long neglected manor house of his estate.

Mitchella has the key to discovering her heartmate and is determined to find him, but Blackthorne keeps cloaking the fact he is the one, knowing he cannot marry this woman. To do so would seal the end of the Blackthorne line.

As with each set of lovers in Owens very original series, the premise is there is a Heartmate for true lovers. As young men and women come of age they go through a series of three passages and if the have a heartmate they will generally glimpse this person. Straif has glimpsed a woman, but like the family that bore him, their romance is doomed. He must marry to produce heirs to carry on the Blackthorne line -- heirs he hopes can survive. The woman in his visions is Mitchella Clover, a woman who cannot have children. This is very painful to her, as she comes from a very fertile family. Her lack of the ability to have children is only magnified with so many nieces and nephews around her. She longs for her own family, but knows her having suffered Macha's Disease stands between her growing love for Straif. Mitchella soon learns Straif is her heartmate but he refuses to accept her because he believes it would be the end of the Blackthorne family.

There is a dark menace killing young first familiar members and as Straif tries to stop him, he fears the evil shall claim the one thing he loves -- Mitchella.

Of course, there is another darling FamKitty. This one is Drina. Ah, sigh, if Straif and Mitchella would just listen to the smart know-it-all Drina!! But such is the lot of a FamKitty!!

Owens paints with pictures, not mere words, pulling you into her very intricate world of Celta and kitties with telepathy and the power to speak. One cannot wait for the next Celta tale.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted June 28, 2005

Everyone's back! Characters from HeartMate, Heart Thief and Heart Duel appear to help renovate the Residence, solve the mystery, give advice on the perfect duel—or meddle. And the first baby of the next generation is born...

Summary

Tracker Straif Blackthorn has returned to Druida City after his last rescue mission, intending to repair his home and resume the noble duties he abandoned at seventeen, when he lost his family to disease. He's futilely searched Celta for a cure.

But he may be too late! A secret enemy is ready to claim his title, his lands, and destroy the woman he loves.

As an interior designer Mitchella Clover dreamt of someone saying "no expense spared." Unfortunately it's a wildly attractive GreatLord who offers her the chance of a lifetime—to restore an ancient showplace. She knows she can never give Straif what he truly wants, but can she resist him?

The job isn't easy. Both the sentient Residence and Straif's new snobbish Fam cat have remodeling ideas, and Mitchella's ward instantly dislikes Straif.