Heart Search (2011) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“Enjoyable and interesting read, and I don't usually like books in the "romance" catagory”

• Rated 5 stars

“Much more believable roll to the ultimate get together. Really enjoy this series. She did a big jump forward in timeline, but gave us glimpses into the lives of previous HeartMates. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“Heart Search by Robins Owens
Paranormal Romance – Aug. 2nd, 2011
4 ½ stars

Those who love this series will not want to miss the quietly emotional story of two HeartMates who are afraid to love and trust.

Laev T’Hawthorn is a GreatLord whose father has recently passed away. He cannot forgive himself for his youthful passion when he married the wrong woman who was selfish and vindictive. Clouded by lust he mistook his now dead wife for his true HeartMate and caused disgrace to his family. Now he is determined to find the family heirlooms that his deceased wife stole and return them to their rightful place. But on his search he discovers new passion and the identity of his true HeartMate. Will Laev be able to open his heart again to the gentle Camellia?

Camellia Darjeeling does not care for men at all. Her father and uncle have continuously abused, terrorized and stole from her. Although she has tried to protect herself and keep her two new tea businesses afloat, the authorities can do nothing. Her weak brother refuses to help her by pressing charges on them. So the thievery and destruction of her home continues. Camellia takes self defensive classes and tries to outwit them, but her uncle’s gift is the ability to sense alarms and enter any house undetected. To add to her busy life, she keeps meeting the man who was meant to be her HeartMate. But Camellia does not trust men easily, however attractively packaged. The only real consolation is the addition of a precocious new Fam cat named Mica and her loving and supportive friends. But as she gets closer to Laev, she realizes maybe she can take a chance on him. If she has the courage.

I loved returning to the world of Celta. Robin Owens as created a world that is easy to get captivated with. There are so many new and old characters revisiting the world that I can’t wait for the author to explore the lives of Camellia’s wonderful and loyal friends. And I want to know more about the intriguing investigator Primross.

As with all the HeartMate books, the Fam cats were lively and so charming that they kept the book constantly entertaining. I wish I had one! I quickly found myself caught up with the two main characters in Heart Search. They have been wounded and instead of rushing to find their HeartMates, they are tentative and even afraid of giving another person that kind of ‘power’ over them. I admired Camellia’s courage and fierce independence and even cried with her when her uncle and father repeatedly ruined and stole what she loved. The hesitant and even fragile romance between them was very moving and sweet. The only reason I downgraded this story was because I became frustrated with the hero Laev. He is very rich and powerful but it does not even occur to him to hire someone to protect Camellia from her vicious uncle and father even when he finds out that her father has been abusive etc.. Most heroes would rush to care of the woman they were growing to care for. I understand that having the devious and thieving uncle and father around brought tension to the story but I thought it was very strange that he really did nothing to try to help her until the very end.

Sweet romance, two deserving main characters and mischievous and meddling Fam cats make for a highly enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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