Heart Secret by Robin D. Owens – a Review

Heart Secret is the latest book of Robin D. Owens’ Heart Mate  series, and it is the 11^th book in that series.  I have really enjoyed this series, and Heart Secret continues the wonderful journey in the world of Celta.  The destined mates in this book is Garrett Primross and Artemesia Mugwort Panax.   

Garrett is a private investigator, whom we got to know in Heart Search.  He is a friend of Laev T’Hawthorn.  Artemesia, is a second level healer, whom we met in the last book also, and we know of  her sister Tiana as Camellia’s friend. 

18 months ago, a terrible sickness caused many deaths, including Garrett’s ex love.  He has never been able to get over this loss.  Until now, there have been no repeat of this Iasc sickness, when a young boy becomes sick.  The healers decide to be proactive, and they have asked Garrett to help discover why he was the only one who got sick at that time, and survived.  They know it is something with his blood, and they want him to volunteer to help be a guinea pig.    The first level healers assign Artemisa to be his healer, and they are locked in a residence to block the disease for getting out.  Garrett is injected with the virus. 

One of the fun things of this series, is how residences talk like people.  Very cool.  I enjoyed the Turquoise House (TQ) helping clean the germs, and talk to both Garrett & Artemesia.  Later we meet another residence in the Mugwort home…Balm Heal House. 

While infected and sick with the virus, Garrett has many nightmares, and Artemesia learns about his dead love, Dinni.  It is Artemesia who helps Garrett through the roughest part of the virus, which he eventually will overcome again.  During his lock down, a kitten gets into the house and decides he is Garrett’s FamCat.   Rusby is adorable, and I totally fell in love with him.  But then again, I love most of the fam animals of the Heart series.  Later, Artemesia finds her own fam animal in Randa a cute raccoon. 

Garrett, treats Artemesia coldly and mean early on.  She has no idea why he acts like that to her.  Even Rusby tells his Fam Man  that he is so nasty with the healer.  Truth be told, Garrett has known that Artemesia is his Heart Mate, and he has no desire to have any relationship, since he cannot get over Dinni, and does not want to suffer the heartbreak again.   In his arrogant behaviour, he tells Artemesia that she is his Heart Mate, and he is not interested in her.  She is hurt, and angry.  It is against Celta laws to tell your mate, who does not know, that she is your Heart Mate. 

Heart Secret is also a mystery, as there is a murder, and Artemesia is a suspect, even though she has an alibi, being locked in the TQ house asleep at the time.  The only reason besides finding the body later, is that her family was accused many many years ago of something they did not do.  The murdered man was part of that.  This disgrace is another reason why Artemesia is only a second level healer, though she is an excellent healer.  Her boss, Ura Heather, was not likeable at all, a typical snob, and I hated how she treated Artemesia. 

Working together to help the police solve the murder, Garrett finds himself becoming more and more aware of Artemesia.  She ignores him, and has decided to search for a husband (not a heart mate), who will love her, and give her children.  This also begins to bother Garrett, to see her with other men.  As things get exciting, Garrett begins to open up his heart, and he sees Artemesia as his Heart Mate, and then works to woo her, and win her back to him.  

This was not quite as exciting as Heart Search, but an excellent story nevertheless.  I also enjoyed that Garrett used the feral animals for help to solve his cases.  He fed them everyday, and we would watch them talk to him to tell him what was happening.  A cute idea, to use these telepathic animals as his helpers to find clues. 

Garrett’s rudeness to Artemesia early on was somewhat of a turnoff, as I felt bad for her.  But with the help of Rusby, this was a very nicely done romance, that grew over the course of the book. I enjoy the way Owens uses some of her characters from earlier books, and this was a great way to see them again.   It was a great ending, as there was a big surprise in solving the murder. Another great addition to the Heart Mate series.  If you have not read this series, I suggest you start from the beginning and read them all. Life in Celta is fun, not to mention I want a Fam Cat for myself. 

LINKS TO ORDER:
The Book Depository
Amazon Paper Books
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook and Paper books

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by the Author