Heart Search
By
Grade : C

I can certainly understand why series books are so popular. Once an author builds a new world or community, there is a sense of contentment in visiting it again. Ms. Owens has crafted a definite hook for me with her plot device of telepathic pets called fams and one true love called HeartMate. But after reading the tenth book in the series, I not sure that is enough for me to continue. While the conflict between the couples is unique from book to book, there is a sameness to other aspects that have turned books like Heart Search into an ordinary read for me.

Since I have read all ten books, it is difficult to decide if this book can stand on its own. There is a bit of an information dump in the very beginning, recapping certain parts of the worldbuilding and history, but I still encountered quite a few passing references to characters from previous books. I don't believe that new readers will be lost, but they will not know the history of all the characters.

If you have read the series, then you know that its population is composed of individuals possessing supernatural ability called flair. Some have it more than others. Individuals go through passages that free their magic. During the second passage, if the individual has a HeartMate, it is revealed to them.

Great Lord Laev Hawthorn of one of the twelve Great Houses brought disgrace to his family by marrying the wrong woman. He had just finished his second passage and while still in an aroused state, Nivea Sunflower used her flair to convince him that she was his HeartMate instead of one of the nearby girls. Nivea died two years ago, but he is just now discovering the full extent of her perfidy. While married to him, she stole from his family. Since he was the one who facilitated this, he feels the need to atone. Finding the treasures that Nivea pilfered will go a long way toward making amends to his relatives and residence. While he knows that he has a HeartMate, after his horrible experience, Laev has no interest in bonding.

At age thirteen, Camelia was rewarded the rights to a salvaged tea set over her father and uncle. She sold the urn and used the proceeds to open Darjeeling Teahouse and Darjeeling HouseHeart. Since her father and uncle were unable to take possession of her fortune, they constantly abuse and bully her. She knows that Laev Hawthorn is her HeartMate, but after dealing with the pain of him marrying someone else and experiencing ill treatment by her male relatives, she is content to expand her business.

As Laev searches for his family treasures, and Camelia begins more intensive defensive training, they begin to encounter each other more, which results in telepathic lovemaking. Also, both have received fams that are determined to bring them together.

At times I felt that the conflict of two individuals not wanting to find their HeartMate seemed somewhat self-contradictory. Even with a horrible experience, why would you want to refuse the one person in the universe that is your guaranteed true love? A person that is perfect for you in every way, so much so that you bond mentally, emotionally and spiritually? In a way, by refusing the bond the couple is saying that they don’t trust in the process and that having a HeartMate can be a poisonous pill. Still each couple does retain their free will and both do have reason to be leery. Characterwise, I would describe both Laev and Camelia as earnest. Laev is intent on his quest, and Camelia's energies are directed toward her business. They both enjoy their new fams, but I wouldn’t call either one of them joyful.

The Fams (cats, in this book) are what has kept me hooked, and I don’t even have cats as pets. There is just something engaging about their telepathic bond. And it is not that the characterization of the Fams changes dramatically with each book. Most are obsessed with food, a special pillow or bed, hunting or playing and of course being treated like a prince or princess. Still, it amuses me.

With almost all fantasy books, I tend to reach a saturation point where I think something is too out there or just plain silly. When one of the villains received his just rewards, it did cause me to roll my eyes. And another villain caught me completely by surprise. In fact I didn’t remember who he was, causing to go back and revisit certain scenes.

All of this tends to make the book sound unappealing. It is not that it is a bad book, it just that it's more of an okay book. I still like the world building, the characters are nice, and the fams entertaining but Heart Search didn’t excite me.

Reviewed by Leigh Davis
Grade : C

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : September 22, 2011

Publication Date: 2011/08

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