Another great entry in series.

Straif Blackthorn, last of his line, struggles to restore his former home to its past glory.

Mitchella Clover has everything Straif could desire, except for the one precious thing.

The plot is fun, with a mysterious enemy causing havoc with the developing romance. The familiars are great, as usual. I adore the ever-growing planet of Celta and its many inhabitants.

A wonderful way to spend a dreary day. ( )

A good light read. Brain candy for when you want something fun, a little bit silly, with the predictable happy ending. I could do with a little less emphasis on romantic love as the end-all be-all of life, but as an adoptee I love the exploration of family-by-choice in contrast with family-by-blood.

And the cats, as always, are just fun. ( )

I'm really enjoying catching up with this series. I think the conflict in this book was one of the better of the series so far. I really wasn't sure how they would resolve the main issue between them.

I really liked both Straif and Michella. Their romance was well written and the issues they were dealing with were real and heartbreaking.

I did not like Straif's Fam. Which is unfortunate because I've really enjoyed all the previous ones. ( )

Heart Choice is the perfect title for it. Straif and Mitchella have some hard choices to make.

Straif Blackthorn is the last of his line--his entire family died from a disease that, due to a genetic disorder, they lack immunity to. He's spent his adult life searching the wilds of Celta for a cure, with no success.

Mitchella Clover's life was also changed because of disease. In a family known for its fertility, she's sterile.

When Straif hires Mitchella to renovate his Residence, on the advice of his new Fam, Drina, the attraction is immediate, but both know it can't go anywhere.

Then a distant cousin, unaffected by the genetic disorder, challenges Straif for head of the family, accusing him of neglect, and a series of escalating threats are made to Mitchella, and both of them have to determine what's most important to them.

Every time I get a new Celta story, I'm reminded again why I like them so much. Not only is there convincing world-building of a fascinating environment and system of magic, not only are there compelling characters and a happy-ever-after romantic ending, but the characters have real problems to overcome and life-altering decisions to make. And of course there are those Fams for insight & comic relief. ( )

I've been looking for Straif's story since he first showed up - in Mate, I think, but definitely in Thief. There's a lot more in this one about the way the culture works - the GrandLords/Ladys, GraceLords/Ladys, Nobles, etc. The double attack is interesting. The claimant was stupid to wait that long...particularly since there would have been irreversible damage to the estate in 'another season'. But Mitchella is exactly what Straif needed, in so many ways. Nuada's Sword may be able to do something in a later book about giving him his blood children, but for right now giving up his obsession is by far the best thing he could do. And the fact that that won't make the Blackthorns die out...hmmm, wonder if the other Blackthorn's children show any signs of the Blackthorn Flair? ( )