Review: The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier

The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier

***I received this (digital copy) book in exchange for an honest review and participation in the blog tour.

Goodreads 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 finders 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?


My thoughts:
This was a marvelous read!  Sat down to read a couple pages and then suddenly the book was ending!  Read cover to cover in one sitting.
Fabulous characters!  
     Ashton - spoiled, selfish and rich.  She is forced to rethink a great many things about her family, her life and herself.  I was thrilled to watch as she grew tremendously throughout the course of the book.  With the insight of some of the other wonderfully created characters, she was able to make great strides in an attempt to be the person she decided she wanted to be.  
       Gabe - mysterious, confident, caring and of course perfect! He has a job to do - you must read the book to get more about that - and my heart went out to him as he struggled to do the "right" thing.  
     Kevin - (Ashton's boyfriend) - obviously entitled, wealthy, and not used to having things NOT go his way.  He is easy to dislike from the go.   
     Kyle - Ashton's best friend and Kevin's brother - he is the guy we all want to know!  
The rest of the supporting characters are all just as well made and easy to invest in.


There is a little bit of love triangle going on as well as a little bit of the "it's all about what you want because everyone loves you" kind of thing - but none of it is over the top!  I usually get unhappy about all the men in a book being willing to die for the main female character, but this is pretty well done and vital to the story as a whole.


Hope has created a world I haven't seen before.  Fantasy is my favorite genre and I was thrilled with her creative, original world building.


The plot is thick with mystery, secrets, and twists.  Who is really who and what they say they are was a phrase I found myself contemplating throughout the story.


This story is well written, smoothly paced, and action packed with a little adventure, a little romance, a little mystery, a little fear, and a bit of mythology all mixed together!  I can't wait for the sequel!