The Willows: Haven [Kindle Edition]

Hope Collier (Author)

Book Description

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?

Editorial Reviews

Review

#1 Top Rated Love & Romance -- Amazon February 2012                     

#1 Top Rated Sci-Fi/Fantasy -- Amazon February 2012

#4 Top Rated Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Magic  -- Amazon February 2012

The Ending Unplanned Review
"Hope Collier's YA Debut, THE WILLOWS: HAVEN is filled with things to love. A unique paranormal premise, an endearing protagonist, a plethora of hot love interest possibilities, and a well-paced plot full of twists and turns designed to keep you guessing."

Two Readers Reviews
"I love it when I am kept guessing to the last page & that's exactly how it is with this one."

Tori Scott
"My favorite part of reading HAVEN was Collier's ability to set the scene. She has a way of making you hyper-feel every moment and lose your sense of reality in the process."

YA Bound Review
"If you're looking for something enchanting and romantic, action-packed and a new take on Greek Myth, check it out. A must read for mythology lovers."

Lucy Swing, author of Feathermore
"The same way a spark creates a fire and spreads steadily over the land, I was all over the story."

Me, My Books, and I
"This was a refreshingly different story filled with danger, excitement and a love that gets your heart pounding."

Gothic Angel Reviews
"This book set my heart and soul on fire and even though the book has ended, the flames still haven't been extinguished ... I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful style of Hope Collier's writing and the unique characters she created. This is certainly one story that will stay with me long beyond the last page."

From the Author

The Willows: Haven is a full-length Paranormal Romance novel that may appeal to lovers of urban fantasy, romance, light action/adventure, and Greek mythology as well as fans of Julie Kagawa, Amanda Hocking, and Megan Curd.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1323 KB
• Print Length: 284 pages
• Publisher: Raven Key Press; 2 edition (September 13, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005MYAA2W
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,346 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great YA Read! A must-buy! September 14, 2011

By Megan

Format:Kindle Edition

Collier has entered the YA realm with a bang! The Willows: Haven is a great read that leaves you guessing what will happen next. You'll love some characters and hate others, but no matter what, you will connect with them and want to know more about them. This is "unputdownable"...buy it now and see what I'm talking about! You'll be glad you did!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars refreshing take on nymphs September 22, 2011

By aobibliophile™

Format:Kindle Edition

"Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee Jest and youthful Jollity, Quips and Cranks and wanton Wiles, Nods and Becks and wreathed Smiles" - John Milton

on Ashton Blake's eighteenth birthday, she loses her father. she immediately leaves Malibu and heads for Kentucky to attend the funeral. a slight mishap on the road brings her and Gabe Willoughby together. suddenly, Ashton's life is in danger. people are after her and Gabe knows more than he lets on.
i love mythology and this debut novel focuses on nymphs. from what i understand, they are spirits of nature and are female divinities of lower rank. they are called different names depending on where they reside.
author Hope Collier spins an interesting tale about Naiads and Dryads. the former preside over springs and rivers while the latter are custodians of forests. although she relies on what is known about these mythological beings, she takes the liberty of going beyond the norm - nymphs can be male too. i found this actually amusing in a good way since the male equivalent of nymphs are satyrs or fauns. nevertheless, this concept made Ashton's story unique.
the writing is good and the worldbuilding has a nostalgic and vintage feel to it which i liked. there are surprises as well that i did not see coming.
overall, this book was a refreshing read. unlike other first books in a series and despite the unresolved issues, this one actually ends more or less on a happy note.

Disclosure of Material Connection: a review copy was provided by the author through A Tale of Many Reviews Book Tours. although payment may have been received by A Tale of Many Reviews Book Tours, i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting October 20, 2011

By Alison O'Neill Hess

Format:Kindle Edition

Hope has created an enchanting world, and I found myself floating along with Ashton and Gabe as they got to know each other. Our main character, Ashton, is struggling with the death of her father when she meets Gabe, a motorcycle-riding mystery man. I wondered about this handsome stranger from the moment he appeared, and his complicated history made him one of my favorite characters. The attraction between Ashton and Gabe is well-written and sweet, and it left me wanting more time for them to be together.

Alas, their time is cut short when Ashton is taken to The Valley. This is where Hope really hit her stride. Her descriptions of this world within our world were stunning:

The light of the full moon glistened off the water, casting shimmering reflections against the trees. A gentle wind carried the fragrance of water lilies across the bank as cattails swayed along the shoreline. [...] The effect the water possessed was more powerful than ever before. Familiar scents comforted me as I waded out into the deep. The caress felt like satin against my skin, reaching into my very essence. It was part of me, something that would never change, could never be taken away.

As Ashton becomes familiar with the family secrets that determine her fate, she turns to her friend, Kyle, for support and friendship. But Kyle has a history of his own, and his deep feelings for her overwhelm both of them:

The kiss deepened as Kyle's passion stirred. Hot hands wrapped around my waist, lifting me to his height. I threaded my fingers through his hair, allowing the months of loneliness and grief to fuel my reaction. He moaned softly as he held me tighter, and I reveled in the feeling of his love.

There's no doubt that Ashton is in a tight spot. Her feelings for the two most important people in her life, Gabe and Kyle, cannot coexist, and she feels the full weight of the decision she must make. But Hope guides us through the final twists and turns quickly and expertly. I breathed a sigh of relief for Ashton when I came to the last page, but I wasn't ready for the story to end. Luckily, this is just the beginning of Ashton's story - I can't wait!

More About the Author

Author of YA paranormal romance series: The Willows.

You can find her here:

Goodreads -- http://bit.ly/napjB3
Twitter -- @HopeCollier
Facebook -- www.facebook.com/author.hope.collier
Website -- www.hopecollier.com

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 writing. She now lives in central Kentucky with her husband, two daughters, and a menagerie of pets. When not spending time with her imaginary friends, you're likely to find her stalking other writers on Twitter or searching out new ways of fitting square pegs into round holes.