This book takes on a unique perspective of Beauty and the Beast.This book is dark with a cast of characters that have their own secrets, there is mystery and suspense that keeps my interest throughout. Haven is not your typical young adult read.

This book was definitely a detour from the mystery and suspense novels that I’ve been 1 heart (1).pngreading the last few months, but I loved reading this and it still had enough suspense to keep me interested. You can’t help but sympathize with the main character, Rain, as his entire life has been difficult and he’s lived his life feeling as if he were a burden and the entire reason for his mother’s spiral into drugs and them being homeless.

Things are finally turning around for him when his Aunt Ruby agrees to let him stay with her after his mother passes away. Things are looking even better for him after the first time he sees Freddie and realizes she’s like no one he’s ever met before.

I enjoyed that this book had a strong female lead character who isn’t afraid to voice her opinions and to fight for what she believes in. Freddie also has some issues in her life and she is the perfect compliment to Rain.

Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable and am hoping there is another book coming as the ending was left open that the relationship between Rain and Freddie and both their histories can still be explored further. The underlying tone of this book is about discovering yourself and accepting who you are, no matter what that may be – something that many of us, I’m sure, struggle with at times. As the book progresses, you see Rain go from believing he is the root of everything bad in his life, to realizing that he has a purpose and something to fight for and he’s better than he ever gave himself credit for, a lesson we can all relate to.

It’s difficult for me to compare this to other books without giving away the plot line, but if you enjoy young adult fiction with a bit of a twist, then you will enjoy this book! This is perfect for fans of C. C. Hunter and Maggie Stiefvater

I absolutely loved this book and the idea of the "beast" role being reversed. Before even knowing what the book about I was intrigued by this sort of retelling.

Although the first couple of chapters were a little slow, once Rain and Freddie met it really picked up. I also really like the history that was weaved into the story and appreciated the backstory of how everything in this were-world works.

This book had a lot of elements that I enjoy reading about and I would love to see what happens next.

Mary Lindsey wonderfully built the world, and enough information was revealed over time to keep me wanting more. I did not feel overwhelmed with the story, which kept me hooked. When an author can make it so that I don’t realize I’m reading, I’m definitely enthused!

There was a large cast of characters, but of course I absolutely adored the romance between Freddie and Rain. One thing I’ve noticed in paranormal romances is sometimes the paranormal side of the romance tends to be over protective with the human side having little choice in matters concerning them self. Haven does not have this.

Both Rain and Freddie are strong willed characters. Despite Freddie’s warnings, Rain presses on. Freddie is also willing to do whatever it takes to uncover her own mysteries (which, in the process, uncovers some unknown facts about Rain’s heritage and his fate in New Wurzburg).

There is also a large cast of other characters (and creatures), which I would adore to learn more about, though I was perfectly satisfied with the story given. i just really loved the characters!

--> My thoughts: Good, but kind of predictable.

Unfortunately, I've gotten to the point in my life where I'm insanely quick at predicting what's to happen next in a story, and this book was no exception: the author tread very familiar story beats in order to create drama in this book, and that allowed me anticipate most of the twists in advance.

For instance, the prose in this book is very "tell not show": Rain's train of thought often selectively reveals how we should feel about a certain character that we just met, and it was almost too omniscient for me at times. Furthermore, the suspense is rather overplayed for how obvious the plot is--after all, once you've read one paranormal romance (a.k.a. Twilight), the "I'm so dangerous, you should stay away from me" routine should pretty much give away what the book's big secret is. *wink wink*

But in the end, what really let me down about this book was Rain's stunted character development. We learn early on just how desperate Rain is for a family, yet the moment that he gains one, he acts like he has nothing to lose and throws himself into harm's way at every turn. This "whatever" attitude and general lack of wariness felt rather out-of-character for someone who's supposedly a survivor, and his "I'd-die-for-you" attraction to Freddie felt displaced and operatic as a result.

In that, I'd say this book is a better version of Twilight. Rain definitely has a compelling story to tell, but such developments were soon set aside in order to shed more light on the romance, and that's where this book failed for me: it has room for potentially great character developments, but it didn't follow up.

--> Recommended? Sure.

Now to be fair, the romance progresses much more believably after the initial suspension of disbelief, and I give this book credit for that. Freddie's no-nonsense attitude made her a pretty good female protagonist, and the "whodunnit" murder mystery genuinely kept me on my toes; the shifting agendas of these characters created a dynamic that was wholly complex and unpredictable, and thus led to some of the more interesting character interactions as a result.

Oh, and the finale is surprisingly nail-biting. I detest melodrama, but there were several waves to the finale that continued to heighten its stakes for me, and I really liked that. In that, I recommend this book for ages 16 and up--there's sex, nudity, and moments of graphic violence where I just went "HOLY SHIT THEY REALLY WENT THERE!!!"

--> Bottom line: Predictable, but it has good moments.

If paranormal romance is your thing, this book might be for you. It's not particularly ground-breaking in any way, but if you allow yourself to put aside the skepticism, I think you could enjoy this book just fine. Once the murder mystery sets in, character interactions become much more ambiguous, and that's what made this book worthwhile for me. A solid 3-star read.

Favorite Quote: “We all hold a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes when freed.”

Aaron (Rain) Ryland has spent his whole life on the streets due to his mother’s drug addiction. When his mother dies from an overdose, he is sent to live with an aunt he’d never met before in the small town of New Wurzburg, TX. Right off, Rain senses things aren’t right in this town. He soon finds himself drawn to a group of outsiders at the high school. Particularly their leader, Friederike (Freddie) Burkhart.

Freddie isn’t your normal teenager. She tries to warn Rain away as others seek to draw him in deeper but he refuses to back down. He has finally found something-someone- he’s winning to fight for. When Rain learns exactly what is happening in this sleepy little town, he has to ask himself if Freddie is worth dying for. Because someone wants her dead and Rain may be the only one who can save her.

Haven is a young adult paranormal romance that borrows from Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series and Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s Beauty and the Beast but with some gender swapping and much needed modernization. Lindsey takes the old classic trope of beauty saving the beast and twists new life into it, introducing us to a whole new paranormal world of wolves, witches, and magic with two outcasts who are determined to solve a series of murders while making sure they don’t lose their own lives in the process.

The similarity to Twilight is strong in the tone and initial setup. Rain Ryland is obviously Bella while Freddie Burkhardt is an interesting combination of Edward and Jacob. Rain is sent to the small town filled with supernatural beings to live with his aunt Ruby who is on the police force and finds himself unnaturally drawn to the mysterious Freddie and her cousins despite their overt antagonism towards him. There are even motorbikes involved. Lindsey expands on a small scene introduced in Twilight, one that hinted at the werewolves being controlled by vampires in the past. This is the base of the conflict but that is where the similarities end. Neither Rain nor Freddie are waiting to be saved There are no attempts to pretty everything up for the sake of love and acceptance. These strong-willed, intelligent, curious teenagers with raging hormones, mercurial emotions, and the survival skills who work together to save themselves.

‘He’d never feared losing something before because he’d never had anything worth keeping. ‘

The theme of witches controlling wolves is not new. Various authors have alluded to it in their stories but Lindsey succeeds in making it her own with her creation of Watchers, Weavers, and their dark history that she painstakingly records. The weavers are witches who use their magic to help the wolves. In return, the Watchers aka the werewolves protect the witches. Over time, this relationship has become warped becoming more slave/slave owner as the weavers decide who lives, who dies and uses deceptive means to introduce fresh blood into the packs.

“You’re romanticizing the monster.”

“And you’re vilifying it.”

Heavily character driven, the large and individualized cast helps to set the story and keep it in motion. I enjoyed experiencing the story through the eyes of a male protagonist. Lindsey does an excellent job building Rain’s character and creating a unique person more than able to handle what is coming his way. Freddie is just as unique and Rain’s perfect match though she maintains her autonomy in all aspects. Rain’s aunt Rudy is an interesting character and does her best to be parent his mother should have been. Lindsey builds Haven with a steady hand, confident narrative, and lots of organic detail; creating a world filled with potential and brimming with action, suspense, intrigue, and romance. Vampires, zombies, and more decorate this multi-layered fantasy. The addition of murder, mystery, and general mayhem helps to ground the story in reality while elevating it beyond the confines of the stereotypical YA paranormal romance.

”I’ve never had a friend before. I’d like that friend to stay alive.”

The romance has the sweet blush of first love with strong sexual undertone that definitely makes this a more mature YA. Lindsey does an excellent job of using the insta love romance as a way to further explain her leads personalities. These are teenagers who have each experienced extreme trauma in their lives so it makes sense they would connect with little fanfare. Lindsey does speed it up the romance as the story reveals but it makes sense due to the mature nature of the conflict and its subplots. Though vocal in their passion, the actual sex fades to black.

‘She all but consumed him, wrapping her arms around his neck and digging her nails into his skin. Hot. Demanding. Perfect’

Haven is a breath of fresh air in YA paranormal fantasy and sure to appeal to readers young and old. I truly hope Lindsey chooses to expand on this world and turns this into a series.

Grade: B

We’ve all heard the Beauty and the Beast story in some format or another, but in Haven, Beauty is the beast. When Rain’s mother passes away, he’s taken in by his aunt in Haven, a small town with a big past and even bigger secrets. He thinks his life’s finally going to get peaceful and quiet for once, until he falls for Freddie, a girl who’s a lot scarier than she seems.

“I believe we all hide a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes when freed.”


I really wanted to love this book. I thought it was such a unique take on the classic story of “girl falls in love with a beast” by swapping the gender roles, and I was totally here for the idea of what I expected to be a full role reversal, where the new guy in town was going to be some sort of fairly helpless, lost thing, while the girl would be some sort of wickedly strong and impressive mythical creature who would sweep him off his feet and save him from the woes of her world.

Instead, from the very first chapter, Rain is dripping with macho charisma. He’s over six feet tall, built like a linebacker, and can win any fight, thanks to his years on the streets. He oozes masculinity, isn’t deterred by anything, and – most notably – he’s a totally typical sex-crazed teen.

If the “alpha male” trope is up your alley, this might be the perfect YA version of that for you, but I found myself cringing every other time he opened his mouth, and every single time he had any sort of internal monologue about Freddie. He can’t look at the girl for more than ten seconds without becoming aroused, and he frequently oversteps serious consent boundaries – in one scene, as she is trying to leave the room, he literally grabs her hand and places it on his crotch without her consent to show her that he wants her.

(Coincidentally, that scene was the point where I stopped caring at all about this book or these characters.)

Meanwhile, Freddie, who’s supposed to be this terrifying, fierce, beastly young woman… is typically reduced to a sad, moody, and almost-equally-sex-crazed girl whenever she’s alone with Rain, which just further kind of ruined the hopes I had for these characters.

As far as the plot itself goes, there isn’t much I can say that won’t spoil the story, but at the same time, it’s all incredibly predictable and full of tropes and cliches that any reader of the paranormal romance genre will see coming a mile away.

All in all, there isn’t really anything good I can say for myexperience reading this story, but I’m still giving it two stars because I do think that this book has its audience – it’s just not me, and I would hope it’s not any impressionable young girls who might read this and think these are healthy behaviors for teen boys in their lives.

Content warnings: violence, death, mentions of drug addictions

Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for sending me a lovely finished copy in exchange for my honest review!

Rain and Freddie are the most flawed but dynamic characters I have read in a long time. This book takes the werewolf myth and turns it upside down. I loved the writing style and plot. I highly recommend this book and can not wait for the next one. I have already recommended this book to family members to read.

Haven by Mary Lindsey is a YA paranormal novel filled with mystery, romance, and suspense. The story of the new boy in town, Aaron "Rain" Ryland, and the tough girl who everyone tells him to stay clear from, Friederike "Freddie" Burkhart, will have you enthralled and excited to find out what is going to happen next.

Told from Rain's POV, the story follows Rain from the city to the small town of New Wurzburg when he is sent to live with a newfound aunt after his mother passes away. Once in New Wurzburg, he begins to see that there is something mysterious about the small town and it is not just the puzzling yet beautiful Freddie. Throw in murders, magic, and a well-written mythos that slowly gets revealed and you have a recipe for a great story.

Haven has a lot going on and in a good way. The build-up and reveals as we see it through Rain's POV is gradual and natural and he is such a strong character to follow. He may appear to be the bad boy, but he has a heart of gold and cares deeply for those in his life. I also liked the chemistry between Freddie and Rain who work well together as a couple. Freddie is a leader, strong and I love how she is a fighter and not a damsel in distress.

Overall, I recommend Haven by Mary Lindsey both for its familiar themes but also how it deviates from the typical standard structures and characters.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

Haven in Three Words: Mysterous. Dark. Passionate.

Reminiscent of novels like Blood and Choclate by Annete Curtis Klause and Velvet by Temple West, Haven is sure to please fans of young adult paranormal romances.

Unlike your average YA paranormal romance novel, Haven is told from the point of view of a male protaganist. Not only is this a breath of fresh air, but having the female being the strong, dangerous, mysterious one to the normal human boy is pretty fantastic. Although Rain is no weakling, he is merly a human among a world of mythology and magic. Rain is an interesting main character who is forced to go live with the aunt he didn't know he had in a small town he didn't know existed. Inserted into a small town where he is clearly the oustider is barely a problem when he realizes that the small town has more secrets than people.

Mary Lindsey does a magnificant job at describing a small town setting filled with mysterious stories and weird residents. Although Rain is fresh meat at his new school, he is drawn to the dangerous Freddie, a tough girl who Rain finds scary and yet alluring. Their forbidden friendship turns more, and the author does a nice job with its unfolding. Actually, the pacing of the whole book was well done. Although the plot keeps a lot of the usual paranormal tropes, it still manages to bring a few surprises to the reader. I will admit that the foreshadowing was a little heavy handed. Otherwise, it's an entertaining story with great chemsitry between the main characters and a high-stakes ending.

The Bottom Line: Give it a shot.

Title: Haven
Author: Mary Lindsey
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pub Date: November 7, 2017
Pages: 371
My Copy: Courtesy of NetGalley, Entangled Publishing

Book 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. 

Book Review:

A wonderful fun book that had me absorbed from start to finish. I totally loved the main characters of Rain and Friederike aka Freddie. There is something that these two characters can’t fight against, destiny.

One of the things is that we get Rain is the kind of teenager that always finds himself in trouble. So of course he gets into big time trouble and then the juvenile court judge decides to send him to New Wurzburg to live with his aunt. Rain never knew that he had an Aunt. So when his Aunt comes to pick him up, she is a squad car. His aunt is a cop. This makes him a little bit uneasy. His Aunt Ruby is definitely someone who comes to help him.

When he goes to his first day at his new high school, he meets Friederike Burkhart and her cousins. People are telling him to stay away from them. They are trouble. Trouble always seems to find him. He is immediately attracted to Freddie. So of course things don’t go as planned. We learn that Freddie and her family are not what you would call normal. Freddie says no to him and things go a little bit weird, but he is not going to let Freddie’s cousin’s intimidate him or bully him. So things evolve from there and they go on a date.

Also Rain is trying to stay out of trouble, so he decides to get an after school job and overhears something that he doesn’t understand. Yet, he gets the job at the Hardware Store in town. This town is interesting and weird it seems. Things happen during the date between him and Freddie. Rain sees Freddie transform into a wolf and then sees other weird things as well that he shouldn’t have. Freddie has broken the rules just by dating him or being with. Plus he saw things that outsiders do not see.

We get a big time history about the wolves, and what types there are. There are two and then there’s a third kind, which we find out about later. A lot of the people and power players have some kind of authority in the community as well. Also we learn that Freddie will be the next Alpha of the pack. So this puts a lot of pressure on her to play by the rules until things happen. Then something happens to Rain. They give him something because we learn that his father was actually part of the pack. So they give him something to make him one of them and it actually works despite Freddie not wanting this to happen.

The romance between Rain and Freddie is very solid because they know they are attracted to one another. Love the romance. They fight, argue, plan and discuss things. Not to mention things get very intense at times. Romance grows and becomes more solid. They realize that they need each other if they are too survive and make sure the pack endures.

Twists and turns were superb. Love how many weird and surprises were thrown at both Rain and Freddie. Plus Freddie finally stepped up in a way that no one expected. Also Rain learned what he really was capable of. He almost died as well, and found the strength to endure. The way this book ended was terrific and wonderfully refreshing.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book.

Rating:

4.5 Hearts

Aaron aka Rain Ryland's mother dies. A judge sends him to his Aunt Ruby in New Wurzburg, Texas.rain is surprised to find his aunt is a police officer as well as his mother's twin. Rain is unsettled to discover this as he has been living on the streets most of his life. Why? Rain finds that he is attracted to a classmate whose name is Freddie. He finds her very mysterious and intriguing. As he gets to know her, he is determined to find out why Freddie keeps trying to keep Rain away from her. He discovers that she loves the moon. Why? When he gets pictures of Freddie's father death scene, he vows to find out who killed him to Freddie. Will he?

The. Author has written a fascinating story for young adults to read. Adults will enjoy the novel too. I found the characters well developed. The story kept me in suspense wondering what was going to happen next. The passion between Freddie and Rain is so well written that I felt their desire for each other. The tension in this paranormal mystery is constantly rising. It's a story that held me spellbound.

5 Stars - A DELICIOUSLY DARK, SEXY, AND HEART-POUNDING TALE

I’m utterly and positively smitten with this book. Haven by Mary Lindsey is such an incredibly unique, oddly intriguing, and suspenseful tale that had me reeling and holding my breath the entire time.

“We all hold a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes when freed.”

Rain Ryland has lived a very troubled life and never felt like he belonged. That is until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart (Freddie). Immediately, Rain finds himself undeniable attracted to Freddie. Even with a murder mystery to solve and a killer on the loose who wants Freddie dead, Rain just can’t seem to stay away. As the darkness unfolds before his eyes, Rain must decide what’s he’s willing to do to protect everyone he loves.

Haven is wickedly awesome in every way. Chapter after chapter, this book pulled me in deep until I was beautifully drowning in its eerily, but enthralling supernatural world. The plot is fast-paced, gripping, and full of twists that had me on edge. The mystery, tension, drama, and dangers lurking in every corner kept me turning the pages. The family dynamics, friendships, and tender moments between the characters give the story its heart and a sense of realness. The romance, while not the focal point, is sweet and achingly swoontastic! And the writing — absolutely phenomenal and so captivating that I found it impossible to put the book down. I truly enjoyed reading Haven and if I didn’t have work or errands to do, I’m certain that I would have devoured this in a day.

Rain and Freddie are ridiculously adorable — their chemistry is electrifying and had me smiling and swooning. The side characters, like Petra, Merrick and Ruby, are pretty great and delightful. Actually, I like all the characters to some extent — even the ones that are menacing and downright evil. The author does such a terrific job creating characters that are brilliantly mysterious, positively intriguing, and flawed in the best possible way. They have their own dark secrets, heartbreaking pasts, inner turmoil, and insecurities. With complicated relationships, vile manipulations, and endless lies, the characters surely kept me on my toes and surprised me plenty of times. Even though it was extremely frustrating, I honestly loved never knowing for sure who to trust and not to trust — just made reading Haven so much more exciting and interesting.

I seriously love this book so much that I definitely would not mind reading a sequel or two! It’s deliciously dark, sexy, and heart-pounding. The plot is filled with intrigue, mystery, suspense, and a steamy romance that will give you all the feels. With a badass, sassy, and beautiful heroine like Freddie, a handsome, tough, and brave hero with a gentle heart like Rain, and a wonderfully spellbinding story that’s hard to forget, Haven gave me the most amazing spine-tingling thrills and chills.

If you’re looking for a unique, gritty and tension-filled YA paranormal romance that will leave you wanting more, then this book is perfect for you.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Fear makes people crazy. Get enough crazy people together and the insanity makes sense in some bizarre way, and the weaker ones will follow authority, even if it's out of control."

Having not read the buzz about the book before I started reading it, I enjoyed discovering and uncovering things about Haven alongside the main character, Rain. I am not sure I even knew there was a paranormal element, but Lindsey quickly built up the feeling that the story was going that direction. Initially, the town of Haven gave me a delicious Harvest Home (Thomas Tryon) vibe, but once the characters were introduced, it moved into a Lost Boys-like feeling and then very Twilight-ish. Even though it is not long before the type of paranormal is revealed (no spoilers here), one of the best aspects of Lindsey’s writing is how she sprinkles those hints around like little seeds waiting to grow into a new plot piece.

Main character Rain is a complex character. He is intelligent and introspective – some of the best dialogue is what he says in his head versus what comes out of his mouth. Even the very simple exchanges amused and enlightened.

“How was school?
Weird as hell. “Good.”

His street smarts give Rain an added dimension – and maybe that’s why I am a little more tolerant of his emotions. Perhaps since he has been starved for love until he gets to Haven, he more easily goes all in with his heart. He survives by trusting his instincts, but he also makes decisions that place him in great danger and values pretty much everyone else’s lives ahead of his own. At times, he is very teenaged boy being ruled by his desire; at other times, he is very adult in assessing what’s going on around him – until he goes teenaged boy again and talks about what’s happening in his pants. And let’s talk about that.

There is a lot of sexual tension in this book, and I think there is a lot of sex. Lindsey (happily) tiptoes around it, but this causes problems for me with the book being YA. As an adult reader, it’s obvious that Rain and Freddie are having sex and it explains Rain’s fierce loyalty and willingness to die for Freddie. (cue the teenaged boy). However, it feels a bit too sexual for readers on the younger end of YA, but it is too tame to be NA, which puts the book in limbo. Rain and Freddie (un)clearly become lovers, but his sometimes sexually aggressive behavior towards Freddie is a little troubling. Without a peek into the bedroom and an understanding of the sexual relationship, readers don’t have the context or possibly the maturity needed to deal with, for example, a male forcefully placing a female's hand upon his crotch. In this story, it’s treated as an okay thing to do – and for these two lovers, it may have been. In life? Often not. We need context. Too much is implied for some of the sexual scenes to safely work for a young audience.

Of course, I love the Texas town setting and the backdrop of Enchanted Rock, a truly magical, mystical place in its own right. Lindsey’s character and world building are rich and intriguing, and she has some outstanding secondary characters (Petra!!) who make the story pop. And what of the elusive category of characters, the revenants, whose existence are just a cruel tease to the readers?

Haven got me in trouble because it CALLED to me when I needed to be doing other things for other people. It’s well-written, well-edited, and weaves an immersive tale that traps the reader. While the cheesy factor gets a little heavy for me in the last tenth of the book, it’s unfair to call something silly or judge something as unrealistic when we are dealing with fantasy. Anything goes, and Mary Lindsey puts her own definition and stamp on the fascinating people and world of Haven.

*SIDE NOTE: Whoa! What a great decision to change the cover and title of this book from its original – check out my cover reveal post from seven months ago! It was a complete mismatch to the story whereas the new cover and title are perfect.

Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for providing me an eBook in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give.

I'm not much of a supernatural book fan but I did not resist this blurb and this somber cover. Glad It did not disappoint myself with the plot, quite the opposite.
Rain is a suffering boy who has been hardened by life on the streets, since very early he needed to learn to face gangs and bad people but the only person who has that is his mother dies unexpectedly and because he is underage he finds himself obliged to go live with an aunt who did not even know existed.
Upon arriving in the small town, he already perceives a different and strange climate but as his aunt receives him with great affection he decides to behave and to be deserving of her care.
Already on the first day of class he notices the mysterious Freddie and the boys implicating with her. As he has a hero's mind he ends up getting close to the girl even though she despises him several times. He insists and gives rise to an uncontrollable attraction that leads him to live complicated situations and unknown dangers. He ends up getting where he should not and distrusting several people who live in the city besides wanting to unravel an ill-investigated murder.
With fluid and engaging writing, the book follows the narrative of a detective novel being narrated in the third person from Rain's point of view. I really enjoyed the characters, especially his aunt and the boys Thomas, Grant, Merrick, who imply his friendship with Freddie.
The ending was astounding and very creative only I thought the writer could have given more attention to some details so as not to give the feeling that it was a little run down.

Rain has spent his whole life going from place to place with his drug-addicted, resentful mom, living in shelters or on the streets, mostly taking care of himself. When his mom dies, though, he ends up leaving the big city to go to his mom’s small hometown to live with her sister — a twin he never knew his mom had. His Aunt Ruby is kind and loving and Rain is amazed that he can actually live in a stable home with someone who cares for him.

As he starts to settle in to the high school, he immediately meets a strange girl he just can’t help but feel drawn to. Friederike is tough and strong and just commands attention, but she clearly doesn’t fit in with the other students. She and a few guys stick to themselves, and they seem to defer to her. But she’s also ethereally pretty, with unusual light eyes, and though she clearly appears to be trouble, Rain keeps trying to get to know her. As he has more encounters with her, he wants to know more, and she keeps telling him to stay away. Rain has known danger in his life, but, as it turns out, he hasn’t seen anything yet. Because the world Freddie lives in is an entirely different one altogether — and as she comes to care about Rain, too, she doesn’t want him drawn in to it.

The descriptions I read for this book revealed almost nothing about the supernatural aspect of the story, so I’d hate to reveal much myself. It has some standard elements mixed in together but with a different set of “rules” for the paranormal world. I found myself really drawn in to the story and eager to learn more about how everything came together. The pacing was just right and the characters were ones I cared about. I’d have really loved the book had it not had so many instances of strong language and pretty intense sexual content between teens.

This is a phenomenal take on shifters. The author took her time to weave a story of mystery, romance, intrigue and deception so thoroughly it was hard to put the book down to sleep at night. This is a young adult book but I would suggest it for high school age and up due to content about gangs, sex, violence and explicit language.

Aaron Ryland is a seventeen year old who has been raised on the streets. He commits crimes just to get by. His mom has substance abuse issues that keeps them in and out of shelters and sometimes just leaves them on the streets. He goes by the name Rain. His mother gave him the nickname by telling him that's all her life had been since he came along.

One night he's coming home to find his mom being led out of the shelter on a gurney with a sheet over her head. A judge orders that he will go live with an aunt he never knew about in a town he'd never been to. He takes a bus to get to New Wurzberg and there is a cop car pulling up as he waits at the bus stop. This is how he finds out his aunt is a cop and his mother's identical twin.

He thinks living in a small town might not be so bad until he realizes just how close this small town is. That's when he meets Freddie. The most intriguing girl he's ever seen with the most remarkable blue eyes that almost glow. This is where things get interesting...

I highly recommend this book and was disappointed this is a standalone and not the start of a series. I hope this author continues writing more fantasy as her take on shifters and witches was unique and fun to read.

This book was given to me by NetGalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review. These words and opinions are all my own.

For me, Haven started off slow, but as the story develops a lot of interesting and unique twists unravel in regards to the world-building and the author’s take on paranormal beings, in this case weres. Haven is a great reminder of why I love delving into young adult literature that focuses on the paranormal and magic. It is fun. It is messy. It is gutwrenching. And overall it’s a constant page-turner.

Haven is fully packed with action and shocking surprises, but the book is also packed with A LOT of side characters. Sometimes I had a hard time keeping up with them all. But other than that, I was really fascinated with the main characters, Freddie and Rain. Both of these characters are so well-developed. They are strong, determined, fierce, and so selfless. I loved watching their bond and hilarious snark grow throughout the novel, and what guy could walk away from a girl who calls him Sprinkles? HAHAHA

Overall, I really enjoyed the history, lore, and paranormal approach that Mary Lindsey establishes in Haven. The story is unique and the plot is straightforward and oftentimes hints back at generational conflicts. More importantly, I loved that the book is full of mystery with a hint of romance sprinkled into its pages.

First I would like to thank all parties involved, for granting my request to read and review this pretty awesome book. I really enjoyed reading this book a whole lot.
I really enjoyed Rain from the very beginning of this book, I loved that he could take care of himself. I also really loved that it's only his point of views that us the readers get. I really haven't read a whole lot of books that was just the hero's point of views, so that was a lot of fun.
Freddie I wasn't really feeling at first but by the second half of the book, I really started liking a lot more. I know it was because she was trying to protect Rain, from what her secret was. As well as from certain other individuals in the book. But even when he found out, she still tried pushing him away. I wouldn't have minded that so much if she didn't keep bringing him back into her orbit.
I loved that Rain knew what she was trying to do, and wouldn't let her get away with it. I just really loved this character so much because he wouldn't back down in what he believed in, and wouldn't let certain characters try to scare him away.
Another character I really loved was Rain's Aunt Ruby, I loved that she really loved Rain. Because once you find out her back story, she did have reasons to turn him away. Even though it wasn't Rain's fault.
I really loved the ending of the book, and all that took place. The ending had just enough action but not to make. Just the right amount at least for me. I would definitely read more books by this Author, and recommend it to my family and friends.