"Wonderful addition to Heart series."

In the previous book of this series (HEART THIEF), Holm Holly and his brother, Tinne, were launched in the life pod of Nuala's Sword and had to make their way back to Druida City from the wild lands. Along the way Holm, HollyHeir, gained enough maturity that he's finally able to connect with his Heartmate on this turn of the wheel.

This book is the story of the courtship of HollyHeir and the widowed Healer, Mayblossom Larkspur Bella Hawthorn Collinson (Lark). It's complicated by the fact that the Hawthorn-Holly family feud has been heating up for the past year or so, and the fact that Lark is The Hawthorn's eldest daughter. Even though she wed a commoner, her father insists on trying to draw her back into the bosom of the clan for the duration of the feud. Lark values her hard-won independence, and, as a Healer, has an aversion to fighters. So HollyHeir's chances of winning his lady don't look good, especially since it's completely taboo for him to actually tell his Heartmate that she is his Heartmate until she accepts a HeartGift.

An excellent book! I've been hoarding all of Ms. Owens' books since the release of HEARTMATE, and I have to say I haven't been disappointed yet. I read and reread them all, and HEART DUEL is a welcome addition to their company. Ms. Owens has a real gift for characterization, one that makes you want to step into her world to interact with her people and never leave.

Reviewed by Nichole Keeton
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted March 10, 2004

Read an Excerpt

Summary

Healer Lark Collinson hates the street dueling that is a way of life among the noble families on Celta—it was just such a skirmish that killed her Healer husband and left her a grieving widow. The last thing she wants is to love a man to whom fighting is a way of life—a man like the brashly confident Holm Holly.

All it takes is one brief touch for Holm to know that Lark is his HeartMate, though wooing her will be his greatest challenge. For not only does she despise everything he represents, but the long-standing feud between their families has exploded into even greater violence. Their destiny has been revealed...but at what cost to their own hearts?