Heart Thief by Robin D. Owens is the second of her other worldly novels set on the fictional planet of Celta.

Those who have read HeartMate will recall the thief Ruis Elder who stole and returned the precious HeartGift of T'Ash.  Heart Thief is his story.

Ruis Elder is an unusual being.  On a planet where everyone has some form of Flair (magical talent) he is one of only a handful of people to have lived in the 400 years since they have colonised the planet who has no flair at all.  Ruis is a null.  What makes things worse is that not only can he not perform a simple spell he gives out an energy field that breaks down the spells around others. 

Brutalised and tortured by his Uncle Bucus he fled from the cottage on the T'Elder Estate and used his nullness to steal to survive.

His only passion is the past, and repairing the machinery that does not require flair to work.  Gradually over the years he has begun to not only steal to survive but also to steal gems to try to get the machines to work.  He knows that his hobby is the only thing that keeps him from going mad like the other nulls in history.

But with Bucus out to destroy him it is only a matter of time before he finds himself before the Council of FirstFamilies and made to answer to his crimes.  Banished from the city and all other major settlements Ruis is determined not to leave and hides out at Nuada's Sword the last of the starships that brought the people to Celta from Earth.  Ignoring the rumoured curse Ruis sets about repairing the ship.

There was one more reason why Ruis was reluctant to leave Druida and that was Ailim D'SilverFir, head of her family, powerful judge and someone sworn to uphold the law.

Ailim has just become the head of her extended family.  A family with several members who are determined to see her fail.  Badly in debt due to generations of poor financial decisions Ailim has come to beg the FirstFamilies Council for a loan.  It is here that she first meets Ruis and finds that he can give her the peace of mind that she craves.  For Ailim's flair is that she has the power to read and feel emotions and when it is constant she finds it very tiring. But when she is with Ruis her flair stops and she is able to feel with her other senses and enjoy a freedom that she has never known.

Secretly meeting Ruis she learns more and more about his past and comes to suspect that he has been badly wronged throughout his life. She is determined to set the record straight and knows that only then will they be able to have a future together.  But can Ruis trust her enough to let her go up against his own formidable family or will the lonely null push away the one woman who can save him?

With a tortured hero, a courageous heroine and another haughty cat (Samba) this is another great story from Robin D Owens. 

Fast-paced and filled with tension there are several twists and a host of new characters are introduced who will play parts in future novels.

Another keeper.

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Read an interview with Robin D Owens

Also by Robin D Owens: HeartMate and Heart Duel.

Visit Robin D Owen's website.