"fine Celta fantasy romance"

On Celta, after years away mourning the deaths of his loved ones due to the Celtan Angh virus, thirty-two years old Straif Blackthorne comes home to Druida City. He plans to find a cure, marry a fertile woman, and repopulate his line of which he is the last "Mohegan".

Straif hires For Leaf Clover designer Mitchella Clover to fix up his neglected home. She is the only sterile member of a very fertile family as she suffered from Macha's Disease as a child. Mitchella recognizes Straif beyond just his being a First Family with incredible power and the man she loves, but though he loves her too he refuses to have anything more than a fling with her because he rejects a barren spouse.

The fourth Celta fantasy romance is filled with plenty of heart and flair as Mitchella knows she found her life's Heartmate and willingly gifts her heart to him, but Straif insists that though he loves her he has a duty to continue the Blackthorne line. The lead couple is a delightful pairing because he stubbornly clings to his belief of siring the next generation so that he fails to see the obvious. Straif's feline familiar adds comic relief though some readers will feel Drina interrupts the exhilarating love story of two stupendous genial scarred souls who belong together.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 28, 2005

Everyone's back! Characters from HeartMate, Heart Thief and Heart Duel appear to help renovate the Residence, solve the mystery, give advice on the perfect duel—or meddle. And the first baby of the next generation is born...

Summary

Tracker Straif Blackthorn has returned to Druida City after his last rescue mission, intending to repair his home and resume the noble duties he abandoned at seventeen, when he lost his family to disease. He's futilely searched Celta for a cure.

But he may be too late! A secret enemy is ready to claim his title, his lands, and destroy the woman he loves.

As an interior designer Mitchella Clover dreamt of someone saying "no expense spared." Unfortunately it's a wildly attractive GreatLord who offers her the chance of a lifetime—to restore an ancient showplace. She knows she can never give Straif what he truly wants, but can she resist him?

The job isn't easy. Both the sentient Residence and Straif's new snobbish Fam cat have remodeling ideas, and Mitchella's ward instantly dislikes Straif.