Hearts and Swords

October 31, 2011
In this charming quartet of romance shorts, Owens expands her futuristic fantasy universe of Celta (Heart Search, etc.), filling in the backstories of the worlds and people therein. “Heart and Sword” follows a starship colonist who finds himself unexpectedly tasked with choosing a planet to settle. ”Heart Story” focuses on mature lovers destined to be HeartMates, who meet for the first time in decades and attempt to overcome pains of youth and an ancient family feud. In the collection’s strongest piece, “Heart and Soul,” an unconventional young woman reforges herself during a Halloween/Samhain celebration and creates the nucleus of a new family. In “Noble Heart,” a man undergoing a late development of his psychic abilities is assisted in his transition by an attractive woman with issues of her own. Owens’s characters thrive on their emotional connections, and their stories are both pleasurable and moving.

December 1, 2011

Bowing to reader requests, Owens has gifted her fans with a stunning quartet of Celta-linked pieces (three novellas and a short story) that include everything from the long-awaited tale of the colonization of Celta to the rare raising of a commoner to the noble ranks. A ship's captain must deal with mutiny and treachery in his efforts to find a livable planet in "Heart and Sword," a novella that beautifully lays the foundation for many of the concepts in the novels to come. In the humor-laced "Heart Story," a woman is reunited with her true HeartMate after 25 years apart, but past anger and present challenges threaten their relationship. A noblewoman tarnished by scandal and divorce carves out a new, simpler, more satisfying life for herself but is still wary of men in the touching "Heart and Soul"; and, in "Noble Heart," a commoner with uncommon Flair for dealing with people struggles with his heritage and all it means. VERDICT Four compelling stories answer questions, fill in some blanks, reprise characters, and add new dimension to Owens's fascinating Heart Universe in this must-read for series fans. It's also a good way for the curious to sample planet Celta's intriguing, magical culture. Owens (Heart Search) lives in the Denver area.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.