Vinnie and Avellana is the book everyone who has been reading the Celta series has been waiting for. Vinnie knew his heartmate aka the other half of his soul since he was 7 years old. Growing up he did everything he could to protect Avellana using his prophecy skill to keep her safe. Now adults can Avellana make Vinnie see that she is an adult who wants to be treated as an equal to him. I love how the Celta world is evolving and becoming more as new characters are introduced and we got to see old favorites.
Great continuation of the series. I can't wait to see what will be next in the Celta series.

I was so looking forward to Vinnie/Muin and Avellana's story. I was not disappointed per say but not bowled over either. It had the predictable plot and villain. And while I was happy to see old characters they didn't help this particular story out much. She just seemed so cold and distant and I suppose he was just sort of there also. He never quite grew up to me. Oh well. It won't stop me from trying this authors future work.

A great addition to a fun and interesting series, love those Fams!!!!

After a rocky start (I didn’t like the first book, Heart Mate, the first time I tried to read it), Celta’s Heartmates has become one of my all-time favorite series. I look forward to the new book every year, and read it as soon as I get my hands on it.

As I did this year. In spite of the towering TBR pile, and reading commitments now stretching into February, I devoted one glorious day returning to Celta.

Celta is one of those places, like Pern (Anne McCaffrey), Darkover (Marion Zimmer Bradley) and Harmony (Jayne Castle) that sits right on the dividing line between fantasy and science fiction.

All of these series read like fantasy, where the residents have some kind of special powers – and of course Pern has dragons. But all of these worlds, including Celta, are lost Earth colonies, and their human residents arrived by spaceship sometime in the dim past of their planet. A dim past that they rediscover during the course of the series – or one that rediscovers them.

Celta and Pern are standouts in one particular aspect – they both feel liveable. These worlds are internally self-consistent, and, for lack of a better word, they both feel “real”. And they both feel like places where it would be not just possible, but actually reasonable, to live.

If only we could.

The Celta’s Heartmates series also features the best use of the fated mate trope I think I’ve ever seen. Some, but far from all, of the people of Celta have heartmates. And if they have them, they do discover who that person is during their rites of passage where they come into their “flair” (read as psychic or ESP) powers.

But the road is never easy.

Just because you know who your soulmate is, does not mean that the course of love will run smooth. There have been stories in the series where someone’s heartmate has died young, or where the protagonists just don’t have heartmates and have to make do with good, old-fashioned love.

The story in Heart Sight, however, is about two heartmates who are on a road that is filled with rocks, ruts and roadblocks, many of which have been put in place by Vinni T’Vine, the Oracle of Celta, all by himself. Unfortunately for him, the relationship that he’s messed up is his own, and his heartmate has finally called him on his manipulations and general oracular bullshit.

Because the one future that Vinni can’t see is his own. And the person most closely tied to that future is his heartmate Avellana. He can’t see her future, because he can’t see his. But he can sense when her future holds danger. Just not how much.

The story in Heart Sight is, in some ways, more Avellana’s than it is Vinni’s. Because Vinni has been an adult for some time, and has been the Oracle since he was six years old. He’s used to manipulating people for their “own good”.

But Avellana is supposed to be his partner in life and love. The one person that he should be able to confide in and lean on. And that can’t happen if he’s constantly sending her away “for her safety”. Or if he keeps thinking of her as weak and fragile. Because she is neither.

The only way to confront the danger is to face it, head on, together. And that’s the only way that they will have any future together worth having. Or any future at all.

Escape Rating A: I carried this around for a day, because I absolutely could not put it down. Even just five or ten minutes progress on “MORE STORY” was worth ignoring the rest of the world for.

One of the things I enjoy about Celta is that the place feels alive. Time passes, life moves on, things change. Readers first met Vinni when he had just inherited his title from his late grandmother, at the ripe old age of six. We’ve watched him grow up over the course of the series, always as a side character, sometimes significant, sometimes just a walk-on moment in someone else’s story, but always interesting.

Some of the other characters, Like T’Ash and Danith from Heart Mate, have matured into their powerful prime, while others, like many in the Holly Family, have gone from middle age to respected seniority.

The other part of the series that I love is that there is an overarching story of the changes and developments of Celtan society. The people are changing and their planet is changing them. There are forces that embrace those changes, and forces that are determined to fight those changes – with violence if necessary.

The danger that Avellana has faced all of her life is very real – and is part of that conflict. The arch-conservatives see her as an aberration that must be eliminated at all costs. And they don’t care how much collateral damage they do to get to Avellana. But, while the danger to Avellana was real and tied into the long-running conflict, the motives of the current avatar of those arch-conservatives strayed from being merely a dangerous enemy into downright nuckin’ futz. He was more dangerous – and more comprehensible – when he was thinking relatively clearly – even if that clear thinking was down a terrible path.

All in all, I am thrilled with my recent visit to Celta, and as always, I can’t wait to go back. The sooner, the better!

I've been waiting years for this book. Vinni and Avellana were introduced in the 2nd book and had parts as children in some of the following books. Now they're all grown up. Vinni, the Premier Prophet of Celta, keeps having terrible visions of Avellana's death. For years he's been sending her to remote places to keep her safe. Now a woman of 24, Avellana is tired of being away her home and loved ones. Even though Vinni still senses danger in her future, she refuses to leave. She wants them to fight together, not spend their time apart, cowering from some unknown threat.

As excited as I was about this couple finally getting a book, I went into with some trepidation. After all, these two were young children when I started reading the series, and young adults in the last book I remember them in. Owens did a great job of showing them as grown adults.

The main conflict is Vinni's over-protectiveness when it comes to Avellana because of his visions, and how that's damaged them both over the years. I really enjoyed seeing them grow, accept each other as they are, and come together as an adult couple and as HeartMates. Unlike other couples, they've both known since her birth they were fated for each other. That made things easier for them in some respects, but much harder in others.

I liked that Avellana stood up for herself. For years she's been passively accepting of her family and Vinni's over-protectiveness. She finally realizes she can't continue to allow them to send her away.  Not if she wants to finally live the life she was meant for. Her inner strength really came through and I ended up admiring her in the end.

It would have been easy to hate Vinni for forcing Avellana away all those years, except he truly was terrified for her safety. His obvious love and devotion for her came through so strongly it was impossible to hate him. Like Avellana, I got angry with him over his determination to do things "for her own good", but as he accepted who Avellana had grown to be, it was easy to let go of that anger. I was fully rooting for them in the end.

I always love returning to Celta. The world is so well-drawn I'm always fully immersed. This novel is at turns sweet, suspenseful and angst-filled. It was lovely.

<strong>4.25 out of 5</strong>

This was my first book by this author and while I loved the idea of the story as a whole, there was a lack of a connection for me. I couldn’t really get into the story.

Druida City, Celta -424 Years after Colonization, Summer

The Prophet of Celta, Vinni T’Vine (Muin) is responsible for a lot of people, particularly his family. He also feels especially responsible for his HeartMate, Avellana Hazel, because it seems there is a concerted effort by unknowns who want to harm her because of her personal Flair, and possibly because she is following the Intersection of Hope religion. The Traditionalist Stance political movement targeted her, among others, before it was destroyed. Avellana has always been considered “different” to Celtans because of her Flair, which is kept as secret as possible.

Muin has horrible dreams about threats to Avellana and he has had her sent away from Druida City several times in order to protect her. But Avellana chafes at this behavior and is now determined to follow her own dreams. She has invested in Multiplicity, a new town being built by Antenn Blackthorn-Moss, and plans to build a home there. Despite the fact that she and Muin are to be married in two months, she wants her own escape spot. However, it’s obvious there is someone in Druida City who wants to kill Avellana when she is tricked into transporting somewhere to meet Antenn, only it isn’t Antenn who contacted her.

In Muin’s attempt to protect his HeartMate, his attempts seem to just alienate her as she struggles for her independence. If he can only find out who is threatening her!

HEART SIGHT is another of the wonderful stories of Celta, a planet settled by Earthans. This new world is filled with magic, long-lived humans, and their Fams, various animals who communicate with them. Ms. Owens has used her amazing imagination to build this incredible realm, introducing us to a language and environment based on Celtic history. Each new book includes previous characters, and brings to life astonishing people with phenomenal abilities. Beautifully written, HEART SIGHT was difficult to put down. Do yourself a favor and visit the author’s website and start from the beginning.

http://robindowens.com/?page_id=2

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and netgalley for this ARC.

The Celta series is unique, gorgeous, and will have my attention til the end.

Favourite Quote: “At times you might have thought you were my puppet but you’re my anchor. Without you, I’m adrift. “

Fans have waited years for Vinni and Avellana. We’ve watched them grow up through the series and now the time has come for their story to be told. We first met them both in book two-Heart Thief. Vinni was born six years before Avellana and knew upon her birth she was his heartmate. We see them again in Heart Change when Vinni convinces the Hazel’s to send Avellana to Signet D’Marigold for help through her first passage. We catch glimpses of them in Heart Fire and Heart Quest. The one common denominator in all this is Avellana is very rarely seen in Druida City. Vinni has had premonitions of her death for years and has used his influence to keep her away from home. However, Avellana is now an adult and refuses to allow Vinni to manipulate her into staying a way any longer.

She had hated those years without Muin. Worse was when she got to Druida City only to be banished again after a month or two. She set her chin. Never again. She would live or die with him.

Vinni is in for more shocks as Avellana informs him and her family that she has invested in a housing project with Antenn Blacktorn-Moss and will be living in this new community. Alone. Vinnie soon realizes that his actions over the years have deeply hurt Avellana and their relationship. As Vinni gets to know his beloved all over again, he is dismayed to discover that the greatest threat to her comes from his own family.

“Someone in my family thinks you are so different and unusual that you don’t belong with me.”

Heart Sight is the fifteenth book in Robin D. Owen’s romance based futuristic Celta series that is based on several families whose earthen ancestors colonized the planet they live on. Though each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone, the story arc and the couple featured in here has a history that reaches deep into the series so I do not recommend starting here.

Solid plotting with a well-seasoned base, strong narrative, and characters easily engage the reader as Owens takes us back to Celta and Druida City for another adventure. In her last few books, Owen turned her focus towards the second generation of Celtas; intermingling the families despite the bigotry and elitism exhibited by some first families. Friendships and romantic connections are made with less thought to bloodlines and family names and more to compatibility and loyalty. Yet, as with all societies, there are those who choose to cling to the old ways and will do anything to maintain the status quo.

Avellana Hazel has a powerful and unusual primary flair (gift) that almost killed her as a child and frightened everyone around her. From that day forward, her family and Vinni has strived to hide her gift from the other first families and protect her from herself. She has spent most of her life developing her secondary flair and wanting to start her life with Vinni, Instead, she is shuffled shuttled around like a chess piece from place to place. The past two years however has shown her that in order to have the life she wants, she’ill have to grab her independence with both hands.

“I determine my own actions, now.”

Vinni has also led an unusual and lonely existence for most of his life. With his sometimes unpredictable prophecies, most people avoid him at all costs. Confirmed as Celta’s premiere oracle and Greatlord of the Vine family at the young age 6, he was raised by his cousins and servants after his mother’s death. Despite him now being 30, they still treat him like a child and attempt to manipulate and maneuver him into their way of thinking.

The relationship between Avellana and Vinni is a curious mixture of sexual yearning and innocence and where I had the most issues. While they have long been heart mates, they have yet to heart bond. They promised their families they’d to wait till after the wedding, however, both families have dragged out the marital negotiations for years. While Vinni and Avellana have been intimate both metaphorically and physically, there is an awkwardness to their dialogue and interactions that contradicts their longevity. Their subdued chemistry doesn’t help. Neither does the repetition. Vinni constantly refers to being sexually aroused in some form or fashion while Avellana seems to switch between an independent woman and a Stepford wife.

The mystery and romance play well off one another though I found them both a bit dry. While this couple waxes poetic about their attraction and love for one another, there is little action beyond kissing. The mystery is an ongoing storyline thread that is reactivated and drawn it out to included Vinni and Avellana in its web. Owens finally lays it to rest with an acceptable resolution.

Readers will enjoy seeing some familiar faces and meeting new one as Owens’ continues to expand the world building. As always, it’s the non-human characters who steal the show. The dynamics of their personalities are well fleshed out and add humor and depth. While Vinni and Avellana both have long-term fams, Avellana’s is the star. Proud, vain, and arrogant; he never lets Vinni forget that he, unlike Vinni, has never disappointed or hurt Avellana.

“I take care of MY FamWoman. Always have. Always will. Better than you ‘cuz I stay WITH her.”

The Vine and Hazel residences prove quite vocal and informative as they help to catch the villain(s), plan a wedding, and keep multiple secrets.

The finale drags as Owens tries to prolong the suspense as she wraps up the various plotlines; making sure they are accounted for and dealt with. Vinni, Avellana and the authorities finally root out the mastermind behind the attempts on Avellana’s life and Vinni learns he can’t let fear rule his life.

Overall I liked the story though I felt it wasn’t the strongest in the series. A large part is due to the romance. It has grown through the series without much reader interaction and that hurt my connection with it. I wanted to see their emotional bond grow and strengthen. This felt too much like Owens was relying on the mating bond rather than her couple’s actual feelings.

Regardless of my qualms, Ms. Owens continues to entertain with her futuristic adventures and romances.

Grade: C+

I love this series but this was a bit of a disappointment. I really wished the two had talked to each other.

This is not a review.
Although I loved the premise and Celtic vein to the story, however, I just did not find the book to my taste. I am grateful you allowed me to read it and sent it to me.

I give the author kudos to the inventiveness of her world. As I mentioned, I loved the Celtic vein to the story. I love how the important families’ surnames are that of the sacred trees in Celtic tree lore. I noticed that immediately. Also I loved the uniqueness of Muin and Avellana's names.

I love Robin Owens' out off this world stories! This one was no exception. Loved the characters and their growth!

Muin “Vinni” T'Vine as been a part of the Heartmates series since he was 6 years old. Now he is grown and has a heartmate. Avellana is much stronger than she seems but Muin keeps trying to shelter her from danger. That is the heart of the story. There is danger to both Muin and Avellana. Danger comes from unexpected areas and they have to work hard to finally find and stop the person who wants Avellana dead. A nice addition but it did seem to a little long.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Heart Sight by Robin D. Owens is the 15th book in her wonderful Celta’s Heartmates series. The Celta Heartmates series takes place in a futuristic world, filled with magic, animal familiars, telepathy and romance.

We meet our hero, Vinni (Muin) T’Vine early on when, when he visits his heartmate, Avelanna (our heroine), whom he has sent away to protect her from possible danger. Vinni is the prophet of Celta (since he was a child), and forsees attempts on Avellana’s life, as the big T’Vine family doesn’t want him to bond with his heartmate. Seems Avellana has a power that people do not like, and they feel she isn’t worthy of the T’Vine family. Vinni has waited years for Avellana to be old enough to for Avellana to be older, and to Heartbond with her; but now he stills sees these visions, and wants to her stay away. Avellana is now grown up, and misses her home, and being able to use her amazing mural creations. She stands up to Vinni, and will not leave again; her home is where she belongs, and tells him she will work together with him to fight their enemies.

What follows is an exciting, and sweet romantic tale of two people who have known each other since childhood, and knew they were destined to be mates. The threat is real though, but Vinni will do all he can to get help to protect Avellana, as they get closer to finalizing their bond. Another nice element to the tense situation is Avellana’s partnership on a new project for specialized made to order homes, in another territory, which will help Avellana become more independent financially. I loved the two of them together, but I loved their fams (Rhys, Avellana’s the cat & Flora, Vinni’s bunny), who talk telepathically, as well as help them. So much fun.

Once again, Robin D. Owens gives us another wonderful addition to this series. Heart Sight was a fun, romantic story with a tense and suspenseful mystery. If you enjoy romances in a fun fantasy magic world, you should be reading this series..