Heart Secret
Authors: Robin D. Owens
“I keep telling myself that she just can't get much better, but with every book she amazes and surprises me!” â
The Best Reviews
Praise for the futuristic fantasy of
Robin D. Owens
Heart Search
“Will have readers on the edge of their seats . . . Another terrific tale from the brilliant mind of Robin D. Owens. Don't miss it.”
â
Romance Reviews Today
“A taut mixture of suspense and action . . . that leaves you stunned.”
â
Smexy Books
“Thank you, Ms. Owens, for this wonderful series.”
â
Night Owl Reviews
Heart Journey
“Sexy, emotionally intense, and laced with humor . . . Draws readers into one of the more imaginative otherworldly cultures.”
â
Library Journal
“[A] skillfully crafted read for any lover of futuristic or light paranormal romance.”
â
Fresh Fiction
“It is no secret that I love Ms. Owens's Heart series . . . [A] wonderful piece of fantasy, science fiction, romance, and a dash of mystery.
Heart Journey
is no different, a delight to read.”
â
Night Owl Reviews
Heart Change
“The story accelerates as new dangers to Avellana crop up, and the relationship between Signet and Cratag develops, making for a satisfying read.”
â
Booklist
“Each story is as fresh and new as the first one was. I am always delighted when a new Heart book is published!”
â
Fresh Fiction
“A satisfying return to an intriguing world. Cratag and Signet will leave you wanting more.”
â
The Romance Reader
Heart Fate
“A true delight to read, and it should garner new fans for this unique and enjoyable series.”
â
Booklist
“[This] emotionally rich tale blends paranormal abilities, family dynamics, and politics; adds a serious dash of violence; and dusts it all with humor and whimsy.”
â
Library Journal
“A wonderfully delightful story . . . The author's creativity shines.”
â
Darque Reviews
Heart Dance
“[A] superior series.”
â
The Best Reviews
“I look forward to my yearly holiday in Celta, always a dangerous and fascinating trip.”
â
Fresh Fiction
“Sensual, riveting, and filled with the wonderful cast of characters from previous books, as well as some new ones,
Heart Dance
is exquisite in its presentation.”
â
Romance Reviews Today
Heart Choice
“The romance is passionate, the characters engaging, and the society and setting exquisitely crafted.”
â
Booklist
“Maintaining the âworld building' for science fiction and character driven plot for romance is near impossible. Owens does it brilliantly.”
â
The Romance Readers Connection
“Well-written, humor-laced, intellectually and emotionally involving story, which explores the true meaning of family and love.”
â
Library Journal
Heart Duel
“[A] sexy story . . . Readers will enjoy revisiting this fantasy-like world filled with paranormal talents.”
â
Booklist
Heart Thief
“I loved
Heart Thief
! This is what futuristic romance is all about. Robin D. Owens writes the kind of futuristic romance we've all been waiting to read; certainly the kind that I've been waiting for. She provides a wonderful, gripping mix of passion, exotic futuristic settings, and edgy suspense. If you've been waiting for someone to do futuristic romance right, you're in luck, Robin D. Owens is the author for you.”
âJayne Castle
HeartMate
Winner of the 2002 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance by the Romance Writers of America
“Engaging characters, effortless world building, and a sizzling romance make this a novel that's almost impossible to put down.”
â
The Romance Reader
“Fantasy romance with a touch of mystery . . . Readers from the different genres will want Ms. Owens to return to Celta for more tales of HeartMates.”
âMidwest Book Review
“
HeartMate
is a dazzling debut novel. Robin D. Owens paints a world filled with characters who sweep readers into an unforgettable adventure with every delicious word, every breath, every beat of their hearts. Brava!”
âDeb Stover, award-winning author of
The Gift
“A gem of a story . . . Sure to tickle your fancy.”
âAnne Avery, author of
A Distant Star
Titles by Robin D. Owens
HEARTMATE
HEART THIEF
HEART DUEL
HEART CHOICE
HEART QUEST
HEART DANCE
HEART FATE
HEART CHANGE
HEART JOURNEY
HEART SEARCH
HEART SECRET
Anthologies
WHAT DREAMS MAY COME
(with Sherrilyn Kenyon and Rebecca York)
HEARTS AND SWORDS
Heart Secret
Robin D. Owens
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
â¢
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
â¢
Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
â¢
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
â¢
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhiâ110 017, India
â¢
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
â¢
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2012 by Robin D. Owens.
Cover illustration by Tony Mauro.
Cover design by George Long.
Cover handlettering by Ron Zinn.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
BERKLEY SENSATION
®
is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
The “B” design is a trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / August 2012
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Owens, Robin D.
Heart secret / Robin D. Owens.âBerkley Sensation trade paperback ed.
p. cm .
ISBN 978-1-101-61067-1
1. Life on other planetsâFiction. 1. Title.
PS3615.W478H475 2012 2012015839
813'.6âdc23
To those who enjoy visiting Celta.
Thank you.
Characters
The Mugworts:
Artemisia Mugwort
:
SecondLevel Healer assigned temporarily to Primary HealingHall, who caretakes and lives in the secret sanctuary of Druida City that only lets in the desperate, BalmHeal estate.
Tiana Mugwort
:
Younger sister of Artemisia and good friend of Camellia Darjeeling D'Hawthorn (heroine of
Heart Search
), a FirstLevel Priestess at GreatCircle Temple.
Sinjin Mugwort
:
Artemisia's father, exâGraceLord Mugwort, ex-judge, author of legal treatises, caretaker of BalmHeal estate/FirstGrove.
Quina Mugwort
:
Artemisia's mother, a SecondLevel Healer and caretaker of BalmHeal estate/FirstGrove.
Randa
:
Artemisia's Fam.
Garrett Primross
:
Private investigator and owner of Prime Investigations. Sole survivor of the first people infected with the dreaded Iasc sickness.
Rusby
:
Garrett's Fam.
Note
:
Garrett's feral Fam informants are not listed here by name since their numbers are always in flux, but include a gang of cats, at least two dogs, foxes, and the occasional housefluff (rabbit).
The Hawthorns, Garrett's Friends:
GreatLord Huathe Laev T'Hawthorn
:
Entrepreneur and Garrett's best friend. Laev is nephew to Lark Hawthorn Holly, a FirstLevel Healer (
Heart Search
).
Camellia Darjeeling D'Hawthorn
:
Wife of Laev, friend of Tiana and Artemisia. Owner of Darjeeling's Teahouse and Darjeeling's HouseHeart. (
Heart Search
)
Brazos
:
Laev's Familiar Companion, a young long-haired black cat.
The Healers:
FirstLevel Healer Ura Heather
:
Head of the Primary HealingHall.
FirstLevel Healer Lark Hawthorn Holly
:
Works at Primary HealingHall and All Class HealingHall, niece to Ura Heather (
Heart Duel
).
GrandLord T'Heather
:
Retired head of Primary HealingHall, patriarch, father of Ura, MotherSire (grandfather) of Lark Hawthorn Holly.
The Guards:
Captain Black Ilex Winterberry
:
Captain of the Druida City guards, liaison with the FirstFamilies, wed to Trif Clover Winterberry (
Heart Quest
). He handled the original investigation of the Black Magic Cult.
Fol Berberis
:
A guard who investigated the original Black Magic Cult.
Rosa Milkweed
:
A guard who investigated the original Black Magic Cult.
Others/Suspects:
GreatLord Muin T'Vine (Vinni)
:
The prophet of Celta, who has a Fam (Flora) who was nearly sacrificed by the Black Magic Cult.
Avellana Hazel
:
Mural artist and prodigy. She has a Fam (Rhyz) who was nearly sacrificed by the Black Magic Cult.
GreatLady Danith Mallow D'Ash
:
HeartMate of T'Ash, an animal Healer. (
HeartMate
)
A. Gwydion Ash
:
Second son of GreatLord T'Ash and D'Ash, an animal Healer.
Straif T'Blackthorn
:
GrandLord T'Blackthorn, FirstFamilies GrandLord, best tracker on Celta, married to Mitchella Clover D'Blackthorn. (
Heart Choice
)
Trif Clover Winterberry
:
Wife of Captain Black Ilex Winterberry, surviving victim of the Black Magic Cult. (
Heart Quest
)
Dufleur D'Thyme D'Willow
:
Wife of GreatLord Saille T'Willow, surviving victim of the Black Magic Cult (
Heart Dance
), cousin to Captain Black Ilex Winterberry.
Sedwy Grove D'Clover
:
Wife of GrandLord Walker Clover (“Noble Heart” in
Hearts and Swords
), dupe of the Black Magic Cult.
Barton Clover
:
Brother of GrandLord Walker Clover, head of security of Clover Compound.