Heart Fire

Title: Heart Fire

Author: Robin D. Owens [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Berkeley Sensation

Series: Celta Heartmates, Bk 13

ISBN: 9780425263952

Length: 355 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I requested the library buy it as soon as I knew it was coming.

Comments:

This is Antenn Blackthorn-Moss's story.  It's going to take me a bit to adjust to this younger generation growing up, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy their stories.  And I did enjoy this one.  Except.  I did not feel the same moment of wrenching emotion that I have with the previous Celta books.  Oh, don't get me wrong.  Robin D. Owens is one of my favorite authors, and I quickly read this just like her other books.  But I didn't have that moment where I'm just sobbing.

Anyway, Antenn is all grown up.  He's trying to get the job the will make his career and name in architecture.  But the job is for a controversial religious group, so a "priestess" from the mainstream religion is assigned to smooth things out and keep it all copacetic.  But she has her own name, and career on line.  Not to mention quite a bit of family and emotional stuff to keep wrapped up.

Great characters, nice story.  Awesome setting and a chance to revisit some past characters.  I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.  I believe it is to be titled Heart Legacy (unless I misunderstood).

Ghost Layer

Title: Ghost Layer

Author: Robin D. Owens [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Berkley Sensational Paranormal Romance

Series: Ghost Seer, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780425268919

Length: 291 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I requested the library purchase it as soon as I saw it was coming.  I enjoyed the first book in the series.  And Robin D. Owens is one of my favorite authors.

Comments:

I had forgotten quite a bit about the romance aspect of the first book, but I remembered Clare and her ghost dog Enzo, and the major ghost of Ghost Seer, Jack Slade.  It's kind of unfortunate that his ancestor had made more of a lasting impact than the hero, Zach Slade, did.  But I quickly remembered him as I read.  And I do like him (as well as Clare and Enzo).


This time Clare has been hired to take care of a ghost prospector who is leaving less than desirable presents in the bed of a multimillionaire's lady guests.  The multimillionaire in question is a jerk, but Clare needs to help her ghosts - for their sake and hers.  So she pushes on, despite not only the negative attitudes, but also the danger as someone obviously doesn't want her poking into history.  But what could anyone have against solving the murder of a ghost 100+ years dead?

I read this quickly (considering my distastefully slow reading schedule these days), and I look forward to seeing more of Clare, Zach, and Enzo in the 3rd book, Ghost Killer, due out in February.

Ghost Seer

Title: Ghost Seer

Author: Robin D. Owens [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Berkley Sensation Paranormal Romance

Series: Ghost Seer, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425268902

Length: 296 pages + "Author's Note and Acknowledgements"

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

As soon as I saw Robin D. Owens was putting another book out I requested the library purchase it.  This was just after I caught up with the Celta series.

Comments: 

 So this is a new series by Robin.  It is actually set in the western part of the U.S. (primarily Colorado) the entire time.  This is different than the two series I have read before - "Celta Heartmate" and "Llandra" (I haven't tried the "Enchanted" series yet).  The writing, the characters, the "voice" that all remains the same.  But I have to say I think the setting changed the feel some.  

And the setting is important.  Main character Clare has developed the ability to see ghosts from a certain period and area.  Namely ghosts from the Old West.  And she needs to live in the area where those ghosts are from.  In this case she is helping the ghost of gunslinger Jack Slade.  I hadn't heard of him before but in the Notes at the end Robin mentions a couple of books she used for her research.  This caught my interest enough that I actually check one of them - The Death of a Gunslinger: The Quest for Jack Slade, the West's Most Elusive Legend - out.  I haven't gotten very far - just the introduction - but we'll see if I can actually keep with it.

Anyway, because this is also a romance we also have a hero in the story.  Zach Slade has always been in police work.  But he was injured on the job, has some lasting wounds, and can no longer work in his chosen field.  The closest he can get is private investigator, as much as he sneers at even the words.  Zach is a very bitter character, but Clare seems to help "heal" his attitude and he improves with time.

And how can I forget Clare's new sidekick, Enzo.  He's a dog... and a ghost.  Which means he can talk.  And apparently he is occasionally something more as well.

Anyway, I still anxiously await another book in the Celta Heartmate series, but I look forward to reading the next book in this series, Ghost Layer, too.  And maybe I'll read the Enchanted series while I wait.

Hearts and Swords

Title: Hearts and Swords
     Content Titles:
           "Heart and Sword"
           "Heart Story"
           "Heart and Soul"
           "Noble Heart"

Author: Robin D. Owens

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Series: Celta/Heart Series

ISBN: 9780425243411

Length: 452

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I'm a fan of the series/author.

Comments:

You could read this as an introduction to Celta.  But it serves especially well for those who have been following the series and enjoy the secondary stories/romances.  And IMO, each story was better than the one before it.  I look forward to reading more.  But here are my thoughts on the individual stories...

"Heart and Sword" - I would have preferred this as a general story, rather than it being made into a romance.  The story of how it went down, combined with seeing the story that has now been made into a production in the books was interesting.  But the conflict (and resolution) between Kelse and Fern Bountry in their relationship felt forced.

"Heart Story" - Blush Willow deserved a story, and I'm glad she got it.  The hoarding aspect there on Celta was interesting.  It was a very brief story, but it didn't need to be long.  The end was a bit abrupt, but still fine.

"Heart and Soul" - I was pleased Genista got a story.  I always felt bad for her and the way things worked out - even if I am glad Tinne got his HeartMate.  But her Genista has had time to heal, to learn herself, and to find love.

"Noble Heart" - This was the best story in the bunch.  It was also the longest.  Once again this is a story that ties up loose ends.  Sedwy had her controversy in the Heart Quest.  And the Clover family is so big they needed another story.  Plus, I'm pretty sure the Clover brother mentioned this one has his marriage in Heart Fortune.  So that's a thread tied.

Some recent reads and re-reads of Robin D. Owens books...

I recently read Heart Search (Celta Heartmates, Bk 10) by Robin D. Owens.  Then I re-read chunks and pieces of the nine preceding novels in the series (some more than others).  But that wasn't quite all.  So I re-read Heart Search for the second time in a matter of a couple weeks.  Then I signed up for the Amazon Prime trial so I could get Heart Secret (Celta Heartmates, Bk 11) and the newly released Heart Fortune (Celta Heartmates, Bk 12) with free two-day shipping.  I read both, and then re-read parts of both immediately after.

Anyway, about the stories. 

I had forgotten how things left off with Laev and it was interesting to see in Heart Search that time was the necessary ingredient to make things work out.  I think that's part of why I got behind with the series.  The not knowing.

For Heart Secret, man, Primross was STUBORN.  But I still enjoyed the story.  Even though I could have knocked him over the head a time or two.  And TQ (the house) is really coming into its own!

Heart Fortune's story was a little disappointing for me.  I still enjoyed it, but... Anyway, it was hard to focus on that because this is a future where librarianship is a magical power! I mean really, is that not awesome or what?  But good thing I'm not part of the Licorice family because I don't know if I could have stood the pressure!

Anyway, I really love the Celta HeartMate series.  Can't you tell?  But now I have to wait until next August or so for the next full length novel.  I will read the short stories in Heart and Swords soon.  And I might start her Mystic Circle (3 books never read) sometime soon.  I own the first and requested the library purchase the second and third.

A slow week ...

Ghoul Interrupted (Ghost Hunter Mystery, Bk 6) by Victoria Laurie (library copy) -

Okay, time to get real.  I feel guilty every time I read one of her books (like I'm betraying my fellow readers), but I've been keeping up with this series anyway.  In doing so, I've managed to witness a miracle.  VL wrote a book with no preaching!  No lectures to us non-believers about how wrong we are and how we'll get ours!  In fact, I'll go so far as to say this is the best book in the series.  In addition to no preaching, Gilley wasn't as annoying, the American Indian theme was interesting, and I guessed the bad guy correctly.

I did a skip and jump (i.e. I read my favorite parts and the main parts) through Guardian of Honor (Summoner series, Bk 1) by Robin D. Owens.

I jumped around through Attack of the Fiend (Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles, Bk 4) by Joseph Delaney.  I had checked it out thinking I hadn't read it yet and soon realized I had.  I continued to randomly jump ahead and refresh my memory so I'm better prepared to read the next book in the series.

I started a couple other things that I should finish and post soon, but for the most part I've been fighting off a reading slump.