Haven

Written by Bobbi Smith

Narrated by Rebecca Van Volkinburg

In the tradition of Jan Karon, an inspiring story of six troubled people and the strength they find in each other and their faith. Darrell Miller was running from the ugliness his existence had become, from the men who knew what he’d seen. He found refuge from his terror in the last place he expected—a church. With the kind of people he’d never known before, people whose lives would intertwine with his in a special and most unexpected way…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781511393362

Bobbi Smith

After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982. Since then, Bobbi has written over forty books and six novellas. To date, there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists. When she’s not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer’s groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.

Reviews for Haven

[readingover50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. I think it is one of my favorite books in this series. I can't wait for the next one in this trilogy to come out.

I liked both of the women, Jessie and Emma. I wish their relationship could have been a little closer, but this is after all a story of damaged people. I liked Navarro too. I wish they could have explained more of his relationship with Emma.

The serial killer in this one is a real sociopath. There are really not that many potential suspects, so it is pretty easy to guess who the killer is, or at least narrow it down to two choices. I also didn't like that Jessie continued to investigate on her own, even after she finds evidence of what a monster he really is.

A lot is made of Jessie recovering her lost memories of a traumatic night 15 years earlier. When we finally do learn what happened, it was a surprise to me. I did not see it coming.

I read this book very fast, and wanted to see what would happen next. To me, that is a mark of a good book.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was my first and most likely last Kay Hooper book. I didn't realize that it was in the middle of the series until too late, but really I wouldn't have known if not for goodreads. It doesn't matter if this was a standalone or a series, this book sucked. Character development was minimal, the plot was laughably bare, and too much of everything was obvious. I straight up did not care who lived or died in this. Emma Rayburn fled Baron Hollow when she was a teenager and ever since she's been plagued with nightmares and dark visions. Her special crimes unit (full of psychics and shit) sends her back to her hometown to uncover why she really ran away and while there a body turns up. Oh no! Ugh., I can't use anymore brainpower on this one. Soo not a fan!

[elisabethzguta · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An intense beginning, as the story paints a picture of a victim running for her life. We see her wandering aimlessly through the woods... then we are back to the real world. The drama begins. You will keep reading, anxious to discover the story behind the forgotten memory. Hooper ends the tale with a nice twist that was totally unexpected. I love the Paranormal Unit, and the story told through a clairvoyant's eyes. Kay Hooper has set up a great series with the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit and I recommend this book for anyone who likes paranormal.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book. It does say it is #13 in a series yet she has written it so you don't feel like you have to read other books to understand what is going on. Haven is a group of psychic investigators and Jessie goes home to Baron Hallow and to her younger sister Emma to figure out what she is forgetting about from 15 years ago that is blocking some of her abilities. There is also a serial killer in the small town that could be tied to what happened. Kay did a great job making you wonder who the serial killer is and what really happened 15 years ago up until the very end. I found this an enjoyable read. I will probably read more of her books.

[carol420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What happened to Jessie 15 years ago was only the beginning. His first. But he was younger then, and even if he had been ready, he didn't dare kill. Not a local girl. Not someone easily connected with him. He was smarter than that even then. he was always in control, always had his monster on a leash. But Jessie is back and could ruin everything for him. Haven is one of the best of the Special Crime Unit books I have read in the series. Even when you think the identity of the killer is obvious - it changes. keeps you guessing right to the end.

[jen6e6moore · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I grabbed this from the library's paperback exchange when I didn't have a book on hand, but I put it down two weeks ago and I haven't been able to convince myself to pick it up again. It's predictable and not very well written; time to move on to something more appealing.

[jnut1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Glad I listened to this vs reading it.

[mikaela_l_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I discovered Kay Hooper purely by coincidence a couple of years ago, and I promptly devoured her backlist. But then, she switched publishers and moved to hardcover, so I decided to wait until this book was out in mass market. And after reading it, I have a bit of mixed feelings.

It was interesting to explore Baron Hollow from Jessie's POV and see how it had changed from the last time she was home. I liked how not all of the changes were good changes.

It was interesting to follow Emma and Jessie as they tried to build a relationship. What I also liked was that it didn't happen over night. I liked Jessie's motivation for returning sense, which made sense. But... sometimes I wished Jessie wasn't so secretive. That she dared to open up, to talk to Emma. Emma had her own issues that she struggled with, both the fact that they existed, and that she wasn't sure if she should tell Jessie or not.

Nathan was an outsider, and had his own reasons for being in Baron Hollow. I liked him. He felt... grounded in away that Emma needed.

The plot was well crafted, and I really liked how the different plot threads were connected. From Jessie's poking around, to Emma's secret and Nathan's blood hound gift. All of them contained a part of the solution. The romance between Nathan and Emma was sweet, even if it wasn't without issues.

That said, I had one big problem with this book. It didn't feel like a Romantic Suspense novel. It felt more like Mystery novel, with some paranormal elements tossed in. Maybe a big reason for that was that it felt like Ms Hooper had picked several plot elements from her previous novels and reused them. And, to be frank, those previous books were much better.

[sunnysd_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The small town of Haven hides a very deadly secret. Jessie Rayburn left Haven in a hurry years before. Now she knows she has to go back and face whatever it was that made her run. But she can't quite remember...Emma Rayburn doesn't know what to make of her sister's return. Or of the appearance of Nathan Navarro, who wasn't using that name the last time she saw him. But she's more concerned about the disturbing dreams she's been having, dreams in which women die. She'd like to trust someone, but her sister doesn't want to listen, and she doesn't know Navarro well enough.This should have been a gripping read, but Jessie and Emma both left me cold.

[susanamper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A Kay Hooper Bishop novel without Bishop. He comes in on a phone call. Something happened years ago to two sisters. One blocked it out the other turned it into a psych talent. It's kind of a blah read and the denouement is terrible.

[rhonda1111 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4 STARSHaven investigator Jessie Rayburn is returning home to Baron Hollow after being gone for 15 years. She needs to find out what happened 15 years ago that made her runaway.When she is walking in town she saw a ghost and heard her say she needed to stop the murder before he kills again.Emma Rayburn turned her house into a bed & breakfast. She fell two years ago off a horse and since than she has nightmares of women being killed. Thier is no missing women around her town she has talked to the sheriff about them. Nathan Navrro works for Haven too but he has never met Jessie and his talent is finding dead bodies. If thier is a serial killer in that area he could find the bodies and get proof to get the help. Thier are a lot of missing people in the state.Bishop is back in the background and keeping secrets. Even when asked right out if he has agents in the area.I enjoyed reading Haven and will keep reading Kay Hooper.

[janientrelac · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I'm stubborn about reading series, once I get started I tend to keep on despite up and downs. Not the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit. Did finish this book, sort of, I skimmed it to see if it got better, it didn't. Lots of authors recycle plots, repeat themselves but Hooper must have worn out the copy and paste.