Rating: 4 stars (Spotlight Review)

Kristi Cook’s debut, Haven, reads like one-stop-shopping for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight and Vampire Diaries; neatly packaged in an updated version of L.J. Smith’s Dark Visions series—not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Violet McKenna lost her mother at an early age. Having premonitions for as long as she can remember, Violet kept them to herself in an effort to fit in. However, when she had a vision of her father’s impending death, despite all of her efforts, nobody heeded her warnings.

Now with just her grandmother and step-mother left, Violet leaves her Atlanta home for New York’s Winterhaven School; a school that just seemed to call out to her, a school that makes her feel like she belonged.

On her first day, Violet meets her new roommate, Cece and a few others who have special psychic abilities. The girls try to make Violet’s transition as easy and smooth as possible; but, when she meets the mysterious and gorgeous Aidan Gray, things get a lot more complicated.

Feeling like they’ve known each other forever, Violet and Aidan form a strong connection; both mentally and emotionally. However, Violet’s visions prove that there’s much more to her and Aidan than either of them knew; and when she sees Aidan lying in a pool of blood, apparently inflicted by her own hand, she begins to wonder if love can overpower destiny.

Although Kristi Cook’s writing is steeped in the current paranormal flavors of the day, she manages to inject hints of her own style and creativity. While featuring a cast of para-usuals, Ms. Cook does a good job of moving the plot forward and keeps the drama continuously unfurling.

Despite Aidan feeling very familiar, as do many of the themes, the journey is still scenic, entertaining and highly recommended.

The first in a trilogy, Haven is bound to be a favorite.
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Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 22, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1442407602