Book Review: Haven by Mary Lindsey

Summary:  
"We all hold a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes when freed."

Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere, He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.

Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for.




Release Date: November 2017
Age Group: YA, Paranormal
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Reviewed By: Nat

Review:
Haven arrived as a book-mail surprise! I knew nothing about it, didn't read the synopsis and just dove right in simply based on the cover and the Godiva chocolate that accompanied the book (and was sent as a temptress). I can be bought with chocolate... well played Entangled Teen, well played.

Turns out that Haven was just as sweet as the chocolate!

Let me start off by saying it was a real treat to have the boy chasing after the girl! Haven was a true original YA paranormal. There are parallels to Beauty & the Beast mixed with the eternal love of a Twilight romance (in more of a Jacob Black sort of way) but with ALL the feels of Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver series! It is no secret that Stiefvater is one of my favorite authors and I couldn't help but think I was reading one of her novels as I sped through Haven.

Whatever the right formula is for a shape-shifter novel, Mary Lindsey got the memo!

I sat and read Haven straight through because there wasn't a good place to just simply break. The story pace was slow in the beginning as it built-up and fleshed everyone & everything out, but midway it was full steam ahead and the pacing was fast and furious!

I enjoyed the mystery & history behind the little Texas town of New Wurzburg and at times I was reminded of Friedricksburg, Texas. Now when I visit there, I am going to be looking for a winery run by wolves... we can wish right?

The characters were nice and flawed too. I hate reading #instalove. Rain & Freddie's story is loaded with crazy and there's nothing insta about it. I do have a warning, there is a scene on the porch that I could have lived without (maybe page 281). When I gave it to my teen reviewer I warned her about the scene and told her to skip that page and that "they smooch hard". She giggled and thanked me for the heads-up. Because of the porch scene and a few violent episodes, I would suggest this book for older teens.

Simply put, Mary Lindsey has a talent for YA Paranormal and she must be forced to write book two! Here's why, it's a bit spoiler'ish so {highlight} the text below to read. Cool trick right?

{WHAT HAPPENED TO MOTH?! He was bitten and lived.} Book two is waiting Miss Mary (that's how we do it in the South, everyone is a "Miss" & it is typically effective in getting you what you want because you are acting like such a polite person). Soooo Miss Mary, get to it!