Compulsion, Heirs of Watson Island Book 1
by Martina Boone
Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse
October 28, 2014
by Martina Boone
Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse
October 28, 2014
Pub. Date: October 28, 2014
Pages: 304
Find it: Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Goodreads
“Darkly romantic and steeped in Southern Gothic charm, you’ll be compelled to get lost in the Heirs of Watson Island series.” — #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer L. ArmentroutThree plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.
All her life, Barrie Watson has 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.
"Compulsion is 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 NYT bestselling author of the Sweet Evil Trilogy from HarperTeen
"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. Martina Boone’s COMPULSION is not to be missed." — Megan Shepherd, Author of THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER
"A star-crossed romance, lush gothic plantations, and an island full of intrigue--COMPULSION was a heart-pounding race to the finish! A thrilling debut!" — Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder series
"Martina Boone's COMPULSION is the perfect southern family saga, charming and steamy on the surface, with cold-blooded secrets buried down deep. What more do you want? More time to read it, that's what.” — Kendare Blake, author of ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD and ANTIGODESS
Now on to the excerpt!
Drained by the aftereffects of anger and adrenaline, Barrie found herself breathing in Eight’s recklessness, swept up in it, and suddenly it didn’t matter where they were going or what he planned to do. His moods were contagious, dangerous to her equilibrium.
He stopped at the beach, the same beach where they’d seen the turtle nest. Neither of them said a word while Eight retrieved a musty-smelling towel from his trunk and caught Barrie’s hand, lacing their fingers like they were made to fit.
They ran barefoot over the dunes and through a break in the pickets that held back the sea oats. The moon turned the white sand to diamond dust, and Eight laid the towel down above the hide-tide marker of shells and seaweed and damp, dark sand. He sat down and drew her against him, her back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, and she leaned into the solidness of him. His heartbeat washed through her like the waves, until she didn’t know whether the pounding of it was hers or his.
When she sighed and relaxed, he eased her down and leaned over and finally kissed her until she felt like she was going to fall. She reached for him, kissing him more deeply. His lips were scalding on hers, leaving her tingling and whole instead of so, so alone. She wanted the feeling, the moment, to never stop.
Only when she came up for air did the word “love” enter her thoughts. She pushed it away, but maybe by the time any girl thought about protecting herself, keeping herself from falling for a guy who was going to leave her brokenhearted, it was already too late. Maybe it had been like that for Lula with Wade, and instead of being Prince Charming, Wade had turned out to be like Wyatt.
“Why do you suppose my mother was afraid of Wyatt?” Barrie rolled and rested on one elbow to look at Eight.
“Apart from what we saw tonight, you mean?”
“I assumed it was about the feud. Because she was a Watson and she’d run off with Wyatt’s brother. But it felt more personal.”
“Feuds are always personal. That’s what makes it hard to break the cycle. Everyone lives locked inside their own anger until someone is finally brave enough to step outside themselves to see the view from the other side. It’s why I need to get away from this place.”
“But you’re not stepping out for a different view.” Barrie tipped her face up to the stars so she wouldn’t have to look at him. “You’re stepping out to run away.”
He was silent, and she was suddenly afraid. Afraid that she had said too much, presumed too much, hoped too much. She rolled her capris as high as they would go, then ran toward the water. She didn’t look back until she was knee deep, which was as far as she dared. He was right behind her, his face gleaming in the kind of light that turned beautiful boys into gods. He caught her, and held her, his skin so warm and alive, she couldn’t help but melt.
“Why did you run?” he asked.
“To see if you’d come after me.”
“It scares me how willing I am to run after you. We’re both doing too much running.”
“So kiss me again.”
Her hands crept around his neck, tangling in his hair to keep him closer, even though she knew that beautiful boys with expiration dates couldn’t be held, only borrowed for a time
He stopped at the beach, the same beach where they’d seen the turtle nest. Neither of them said a word while Eight retrieved a musty-smelling towel from his trunk and caught Barrie’s hand, lacing their fingers like they were made to fit.
They ran barefoot over the dunes and through a break in the pickets that held back the sea oats. The moon turned the white sand to diamond dust, and Eight laid the towel down above the hide-tide marker of shells and seaweed and damp, dark sand. He sat down and drew her against him, her back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, and she leaned into the solidness of him. His heartbeat washed through her like the waves, until she didn’t know whether the pounding of it was hers or his.
When she sighed and relaxed, he eased her down and leaned over and finally kissed her until she felt like she was going to fall. She reached for him, kissing him more deeply. His lips were scalding on hers, leaving her tingling and whole instead of so, so alone. She wanted the feeling, the moment, to never stop.
Only when she came up for air did the word “love” enter her thoughts. She pushed it away, but maybe by the time any girl thought about protecting herself, keeping herself from falling for a guy who was going to leave her brokenhearted, it was already too late. Maybe it had been like that for Lula with Wade, and instead of being Prince Charming, Wade had turned out to be like Wyatt.
“Why do you suppose my mother was afraid of Wyatt?” Barrie rolled and rested on one elbow to look at Eight.
“Apart from what we saw tonight, you mean?”
“I assumed it was about the feud. Because she was a Watson and she’d run off with Wyatt’s brother. But it felt more personal.”
“Feuds are always personal. That’s what makes it hard to break the cycle. Everyone lives locked inside their own anger until someone is finally brave enough to step outside themselves to see the view from the other side. It’s why I need to get away from this place.”
“But you’re not stepping out for a different view.” Barrie tipped her face up to the stars so she wouldn’t have to look at him. “You’re stepping out to run away.”
He was silent, and she was suddenly afraid. Afraid that she had said too much, presumed too much, hoped too much. She rolled her capris as high as they would go, then ran toward the water. She didn’t look back until she was knee deep, which was as far as she dared. He was right behind her, his face gleaming in the kind of light that turned beautiful boys into gods. He caught her, and held her, his skin so warm and alive, she couldn’t help but melt.
“Why did you run?” he asked.
“To see if you’d come after me.”
“It scares me how willing I am to run after you. We’re both doing too much running.”
“So kiss me again.”
Her hands crept around his neck, tangling in his hair to keep him closer, even though she knew that beautiful boys with expiration dates couldn’t be held, only borrowed for a time
Loved this! Thanks Martina!!!
About Martina:
Martina Boone writes contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she would love to visit. She is the founder of YASeriesInsiders.com and AdventuresinYAPublishing.com, a two-time Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers blog. If you like romance steeped in mystery, mayhem, Spanish moss, and a bit of magic, she hopes you'll look forward to meeting Barrie, Eight, Cassie, Pru, Seven and the other characters of Watson Island.
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thanks for such an awesome giveaway and congrats to Martina on the new release!!! I'd pick either Reckoning (The Silver Blackthorne Trilogy) by Kerry Wilkinson or Compulsion :)
ReplyDeleteChristina R. in the rafflecopter
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Sinner by Maggie STiefvater!!
Thank you :)
Oh goodness, I have no idea which I would choose. honestly, no idea! But thank you so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAllegiant
ReplyDeleteI would like to read Antigoddess or The Madman's Daughter. Thank you for the chance to win!
ReplyDelete-Amber Terry-
I'm excited about reading A Shard of Ice or Pivot Point
ReplyDeleteI think I would choose The Ring and the Crown!
ReplyDeleteComplicit by Stephanie Kuehn
ReplyDeleteI think I'd choose Girl of Fire & Thorns, because I have the second and third books in the series but not first. I'm also really excited for Silver Shadows and The Blood of Olympus.
ReplyDeleteI got my copy of Compulsion at ALA14 and I am Soooo excited to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome giveaway!
I honestly don't know what book I'd choose. Probably Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange or maybe Salt and Storm. I wasn't able to get a copy at ALA :( Yea... Maybe that!
Thanks again!
COMPULSION or the kiss of deception
ReplyDeleteAlisha Sienkiel in rafflecopter
ReplyDeleteI would probably pick Silver Shadows!
Compulsion or Kiss of Deception. I'm not sure if I'll be able to decide.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for compulsion for sure!
ReplyDeleteI would pick Sweet Peril or Opposition!
ReplyDeleteIgnite me
ReplyDeleteI think I'd pick The Merciless.
ReplyDeleteI would pick Fangirl
ReplyDeleteI would pick UNRAVEL ME by Tahareh Mafi!
ReplyDeleteGraduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau
ReplyDeleteThe One by Kiera Cass. :D
ReplyDeleteI would pick Kiss of Deception!! I've heard so many great things. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteI might choose Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke. I am very excited for Opposition by Jennifer Armentrout and Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this awesome giveaway! It's a hard choice to make, but I think I'd go with The Raven Boys!
ReplyDeleteI REALLY want Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke and Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne! But I'm also dying to finish out Susan Dennard's incredible series - though if I chose that one, I'd have to buy the first two, because I can't possibly just have ONE book in the series ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I'd choose! Snow Like Ashes, Loop, Isla? Maybe I should start the Raven Boys series?
ReplyDelete