Audiobook Release Blitz: Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1) by Martina Boone

Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1)

by Martina Boone 

Publisher: Simon Pulse/Tantor Audio

Release Date: 10/28/14

Narrated by: Joell A. Jacob

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins 

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Synopsis:

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives 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.

Read my review for Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1) by Martina Boone

"Skillfully blends rich magic and folklore with adventure, sweeping romance, and hidden treasure . . . An impressive start to the Heirs of Watson Island series." —Publishers Weekly

"Eight Beaufort is so swoon-worthy that it's ridiculous. Move over Four, Eight is here to stay!" —RT Book Reviews, RT Editors Best Books of 2014

"Darkly romantic and steeped in Southern Gothic charm, you'll be compelled to get lost in the Heirs of Watson Island series." —JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A fresh twist on the Southern Gothic -- haunting, atmospheric, and absorbing." —CLAUDIA GRAY, New York Timesbestselling author of A Thousand Pieces of You and the Evernight and Spellcaster series 

"A stunningly magical debut with a delicious slow burn to be savored. I want to live in this story world!" —WENDY HIGGINS, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy

"Beautifully written, with vivid characters, a generations-old feud, and romance that leaps off the page, this Southern ghost story left me lingering over every word, and yet wanting to race to the compelling finish. Compulsion is not to be missed." —MEGAN SHEPHERD, author of The Madman's Daughter

Martina Boone was born in Prague and spoke several languages before learning English. She fell in love with words and never stopped delighting in them.

She’s the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers site, and YASeriesInsiders.com, a site devoted to encouraging literacy and all this YA Series.

From her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and Auggie the wonder dog, she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she’d love to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Reader Appreciation Giveaway

Book Addicts! It's time for some Reader Appreciation giveaway. Martina Boone has her book on sale for $1.99 on Amazon, B&N, and iBooks until 1/31 so she thought it was a great chance to say thank you to everyone whose bought, left reviews, or otherwise spread the word. Isn't that pretty awesome?

Also mark February 5th on your calendars, because the Persuasion book cover is coming!

Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1)

by Martina Boone

Publisher: Simon Pulse, Simon Teen

Release Date: 10/28/14
Read my review for Compulsion

Synopsis:

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives 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.

Compulsion is available anywhere books are sold. Signed copies are available from One More Page Books. You can also order with the special “I have a Compulsion for reading” bookplate from Eight Cousins.

by Martina Boone

Before I get to the human characters, I have to say that setting is very definitely a character in the HEIRS OF WATSON ISLAND trilogy. Watson Island is loosely based on Edisto Island, and I borrowed from actual Charleston area plantation history to create the three plantations that shaped who the three families became. There was tons of material to work with-I mean, pirate treasure, ancient spirit witches, blood feuds, lonely, demented characters, curses, forbidden romance . . . How could I resist?

My dream cast of plantations would include Boone Hall Plantation, with bits of Magnolia Plantation and Drayton Hall thrown in. For the ruins of Colesworth Place, I’d love to use part of the columns that are all that’s left of the Windsor Plantation in Port Gibson, Mississippi. There is a Windsor Plantation on Edisto Island, too, but it doesn’t have the same level of drama and echoing sadness.

Okay, and now on to the fun part. Human characters.

Barrie.

Barrie first. I’d love to Jennifer Lawrence play Barrie, of course, but basically, I’d like Jennifer Lawrence to play the main character in every movie, so that may not tell you much. I might go with Nicola Peltz.

Eight (Charles Robert Beaufort, VIII)

Liam Hemsworth, I think, although Alex Pettyfer is probably the default here for most readers, and of course I wouldn’t turn him down. 

Barrie’s cousin Cassie.

Rooney Mara. This one’s a no-brainer for me. She could do Scarlett/Vivien Leigh, and I think she’d pull off the various sides of Cassie with the complexity that Cassie needs.

Barrie’s godfather Mark.

Idris Elba. I can picture him ROCKING a pink Chanel suit and heels and shaking his booty and singing along with Whoopie Goldberg in Sister Act doing “Hail Holy Queen.” I wonder if he’d be willing to shave?

Barrie’s Aunt Pru.

Hard to believe that Reese Witherspoon is about the right age, but she is. And she would do a fabulous job.

Eight’s father Seven (Charles Robert Beaufort, VII).

If they cast Patrick Dempsey as Seven, then McDreamy might finally get the girl he missed in Sweet Home Alabama. Maybe. Eventually. By the end of the series—if I decide that Seven is truly good enough for Pru.

Martina Boone was born in Prague and spoke several languages before learning English. She fell in love with words and never stopped delighting in them.

She’s the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers site, and YASeriesInsiders.com, a site devoted to encouraging literacy and all this YA Series.

From her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and Auggie the wonder dog, she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she’d love to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.

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Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1) by Martina Boone

Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1)
by Martina Boone
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 28th 2014

Rate: Loved it (5 stars)

Synopsis:

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives 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.

Martina Boone's story couldn't have a better name, both for the story and the cover and what it does to readers. The instant I started Compulsion I couldn't stop reading until I knew what would happen in the next chapter. So I devoured this book!

The story starts with Barrie leaving San Francisco after her mother's death to Watson's Island, to a place where no one knew about her and her mother, not even her mother's sister who she's going to live with. 

The Island has many mysteries and Barrie's aunt, Lulu, seems to be a little odd, but Barrie is looking forward to meet all the family she never met. Little she know about the traditions of Alabama: gossip and the history in Watson's Island where the Colesworth, Beaufort and Watson family have part in it. 

I do not want to explain more because I think that one of the beauties of this story is finding little by little more about Watson's Island, the three families and the main characters, without spoiling anything. The plot is well built and perfectly written and it keeps the readers interested until the very end, with its ups and downs and with a major cliffhanger that will unravel one of the many mysteries that involves Barry's new life.

The intensity of this story is incredible and the pull of the romance story and the mystery is inexplicable. I think that Barrie and Eight's romance story is one of my favorite this year. There's a progression in their relationship and it feels real and approachable for the reader. There's also the fear of feeling so much for someone, of leaving or be left alone, of repeating history or wondering how much their own gift is making them like each other. It has all the perks of falling in love and it's simply perfect. You need to read Compulsion to understand me. 

With a dark touch, Compulsion everything to be a terrific read for YA lovers. It has mystery, magic, danger, family feuds, secrets and romance. I think I might combust due to my level of wanting to read the following book in this series, so there's no need to ask me if I recommend this book. 

Ashley Benson as Barrie

Chris Hemsworth as Eight

Martina Boone was born in Prague and spoke several languages before learning English. She fell in love with words and never stopped delighting in them.

She’s the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers site, and YASeriesInsiders.com, a site devoted to encouraging literacy and all this YA Series.

From her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and Auggie the wonder dog, she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she’d love to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.