Compulsion by Martina Boone

Title: Compulsion
(The Heirs of Watson Island #1)
Author: Martina Boone
Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Southern Gothic
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Source: e-galley (I was approved for an e-galley via Edelweiss. Thank you Simon Pulse!)
Read: August 2014

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson had been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead. 

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***I received an e-galley of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review***

I love this cover. It is so gorgeous. I really do try to not base wanting to read a book based on the cover, but after seeing the cover for COMPULSION, it just made me even more excited to read the book!

The Story:

A fascinating story about a girl whose life has been turned upside down due to the loss of her mother and being sent to live across the country with an aunt she has never met. Not only does Barrie have to get used to living somewhere new, she discovers and tries to get to the bottom of some old family secrets.
The author creates a southern setting that is realistic and beautiful. The type of world that readers will want to visit.
I found this to be a wonderfully written story that balances the paranormal, mystery, and romance.

This was so hard for me to put down. I was quickly drawn into this world. I love the interactions between the characters. I love the supernatural things that are happening on the island. And I really love the mystery that surrounds it all.

And even though I think the book ends with some closure. I was left wanting more. I wanted to know more about Watson Island. Especially the past history. I am really interested in finding out more about Barrie's parents and what else happened in their pasts on Watson Island. And I am really looking forward to finding out what else is going to happen to Barrie, Eight and Cassie.

The Characters:

I really love these characters.
I think that the characters were all well-written. I wanted to get to know them and was very interested in finding out more about their lives and what would happen.

Barrie: She is full of curiosity. Especially curiosity regarding her gift, which just added to my own. I also like that she is curious about her roots and her mother's past. After the loss of her mother, her life changed and part of what she has to discover deals with things that she never knew about her own mother.  I love that she is a strong character. She looks for answers and doesn't really rely on others figuring things out for her.
And I just absolutely loved the relationship between her and Mark. I love their phone conversations. I love that even though there are not a lot of scenes of them together, I still get the understanding of how important they are to one another. It is a very special bond and relationship.

Eight: He is so strong and dependable. He wants to try and protect Barrie, even if she doesn't let him. I loved finding out more about his character as the story went along. He is caring and trustworthy. I enjoyed watching the conflict between him and Barrie. I really like his gift and how it affects his character and his interactions with other people.

Cassie: I found her to be one of those characters you think you aren't going to like much, but yet you are drawn to them and want to know more. She is a complex character. I felt like I wasn't sure how to see her and how her relationship would be with Barrie. And even after finishing the story, I am not sure exactly how to view Cassie. I find her character interesting and there are a lot of times that I feel bad for what she is going through. But there were also times where I did not like the decisions that she was making. But I found that she not only adds some conflict to the story, but she also left me wondering what would happen next to not only her but with the relationship between her and Barrie.

I really love all the other characters in the story too. Like Barrie's Aunt Pru. She is a very intriguing character. I feel like she has so much weighing on her and she tries so hard to keep everything together. And I loved watching her relationship with Barrie bloom. Also, Eight's dad, Seven. I love the mystery surrounding his past and the connection to Barrie's family.

My Recommendation:

I love this book and can't wait to dive into the next book. The story is unique and has mystery, romance, tension, and a fascinating supernatural element. I highly recommend reading this one!

My Rating: