Well this book I've had the honor to review Hope Collier's Book on her newly extended edition of The Willows: Haven.
Haven (The Willows #1)
When tragedy strikes, seventeen year-old Ashton Blake sets out on a cross-country road trip, leaving the comforts of Malibu for the mountains of Kentucky. Along the way, she encounters Gabe Willoughby—the mysterious drifter with eyes like the sea and a knowing smile. Getting to know Gabe raises questions about her past. But no secret can be buried forever, and Ashton soon finds herself in a world where water is air and myth becomes reality.Just as Ashton comes to accept her newfound heritage, she’s summoned to fulfill a treaty laid down centuries before — a treaty that will divide her love and test her loyalty. In the end, her future isn’t her biggest concern, her humanity is. To run may mean war, but is she strong enough to stay?
Paperback, Second Edition, 327 pages
Published April 9th 2013 by Raven Key Press (first published September 13th 2011)
Book Trailer
First off I love love Hope's writing ability, I mean it truly is genius and I'm sure many of her authors friends and readers say that. Well I'm saying it again just because she deserves the credits and gratitude. The storyline was by far original in every way and I mean that because I've read a lot of books before her and many series before hers. This is a new taste for me as a reader/blogger/reviewer.
Review
Ashton Blake just turned 18, but turning 18 wasn't all sunshine and daisies. Ashton wasn't enjoying her 18th birthday that her boyfriend spent a fortune on when a family friend Harry called to say that Ashton's father Charlie had pass away. Now on her way to Cumberland, Kentucky to deal with her father's last will and testament, Ashton comes across freak drivers, parking lot stalkers and getting her own car stuck and meeting a stranger. Just after this stranger help Ashton get out of the mud, it wasn' till after they both realize her car has drove over his form of transportation. Gabe Willoughby is now Ashton's shotgun passenger and they're both now cross-country partners. Later Ashton's past is reveal and learns that there is a war brewing and royal bloodlines are on the verge of becoming extinct. Ashton must figure out a way to regain her future, what is right and wrong, and can she end a treaty that began before she was even born? Or will a war officially start?
I give this book 4 Cat's Tails Up
Ramble
As newbie to this series and I believe many people are anticipating for the second book to come out eventually and now I am too! How Hope ended the first book with cliffhangers is great! New allies and old allies to rescue a princess in distress. There were many twists to this story and I like that those twists made the story even more interesting in every way. The pace of the read was great! Never a dull moment and there is always something new to discover. Ashton isn't really sure where she stands in life, even though her life is as perfect as it can be but something still lingers inside her . . . a missing piece of her life. Now she has Gabe Willoughby who stumbles into her life and she could sworn she knew him from somewhere. But among their adventure together, Ashton face things she never imagine, a past that unfold and learning about Naiads and Dryads or "Nymphs". Ashton is a greater part of her Naiads's World more than she thinks, the key to saving her kind and her hertiage just might lead to a numbers of discoveries, challenges and betrayals.
Now this can't be a story without a little romance right? Well Ashton was in a relationship before she met Gabe and boy do they give off chemistry. Gabe definitely has some part in seducing her (in a way) but I think Ashton had a greater part of feeling for someone that she just met. The whole "Fall in love at first sight" was for sure part of it but I wonder if it also had to do with the "changes" Ashton was beginning to go through as a Naiad and having Gabe to be a Naiad as well.
Then comes in the ex-boyfriend and his brothers, although Ashton was only aware of one who seems to have fallen in love with her from the start and care about her more than his own brother ever did. Kyle has always puts Ashton first before anyone else since she started dating his brother Kevin but little did Ashton know that there was a reason why Kevin was so determine to have her. It all has to do with the royal bloodlines of Naiads/Dryads and since Ashton is royalty, she was betroth in a sense(before she knew about her mother's past and history) to Darach(Kevin).
Family Drama, yes there's many family drama in this book between Ashton and her father Charlie to Ashton's mother's family and the treaty. Then you got the Hawthrone family drama with theirs mother's past. Then you have the Hawthrone brothers Kevin and Kyle (there's more but lets stick with these two) Kyle would say there's no feeling towards Ashton but that is a lie while Kevin will get what he wants and what he want is Ashton.
Passages
"I didn't want this for you, Ash. None of it." he began slowly. "You're right. You don't deserve this. You have every right to be happy with the person and life you choose. For what it's worth, I would change it if I could." ~ Kyle
"You're stronger than you know Ashton. Remember that every time you see your reflection." ~ Gabe
"That's the thing about trust. It's like broken glass. You can ut it back together, but the cracks are always visible -- like scars that never fully heal. I don't know if I can ever trust you again." ~ Ashton
About the Author
Hope Collier was born in Harlan County, Kentucky. Growing up in the Appalachia, she quickly learned that a good imagination — along with the ability to outrun the neighbor’s cantankerous dog — was essential to survival. Hope wrote and illustrated her first book at the age of six and never stopped Where to find Hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.hope.collier
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HopeCollier
Website: http://hopecollier.com/
Blog: http://hopecollier.com/blog
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5016653.Hope_Collier
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