Hearts and Swords: Four Original Stories of Celta (A Celta Novel)

Heart and Sword-Ok but the ending was a little too saccharine and insufficient character development.
Heart Story-Dropped into the middle of a story, with backplot not remembered, by me anyway.No explanation for most of the story. Trite and hurried.
Heart and Soul- Genista seems to have had a major personality change, and again, facile. Tooo rushed.
Noble Heart=The best, also the longest.
I love the Heart Series and Celta. I agree with another reviewer that short stories are not Ms Owens forte.I would have given #2and#3 a two star.

Hearts and Swords by Robin Owens
Paranormal Romance -Dec. 6th, 2011
4 stars

Hearts and Swords is an anthology of four separate stories set in Robin Owen's world of Celta where mischievous Fams and engaging characters find love in unexpected places.

The first story, Heart in Sword, is set before Celta is occupied, when the founding settlers are still trying to find a place to inhabit before their resources run out. This is the most futuristic feeling story since it place in space. Capt. Kelse Bountry is awakened from his sleep to navigate their faltering ship to an inhabitable planet and control a mutiny on the ship. In this story, Kelse is already married to his wife Fern. Together they work to bring their ship to safety.
I really liked this story because it features a couple who are already in love and very much devoted to each other. I admired their courage and it was interesting to read the origins of the founders of Celta. My only quibble is that sometimes this story seemed to drag on. 4 stars

Heart Story
Blush Willow has already married and had a son who has found his HeartMate. But Blush's HeartMate never claimed her. Plus, Blush was under her powerful and domineering mother and never defied her to go after him. Instead, she married a man her mother arranged. Although she loves her son, she longs for her own HeartMate. Now a widow and with her demanding mother dead, Blush plans to meet her HeartMate. Dri. But their meeting is awkward and filled with tension. Dri wants Blush but is angry for the years they lost. Can they find the love they lost and forgive?
This was a heartwarming story. I really felt the longing between the two main characters and wanted them to be together. Anyone who loves a well deserved happy ending will definitely enjoy this story- my favorite of this anthology. 4 ½ stars

Heart and Soul
In this story, the wild and wealthy Genista Furze caused no end of scandal. When her marriage failed with Tinne Holly and she miscarried her baby, she finds longs to live a simple life away from her former one. But unknown to her, the Holly family has hired a wounded warrior named Cardus to watch over her, and he quickly finds himself in love with Genista. Unknowingly content to live as an apprentice for clockmaker, Genista finds herself slowing growing to like the company of her mysterious neighbor, Cardus.
This was a sweet romance. I grew to care for Genista who I had previously thought of as a bit shallow. I was happy she was able to find a man who really appreciates her after her struggles. Cardus is a very noble and honest man, and they made a wonderful couple.
4 stars

Noble Heart
Walker Clover unexpectedly experiences a deadly passage where his powers of Flair are revealed. But Walker is confused, he should not have such powers. That is until he is informed that his mother is not really his birth mother but is really a noble woman. To add to his stress and confusion, he finds himself thrust into nobility and heading his family. He is assigned the lovely Sedwy Grove to help him navigate his new position. But Sewy has a past, and is Walker willing to give up his position and an ambitious family for a new love?
This was an interesting story. I felt Sedwy was judged unfairly and cheered when Walker decides to go with his heart instead of the pressures of his family. I also felt bad for Walker who is thrown in a situation which he really doesn't want. 4 stars

Those who love the Celta series will find this anthology a great treat! This is sure to be a story that will become a favorite.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

her writing talent doesn't seem to mesh well with shorter stories.

I've been a Robin D Owens fan from the beginning. I have the original print of HeartMate and I adore all her books. But this one, while having the flair (lol) and panache of her usual work just doesn't seem to be as enjoyable or deep. It's length doesn't really allow her to explore her characters or leave the usual amount of breadcrumbs for other stories and as such it comes off rushed and cut short with frustrating glances at stories that weren't fully realized.

I feel like every short story, with the exception of possibly HeartStory could have been an entire book so I'm torn about recommending Hearts and Swords. Truthfully while I really think it's a library rental sort of situation, (where I wouldn't buy it, but reading it gave me backstory on the Celta world) I think supporting authors like Owens, whose work hasn't faded over the years like some authors or become monotonous is also worth the few dollars I spent on a book I probably won't come back to until she writes into characters she 'breadcrumbed' in it.

If it goes on sale or you're giving it as a gift I say go for it. But generally I don't think it's one of her better works.

3.5 - One terrific short story, one very good one, and two that are okay...

There are currently eleven books in Robin D. Owen's Heartmate series, which began with strong storytelling in Heart Mate. This series is labeled as paranormal romance, but I think it would be more accurate to describe it as fantasy romance with elements of science fiction. The characters are descended from gifted humans who fled persecution on Earth. The stories take place four hundred years after colonization on the planet the colonists named Celta.

Celtans have psi powers, known as flair, which grows through three passages. In one of those passages, some connect with their `Heartmate'. It's a strong commitment to accept a Heartmate because if one dies the other follows into the Wheel of Stars within a year. Each character faces personal and external challenges. Their paths are not simple.

The Heartmate series is imaginative, unique, and romantic. It has a medieval feel(although it may be just my impression), but their culture seems to share some Japanese (or asian) similarities, such as with their clothing, training, and code of honor. There are class distinctions, feuds, prejudices, slums (downwind), black magic, intelligent residences, telepathic pets, and fertility issues. Celtan technology receives energy from their flairs, i.e. their `no time box' stores their food using time manipulation. The people are still exploring their planet and finding their way. It's an enchanting world that readers can find escapism through the language, culture, and adversities.

Heart and Swords is composed of four short stories, which of the best is "Heart and Swords." If you are a fan of the series you must read it. It provides details of their dangerous existence on Earth; their goals and the changes within each starship; and how their planet was chosen. For those who are unfamiliar with this series, you may want to sample Ms. Owen's writing by reading the short "Heart and Swords" or Heart Mate.

"Heart and Swords" - 4.5 stars or A
Kelse Bountry is awakened from his cryogenic sleep. Mutineers have killed the starships captain and security, and are determined to shut down the cryonic bay. Their goal is to take over the starship Nuada `s Sword. Kelse also discovers the planet they overshot the seeded planet they intended to inhabit. His people escaped Earth to start a better life. He had never imagined he might need to fight his own people.

This short story is the best in this novel. It is set on Nuada's Sword, but there are interactions with Lugh's Spear and Arianrhod's Wheel. Generations have been born about the ships. Madness is feared for those born on the ship when they land. Fuel is low. Wormholes have caused damage. They are lost. The story is tense, exciting, and detailed. Read it!

"Heart Story" - 3 stars or C
A short story about Blush Willow from Heart Dance. Under a domineering mother, Blush married a man who was not her Heartmate. She never knew her mother turned away her intended mate because he was of a lower class. The alliance to her husband's family was advantageous to the former T'Willow (pronounced tuh-Willow). The one good thing that results from her marriage is her son. Now, Blush is free to pursue her Heartmate and resolve hurt feelings.

"Heart and Soul" - 3.5 stars or C+
A short story about Genista Furze from Heart Fate - Genista is a pariah. She is the first of a GreatFamily marriage to divorce, but after her miscarriage and knowing her husband had a Heartmate she had to end it. Genista has chosen a new name and lives in a new city. She builds her self-worth, discovers her skills, and begins life anew. Genista does not have a Heartmate, but there is someone special for her if she takes a chance.

"Noble Heart" - 4 stars or B-
This is the story of how the prolific commoner Clover Family elevated to GrandFamily status. Walker Clover has a hard time adjusting to his new position in the family, his nobility status, and the weighty responsibilities assigned to him. He loved his job as a teacher. Now everything has changed. Walker experienced all three passages at once, and flair has designated him for a grand occupation that has him overwhelmed. He copes with his family as marriage offers begin as the Clovers are renowned for their fertility. Walker has much to learn. It's his new fox Fam (Familiar Companion) and beautiful tutor Sedwy Grove who guide him.

Overall Grade for the Four Stories of Celta: C+

Stories of Celta by Robin D. Owens
Grade: A

"The Earthans didn't have HeartMates, but they had soul mates. That's what we are. Soul mates."

Heart and Swords tells four very different but wonderful stories about some old familiar characters from the Celta Heartmates series. The series takes place on Celta a plant that was founded a little over four hundred years ago by rebels from Earth. Celta is set up very much like the Ton of England with First Families with titles who rule most of the highest branches of government. The higher a Family's rank the more flair, or magic, they have and this is very important in this society and can lower or raise a Family's status. About half of the population of Celta have HeartMates, much like soul mates on Earth, that they have a bond with very early on in life. Most choose to bond with their HeartMates but some never go in search of their mate and find someone else to marry out of Family obligation. The world of Celta is very fascinating and is told in the first ten books of the series.

The Celta HeartMates series is one of my favorite series right now and as a fan I was so excited to read this book. As a fan of the series you always wonder what happens to some of the side characters and will they ever get their HEA and in this book we get to see some of those characters. I really loved the first story Heart and Sword as it tells the story of the pioneers from Earth trying after centuries to find a plant that is liveable. Much of the history of the settlement of Celta has been talked about in the series but it was really interesting to actually get an idea of what life was life on a ship for generations. I feel that I have a better understanding of Celta now after reading this story.

The next three stories catch us up with characters from previous books. My favorite was Heart and Soul featuring Genista Furze from Heart Duel, Heart Choice, Heart Quest, Heart Dance and Heart Fate. Genista has divorced her husband so he can marry his HeartMate and has left Druida to live on her own and work in a clock store without anyone knowing who she is and the scandal she left behind. Cardus Parryl is her neighbor and is being paid by her ex-husbands family to watch over her but finds himself falling for Genista. Being a fan of the series I loved reading what happened to Genista and was so glad she found someone to love.

The other two stories Heart Story and Noble Heart tell the stories of Arbusca Willow who is in Heart Dance, her son's story and Walker Clover the tutor of T'Ash's (Heartmate) children. I liked both of these stories but not as much as they other two. Heart Story was my least favorite but I think that's because I was angry at both characters for letting their pride and anger get in the way of them being HeartMates.

If you are a fan of the Celta HeartMates series you will love this book. If you haven't read this series yet I highly recommend doing so especially if you like science fiction-steampunk romance. I love the world of Celta and I can't wait to see where the next book in the series takes us.

Not every author is good at writing short stories but each of these four stories is complete and well-written. The Heartmate series set on the magical planet of Celta features romantic love, characters who face personal challenges with courage and honor, and whimsical pets who communicate telepathically with their owners (and who wouldn't want to know what their pet is really thinking?)

New readers will get a great introduction to the world of Celta, and long-time fans will love these stories. The first story, which takes place on the spaceship Nuada's Sword, has the least amount of romance but provides historical background to the Heartmate series and some interesting insights into the challenges for the earthan colonists who have lived their entire lives on a spaceship. The other stories take place 400 years later on the planet Celta and each story features a different couple, all at different stages of their lives, who face big changes. This book is a strong and wonderful addition to the Heartmate Series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes romance and a little magic!

I really love these four stories. I especially enjoyed the one about the founder of these planets. I'm glad I was finally able to read about where they began.

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Great stories every time. I am amazed that each story keeps me coming back for more.