Lost Heart by Robin D. Owens – a Review

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Description:
Celta, a place of magic, telepathic animal companions, and romance . . . Lost Heart, a story rife with hidden agendas and dangerous secrets.

Barton Clover, Chief of Security for his large and noble family, is deeply aware of his responsibilities. When two young relatives repudiate the family and later disappear, he’s determined to find them and convince them to return. He has no time or inclination for love . . . but his family disapproves of his nothing-but-work life. They decree that he must visit a matchmaker or lose his position.

Enata Licorice, a respected librarian, has been doing research in a mysterious records vault . . . and is finding odd blanks in her memory. Lonely, she yearns for a good husband and arranges a matchmaking session of her own.

It’s love at first sight for Barton and Enata, but both are crucial members of their families. Clans who practice opposite lifestyles. And both families demand the couple’s time and attention, causing strife.

While trying to resolve their issues, Barton discovers Enata’s secret and they must work as a couple to resolve the puzzle that includes Barton’s missing relatives — if they dare. And if they fail, more than their own lives are lost.

Review:

Lost Heart by Robin D. Owens is the first novella in her wonderful Celta series. Celta Heartmates series takes place in a futuristic world, filled with magic, animal familiars, telepathy and romance.  We meet our hero Barton Clover early on when his brother is forcing him to stop looking for two missing members of the Clover family.  Barton is head of security for the entire Clover family, and he is a workaholic, determined to protect those in his family.  Barton’s brother wants him to see T’Willow, the Celta matchmaker, since it is time for Barton to find a mate, even if she isn’t a heartmate.

Enata Licorice, our heroine is a librarian, in her highly respected Licorice family, who has been currently trying to solve an issue of memories being erased.  Enata sees her sister happy having found her lifemate, and is somewhat jealous.  She puts herself into her work, feeling she will never find a mate. When she visits T’Willow with her family, the matchmaker finds her match.  Barton will be brought in to meet Enata, both given a love potion and love is in the making.  In an unusual change, they are not Heartmates, but they are meant for each other and fully in love. In Celta, not everyone has Heartmates, only a select few, but many find their mates and live happily ever after.

After Barton and Enata are married, which does have some very steamy sex scenes; they must visit and meet both families.  What follows is an interesting story, which will have both of them researching why those missing family members are forgotten, and together they will attempt to solve the mystery.  In the middle of their investigation, Barton will find his cat fam, Resup, a little kitten, who acts like a full grown cat.  Enata will also find her fam, a beautiful bird.  One of the best things about this series is the familiars, whether it’s a cat, fox, bird, etc.  I love the fun we have with them as they talk to their humans telepathically, and also help them. 

Lost Heart was a fun, sexy story with a nice mystery.  Robin D. Owens did a wonderful job writing this addition to her Celta series, especially be able to give us everything we love about the series in the shorter novella format.  Great series that you should be reading.

Reviewed by Barb