Have any of you read the Robin D. Owens series on Heartmates? Thoughts?

I stumbled across this series about 3 weeks ago and got seriously hooked.  There have been 10 books published so far and it's kind of like Jayne Castle's Harmony series.  The general plot is a world long-ago colonized by ancestors from Earth with the current population having developed various pychic powers.  Some have sentient animal companions (fams) which are usually cats, but not always. The society is class based, with the nobles being the ones with "flair" (power/magic/psychic ability).  Each book is about a set of Heartmates finding each other.  It's fantasy/paranormal romance. Some might say sci fi, but not really as it's not about generally spaceships or technology.  I'll list the books below.

• 2001 - Heart Mate [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 1]
• 2003 - Heart Thief [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 2]
• 2004 - Heart Duel [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 3]
• 2005 - Heart Choice [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 4]
• 2006 - Heart Quest [Celta's HeartMates, Bk. 5]
• 2007 - Heart Dance [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 6]
• 2008 - Heart Dance [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 6]
• 2008 - Heart Fate [Celta, Bk 7]
• 2009 - Heart Change [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 8]
• 2010 - Heart Journey [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 9]
• 2011 - Heart Search [Celta's HeartMates, Bk 10]
• 2011 - Hearts and Swords Four Original Stories of Celta (12/6/11)

I've read through book 7 and just received #10.  I may check stores this weekend to try to find 8&9.

Anyone else a fan? How do you think it compares to "Harmony"?   Favorite characters?  I'd love to discuss these books with others.

I'm a fan.  I do put them in the same catagory as JAK, light comfort reads.  But I get really frustrated that the books are often reisussed as MMPB with new covers. 

I really like them.  Not super heavy, but enough to keep you engaged throughout.  The only one I didn't really care for had the male protagonist as an actor, and he just seemed too whiny.

Oh dear, I haven't read one yet with an actor for a character, so that must mean it's one of the 3 I've yet to read.

I didn't like Ruis Elder in Heart Thief at first.  His character wasn't the easiest to admire.  But he grew on me as the storyline progressed.  I really like that the same set of characters return throughout the different books so there's a lot of continuity. 

i like the series, and am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on #10.  definitely fun.  and of course i like the fam cats.  :)  i don't think i've ever read JAK though.

i gotta agree about the whiny actor though - probably my least favorite hero.  that's Heart Journey.  it's not a bad story, and it continues the overall progression of the whole society, it just took a while for me to get used to him.

since i've read them so spread out over time, it's hard for me to pick a favorite, but i am particularly fond of the first one.  i didn't read them entirely in order, so in some cases i'd already met the couple together before i got to their story (like the one with Ruiz).

I have read them all so far and am looking forward to the next one.  I'll admit, book 1 may be a struggle for some as the world is very different from our own.

I really liked T'Ash and Ruis Elder.  I'm looking forward to one day reading Vinnie's story.

I didn't like Heart Journey.  The hero was weak (actor), and the heroine seemed pushy.  I mean, how is it supposed to engender love with your Heart Mate if you are considering claiming your Heart Mate by force by claiming he accepted your Heart Gift and it had been 2 weeks, or whatever time was needed?  I REALLY disagreed with that.  Luckily that's not what ultimately happened, but just to think that she could be so selfish and not consider her partner's needs was distasteful. 

I LOVE the fam cats, although the first few like Zanth were loads more fun.  Maybe it has something to do with Danith breeding more?  They're becoming too common and losing their uniqueness.

Still, looking forward to the continuation of the series.

Chalk me up as another fan.  I've been reading these since the first one came out with that hideous cover.  I've enjoyed seeing how the characters have grown and become less insular throughout the series.  And I'm a huge fan of the fams.  I think my favorite fam is Vertec the fox.  I just love how he can out-arrogance the cats, but still be practical.

If you haven't already tried them, you may also want to try her Summoning series.  Very similar elements (talking animals, special powers, different world).  But this one pulls the heroines from our world and to Llandrana to help defeat an evil force.  They all do have romances for each book, but the series has more of a fantasy feel to me.  Anyway...I loved it as well.  The books in the Summoning series are:

1. Guardian of Honor
2. Sorceress of Faith
3. Protector of the Flight
4. Keepers of the Flame
5. Echoes in the Dark

Thanks for the info on the other series. My favorite fam is also Vertec the fox.

For those not familiar with the Harmony series which we referenced earlier in this thread, they are written by romance author Jayne Ann Krentz (JAK) who uses several different pen names, depending on the setting.  (Contemporary-Jayne Ann Krentz; Paranormal/Futuristic-Jayne Castle, Historical-Amanda Quick).

Here's a link to her web page about Harmony.  Book 8 comes out at the end of this month. These are written as Jayne Castle.

• "Bridal Jitters" in CHARMED anthology
• AFTER DARK - Book 1
• AFTER GLOW - Book 2
• GHOST HUNTER - Book 3
• SILVER MASTER - Book 4
• DARK LIGHT - Book 5
• OBSIDIAN PREY - Book 6
• MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL - Book 7
• CANYONS OF NIGHT - Book 8

I'm glad I came across this because I've been trying to collect the series but haven't started reading them yet.  I have #1 but need #2-4, then I have 5, 6, and 8-10.  I'm looking forward to reading this series.  I haven't read anything of Owens before.

Doree - it's a good series. Like any other, some books stronger than others. I was a bit worried about Heart Journey after some others mentioned they didn't care for it.  It was different. The main female character had me envisioning that old Doris Day movie where she's Calamity Jane, just come into town from the boonies and extremely rough around the edges. But even so, it was still a decent story.