All his life, Rand T’Ash has looked forward to meeting his HeartMate, with whom he could begin a family. Once a street tough, now a respected nobleman and artisan, he has crafted the perfect HeartGift, which, in the custom of the psychically gifted population of the planet Celta, is the way a man finds—and attracts—his wife…Genre: Paranormal Romance
Danith Mallow is irresistibly drawn to the magnificent necklace on display in T’Ash’s shop, but she is wary of its creator, despite an overpowering attraction. In a world where everyone is defined by their psychic ability, Danith has little, placing her at the opposite end of the social spectrum from T’Ash. But T’Ash refuses to accept her rejection and sees it as a challenge instead. They are HeartMates, but can T’Ash persuade his beloved to accept her destiny by his side?
Series: Celta Series #1
Holly: What did you think of the book overall?
ames: I liked it, but it really came together only at the end.
Holly: I agree. I was getting frustrated with it until the end. Then I was all warm and fuzzy.
ames: Yeah.
But I was thinking about it some more - it makes more sense that Danith would put up some resistance to a fated mating. I mean, how often do we complain about heroines who blindly accept the idea that they're fated to be with someone and get on with the nooky? This was more realistic...but still somewhat annoying. LOL
Holly: I think I was better able to accept her reaction because I'd read some of the later books first. The reasons some have for resisting don't make much sense. Danith's reasons did. Especially considering how pushy Ash was with her. He didn't give her time to adjust to all the changes in her life, nor did he offer much of himself. He just kept pushing gifts on her.
ames: I thought Ash was kind of cute in a clumsy way - like he couldn't talk in the proper way and he didn't know how to voice his thoughts really so he just thought by being forceful and offering her his gifts, that Danith would get it. But she wanted more from him. But his clumsy efforts at wooing were cute.
And I can't read a series out of order so I'm glad I started with this one.
Also, Mitchella pissed me off. All the Clovers did.
Holly: Omg, Mitchella pissed me off too. I understood that Danith was her friend, but srsly? No.
I agree about Ash being cute. I was rooting for him, but his bumbling made me laugh.
ames: Definitely Ash's efforts at wooing were cute and funny, and that's what made him endearing. He made such efforts to impress his lady.
One thing that annoyed me with Danith and Ash - she wanted Ash to open up to her emotionally but she never told him that. Like she wanted him to figure it out on his own and he knew that's what she wanted but he couldn't bring himself to tell her about his past and he never told her he couldn't tell her.
Seriously, communication is key in relations between men and women. I get frustrated when it doesn't occur. UGH
Also, I found the whole concept of Flair interesting. Basically it's magic, but there was also some technological things going on. And the bed sponge sounds very comfortable. LOL
Holly: I agree about the lack of communication. That was probably my main source of frustration with this book. I understood why both characters acted the way they did, but it went on way too long. Especially since they both knew what the other wanted and were just too stubborn to give it up.
I think the entire world Owens created was interesting. The Flair, the Fams, the residences. I'd call her world-building flawless. There wasn't one thing I found to complain about in that respect.
ames: Me neither. The worldbuilding was truly excellent. And we didn't get bogged down in it. Sometimes the first book in a series can get dragged down by all the worldbuilding and that didn't happen here.
So what would you grade Heart Mate?
Holly: I would probably grade it somewhere around a 4 out of 5. It had some flaws, but overall I enjoyed the story.
You?
ames: I'm giving it a B+ (4.25)
Also, I want to share my favorite Zanth passage. This cat cracked me up:
(Zanth speaks telepathically to T'Ash, so his stuff is italicized)
Dessert. I deserve dessert.
"What do you want?"
Mousse. Cocoa mousse. Cook made lots. Too much for just you.
T'Ash frowned. There was no such thing as too much cocoa. He stockpiled it like jewels. It was a luxury that both he and Zanth shared.
Know something.
Zanth's sly tone alerted T'Ash. He raised his brows.
Want big portion of mousse. Bigger than My head.
"You shouldn't ever eat things bigger than your head."
Zanth is too funny!
Also, this buddy review is cross-posted at Book Binge.
