Blog Tour: Kristi Cook's Haven (Review, Character Playlist, and Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Violet McKenna isn't a normal girl with normal teenage issues; she has more to contend with than most people could handle. Violet thought she was just crazy when she had a vivid vision of her dad's murder. Her life started falling apart when her premonition came true. She's had flashes of other events too. The problem was nobody believed her until she found a new school: Winterhaven.

At Winterhaven, Violet finally feels like she belongs. She quickly finds a close group friends and discovers that they too have psychic 'gifts'—as do all the students at Winterhaven. But as soon as she feels settled she discovers the most intriguing and alluring boy she has ever met, and things quickly go awry. As the attraction between them grows, intense visions of the boy's death start to haunt her. In her premonitions the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself. And to Violet's horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a critical--and deadly--way.

Review:

In today's YA world there's a lot of paranormal books out there, and while all of them have interesting ideas, very few have the ability to have me completely entranced in their worlds. Luckily enough, Kristi Cook's Haven is one of the few, because not only is it a refreshing and unique paranormal read but it's a book you can't help but read in one very long sitting; a good sign indeed.

Haven begins with Violet's very first day at Winterhaven, an elite boarding school. At Winterhaven, Violet is hoping to officially start over. This time she won't be the girl who has startling and omniscient visions, instead she just be a normal teen girl leaving a normal life. And at first it is that way. She manages to make some great friends and finds her place, because as it turns out this is a school were everyone has "gifts" similar to hers. Though, everything changes the day Aidan walks into her. Aidan is different from all the other guys at her school. He's quiet yet brilliant and completely intriguing and he just may be the guy for Violet, but with his presence comes Violet's strongest visions yet, visions that could mean the end of Violet and Adrian. So, will Violet be able to take control of everything before it all goes awry? And is her relationship with Adrian nearly as great as it seems? Only time and more pages will tell in this amazing story of one girl's path to discovering herself as well as the secrets that lay on her path.

Violet was a character I loved from the start. Like most girls in today's YA, she's trying to find her place in this crazy world, and with that comes the development of the many friendships and relationships I loved reading about. Better yet, Violet's a strong girl; she's someone who while has her moments of weakness like us all, manages to stand up for herself and her friends time and time again. Furthermore, I really liked how her relationship with Adrian wasn't always perfect, because it made it much more real to me than having her in one that never has problems.

One of the first things that made me want to read this book was the premise. I love books about boarding schools, especially when the said boarding school involves students with "gifts." Luckily enough, the execution of that idea proved to be great! I adored all the plot lines and ideas Ms. Cook introduced in this, and how she constantly used the setting of Winterhaven in her favor. Better yet, when tying the plot together with her well-developed characters and writing, this story proved to be made of awesome.

If you're looking for a refreshing and unique paranormal read, well look no further because Haven is the book for you. Filled with interesting plot lines, well-developed, relatable characters, and a swoon-worthy romance, this a book that manages to have it all and more!

Grade: A

Haven will be released February 22, 2011!

Source: Galley Grab

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Character Playlist:

Kristi also provided me with an exclusive sneak-peek of Aidan Gray's paylist for this stop of the tour. Eventually, she will have it up on her website with more info and such, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. But until then...

In the book HAVEN, Violet gives Aidan an iPod for Christmas. Here’s an exclusive sneak-peek at what songs Aidan put in his “Favorites” playlist:

AIDAN GRAY’S PLAYLIST

Waiting for the End, Linkin Park
And She Was, Talking Heads
October, Broken Bells
Young Forever, Jay-Z (featuring Mr. Hudson)
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel
Slow Hands, Interpol
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), Green Day
Bodies, Drowning Pool
Let it Bleed, The Rolling Stones
The Only Exception, Paramore
A Sky for Shoeing Horses Under, WHY?
I Wanna Be the One, Fun.
Like Dylan in the Movies, Belle and Sebastian
Bittersweet Symphony, The Verve
Better That We Break, Maroon 5

You can find the entire playlist (and listen to samples) here in the iTunes store:

http://c.itunes.apple.com/us/imix/aidans-playlist-haven/id421575857

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Giveaway:

Now, the part you've all been waiting for- the giveaway!

To enter, please fill out the following form.

Though, as with any giveaway there are rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter.
~ Must have a US mailing address (sorry international readers!)
~ This giveaway will end on February 22, 2011!


*Prize provided by Simon and Schuster.*

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Other stops on the tour:

Good Choice Reading
Between the Covers
Books With Bite
Bewitched Bookworms
Books Complete Me