Heart Dance

Table of Contents

Heart Quest

“The romance is sensual and fun. . . . Ilex is a terrific hero.”

—
The Romance Reader

“A terrific police procedural in a science fiction setting . . . Fans will cherish this fun entry while newcomers will go on a quest to find the backlist.” —
Midwest Book Review

“The romance is passionate, the characters engaging, and the society and setting exquisitely crafted.” —
Booklist

“Terrific writing with a very realistic and sensual romance make[s]
Heart Choice
a fantastic read.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

“Maintaining the ‘world-building’ for science fiction and character-driven plot for romance is near impossible. Owens does it brilliantly.” —
The Romance Reader

“Well written, humor-laced, intellectually and emotionally involving. . . explores the true meaning of family and love.”

—
Library Journal

“
Heart Choice
is a wonderful book to lose yourself in for a while! I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in this wonderfullyimaginative series.” —
Romance Junkies

Heart Duel

“[A] sexy story . . . Readers will enjoy revisiting this fantasy-likeworld filled with paranormal talents.” —
Booklist

“An exhilarating love story . . . The delightful story line is cleverlyexecuted . . . Owens proves once again that she is among the top rung of fantasy romance authors with this fantastic tale.”

—Harriet Klausner

“With engaging characters, Robin D. Owens takes readers back to the magical world of Celta . . . The characters are engaging, drawing the reader into the story and into their lives. They are multilayered and complex and grow into exceptional people.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

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. 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 of you.” —Jayne Castle

“The complex plot and rich characterizations, not to mention the sexy passion . . . make this a must-read . . . I just wish Robin D. Owens wrote faster. I hope she’s got a huge pile of ideas for future Celtan stories, and I for one can’t wait to go back.” —
The Romance Reader

“Owens spins an entrancing tale . . . Although the setting is fresh and totally captivating, it is the well-developed characters, both human and animal, that make this story memorable. Crafty villains, honorable, resourceful protagonists, and sentient pets drive the plot of this fast-paced, often suspenseful romantic adventure.As have others before her (e.g., Anne McCaffrey, Mar-ionZimmer Bradley), Owens has penned a stunning futuristic tale that reads like fantasy and is sure to have crossover appeal to both SF and fantasy fans.” —
Library Journal

“Owens has crafted a fine romance that is also a successful sciencefantasy yarn with terrific world-building.” —
Booklist

“A tremendous science-fiction romance that affirms what many fans thought after reading the prequel (
HeartMate
): that Robin D. Owens is one of the subgenre’s giant stars. The story line is faster than the speed of light, but more important is this world’s society seems so real that psychic powers feel genuine . . . [a] richly textured, other-planetary romance.” —
BookBrowser

“Engaging characters, effortless world-building, and a sizzling romance make this a novel that’s almost impossible to put down.” —
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.” —
Midwest Book Review

"HeartMate
is a dazzling debut novel. Robin D. Owens paints a world filled with characters who sweep readers into an unforgettableadventure with every delicious word, every breath, every beat of their hearts. Brava!”

—Deb Stover, award-winning author of
A Moment in Time

“A gem of a story . . . sure to tickle your fancy.”

—Anne Avery, author of
All’s Fair

“It shines, and fans will soon clamor for more . . . A definite keeper!” —
The Bookdragon Review

“This story is magical . . . doubly delicious as it will appeal to both lovers of fantasy and futuristic romance. Much room has been left for sequels.” —
ParaNormal Romance Reviews

HEARTMATE
HEART THIEF
HEART DUEL
HEART CHOICE
HEART QUEST
HEART DANCE

WHAT DREAMS MAY COME
(with Sherrilyn Kenyon and Rebecca York)

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.)
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(a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
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South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

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.

HEART DANCE

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation trade edition / July 2007
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / May 2008

Copyright © 2007 by Robin D. Owens.

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.

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

eISBN : 978-1-4406-3217-4

BERKLEY® SENSATION
Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Characters

Note
: All previous heroes and heroines are HeartMates.

Dufleur Thyme:
Heroine of
Heart Dance
, Embroiderer and Experimenter with Time (Fam Fairyfoot).

Dringal D’Thyme:
WinterberryHeir, mother of Dufleur, cuz to D’Winterberry.

Saille T’Willow:
Hero of
Heart Dance
, FirstFamilies GreatLord and premier Matchmaker (Fam Myx).

Arbusca Willow:
Willow housekeeper, mother of Saille.

D’Willow
(Saille also): Saille T’Willow’s MotherDam (Grand-motheron Mother’s side), former GreatLady and Matchmaker, now in a cryonics tube in
Nuada’s Sword
, awaiting the cure of her disease.

Ilex Winterberry:
Hero of
Heart Quest
, a Guardsman, cuz to Dufleur Thyme, distant cuz to the Hollys (Fam Vertic).

Trif Winterberry:
Heroine of
Heart Quest
, Journeywoman musician,protégée of Passiflora D’Holly (Fam Greyku).

D’Winterberry:
Mother of Ilex and Meyar, cuz to Dringal Thyme.

Meyar Winterberry:
Brother to Ilex, cuz to Dufleur Thyme.

Ruis Elder:
Hero of
Heart Thief
, a Null who suppresses Flair, Captain of the Starship
Nuada’s Sword
(Fam Samba).

Ailim Elder:
Heroine of
Heart Thief
, SupremeJudge of Druida, telempath (Fam Primrose).

Rand T’ Ash:
Hero of
HeartMate
, Jeweler, armorer (Fam Zanth).

Danith D’Ash:
Heroine of
HeartMate
, Animal Healer, Verifier of Fams (Cat princess).

Holm Holly (Jr.):
Hero of
Heart Duel
, HollyHeir, warrior (Fam Meserv).

Lark Holly:
Heroine of
Heart Duel
, FirstLevel Healer (Fam Phyl).

Passiflora Holly:
Mother of Holm Jr., Composer.

Holm Holly (Sr.):
GreatLord, HeartMate of Passiflora, working to be Captain of the Councils.

Tinne Holly:
Second son of Passiflora and Holm Sr., will inherit the Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon.

Genista Holly:
Wife of Tinne Holly.

Quert Apple (Sr.):
GrandLord and painter, father of Passiflora Holly.

Quert Apple (Jr.):
Proprietor of Enlli Gallery, brother of Passiflora Holly.

Note
: Straif T’Blackthorn and Mitchella (Clover) D’Blackthorn, hero and heroine of
Heart Choice
, are only mentioned. Their adopted son, Antenn Blackthorn, is a dance partner of Dufleur Thyme.

Huathe Hawthorn:
GreatLord and current Captain of the Councils,father of Lark Holly.